No doubt we are in the latter days.
Lawlessness is increasing. The recent news of young lady murdered shows how troubling and violent our society has become. It shows how the fear of God is largely absent from our world.
We will all stand before Him to give an account. This should cause us to tremble and live carefully. Heaven is real and so is hell. These are the places we freely chose to spend our eternity.
Revelation 12:12 says the devil has come down in great fury because his time is short. Some of the gross and violent behavior we see in our world is more than flesh and blood, but demonic.
Yes, people make willful and deliberate choices. But with that choice, there's an undercurrent of spiritual darkness. It's nothing short of demonic rage against God. God is about abundant life not murder, mayhem and destruction.
How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? (Psalms 94:3 NIV)
As believers we can be tempted to question why such injustice continues as David expressed in Psalms 13. But God knows how to keep and sustain us in this dark hour.
We are to be light and salt in a world that desperately needs to know Christ is the savior. Rather than question the sovereignty and justice of God we must trust He is in control - not raging demonic forces or wicked people who take matters in their own hands.
How long?
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. (Psalms 73:17 KJV)
When we come into the house of God the questions cease and our soul finds rest in a just God.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Rest
Rest is necessary for the body and mind. It's been noted that healthy adults need at least 7-9 hours of sleep.
Still how many of us wake up feeling anything but rested? We are exhausted from tossing and turning all night. Just about the time we drift off to sleep a thought about work or family interrupts our slumber.
My grandparents who served many years in Brazil as missionaries took time to rest. They were early risers, but every afternoon they would take a nap for about an hour. Even when visiting us or others they would stop the activities of the afternoon. They head straight for the bedroom. When they reappeared they had more energy and clarity. We picked up the habit ourselves. My wife and I make every effort to take a nap on Sunday. The Lord's day of rest.
There's a supernatural rest that Jesus promises though we maybe bone weary. He said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NIV).
We must be willing to suspend activities, cancel less important meetings or re-arrange our schedules to take a moment of repose. We are no good to ourselves or God's kingdom if we fill our day from end to the other with a frenzy of activities. We need to wait on God who will renew our strength. So take a step back and take a deep breath. Mediate on God and He will properly center your world.
You can close your eyes and rest assure. God who never sleeps is watching over you.
Still how many of us wake up feeling anything but rested? We are exhausted from tossing and turning all night. Just about the time we drift off to sleep a thought about work or family interrupts our slumber.
My grandparents who served many years in Brazil as missionaries took time to rest. They were early risers, but every afternoon they would take a nap for about an hour. Even when visiting us or others they would stop the activities of the afternoon. They head straight for the bedroom. When they reappeared they had more energy and clarity. We picked up the habit ourselves. My wife and I make every effort to take a nap on Sunday. The Lord's day of rest.
There's a supernatural rest that Jesus promises though we maybe bone weary. He said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NIV).
We must be willing to suspend activities, cancel less important meetings or re-arrange our schedules to take a moment of repose. We are no good to ourselves or God's kingdom if we fill our day from end to the other with a frenzy of activities. We need to wait on God who will renew our strength. So take a step back and take a deep breath. Mediate on God and He will properly center your world.
You can close your eyes and rest assure. God who never sleeps is watching over you.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Never Disconnected
Some of us experienced very difficult circumstances in our lives. Often we feel disconnected from the reality that other people seem to enjoy.
It's not so much about detaching and isolating yourself from other people. Although that may be one effect of being disconnected.
The disconnect is more spiritual. It seems the current of life flowing from God to you has been pulled. Most days your weak, tired and struggle to produce any effort to serve in the church or help people in need.
We will always find connection to God when we read the bible. But even then sometimes it seems the black print on white thin pages never reaches our understanding and heart.
The truth of what He speaks versus where and how we live seem polar opposites. Love your neighbor? We can't even love ourselves. Speak truth in love? We want to defend ourselves by saying biting and sarcastic words to those who hurt us.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 NIV)
And that's the truth of being connected to God. He's for us not against us. We may oppose, argue or resist Him, but never will He disconnect His love from us.
Beloved friends, it's not about feeling connected. The reality is God walks with us daily. Think of Adam and Eve who walked with God and later were exiled from the garden. God didn't stay in the garden but entered a fallen world to save humanity.
And God does not look down from heaven with a condescending stare at our miserable state. The Holy Spirit lives in the believer and is our advocate (John 14:26).
Again true spiritual connection means He is with us. For us. Not against us.
Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15)
It's not so much about detaching and isolating yourself from other people. Although that may be one effect of being disconnected.
The disconnect is more spiritual. It seems the current of life flowing from God to you has been pulled. Most days your weak, tired and struggle to produce any effort to serve in the church or help people in need.
We will always find connection to God when we read the bible. But even then sometimes it seems the black print on white thin pages never reaches our understanding and heart.
The truth of what He speaks versus where and how we live seem polar opposites. Love your neighbor? We can't even love ourselves. Speak truth in love? We want to defend ourselves by saying biting and sarcastic words to those who hurt us.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 NIV)
And that's the truth of being connected to God. He's for us not against us. We may oppose, argue or resist Him, but never will He disconnect His love from us.
Beloved friends, it's not about feeling connected. The reality is God walks with us daily. Think of Adam and Eve who walked with God and later were exiled from the garden. God didn't stay in the garden but entered a fallen world to save humanity.
And God does not look down from heaven with a condescending stare at our miserable state. The Holy Spirit lives in the believer and is our advocate (John 14:26).
Again true spiritual connection means He is with us. For us. Not against us.
Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15)
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Moving Day
In a few months our office will be moving to a different location. My wife and I are in the early stages of preparing a move to the Southwest.
So, I'm reminded of God's call to Abram. The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.' Genesis 12:1-2 NLT).
The Christian journey is never passive or stagnant. We move by the current and impulse of the Holy Spirit. Too many Christians may be in locations that they should have gotten up and left long ago to find God's blessing elsewhere. I'm not speaking of just moving for the sake of it. Making unwise and untested decisions to wander about aimless is not God's intent.
As a young adult, I left my hometown in Rhode Island to attend a bible school in Florida. Little did I know I would return only to visit Newport on my 40th birthday. By then bible school led me to an internship on a hospital ship that took me to different parts of Europe and Africa.
There I met a beautiful Singaporean lady. We were married in Singapore and next year we celebrate our 25th anniversary. Soon after we married, we moved to Florida. Then on to Oregon and later New York. Each step of the journey God has revealed Himself in ways that if I remain rooted in Rhode Island that it's possible I may not have learned lessons of faith. And find the love of my life.
Faith increases when moving away from the familiar into a strange place. There will be mistakes, mishaps, and problems that only God can see you through it. And when leaving a familiar place your spiritual eyesight of God's higher vision is unclouded by the conflicts of what seems safe and familiar.
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:9-10 NIV).
So, I'm reminded of God's call to Abram. The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.' Genesis 12:1-2 NLT).
The Christian journey is never passive or stagnant. We move by the current and impulse of the Holy Spirit. Too many Christians may be in locations that they should have gotten up and left long ago to find God's blessing elsewhere. I'm not speaking of just moving for the sake of it. Making unwise and untested decisions to wander about aimless is not God's intent.
As a young adult, I left my hometown in Rhode Island to attend a bible school in Florida. Little did I know I would return only to visit Newport on my 40th birthday. By then bible school led me to an internship on a hospital ship that took me to different parts of Europe and Africa.
There I met a beautiful Singaporean lady. We were married in Singapore and next year we celebrate our 25th anniversary. Soon after we married, we moved to Florida. Then on to Oregon and later New York. Each step of the journey God has revealed Himself in ways that if I remain rooted in Rhode Island that it's possible I may not have learned lessons of faith. And find the love of my life.
Faith increases when moving away from the familiar into a strange place. There will be mistakes, mishaps, and problems that only God can see you through it. And when leaving a familiar place your spiritual eyesight of God's higher vision is unclouded by the conflicts of what seems safe and familiar.
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:9-10 NIV).
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