When I start to stir in the morning, my cat can instantly tell. She is on me in seconds, meowing and looking for attention. Even after petting her for a few minutes, she still follows me, meowing, and walking 4 inches in front of me in an attempt to stop me. Even after I give her a can of tasty *gag* meat, she will still come find me.
Why?
She is just looking for love.
Do you ever think of your relationship with God this way? You would think that His only role is the one who takes care of us. But any relationship is two-sided. I wonder how many times a day, God is just trying to get our attention, and we are more focused on getting our coffee.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Revelations 3:20
We can spend time with Jesus any time we want, but can He spend time with us, whenever He wants?
---Joy
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
"The Father's Command"
I will no longer talk much with you: for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. John 14:30-31
I personally believe that this is one of the most significant statements that Jesus ever made. He is explaining that He knows that Satan, the ruler of the world is coming. He then says that, he, the enemy has nothing in Him. Nothing, no hidden sin, no hidden agenda. No hidden desire, nothing. He is saying that there is nothing in Him that will respond to anything the enemy has to offer and that there is no way for Satan to have any power over Him. With this statement He is declaring that He knows the enemy is coming with his own plan to destroy Him but that He is allowing what is about to take place for a purpose and its not because the enemy is stronger but out of His love for the Father. He is submitted to the Father's Command and has purposed to surrender to it.
What He is explaining to the disciples here is that, what is about to take place isn't an accident or because the enemy is stronger but because it is all a part of the Father's plan!
"Not my will but thy will be done!"
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. John 14:30-31
I personally believe that this is one of the most significant statements that Jesus ever made. He is explaining that He knows that Satan, the ruler of the world is coming. He then says that, he, the enemy has nothing in Him. Nothing, no hidden sin, no hidden agenda. No hidden desire, nothing. He is saying that there is nothing in Him that will respond to anything the enemy has to offer and that there is no way for Satan to have any power over Him. With this statement He is declaring that He knows the enemy is coming with his own plan to destroy Him but that He is allowing what is about to take place for a purpose and its not because the enemy is stronger but out of His love for the Father. He is submitted to the Father's Command and has purposed to surrender to it.
What He is explaining to the disciples here is that, what is about to take place isn't an accident or because the enemy is stronger but because it is all a part of the Father's plan!
"Not my will but thy will be done!"
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Manna and Quail for Thanksgiving
"So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, 'At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?' And Moses said, 'When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him-what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.'" Exodus 16:6-8
It's easy to see the mistake here. The Israelites were grumbling about not having enough food. They missed having overflowing amounts of meat and bread like they did in Egypt. The food they were barely surviving on now was nothing compared to the delicacies they had in Egypt.
But the big mistake was that they grumbled against God. God who provided the perfect amount of manna and quail, every single day, for forty years, for a growing nation.
We don't grumble about just our food, family, and jobs, we grumble against our God who blessed us with all those things.
Today, ask God to help you be thankful, for everything, everyday. He has provided so much for us. Whether you are having some extravagant feast today, or what feels like the same manna and quail you've had for forty years, thank God for providing for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
It's easy to see the mistake here. The Israelites were grumbling about not having enough food. They missed having overflowing amounts of meat and bread like they did in Egypt. The food they were barely surviving on now was nothing compared to the delicacies they had in Egypt.
But the big mistake was that they grumbled against God. God who provided the perfect amount of manna and quail, every single day, for forty years, for a growing nation.
We don't grumble about just our food, family, and jobs, we grumble against our God who blessed us with all those things.
Today, ask God to help you be thankful, for everything, everyday. He has provided so much for us. Whether you are having some extravagant feast today, or what feels like the same manna and quail you've had for forty years, thank God for providing for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
"Hearts Ablaze"
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said to one to another, 'Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?' Luke 24:30-32
"Did our hearts not burn within us?" What an awesome experience! To have Jesus show up and explain or rather 'open up' the scriptures to them. The result, their hearts ablaze as the revelations from the scriptures brought them understanding. What a way to have our passion for God ignited!
You and I as His disciples have the same opportunity each and every day to have our hearts set ablaze and our passion to serve Him ignited as we come to Him each day. It is His heart to reveal Himself to us. As soon as they understood who it was that walked and talked with them He disappeared. They immediately turned around and went back to Jerusalem with a hearts ablaze to tell about all that had happened!
"His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones. Jeremiah 20:9 If you have never experienced having your heart set ablaze as He opens His word to you then please, before the day ends ask, seek, knock, and receive! Then, get ready, because you will have a passion to share Him like never before!
"Did our hearts not burn within us?" What an awesome experience! To have Jesus show up and explain or rather 'open up' the scriptures to them. The result, their hearts ablaze as the revelations from the scriptures brought them understanding. What a way to have our passion for God ignited!
You and I as His disciples have the same opportunity each and every day to have our hearts set ablaze and our passion to serve Him ignited as we come to Him each day. It is His heart to reveal Himself to us. As soon as they understood who it was that walked and talked with them He disappeared. They immediately turned around and went back to Jerusalem with a hearts ablaze to tell about all that had happened!
"His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones. Jeremiah 20:9 If you have never experienced having your heart set ablaze as He opens His word to you then please, before the day ends ask, seek, knock, and receive! Then, get ready, because you will have a passion to share Him like never before!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Wallow or Live?
"'Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.' Then Eli answered, 'Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.' And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes.' Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, 'I have asked for him from the Lord.'" 1 Samuel 1:16-20
The Bible says that in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She had gone through some seriously miserable streaks while waiting. Hannah wanted a baby. Her heart had longed for a baby for a long time. She even promised God that the child would be His servant from youth. But it wasn't time yet.
We all have a longing, a heart's desire, but all the petitions in the world will not bring them to pass before it is God's time.
My Pastor spoke a little about Hannah this past Sunday, and he said that Hannah got up, ate, and went about her life.
It's been my experience that when I wallow about what I want, need, or desire, things just feel so much worse. When I give it into God's hands, and go on with life, things get better. And ironically, or not, it seems to become God's timing.
I'm not saying this because it sounds good. I have personally lived through seasons like this, and let me tell you, it's terribly hard! But I can honestly tell you that the heartache it takes getting there is overwhelmed by the joy of God's gift.
Whatever the journey my friends, don't be consumed by wallowing. Give it to God and live. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
The Bible says that in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She had gone through some seriously miserable streaks while waiting. Hannah wanted a baby. Her heart had longed for a baby for a long time. She even promised God that the child would be His servant from youth. But it wasn't time yet.
We all have a longing, a heart's desire, but all the petitions in the world will not bring them to pass before it is God's time.
My Pastor spoke a little about Hannah this past Sunday, and he said that Hannah got up, ate, and went about her life.
It's been my experience that when I wallow about what I want, need, or desire, things just feel so much worse. When I give it into God's hands, and go on with life, things get better. And ironically, or not, it seems to become God's timing.
I'm not saying this because it sounds good. I have personally lived through seasons like this, and let me tell you, it's terribly hard! But I can honestly tell you that the heartache it takes getting there is overwhelmed by the joy of God's gift.
Whatever the journey my friends, don't be consumed by wallowing. Give it to God and live. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
---Joy
Monday, November 25, 2013
"A Dime A Dozen"
I have a list of names for you. Think about it. Do you know who they are and what big event they took part in? Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Hoshea, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Sethur, Nahbi, and Geuel.
They were chosen by name because they were leaders, heads of the people of Israel and they were given a very special assignment. Have you figured it out yet. I'll give you the last two names and make it easy for you to KNOW what they did or rather didn't do. Joshua and Caleb.
See, now you know what they are known for. God had Moses send out twelve men to spy out the land of Canaan. The men in the list above were the ten men who came back from their assignment and gave a bad report. Don't you love that even though they were outnumbered ten to two the two men that made their stand for God are the two names that are remembered today. People that don't believe in the power of God to equip and to enable us to overcome are 'a dime a dozen.' There will always be lots of people that don't believe. There will always be those who would speak words of doubt and fear into our lives and circumstances. There will always be those who say "We are not able," in order to stop us from accomplishing the assignments God sends our way.
The thing is, those people don't impact the world for God! We need to be pointing at the fruit not the giants! You and I as believers need to be declaring as loud as we can, and as often as we can the words of Joshua and Caleb, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." Numbers 13:30, "Do not fear. He is with us!" Numbers 14:9 Why? So that we too can be remembered throughout history? No! So that God can be known in all the earth!
All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Psalm 145:10-13
They were chosen by name because they were leaders, heads of the people of Israel and they were given a very special assignment. Have you figured it out yet. I'll give you the last two names and make it easy for you to KNOW what they did or rather didn't do. Joshua and Caleb.
See, now you know what they are known for. God had Moses send out twelve men to spy out the land of Canaan. The men in the list above were the ten men who came back from their assignment and gave a bad report. Don't you love that even though they were outnumbered ten to two the two men that made their stand for God are the two names that are remembered today. People that don't believe in the power of God to equip and to enable us to overcome are 'a dime a dozen.' There will always be lots of people that don't believe. There will always be those who would speak words of doubt and fear into our lives and circumstances. There will always be those who say "We are not able," in order to stop us from accomplishing the assignments God sends our way.
The thing is, those people don't impact the world for God! We need to be pointing at the fruit not the giants! You and I as believers need to be declaring as loud as we can, and as often as we can the words of Joshua and Caleb, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." Numbers 13:30, "Do not fear. He is with us!" Numbers 14:9 Why? So that we too can be remembered throughout history? No! So that God can be known in all the earth!
All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Psalm 145:10-13
Sunday, November 24, 2013
The Certainty of God's Promise
"And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:15-20
God made a promise to all of us. He promised that we would be with Him. In a place so holy, so beyond anything we could imagine. He laid the foundation of this promise with Abraham, and He fulfilled it with Jesus.
God took the finality of an oath, and His inability to lie, to confirm this for us, the heirs of the promise. In all the craziness of the world and things that could happen, we have a lifeline. We have the promise of God. We have a hope that goes beyond a child-like desire for ice cream, and into a holy place. The place where Jesus resides now. It's a holy connection. It's God saying, "You're mine."
In moments of despair, in moments of weakness, in moments of fear, He would have us hold onto His hope. In my Bible, this section is titled, "The Certainty of God's Promise."
God made a promise to all of us. He promised that we would be with Him. In a place so holy, so beyond anything we could imagine. He laid the foundation of this promise with Abraham, and He fulfilled it with Jesus.
God took the finality of an oath, and His inability to lie, to confirm this for us, the heirs of the promise. In all the craziness of the world and things that could happen, we have a lifeline. We have the promise of God. We have a hope that goes beyond a child-like desire for ice cream, and into a holy place. The place where Jesus resides now. It's a holy connection. It's God saying, "You're mine."
In moments of despair, in moments of weakness, in moments of fear, He would have us hold onto His hope. In my Bible, this section is titled, "The Certainty of God's Promise."
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