Thursday, October 30

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Lamentations 2:19–3:66

Hebrews 1:1–14

Psalm 102:1–28

Proverbs 26:21,22

 

 

“Yet this I call to mind

    and therefore I have hope:

 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions [mercies] never fail.

They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion;

    therefore I will wait for him.’” (Lamentations 3:21–24)

 

 

Like Asaph, the writer of Psalm 73, Jeremiah turns his heart to remembering God’s presence and closeness (immanence, most notably in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit), even in the midst of his legitimate weeping and frustration.  Jeremiah knew that he would not be abandoned because of God’s commitment to His own characteristic lovingkindness.

 

Recently, in studying Jerry Bridges’s Trusting God, our group found great encouragement in recognizing that, for those who have trusted Christ as Savior and exalted Him as Lord, God’s love remains constant.  Once we have become born anew “in Christ,” the Son of God’s presence ensures a faithful, unwavering love from God.  While we may tarnish our relationship in the short term with sinful behavior, God has called us His children, indicating an ongoing relationship.  Jesus explained this permanence in John 10:27–30:  “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”

 

While the author of Hebrews spends significant time highlighting the all-sufficiency of Christ as High Priest, we also receive assurances of God’s close connection to us:  “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14–16)

 

Jeremiah provides a profitable lesson for all believers:  as we consider God’s love and sovereignty, we find joy and freedom.  His greatness will surpass any of our problems.  He is always consistently good, and He is worthy of all our praise.  For what may you praise Him today?

 

I confess that taking this active control over our thoughts does not come naturally to me.  I find my mind focusing on problems and prospective solutions, and I don’t immediately turn to prayer and trust.  In His goodness, God leads us into situations that will stretch us.  Most importantly, I simply want to know God better and to see Him fully exalted in my heart and my life. 

 

Perhaps you would like to join in this prayer:

 

Come, Lord Jesus, and be glorified in me.  I know that I fall woefully short of Your example, but You deserve the throne of my life.  Take it, and bring honor to Your Name.  Cast away my faulty images of Your unconcern or powerlessness over earthly difficulties.  Destroy the confusing, lying work of Satan to corrupt my mind with worries and agitations.  Bring peace and joy to my heart and mind, so that I may focus on loving and serving You.  You are awesome and worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.  In Your Name, amen.

 

 

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1WhFtVp0o

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

Tuesday October 28

Jeremiah 51:54-52:34

Titus 3

Psalm 100:1-5

Proverbs 26:18-19

Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, "I was only joking."

~ Proverbs 26:18-19

Have you ever squeezed too much toothpaste out of the tube? Once it's out, you can't put it back. It's the same with what we say. Once words leave your mouth, you can't take them back and you can't undo the damage they cause.

I remember being taught the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" when I was pretty young. Of all the lies that we try to convince ourselves of, this one might be the biggest. Sure, breaking a bone does hurt, but to say that you can't be hurt by words couldn't be further from the truth. Physical wounds heal, but the damage caused by harmful words can last for years. The image this Proverb puts in your mind is pretty vivid. Someone who speaks carelessly can cause as much damage as a madman yielding a deadly weapon. 

It can be hard to control what you say. I guarantee that we are all guilty of hurting others with what we say. How do we stop ourselves from being this madman with a deadly weapon? The answer is found in Titus 3: "When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior." Because of God's mercy, because He gave us new life, because His Spirit lives in us, with His power, we can keep this madman at bay. 

October 27: Not Nike

Jeremiah 51:1-53
Titus 2:1-15
Psalm 99:1-9
Proverbs 26:17

Years ago, Nike used the slogan "If it feels good, do it" to sell shoes. Why did they think that was going to sell shoes? No surprise - it preaches gratification, self gratification, without regard to right or wrong, let alone the idea there is a higher authority that determines right and wrong. It makes the individual, the person, the highest authority.

So different from what Paul wrote to Titus. Paul preaches temperance and self control, not to be addicted to too much wine, to be examples of self control - used more than once! - to the next generation. And with temperance and self control, he associates - among other things - integrity and "soundness of speech".

See it is when we can exercise self control - denying ourselves both the idea we are the highest authority AND the things we would gratify ourselves with given the choice - that we are able to acknowledge the existence of God, that we can live godly lives rejecting worldly passions even in this present age where so many live in accordance with the Nike slogan.

Speaking from personal experience, self control is NOT easy. Never has been, and I don't think it ever will be. And I have, and will continue to sin. How wonderful then to be able to count on a God who, as the psalmist wrote, was "to Israel a forgiving God, though You punished their misdeeds." And how wonderful to be able to hope that I can manifest that self control for my own next generation - my kids.

Sent from my iPad

October 26

Titus 1  

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. Titus 1:16

What is the number one cause of atheism in the world? "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."                                                           Brennan Manning (author)

Reading Titus today and seeing the list of godly characteristics, I came up short. When I honestly look inside my heart, I realize I am a bundle of paradoxes. One minute I am blameless but the next minute I am the one to blame. I believe and have faith that could anchor a battleship; the next moment my faith disappears. I love and then I hate. I try to be long-tempered and then something goes wrong on my stupid computer and I scream at it, as if my computer will have hurt feelings by my yelling. In short, I come up really short with Paul's list.

So how can I not be a contributor to the number one cause of atheism in the world?   Only by living by the grace promised by our Heavenly Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. To live by grace means I own all of the chapters of my life, both the good and the bad. By admitting the continual struggle with the dark side of my heart, I am acknowledging that I am totally dependent on God's grace. As Thomas Merton put it, "A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God."

The gospel of grace nullifies our worship of superstar Christians who project that they never struggle with the dark side. It destroys this two-class system that many people have set up in their minds; there are good Christians and then there are people like me. What I so deeply appreciate about Grace Church is that we are a family where you don't have to hide your struggles. We all know that there is a continual battle going on for our hearts and we intentionally create a safe place where we can share the battle.

What grace proclaims is that we are all continual recipients of it. Grace inspires us to realize that we are deeply loved by Jesus and there is nothing that we have done to deserve it.

So own the paradoxes and struggles and then testify of the grace of our good God that is the foundation of our lives.
--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Saturday 10/15/2014

Saturday, October 25, 2014 [by Keesha Sullivan]

“Blessed is the man you discipline” (Psalm 94:12). “…the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Proverbs 3:12). 

     In the scriptures that we read today, Jeremiah spoke doom over the Moabites and Ammonites. One might think that with all of the things that Jeremiah pronounced over these groups that God didn’t love them anymore. One might even believe that God didn’t care for their well being.  That is how I have felt in the past when God has disciplined me. I have sometimes felt like God didn’t love me anymore. I have asked the question, “Why me?” I have told Him that “I just didn’t understand why I had to go through all of this pain and heartache.”Discipline never feels good. In fact it is pretty excruciating.

     I believe that God feels like we do when we have to discipline a loved one. He feels sad, but He knows that He has got to do it for the good of the person as well as for His glory.  In Jeremiah 48:36, God says, “So my heart laments for Moab like a flute; it laments like a flute for the men of Kir Hareseth.” [To lament means to express grief and sorrow passionately.]  It seems as though it truly troubled God to see Moab in the state that it was in as well as to know what He would have to do in order to restore them.  Although the discipline lasted but a moment, joy indeed would come eventually.  The Lord declared over each people group, “Yet I will restore the fortunes of [the Moabites and Ammonites] in days to come” (Jeremiah 48: 47 and Jeremiah 49: 6).

     Maybe right now you are experiencing the discipline of the Almighty. Just remember that He only disciplines those He loves, and that “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Lord help us to receive Your discipline with gracious hearts. Help us to trust in You and Your goodness. Thank You for loving us enough to discipline us. Have Your way in us and through us. Amen

October 24th

October 24th

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭14-17‬ NLT)

I love how Paul is pointing Timothy back to scripture. Remain faithful to the scripture that you have been taught. In the Christian life we have a guidebook. It tells us everything that we need to know about wisdom and Salvation. It is through these scriptures (both New Testament and Old Testament) that Christ is revealed to us. Through scripture we can know how to pattern our lives after Christ. I love verse 16 and 17, but I think it is so much better in the NIV translation. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16-17‬ NIV) Scripture is "God-breathed." The Greek word "theopneustos" used here, literally means God-breathed. So God, through scripture, which is divine through Him, is revealing to us the mystery of His Son, the mystery that makes no sense to our mortal minds. The King of Glory leaves His throne to live with the lowest of all of His subjects, and then takes on the punishment that they deserve for all their crimes? This is crazy talk! But that is indeed the mystery of God, that He is revealing through scripture. There was only one way to get a once-for-all sacrifice, and that was in the personification of Christ. Christ came to earth, and died and took our place, and through Him we can have Salvation. That is the breath of God. God-breathed and made a way for us to commune with Him, His son Jesus Christ! Through Christ the un-holy (us) can be in the presence of the Holy (God).

Sent from my iPad

Thursday, October 23

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

Jeremiah 42:1–44:23

2 Timothy 2:1–21

Psalm 92:1–93:5

Proverbs 26:3–5

 

 

In 2 Timothy, Paul offers precious insights to his “dear son” in the faith.  Scholars agree that this epistle marks the last canonical writing from the Apostle Paul, who saw his death approaching.  With great eagerness, he implores Timothy to press onward.  In other passages, he displays his humanity and recognizes his own frailty.

 

While Timothy served as a pastor in Ephesus, the words in 2 Timothy 2 have broad applicability for our lives as Christ-followers.  As in the Parable of the Sower, we desire our lives to represent the “good soil,” where the seed of the Gospel produces “a crop – a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:8)  Please find some brief comments on the verses in this chapter below.

 

 

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1)

 

We all receive God’s grace as a moment-by-moment gift to live according to God’s purposes.  We may try to run in our strength for a short time, but we will soon face exhaustion and frustration.  God’s grace is sufficient for today’s challenges, and we return to Him daily for His sustaining grace.  In this grace, we find irreplaceable strength.

 

 

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2)

 

Disciplemaking involves forging strategic connections with others who wish to grow in Christ.  We “entrust” the truth of the Gospel and the Word to “reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”  The language appears similar to the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30).  Each disciple receives a deposit (“seed money”) and looks to become more fruitful.  The disciple’s fruitfulness increases when we may deposit these truths in the lives of another person, starting the chain again and building through multiplication.  Whom may you touch with these truths?  How would you like to grow yourself to become a “reliable” servant?

 

 

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.  This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.  But God’s word is not chained.” (2 Timothy 2:8,9)

 

Please note the precious simplicity of Paul’s Gospel:  “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.”  In this formulation, Paul ties the Old Testament prophecies of the Christ to the New Testament reality of His crucifixion and resurrection.  Good News indeed!

 

 

“Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus….  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” (2 Timothy 2:3.10)

 

Following Jesus sometimes involves difficult times.  Paul acknowledges that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12)  The challenges that we face pale in comparison to those endured by Paul or even modern-day believers in other countries.  Yet, in Christ, our suffering may actually have meaning:  for the sake of those who “may too obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” and for His “eternal glory.”  How may you take steps back to view life from that longer-term perspective?

 

 

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly….  Those who cleanse themselves from the latter [ignoble purposes] will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2 Timothy 2:16,21)

 

As Paul explained in explained in 1 Timothy 4:7,8, “… train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  We must submit ourselves to godly training and desire to be made more like Christ.  I often struggle to surrender worldly ideals for the sake of knowing Christ better and serving Him more fully.  Holy Spirit, convict our hearts and minds when we are not fully committed to Your purposes.

 

 

“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this….  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:7,15)

 

God’s servant rightly engages His mind in spiritual growth.  The Word of God deserves reflection and meditation, which will bring out even further truths.  Our approval as a “worker” requires our effort to study and digest God’s Word.  This time will never be worthless, but rather will always bring forth a profit for our lives in Christ and as a blessing for others.

 

 

“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription:  ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’” (2 Timothy 2:19)

 

We rest in the sovereignty of God, but we also have responsibilities to take action to live out His truth.  As believers, we follow His revealed will, presented in the Bible, but we must watch the slow unveiling of His purposes for our lives.  “Trust and obey,/ for there’s no other way/ to be happy in Jesus,/ but to trust and obey.”

 

 

Lord Jesus, we commit this day and our lives to You.  Help us to grow into full maturity and to encourage others to do the same.  Plant Your Word in our lives and bring its truths to even greater flourishing within our hearts and minds.  In Your Name, amen.

 

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

Tuesday October 21

Jeremiah 37-38

1 Timothy 6

Psalms 89:38-52

Proverbs 25:28

"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.  After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it.  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction."

1 Timothy 6:6-9

A lot of us worry about money. A lot of us wish we had more money. A lot of us have done things we're not proud of in order to get it. Money by itself is not a bad thing. When consumes our thoughts, we need to change how we view it. Money is not where we find security and contentment. We can only experience those things from God. He provides us with all that we need, so we have every reason to be content. We won't be motivated by wealth because we already have all that we need in Him.

October 20: Denying the truth does not make it false

Jeremiah 35:1-36:32

1 Timothy 5:1-25

Psalm 89:14-37

Proverbs 25:25-27

A modern idiom that, it appears, would have been utterly lost on Jehoiakim: "Don't shoot the messenger." Because Jehoiakim so despised the message from God that he not only methodically burned the scroll on which it was written, little by little, but he commanded that Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet be arrested.  I can't imagine prison there was going to be anything like "Club Fed".  

Here's the thing, though: that Jehoiakim felt compelled to respond that way tells me the message was NOT meaningless.  It mattered to him.  But his response was to cut it up and throw it into the fire, and then order the arrest of the messengers, as a way, perhaps, of denying the very existence of the message.  Clearly, that wasn't going to work - God then turned around, had Baruch and Jeremiah rewrite the message, with an addendum describing Jehoiakim's fate.  

I cannot help but think how much what Jehoiakim did takes place today.  We live in a society that has systematically taken God's word and twisted it beyond all recognition, to justify actions and behavior it wants to embrace and enjoy, a society that denies God's existence and enshrines man as the highest power and greatest authority, then seeks out and demonizes those that have the temerity to continue to recognize our Sovereign God.  The stories are everywhere, even among various churches.  One gets the sense they'd forgotten Proverbs 25:26: "Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked."

The good news is that, as Jehoiakim eventually finds out, denying God's word does not affect its existence, its nature.  And as Jeremiah and Baruch learn, God protects those who abide in HIs word.  As the psalmist says, "righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne...blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk n the light of Your presence, Lord."  And he notes God's promise to His anointed ones: "My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.  The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him."

It isn't easy; in fact, on our own strength, it is increasingly difficult to live according to God's Word.  But it is precisely because it is impossible to do it on our own strength that it is imperative we cleave to His Word, that we may find the strength to live with Him in spite of the pressure of the world to do otherwise.  

Saturday 10/18/2014

Saturday, October 18, 2014 [What’s Most Important]

Jeremiah 32:36-38

36 “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 37 I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Jerusalem - God’s City.  

Zion - God’s Mountain.

The Temple - God’s House.

The Israelites had put all of their trust in the "things of God."  They worshipped in Jerusalem, at the placed where God lived, in His Temple.  In their minds, as long as they went to Temple and made the proper sacrifices they could do whatever else they wanted.  They placed their security, hope and confidence in the “things of God” rather than the Lord God Himself.  They felt as if they were indestructible because they lived at the "center of the world," worshipping the God of the universe.  “What can possibly happen to us,” they must have thought.  In his book, The Promise-Plan of God, Walter Kaiser comments, “It was as if they were using God’s temple as a rabbit’s foot charm for good luck.  God could not and would not storm his own sanctuary and dwelling place - so Judah thought!”  They held on so tightly to the “things of God” that they completely ignored, and turned their hearts away from, "the God of all things.”  Their lips worshipped God, but their hearts worshipped things.

This is an easy trap for us to fall into.  God blesses us with a new job and soon the job becomes our object of worship above the One Who Gave it.  God blesses us with a new love and soon the person/relationship becomes our object of worship.  God blesses us with finances, opportunities, position, etc., and it becomes easy for us to worship that “thing" rather than God.    So, what was God’s plan for helping His children to see this great error?  He had to allow the things to be taken and destroyed so that they might see that in their absence He still remained.  

There are times when God will take things away so that He can show us how much greater He is.  This is not to steal our joy, security or hope, but rather to help us see the true source of it all.  God knows that if we put all of our confidence in anything other than Him we will eventually be shaken, stumble, and then fall.  What kind of Father wants that to be the end for His kids?

So, how can we guard our hearts from falling into the trap of worshipping things?

1.  Remember and rehearse that “every good and perfect gift is from above.” (James 1:17)  The blessings of life, and life itself, are not “luck” or “chance.”  They are given to us by God.

2.  Give thanks to God in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18).

3.  Remember our identity (Jeremiah 32:38) - We are His people and He is Our God.  This is a relationship that is like a marriage.  We need to strive to keep “things” from coming in between this relationship.

Father, all life, hope and security is in You.  As the psalmist sang, “all our fountains are in You.”  Help us to turn our hearts away from the things around us and teach us how to keep our that we would turn our hearts toward You.   

October 17th

October 17th

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.
In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. (‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1-6, 8‬ NLT)

I find it interesting that Paul's first instruction that he gives his disciple Timothy in this letter is: Pray. Not that I am surprised by this. But this, I believe, shows us how important prayer needs to be in our everyday lives. And Paul goes on to list all people and then specifies to pray for those in authority. This past 40 plus days has been a great challenge for me. Reading through the book "draw the circle" has encouraged me, but most of all, it has helped me to start a prayer-routine. I have never been good at spending time in prayer. Reading and studying the word was always easier for me to do. But in the last year I have begun to really see the importance of praying. In January, in both Heidi's and Kim's situations, the air was thick with the prayers of the people of God. I really believe that Heidi would not have gotten a heart, and Kim would not have come out of her coma or revived from that sickness, without the prayers of God's people at work. And we praise God for His miracles! But I believe that the lesson that God is trying to teach us, or at least me, goes much further than praying in times of trouble. The lesson is that we need to lean on our Savior for every aspect of our lives. God is not only there in times of trouble. Even in the good times, he is right there with us. I think that God wants us to share our lives with Him, not just come to Him for rescue! And I believe that prayer is key to that relationship. Yes, we need to read the Word of God to hear what He is saying to us, but we also need to communicate with Him in prayer. One thing that I have started doing this past 40 days is praying out loud. It has really helped me to keep my focus when I am talking to my best friend! I pray that every person who is reading this will understand the power that prayer has in our lives. The power that asking God for our needs and our dreams and desires, when in line with His will, really has. We started out this year with two miracles, let's continue to pray Big!

Sent from my iPad

Thursday, October 16

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014

Jeremiahs 28:1–29:32

1 Timothy 1:1–20

Psalm 86:1–17

Proverbs 25:17

 

 

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.  Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.  The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

 

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:12–17)

 

 

Paul notes his human history and remarks on the seeming incongruence of calling him to serve as a “light for the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:47; Isaiah 49:6)  Despite his blaspheming and persecuting background, God “poured out” His grace “abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 1:14)

 

Along with Paul, we share a common heritage of receiving God’s grace.  By our sin, we too deserve to be separated from God’s love and presence.  Yet, by His grace, He has called us to His side and sealed us with the promised Holy Spirit, a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance to come.  In humility, we should certainly agree with Paul:  “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.”  Our changed lives provide an “example” for others:  the “display” of His “immense patience.”

 

In the final verse above, Paul offers a doxology (praise) to the “King eternal, immortal, invisible,” seeking His “glory for ever and ever.”  This verse has deep significance for me, primarily as it spoke life into my physical and spiritual grandfather, Jonathan Edwards.

 

Born in 1703 and raised in Enfield, Conn., Edwards started at Yale at the age of 13 and graduated as valedictorian in 1720.  He initially struggled with the sovereignty of God, remarking:  “From my childhood up, my mind had been full of objections against the doctrine of God’s sovereignty.  It used to appear a horrible doctrine to me.”  In 1721, he meditated on 1 Timothy 1:17 and later explained:  “As I read the words, there came into my soul and was, as it were, diffused through it, a sense of the glory of the Divine Being – a new sense, quite different from anything I ever experienced before.  I thought [to] myself:  How excellent a Being that was and how happy I should be if I might enjoy that God and be rapt up to him in heaven and be, as it were, swallowed up in him forever!”

 

From this point forward, Edwards would delight in the sovereignty of God and become one of the greatest voices in theology in expounding this truth.  He recognized these reflections on 1 Timothy 1:17 as the moment of his conversion.

 

As we have read the Bible this year, which verses have spoken most clearly to you?  To whom might you share the truths that God presented to you?

 

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for reviving our hardened hearts.  You have spoken life into dry bones and shown amazing patience, even with our wandering hearts.  Strengthen us to share the truths of Your Word with a world hungry for hope and rest.  Deepen our trust in Your sovereign grace and Your power to accomplish every good purpose in our lives, for Your praise, honor, and glory.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

October 14: When things go wrong as they sometimes will...

Jeremiah 22:1-23:20

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Psalm 83:1-18

Proverbs 25:11-14

When I was reading today's scripture from Jeremiah, I was struck by the occurrence of the words "adulterer" and "adultery" used in the context of sinfulness described.  Typically, when we think of adultery, we define it as the act a married individual commits when having sexual relations with someone other than their spouse.  But in this reading, there does not seem to be any marital or sexual context in the usage of the words.  The adultery, or the unfaithfulness to one's spouse, that is discussed here seems to refer to a people covenanted to God who have since become unfaithful, rejecting Him in place of others - Baal, , false hopes, visions from their own minds...all of which have become acceptable to the people about whom Jeremiah prophesies.  

The world today is a challenging one for Christians already struggling with our own sinfulness.  The world creates a context where that very sinfulness we seek to throw off is not only acceptable, but desirable.  It almost seems unfair that we not only have to undergo the trials of our own susceptibility to sin, but that we have to do so listening to the world's goading, goading particularly discouraging when it seems that, by our sinful actions, we have proven the world right.  

I was reminded of a poem my father told me about:

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;

   When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;

When the funds are low, and the debts are high

   And you want to smile, but have to sigh;

When care is pressing you down a bit-

   Rest if you must, but do not quit.

Success is failure turned inside out;   

   The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;

And you can never tell how close you are

   It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-

   It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.

- Author Unknown

Full disclosure, these next thoughts are from Pastor Scott...the Thessalonians knew a bit about perseverance when things were tough and, in their persevering, they saw "the love all of you have for one another is increasing".  And Paul reminded them that their suffering gave evidence of the rightness and righteousness of God's judgement, and that they would receive the reward denied those Jeremiah wrote about - to be counted worthy of the kingdom of God.  

But Paul noted that the battle, while already won, was still ongoing.  Which is why he reminded the Thessalonians that "we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by His power [not ours!] He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith."  This is a reminder that, as the battle still rages, we need to be praying for each other, that we might remain strong - not in and of ourselves, but in God.  

I thank God for His forgiveness, His encouragement, His strength, and His ultimate reward.

Tuesday October 14

Jeremiah 23:21-25:38

2 Thessalonians 2

Psalms 84:1-12

Proverbs 25:15

~Psalm 84~

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven's Armies. 

I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. 

What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.

What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. 

O Lord God of Heaven's Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob. 

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. 

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. 

O Lord of Heaven's Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

I love Psalm 84. It is so refreshing to read, so peaceful, so reassuring. No matter that you are going through, this psalm will speak to you. There should be no other place that anyone would rather be than in the presence of God. Even if you walk through the Valley of Weeping, being in His presence will heal all your hurts and wounds.

It's easy to feel weighed down by the world. There is a lot of darkness and sin and hurt. There is a very real enemy who knows our weaknesses and knows how to use them against us. But no matter what pain we experience, no matter if things in life seem unfair, no matter if someone wrongs or hurts us, none of that matters because we can always be with our loving, power God. 

He will turn the Valley of Weeping into grace and glory and joy!

Saturday 10/11/14

Saturday, October 11, 2014 [There’s Still Hope]

Jeremiah 18:1-4

"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:  'Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.' So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”

The prophecies of Jeremiah are filled with conviction for Israel.  After all that the Lord had done to bless them, to keep them, and to make His Face shine upon them, they still (like us) found a way to turn their backs to Him.  God created us n his likeness to have a heart that He alone could fill in our relationship with Him.  Yet, it is a part of our fallen human condition to try to fill that space with other things.  Much like the clay being formed in the potter’s hands that had some flaw which caused it to become misshapen, our bent toward pride and following our own ways causes a marring in our lives.  As I think of my own journey - the mistakes that I’ve made, the bridges I’ve burned, the people that I’ve hurt - I can imagine me in God’s Hands slipping and sliding through His fingers and resisting being shaped into the vessel that He had planned originally.  However, this passage gives me such great hope.  All is not lost!

“Turn from your evil ways…and reform your ways and actions” (Jeremiah 18:11).  The promise of verses 8 and 11 is that if I repent, God will relent.  God was not finished with Israel and He’s not finished with us, either.  Even though the clay was marred in His hands, He did not throw it away and start all over again.  He took the very same marred clay and began to form it into another pot…as seemed best to him.  He is always looking out for a way to secure our best for the sake of His Name and Glory.  Though I’ve made a great and many mistakes, God is not finished with me.  He calls me to repentance and rest in him (see Isaiah 30:15), a stillness that will allow Him to mold me and shape me into something that He will use to bring many people close to Him and show them His love.  He loves me so much that He will not simply discard me…and He has the same love for each one of us.  What an Awesome and Loving Father!

October 10th

October 10th

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven's Armies. (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬ NLT)

During this One Year Bible reading plan, we have been on a journey of discovery. When you dig into the word of God, even if you are reading a passage that you have read many times, God reveals something different to you. It is God unfolding the glorious mystery of Christ to us. Reading God's word is vital to our faith, and it is eye-opening. But one of the most important things it can be is sustaining. We, like Jeremiah was in our reading today, are in the midst of a battle. Our battle is spiritual, it is not of this world. But we can have the same joy in our struggle that Jeremiah could have, for the same reason. If we bear the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies, then when we discover His words, and devour them, they can be our heart's delight. It doesn't matter what you are going through, God has words for you to discover! And His words can be your heart's delight!

Sent from my iPad

Thursday, October 9

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Jeremiahs 12:1–14:10

1Thessalonians 1:1–2:8

Psalm 79:1–13

Proverbs 24:30–3

 

 

“We continually remember your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ….  For we know, brothers, loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.  You know how we lived among you for your sake.  You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3–7)

 

 

Paul writes these words to the Thessalonian church in perhaps his first canonical letter, written in 51 AD.  Some scholars have dated Galatians in 48/49 AD, which may place it ahead of 1 Thessalonians.  The letter uniquely targets end-times theology (eschatology), as each chapter concludes with a reference to the Second Coming.  Paul wishes to encourage these brothers and sisters to remain faithful in spite of severe trials, giving them assurance concerning the future for those who pass away before Christ returns (4:13–18).

 

Paul had only visited with the Thessalonians for three weeks (Acts 17:1–10).  With little time for discipleship, Paul feared that the Thessalonian believers might have little support in the midst of persecution.  Indeed, Paul and Silas were forced to escape from Thessalonica to Berea.  While Paul reasoned first in the Jewish synagogue, this letter indicates that many early Thessalonian believers were Gentiles.

 

In that short time, Paul and his companions sought to demonstrate the unconditional love of God, much like a loving father and a constructive father.  These servants were willing to undertake manual labor, an anathema to Greeks, in order to place the Thessalonians’ needs above their own.  They lived blamelessly for the benefit of the Gospel:  “On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.  We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.  You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed – God is our witness.  We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4–6a)

 

In his opening remarks to the Thessalonian believers, he reminds them of how faith promotes action and how the Holy Spirit worked among them in the outpouring of the Gospel and in bringing joy through difficult times.

 

We find the triad of faith, hope, and love presented first here in 1 Thessalonians.  These concepts, however, do not sit idly on the shelf as a lovely artifact to observe; rather, they compel the Christ-follower to “work,” labor,” and “endurance.”  This work involves honoring God and serving others and flows naturally from the gratefulness of a redeemed heart.  Also, please note that “hope” – a firm belief in the secure reality of God and His Word – leads to “endurance” – staying the course through life’s ups and downs.

 

The Holy Spirit brought the words of the Gospel to life through “power” and “deep conviction.”  While the Gospel makes rational sense, the Holy Spirit intervenes in our minds to bring us to repentance and faith.  His presence with the Thessalonian church provided approval for these servants and reassurance of the Gospel.  In ministry, while we faithfully follow what God has called us to do, the results lie in His loving and gracious hands.

 

The Holy Spirit’s intervention then extended to giving the Thessalonian believers joy in the face of persecution.  In our natural selves, difficult circumstances typically produce bitterness, envy, or complaints.  I am very susceptible to this pattern!  Still, by God’s grace, the Holy Spirit may bear fruit in love, joy, peace, and other God-given characteristics.  Those who have given their lives to Christ and are submitting each day to him may live according to this pattern.

 

 

Lord Jesus, You are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.  We are in tumultuous times, and we ask that you renew our joy by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Help us to live as a blessing to others and for the praise of Your glory.  Give us endurance for each day and the grace to recognize our moment-by-moment dependence on You.  Speak and reconfirm Your Gospel into our hearts and minds as we seek Your face.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

Tuesday, October 7

Jeremiah 8:8-9:26

Colossians 3:1-17

Psalms 78:32-55

Proverbs 24:27

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

Colossians 3:2

This was one of the first scripture verses I ever memorized. I love it because it's easy to remember! And also because it's so important and says so much in these ten little words. Many of our problems and stresses and worries and difficulties can be answered by this verse.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Focus on the eternal, not the temporary. It's that simple. We make it difficult because that's not our natural inclination. We need to make an effort to do this everyday. Verse 12 tells us how to do this: Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

I encourage all of you to memorize this verse. It can come in handy no matter what your need is. I know I'm thankful for the reminder.

October 10: The Transformative Power of Relationships

Jeremiah 6:16-8:7

Colossians 2:8-23

Psalm 78:1-31

Proverbs 24:26

Jer 6:9-10  "Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say "We are safe" - safe to do all these detestable things?"

Relationships are interesting, powerful, transformative things.  When I got married in 1996, when I was almost 31, to a wonderful woman who, in hindsight, I did not know anywhere near well enough, I committed myself to a relationship without fully understanding what that meant.  And so, in many ways, I remained who I was - in many ways, a 30-odd year accumulation of selfishness, bad habit and sin, singularly unqualified to be a husband.  And, to compound the problem, sixteen days short of a year later, we had our beloved daughter.  So now I was unqualified for two roles I needed to fill - husband and father.  

That was almost 18 years ago that we got married, and as I look back, I realize how guilty I was of what The Lord accuses the Israelites of through Jeremiah.  I called myself a husband and father, and I came to the same home...but thought that because I worked to put a roof over the family's heads and food on the table, I was free to behave however I wanted.  

Thankfully, over that time, I have gotten to know my wife and daughter, and the two boys that followed.  And as my relationship with them grew, what I wanted changed as well.  I no longer wanted to spend a lot of time with my friends apart from them, no longer looked for the late hours that I thought were the surest path to advancement, wasn't really sure I wanted the advancement if it came at tremendous cost to our improving closeness.  I am not perfect by any means, but the growth of our relationship has been increasingly transformative.

I think it must be the same with our Lord.  For as long as we do not know Him, nor have a relationship with Him, we will claim to be disciples and children, but will act otherwise, burning "incense to Baal" and following "other gods [we] have not known".  So the trick is to get to know Him and, for that, as with any relationship, there is no substitute for communication and time together.  

As I try to spend even more time in order to get to know the wonderful wife and children with whom God has blessed me, I need to also spend more time in prayer and in His word to get to know Him better.  Perhaps you might care to join me?

10/4/14 Blog

Saturday, October 4, 2014  

"We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might.” (Colossians 1:9-11)

We are always looking for something new.  The latest gadget, the newest in automobile technology, a better TV, a faster computer, the latest fashions, a better diet…we have an infatuation with “new” and we’re constantly looking for “better.”   Every weekday morning that I am at the gym I see an infomercial for some new workout, new weight loss supplement, new home gym equipment, or new drug that is supposed to shave off months of hard work so that “you can look and feel great now” (in my corny announcer voice)….”for only 4 easy payments of $19.95!”  I think many of us have been duped into believing that lie and have a box of weight loss pills sitting on top of a cheap piece of exercise equipment somewhere in our basement collecting dust or repurposed in our bedroom as a hanger for yesterday’s clothes.  

The early Christians had the same issue.  In fact, when Paul wrote Colossians, a new doctrine was on the rise, a heresy similar to Gnosticism.  One of the beliefs of this heresy was that to get closer to God one must acquire secret knowledge, hidden from most Christians.  In other words, the Good News was no longer “good enough”; some people were looking  for something new.  There are two major take-aways that I get from the beginning of this letter.  First, the gospel is not just good news, but it is the BEST news and cannot be improved with anything “new.”  Secondly, the accumulation of special knowledge will not get you any closer to God.

As Paul prays for the Colossian church, he prays that God will fill them with wisdom and understanding through the Spirit, not the “secret knowledge” handed out by men.  And this wisdom and understanding is not received for selfish reasons; it’s not just so a person can be closer to God or experience eternity with Him.  Paul prays that the wisdom and understanding that God gives will help the church to live a life worthy of the Lord (a life that God would be pleased to watch as it is lived out), that bears fruit and is productive for the kingdom of God.  Our goal as followers of Christ is not to just collect cool information about the Bible or spiritual things, but to gain the wisdom and understanding of God through the Holy Spirit that transforms us so that we can live lives that bless those around us.  It all begins and ends with Christ - He is more than enough.

Oct. 3

Jeremiah 1

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations
Do not say "I am only a child". You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord.

Much like Moses and many others, Jeremiah didn't see himself as qualified to carry out the message God had given him to deliver. If we look at what God says though, God isn't sending Jeremiah because of his qualifications, He is sending Jeremiah because God appointed him way before he was even born.  With that appointment comes Gods guarantee for him not to be afraid because He will rescue him wherever God sends him.  So why should that command be any different for us?  As His sons and daughters He appointed us as prophets to the nations long before we were born. We have a message to deliver - His - and He will send us wherever He needs us to go.  This entire universe and everything in it is His by His design, that includes us. I can't speak for anyone else but I wrestle when God sends me places I don't want to go. When we face spiritual warfare because we are in unfamiliar territory that God has sent us to the only strength we have to draw on is His. We have to remember that in His sovereignty He has allowed it or appointed it.   Anything we need to do or say wherever we are will come to us through the power of His Holy Spirit that's why He tells us not to be afraid. We have to remember how well equipped we are in Christ.  We also read in Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God". If we are worrying, we aren't trusting.  For me, this reading came at a perfect time (not surprised).  What I have learned this week is that when God sends me somewhere and I don't understand, I'm afraid, and would prefer to be elsewhere the ONLY way to get through it is to pray, alone and with others. When we put this into practice, we equip ourselves to fight the battle and put ourselves in a position that allows God to rescue us. Although the circumstance might not change right away, His rescue begins with peace that surpasses understanding.  Today was a much better day for me.

Thursday, October 2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014

Isaiah 66:1–24

Philippians 3:4b–21

Psalm 74:1–23

Proverbs 24:15,16

 

 

“This is the one I esteem:

                he who is humble and contrite in spirit,

                and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2b)

 

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.  I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, become like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:7–11)

 

 

Turning his back on the flesh- and law-oriented “righteousness” that he had once pursued, Paul states his commitment to radical humility.  Please note that this picture extends and personalizes the call to servanthood that Paul presented in Philippians 2:1–11.

 

How may we practically strive to become “humble and contrite in spirit”?  In popular speech, “humility” often carries the connotation of thinking lowly of ourselves (through self-deprecation).  These efforts may quickly enter the category of diminishing God’s creativeness in us, heading towards self-loathing.  That type of thinking drives us towards depression and spiritual and emotional bankruptcy.

 

Biblically, humility involves thinking rightly about ourselves and about God.  John Newton, the reformed slave trader and author of “Amazing Grace,” explained:  “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly:  I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior.”  By trusting in Christ, we may become part of God’s redeemed family, adopted as sons and sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.  Yet, we continue to struggle against sin.  Only through God’s intervening grace may we grow in our capacity to serve and honor God.  While we acknowledge our sinfulness and shortcomings, we must, in the same glance, look at the all-sufficiency of Christ’s finished work on the cross.  As Isaiah 53:5 explains, “But he was pierced for our transgressions,/ he was crushed for our iniquities;/ the punishment that brought us peace was on him,/ and by his wounds we are healed.”

 

Paul eagerly desires to become a servant with this kind of humility.  Our country’s many blessings may have caused us to “expect” God’s favor as we follow Him, but Paul’s path seems much rockier and more daunting.  For Paul, his life-goal revolves around “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”  He may have surrendered worldly ways, but he anticipates a rich inheritance in the resurrection.

 

Paul’s surrender echoes Jesus’s teaching:  “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.  What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mark 8:34b–37)  Or, similarly, that great truth from Jim Elliott, an American missionary who died bringing the Gospel to the Auca people of Ecuador, whom he loved:  “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

 

I fall very short of this ideal.  I recognize more and more that my clinging to this world stems from making God and His promises of eternal life too small relative to the temporal blessings of this world.

 

 

Lord God, thank You for bringing Jesus to the world to become a great Savior.  We acknowledge that we are desperately in need of Your grace and provision in our lives.  Without You, we are nothing.  Increase our vision for Your eternal purposes.  Help us to become unshackled from the preoccupations of this world and to fix our hearts on knowing You and making You known.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

Tuesday September 30

Isaiah 60:1-62:5

Philippians 1:27-2:18

Psalms 72:1-20

Proverbs 24:11-12

"Don't be intimidated in any way by your enemies."

Philippians 1:28

I can very easily be intimidated. I don't like confrontation. I don't like it when people are angry or upset. Oftentimes, I feel uncomfortable in large groups of people or with being the center of attention. Also, I often worry about how things will go wrong. I play scenarios out in my head and then can get myself overwhelmed with anxiety over things that may not actually ever happen. As I said, I can very easily be intimidated.

Here, in Philippians, Paul is telling his fellow believers to not be intimidated by their enemies, because we serve a great and powerful God who is always on our side. Even when faced with physical suffering (like Paul did), we still have no reason to be intimidated or scared or worried because God who is infinitely powerful and loving has everything in the palm of His hand.

Here are some snippets from Day 2 in Draw The Circle. This was something that I definitely needed reminding of:

"When was the last time you lost sleep because you were concerned about the Creator keeping the planets in orbit? When was the last time you got on your knees at night and prayed, 'Lord, thanks for keeping the planets rotating. I wasn't sure if we'd make the full rotation today, but You did it again!' I'm guessing the answer to these questions is never."

"We don't doubt God's ability to keep the planets in orbit, but we have a difficult time believing He can keep our lives in orbit. You tell me which is more difficult - keeping the planets in orbit or determining our steps? The truth is that we already trust God for the big things; now we need to trust Him for the little things."

Bottom line: Don't be intimidated by anything that stands in your way because God has everything under control and He is on your side.