"Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, how then can man understand his way" (Prov. 20:24)
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive" (Gen 50:20)
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God....(Rom 8:28)
I just returned from Louisville this afternoon after meeting with a Hematology/Oncologist. He adviced me on the next steps on this journey I have been on since the discovery of a mass in my pelvic area. This mass was found as a result of a cat scan that was conducted after a major traffic accident on January 20th. In reviewing the events that happened the past 10 weeks and tying them in with scriptures that God has laid on my heart it is very evident that HE is in charge and that HE is constantly working things in my life for good...HIS good!! But sometimes I may not see it.
As we study the account of Joseph and his brothers in the book of Genesis we see that after Joseph became "prime minister" of Egypt that his brothers come to him to purchase grain for their family. Years had obviously passed and the brothers did not recognize Joseph but he recognized them and proceeded to "test" them. As the brothers returned to Jacob,there father,they informed him of the situation(Gen 42:26-35) and we see in v.36 that Jacob reacts to the news "You have bereaved me of my children:Joseph is no more,and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin; all these things are against me." This is Jacob,the man who had wrestled with God. The grandson of Father Abraham! But he basically says he is devastated,everything is against me! He is on the edge of utter despair!
The perception is that things arent well with Joseph's soul. But things aren't always as they seem to the naked eye!
What was the reality?
-Joseph was some more!
-Joseph was the prime minister of Egypt!
-Simeon, humanly speaking was never more safe than at that moment in the custody of his brother!
-Simeon was some more,not no more!
-Jacob never had more going for him that in that moment!
-The whole drama here is showing that God in his providence has Jacob and his sons in the palm of HIS hands!
-It was all totally and completely invisible to Jacob!
As I have looked back at the last 10 weeks I realize "that God causes all things to work together for good...."
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
The GIFT the world cannot give
As my walk with the Lord has matured I have made this statement numerous times..."the greatest gift the Lord has given me besides my salvation is the gift of peace"
Definition of PEACE ( Webster's Dictionary)
1
: a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom <a breach of the peace>
2
: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3
: harmony in personal relations
I pulled some of the words from Webster's definition that I thought would fit into my description of the gift of peace..."a state of quiet", "freedom", "a state of security", "freedom from oppressive thoughts", "harmony in personal relations"....then I read John 14:27 (NLT version)
"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So dont be troubled or afraid"
This peace from God is unlike any peace the world can offer to you and I. I believe that ultimately everybody desires one thing when they lay there head down on the pillow each night---not more money, not a bigger house,not power and fame---I believe everybody wants peace!! So we go about in the world seeking it and as I was on this journey seeking it I realized that the only place that tells me it has been truly offered to me was in the Word of God...."I am leaving you with a gift---peace...." Why would someone keep seeking something that cannot be found in the place they are seeking it? Yet that is happening every minute of every day. I have aksed God to give me His eyes and His heart to be able to recognize those that are on this journey searching for peace. Then for HIM to give me the strength and power to share with them that this world cannot give them what they are searching for but there is someone who can and it is a free gift!! This gift will allow me,you and them to live our lives not troubled or afraid as we hold tightly to His hand and walk in His steps not ours.
Father, thank you for your gift of peace!!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
REFLECTION....an inner conversation
In 2 Samuel 22:2-51 we see King David starts to look back at his life,tracking the hand of God in his life. This section of scripture is virtually identical to Psalm 18. In the book of Psalms this song is employed as a pattern of worship for the Isrealites of old but is that same example to us. David's message is really quite simple:
v.1-3 He praises God because God is the one who keeps him safe
v. 4-20 When he called on God, God rescued him. When he was in trouble, he called on God and God heard him and saved him (many times from himself)
v. 21-29 God saved him because God had called him righteous
v. 30-46 God saved him by giving him the strength to fight and to prevail over his enemies
v. 47-50 He just praises God!!
v. 51 Because God had shown HIS lovingkindness, He would show it to David's descendants
David stops and takes time to reflect on what God had done in his life. He looked back at every event, every human transaction and discovered the "oil and gold" from God's hand being on his life. He didnt allow his present circumstances to rob him of the joy of the Lord in his life. It is said that leaders that who dont take the time,who dont feel the need,who do not think they are capable of inner conversations (reflection) with God,put themselves in enormous danger.
Are you so busy that you arent "mining the oil and discovering the gold" from God's hand in your life? Do you realize that helps ease suffering from trial and tribulations? It allows us to start viewing life from God's perspective instead of the enemies.
It's said that.."All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber"
Are you learning how to be alone? You cant have inner conversations until you do. The more you are alone, the more you will crave to be alone. Then HE will sit patiently in that "loneliness" with you as you reflect om HIM and the grace HE has bestowed on you. HE is so faithful!!!
v.1-3 He praises God because God is the one who keeps him safe
v. 4-20 When he called on God, God rescued him. When he was in trouble, he called on God and God heard him and saved him (many times from himself)
v. 21-29 God saved him because God had called him righteous
v. 30-46 God saved him by giving him the strength to fight and to prevail over his enemies
v. 47-50 He just praises God!!
v. 51 Because God had shown HIS lovingkindness, He would show it to David's descendants
David stops and takes time to reflect on what God had done in his life. He looked back at every event, every human transaction and discovered the "oil and gold" from God's hand being on his life. He didnt allow his present circumstances to rob him of the joy of the Lord in his life. It is said that leaders that who dont take the time,who dont feel the need,who do not think they are capable of inner conversations (reflection) with God,put themselves in enormous danger.
Are you so busy that you arent "mining the oil and discovering the gold" from God's hand in your life? Do you realize that helps ease suffering from trial and tribulations? It allows us to start viewing life from God's perspective instead of the enemies.
It's said that.."All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber"
Are you learning how to be alone? You cant have inner conversations until you do. The more you are alone, the more you will crave to be alone. Then HE will sit patiently in that "loneliness" with you as you reflect om HIM and the grace HE has bestowed on you. HE is so faithful!!!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Are we limiting HIM in our lives??
Recently I read this from Oswald Chambers..."We limit the Holy One by remembering only what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past." I had to ask myself .."Is that my expectation of God?" I would have to say alot times it probably is, but why do I think that way? Hasn't scripture constantly shown me that HE can do the amazing and it even states that what is impossible with man is possible with GOD. My wife and I were talking yesterday about my recent health issues and she said she had been pondering whether or not we should be claiming victory for God that he answered prayers in making this mass that was found not be cancer. The doctors are saying that it apparently is something related to an old football injury. NO! It's HIM answering prayers and HIM doing more for me than anything HE had done in my past!! My expectation of HIM has to be based on who HE is not my past experiences. We see in Joshua 10:12-13 what that looks like...Joshua was leading an attack of the Amorites and HE asked God to do something that would seem "crazy" by most of our thinking.
"O sun stand still at Gibeon,and O moon in the valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies."
Joshua had an "audacious faith" to ask God to make the sun stand still. Scripture doesnt tell us that God had ever done anything like this before for Joshua. So he wasn't limiting God by his own past experiences. What's really crazy is that it says GOD did what Joshua asked! WOW!! That is the GOD we serve. GOD chose to answers Joshua's prayer. HE did what only HE could do. HE did it in a way that cant be explained and that His people would never forget. HE wants to do exceedingly,abundanly more than we could ever imagine so we can marvel at HIM everyday. How about asking and trusting HIM to do just that!!!!
"O sun stand still at Gibeon,and O moon in the valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies."
Joshua had an "audacious faith" to ask God to make the sun stand still. Scripture doesnt tell us that God had ever done anything like this before for Joshua. So he wasn't limiting God by his own past experiences. What's really crazy is that it says GOD did what Joshua asked! WOW!! That is the GOD we serve. GOD chose to answers Joshua's prayer. HE did what only HE could do. HE did it in a way that cant be explained and that His people would never forget. HE wants to do exceedingly,abundanly more than we could ever imagine so we can marvel at HIM everyday. How about asking and trusting HIM to do just that!!!!
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