Thoughts for another day
September 30, 2010
Today's verse: Is. 49:23b. they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Yesterday we reflected on the love of Jesus Christ and the way He exalts us even when we well know we're not worth it. And today, our Father God, says the same thing and mind you, He says this at a time when the Jews had committed all the folly they could and transgressed everything the Lord had told them not to do. Then His wrath fell upon them driving them into exile to Babylon. The time at the end of the exile is the context of our Word today.
You know it is a tough thing for us to forgive someone who sins against us grievously and accept them as our own. Yet God, though we despise Him and bleed His heart, has enough love to forgive us. In many ways, He comes to us as a human being would so we can easily relate to Him and to what He says; this is seen in ch. 49 of Isaiah. What is also seen is His great love; the very same love that resulted in the broken body of Jesus Christ and His crucifixion on the cross. And don't forget Him saying, 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do!'
When it comes to love for us, God can never be found to be short in supply. The more love we crave from Him, the more He gives us. Sometimes we may not feel it and hoping in hope we wait for Him. We're not ashamed to wait for Him, when the situation with us is that of water having come till the neck, a little more and we are finished; yet He will never allow that for He says, they shall never be ashamed that wait for Me! Many of us today are waiting for Him. I for one, am and believe me it's painful. But God provides me His unshakeable Word, 'They shall not be ashamed who wait for Me!' and yes, my spirit soars with confidence in Him for I know that a little more and He will be pleased to show His mighty arm in my favor, yes in our favor for He is our God and He is a faithful God and heaven and earth may cease, His Word will yet remain.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 29, 2010
Today's verse: Rev. 3:8. I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Jesus Christ for most of us is God and there ends our knowledge of Him. Some of us go further to find out just what God means and what kind of God He is; and then begins the discovery of One who is so good that we're shocked to learn the meaning of the love of the beloved
Lamb of God.
In our Scripture today we learn that He has set before us an open door and no man can shut the door and He understands our weakness and the fact that despite it we have kept His Word and haven't denied His Name. Imagine the King of the universe saying a thing like that. You know many a time He glosses over our sins and forgives us the very things that have hurt Him a lot. But He appreciates the little things we do bringing honor to His Name. He greatly loves when we revel in Him and stick fast to our faith when the tide is against us. Jesus loves it when we stand rock solid in our faith in Him, when all around things are going wrong and we're faced with so much pain, not knowing which way to turn. And when we do not deny Him in this situation, His response is like His response to the Centurion's faith or the Syrophoenician woman's faith, 'Great indeed is your faith, let it be done to you according to your faith.'
See what Jesus says further in v 9 of the same chapter: 'behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.' What exaltation just because we did not deny Him! And He further says in v 10, 'Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.' Truly blessed are we who know Him and believe in Him and are poised to be spent for His work.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 28, 2010
Today's verse: 1 Tim. 4:4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
What has been declared by God to be clean, can man call dirty? And what is man that he go against God and state things anti of what has been stated by God. This was a lesson Peter received from the Lord in the matter regarding Cornelius who was a gentile yet a believer in Acts 10. Had God not paved the way for Peter to go to him, Peter wouldn't have gone and there would be one less community of Christians; but as it is, Peter went and we know what happened.
God is the One who declares 'things' about things and His declaration is true. No matter what it seem to us to be, God's Word is true and when He says something it is true. Truth is discovered by people who are true which is what Jesus told Pilate concerning the fact that He came to bear witness to the truth and everyone who belonged to the truth, accepted Him! And Pilate who did not understand this simply asked, 'What is truth'.
God has created all and it is well within God's Sovereignty and power to make clean or unclean; this concerns even human beings. In Jesus' time, the Pharisees and Scribes saw many of the Jews as sinners and unclean, but Jesus who made them saw them to be clean. They who had created barriers were upset with Jesus yet, He did not bother about them for He had come to make the unclean, clean. Now whether we take this Scripture literally with regard to food, or extrapolate it to include human beings, or even certain careers or whatever, what God has put in our path, let us accept it with gladness as from the LORD and be grateful. Then will the rising of the sun be witnessed in our lives to fill us with His sunshine at all times.
September 28, 2010
Today's verse: 1 Tim. 4:4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
What has been declared by God to be clean, can man call dirty? And what is man that he go against God and state things anti of what has been stated by God. This was a lesson Peter received from the Lord in the matter regarding Cornelius who was a gentile yet a believer in Acts 10. Had God not paved the way for Peter to go to him, Peter wouldn't have gone and there would be one less community of Christians; but as it is, Peter went and we know what happened.
God is the One who declares 'things' about things and His declaration is true. No matter what it seem to us to be, God's Word is true and when He says something it is true. Truth is discovered by people who are true which is what Jesus told Pilate concerning the fact that He came to bear witness to the truth and everyone who belonged to the truth, accepted Him! And Pilate who did not understand this simply asked, 'What is truth'.
God has created all and it is well within God's Sovereignty and power to make clean or unclean; this concerns even human beings. In Jesus' time, the Pharisees and Scribes saw many of the Jews as sinners and unclean, but Jesus who made them saw them to be clean. They who had created barriers were upset with Jesus yet, He did not bother about them for He had come to make the unclean, clean. Now whether we take this Scripture literally with regard to food, or extrapolate it to include human beings, or even certain careers or whatever, what God has put in our path, let us accept it with gladness as from the LORD and be grateful. Then will the rising of the sun be witnessed in our lives to fill us with His sunshine at all times.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 27, 2010
Today's verse: Deut. 11:25. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Have you an enemy so strong, the mere mention of his name is enough to send a chill down your spine or whose footsteps you dread to hear and wish you weren't alive to look at his face? Well, here's something that’s soup for your soul - God's Words in our Scripture. They'll comfort and assure you that He, the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob is around to smite the very strength in your enemies' hearts and fill them with a kind of dread that's inexplicable.
The mere Presence of God is enough to send shudders of fright in your enemies. I remember a real story of a woman who got delayed at work and had to cross a lonely park on her way home. The park was filled with thugs and muggers, who had no qualms of killing people for a few dollars. Yet, saying a small prayer she entered and crossed the park and reached home safely but a woman after her was murdered. When the cops sought witnesses who were in a park a few minutes before, she went to the station and identified some of the suspect muggers the cops had rounded up. When they were questioned whether they saw her, they said yes. Being further questioned, why they didn't mug her they simply said, 'how can you mug a person with a dozen amazingly huge body-guards!' But this lady knew none of her body guards!!!
Where my friend did they come from - sent obviously by the LORD God Almighty for the defense of His child, enough to fill the muggers with dread of her. So it is with any child of God who trusts Him completely. He will send His angels to guard them and ensure they come to no harm for He loves them and will protect them so none will be able to as much as scratch the skin on their arms.
September 27, 2010
Today's verse: Deut. 11:25. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Have you an enemy so strong, the mere mention of his name is enough to send a chill down your spine or whose footsteps you dread to hear and wish you weren't alive to look at his face? Well, here's something that’s soup for your soul - God's Words in our Scripture. They'll comfort and assure you that He, the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob is around to smite the very strength in your enemies' hearts and fill them with a kind of dread that's inexplicable.
The mere Presence of God is enough to send shudders of fright in your enemies. I remember a real story of a woman who got delayed at work and had to cross a lonely park on her way home. The park was filled with thugs and muggers, who had no qualms of killing people for a few dollars. Yet, saying a small prayer she entered and crossed the park and reached home safely but a woman after her was murdered. When the cops sought witnesses who were in a park a few minutes before, she went to the station and identified some of the suspect muggers the cops had rounded up. When they were questioned whether they saw her, they said yes. Being further questioned, why they didn't mug her they simply said, 'how can you mug a person with a dozen amazingly huge body-guards!' But this lady knew none of her body guards!!!
Where my friend did they come from - sent obviously by the LORD God Almighty for the defense of His child, enough to fill the muggers with dread of her. So it is with any child of God who trusts Him completely. He will send His angels to guard them and ensure they come to no harm for He loves them and will protect them so none will be able to as much as scratch the skin on their arms.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 24, 2010
Today's verse: Acts 7: 48, 49. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
The Lord our God is awesome and simply magnificent. He gives meaning to the term, 'all in all' because He is all in all. He is so vast that vastness is there because He is. He is beyond man's best attempts to perceive, because He is beyond perception. One cannot even envision God for God is simply beyond our efforts to envision. He is awesome beyond awesomeness, and more brilliant than, if I may say, a million suns for He is it's maker of the sun and to Him, it's just a blob of light.
Now then, imagine if you can, how this very God, most beautiful God chooses to come and dwell with us who are merely straws of grass, which wither away within no time in the heat of the sun. The Jews had made a temple for Him as He directed and they thought they were safe because He dwelt there and they felt that they could hold Him there, but then, God is God and not to be held in dwellings made with human hands for what dwelling is there that man can make for God? He is so great that He fills heaven and earth and we must know that the earth is just a resting place for His foot while His throne is heaven.
The Lord chooses the simplest things that man can give Him. He chooses our hearts to dwell in for He knows that our hearts are the seat of things which are the core of our beings and He wants to be a part of the core of our being so that we will always be in Him and He in us. My friend God seeks to dwell in us and He isn't asking us for much for He created us and He thinks it fit to come and dwell with us in our hearts and then someday, we will go dwell in His heart – isn't that a wonderful transaction that God allows us to have with Him?
September 24, 2010
Today's verse: Acts 7: 48, 49. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
The Lord our God is awesome and simply magnificent. He gives meaning to the term, 'all in all' because He is all in all. He is so vast that vastness is there because He is. He is beyond man's best attempts to perceive, because He is beyond perception. One cannot even envision God for God is simply beyond our efforts to envision. He is awesome beyond awesomeness, and more brilliant than, if I may say, a million suns for He is it's maker of the sun and to Him, it's just a blob of light.
Now then, imagine if you can, how this very God, most beautiful God chooses to come and dwell with us who are merely straws of grass, which wither away within no time in the heat of the sun. The Jews had made a temple for Him as He directed and they thought they were safe because He dwelt there and they felt that they could hold Him there, but then, God is God and not to be held in dwellings made with human hands for what dwelling is there that man can make for God? He is so great that He fills heaven and earth and we must know that the earth is just a resting place for His foot while His throne is heaven.
The Lord chooses the simplest things that man can give Him. He chooses our hearts to dwell in for He knows that our hearts are the seat of things which are the core of our beings and He wants to be a part of the core of our being so that we will always be in Him and He in us. My friend God seeks to dwell in us and He isn't asking us for much for He created us and He thinks it fit to come and dwell with us in our hearts and then someday, we will go dwell in His heart – isn't that a wonderful transaction that God allows us to have with Him?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 23, 2010
Today's verse: Josh. 21:45. There failed no part of any good thing which the Lord had promised to the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Amplified Bible – copyright acknowledged)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Has the Lord promised something and has it not been done? Never will you find such a thing happen, for what He has uttered, has to happen, just as when He said let there be light, light came into being and the world came to know what light meant.
God's Word always comes to be. God has the power to do that which He states has to be. He is in complete control of everything and He knows how to do everything for He is all powerful and every might is beneath His feet. God's greatness and Majesty is beyond compare and those who know Him well are aware of the immensity of His Being with us and the act of the power of His Word. You may recall when the tempest struck the Sea of Galilee, they were in fear of sinking and great dread had come upon them because of this fear. They were prancing about like rats and woke up the Master accusing Him of not caring. He got up, just commanded the elements, 'Peace, be still' and they quieted down. They were stunned for before their eyes someone had commanded the storm and it had died down and they were afraid for they had come face to face with the immensity of God's power. They had never seen such power exercised through a man.
So it can be with us my friend, provided we have that faith and steadfast trust in Him, the Master of us all. He says this Himself, 'Is there anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?' Think about it. When the Bible says, there failed nothing which the Lord had promised to the house of Israel and all came to pass, it means everything He had said, He brought about. His Word is the key for us to understand what He is to do and holding on to it is our key to appropriating His Word and filling our lives with His power.
September 23, 2010
Today's verse: Josh. 21:45. There failed no part of any good thing which the Lord had promised to the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Amplified Bible – copyright acknowledged)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Has the Lord promised something and has it not been done? Never will you find such a thing happen, for what He has uttered, has to happen, just as when He said let there be light, light came into being and the world came to know what light meant.
God's Word always comes to be. God has the power to do that which He states has to be. He is in complete control of everything and He knows how to do everything for He is all powerful and every might is beneath His feet. God's greatness and Majesty is beyond compare and those who know Him well are aware of the immensity of His Being with us and the act of the power of His Word. You may recall when the tempest struck the Sea of Galilee, they were in fear of sinking and great dread had come upon them because of this fear. They were prancing about like rats and woke up the Master accusing Him of not caring. He got up, just commanded the elements, 'Peace, be still' and they quieted down. They were stunned for before their eyes someone had commanded the storm and it had died down and they were afraid for they had come face to face with the immensity of God's power. They had never seen such power exercised through a man.
So it can be with us my friend, provided we have that faith and steadfast trust in Him, the Master of us all. He says this Himself, 'Is there anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?' Think about it. When the Bible says, there failed nothing which the Lord had promised to the house of Israel and all came to pass, it means everything He had said, He brought about. His Word is the key for us to understand what He is to do and holding on to it is our key to appropriating His Word and filling our lives with His power.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 22, 2010
Today's verse: Mt. 25:40. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
In the last 30 days, can you count how many times you have done something for the poor, the disadvantaged, the undesirable, the underprivileged, the sick and those who are oppressed? Well how many times… For most of us the answer will be maybe once, twice or thrice, etc. not more than ten anyway; of course if the only thing you do is care for these kind of people, then this question is not for you as you have already secured yourself a place in the heart of the King and don't have to worry. For us lesser mortals, this question is bound to create a little ruffle (size of the ruffle depends on how desperately you are seeking an entry into heaven.
Now what do we do about it as we know well the will of God in the matter of helping the poor and the disadvantaged. And the key question is why don't we do it? It's simply because we are so seized with ourselves that we do not see the route to the plight of others. We do not bend our hearts to the difficulties others face and the lives they lead of penury and sickness and a whole lot of woes. What we do see is that there are a lot of woes of our own and this even when our lives are on even keel and things are going smoothly.
What angers and embarrasses me, as regarding self as well as others is that we never get hold on the pain others go through nor the difficulties they have. We never seek to understand them and sort out issues with them. Our obsession with self is so much that we don't look beyond our boundaries and distance ourselves from others who we feel are looking for our support. Yes, my friend the sad thing is that we lack sympathy for others and do as we wish thinking that there're others to help others so we can escape. Yet there is going to be judgment time and at that time, the King is going to be critically looking at this picture in our lives. What answer will we have at that time?
September 22, 2010
Today's verse: Mt. 25:40. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
In the last 30 days, can you count how many times you have done something for the poor, the disadvantaged, the undesirable, the underprivileged, the sick and those who are oppressed? Well how many times… For most of us the answer will be maybe once, twice or thrice, etc. not more than ten anyway; of course if the only thing you do is care for these kind of people, then this question is not for you as you have already secured yourself a place in the heart of the King and don't have to worry. For us lesser mortals, this question is bound to create a little ruffle (size of the ruffle depends on how desperately you are seeking an entry into heaven.
Now what do we do about it as we know well the will of God in the matter of helping the poor and the disadvantaged. And the key question is why don't we do it? It's simply because we are so seized with ourselves that we do not see the route to the plight of others. We do not bend our hearts to the difficulties others face and the lives they lead of penury and sickness and a whole lot of woes. What we do see is that there are a lot of woes of our own and this even when our lives are on even keel and things are going smoothly.
What angers and embarrasses me, as regarding self as well as others is that we never get hold on the pain others go through nor the difficulties they have. We never seek to understand them and sort out issues with them. Our obsession with self is so much that we don't look beyond our boundaries and distance ourselves from others who we feel are looking for our support. Yes, my friend the sad thing is that we lack sympathy for others and do as we wish thinking that there're others to help others so we can escape. Yet there is going to be judgment time and at that time, the King is going to be critically looking at this picture in our lives. What answer will we have at that time?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 21, 2010
Today's verse: Is. 14:27. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
How many of us know that God is Sovereign and there's none who dare go against what is ordained by Him, for all they will get is failure and defeat. What God has purposed, what He has willed is what is to be, for it cannot be changed. If at all anyone can change it, it is He and He alone. By His decree, the earth came to be and by His Word everything was formed. All things came to be by the sheer figment of His imagination and they work according to His plan. If you but carefully observe, you'll notice that all of creation works according to His plan.
We may think we're in control but everything works, no matter how strange a notion it may seem in our ears, by His design and that includes terrorist activities or other insurgencies, for we don't know His purposes, but for sure, there's something He wants to bring out of the chaos, just as He brought the earth out of primordial chaos. The sole owner of the universe knows what He is doing, even if it means innocent die and many are subject to untold misery and pain. This may sound strange to you, but it has a biblical precedence. Jer 20:4 says, I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword. Now who decreed the destruction of Israel? The Lord Himself; yet Nebuchadnezzar must have thought it was he, strange isn't it. As for the cruelty bit, of destroying infants and other as an act of God, I'll only say, if He has created, doesn't He have the right to destroy? Who are we to sensitize Him, who actually gives us the power to do things?
One thing I always keep in mind is the fact that God loves us and times are when life becomes unbearable. We don't know why; we pray and get no answer; we're intensely hurt yet God doesn't do anything… Just as Jesus cried to His Father, but still had to die on the Cross and had He not died, how would we be saved? So no matter what He decrees, remember it's for our good. This thought may just be obliquely related to our Scripture, yet it's good to know God's ways and also know that when He has a purpose, it will happen. None can thwart it, however much they try for God's purposes are always fulfilled no matter how long it takes or how painful the journey.
September 21, 2010
Today's verse: Is. 14:27. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
How many of us know that God is Sovereign and there's none who dare go against what is ordained by Him, for all they will get is failure and defeat. What God has purposed, what He has willed is what is to be, for it cannot be changed. If at all anyone can change it, it is He and He alone. By His decree, the earth came to be and by His Word everything was formed. All things came to be by the sheer figment of His imagination and they work according to His plan. If you but carefully observe, you'll notice that all of creation works according to His plan.
We may think we're in control but everything works, no matter how strange a notion it may seem in our ears, by His design and that includes terrorist activities or other insurgencies, for we don't know His purposes, but for sure, there's something He wants to bring out of the chaos, just as He brought the earth out of primordial chaos. The sole owner of the universe knows what He is doing, even if it means innocent die and many are subject to untold misery and pain. This may sound strange to you, but it has a biblical precedence. Jer 20:4 says, I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword. Now who decreed the destruction of Israel? The Lord Himself; yet Nebuchadnezzar must have thought it was he, strange isn't it. As for the cruelty bit, of destroying infants and other as an act of God, I'll only say, if He has created, doesn't He have the right to destroy? Who are we to sensitize Him, who actually gives us the power to do things?
One thing I always keep in mind is the fact that God loves us and times are when life becomes unbearable. We don't know why; we pray and get no answer; we're intensely hurt yet God doesn't do anything… Just as Jesus cried to His Father, but still had to die on the Cross and had He not died, how would we be saved? So no matter what He decrees, remember it's for our good. This thought may just be obliquely related to our Scripture, yet it's good to know God's ways and also know that when He has a purpose, it will happen. None can thwart it, however much they try for God's purposes are always fulfilled no matter how long it takes or how painful the journey.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 20, 2010
Today's verse: Amos 8:11. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Our Scripture today bodes a terrible thing for mankind: that God will send a famine of His Word! Why does God say this and what do we understand from it? For that we need to go to the basics of men on earth, whose evil intent has always been to sideline God and have other happenings or persons or phenomena as the cause of things on earth, belittling God, giving Him no importance. You may equate it to a human king who does all for his subjects but no one acknowledges his role in the good that comes of all his work. How will this king feel; terrible no? How then will God feel who created us; at least the human king didn't create us. And yes, God appointed the earth for our habitation and after doing all this, we reject Him and His Word!
God has also ordained all things on earth for our benefit and told us we should reign over them. Now because of all the insults that men give God we have in our Scripture that men are to be ignorant of His Word. What a calamity will that be. We'll be left completely clueless about what is to happen for God will close our ears, eyes and our beings to His Word and His work.
Then all things for us will seem automatic and self made, just like it is for the atheists. For them it's by chance that things came to be; whereas for us it came to be by the Spirit of God. They don't know what will happen tomorrow; we know that no matter what happens we're in the hands of our God who is our loving Father. We're secure because we have an Almighty Father whose hand is over us to protect and guide us. But this knowledge will be taken away from us when God closes our eyes to Scripture. My friend therefore I tell you, hold Scripture in your heart so that when God closes you to His Word, your soul will sing His praises for His Word will never move from your heart and you will do His work.
September 20, 2010
Today's verse: Amos 8:11. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Our Scripture today bodes a terrible thing for mankind: that God will send a famine of His Word! Why does God say this and what do we understand from it? For that we need to go to the basics of men on earth, whose evil intent has always been to sideline God and have other happenings or persons or phenomena as the cause of things on earth, belittling God, giving Him no importance. You may equate it to a human king who does all for his subjects but no one acknowledges his role in the good that comes of all his work. How will this king feel; terrible no? How then will God feel who created us; at least the human king didn't create us. And yes, God appointed the earth for our habitation and after doing all this, we reject Him and His Word!
God has also ordained all things on earth for our benefit and told us we should reign over them. Now because of all the insults that men give God we have in our Scripture that men are to be ignorant of His Word. What a calamity will that be. We'll be left completely clueless about what is to happen for God will close our ears, eyes and our beings to His Word and His work.
Then all things for us will seem automatic and self made, just like it is for the atheists. For them it's by chance that things came to be; whereas for us it came to be by the Spirit of God. They don't know what will happen tomorrow; we know that no matter what happens we're in the hands of our God who is our loving Father. We're secure because we have an Almighty Father whose hand is over us to protect and guide us. But this knowledge will be taken away from us when God closes our eyes to Scripture. My friend therefore I tell you, hold Scripture in your heart so that when God closes you to His Word, your soul will sing His praises for His Word will never move from your heart and you will do His work.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 17, 2010
Today's verse: Ps. 44:8. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
What's our boast as we trudge along and in whom do we boast? That is key for it defines our life in the context of God and in a way, gives information about our relationship with Him. God Almighty is always in control; whether it be the universe or our small things like the little coin we lost yesterday. He is always there whether we are at an airport or in our own kitchen and yes, He is even there in our minds for He is able to read our minds and know every thought that comes forth from it, whatever it be.
Sometimes, we're triumphant in life and things look up for us. That's the time we usually forget what's written above, because we're carried away by ourselves and we tend to think that our successes are fashioned by ourselves, after all the adage 'I'm a self made person' seems too attractive to resist and thus we fall into sin. Our sin isn't too apparent because in the process of the game to success, God uses us as the primary apparatus. This brings to mind a rather humble confession of Thomas Alva Edison who invented the bulb which is, 'It's just that God wanted the world to have a bulb and in His mercy, He put me there to reveal the making of it!'
The danger in self boasting is, we make ourselves so 'iconic conscious', that over time, we really believe we're responsible for the greatness that touches our feet and then our feet rise from the ground and reach for the skies and one day, when the air drains off, we're brought back to terra firma. Remember the fall is great, the higher we're seated. Therefore, through every conscious verve of my being, I'd exhort you my friend to always boast in the Lord. Jesus said, 'Without Me you can do nothing.' So let's take that seriously because He knows what He said and let us then repeat what Paul said, 'I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!' Our boast then will go on for life and the Almighty God of Jacob will shine His light on us with great joy.
September 17, 2010
Today's verse: Ps. 44:8. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
What's our boast as we trudge along and in whom do we boast? That is key for it defines our life in the context of God and in a way, gives information about our relationship with Him. God Almighty is always in control; whether it be the universe or our small things like the little coin we lost yesterday. He is always there whether we are at an airport or in our own kitchen and yes, He is even there in our minds for He is able to read our minds and know every thought that comes forth from it, whatever it be.
Sometimes, we're triumphant in life and things look up for us. That's the time we usually forget what's written above, because we're carried away by ourselves and we tend to think that our successes are fashioned by ourselves, after all the adage 'I'm a self made person' seems too attractive to resist and thus we fall into sin. Our sin isn't too apparent because in the process of the game to success, God uses us as the primary apparatus. This brings to mind a rather humble confession of Thomas Alva Edison who invented the bulb which is, 'It's just that God wanted the world to have a bulb and in His mercy, He put me there to reveal the making of it!'
The danger in self boasting is, we make ourselves so 'iconic conscious', that over time, we really believe we're responsible for the greatness that touches our feet and then our feet rise from the ground and reach for the skies and one day, when the air drains off, we're brought back to terra firma. Remember the fall is great, the higher we're seated. Therefore, through every conscious verve of my being, I'd exhort you my friend to always boast in the Lord. Jesus said, 'Without Me you can do nothing.' So let's take that seriously because He knows what He said and let us then repeat what Paul said, 'I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!' Our boast then will go on for life and the Almighty God of Jacob will shine His light on us with great joy.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 16, 2010
Today's verse: Isaiah 66:5. Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Sometimes we the servants of God have a problem with the people of the world who usually do not believe in God the way we do. The reason is that things of the world are so mesmerizing that nothing else seems to be of any importance, leave alone the things of God which are not even seen. Moreover, man seems to have a solution for everything in life, isn't it?
Closeness with God often puts you in direct confrontation with your people, particularly your family who aren't well versed in God and His ways. This is because His ways and the ways of the world which your people adopt and believe in, do not match. Let's take for instance the subject of insurance in today's times. If you trust God and are devoted to Him whole-heartedly, then you understand that God is your insurance and echo what David said, 'My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.' Ps. 73:26 so, what need have I of insurance? Now when you don't buy an insurance policy, your peers and friends will laugh at you and scorn you saying, look at that fool, he doesn't believe in insurance and therefore his family will have to suffer for his foolishness! They don't realize that life is in His hands and He is the final authority on these things and He it is who fends for people; for remember, no matter what plans you make, He can undo them completely.
Someday, God will attend to you and heed your requests and then as our Scripture says today, He shall appear to give you that awesome joy in your heart and then will all your antagonists be shamed and hide themselves. Yes, when God proves His hand to you, then the denizens of this world will know that there is a God in heaven, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the One True God who was, who is and who is to come. And you know what? Your joy will be complete for you will be proven by Him whose proof none can detract.
September 16, 2010
Today's verse: Isaiah 66:5. Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Sometimes we the servants of God have a problem with the people of the world who usually do not believe in God the way we do. The reason is that things of the world are so mesmerizing that nothing else seems to be of any importance, leave alone the things of God which are not even seen. Moreover, man seems to have a solution for everything in life, isn't it?
Closeness with God often puts you in direct confrontation with your people, particularly your family who aren't well versed in God and His ways. This is because His ways and the ways of the world which your people adopt and believe in, do not match. Let's take for instance the subject of insurance in today's times. If you trust God and are devoted to Him whole-heartedly, then you understand that God is your insurance and echo what David said, 'My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.' Ps. 73:26 so, what need have I of insurance? Now when you don't buy an insurance policy, your peers and friends will laugh at you and scorn you saying, look at that fool, he doesn't believe in insurance and therefore his family will have to suffer for his foolishness! They don't realize that life is in His hands and He is the final authority on these things and He it is who fends for people; for remember, no matter what plans you make, He can undo them completely.
Someday, God will attend to you and heed your requests and then as our Scripture says today, He shall appear to give you that awesome joy in your heart and then will all your antagonists be shamed and hide themselves. Yes, when God proves His hand to you, then the denizens of this world will know that there is a God in heaven, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the One True God who was, who is and who is to come. And you know what? Your joy will be complete for you will be proven by Him whose proof none can detract.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 15, 2010
Today's verse: Judith 9:5. For thou hast wrought not only those things, but also the things which fell out before, and which ensued after; thou hast thought upon the things which are now, and which are to come. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
How awesome is our God; how deep His thinking and how vast the borders of His knowledge that spans everything – that which was and that which is and that which is to come. How great indeed is the Lord our God! His greatness is evinced in what's seen and what's known by us and prudent is the man who attributes all knowledge to God for how can it be that things are what they are except by God's saying that they should be what they are?
God brings about things that are simply amazing and marvelous; things that cannot be attributed to man's plan. Some days ago, I read in the newspapers about Saudi Arabia giving a small air corridor for Israeli missiles to pass through to rein in Iranian mischief, although Saudi doesn't allow Israelis any flying space over their territory! This thing is literally inconceivable for there's nothing common between the Moslem Saudis and the Jews; neither is any love lost between them, in fact if anything at all exists between them, it is intense animosity.
Yet, this was brought about by the hand of God for God can do anything. Personally I envision God's tremendous financial blessing on me though I have not subscribed to any lottery nor am in line for any inheritance or anything like that; which in the wisdom of the world is laughable and that's what I reckon somebody did when I posted it on a website. Yet I believe in His awesome power and that when He wants to give me something, He doesn't need me to provide a channel so He can give; for we know that He can bring water out of the Rock and create a garden in the desert. I know this and I believe and that's all we need to do.
Amazing therefore is God's power. Today I pray that if you're reading this, stand in line toward the open tap of His power and He will send it you ward and then stand with the saints and glorify His Holy Name.
September 15, 2010
Today's verse: Judith 9:5. For thou hast wrought not only those things, but also the things which fell out before, and which ensued after; thou hast thought upon the things which are now, and which are to come. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
How awesome is our God; how deep His thinking and how vast the borders of His knowledge that spans everything – that which was and that which is and that which is to come. How great indeed is the Lord our God! His greatness is evinced in what's seen and what's known by us and prudent is the man who attributes all knowledge to God for how can it be that things are what they are except by God's saying that they should be what they are?
God brings about things that are simply amazing and marvelous; things that cannot be attributed to man's plan. Some days ago, I read in the newspapers about Saudi Arabia giving a small air corridor for Israeli missiles to pass through to rein in Iranian mischief, although Saudi doesn't allow Israelis any flying space over their territory! This thing is literally inconceivable for there's nothing common between the Moslem Saudis and the Jews; neither is any love lost between them, in fact if anything at all exists between them, it is intense animosity.
Yet, this was brought about by the hand of God for God can do anything. Personally I envision God's tremendous financial blessing on me though I have not subscribed to any lottery nor am in line for any inheritance or anything like that; which in the wisdom of the world is laughable and that's what I reckon somebody did when I posted it on a website. Yet I believe in His awesome power and that when He wants to give me something, He doesn't need me to provide a channel so He can give; for we know that He can bring water out of the Rock and create a garden in the desert. I know this and I believe and that's all we need to do.
Amazing therefore is God's power. Today I pray that if you're reading this, stand in line toward the open tap of His power and He will send it you ward and then stand with the saints and glorify His Holy Name.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 14, 2010
Today's verse: Joshua 7:10. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Our work is not fulfilled when we have done something wrong before the Lord. Now of course this is pertinent only to those who are devoted to the Lord and lean on Him for everything. We learn of this principle in the book of Daniel. The wrong we do serves as fodder for the accuser to use against us. So you, if you are close to God, will discover that your wrong will work against you and though you work hard or do everything possible, the trouble never ceases and only multiplies.
Wasn’t this what the Israelites did in the narrative shortly before the act of Joshua, who fell prostrate before the Lord? God’s answer was immediate. He simply asked him why he lay prostrate and that the cause for the malady was simply their sin. Their sin was that they didn’t obey God. In fact it was not everyone who sinned, except one, but that was construed as the sin of the entire nation and that is why they suffered defeat, where they should have seen success.
Don’t you see the same thing happening with you many times? And isn’t it because of your sin? You know, I too have realised that I have not been seeing success for a long time because I am harboring sin and that I need to get out of it so that the elusive success will be mine. The same may be the case with you and the sooner we get out of it, the better it is for God will then reach out to us and give us the success we can surely get from Him.
September 14, 2010
Today's verse: Joshua 7:10. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Our work is not fulfilled when we have done something wrong before the Lord. Now of course this is pertinent only to those who are devoted to the Lord and lean on Him for everything. We learn of this principle in the book of Daniel. The wrong we do serves as fodder for the accuser to use against us. So you, if you are close to God, will discover that your wrong will work against you and though you work hard or do everything possible, the trouble never ceases and only multiplies.
Wasn’t this what the Israelites did in the narrative shortly before the act of Joshua, who fell prostrate before the Lord? God’s answer was immediate. He simply asked him why he lay prostrate and that the cause for the malady was simply their sin. Their sin was that they didn’t obey God. In fact it was not everyone who sinned, except one, but that was construed as the sin of the entire nation and that is why they suffered defeat, where they should have seen success.
Don’t you see the same thing happening with you many times? And isn’t it because of your sin? You know, I too have realised that I have not been seeing success for a long time because I am harboring sin and that I need to get out of it so that the elusive success will be mine. The same may be the case with you and the sooner we get out of it, the better it is for God will then reach out to us and give us the success we can surely get from Him.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 13, 2010
Today's verse: Ps. 43:3. O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Have you tried searching for God? It’s a difficult search. Why should it be difficult, you might ask. It’s simply because God is not anybody that He be found just like that. God is only found by those with a simple heart and a seeking nature. He is found by them who yearn for Him; but there’s a rider - God alone knows the inner thoughts of each and every man. It’s not difficult for Him to decipher what a person is thinking and searching, for He knows the inner thoughts of all mankind.
All of God’s work is only done by those who are chosen and called by Him. It is He who chooses and calls. We can have no hand in it. Having seen you before He laid the foundation of the world and having looked into your heart then, whether you are for Him or not, He has chosen you and leads you. As we live out this life, we may not even be aware of this transaction between God and us which happened before we were born and we may not even understand our important role in His Kingdom. We may ask Him, why did You choose me Lord, for there’re many others who’re much better human beings than I am and so good in character and nature. Mind you, He knows you well and if He has chosen you, He has a good reason and only time reveals this.
Reaching God is really clothed in mystery and only those chosen by Him may reach Him. That’s why the psalmist requests God to send His light and truth so they could lead to Him because the psalmist, being deeply ingrained in God, has understood that only they can lead him to witness God’s glory. If you’re chosen and you definitely know if you are, then ask the Holy Spirit to lead you; He, the beautiful Spirit of God will drop you off in the very bosom of God where you can delight in Him to your heart’s content.
September 13, 2010
Today's verse: Ps. 43:3. O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Have you tried searching for God? It’s a difficult search. Why should it be difficult, you might ask. It’s simply because God is not anybody that He be found just like that. God is only found by those with a simple heart and a seeking nature. He is found by them who yearn for Him; but there’s a rider - God alone knows the inner thoughts of each and every man. It’s not difficult for Him to decipher what a person is thinking and searching, for He knows the inner thoughts of all mankind.
All of God’s work is only done by those who are chosen and called by Him. It is He who chooses and calls. We can have no hand in it. Having seen you before He laid the foundation of the world and having looked into your heart then, whether you are for Him or not, He has chosen you and leads you. As we live out this life, we may not even be aware of this transaction between God and us which happened before we were born and we may not even understand our important role in His Kingdom. We may ask Him, why did You choose me Lord, for there’re many others who’re much better human beings than I am and so good in character and nature. Mind you, He knows you well and if He has chosen you, He has a good reason and only time reveals this.
Reaching God is really clothed in mystery and only those chosen by Him may reach Him. That’s why the psalmist requests God to send His light and truth so they could lead to Him because the psalmist, being deeply ingrained in God, has understood that only they can lead him to witness God’s glory. If you’re chosen and you definitely know if you are, then ask the Holy Spirit to lead you; He, the beautiful Spirit of God will drop you off in the very bosom of God where you can delight in Him to your heart’s content.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 10, 2010
Today's verse: Isaiah 45:22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Every religion promotes something or other and every religion on the face of it seems good. For this life every one promises means of living that seem better than the other and there’s a lot of commentary on the ways of different religions particularly on how to attain bliss in this life. On the next life, most ask us to shun greed and other human vileness to attain the bliss that can be yours in the next life. Few however, tell us how to do this for it’s literally impossible to eschew evil ways particularly greed, lechery and immorality. If you’ve tried, you know what I mean.
Only the God of the Bible has a way and it doesn’t concern human effort at all, except that a human believe in Him. Only a genuine God can provide a way that isn’t devised by man at all and is beyond his comprehension, for as the Bible says in the context of men, ‘they don’t know what they do’. Another thing is, men pay scant regard to what’s good and many a good advice is blown in the wind for we of course don’t know what’s good for us. Even before the world began, God had devised a method by which He would save the world. God knew that He alone could save and He would do it no matter what the cost, for He loved His creation so much that every price would seem too small in comparison. This can be only of a genuine God…who else would go to the extent our God did?
In some beliefs you see their so called gods defeating evil demons, etc. This, after they themselves gave the demons the power they had… how can that be? It sounds rather out of place for didn’t it as god, not know what they’d use that power for? In other beliefs, man himself was needed to do good and earn eternal life…isn’t that an impossibility for who can do the extent of good needed to enjoy eternal bliss? In Christianity, God works according to His laws. He had said that death would come upon man if he sinned and it did, but death was borne by God Himself in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. And by that God lived up to His laws and justice. The powers of the world couldn’t question His justice; they had no excuse and therefore had to relinquish their right on the soul of every human being who believed in the Name of Jesus Christ. And this is the most admirable argument on the only way of entry into eternal bliss; there can be no other, for no other is as superior and tenable than that God Himself devised to save man. So look to Him and be saved, you denizens of the earth.
September 10, 2010
Today's verse: Isaiah 45:22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Every religion promotes something or other and every religion on the face of it seems good. For this life every one promises means of living that seem better than the other and there’s a lot of commentary on the ways of different religions particularly on how to attain bliss in this life. On the next life, most ask us to shun greed and other human vileness to attain the bliss that can be yours in the next life. Few however, tell us how to do this for it’s literally impossible to eschew evil ways particularly greed, lechery and immorality. If you’ve tried, you know what I mean.
Only the God of the Bible has a way and it doesn’t concern human effort at all, except that a human believe in Him. Only a genuine God can provide a way that isn’t devised by man at all and is beyond his comprehension, for as the Bible says in the context of men, ‘they don’t know what they do’. Another thing is, men pay scant regard to what’s good and many a good advice is blown in the wind for we of course don’t know what’s good for us. Even before the world began, God had devised a method by which He would save the world. God knew that He alone could save and He would do it no matter what the cost, for He loved His creation so much that every price would seem too small in comparison. This can be only of a genuine God…who else would go to the extent our God did?
In some beliefs you see their so called gods defeating evil demons, etc. This, after they themselves gave the demons the power they had… how can that be? It sounds rather out of place for didn’t it as god, not know what they’d use that power for? In other beliefs, man himself was needed to do good and earn eternal life…isn’t that an impossibility for who can do the extent of good needed to enjoy eternal bliss? In Christianity, God works according to His laws. He had said that death would come upon man if he sinned and it did, but death was borne by God Himself in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. And by that God lived up to His laws and justice. The powers of the world couldn’t question His justice; they had no excuse and therefore had to relinquish their right on the soul of every human being who believed in the Name of Jesus Christ. And this is the most admirable argument on the only way of entry into eternal bliss; there can be no other, for no other is as superior and tenable than that God Himself devised to save man. So look to Him and be saved, you denizens of the earth.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 9, 2010
Today's verse: James 1:27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Christianity is not a religion of aloofness and lack of compassion; rather its very foundation is built on sympathy and love and communion. Our Father showed us much love and compassion in giving His Son so we aren’t separated from Him, rather commune with Him. Christianity is also about keeping oneself pure in the midst of a crooked and dirty people of the world who always shout down your throat about the goodness of wanton sin and the perks of a life of gregarious living; and indiscretion filled with gluttony and sloth.
Scriptures reveal to us the fact that God loves when we look at others in their distress and reach out, particularly to the underprivileged, like orphans and widows. Reaching out doesn’t mean doing everything. We live in the false notion that if we reach out, we’ve to spend both time and money which we find scarce in our lives anyway and so we don’t begin at all. Reaching out may just mean a small gesture or maybe giving one small loaf of bread from the many we’re carrying. Reaching out means, drying just one small tear from the eyes of someone in pain. You don’t have to do all things yourself, but reach out in small ways among the others. If there’s none, let your action of reaching out begin so that others will follow; even if they don’t, you need not bother for you will be eligible for Grace from the Father.
Then, the issue of living pure lives – well, how can you do it when you live in a morally bankrupt society and a people in whom there’s a total vacuum of character, it is difficult. Sometimes, I shudder to think of the life Jesus lived, moving among sinners and prostitutes. Unlike Him who changed them, I might be changed by them! Yet, honesty and sincerity are prime in this area and God looking at our hearts and understanding our honesty, sends us His Grace in equal measure which in turn helps us live blameless lives. You know, I’ve been struggling to live like that and I know how difficult it is. When I look at my ‘holiness meter’ I find that unlike other meters that whirr at break-neck speed, my holiness meter is stuck at the same spot as when I began. But yes, I trust Him who will perfect everything in His time.
September 9, 2010
Today's verse: James 1:27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Christianity is not a religion of aloofness and lack of compassion; rather its very foundation is built on sympathy and love and communion. Our Father showed us much love and compassion in giving His Son so we aren’t separated from Him, rather commune with Him. Christianity is also about keeping oneself pure in the midst of a crooked and dirty people of the world who always shout down your throat about the goodness of wanton sin and the perks of a life of gregarious living; and indiscretion filled with gluttony and sloth.
Scriptures reveal to us the fact that God loves when we look at others in their distress and reach out, particularly to the underprivileged, like orphans and widows. Reaching out doesn’t mean doing everything. We live in the false notion that if we reach out, we’ve to spend both time and money which we find scarce in our lives anyway and so we don’t begin at all. Reaching out may just mean a small gesture or maybe giving one small loaf of bread from the many we’re carrying. Reaching out means, drying just one small tear from the eyes of someone in pain. You don’t have to do all things yourself, but reach out in small ways among the others. If there’s none, let your action of reaching out begin so that others will follow; even if they don’t, you need not bother for you will be eligible for Grace from the Father.
Then, the issue of living pure lives – well, how can you do it when you live in a morally bankrupt society and a people in whom there’s a total vacuum of character, it is difficult. Sometimes, I shudder to think of the life Jesus lived, moving among sinners and prostitutes. Unlike Him who changed them, I might be changed by them! Yet, honesty and sincerity are prime in this area and God looking at our hearts and understanding our honesty, sends us His Grace in equal measure which in turn helps us live blameless lives. You know, I’ve been struggling to live like that and I know how difficult it is. When I look at my ‘holiness meter’ I find that unlike other meters that whirr at break-neck speed, my holiness meter is stuck at the same spot as when I began. But yes, I trust Him who will perfect everything in His time.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 8, 2010
Today's verse: Lam. 2:14. Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
When you are disturbed in life, you go to a man of God who you relate your disturbances to and listen to what he has to say. I tell you, not very often will he tell you things that are displeasing to you – the truth if I may say that may hurt you. I don’t know whether you have noticed this but this is often the case with not only men of God but also normal men. For who’d want to rile people unnecessarily and perhaps forego all benefits that can be got from them.
For normal men it’s okay one may say, but for the man of God it isn’t for he’s not meant to please people as God who works through Him. He must stand in truth without bothering about the consequences; he must relate only the wholesome truth. That’s the essence of our reflection today. God is terribly miffed with the people and their prophets because they haven’t seen that which is of God but something else. The prophets don’t denounce the people for their sin which is the only cause of their calamities, but rather invent false reasons for the pitiable states.
God is angry when prophets give false divination for that is not from God and God never lies. In His mercy He would still bear with us, but we must ensure we learn what He is saying to us despite the fact that it may not be palatable and we may tend to ignore it too. God stands for truth and His people have to declare the truth – period. Now when you are disturbed in life and you go to a man of God, don’t be pleased by the false soothing words that he gives, check out what God is saying and do accordingly. Seek the Holy Spirit’s help for He always helps those who approach Him to see what God is saying to them.
September 8, 2010
Today's verse: Lam. 2:14. Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
When you are disturbed in life, you go to a man of God who you relate your disturbances to and listen to what he has to say. I tell you, not very often will he tell you things that are displeasing to you – the truth if I may say that may hurt you. I don’t know whether you have noticed this but this is often the case with not only men of God but also normal men. For who’d want to rile people unnecessarily and perhaps forego all benefits that can be got from them.
For normal men it’s okay one may say, but for the man of God it isn’t for he’s not meant to please people as God who works through Him. He must stand in truth without bothering about the consequences; he must relate only the wholesome truth. That’s the essence of our reflection today. God is terribly miffed with the people and their prophets because they haven’t seen that which is of God but something else. The prophets don’t denounce the people for their sin which is the only cause of their calamities, but rather invent false reasons for the pitiable states.
God is angry when prophets give false divination for that is not from God and God never lies. In His mercy He would still bear with us, but we must ensure we learn what He is saying to us despite the fact that it may not be palatable and we may tend to ignore it too. God stands for truth and His people have to declare the truth – period. Now when you are disturbed in life and you go to a man of God, don’t be pleased by the false soothing words that he gives, check out what God is saying and do accordingly. Seek the Holy Spirit’s help for He always helps those who approach Him to see what God is saying to them.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 7, 2010
Today's verse: Gal. 2:16a. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
The more I go closer into the realms of God, the more I am convinced about the statement, ‘Without Me you can do nothing.’ And this statement of Jesus encompasses everything in life and beyond. One key thing that I can make of it is that we aren’t saved by the good we do, but by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and that is the way God our Father willed it.
The great gates of God’s Kingdom are eternally open to the common simple man who believes in Jesus with all his heart and all his life owes allegiance to Him, in rain and shine. But closed to the self-righteous and the man pompous in his own stature who unfortunately thinks he is what he is of his own making, yet sadly mistaken for never ever was anything with man, whether wealth, or a good body, or health or status or fame or children or wife or anything else, which is with him except that it is given by God. It’s improper nay, sacrilegious to claim that one is self made for how can one be self made if he doesn’t know what is to happen to him the next moment. Patient is God, very patient which therefore men take advantage by which they claim His non-existence, they which are like the mist in the morning, vanishing at the first rays of the sun! How then can one contest God and claim He doesn’t exist and what kind of maligned mind would dare do that, except a mind in which the devil has made his abode.
But the children of God, those who are His, not by their choice, but by His calling and choosing, they are the ones who give Him all the glory, just as you and I know we have to do and we wait for His mighty hand in our lives, redeeming us from any disdain of men so as to engrave on hearts that ‘he who trusts in the Lord, shall never be shamed’ and show the world that we are His and His we will be unto lasting life, being bought and redeemed by the precious blood of the One who laid His life down for us, so that we may commune with Him, ever and ever…a perpetual gift accorded to them who have believed in His Name, even though the sword of the world threatened them.
September 7, 2010
Today's verse: Gal. 2:16a. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
The more I go closer into the realms of God, the more I am convinced about the statement, ‘Without Me you can do nothing.’ And this statement of Jesus encompasses everything in life and beyond. One key thing that I can make of it is that we aren’t saved by the good we do, but by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and that is the way God our Father willed it.
The great gates of God’s Kingdom are eternally open to the common simple man who believes in Jesus with all his heart and all his life owes allegiance to Him, in rain and shine. But closed to the self-righteous and the man pompous in his own stature who unfortunately thinks he is what he is of his own making, yet sadly mistaken for never ever was anything with man, whether wealth, or a good body, or health or status or fame or children or wife or anything else, which is with him except that it is given by God. It’s improper nay, sacrilegious to claim that one is self made for how can one be self made if he doesn’t know what is to happen to him the next moment. Patient is God, very patient which therefore men take advantage by which they claim His non-existence, they which are like the mist in the morning, vanishing at the first rays of the sun! How then can one contest God and claim He doesn’t exist and what kind of maligned mind would dare do that, except a mind in which the devil has made his abode.
But the children of God, those who are His, not by their choice, but by His calling and choosing, they are the ones who give Him all the glory, just as you and I know we have to do and we wait for His mighty hand in our lives, redeeming us from any disdain of men so as to engrave on hearts that ‘he who trusts in the Lord, shall never be shamed’ and show the world that we are His and His we will be unto lasting life, being bought and redeemed by the precious blood of the One who laid His life down for us, so that we may commune with Him, ever and ever…a perpetual gift accorded to them who have believed in His Name, even though the sword of the world threatened them.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 6, 2010
Today's verse: Lk. 18:7. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
“Courage” says the Lord for He at all times is the One who gives us hope and courage. God is simply awesome and those of us who’ve experienced His awesomeness have no words to thank Him, except tears of gratitude flowing freely in wondrous marvel at His goodness and His gracious love.
And so in this Scriptural episode today, where Jesus talks about the need to persevere in prayer, He means we mustn’t be tired praying to God for whatever we want, for God will answer no matter what, simply because He loves us and loves to answer our prayer, but unlike men who oftentimes want to show how nice they’re and shower things immediately, God wants us to be ingrained in His ways for His ways lead to eternal life and God always wants us to wait, both to be tutored in His ways and also to see the power of His hand as a mark of our trust in Him. He wants to see us trusting Him even in desert times and truly He is pleased when we do that and blesses us a lot more than if He would have blessed us immediately.
Our Scripture refers to a man avenging his people and if a man does it, how much more will God do to those who are His elect, crying out to Him day and night. In fact He also bears with our difficulty as we go through it and He picks us up lovingly, hastening to rush His help in time so that we don’t crumble. And even as you wait, let me tell you from a recent personal experience, He loves and endeavors bringing small gifts to us telling us to be firm and wait; for as He reveals later our reward is truly huge in both heaven and earth. Dare to believe Him and hold on?
September 6, 2010
Today's verse: Lk. 18:7. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
“Courage” says the Lord for He at all times is the One who gives us hope and courage. God is simply awesome and those of us who’ve experienced His awesomeness have no words to thank Him, except tears of gratitude flowing freely in wondrous marvel at His goodness and His gracious love.
And so in this Scriptural episode today, where Jesus talks about the need to persevere in prayer, He means we mustn’t be tired praying to God for whatever we want, for God will answer no matter what, simply because He loves us and loves to answer our prayer, but unlike men who oftentimes want to show how nice they’re and shower things immediately, God wants us to be ingrained in His ways for His ways lead to eternal life and God always wants us to wait, both to be tutored in His ways and also to see the power of His hand as a mark of our trust in Him. He wants to see us trusting Him even in desert times and truly He is pleased when we do that and blesses us a lot more than if He would have blessed us immediately.
Our Scripture refers to a man avenging his people and if a man does it, how much more will God do to those who are His elect, crying out to Him day and night. In fact He also bears with our difficulty as we go through it and He picks us up lovingly, hastening to rush His help in time so that we don’t crumble. And even as you wait, let me tell you from a recent personal experience, He loves and endeavors bringing small gifts to us telling us to be firm and wait; for as He reveals later our reward is truly huge in both heaven and earth. Dare to believe Him and hold on?
Friday, September 03, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 3, 2010
Today's verse: Is. 54:10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Were heaven and earth to vanish; disappear and everything become nothing, still God’s kindness will abide and His promise of peace shall not be removed from us; the Sovereign Lord, the God of the universe has to say this to us today. God’s awesome love is simply unbelievable and were it not for the Gospel in our hands where we visualize Jesus on the Cross dying for us, then perhaps it wouldn’t have been possible to see the love of God or even understand it.
God has always shown us His love. It’s we who’ve chosen not to do what He tells us to do. We’re enticed by things we don’t need and run after them tough He has told us not to. Our nature always seeks to rebel against God. In fact such is our rebellion, we cock a snook at His ways and tease Him to try do something to us even as we sin and offend Him. Because He is abundantly patient, He doesn’t do anything but mercifully gives us time to mend our ways for He knows we’re to perish and later be judged by Him; our reward according to what we said and did on earth.
God knows our frailty but we tend to ignore and behave as if we’re invincible, a trait markedly seen in man as He progresses more and more. Just today I read in the newspaper about a new book of Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist and a cent-percent paralysed man who can’t even drink water by himself say, ‘God did not create the universe!!!’ Of course all his arguments lie in the realm of theory and hypotheses which for most will not make sense and will never be proved. His rationale will be shaped by incomprehensible things that may make sense to some scientists because of ‘logical extensions’ of pre-theorised scientific dogmas, which are far from reality. See the daring of men who claim the non existence of God; such temerity as to invoke His wrath and destruction; Yet He holds His peace and doesn’t destroy. He always allows time to mend and if we do, He welcomes us. His promise - that His kindness is ours and peace from Him will be our life – never departs. Amen.
September 3, 2010
Today's verse: Is. 54:10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Were heaven and earth to vanish; disappear and everything become nothing, still God’s kindness will abide and His promise of peace shall not be removed from us; the Sovereign Lord, the God of the universe has to say this to us today. God’s awesome love is simply unbelievable and were it not for the Gospel in our hands where we visualize Jesus on the Cross dying for us, then perhaps it wouldn’t have been possible to see the love of God or even understand it.
God has always shown us His love. It’s we who’ve chosen not to do what He tells us to do. We’re enticed by things we don’t need and run after them tough He has told us not to. Our nature always seeks to rebel against God. In fact such is our rebellion, we cock a snook at His ways and tease Him to try do something to us even as we sin and offend Him. Because He is abundantly patient, He doesn’t do anything but mercifully gives us time to mend our ways for He knows we’re to perish and later be judged by Him; our reward according to what we said and did on earth.
God knows our frailty but we tend to ignore and behave as if we’re invincible, a trait markedly seen in man as He progresses more and more. Just today I read in the newspaper about a new book of Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist and a cent-percent paralysed man who can’t even drink water by himself say, ‘God did not create the universe!!!’ Of course all his arguments lie in the realm of theory and hypotheses which for most will not make sense and will never be proved. His rationale will be shaped by incomprehensible things that may make sense to some scientists because of ‘logical extensions’ of pre-theorised scientific dogmas, which are far from reality. See the daring of men who claim the non existence of God; such temerity as to invoke His wrath and destruction; Yet He holds His peace and doesn’t destroy. He always allows time to mend and if we do, He welcomes us. His promise - that His kindness is ours and peace from Him will be our life – never departs. Amen.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 2, 2010
Today's verse: Ps. 91:4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
I recd. an email y’day with a story which is:
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the damage. One ranger found a bird appearing petrified in ashes, perched like a statue on the ground at the base of a tree. A little sickened by the eerie sight, he tipped the bird over with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and though the heat scorched her small body, the mother remained steadfast...because she was willing to die so those under the cover of her wings would live.
Our God, our Father is far better than this bird. Every power is in His hand. With a Word He can bring about things to pass and His knowledge and wisdom are awesome to say the least. But what did He do to save us? He, took the disaster of sin upon Himself and laid down His life for us so we could be safe.
My friend we will never understand how much love God has for us, except when we are in some trouble and look up to Him for salvation. At the same time, when we commune with Him, He reveals Himself to us and teaches us about His love. We must listen and act accordingly. As for me, I firmly believe in our Scripture today and behold, I have experienced this myself for I met with three accidents when riding my scooter and they didn’t harm me for I know, He has covered me with His feathers and under His wings I am safe even if everything around turns upside down. Great is His love. Amen.
September 2, 2010
Today's verse: Ps. 91:4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
I recd. an email y’day with a story which is:
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the damage. One ranger found a bird appearing petrified in ashes, perched like a statue on the ground at the base of a tree. A little sickened by the eerie sight, he tipped the bird over with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and though the heat scorched her small body, the mother remained steadfast...because she was willing to die so those under the cover of her wings would live.
Our God, our Father is far better than this bird. Every power is in His hand. With a Word He can bring about things to pass and His knowledge and wisdom are awesome to say the least. But what did He do to save us? He, took the disaster of sin upon Himself and laid down His life for us so we could be safe.
My friend we will never understand how much love God has for us, except when we are in some trouble and look up to Him for salvation. At the same time, when we commune with Him, He reveals Himself to us and teaches us about His love. We must listen and act accordingly. As for me, I firmly believe in our Scripture today and behold, I have experienced this myself for I met with three accidents when riding my scooter and they didn’t harm me for I know, He has covered me with His feathers and under His wings I am safe even if everything around turns upside down. Great is His love. Amen.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Thoughts for another day
September 1, 2010
Today's verse: Ps. 63:1. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
From before You founded the world O LORD God, You are my God. You created me with love in Your mind and had the choicest things in store for me. When You placed us in the Garden of Eden, You had deemed that its beauty would simply enthrall me and make me long for the things it provided; for Eden of its own accord brought forth all kinds of living creatures and teemed with abundant life. You said O Lord, ‘See I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food.’ Thus You blessed me O LORD God: King of the universe; giving me dominion over all.
Our sin and our fall made You sad, very sad, but You put into action a plan You had made before the world began that would save me. In time, You gave me Your Own beloved and precious Son, Jesus Christ to die on my behalf and save me from the catastrophe sin had brought to me. You saved me from every danger and kept Your watchful eye over me to see that I didn’t arrive on harm’s path. You led me as a Father and sustained me year after year, all these years that have gone by since the time You first created Adam.
O God, then You touched the hearts of a few of Your begotten and You laid in their hearts a love for You. A love in consonance with the free will You gave them; a love that excited them despite the bleak things of the world. From across ages You reserved men and women who would deny their own ambitions in life and make Your goal a part of their lives O Lord. And so today we who behold this reflection are like that O Lord and we want to do Your will. We crave to call You Abba Father; we long to see Your face. Tears of joy fill our hearts as we behold You in the eyes of our minds and look at Your immense love and mercy for us.
Truly O LORD God, Yahweh God, You are my God; and I will seek You with all my heart. My soul doth thirst for You, my flesh craves for You in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. My entire being longs to hold Your blessed hand in the palms of which my name is engraved and look into Your eyes my God and behold the love in them. And like Your great ones dwelling with You, say, ‘Bid me come Lord’ and I shall arise and return to You.
September 1, 2010
Today's verse: Ps. 63:1. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
From before You founded the world O LORD God, You are my God. You created me with love in Your mind and had the choicest things in store for me. When You placed us in the Garden of Eden, You had deemed that its beauty would simply enthrall me and make me long for the things it provided; for Eden of its own accord brought forth all kinds of living creatures and teemed with abundant life. You said O Lord, ‘See I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food.’ Thus You blessed me O LORD God: King of the universe; giving me dominion over all.
Our sin and our fall made You sad, very sad, but You put into action a plan You had made before the world began that would save me. In time, You gave me Your Own beloved and precious Son, Jesus Christ to die on my behalf and save me from the catastrophe sin had brought to me. You saved me from every danger and kept Your watchful eye over me to see that I didn’t arrive on harm’s path. You led me as a Father and sustained me year after year, all these years that have gone by since the time You first created Adam.
O God, then You touched the hearts of a few of Your begotten and You laid in their hearts a love for You. A love in consonance with the free will You gave them; a love that excited them despite the bleak things of the world. From across ages You reserved men and women who would deny their own ambitions in life and make Your goal a part of their lives O Lord. And so today we who behold this reflection are like that O Lord and we want to do Your will. We crave to call You Abba Father; we long to see Your face. Tears of joy fill our hearts as we behold You in the eyes of our minds and look at Your immense love and mercy for us.
Truly O LORD God, Yahweh God, You are my God; and I will seek You with all my heart. My soul doth thirst for You, my flesh craves for You in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. My entire being longs to hold Your blessed hand in the palms of which my name is engraved and look into Your eyes my God and behold the love in them. And like Your great ones dwelling with You, say, ‘Bid me come Lord’ and I shall arise and return to You.
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