What makes today such a wonderful day in my life is, that God loves us. He actually, literally loves us!
We have been discussing at church, how that Jesus took our shame upon Himself, and was shamed for us. What a Savior!
Another amazing thought is, that we also know that Jesus is not ashamed of us. Jesus is not ashamed of you! [Hebrews 2:11]
This great love and affection that the Great God has for us, goes all the way back to when we were in our mother's womb!
"You possessed my reins: You have covered me in my mother's womb."
Psalm 139:13
Reins are instruments of direction. They are how one leads an animal in the right direction. And so, even while developing in the womb, God was directing our lives. Even then, He determined our life's direction (purpose, gifts, talents, etc).
Now it is our life's quest to find, secure, and enjoy that Divine destiny.
While we were yet, literally, inside our own mother's care, God too surrounded us in a very special communion. This is why, that after we come forth from the womb, we have such a pressing desire for God's presence.
Because this is the most natural, and the very first "feeling" that we ever experienced! And even though we have no memory, per se, of that prenatal encounter, yet it is registered on our conscience, and our heart cries out for it!
Thank You dear Heavenly Father!
In fact, the Psalmist responds to this revelation with: "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me"! [Ps.139:6]
AND SO IT IS!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Faith Coaching
A PERSONAL MEDITATION, A SELF REALIZATION
In today's terms, as a pastor/teacher, I am a Faith Coach! This is not a modern-day "life coach".
The temptation is to get in there and take upon self, the responsibility of helping people to succeed in all life-areas.
However, I am to skill people in navigating through God's Word, being led by the Holy Spirit, and appropriating the promises of God through faith, to bring about Divine results in their lives.
How/Why is it that people embrace the spiritual, and even some of the faith promises, yet come up short in many of the practical areas of life?
Answer: Because they do not find or apply wisdom! Let alone, the accelerated wisdom of God!
Faith is knowing what God can and will do, and then expecting Him to do so!
Wisdom is knowing what we can and should do, and then putting it into action!
In today's terms, as a pastor/teacher, I am a Faith Coach! This is not a modern-day "life coach".
The temptation is to get in there and take upon self, the responsibility of helping people to succeed in all life-areas.
However, I am to skill people in navigating through God's Word, being led by the Holy Spirit, and appropriating the promises of God through faith, to bring about Divine results in their lives.
How/Why is it that people embrace the spiritual, and even some of the faith promises, yet come up short in many of the practical areas of life?
Answer: Because they do not find or apply wisdom! Let alone, the accelerated wisdom of God!
Faith is knowing what God can and will do, and then expecting Him to do so!
Wisdom is knowing what we can and should do, and then putting it into action!
Friday, March 27, 2009
"From this time forth... and forevermore!"
"The Lord shall... from this time forth and even forevermore!" Psalm121:8
Behind every promise of God, is an oath, an eternal covenant! And because of this, we can suffix every promise with, "from this time forth and even forevermore"!
Man has always had this trouble of accepting God's work or willingness only for one time, yet faltering when it comes to the thought of expecting Him to do it subsequently!
You remember the children of Israel coming out of Egypt. God brought them out with mighty signs, wonders, and miracles! He brought these slaves out, without a price paid for their freedom. In fact, they came out healthy, fed, and loaded with silver and gold!
Yet two weeks out, they seriously doubted that God could, or would ever do anything for them again! How nasty!
Yet this is the way people think and feel, even today. God has worked in their lives in the past, yet they have no confidence that He will help them out once again - in the NOW!
This is a point that God has worked overtime trying to get across to His people! The prophets spoke that: His word is to a thousand generations, it is forever settled, etc etc! Paul speaking to this said, that "the promises of God... are yes and so be it... to the glory of God!" (2Cor. 1:20)
Which is to say, that every promise has a - "yes, it is for you, and so be it, now in your life" stipulation with it.
As the prophetic Psalmist said, "The Lord will... from this time forth and even forevermore"!
God could have had that written in behind each one of the thousands of promises that He has made to us... but He evidently thought, that we would know that it is most certainly implied!
Well, thanks to the devil, unbelief, and some preachers, many "believers" are coaxed to doubt that God will always do what He has said that He would do!
So every time you come across a promise in God's word, don't forget to suffix it with: "FROM THIS TIME FORTH AND EVEN FOREVERMORE!"
All Glory be to God!
Behind every promise of God, is an oath, an eternal covenant! And because of this, we can suffix every promise with, "from this time forth and even forevermore"!
Man has always had this trouble of accepting God's work or willingness only for one time, yet faltering when it comes to the thought of expecting Him to do it subsequently!
You remember the children of Israel coming out of Egypt. God brought them out with mighty signs, wonders, and miracles! He brought these slaves out, without a price paid for their freedom. In fact, they came out healthy, fed, and loaded with silver and gold!
Yet two weeks out, they seriously doubted that God could, or would ever do anything for them again! How nasty!
Yet this is the way people think and feel, even today. God has worked in their lives in the past, yet they have no confidence that He will help them out once again - in the NOW!
This is a point that God has worked overtime trying to get across to His people! The prophets spoke that: His word is to a thousand generations, it is forever settled, etc etc! Paul speaking to this said, that "the promises of God... are yes and so be it... to the glory of God!" (2Cor. 1:20)
Which is to say, that every promise has a - "yes, it is for you, and so be it, now in your life" stipulation with it.
As the prophetic Psalmist said, "The Lord will... from this time forth and even forevermore"!
God could have had that written in behind each one of the thousands of promises that He has made to us... but He evidently thought, that we would know that it is most certainly implied!
Well, thanks to the devil, unbelief, and some preachers, many "believers" are coaxed to doubt that God will always do what He has said that He would do!
So every time you come across a promise in God's word, don't forget to suffix it with: "FROM THIS TIME FORTH AND EVEN FOREVERMORE!"
All Glory be to God!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Day for a King!
"...Jesus Christ...has made us kings..." (Rev 1:5-6)
"It is... the king's privilege to discover and invent." (Prov.25:2)
Jesus has made us "kings". What does that mean? Does it, in reality, mean not a thing? Is it just a nicety? Yeah, yeah, that's nice, but I am still just who I am, nothing has changed... Where's my throne, where's my crown, where's my power?
No... actually it does mean something. It is not just fairy tale, pretendville speak!
When God speaks such things over our lives, they become our DIVINE CALLING.
With a Divine calling comes supernatural gifts, skills, talents, as well as Divine power and demonstration to back it up!
In every calling there is a multitude of Divine treasures and secrets just waiting to be discovered and released.
Though manifold, two aspects of the Kingly anointing are revealed here in Proverbs 25: Discovery and Invention.
The Kingly anointing is at the beginning and end of the human experience. At one end, it searches out and finds [discovers] things that are, though not yet uncovered. At the other end, it brings into being [invents] that which others have yet to conceive or produce.
So, you may find yourself with little to no discovery or inventive skills. Your past experience may be that you have never come up with an original or creative idea in your life. Or you may have dreamt-up plenty of "grandiose ideas", yet they have never managed to emerge out of your mind, into the real world, to produce anything. Maybe every time that you have ever sought out the answer to a perplexing dilemma, or searched for a solution to "take you over"... you just seem to come up with "zilch", a dead-end!
Well, there is super good news for us. Amazing actually! God has bestowed upon us the calling and the anointing of kingship. As we put stock and faith in this calling, it will then release the Divine abilities and treasures that God has invested into it.
You may want to pray: "Anointing of a king, be released in my life, now, in the name of Jesus!"
We are living in the days wherein this is greatly needed, for both the benefit of ourselves and others around us!
"It is... the king's privilege to discover and invent." (Prov.25:2)
Jesus has made us "kings". What does that mean? Does it, in reality, mean not a thing? Is it just a nicety? Yeah, yeah, that's nice, but I am still just who I am, nothing has changed... Where's my throne, where's my crown, where's my power?
No... actually it does mean something. It is not just fairy tale, pretendville speak!
When God speaks such things over our lives, they become our DIVINE CALLING.
With a Divine calling comes supernatural gifts, skills, talents, as well as Divine power and demonstration to back it up!
In every calling there is a multitude of Divine treasures and secrets just waiting to be discovered and released.
Though manifold, two aspects of the Kingly anointing are revealed here in Proverbs 25: Discovery and Invention.
The Kingly anointing is at the beginning and end of the human experience. At one end, it searches out and finds [discovers] things that are, though not yet uncovered. At the other end, it brings into being [invents] that which others have yet to conceive or produce.
So, you may find yourself with little to no discovery or inventive skills. Your past experience may be that you have never come up with an original or creative idea in your life. Or you may have dreamt-up plenty of "grandiose ideas", yet they have never managed to emerge out of your mind, into the real world, to produce anything. Maybe every time that you have ever sought out the answer to a perplexing dilemma, or searched for a solution to "take you over"... you just seem to come up with "zilch", a dead-end!
Well, there is super good news for us. Amazing actually! God has bestowed upon us the calling and the anointing of kingship. As we put stock and faith in this calling, it will then release the Divine abilities and treasures that God has invested into it.
You may want to pray: "Anointing of a king, be released in my life, now, in the name of Jesus!"
We are living in the days wherein this is greatly needed, for both the benefit of ourselves and others around us!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Words of Life
Jesus once spoke a parable, and being perplexed as to its meaning, many of the people who "followed" Him walked away. Jesus turned to His twelve, and asked them if they planned to follow suite?
But Peter answered, "Where shall we go Lord... you speak the words of eternal life."
When Peter heard God's word, as Jesus spoke it... he didn't just hear "lecturing" from a "good teacher", or "wise-sayings" from a "holy man".
...but his heart was greatly impacted with words of Divine light and life! He was stirred and moved by the Spirit deep within!
Just as it was at the beginning of creation, he felt his life literally being transformed as the words of God addressed him, and the Spirit of God moving upon him as Jesus spoke to him! You can't get that from any other source, and Peter knew it! He wasn't going anywhere!
Do you hear the Divine voice? Can you sense that life eternal? Is your heart stirred at the words of God?
This is the difference between the atheists and side-liners, and those whose follow Jesus and rejoice openly in their heavenly Father.
How gracious is our God, the Living God!
But Peter answered, "Where shall we go Lord... you speak the words of eternal life."
When Peter heard God's word, as Jesus spoke it... he didn't just hear "lecturing" from a "good teacher", or "wise-sayings" from a "holy man".
...but his heart was greatly impacted with words of Divine light and life! He was stirred and moved by the Spirit deep within!
Just as it was at the beginning of creation, he felt his life literally being transformed as the words of God addressed him, and the Spirit of God moving upon him as Jesus spoke to him! You can't get that from any other source, and Peter knew it! He wasn't going anywhere!
Do you hear the Divine voice? Can you sense that life eternal? Is your heart stirred at the words of God?
This is the difference between the atheists and side-liners, and those whose follow Jesus and rejoice openly in their heavenly Father.
How gracious is our God, the Living God!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Save Us From Basic Stupidity?
“…my father. 4 He told me never to forget his words. "If you follow them," he said, "you will have a long and happy life.
5 Learn to be wise," he said, "and develop good judgment and common sense! I cannot overemphasize this point."
6 Cling to wisdom--she will protect you. Love her--she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.
8,9 If you exalt wisdom, she will exalt you. Hold her fast, and she will lead you to great honor; she will place a beautiful crown upon your head. CH. 4:4-8 (Liv)
In Today’s Proverb, we are told that one of the most important factors of leading a good life is gaining and following wisdom!
Sometimes as religious and ”Christian” people, and even bona fide believers in Jesus, we can sometimes over spiritualize everyday living on this earth!
We talk in terms of, “Well it must have happened for a reason.” Or, “God had some great purpose or learning experience in this for me.” And, “God’s going to take care of the situation for me.” Or, “I just don’t know why God didn’t see fit to help me out with that situation”?
However, Proverbs shows us a whole different angle on earthly living. Maybe, “it didn’t work out” because we did not make a wise choice! Maybe we are wondering around doing the wrong things in life, hanging around with the wrong crowd, getting involved in things that fall apart, because we are not (beforehand) seeking out wisdom… we are not asking, “Okay, now what is the wise thing to do here?”
A person finds himself in a pickled situation or circumstance, and then testifies that it is God’s fabulous, miraculous, wondrous doings!
However many a time it is just simply their own stupidity and foolishness (i.e. lack of wisdom!) No condemnation here: we have all been there and done that!
Wisdom will protect us and keep us from harm and failure! Wisdom will exalt us, bring us to great honor, high regard, and authority! It is a most important thing in this life, says Solomon!
So instead of being led by what worldly-feels-good, or what I can heavenly-get-a-way with…let’s seek after wisdom! God will give it out freely and abundantly to those who will seek Him for it! He is very generous with these things, you know!
And... maybe we need to say a prayer: "Lord have mercy on me and deliver me from my foolish mistake."
5 Learn to be wise," he said, "and develop good judgment and common sense! I cannot overemphasize this point."
6 Cling to wisdom--she will protect you. Love her--she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.
8,9 If you exalt wisdom, she will exalt you. Hold her fast, and she will lead you to great honor; she will place a beautiful crown upon your head. CH. 4:4-8 (Liv)
In Today’s Proverb, we are told that one of the most important factors of leading a good life is gaining and following wisdom!
Sometimes as religious and ”Christian” people, and even bona fide believers in Jesus, we can sometimes over spiritualize everyday living on this earth!
We talk in terms of, “Well it must have happened for a reason.” Or, “God had some great purpose or learning experience in this for me.” And, “God’s going to take care of the situation for me.” Or, “I just don’t know why God didn’t see fit to help me out with that situation”?
However, Proverbs shows us a whole different angle on earthly living. Maybe, “it didn’t work out” because we did not make a wise choice! Maybe we are wondering around doing the wrong things in life, hanging around with the wrong crowd, getting involved in things that fall apart, because we are not (beforehand) seeking out wisdom… we are not asking, “Okay, now what is the wise thing to do here?”
A person finds himself in a pickled situation or circumstance, and then testifies that it is God’s fabulous, miraculous, wondrous doings!
However many a time it is just simply their own stupidity and foolishness (i.e. lack of wisdom!) No condemnation here: we have all been there and done that!
Wisdom will protect us and keep us from harm and failure! Wisdom will exalt us, bring us to great honor, high regard, and authority! It is a most important thing in this life, says Solomon!
So instead of being led by what worldly-feels-good, or what I can heavenly-get-a-way with…let’s seek after wisdom! God will give it out freely and abundantly to those who will seek Him for it! He is very generous with these things, you know!
And... maybe we need to say a prayer: "Lord have mercy on me and deliver me from my foolish mistake."
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Curse Shall Not Land
In Today’s Proverb: “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest [i.e. land].” (26:2-NIV)
The “curse” is the death and destruction of all forms and of all kinds, which were loosed into this earth upon Adam and Eve’s sin. It is sin’s “reward” (or result).
However, as the analogy in this proverb indicates, the curse has only rightful access to the “deserving”, which in Biblical terms, is the sin-ful. All other targets are inappropriate. The problem: All men have sinned, therefore all of man and all that belongs to man is “deserving” of the curse. Man, and the earth which was placed into his hands by God, are in fact, an appropriate landing.
Then by the mercies and grace of God, one came in whom there was no sin. He was not “deserving” of the curse. He was not a legally appropriate target for the curse! In Him the curse had no landing (or resting place). In life, He walked above the curse. His name of course, was Jesus.
But through His great love and sacrifice, Jesus, Who was not “deserving” of the curse, actually took the curse upon Himself, in our place, who were “deserving” of the curse… in order to make us then, legally, “undeserving” of the curse. This is Redemption! (A price paid – an exchange made).
Now, as the Redeemed believers in Jesus, we stand “undeserving” of the curse and all of its effects! It has no resting place in us! By faith in the promise of the Word, and in the legality of His redemption, we refuse its “landing” in our lives! Because of Jesus, we can apply today's Proverb to ourselves!
Even the Psalmist wrote of this redemption:
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day [v.5]… it shall not come nigh thee…
…Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked [vv.7-8]
…There shall no evil befall [i.e. land upon] thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling [v10]. Psalm 91
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