I hear them sing it on IHOP all the time:
Our light and momentary afflictions are working for us an eternal weight of glory.
This morning in the shower, scriptures poured over me like water.
Our troubles are achieving something. These troubles are not just getting in the way of where I'm headed. I'm getting something from these troubles.
Truly our troubles are perplexing. We can begin to wonder where God is during it all...and if he is really faithful to his word?
In the Psalms, David, when considering these things said, I will not concern myself with matters too wonderful for me:
My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I don not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forever more. (Ps 131)
Interestingly, Ps 132 begins with:
O Lord, remember David and all the troubles he endured.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me...too lofty for me to attain. (Ps 139)
A NIGHT & A DAY IN THE SEA
I've been contemplating the scriptures that talk about Paul being in the sea for a day and a half. Interestingly, TBS was showing Cast Away (with Tom Hanks). One scene showed him mounting up high with huge, 10-story-high waves. The camera zoomed out. Nothing. No one. Paul spent a night and a day in the sea. Tom Hanks had a raft (and a paddle)... Can you imagine: totally dark, wet, floating, tossed about by the waves, can't see—
Some have suggested that unless we have opened a door to the enemy, these types of hardships won't happen.
Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world."
God said, "Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you."
So, in conclusion, I see Paul, wet and floating in a dark sea with Jesus.
Where can I flee from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
We are hard pressed...but not crushed.
We are perplexed...but not in despair because, we're not abandoned.
I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak....
Two things I have heard God say very clearly to me:
My ability to provide for you is greater than his ability to steal.
My ability to heal you is greater than his ability to hurt you.
One thing you have spoken, two things I have heard:
That you O God are strong and you O Lord are loving.
I said, God I know that you are able.
I just could use some reassurance that you are willing.
(Immediately, in my thoughts, I saw Jesus on the cross).
I said, "OK Lord. I hear you." You didn't even spare your Son for me....but gave him up freely for me.
WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING FROM OUR TROUBLES.
"IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT....."
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
THE TRUTH IS TRUE!
NO LIE COMES FROM THE TRUTH! NO LIE IS EVER TRUE!
You may say, "Well isn't that obvious?"
Not necessarily.
There is a lie that I have personally heard that sounds something like this: "Your weakness is stronger than God's strength. You've messed up before, but he's out of patience and his grace has run out."
The Bible says exactly the opposite. It doesn't just say, "God's strength is bigger than my weakness," it exaggerates the point by saying, "...the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength," and, "...the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom...But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
(Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-29)
Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
You don't have to be perfect before you come to Jesus. Jesus is the one who cleans up our lives. "But when the kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. he saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, who he poured on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7) "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, wihout blemish and free from accusation—." (Colossians 1:22)
I have found that you don't have to be perfect before you come to Jesus. But you do need to come to Jesus, if you are going to get cleaned up beyond your own ability.
GOD IS BIGGER THAN ME!
King Solomon said to God, the highest heavens cannot contain you, "How much less this temple that I have made for you." I am very comforted to know that God is much bigger than my imagination of who he is. At times it is frustrating because I don't understand why he does the things he does—or why he doesn't do the things he doesn't do. But when I am weak and tired and don't know what direction to turn, it is nice to know there is a God who is beyond me—beyond my imagination, beyond my strength.
Since the highest heavens cannot contain God, how much less this little blog post. God's word says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
Ask God to teach you who he is.
Not necessarily.
There is a lie that I have personally heard that sounds something like this: "Your weakness is stronger than God's strength. You've messed up before, but he's out of patience and his grace has run out."
The Bible says exactly the opposite. It doesn't just say, "God's strength is bigger than my weakness," it exaggerates the point by saying, "...the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength," and, "...the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom...But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
(Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-29)
Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
You don't have to be perfect before you come to Jesus. Jesus is the one who cleans up our lives. "But when the kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. he saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, who he poured on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7) "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, wihout blemish and free from accusation—." (Colossians 1:22)
I have found that you don't have to be perfect before you come to Jesus. But you do need to come to Jesus, if you are going to get cleaned up beyond your own ability.
GOD IS BIGGER THAN ME!
King Solomon said to God, the highest heavens cannot contain you, "How much less this temple that I have made for you." I am very comforted to know that God is much bigger than my imagination of who he is. At times it is frustrating because I don't understand why he does the things he does—or why he doesn't do the things he doesn't do. But when I am weak and tired and don't know what direction to turn, it is nice to know there is a God who is beyond me—beyond my imagination, beyond my strength.
Since the highest heavens cannot contain God, how much less this little blog post. God's word says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
Ask God to teach you who he is.
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