Daniel 1:17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
This verse got me thinking about the gifts God gives in order to accomplish His work. These gifts are from the Spirit and bring others into the presence of God when we use them. As I am in a time of transition, I am seeking to understand how my Spiritual gifts are shifting to something new. I experience certain gifts that continue to be with me, but I can tell that others are gone. It is an interesting time to try and discern what the Spirit is doing in me and how God is preparing me, gifting me, for what's next on this journey. I am watching very closely to see how God is using me to further the Kingdom these days and seeking His wisdom on where I am going to be placed next for His glory. It is not an easy task and it is definitely one that requires conversations with my Spiritual mentors to help me on the journey.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Who Am I?
1 Chronicles 17:18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"
This is King David's question to God after he learns what God's plan is for the building of the temple. I don't have the same feelings as King David in regards to the size of God's plan for him, but I do have the same feelings of "who am I" when I consider what God is doing in my life. It is always good to look back on your life and see how God has been working and moving. It is humbling to realize the details God has ordained. These thoughts help me to remember that God has been with me and continues to go ahead of me on this journey, especially on the days I struggle.
This is King David's question to God after he learns what God's plan is for the building of the temple. I don't have the same feelings as King David in regards to the size of God's plan for him, but I do have the same feelings of "who am I" when I consider what God is doing in my life. It is always good to look back on your life and see how God has been working and moving. It is humbling to realize the details God has ordained. These thoughts help me to remember that God has been with me and continues to go ahead of me on this journey, especially on the days I struggle.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
For the Sake of Another
Daniel 6:22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.
Daniel in the lion's den. I always tell my Sunday school kids to think about what a Bible story tells them about God. I'm asking myself that same question now. The parts that are obvious are what it tells us about Daniel and the king. God was very aware of what was going on with Daniel. He knew the circumstances that Daniel was going to endure, but He also knew what great decree would come about because of Daniel's difficult circumstances. God is just. He is always for good. What amazes me as I read this story, is that the circumstance Daniel endured, even with the angel with him which he didn't know was going to be the case, was all for a larger purpose. The king's decree then has the entire nation worshiping God. What might I be enduring for the sake of another's eternity?
Daniel in the lion's den. I always tell my Sunday school kids to think about what a Bible story tells them about God. I'm asking myself that same question now. The parts that are obvious are what it tells us about Daniel and the king. God was very aware of what was going on with Daniel. He knew the circumstances that Daniel was going to endure, but He also knew what great decree would come about because of Daniel's difficult circumstances. God is just. He is always for good. What amazes me as I read this story, is that the circumstance Daniel endured, even with the angel with him which he didn't know was going to be the case, was all for a larger purpose. The king's decree then has the entire nation worshiping God. What might I be enduring for the sake of another's eternity?
Monday, October 9, 2017
Growing Deeper
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. he has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
This struck me today. How do our hearts know so deeply that we are made for eternity and yet we cannot even begin to understand the fullness of God? The more I learn about God and the more time I spend with Him, the more questions I have. The only difference in my wiser self asking questions of God is that most of those questions I don't actually care to have answered. Those questions lead me to deeper love and faith in Him and thankfulness that Jesus is my life.
This struck me today. How do our hearts know so deeply that we are made for eternity and yet we cannot even begin to understand the fullness of God? The more I learn about God and the more time I spend with Him, the more questions I have. The only difference in my wiser self asking questions of God is that most of those questions I don't actually care to have answered. Those questions lead me to deeper love and faith in Him and thankfulness that Jesus is my life.
Friday, October 6, 2017
God's Perspective
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
This verse spoke to me in many ways today. This whole chapter of Hebrews is great. We have such a hope in Christ that makes all of life better. There is no fear needed, which is easier said than done at times. We have Christ in us and when we can walk with His confidence, our circumstances become less important. We can see the hope of eternity in all things. We can look on situation with the eyes of God and see the bigger picture from His perspective. This is not an easy thing to do. It takes lots of prayer, lots of time spent with Jesus intentionally, and a length of time doing both things. Seeing with God's perspective is a lifetime of getting to know Him. It's not instantaneous. It's not fleeting. It's a journey. It's seeing a little bit more each day and recognizing that God is always moving and always working for our benefit. He is good and His work is good. It can be hard to see in the midst of horrific chaos, but He is there drawing us near to Him and giving us refuge under His wing. We don't need to shrink back and we will not be destroyed because the victory is already won in Christ.
This verse spoke to me in many ways today. This whole chapter of Hebrews is great. We have such a hope in Christ that makes all of life better. There is no fear needed, which is easier said than done at times. We have Christ in us and when we can walk with His confidence, our circumstances become less important. We can see the hope of eternity in all things. We can look on situation with the eyes of God and see the bigger picture from His perspective. This is not an easy thing to do. It takes lots of prayer, lots of time spent with Jesus intentionally, and a length of time doing both things. Seeing with God's perspective is a lifetime of getting to know Him. It's not instantaneous. It's not fleeting. It's a journey. It's seeing a little bit more each day and recognizing that God is always moving and always working for our benefit. He is good and His work is good. It can be hard to see in the midst of horrific chaos, but He is there drawing us near to Him and giving us refuge under His wing. We don't need to shrink back and we will not be destroyed because the victory is already won in Christ.
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Forgiven and Free!
Acts 2:24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold him.
The resurrection of Jesus gets me going! I want to shout "Amen!" every time I read any scripture the refers to it. There is something about the resurrection and the power that it showed that brings me a strong sense of hope. The fact that Jesus was brought back to life, walked the earth, then went to Heaven makes me think about the mightiness of God. There is so much that I lack in tapping into the man of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. I desire that more and more. We are free from death. We have hope in eternity. We are not defeated. The victory has been won on our behalf and we get to claim it as our own. We get to live on earth in the power of the resurrection and when we leave this earth, we go with the power of the cross into Heaven. We have a merciful, loving God who bestows His grace upon us to give us life in Christ. We are forgiven and free!
The resurrection of Jesus gets me going! I want to shout "Amen!" every time I read any scripture the refers to it. There is something about the resurrection and the power that it showed that brings me a strong sense of hope. The fact that Jesus was brought back to life, walked the earth, then went to Heaven makes me think about the mightiness of God. There is so much that I lack in tapping into the man of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. I desire that more and more. We are free from death. We have hope in eternity. We are not defeated. The victory has been won on our behalf and we get to claim it as our own. We get to live on earth in the power of the resurrection and when we leave this earth, we go with the power of the cross into Heaven. We have a merciful, loving God who bestows His grace upon us to give us life in Christ. We are forgiven and free!
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
A Timeline of Redemption
Jeremiah 32:42 This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.
It's hard to read scripture like this, where Israel has to experience the hardship because of their own actions. And yet, every time I read these stories (there are so many times that Israel walked away from God), I am drawn to the fact that God is always about redeeming them and bringing them back to Him and keeping His promise. It blows my mind. We do dumb things, stupid, horrible things, and God redeems us. Heck, He redeemed us before we ever even did anything, and He knew what we were going to do, but Jesus carried it all anyway. God is in the business of redemption. My entire life, and yours, is one big redemption story. All of the good that has happened to me, all of the bad that has happened to me, it all falls on my timeline of redemption. Each marker tells the story of God seeking to get closer to me and how/if I choose to let Him. God pursues me all the time, even now, I have died with Christ and live in Him, and God is still working on me. He is still transforming my heart on this redemption journey while I am a new creation in Jesus. God pursues us all in this way. He loves us all through our good and bad. How do you respond?
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Spirit of Unity
Romans 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
We are all in this together, in basic terms. Finding unity in a broken world with broken ideas and broken people is not a simple task. That is why Paul makes his statement here, that a spirit of unity comes from God. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. I forget that sometimes. All of the good things I have, experience, know, they are all from God. I don't do a great job of thanking Him for all of them, but they are all from God. When I seek something good in the world, when I'm looking for particular positive thing to occur, I must seek God for He is the good I am seeking. Seek God and unity will happen.
We are all in this together, in basic terms. Finding unity in a broken world with broken ideas and broken people is not a simple task. That is why Paul makes his statement here, that a spirit of unity comes from God. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. I forget that sometimes. All of the good things I have, experience, know, they are all from God. I don't do a great job of thanking Him for all of them, but they are all from God. When I seek something good in the world, when I'm looking for particular positive thing to occur, I must seek God for He is the good I am seeking. Seek God and unity will happen.
Monday, October 2, 2017
Fight and Surrender
Jeremiah 18:6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."
These words were not heard with great happiness. I have to admit that at times, I don't hear these words with great enthusiasm either. It is great when the Potter wants to break down the clay that I view as marred and rebuild me into something new. It is a completely different feeling altogether when He sees in me something that I didn't really realize was so detrimental to my walk with Him and decides to break it down and rebuild it. Some things I'm not ready to hand over for that purpose just yet. Sometimes it's a matter of being viewed a particular way by a particular group of people that creates the apprehension. Yes, I am constantly seeking transformation through the Spirit, but I'm not always ready for what God is refining. It's a journey of struggle and celebration, denial and acceptance, fight and surrender. I'm learning to let the Potter have His way in me because my experience with Him reminds me that He knows me best.
These words were not heard with great happiness. I have to admit that at times, I don't hear these words with great enthusiasm either. It is great when the Potter wants to break down the clay that I view as marred and rebuild me into something new. It is a completely different feeling altogether when He sees in me something that I didn't really realize was so detrimental to my walk with Him and decides to break it down and rebuild it. Some things I'm not ready to hand over for that purpose just yet. Sometimes it's a matter of being viewed a particular way by a particular group of people that creates the apprehension. Yes, I am constantly seeking transformation through the Spirit, but I'm not always ready for what God is refining. It's a journey of struggle and celebration, denial and acceptance, fight and surrender. I'm learning to let the Potter have His way in me because my experience with Him reminds me that He knows me best.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)