I never cease to be amazed by the limitations people assign to God. I often hear people say what He wouldn’t do—and some go so far as to say what He couldn’t do. Since when is God restricted by the extent of our imagination?
Walking on water, healing the sick, driving out demons, and raising the dead were just a few of the miracles performed by Jesus. It was hard for some of those who were alive during the time of Christ to accept these signs and miracles. So I can understand how this may be just as difficult to accept for some of those living 2,000 years later.
Those who see Jesus only as a “good man” or simply a “prophet” would no doubt find it hard to fathom how this “guy” could turn water into wine or feed thousands with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread. There would have to be a logical explanation. But those of us who accept the deity of Jesus should recognize that God defies logic. Our belief in Jesus’ resurrection hinges on the understanding that God can do the things that we know to be impossible.
When we think of the Almighty, our brain cannot fully comprehend all that He encompasses. Our God is the Lord of all. Psalm 24:1 tells us “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” There are no exceptions. There is nothing outside of His jurisdiction. (Someone once even questioned if God could stop time. A quick look at Joshua 10:1-15 answered that!)
But at the end of the day, it’s all about faith. I would be a little disappointed to serve a God that is only as great as I could imagine. The fact that God surpasses all human understanding fortifies my faith. I know without a doubt that I can rely on Him for anything and everything. And I am encouraged to know that with God, nothing is impossible!
I believe God can do anything—except fail. ☺
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
God’s Time
We often give ourselves ultimatums: “I want to have this thing done by this time.” But when we make up timelines without first consulting with God, we set ourselves up for tremendous disappointment.
The truth is, people want what they want when they want it. We become impatient with delays and setbacks. And many of us are easily ruffled when things don’t run according to our schedule.
But the moment we decide to do things “our way” we fall into Satan’s trap. And sometimes we do it with all the best intentions—“Lord, I’m going to raise $6,000 by July and I’m going to be on a plane to Haiti by September to do some mission work!” But when a wrench is thrown into our plans and we don’t meet our own self-imposed deadlines, we become angry and frustrated.
Imagine how frustrating it was for Moses to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. When he originally set out on the journey, he couldn’t have planned for it to take 40 years! But imagine if he had said, “Okay, if we’re not in the Promised Land by the end of February, I’m just going to quit!” All would have been lost. Thankfully, Moses was a man of great faith and was willing to follow God’s timing—and not his own—until the end.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” There’s no plan that we should make without first consulting with the Lord. And once we get the green light to move forward, we must accept that His plans are perfect and His timing is right.
Allow God to do the planning and watch how it all unfolds—right on time!
The truth is, people want what they want when they want it. We become impatient with delays and setbacks. And many of us are easily ruffled when things don’t run according to our schedule.
But the moment we decide to do things “our way” we fall into Satan’s trap. And sometimes we do it with all the best intentions—“Lord, I’m going to raise $6,000 by July and I’m going to be on a plane to Haiti by September to do some mission work!” But when a wrench is thrown into our plans and we don’t meet our own self-imposed deadlines, we become angry and frustrated.
Imagine how frustrating it was for Moses to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. When he originally set out on the journey, he couldn’t have planned for it to take 40 years! But imagine if he had said, “Okay, if we’re not in the Promised Land by the end of February, I’m just going to quit!” All would have been lost. Thankfully, Moses was a man of great faith and was willing to follow God’s timing—and not his own—until the end.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” There’s no plan that we should make without first consulting with the Lord. And once we get the green light to move forward, we must accept that His plans are perfect and His timing is right.
Allow God to do the planning and watch how it all unfolds—right on time!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Love
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and many hearts and minds will turn to all things romantic. There will be plenty of flowers, candy, and big red hearts to be seen. But looking aside from the overly commercialized, Hallmark version of love, how many people really know true love? And do we only get to experience it once a year?
Despite the hype centered on “love” this time of year, in our daily lives, we generally experience 4 types of love—they go by the Greek names of storge, philia, eros, and agape. Here’s a breakdown:
• Storge is what you would call “family love.” It’s the kind of love you often see at weddings, birthday parties, and family reunions. Good times!
• Philia is also known as “brotherly love.” Yes, it’s the word at the root of the name Philadelphia—the City of Brotherly Love. This is the kind of love that allows people to stand up for one another and have compassion for others.
• Eros is “romantic love.” This word is the root of “erotic.” It’s the kind of love shared between a husband and wife, which binds them for a lifetime.
• Agape is “unconditional love.” This is the love that God has for us and shows us each and every day.
The Bible offers the perfect definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Be sure to give it a read—especially if you haven’t in a while. Some of the highlights: Love is patient, love is kind, and love never fails!
Do you know the Love of Jesus?
Jesus Christ displayed the greatest Love of all, by laying down His life so that we may receive salvation. And it didn’t end there—as Christians, we experience the perfect Love of the Living God each and every day in our lives.
If you want to experience the Love of Christ in your life, it’s easy. Just say the following prayer, “Lord, I know that I have sinned. But I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son and that He died for my salvation. And I believe that He rose from the dead so that I may enjoy eternal life with You. Jesus, I accept your gift of Love, please come into my life as my personal savior and help me to live in a way that is pleasing to You. Amen.”
If you have said this prayer for the first time, you are saved from the penalty of sin! Let the Holy Spirit guide you to a place of worship where you can fellowship with and be encouraged by other Christians—and enjoy the Love of Christ!
Despite the hype centered on “love” this time of year, in our daily lives, we generally experience 4 types of love—they go by the Greek names of storge, philia, eros, and agape. Here’s a breakdown:
• Storge is what you would call “family love.” It’s the kind of love you often see at weddings, birthday parties, and family reunions. Good times!
• Philia is also known as “brotherly love.” Yes, it’s the word at the root of the name Philadelphia—the City of Brotherly Love. This is the kind of love that allows people to stand up for one another and have compassion for others.
• Eros is “romantic love.” This word is the root of “erotic.” It’s the kind of love shared between a husband and wife, which binds them for a lifetime.
• Agape is “unconditional love.” This is the love that God has for us and shows us each and every day.
The Bible offers the perfect definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Be sure to give it a read—especially if you haven’t in a while. Some of the highlights: Love is patient, love is kind, and love never fails!
Do you know the Love of Jesus?
Jesus Christ displayed the greatest Love of all, by laying down His life so that we may receive salvation. And it didn’t end there—as Christians, we experience the perfect Love of the Living God each and every day in our lives.
If you want to experience the Love of Christ in your life, it’s easy. Just say the following prayer, “Lord, I know that I have sinned. But I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son and that He died for my salvation. And I believe that He rose from the dead so that I may enjoy eternal life with You. Jesus, I accept your gift of Love, please come into my life as my personal savior and help me to live in a way that is pleasing to You. Amen.”
If you have said this prayer for the first time, you are saved from the penalty of sin! Let the Holy Spirit guide you to a place of worship where you can fellowship with and be encouraged by other Christians—and enjoy the Love of Christ!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Market Correction
Due to the current economy, many people have adjusted their financial habits. Reckless spending is much lower and financial discipline is growing significantly. People are keeping a closer eye on their debt (especially the credit cards!) and trying to save more. This newfound financial discipline has spiritual implications as well.
Now, I’m no financial expert, so when the analysts are discussing the Dow Jones and the gross national product, I pretty much glaze over. But the idea of “market correction” caught my attention. According to analysts, a series of poor financial practices, such as overlending by banks, overspending by consumers (mostly on credit), and overambitious interest rates have led to current market conditions. And the resulting foreclosures, unemployment rates, and national debt are the price we now have to pay—literally.
Undisciplined financial behavior leads to serious financial consequences. Now take the word “financial” out of that previous sentence. It’s a basic spiritual principle that a lack of discipline leads to poor outcomes. So as Christians, taking stock of our financial habits is closely tied into taking a closer look at our overall lifestyle. During this period of market correction, maybe there are areas in which we will achieve spiritual correction as well. There are a few examples:
• More people are using coupons now when shopping. I heard someone once say, “Retail price is for suckers.” Getting the best price for purchases just makes sense. But of course, this type of discipline involves planning your shopping trip to the grocery store or mall to ensure you have the coupons you need—which means fewer wasteful impulse purchases.
• Many have cut down on non-essential spending, such as dining out. I can only begin to tell you how many benefits this offers. The first is the ability to spend more family time at home. In addition, by preparing your own food, you control the ingredients—which has tremendous nutritional benefits for your family.
• Most of us are also keeping a watchful eye on the credit card bills and our accumulated debt. Paying down and controlling debt has always been essential. Many lost sight of that during more prosperous times. But now, outrageous spending is down, allowing more people to appreciate what they currently have and save for the future.
Have you been more responsible with your finances lately? Or are you in the market for some correction? I’m reminded of the parable of the bags of gold in Matthew 25:14-30. Take a read—and ask yourself if you are like the servant who was pleasing to his master. Then ask God for ways in which you can be an even better steward of the finances He has entrusted you with.
What are some ways in which you have been led to be more financially responsible? Leave a message!
Now, I’m no financial expert, so when the analysts are discussing the Dow Jones and the gross national product, I pretty much glaze over. But the idea of “market correction” caught my attention. According to analysts, a series of poor financial practices, such as overlending by banks, overspending by consumers (mostly on credit), and overambitious interest rates have led to current market conditions. And the resulting foreclosures, unemployment rates, and national debt are the price we now have to pay—literally.
Undisciplined financial behavior leads to serious financial consequences. Now take the word “financial” out of that previous sentence. It’s a basic spiritual principle that a lack of discipline leads to poor outcomes. So as Christians, taking stock of our financial habits is closely tied into taking a closer look at our overall lifestyle. During this period of market correction, maybe there are areas in which we will achieve spiritual correction as well. There are a few examples:
• More people are using coupons now when shopping. I heard someone once say, “Retail price is for suckers.” Getting the best price for purchases just makes sense. But of course, this type of discipline involves planning your shopping trip to the grocery store or mall to ensure you have the coupons you need—which means fewer wasteful impulse purchases.
• Many have cut down on non-essential spending, such as dining out. I can only begin to tell you how many benefits this offers. The first is the ability to spend more family time at home. In addition, by preparing your own food, you control the ingredients—which has tremendous nutritional benefits for your family.
• Most of us are also keeping a watchful eye on the credit card bills and our accumulated debt. Paying down and controlling debt has always been essential. Many lost sight of that during more prosperous times. But now, outrageous spending is down, allowing more people to appreciate what they currently have and save for the future.
Have you been more responsible with your finances lately? Or are you in the market for some correction? I’m reminded of the parable of the bags of gold in Matthew 25:14-30. Take a read—and ask yourself if you are like the servant who was pleasing to his master. Then ask God for ways in which you can be an even better steward of the finances He has entrusted you with.
What are some ways in which you have been led to be more financially responsible? Leave a message!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
On Vacation?
I went away on vacation recently. But don’t you know, dear reader, that you can’t take a vacation from God? What I mean is, you can temporarily change your location and you can take a break from your daily routine…but when God has something for you to do—you just can’t get away.
In times of trouble and when faced with certain danger, it is so encouraging to know that God is there. And when we are walking in His way and serving Him the best way we can, we are so welcoming of His presence. But what about those times when we aren’t quite living up to our call? Are we as anxious to stand before Him?
I am reminded of Psalm 139, where David so eloquently states, “Where can I go 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.” Of course, this is not a frustration with the omnipresence of God, but an overwhelming awe of the fulfillment of His promise to never leave or forsake us. Yet, when we are out of His will, this may take on a new meaning for us.
For example, when Jonah was called to preach against the city of Nineveh, he decided to decline God’s assignment. So he packed his bags and went on vacation! Well, sort of. He ran away toward the city of Tarshish. He never made it, though, as he was swallowed by a big fish while en route. So much for getting away, huh?
And if you remember way back in the beginning, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, they tried to hide from His presence. But in the Garden of Eden, there was no place to hide their faces from Him. And even when they received their just punishment—banishment from the garden—God still watched over them.
Whether you work in ministry or serve from the pews, there may come a time where you feel like “taking a break.” It may come in the form of falling off from your responsibilities, or just getting lax in your prayer and Bible reading. The truth is, we can’t take “time off” from being Christians. Nor can we “get away” from the call on our lives.
Paul, who was a great worker in ministry, understood our human limitations. He encouraged the churches and warned them often to “faint not.” In 2 Corinthians 4:16, he offers the following words of encouragement, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” The irony is that our daily renewal, our very strength, comes from doing the very things that our bodies and minds are telling us that we’re too tired to do!
Next time you feel the urge to “get away” from the Lord’s will, try a staycation: Stay in prayer, stay in the Word, and stay in His presence. He will fill you with joy—and the joy of the Lord is your strength!
In times of trouble and when faced with certain danger, it is so encouraging to know that God is there. And when we are walking in His way and serving Him the best way we can, we are so welcoming of His presence. But what about those times when we aren’t quite living up to our call? Are we as anxious to stand before Him?
I am reminded of Psalm 139, where David so eloquently states, “Where can I go 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.” Of course, this is not a frustration with the omnipresence of God, but an overwhelming awe of the fulfillment of His promise to never leave or forsake us. Yet, when we are out of His will, this may take on a new meaning for us.
For example, when Jonah was called to preach against the city of Nineveh, he decided to decline God’s assignment. So he packed his bags and went on vacation! Well, sort of. He ran away toward the city of Tarshish. He never made it, though, as he was swallowed by a big fish while en route. So much for getting away, huh?
And if you remember way back in the beginning, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, they tried to hide from His presence. But in the Garden of Eden, there was no place to hide their faces from Him. And even when they received their just punishment—banishment from the garden—God still watched over them.
Whether you work in ministry or serve from the pews, there may come a time where you feel like “taking a break.” It may come in the form of falling off from your responsibilities, or just getting lax in your prayer and Bible reading. The truth is, we can’t take “time off” from being Christians. Nor can we “get away” from the call on our lives.
Paul, who was a great worker in ministry, understood our human limitations. He encouraged the churches and warned them often to “faint not.” In 2 Corinthians 4:16, he offers the following words of encouragement, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” The irony is that our daily renewal, our very strength, comes from doing the very things that our bodies and minds are telling us that we’re too tired to do!
Next time you feel the urge to “get away” from the Lord’s will, try a staycation: Stay in prayer, stay in the Word, and stay in His presence. He will fill you with joy—and the joy of the Lord is your strength!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The End of Days
Birds fall from the sky. Dead fish wash up on the shores. Sickness and diseases strike in epidemic proportions. Wars and rumors of wars spread worldwide. For those who are Bible readers, these events sound pretty Apocalyptic. Could this very well be the end of days?
Depending on which news source you read, there’s a very good explanation for the recent sudden death of thousands of birds and fish worldwide. It’s either a natural phenomenon that humans have just happened to witness recently due to greater urbanization—or it’s an unexplained mystery that may be a sign of the upcoming end of the world. In recent years, there have been quite a few events that have caused folks to take a pause:
• Weather phenomena, such as El Niño, Hurricane Katrina, and the Indian Ocean tsunami
• The outbreak of the AIDS and SARS epidemics
• The rise and scope of terrorism, such as the September 11th attacks
But are these signs of the end of the world? The danger is that there tends to be 2 basic reactions: Too worried or completely apathetic.
Besides losing sleep and literally worrying themselves to death, those who are too worried run the risk of taking on a destructive outlook on life. Why bother to pursue one’s goals when the world is going to end anyway? Worry is a crippling state of mind. That’s why Matthew 6:25-34 warns us not to be consumed by such anxiety.
However, those who are completely apathetic may be overlooking an opportunity for salvation. With a “we’re all going to die, one way or the other” attitude, they may rarely stop to think about what happens afterward. But being “ready to die” is not quite the same as being prepared for eternal life. In Luke 17:26-29, Jesus mentions how people were obliviously going about everyday life in the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah, before great destruction overcame them all.
So what is the right balance? As Christians, we are certainly to look forward to the day of Christ’s return. And we know that destruction of the sinful world soon follows. But instead of getting caught up in things over which we have no control, we should focus on getting our lives right. And reach out to help others find salvation. Because when the end of days does come, we want to ensure that we’re on the right side of eternity!
Depending on which news source you read, there’s a very good explanation for the recent sudden death of thousands of birds and fish worldwide. It’s either a natural phenomenon that humans have just happened to witness recently due to greater urbanization—or it’s an unexplained mystery that may be a sign of the upcoming end of the world. In recent years, there have been quite a few events that have caused folks to take a pause:
• Weather phenomena, such as El Niño, Hurricane Katrina, and the Indian Ocean tsunami
• The outbreak of the AIDS and SARS epidemics
• The rise and scope of terrorism, such as the September 11th attacks
But are these signs of the end of the world? The danger is that there tends to be 2 basic reactions: Too worried or completely apathetic.
Besides losing sleep and literally worrying themselves to death, those who are too worried run the risk of taking on a destructive outlook on life. Why bother to pursue one’s goals when the world is going to end anyway? Worry is a crippling state of mind. That’s why Matthew 6:25-34 warns us not to be consumed by such anxiety.
However, those who are completely apathetic may be overlooking an opportunity for salvation. With a “we’re all going to die, one way or the other” attitude, they may rarely stop to think about what happens afterward. But being “ready to die” is not quite the same as being prepared for eternal life. In Luke 17:26-29, Jesus mentions how people were obliviously going about everyday life in the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah, before great destruction overcame them all.
So what is the right balance? As Christians, we are certainly to look forward to the day of Christ’s return. And we know that destruction of the sinful world soon follows. But instead of getting caught up in things over which we have no control, we should focus on getting our lives right. And reach out to help others find salvation. Because when the end of days does come, we want to ensure that we’re on the right side of eternity!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
$86,400
I recently came across a very interesting proposition in my church bulletin. The question was, “What if someone deposited $86,400 into your bank account daily? What would you do with it?” Of course the mind begins to race and one begins to imagine all that could be accomplished with this amount.
As I read on, I found that whatever you don’t use at the end of the day gets deleted from your account. The next day, you begin with $86,400 all over again. You can’t save from the day before or borrow against tomorrow’s deposit. So, to make the most of your daily allotment, you would have to spend wisely.
Oh, and by the way, I read that the deposits can end at any time, without any warning. Well, that made the proposition a little more interesting!
How would you handle your daily deposit? Would you spend it on the things you need? Would you give some away to worthy causes? Would you invest it in long-term initiatives? Would you waste it on nonsense?
They say “time is money” and this helps bring that analogy to life. The $86,400 represents the number of seconds we have in a day. Each day, you get a new deposit and you have to decide what to do with it. In reality, each of us gets the same amount. How do you choose to spend yours?
This year, let’s make the most of our daily deposits. Some of us have made resolutions for the things we want to accomplish in 2011. Well, we have 86,400 seconds each day to make it happen.
A great start would be tithing some of it back to God. Remember to set aside time daily to go before the Lord in prayer, spend time reading His Word, and listen to His guidance. When you turn it over to the Lord, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish with your 86,400!
Happy New Year, readers!
As I read on, I found that whatever you don’t use at the end of the day gets deleted from your account. The next day, you begin with $86,400 all over again. You can’t save from the day before or borrow against tomorrow’s deposit. So, to make the most of your daily allotment, you would have to spend wisely.
Oh, and by the way, I read that the deposits can end at any time, without any warning. Well, that made the proposition a little more interesting!
How would you handle your daily deposit? Would you spend it on the things you need? Would you give some away to worthy causes? Would you invest it in long-term initiatives? Would you waste it on nonsense?
They say “time is money” and this helps bring that analogy to life. The $86,400 represents the number of seconds we have in a day. Each day, you get a new deposit and you have to decide what to do with it. In reality, each of us gets the same amount. How do you choose to spend yours?
This year, let’s make the most of our daily deposits. Some of us have made resolutions for the things we want to accomplish in 2011. Well, we have 86,400 seconds each day to make it happen.
A great start would be tithing some of it back to God. Remember to set aside time daily to go before the Lord in prayer, spend time reading His Word, and listen to His guidance. When you turn it over to the Lord, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish with your 86,400!
Happy New Year, readers!
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