I've been praying for a lady I don't know named Heather.
Why, you may ask, would I be praying for somebody I don't know? Because God has moved my heart with compassion for her and for her family is the only thing I can reply.
Heather has a tumor on her brain and is currently wisely seeking for medical expertise. Heather is a Christian woman with a strong faith.
Why does God choose to allow some people to walk through extremely difficult circumstances?
I don't know.
Why does God allow the same people that have had one difficult circumstance to go through another, and maybe another, and maybe another... maybe what seems like a lifetime of one thing after another?
I don't know.
Why does God allow His saints, His people to endure these kinds of difficulties?
I don't know this either.
As an example, we have personal friends that have had many difficult things in their lives over the past many years: Multiple Sclerosis, cancer, tumor, family estrangement, other medical problems.
Sometimes it just seems like it will never end. I know from the Bible that God does not impose these circumstances on His people, but I believe from reading Job that if it occurs, it is because He permits it; and from reading Jeremiah 29:11, that there is a purpose in it.
These people are strong, well-grounded believers in God; they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He came in the flesh as dwelt as a man; that He died for the forgiveness of our sins as the perfect atoning sacrifice; and that He rose again from the dead three days later and after appearing to those who had known Him, He ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father.
Then I consider that there many others that believe the same, but for some reason are not touched directly by these seemingly overwhelming trials. I am humbly grateful to fall in this category. Thank You Father God.
Jesus, it says in Your word that Your heart was moved with compassion for those that came seeking You and for the healing You have the power to give: paralytics, blind, sick, diseased, oppressed and possessed by demons; even the dead. You touched them and healed them and made them completely whole and set them free. Oh Lord, we long to see Your glory fall in these days for healing and deliverance. We desire to see Your majesty manifest in these days that many souls would come to know You and worship You. We live in a lost and dying world that desperately needs the hope and life that ONLY YOU can give. Come Lord now in these days and display Your power for all the nations to see. Lord we need You! And Lord... I love You!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Our Gifts of Life
I walked down the aisle,
With my new found wife beside
We stepped on through the door,
To live the gift of life.
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
I looked into his eyes,
Our new born baby boy
A gift of heaven above,
To fill our hearts with joy
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
I looked into her eyes,
Like a dove, she seems to fly
On wings so pure and gentle,
A beautiful daughter so full of life
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
I looked into her eyes,
Our little giver of joy
Her smile so full of laughter
A gift so pure and bright
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
They seem to grow so quickly
The time just seems to fly
Yesterday they were babies
Now they've filled our life
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
They sure have grown so quickly
The time has sure gone by
We're blessed that we've received
Our Gifts of Life
We're blessed that we've received
Our precious Gifts of Life
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
With my new found wife beside
We stepped on through the door,
To live the gift of life.
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
I looked into his eyes,
Our new born baby boy
A gift of heaven above,
To fill our hearts with joy
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
I looked into her eyes,
Like a dove, she seems to fly
On wings so pure and gentle,
A beautiful daughter so full of life
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
I looked into her eyes,
Our little giver of joy
Her smile so full of laughter
A gift so pure and bright
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
They seem to grow so quickly
The time just seems to fly
Yesterday they were babies
Now they've filled our life
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
They sure have grown so quickly
The time has sure gone by
We're blessed that we've received
Our Gifts of Life
We're blessed that we've received
Our precious Gifts of Life
And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away
My oldest daughter is but a few weeks from her high school graduation and getting ever closer to leaving for college. It was not an easy endeavor taking my son to college, now almost two years ago; I can only venture to guess that it will be harder to leave my little lady. Our youngest is now only three years from graduating high school and I cannot, dare not, will not think about that now.Grace for those days does not yet belong to me.
And the days just seem to fly... away
Monday, April 23, 2007
Getting Tuned In
Have you ever had to mess with an analog radio to try to get it tuned in? Do you remember those, the kind with a little dial that you have to move back and forth just so to get it so you can hear the radio station without the static. I know those are fading into the past in this digital age. Today the tuners on our car radio still have a dial that you can turn to the left and the right to change the station, but it moves from one digital channel setting to the next so when you get to the exact frequency the radio station is broadcasting (like 98.3 MHz), you have a
corresponding digital setting.
I remember when I was younger, before everything was digital, radios had dials and the tuning knob would take you through all the space in between 98.1 and 98.9 when you were trying to get to 98.3 and getting it set could sometimes be just a little touchy... and radio stations didn't announce that they were broadcasting on the decimal somewhere in between the whole numbers, they rounded up or down; the local station that broadcast on 92.9 announced its location as 93. Simple.
I started considering this this evening after an adventure...
I am trying to find new places to go ride my mountain bike in hopes of actually getting this decaying body back into something resembling being in shape again (which is no small task). So even though the weather forecast was gloomy and the skies were threatening, I went out to ride in a city park close by that provides some moderately challenging terrain. I was hoping to get about a five mile ride in before the weather got bad. I had mapped out my route before going, but since I had not ridden there before I was not familiar with where all the trails went. I was having fun and I missed the place where I had intended to turn off to the trail to take me back to my pickup. About that time I was crossing an open area on the top of the bluff and it started lightning and thundering pretty intensely.
Now I often talk to God while I'm on little outings because it is usually a good time to do so. There generally aren't too many interruptions. [Sometimes I also ask for help to keep breathing.] Well I mentioned to Him that I noticed the static electrical show that was dancing around me was impressive, but it was also making me a little uncomfortable and that I understood that I needed to get back, but the trail was leading away from where my truck was parked. I reasoned that it shouldn't be too much further to where the trail was supposed to head back the other way so I went on a little farther, maybe another 1/4 mile. *** This is where it ties back to the fine tuning. ***
I need a digital tuner so that I can clearly GET the frequency God is broadcasting to me on. Somehow it seems that I am still using an analog tuner that gets a little fuzzy from time-to-time and I am not quite getting the clear signal. And I think the lightning was messing with the reception too.
I know God speaks clearly, so the reception problem has to be on this end. God said, "You should stop and go back that other way to the truck." What I got was something like, "You should <crackle> go <crackle> that <crackle> way to the truck."
Okay, so not really... there weren't any static crackles in the reception, though there really was plenty of electrical static. I confess that there was just that stupid thing in me that says "just a little further and I can turn around there and go back..."
"I'm sorry Lord. You spoke. I heard, but I only kinda listened. Thank You for having mercy on this servant and only allowing me to get a little wet, when if I had really listened I would have been back at my pickup before the rain started to fall. You truly are merciful."
Oh, and as for the analog tuner, I think I need to replace it with a digital tuner attached to a PA system so it can get through my hearing difficulty.
--God bless.
corresponding digital setting.I remember when I was younger, before everything was digital, radios had dials and the tuning knob would take you through all the space in between 98.1 and 98.9 when you were trying to get to 98.3 and getting it set could sometimes be just a little touchy... and radio stations didn't announce that they were broadcasting on the decimal somewhere in between the whole numbers, they rounded up or down; the local station that broadcast on 92.9 announced its location as 93. Simple.
I started considering this this evening after an adventure...
I am trying to find new places to go ride my mountain bike in hopes of actually getting this decaying body back into something resembling being in shape again (which is no small task). So even though the weather forecast was gloomy and the skies were threatening, I went out to ride in a city park close by that provides some moderately challenging terrain. I was hoping to get about a five mile ride in before the weather got bad. I had mapped out my route before going, but since I had not ridden there before I was not familiar with where all the trails went. I was having fun and I missed the place where I had intended to turn off to the trail to take me back to my pickup. About that time I was crossing an open area on the top of the bluff and it started lightning and thundering pretty intensely.
Now I often talk to God while I'm on little outings because it is usually a good time to do so. There generally aren't too many interruptions. [Sometimes I also ask for help to keep breathing.] Well I mentioned to Him that I noticed the static electrical show that was dancing around me was impressive, but it was also making me a little uncomfortable and that I understood that I needed to get back, but the trail was leading away from where my truck was parked. I reasoned that it shouldn't be too much further to where the trail was supposed to head back the other way so I went on a little farther, maybe another 1/4 mile. *** This is where it ties back to the fine tuning. ***
I need a digital tuner so that I can clearly GET the frequency God is broadcasting to me on. Somehow it seems that I am still using an analog tuner that gets a little fuzzy from time-to-time and I am not quite getting the clear signal. And I think the lightning was messing with the reception too.
I know God speaks clearly, so the reception problem has to be on this end. God said, "You should stop and go back that other way to the truck." What I got was something like, "You should <crackle> go <crackle> that <crackle> way to the truck."
Okay, so not really... there weren't any static crackles in the reception, though there really was plenty of electrical static. I confess that there was just that stupid thing in me that says "just a little further and I can turn around there and go back..."
"I'm sorry Lord. You spoke. I heard, but I only kinda listened. Thank You for having mercy on this servant and only allowing me to get a little wet, when if I had really listened I would have been back at my pickup before the rain started to fall. You truly are merciful."
Oh, and as for the analog tuner, I think I need to replace it with a digital tuner attached to a PA system so it can get through my hearing difficulty.
--God bless.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
A Young Lady on Modesty
A young lady named Katie is a friend of my son Chris. The last several posts on her blog have been about modesty. She writes about what the Lord has been showing her about the matter and how He has led her to make some changes regarding how she is to dress. Katie admits it isn't easy, but believes it is worthwhile to do so.
I agree with her that it is important for young women to be aware of how they dress. I have attempted to communicate this to my own daughters so that they understand how God wired men to respond to the female body; which was in its inception good. Adam saw Eve and said "Wow! This is great." And so it was. God looked and said it was good. That was before the fruit episode that turned into he said-she said and messed up the whole thing.
So the problem now is we live in a fallen world and have a sinful nature, so our glances turn to thoughts which can quickly turn to lustful thoughts, a.k.a. sin. The more skin that is revealed, the faster the thoughts go toward sin.
I'll relay what I've told my daughters: Ladies, men notice! Men will notice what you are wearing and they notice what you are not wearing. It does not matter how young or old the man, he will look. If it would totally creep you out that some guy that is 50 or 60 years old (or older) would look at you and enjoy the view, you might want to consider what you are showing. Men will consider it advertising.
I do not share these things to place a burden on women; men have their place of responsibility in the matter. Those of us who are aware of the need to control our thoughts try hard to do so. But there are many, many men in this world who do not even consider that they should avoid thinking lustfully and entertain it quickly, so ladies please be aware.
Enough on this subject today.
God Bless you all.
I agree with her that it is important for young women to be aware of how they dress. I have attempted to communicate this to my own daughters so that they understand how God wired men to respond to the female body; which was in its inception good. Adam saw Eve and said "Wow! This is great." And so it was. God looked and said it was good. That was before the fruit episode that turned into he said-she said and messed up the whole thing.
So the problem now is we live in a fallen world and have a sinful nature, so our glances turn to thoughts which can quickly turn to lustful thoughts, a.k.a. sin. The more skin that is revealed, the faster the thoughts go toward sin.
I'll relay what I've told my daughters: Ladies, men notice! Men will notice what you are wearing and they notice what you are not wearing. It does not matter how young or old the man, he will look. If it would totally creep you out that some guy that is 50 or 60 years old (or older) would look at you and enjoy the view, you might want to consider what you are showing. Men will consider it advertising.
I do not share these things to place a burden on women; men have their place of responsibility in the matter. Those of us who are aware of the need to control our thoughts try hard to do so. But there are many, many men in this world who do not even consider that they should avoid thinking lustfully and entertain it quickly, so ladies please be aware.
Enough on this subject today.
God Bless you all.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
VT Tragedy
There is not much I can say that hasn't already been said by so many others. This much I must share:
My heart grieves over the this tragic, senseless act of violence and the loss of life.
My heart grieves for the parents of the young man who needlessly took so many lives, and is now absolutely lost as well. There is no hope for his salvation.
My heart grieves for the families and friends of those who were slain and injured. Their lives will never be the same. Their hurt, unimaginable. Their trust is shaken.
My heart grieves for the students and faculty at VT. There is no way any can remain untouched by this horrific event.
Dear merciful Father God, You Who comfort those who mourn. Comfort those now who are mourning for their loved ones lost to them. Send forth Your Holy Spirit to touch hearts as only You can. Send forth Your workers into these fields to share Your Word, Your hope, and Your promise of eternal life for those who will believe that You Jesus are truly the living Son of God. Lord, forgive me that I am unable to fully see how You will use this to Your purposes, but Lord, I know You will do it.
Thank You for making us bold to proclaim Your gospel in these days, in this time, to this desperate and dying world that so needs You.
My heart grieves over the this tragic, senseless act of violence and the loss of life.
My heart grieves for the parents of the young man who needlessly took so many lives, and is now absolutely lost as well. There is no hope for his salvation.
My heart grieves for the families and friends of those who were slain and injured. Their lives will never be the same. Their hurt, unimaginable. Their trust is shaken.
My heart grieves for the students and faculty at VT. There is no way any can remain untouched by this horrific event.
Dear merciful Father God, You Who comfort those who mourn. Comfort those now who are mourning for their loved ones lost to them. Send forth Your Holy Spirit to touch hearts as only You can. Send forth Your workers into these fields to share Your Word, Your hope, and Your promise of eternal life for those who will believe that You Jesus are truly the living Son of God. Lord, forgive me that I am unable to fully see how You will use this to Your purposes, but Lord, I know You will do it.
Thank You for making us bold to proclaim Your gospel in these days, in this time, to this desperate and dying world that so needs You.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Riding Uphill Into the Wind
Last summer I took up mountain biking for exercise. Well, to be more specific I took up riding a mountain bike and attempted to take up mountain biking. There is a difference. Anyone that can ride a bicycle can ride a mountain bike. Not just anyone can mountain bike. The latter actually requires some skill, which I used to think I might have.
Anyway, I can easily ride my mountain bike on wide nicely groomed trails which is what I started doing last summer during my lunch times. I figured at 40-something and a desk job, I could use it. Occasionally since then I have endeavored to ride with some guys at work that actually know how to "mountain bike"
and that is quite different and really close to being a lot of work, and that is another story for another day.
Today I went out on the wide "easy" trail which heads north from our office building figuring it was going to be an easy ride. But I didn't count on the steady 20+ mph headwind (gusting to 30+ mph) to go with the slightly uphill ride. The five-and-a-half miles that usually takes me 25 minutes, took 35 minutes today and I was gassed. Fortunately the ride back is a slight downhill and today had a great tailwind. :P
I guess the point to all this babbling is that sometimes the ordinary things in our lives can seem long and arduous when things change just a little bit from the usual. Sometimes a storm blows in and we end up heading into the wind and we get tired. The hard part is persevering, but sooner or later the wind changes direction or we change direction and it isn't so difficult any more.
Anyway, I can easily ride my mountain bike on wide nicely groomed trails which is what I started doing last summer during my lunch times. I figured at 40-something and a desk job, I could use it. Occasionally since then I have endeavored to ride with some guys at work that actually know how to "mountain bike"
and that is quite different and really close to being a lot of work, and that is another story for another day.Today I went out on the wide "easy" trail which heads north from our office building figuring it was going to be an easy ride. But I didn't count on the steady 20+ mph headwind (gusting to 30+ mph) to go with the slightly uphill ride. The five-and-a-half miles that usually takes me 25 minutes, took 35 minutes today and I was gassed. Fortunately the ride back is a slight downhill and today had a great tailwind. :P
I guess the point to all this babbling is that sometimes the ordinary things in our lives can seem long and arduous when things change just a little bit from the usual. Sometimes a storm blows in and we end up heading into the wind and we get tired. The hard part is persevering, but sooner or later the wind changes direction or we change direction and it isn't so difficult any more.
Cristo Redentor
Today 
I thought I would post something that might be a little different and hopefully interesting.
The picture on the left, as well as the one I have associated with my blog is that of a statue on Corcavado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil called Cristo Redentor, or Christ the Redeemer.
These are not pictures I found on the internet, rather it is one I was fortunate enough to have been able to take myself in June 2004.
The statue is 125 feet tall and quite impressive as it sits on top of a 2330 foot high mountain that overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro, the Guanabara Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.
I hope you enjoyed this brief trip to Brazil.
I thought I would post something that might be a little different and hopefully interesting.The picture on the left, as well as the one I have associated with my blog is that of a statue on Corcavado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil called Cristo Redentor, or Christ the Redeemer.
These are not pictures I found on the internet, rather it is one I was fortunate enough to have been able to take myself in June 2004.
The statue is 125 feet tall and quite impressive as it sits on top of a 2330 foot high mountain that overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro, the Guanabara Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.
I hope you enjoyed this brief trip to Brazil.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
My Little Life
Every once in a while I think things in my life might be a little difficult, and I really mean just a little, and then my eyes are opened to others that are in the middle of real difficulty.
I was reading an online friend's (Ame) blog and she included a link to Especially Heather's site. I have not been to Heather's site before, but she and her family need of prayer for God's divine intervention. Please take a minute, read her story and remember her before the throne of God our Father.
May God touch her and heal her and keep her and her family. Thank you Jesus that You remember Your saints and that You too intercede for them before the Father.
My life's "difficulties" are pretty small, thank God.
I was reading an online friend's (Ame) blog and she included a link to Especially Heather's site. I have not been to Heather's site before, but she and her family need of prayer for God's divine intervention. Please take a minute, read her story and remember her before the throne of God our Father.
May God touch her and heal her and keep her and her family. Thank you Jesus that You remember Your saints and that You too intercede for them before the Father.
My life's "difficulties" are pretty small, thank God.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Emotional Meltdown
Okay. Here it the tough part. If you're a guy, you're never supposed to admit to an emotional meltdown even if it happens. You're just supposed to suck it up and go on. Put on the tough guy act. Keep a straight face. Keep it all hidden away inside. Maybe yell and scream at the sky when nobody is around to witness it, or find a way to expel the emotions via extreme exertion of physical energy. But never, ever let anyone witness the ultimate act unbecoming of manliness by losing it emotionally, much less confessing it. Well, I'm about to blow it big time.
Yesterday was the day that everything REALLY hit me. All the stresses of the last week really found me while I was at work. God had raised me up, given me hope, given me strength and encouragement for others and myself. He has been so good to me. Yesterday though all the stuff just caught up and it was time for me to be able to let it go. Not to minimize God's faithfulness in any way; He was with me all the way yesterday too. But emotionally I just felt like a train wreck had run through my life... and along the way I popped off a terse email to my son expressing my frustration about some things he had recently shared in an email... It was NOT GOOD!
Fortunately, my son was forgiving of my poor judgment, but we still have some things to work out.
I melted down...
God picked me back up, put me back together, set me on my feet again, took my hand and said, "Now, son, come walk with me and I'll show you how and where to walk." And He has set things back aright in my life once more. I get to deal with the difficult circumstances of my actions, but that is my Father's grace for me and He is sufficient.
That is my confession. I do the best I can and yield and submit to my God as well as I am able and He is faithful to work out the kinks in this fallen, sinful man that He sent His Son to redeem. I am and have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I am washed whiter than the snow, but every once in a while, I need my feet washed. Thank You Lord!
Yesterday was the day that everything REALLY hit me. All the stresses of the last week really found me while I was at work. God had raised me up, given me hope, given me strength and encouragement for others and myself. He has been so good to me. Yesterday though all the stuff just caught up and it was time for me to be able to let it go. Not to minimize God's faithfulness in any way; He was with me all the way yesterday too. But emotionally I just felt like a train wreck had run through my life... and along the way I popped off a terse email to my son expressing my frustration about some things he had recently shared in an email... It was NOT GOOD!
Fortunately, my son was forgiving of my poor judgment, but we still have some things to work out.
I melted down...
God picked me back up, put me back together, set me on my feet again, took my hand and said, "Now, son, come walk with me and I'll show you how and where to walk." And He has set things back aright in my life once more. I get to deal with the difficult circumstances of my actions, but that is my Father's grace for me and He is sufficient.
That is my confession. I do the best I can and yield and submit to my God as well as I am able and He is faithful to work out the kinks in this fallen, sinful man that He sent His Son to redeem. I am and have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I am washed whiter than the snow, but every once in a while, I need my feet washed. Thank You Lord!
Sunday, April 8, 2007
In the Workplace
Friday was a tough day in our office. The funding for our contract ended. About a dozen people were laid off. Almost half of the people released were among those who had gathered with us this week to pray. The younger man I shared an office with was among those released. I was not.
I have to trust my God and believe that His plan is perfect because He is perfect. We prayed that no matter what the outcome was He would be glorified in it. I know He will.
It may be difficult for those who are now having to find new jobs to see God's goodness and mercy in this time, but I know His hand is upon them. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says "For I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (NASB) I trust in my God for them and for their welfare and their provision. God remains Jehovah Jireh [God the Provider] regardless of what the circumstances look like.
I was prepared in my heart to accept it if I were one of those released, because I know the testimony my God has established in me concerning His faithfulness to provide. He has always taken care of us. This job is an instrument in God's hand to provide for our financial means. Maybe it is His desire for some of these others to learn what He has already taught me. I don't know. I cannot see all of God's plans. Sometimes I think I wish I could, but I know they are more than I am capable of understanding. So then I must trust Him as my Father, just as my children trust me as their father, that I would not lead them to harm, but only to that which is good for them. If I being inherently evil by nature desire to give that which is good to my children, how much more is God who is purely good by nature able and desirous to give that which is good to His children.
John, Amy, Mike, Jessica, and Bryan, I lift you up before our Father who you are His children and knows your needs. I am grateful that You know the Father and know that He will take care of you. I pray for you that God will provide the next job for you quickly.
For the others that I don't know if they know you Father, I pray for You reveal Yourself to them in only the way Your Holy Spirit can. You are the self-revealing God, so I ask You to reveal Yourself and I thank You for doing so. I ask for them also that you provide employment for them so that they may be able to provide for their families. You are gracious God.
I also thank You for those of us You have chosen to remain. Thank You for the opportunities to be bold and proclaim our faith in You this past week. I believe it was only the foundation for that which is yet to come. Thank You for Your salvation to many more in our workplace and for the testimony You have established to be proclaimed through us whom You have planted there for this season. Thank You that I can ask You Father in the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.
I have to trust my God and believe that His plan is perfect because He is perfect. We prayed that no matter what the outcome was He would be glorified in it. I know He will.
It may be difficult for those who are now having to find new jobs to see God's goodness and mercy in this time, but I know His hand is upon them. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says "For I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (NASB) I trust in my God for them and for their welfare and their provision. God remains Jehovah Jireh [God the Provider] regardless of what the circumstances look like.
I was prepared in my heart to accept it if I were one of those released, because I know the testimony my God has established in me concerning His faithfulness to provide. He has always taken care of us. This job is an instrument in God's hand to provide for our financial means. Maybe it is His desire for some of these others to learn what He has already taught me. I don't know. I cannot see all of God's plans. Sometimes I think I wish I could, but I know they are more than I am capable of understanding. So then I must trust Him as my Father, just as my children trust me as their father, that I would not lead them to harm, but only to that which is good for them. If I being inherently evil by nature desire to give that which is good to my children, how much more is God who is purely good by nature able and desirous to give that which is good to His children.
John, Amy, Mike, Jessica, and Bryan, I lift you up before our Father who you are His children and knows your needs. I am grateful that You know the Father and know that He will take care of you. I pray for you that God will provide the next job for you quickly.
For the others that I don't know if they know you Father, I pray for You reveal Yourself to them in only the way Your Holy Spirit can. You are the self-revealing God, so I ask You to reveal Yourself and I thank You for doing so. I ask for them also that you provide employment for them so that they may be able to provide for their families. You are gracious God.
I also thank You for those of us You have chosen to remain. Thank You for the opportunities to be bold and proclaim our faith in You this past week. I believe it was only the foundation for that which is yet to come. Thank You for Your salvation to many more in our workplace and for the testimony You have established to be proclaimed through us whom You have planted there for this season. Thank You that I can ask You Father in the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Being His Servant
It is for such times as these that we are called.
I've been blessed that past couple of days to gather with other believers in my workplace to pray for our company and for the place we are to have to minister there.
The impetus God used to get us together: We received news last week that our contract is about to be terminated. That means the work we have been doing is no longer going to receive funding. No funding = no work. Which ultimately translates to: no work = no job.
I am not worried. I am not concerned. I know my God and He is for me. (Romans 8:28)
I have been wonderfully blessed where I work. God has used it as a tool for our provision and I am very grateful for that. I would like very much to be able to stay employed by this company, and this sentiment is strongly shared among my coworkers. The company president and vice-presidents are working hard to find other jobs for each of us on other projects we have. That is a way cool thing (and somewhat uncommon in my experience).
Starting on the premise of God's word that if we don't ask, we won't receive; we are praying for God to make a way here, where there really seems to be no way (according to man's understanding). The really awesome part about this is that we know that with our God, all things are possible. We are praying for our management to have God given wisdom in what they are to pursue and how they are to pursue it. They don't have to understand where their inspiration comes from, they just need to hear it. I know God will give one or more of us the opportunity to share with them that we have prayed for them during this time and how God answered those prayers.
I don't know what tomorrow may bring, but I do know that Father God is giving us the opportunity to start something in this time of "crisis" that we should have done before. If God chooses to answer our petitions another way, all glory still belongs to Him. In this I am reminded of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (aka Meshach, Shadrack, and Abed-nego) from the book of Daniel who answered the Babylonian king: "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." What an awesome response! Our God is able. If He should choose not to deliver us from this in the way we ask, that doesn't make Him any less able or any less God. Well for us the same thing applies. Our God is able. However and whatever He chooses to do will be sufficient. All we can do is be faithful to fulfill our part and wait expectantly to see how our God will answer. Until then we will keep praying. My greatest desire in this is to glorify my King no matter what the outcome.
Please pray for the hearts of those around us that don't know Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour to be open and tender to receive the gospel of salvation.
In His Service...
I've been blessed that past couple of days to gather with other believers in my workplace to pray for our company and for the place we are to have to minister there.
The impetus God used to get us together: We received news last week that our contract is about to be terminated. That means the work we have been doing is no longer going to receive funding. No funding = no work. Which ultimately translates to: no work = no job.
I am not worried. I am not concerned. I know my God and He is for me. (Romans 8:28)
I have been wonderfully blessed where I work. God has used it as a tool for our provision and I am very grateful for that. I would like very much to be able to stay employed by this company, and this sentiment is strongly shared among my coworkers. The company president and vice-presidents are working hard to find other jobs for each of us on other projects we have. That is a way cool thing (and somewhat uncommon in my experience).
Starting on the premise of God's word that if we don't ask, we won't receive; we are praying for God to make a way here, where there really seems to be no way (according to man's understanding). The really awesome part about this is that we know that with our God, all things are possible. We are praying for our management to have God given wisdom in what they are to pursue and how they are to pursue it. They don't have to understand where their inspiration comes from, they just need to hear it. I know God will give one or more of us the opportunity to share with them that we have prayed for them during this time and how God answered those prayers.
I don't know what tomorrow may bring, but I do know that Father God is giving us the opportunity to start something in this time of "crisis" that we should have done before. If God chooses to answer our petitions another way, all glory still belongs to Him. In this I am reminded of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (aka Meshach, Shadrack, and Abed-nego) from the book of Daniel who answered the Babylonian king: "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." What an awesome response! Our God is able. If He should choose not to deliver us from this in the way we ask, that doesn't make Him any less able or any less God. Well for us the same thing applies. Our God is able. However and whatever He chooses to do will be sufficient. All we can do is be faithful to fulfill our part and wait expectantly to see how our God will answer. Until then we will keep praying. My greatest desire in this is to glorify my King no matter what the outcome.
Please pray for the hearts of those around us that don't know Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour to be open and tender to receive the gospel of salvation.
In His Service...
Sunday, April 1, 2007
In the Battle
We are in a battle. It is real. It is everyday.Our enemy is real and he hates us.
Sometimes I think we forget that.
When we are keenly aware in the spirit, we know the battle is coming, we prepare our armor to get ready and go into it head on.
How is it that somehow we forget that when we head into the battle we are liable to take some blows, not just deal out the blows.
I remember that "my God is for me, so who can be against me"... well that word says in more fullness, "who can stand (or be) against me and prevail." The answer to that is, if I am doing God's will and fighting the spiritual battle against the principalities of darkness in the heavenly places, then the enemy will fall, and through Christ who strengthens me I will prevail. But it doesn't mean that I am guaranteed not to take any blows. It means that I will take blows from the enemy, but he will not overwhelm me or defeat me. It means there are going to be hurts (wounds) inflicted during the battle and those may take time to heal. Thankfully we also know our healer and that He is Mighty and Powerful and True.
Going into worship this morning, I sensed in the spirit that we were in for a battle against our worship. We prayed against our enemy and for our worship time to be glorifying to God. Then we really entered the battle. Our enemy came ready to fight. I believe we were not as ready for battle as we needed to be. We took some casualties and were wounded but we were not defeated.
God prevailed! Just as He always does and always will.
I am reminded of a song by Danny Daniels that we used to sing:
I am a wounded soldier,
But I will not leave the fight
Because the Great Physician
Is healing me
So I'm standing in the battle
In the armour of the light
Because His mighty power
Is real in me
I am loved (I am loved)
I am accepted (I am accepted)
By the Saviour of my soul (Saviour of my soul)
I am loved (I am loved)
I am accepted (I am accepted)
I am accepted (I am accepted)
And my wounds will be made whole
Dear Saints, Do not lose hope! Do not give up! We are NOT defeated! God is on our side!
Gird yourselves now for battle, (Ephesians 6:10-20) for many battles are coming and the battles will be bloody. Now is the time to stand and fight the good fight to fill the breaches in our walls. Our enemy is sensing that his time is growing short and he is starting to bring in the heavy artillery.
Stand firm therefore and be not dismayed, for our God will show forth His glory through His people... His remnant.
God loves you!
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