encouragement | Revelations From The Road

One Step Away

May 18, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given May 18, 2008

I heard something in church today, during praise and worship, that was one of those, “Wow, that’s right!” It was said, “You can go a thousand steps away from God but it’s only one step back.” You know, that’s right. The Word says, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you, Hebrews 13:5 (The Message)“. What a comforting thought.

Many times I wander away from the protective presence of my Lord but, you know, He goes right along with me. Like I do with my grandkids, I follow close behind while they are exploring new wonders but stay close enough that they can run into my arms if they get scared or need help. My heavenly Father is the same way. He stays with me no matter how far I wander and is always there to take me back, give me help, step between me and danger, or comfort me when I get a boo boo. You know what I mean?

If you’re saved, you are never alone. If you think you’ve wandered far away from God, just call out to Him. He’ll say, “Here I am son. I’m right here daughter.” Daddy loves us. He won’t let us get too far away.

Look Up

May 5, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 31, 2007

As I read my devotion this morning, I received another aspect of a revelation the Lord had showed me previously. It has to do with “looking up”.

Today, I read of a fatally injured eagle on the ground and how he gazed at the sky, longing for the “home of his heart”. His place was not on the ground where danger lurked but soaring in the sky where he was free to be what God had created him to be.

Looking up is a good thing; up is positive, down is negative. I’m reminded of the guys who took their sick friend to see Jesus, (Mark 2). They couldn’t get in the door so, as they pondered how to get help for their friend, they looked up; “Hey, the roof!”

Peter, in his exuberance and faith at seeing Jesus, jumped out of the boat and began walking on the water, (Matthew 14). As long as he focused on Jesus who had said to him, “Come.”, (v. 29), he was OK. Then…he looked down.

My wife was recovering from out-patient surgery and the nurse had gotten her up to walk for the first time. She was still rather groggy and unsteady from the anesthesia as she tried to walk but the nurse told her, “Don’t’ look down, look up. You’ll do better if you look up.”

There are many examples in scripture of the benefits of looking up but I’ll close with the words of an old hymn: Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace, (Helen H. Lemmel, 1922). If you’re going through something right now…”Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28“.

All Fall Down

April 30, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given February 11, 2008

A momentous occasion happened yesterday; my grandson walked for the first time! It was great, he let go of the table and staggered to his mommy, then to big brother, the to Pawpaw, (me). We all clapped and cheered with every success. He also fell down a lot.

You know, when he fell, we didn’t berate him about it saying things like, “What’s wrong with you? Get up and walk!” or “Dumb baby, can’t you do anything right?” No, we didn’t think anything of it because babies are SUPPOSED to fall when they are first learning to walk. So, why don’t we treat our fellow Christians that way?

The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23“. New Christians are going to fall! Hey, old Christians are going to fall! We shouldn’t treat them like they should be perfect but do as Paul told the Galatians: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. Galatians 6:1“.

New Christians, just like babies, need understanding and a gentle hand wile they’re learning. Many older Christians, however, haven’t progressed much in their “walk” and need the same considerations. “Yea…good try! Now, get up and let’s try it again”.

Heap O Trouble

December 31, 2007 by Bill 1 Comment

Given December 22, 2007
Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world, you will have trouble“, and we can all agree this is true. We all have trouble of different kinds and magnitudes. I heard something the other day that made me think of troubles in a different way.

What if….a decree went out in your community to create a Heap of Troubles. This would be a voluntary thing and anyone who wanted to participate could bring their troubles to a pre-determined location and pile them up. This would go on for one week and, at the end of the week, all the troubles heaped up there would be divided into equal parts according to the number of people who had participated. These equal-sized troubles would then be re-distributed to all those involved. What do you think? Would you participate?

I can see a man with an armful of “troubles” coming up to the heap. As he begins to toss his problems onto the pile, another guy backs his pickup truck loaded with his troubles up to the pile. The first guy thinks, “Well, maybe my troubles aren’t so bad after all.” Do you get the point?

Many times, we think we have troubles and problems until we see someone else’s. Then ours don’t seem so bad. But, you know, God DOES have a program like this. He DOES want us to bring our troubles to Him and leave them there. But the good news is that they won’t get re-distributed back to us. God will take care of them all! “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7“. Now, notice that, “due time” part. Most of the time, we’ll still have to deal with the results of our bad decisions but God will be right there with us to take us through. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me. Psalms 23:4“.

Do you have any troubles? Toss them onto God’s heap then let Him direct your paths, Proverbs 3:5-6.

I’m Blessed!

November 6, 2007 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October 24, 2007
I’ve been reading and hearing a lot lately about who I am, what I have, and what I can do as a born-again Christian. The Bible is full of promises made to me, as a believer, that can impact my life and those around me. I’m saved by faith, Ephesians 2:8, I’m a child of God, John 3:1, I have authority over the devil, Luke 10:19, I’m healed, Isaiah 53:5, I can do all things, Philippians 4:13, just to mention a few.

But there’s one promise God has directed me to go a little farther in than just knowing it and declaring it over myself. How many times a day do you meet somebody, say hello, and then they ask, “How are you?” For me, it’s all the time! My answer for years has been, “Great!” or “Wonderful!”. I just didn’t want to say, “Fine.”; that didn’t tell how I really am as a Christian. I’m better than fine!

On this day I read Ephesians 1:3 which said, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ“. That verse says God HAS blessed me, He’s already done it, so I’m blessed! All the time, I’m blessed! So, God directed me, when someone asked me how I was, to say, “I’m blessed!” And that’s what I’ve been saying for a few weeks now.

About half the people I say that to do a double-take and make a comment about what I said. It’s a witness! Sometimes I say, “I’m blessed and so are you.” It’s the truth. We are all blessed and I’m enjoying telling people about it and seeing God get the glory! How are you?