picture this | Revelations From The Road

Picture It: God’s Works

November 5, 2017 by Bill 2 Comments

Given November 5, 2017

As happens to me often, I was praising and worshiping God in song today and the lyrics of the song began to paint pictures in my mind. It actually made tears come to my eyes to “see” what I was singing. The song was, “Way Maker” by Sinach and the lyrics I “saw” were, “Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, that is who You are”. Now, I will describe the pictures I got from these lyrics.

Way Maker – I saw a pathway strewn with things, obstacles and barriers that were preventing a traveler from progressing. I saw God going before the traveler and removing the obstacles from the path so the traveler could continue. God was making a way for His child, a Way Maker. (Isaiah 43:16)
Miracle Worker – I saw a person beside a similar path as in the previous vision who was down with a deadly disease. They were sitting, bent over in a position of defeat as God walked by. God stopped, looked down at the sick person and gently called their name. The person looked up to see the hand of God outstretched to them and as they took His hand, they were healed! They stood up and entered into the loving embrace of God, the Miracle Worker. (Psalm 77:14)
Promise Keeper – Again, on this same path, a person was walking along feeling troubled, fearful and unsure. God came along with a list of His promises, handed them to the person and reminded them that everything on that list was true and that He would keep His promises. The Promise Keeper. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
Light in the Darkness – Along this same path, it was now dark and the traveler was having trouble finding their way. They were also afraid because of the uncertainty of what might be lurking in the shadows. Then God appears to them shining from within and lights the way for them through the darkness. Light in the Darkness. (Psalm 119:105)

That is who He is. He will make a way for us where there seems to be no way. He will work miracles for us as we ask and believe. He will keep the promises He has made in His Word. He will be for us the Light of the World in the valley of the shadow.

As a side note, I would encourage each of you, during Praise and Worship time, or in your vehicle listening to your Christian playlist or just as you sing to yourself songs of praise, to try to picture the words as you sing. It will turn your song into much more than just words. And it might even bring a tear to your eye. God loves you!

Picture This – God Loves You

June 30, 2017 by Bill 2 Comments

Given May 2017

I read the seven scriptures below each morning as part of my devotion time. One morning, as I began reading, I suddenly had the idea that this could be viewed as a scene in a movie. Picture this in your mind as the scene unfolds:

In the first scene, you’re standing there with God and you say, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” (Psalm 16:11). God nods His head and replies, “I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). God puts His arm around you and says, “Let’s go.”

Then the scene changes to the apostle Paul speaking to a group of believers of which you are a part. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10). The crowd shouts, “Amen!” “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” (Philippians 2:13). You shout, “Amen!” “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28). The crowd exclaims, “Thank you Lord!” Then Paul ends his oration with this: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20). Paul asks, “Can I get a witness?” You and the crowd shout, “Glory to God, praise His name!”

Now the scene shifts to God and Jesus observing this assembly with smiles on their faces. God says to Jesus, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10). They both nod their heads in agreement as the crowd, we, continues to praise and worship the goodness of God.

Can you see it? Are you in the crowd? Thank you Lord!

Morning Scriptures

May 7, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given May 6, 2017

I read the scriptures below each morning as part of my devotion time and recently got a view of them as a scene in a movie. Picture this in your mind:

In the first scene, you’re standing there with God and say, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” (Psalm 16:11). God nods His head and replies, “I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). God puts His arm around you and says, “Let’s go.”

Then the scene changes to the apostle Paul speaking to a group of which you are a part. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10). The crowd shouts, “Amen!” “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” (Philippians 2:13). You shout, “Amen!” “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28). The crowd exclaims, “Thank you Lord!” Then Paul ends his oration with this: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20). You and the crowd shout, “Glory to God, praise His name!”

Can you see it? Are you in the crowd? Thank you Lord!

Picture This: Death Was Arrested

November 6, 2016 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given November 6, 2016

As happens to me quite often, I see or hear something that begins a video playing in my mind of how a scene might play out. It happened this morning in church as we sang the song, “Death Was Arrested” by North Point InsideOut. These lyrics began the video:

“Our savior displayed on a criminal’s cross.
Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost.
But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand.
That’s when death was arrested and my life began.”

I saw the demons of darkness dancing, rejoicing and partying at the base of the cross where Jesus hung dying and then in front of the tomb where He was laid. I saw us as prisoners of darkness standing nearby in chains because, supposedly, our Savior had been eliminated. But then…the heavy stone sealing the entrance to the tomb began rolling away to the right and Jesus came walking out of the tomb with the key to our chains in His hand. The demons stopped their merriment in fear and screamed, “Oh no!” “Where did he come from?” “We thought he was dead!” The demons could not move except to turn around with their hands behind their backs as Jesus put on the cuffs and arrested them. Then He walked over to us with His blood-stained key and freed us from our chains. Now, we are the ones rejoicing because Jesus has set us free forever!

“Yes we’re free, free forever amen.
When death was arrested and my life began.”

Submit and Resist

June 15, 2016 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given June 15, 2016

Picture this scene:

A Christian who prays and reads his Bible on occasion, is confident in his own power. One day, the devil jumps out in front of him seeking to do him harm. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). Remembering a Bible verse, he shouts, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you!” The devil looks around, laughs and smacks the guy right in the face. The Christian moves toward the devil, who is still standing there, and wonders why he hasn’t fled. The devil then punches him in the nose knocking him to the ground. He stands over him saying, “I’ll be back for you later.” As the Christian gets up, God speaks to him saying, “That didn’t go very well, did it?” “Go back and look at that verse you quoted in James 4:7, you missed something.” The guy gets out his phone, brings up his Bible app and looks up James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” “Oh Lord, I’m sorry, I’ve been trying to use my own knowledge and power and that’s why it didn’t work. Thank you.” He bows before God and says, “Lord, I submit to you.” God smiles and nods His head. “Now, let’s go on.”

The next day, the devil shows back up and the Christian stands there with a smile on his face. “I’ll wipe that smile off your face!” the devil snarls and moves toward him. The Christian then quotes, “Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.” The devil stops and a look of fear comes over him as God steps out into view. “Uh, ohh, uhh, I just remembered to have somewhere else to go.” “Good bye!” He then runs away as fast as he can move. God says, “See what a difference submission to Me makes.” “Now, let’s go get some things done.”

How often are we trying to do things with our own knowledge, skills, power and talents. We can be somewhat successful some of the time but by submitting to God and letting Him direct our paths, we will always be abundantly successful.