Given December 23, 2008DC Talk sings, “I wish we’d all been ready.”, referring to the state of humanity at the second coming of Jesus. Of course we all need to be ready; to give our heart to Jesus and live our lives for Him. Being ready, I think, means more than a one-time thing. We must strive to be prepared every day so as not to miss an opportunity, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15. Remember the disciples who couldn’t cast the demon out of the boy? (Matthew 17) Jesus told them that kind only came out by prayer and fasting; you had to be prayed up and prepared. The disciples obviously wern’t. We not only need to be ready for the second coming but be ready each day for what God may have planned for us.Think of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Do you think she was ready? You know, she wasn’t praying for God to send the messiah to earth through her. But God knew who she was. “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.” Luke 1: 28,30. Whatever Mary had been doing had gained the favor of God; she was ready!We don’t know what God has planned for each of us, but there’s something. How sad it would be if God scours the earth for someone to do something for Him and He looks at us and says, “No, we can’t use them this time; they’re not ready.” I encourage you, as we celebrate the first coming of Christ, to be ready for His second coming AND the time in between. Be blessed!
God’s To-Do List
Given August 2, 2007
Has God ever told you to do anything? You know, when you get that “feeling” you need to speak to or apologize to someone or the preacher’s sermon convicts you to do something. I have actually written some of my things down so I’ll be reminded every day. The Holy Spirit reminds me as well.
On this day, God gave me a revelation of just how important this is for me. During morning prayer, I was asking God for something, I think, like for more influence or power in an area of service. I was wanting a promotion to another level of Spiritual effectiveness. The Spirit responded with something like, “What about the things I’ve asked you to do?” It brought to my mind when a teenager asks his dad to borrow the car and dad says, “Have you cleaned your room yet? Have you taken out the trash? Do those things first, then you can have the car.” I think it’s the same with me and you and God.
God has a plan for each of us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. And, His plan involves some obedience and action on our part. I don’t think God will fully do what He’s got planned for us until we do what He’s asked us to do. What has God asked you to do? What things do you know in your heart you should be doing?
Maybe we’re satisfied with where we are in life. Maybe we don’t want a promotion in the Kingdom. But if we do, God wants to use us; to move us up in His Kingdom. But it’s like training for a desired position. We are tested at every level and must pass the test to move up. There are things we must do in order to be promoted. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22. Yes, we may have our to-do list but it’s not too important compared with God’s. His list for us comes with guarantees too. If God asks us to do something, He will give us what we need to be successful. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. So, what has God asked you to do? Go for it!
Use The Time
Given November 23, 2008
We all seem to be pressed for time. Rushing here and there thinking what we “have” to do is so important. And when we’re in a hurry, doesn’t it seem like society is out to get us? It’s almost like a conspiracy; the light changes just before you get there, people slowly turning in front of you, the checkout line you’re in doesn’t seem to be moving, “Your call is really important to us…”. Sound familiar? And, how does all this make you feel when you’re in a hurry? Can you say, “Repent”? Yeah, me too.
But…I’ve found the solution! This blog is all about revelations God has given me. He shows me interesting ways of seeing things but, this time, He used my lovely wife to give me the revelation. When I was griping about having to “waste” time at the traffic light, she told me when that happens to her, she uses the time to pray. Wow, what a good idea! That 60-90 seconds can be put to good use. It’s not wasted time.
It’s amazing! Since that day, every time the light changes, I feel the aggravation coming on…then…I remember what God said through my wife. Use this time to pray. You know, I even found myself today hoping the light would change! Then, found myself smiling because the devil’s plan was thwarted again! “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.“ Hebrews 3:13. All we have is today. Sin is trying to steal our time and distract us from things that are really important. We all have 24 hours each day. Use your time, even minutes you used to think were wasted. Trust me, now, red-light time for me is not wasted!
Spread The News
Given December 12, 2008
I heard something on the radio that made me think…how do people know we are Christians? Do we act, look, or talk differently? Should we? How would people know? Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them.“ Matthew 7:16. I heard someone say once that whatever we were full of would spill over on others when we got bumped. Sometimes what spills out of me is ugly stuff and that’s not what I want others to see. That gives my Father a bad name.
And, what if you were waiting in line to go into the Pearly Gates and someone saw you and said, “Hey, I didn’t know you were a Christian!” Not good! Or, much worse, if you were in the Heaven line which was next to the hell line and you looked over and saw someone you knew. Then they noticed you and angrily hollered, “Hey you *!#*&%! I grew up with you and you never told me about this. Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you warn me?”
We will call someone on the phone or send an email if we hear of a good deal at the store. We’ll spread the news about this great restaurant we found, that fantastic vacation spot, or some new website you heard about from someone else. What about Jesus? What about eternal salvation? Isn’t that Good News? Isn’t that a good deal?
By Divine appointment, Peter was taken to the house of Cornelius and preached to a bunch of Gentiles gathered there, “This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem” Acts 10: 36, 39. The disciples had seen and heard the Good News. So have we. Are you feeling as convicted as I am right now? Go spread the news!
Look Up
Given July 31, 2007
Horizontal thinking – a problem for most of us. When confronted with a problem or situation, we tend to look horizontally at the problem instead of looking up to God. The Hebrew nation facing the Red Sea was looking horizontally. All they could see was the sea before them and the Egyptian army behind. But Moses said, “Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” Exodus 14:13. You know what happened; they looked up, “And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses. Exodus 14:31“.
And remember Gehazi, Elisha’s servant? All he could see was the Syrian army surrounding them at Dothan. Elisha prayed, “… and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2Kings 6: 17“. I contend that Gehazi took his eyes off the enemy and looked a little higher. And, like the Israelites, God took care of them.
I remember a time when my wife had some minor surgery and, because she is really sensitive to anesthesia, she was taking a long time to, “come out of it”. After an hour or so, they got her up to walk and she was having trouble with her balance. The nurse told her, “Mamam, don’t look down, look up. It’s better if you look up.” This was the revelation of God on that day…look up and see the salvation of the Lord.
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