promises | Revelations From The Road

Why Do We Have Christmas?

December 13, 2015 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given November 2014

(This is written in simple language which might be good to share with your kids or grandkids.)

God created the earth, created Adam and Eve and put them in the Garden of Eden to live. He told them to be the overseers of the Garden and take care of it. The Garden, and the earth, was perfect; nothing bad was there. Then that old snake, the devil came in and tricked them into disobeying God. God had told them they could use anything in the Garden except the tree in the center. (It’s like a kid’s mom saying you can have any food or snacks in the kitchen but don’t touch that plate of candy on the table.) Well, Eve and Adam fell for the trick of the devil and ate from the tree. Evil and bad things then came into the Garden; it wasn’t perfect anymore. (Genesis 1-3)

Things got worse and worse until God had to do something. He brought a great flood over the earth to drown all the bad people. But one man, Noah, who found favor in the eyes of the Lord, and his family, eight people, were going to be spared. God gave him plans to build a big boat, the Ark, so Noah’s family and many animals were saved and the earth was good again. (Genesis 6-9)

Now, Noah had three boys one of which was good and the other two were bad. The bad boys and their wives started having kids and after many years, the earth was filled with evil again. So God had to try another plan to save the people on the earth. He said to Jesus, “Son, I want you to go down there as a baby, I’ll take care of all of the details, grow up and live a perfect life, like it was in the original Garden and right after the flood. Tell the people about Me, do lots of miracles for the people and show them how to get to Heaven. It’ll be hard on you but this is what we need to do.

Jesus agreed and God’s plan was initiated. Next time, we’ll see how that plan worked out.

The Power of Unity

November 1, 2015 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October 31, 2015

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19).

Two of you. What if there were five of us, fifty, or a congregation of 200+? Could we see changes in our town, county or region with that many agreeing together? What if every Christian in Wise County agreed together for a need? What if we would forget about our minor doctrinal differences, join hands and lift up a powerful, faith-filled prayer to God? Would it make a difference? What if…every Christian in Southwest Virginia did the same? What about all of Virginia, the Eastern United States or THE WHOLE COUNTRY! Could that make a difference?

I heard a preacher say one time that if enough Christians would stand together, voice their demands and not waver that we could have scriptures on cereal boxes in a few months. Seventy percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. So where are these Christians? They’re sitting in the pews on Sunday, not reading their Bibles or praying regularly. They’re talking the talk on Sundays but not walking the walk the rest of the week. We are a gigantic potentially powerful group of “believers” who are being hearers of the Word but not doers, (see James 1:22). And the forces of evil are running rampant, without resistance, over our country. Are we going to wake up before it’s too late?

In Genesis 11 we read that because the people had, “one language and a common speech“, they were building a tower to Heaven, “so that we may make a name for OURSELVES“. They were united in purpose for the wrong reasons and God noticed and said, “The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”, (v. 6). So wouldn’t the same principle work if the people were united for the right reasons? I think God would notice and bless their efforts.

As we are now in the “political” season, an opportunity is there to make a difference. Polls show that only about half of Christians are registered to vote and just half of those actually go vote. American Christians are a potentially powerful block of people who could make a difference if we would all join together, pray and get up and do something. Ask God today what He wants you to do.

There Is Hope

June 28, 2015 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given June 26, 2015

There are times in our lives when things are not going well and we can’t see how we’ll ever get through it. The situation seems hopeless. I know there are some of you who are in a situation like this right now. Today let’s look at five things to remember at times like these.

1. God is with you. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;” (Psalm 23:4). “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). You are not alone, God is there, talk to Him.
2. God cares about you. “The Lord’s love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; Lord, your loyalty is great. I say to myself, “The Lord is mine, so I hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24). “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). If you feel like no one cares about you, God does! Talk to Him.
3. God knows your situation. ”Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take?” (Job 31:4). “Every hair on your head has been counted” (Luke 12:7). Also, that “great cloud of witnesses” from Hebrews 12:1, who made it through some terrible things, is cheering you on. Ask God what you should do.
4. God has power that you don’t have. “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.“. (Romans 4:18). Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18). Abraham was 100 years old and God told him he was going to have many offspring? Was that hopeless? Turn your situation over to God and let Him handle it.
5. God has promised to help you. “I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10). “My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:81). Seek out God’s promise for your situation and trust Him. “It is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18).

There is hope in your situation, let God handle it.

Strange Packaging

December 7, 2014 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given December 6, 2014

I heard a story of a wealthy man whose son wanted a new car for his college graduation. On graduation day, the father gave his son a brightly wrapped package and when it was opened, the boy saw it was a bible. The son was mad because he didn’t get what he wanted in his package and stormed out never to speak to his father again. Years later the father died and when the son again saw the box on a shelf, he got the bible out and a key dropped from the pages. You know what was parked in the garage, covered with dust. What he wanted was in the box all the time but was strangely packaged. (See: http://inspire-others.com/graduation-gift)

God does that to us sometimes. We may be going through a hard time and have asked God for something only to get a package not wrapped like we wanted. We prayed for what we want, how we want it and when we want it. But it doesn’t seem to be in our package. Think of Joseph. God promised him a “gift” but in his package he found being in a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown in prison, and forgotten by two friends in prison. But he kept the faith and he finally got the promised gift; second in command in Egypt and saving the country and his family from starvation.

And what about Job? His “gift” came with him losing his health, wealth, and his children. He endured the blame and bad advice from his friends and his wife but did not turn on God. “Though He slay me, yet shall I serve Him.” (Job 13:15). God allowed all this bad packaging to happen to his servant Job but, in the end and because of his faith, his gift was revealed. “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (42:10). All except for his children because he would see them again in Heaven.

So, if you’ve received a gift package from God that is not what you asked for, thank Him and look deeper. “…how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11). Keep your faith and trust in God through your trial, become stronger, and come out a winner!

One Day

October 27, 2014 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given September 2013

God gave me the idea and words to this song while I was driving to Charlottesville, Va for a meeting. I used voice-to-text on my phone to record the lyrics.

Before the boy and girl were born
Trinity there, all in one,
Spoke a word, we hear them say,
“This creation will be great…one day.”

The little girl reads in school
About a princess, thinks, “That’s cool”.
Imagination makes her say,
“I’m going to be a princess…one day.”

The young man starting his career,
His future now somewhat unclear.
But plans are laid that make him say,
“I’ll be rich and famous…one day.”

The young woman now being wed
Thinks, “Where in life will I be led?”
“What role am I destined to play?”
“I’ll be a loving Mom…one day.”,

And now nearing the end of life,
Here’s the man and his wife.
Not all success along the way,
The things they thought they’d be…one day.

But one thing they succeeded in,
They love the Lord here at the end.
And now before the pearly gates
God says, “I told you they’d be great…one day.”

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