"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."
Genesis 1: 1 & 2
"For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."
1 Corinthians 2: 11, 12
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
1 Corinthians 2:14
How did the world begin? Was there a Big Bang? Did we evolve from a lower species? How do you answer these perplexing questions?
It is with sheer confidence that I can say evolution is foolishness. Those who do not believe that "in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," cannot believe it because they are lacking discernment from the Spirit. This same Spirit who enters the heart of each believer was there at the very onset of creation, "hovering over the waters." Those who have been born of the Spirit have access to the very thoughts of God!
I do not even know the thoughts of my husband, after knowing him for twenty-five years, because I do not possess his spirit. But, praise be to God, the Holy Spirit dwells within me. I know how the world and all its inhabitants came to be because He tells me plainly in his word.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Dont' Be a Doubting Thomas
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But, when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." (emphasis mine)
James 1:5 & 6
God is more than willing to give generously, no questions asked. He doesn't stop to analyze why we're asking for wisdom, not does he delve into our past before giving. The only thing he's looking for is FAITH. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certian of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
So, when I seek answers, I must not allow doubts to creep in. Satan's good at that. Even while I'm praying, he pokes my side and says in my ear, "You don't really believe that, do you?" Like a child, I must have faith. It can begin as small as a mustard seed, but if I truly believe God, never wavering, then I can walk on water, like Peter did.
Look at Jesus, not at the waves.
James 1:5 & 6
God is more than willing to give generously, no questions asked. He doesn't stop to analyze why we're asking for wisdom, not does he delve into our past before giving. The only thing he's looking for is FAITH. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certian of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
So, when I seek answers, I must not allow doubts to creep in. Satan's good at that. Even while I'm praying, he pokes my side and says in my ear, "You don't really believe that, do you?" Like a child, I must have faith. It can begin as small as a mustard seed, but if I truly believe God, never wavering, then I can walk on water, like Peter did.
Look at Jesus, not at the waves.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Regrets
"We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check."
James 3:2
The book of James is thought to be penned by the very brother of Jesus. As he wrote about the power of evil speech in the third chapter, I wonder if he spoke from the experience of regret and shame? When Jesus walked the earth "even his own brothers did not believe in him." (John 7:5) Perhaps James ridiculed Jesus, along with the other scoffers.
Imagine if you were one of Jesus' siblings? Would you have felt like James? Not only is Jesus the eldest, but he's perfect, too? After years of following in Joseph's footsteps as a carpenter, suddenly he goes off on some bizarre ministry? Maybe we would be skeptical too, not believing in Him.
Thanks be to God that Jesus paid for our sins and remembers them no more. James evidently became a believer and author of the epistle. God is patient with us, not willing to let any of us perish so we don't have to let our regrets rule over us. Let Jesus do that instead!
James 3:2
The book of James is thought to be penned by the very brother of Jesus. As he wrote about the power of evil speech in the third chapter, I wonder if he spoke from the experience of regret and shame? When Jesus walked the earth "even his own brothers did not believe in him." (John 7:5) Perhaps James ridiculed Jesus, along with the other scoffers.
Imagine if you were one of Jesus' siblings? Would you have felt like James? Not only is Jesus the eldest, but he's perfect, too? After years of following in Joseph's footsteps as a carpenter, suddenly he goes off on some bizarre ministry? Maybe we would be skeptical too, not believing in Him.
Thanks be to God that Jesus paid for our sins and remembers them no more. James evidently became a believer and author of the epistle. God is patient with us, not willing to let any of us perish so we don't have to let our regrets rule over us. Let Jesus do that instead!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Victory In Jesus
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
1Peter 2:9
My 89 year old father has dementia. He is slow of step, his eyes are weak, he cannot hear well and he is confused about many things but he is a part of the royal priesthood, a citizen of a holy nation who has been chosen to walk in His wonderful light. To look at him in his flannel pants and his silly stocking cap, he seems like just an aged, ordinary man, but when I tucked him into bed last night (after convincing him that it was indeed nighttime), I asked him what he wanted to pray about. Without hesitation, he declared, "I'm glad I know Him. When I was in the War, I didn't know him then, but He knew me."
With that declaration, the flannel pants transformed into the regal robe of Christ. The walker by the bedside became a scepter and the stocking cap, a crown. Recognized by God as his dear son, a joint heir with Christ, my father sings his praises in the wonderful light of grace.
Dementia can't touch that! Hallelujah!
1Peter 2:9
My 89 year old father has dementia. He is slow of step, his eyes are weak, he cannot hear well and he is confused about many things but he is a part of the royal priesthood, a citizen of a holy nation who has been chosen to walk in His wonderful light. To look at him in his flannel pants and his silly stocking cap, he seems like just an aged, ordinary man, but when I tucked him into bed last night (after convincing him that it was indeed nighttime), I asked him what he wanted to pray about. Without hesitation, he declared, "I'm glad I know Him. When I was in the War, I didn't know him then, but He knew me."
With that declaration, the flannel pants transformed into the regal robe of Christ. The walker by the bedside became a scepter and the stocking cap, a crown. Recognized by God as his dear son, a joint heir with Christ, my father sings his praises in the wonderful light of grace.
Dementia can't touch that! Hallelujah!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Full Body-Off Restoration
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
1 Peter 5:10
An old rusty car sits in a field, forgotten, seemingly useless. It has seen better days.
Sometimes, I feel like that - weathered by relationships, rusted by stressors of life, all the air is out of the tires and I don't feel like going anywhere.
So it is that I take great interest in the verse above. God himself will restore me, making me better than I was before! Lovingly, he will rub out the rust and grime left by sin and struggle, replacing it with shiny strength and a steadfast Spirit. With Jesus behind the wheel, I'll be road-worthy, good for another 100,000 miles or 50 years, whichever comes first.
1 Peter 5:10
An old rusty car sits in a field, forgotten, seemingly useless. It has seen better days.
Sometimes, I feel like that - weathered by relationships, rusted by stressors of life, all the air is out of the tires and I don't feel like going anywhere.
So it is that I take great interest in the verse above. God himself will restore me, making me better than I was before! Lovingly, he will rub out the rust and grime left by sin and struggle, replacing it with shiny strength and a steadfast Spirit. With Jesus behind the wheel, I'll be road-worthy, good for another 100,000 miles or 50 years, whichever comes first.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
The First Murder
"Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:7
"Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is your brother, Abel?'" verse 9
"Cain said to the Lord, 'My punishment is more that I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth and whoever finds me will kill me.'" vs. 13, 14
"But the Lord said to Cain, 'Not so, if anyone kills you, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." vs 15
The Lord's kindness and justice are so strongly evident in this story of the first murder. First, God warned Cain that something bad could happen if he didn't get a handle on his anger. Then, after Cain had killed his brother, God gave him a chance to confess his sin, but he lied. Still, after doling out his punishment, God showed love and mercy by placing a mark on Cain so no one would kill him.
Cain still had to pay consequences for his sin, but God was watching over him. The same holds true for us. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but, while we were yet sinners, Christ laid down his life willingly for us. He became sin so that we could have eternal life. Thanks and praise belong to him!
"Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is your brother, Abel?'" verse 9
"Cain said to the Lord, 'My punishment is more that I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth and whoever finds me will kill me.'" vs. 13, 14
"But the Lord said to Cain, 'Not so, if anyone kills you, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." vs 15
The Lord's kindness and justice are so strongly evident in this story of the first murder. First, God warned Cain that something bad could happen if he didn't get a handle on his anger. Then, after Cain had killed his brother, God gave him a chance to confess his sin, but he lied. Still, after doling out his punishment, God showed love and mercy by placing a mark on Cain so no one would kill him.
Cain still had to pay consequences for his sin, but God was watching over him. The same holds true for us. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but, while we were yet sinners, Christ laid down his life willingly for us. He became sin so that we could have eternal life. Thanks and praise belong to him!
Don't Keep Quiet
"Then the Lord said, 'The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievious that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.'"
Genesis 18: 20 and 21
There were not even ten righteous people left in these two evil cities prior to their destruction so I wonder who was doing the outcrying? Perhaps a wandering caravan of merchants who couldn't believe their eyes? A string of appalled relatives? Perhaps the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah had such dastardly reputations that the city walls could not contain them? Whatever the reason, the important part remains: there were folks who were so disturbed by what they saw and heard that they cried out to the Lord. And He heard them!
Sin matters! Selfish behavior fosters an entitlement agenda, thus bringing this response: "If it feels good, do it. After all, I am not hurting anyone."
We all have a responsibility toward our fellow man. If we are concerned about something or someone who is going down the wrong path, we can bring them to God in prayer, like a memo that has ASAP stamped on it. We are our brother's keepers.
Genesis 18: 20 and 21
There were not even ten righteous people left in these two evil cities prior to their destruction so I wonder who was doing the outcrying? Perhaps a wandering caravan of merchants who couldn't believe their eyes? A string of appalled relatives? Perhaps the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah had such dastardly reputations that the city walls could not contain them? Whatever the reason, the important part remains: there were folks who were so disturbed by what they saw and heard that they cried out to the Lord. And He heard them!
Sin matters! Selfish behavior fosters an entitlement agenda, thus bringing this response: "If it feels good, do it. After all, I am not hurting anyone."
We all have a responsibility toward our fellow man. If we are concerned about something or someone who is going down the wrong path, we can bring them to God in prayer, like a memo that has ASAP stamped on it. We are our brother's keepers.
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