“After Job had interceded for his friends, God restored his fortune—and then doubled it!” ~Moses

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Job 42, Moses

Am I praying for my friends and family? How much time do I spend interceding for them? None? Some? Enough?

• Job was in a world of hurt. He had lost everything. It is a painful story to read. Yet, at the end, he didn’t pray for himself, he prayed for his friends. Job had realized he was nothing and God is God. Nothing is impossible for Him. As Job said, “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans.” 
• And so Job quit living on rumors of God and encountered Him directly. “I admit I once lived by rumors of you;  now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise!  I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.” What a change this made in Job’s life.
• After that, he could pray for his friends. And my oh my, how God blessed him. God is God. He is completely in charge and does what He sees fit. The story of Job is a little confounding in that regard because my tendency is “to judge” God for acting so harshly with Job.
• But God is God. We don’t always understand His ways but He challenges us to trust Him always. And so, in spite of it all, Job was blessed.

“After Job had interceded for his friends, God restored his fortune—and then doubled it!” ~Moses Job 42:10

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“Know this: GOD (Yahweh), your God (Elohiym), is God (Elohiym) indeed, a God you can depend upon.” ~Moses

Tags

Deuteronomy 7, Elohiym, God is God, Jesus, Messiah, Moses, Yahweh

It means a lot that God is God. At first, when you think about it, that sounds redundant. Of course God is God. It sounds like saying Jesus is Jesus.

That is His name. But what does His name mean?

• What does God’s name mean? Not to get technical but a literal translation from Hebrew is Yahweh is also Elohiym. Yahweh is then the given name of God, Elohiym is one of his many titles, the supreme ruler.
• This is now like saying Jesus is God. Or more importantly, Jesus is the Messiah (Christ). Jesus his his name and the Messiah (Christ) is his title.
• S0  ….. our God (Yahweh) is the supreme ruler (Elohiym) of the universe. Period. It is important to remember who our God is. He is like none other nor can He be. From before the universe existed, our God has always been. He is like none other.

“Know this: GOD (Yahweh), your God (Elohiym), is God (Elohiym) indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments for a thousand generations. But he also pays back those who hate him, pays them the wages of death; he isn’t slow to pay them off—those who hate him, he pays right on time.” ~Moses

Source: Deuteronomy 7:9

Is Jesus a respectable religious leader? A Mr. Rogers with a beard?

Tags

Authority, God is God, Jesus, Love, Obedience, Power

Jesus

Is Jesus a respectable religious leader?

• Jesus is not interested in being a “respectable religious leader”. He is not Mr. Rogers with a beard. Jesus is powerful and very direct. Jesus challenges me every day.
• Jesus is in charge of everything. Seriously. Believe it. God has given everything over to Jesus. There is not a thing Jesus isn’t in charge of.
• All Jesus does is what He sees the Father doing. His power and authority come from God. Jesus is obedient and challenges me to do what God desires. That is mainly to find a way to love.

May I know that God is God.

Jesus does what He sees the Father doing.

May I do the same.

“You put us in charge of your handcrafted world.” ~King David

Tags

God is God, God's Goal, Jesus, King David, Psalm 8, Wise Sayings

King David has some great insight into God’s goal for us.

• God is God and God made this world. This isn’t our world, it is God’s. Everything starts with God.
• God put us in charge of the world he has created. We don’t automatically “inherit” things. It is God’s gift to us. It is my job to be responsible.
• Our job is to act on God’s goal for us. God has a plan for us. I must follow up on what God wants me to do.

“You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
    repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us lords of sheep and cattle,
    even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
    whales singing in the ocean deeps.” ~King David

Source: Psalm 8:5-8

“So why are you now trying to out-god God?” ~Apostle Peter

Tags

Acts 15, Generosity, God is God, Jesus, Rules

Can I out-god God? No, I can’t.

• God is God. Peter laid in on the line with the early Christians who wanted to maintain the old agreement about the religious rules and regulations. He wasn’t having any of it. He knew something that is the main thing.
• I can’t out-god God! I can try to reach God by being good but it won’t work. It is only out of His generosity that I move beyond missing the God’s goal for me and operate in the realm where I fulfill His every desire.
• Keeping the rules won’t get me into His world. Jesus has a new plan that has nothing to do with that. God is God. And God is great. Nothing is impossible with Him.

So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new believers down with rules that crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too? Don’t we believe that we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he did those from beyond our nation? So what are we arguing about?

Source: Acts 15:10-11

Does God Exist? 4 New Arguments that science can’t explain

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Science

Thoughts on culture, politics and more

Science tells us that the universe came into being via The Big Bang. But how do you get from energy and matter to a self-aware human being? That takes three additional Big Bangs that science cannot explain.

Noted theologian, Frank Pastore, unravels this compelling mystery and, in the process, poses the ultimate question that every thinking person must face.

Source: Does God Exist? 4 New Arguments | PragerU

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“Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion?” ~God

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Messiah, Psalm 2, Victory

Victory in Jesus

Our leaders don’t always get it. They plot, the connive, they think they are in control. They defy God and think they are free from Jesus.

God has shut them up. Jesus came and established His rule and authority. God’s world and government has triumphed the present world order.

Nothing is impossible for Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus is in control. Jesus has been inaugurated already. Jesus has already won the victory.

Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth-leaders push for position,
Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:
“Let’s get free of God!
Cast loose from Messiah!”

Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing.
At first he’s amused at their presumption;
Then he gets good and angry.
Furiously, he shuts them up:
“Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet
Is spread for him on the holy summit.”

Psalm 2:1-6

“Know that the LORD is God.” ~King David

Tags

Faithful, God is God, God is Good, King David, Love, Psalm, Psalm 100, Thanksgiving, Wise Sayings

God is so good. He is in a good mood all the time.

Jesus, God’s son, loves and never stops loving. He is loyal and faithful to us all.

God is God. There are none others. Not money or credit cards or 401k’s can save us from missing God’s goal for our lives.

Jesus, the Messiah, alone is worthy of our faith and love.

So, let’s shout it out!!

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:1-5

We know God and He delights in impossibilities. He always asks "Is anything too hard for me?"

Tags

God is God, Impossible, Power

I am so very thankful for our God. He is amazing. There is no end to the great things He has in store for us.

What does our God delight in? He delights in impossibilities. What does God say? Nothing is too difficult for me.

Nothing is too hard for God. Nothing is impossible to Him.

I know God and He delights in impossibilities. He always asks “Is anything too hard for me?”

And of course nothing is impossible for him.

 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

Apostle Paul Sayings, Ephesians 3, Glory, God is God, Imagination, Jesus, Power

I am not thinking big enough. My imagination is limited in ways I can’t grasp. I ask for catfish and He gives me Tilapia.

The power of Jesus is in me. I need to ask for more. If I think God wants to comfort a dear friend who is sick, why don’t I ask Him to completely heal them? If I think a family member needs salvation, why don’t I ask for complete deliverance?

My limitations are my limitations. Nothing is impossible with God. He wants to do stunning things.

May I expand my view to the possibilities that my all powerful God can do and not what I am willing to settle for.

God is God and God is great.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 

 

 

 

“I decided not to make another visit that could only be painful to both of us.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

2 Corinthians 2, God is God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Obedience

Paul decided not to show up, even though he was wanted. How often, just because someone asks me to come, do I show up not even thinking, is this something God wants me to do?

Sometimes there is a pain that our Spirit filled life brings to others. Sometimes the timing is off.

Better to show up when God wants me to and not just because someone asked me to.

I must seek God. He will lead the way for me.

That’s why I decided not to make another visit that could only be painful to both of us. If by merely showing up I would put you in an embarrassingly painful position, how would you then be free to cheer and refresh me? 2 Corinthians 2:1-2

God is great, God and good!

Tags

God is God, God is Good, God is Great, Jesus

God is great – Nothing is impossible for Him. He can and does anything.

Jesus redeems me. Jesus saves me. Jesus heals me. Jesus restores me. I will speak of His great and mighty work.

God is God – He is in control. He has always been and always will be.

This is not a democracy. Democracies are a good form of government but God’s government is not a democracy. God has given all authority to his son Jesus and His way of doing things is what is important. The way He does it in heaven is the way we want it done here on earth.

God is good – He is always good. He is perpetually in a good mood.

Jesus is not upset with me. I am God’s child and He is doing so many good things for me. We are His friends and He will do anything it takes to help us out. We are His bride and His love for us is passionate beyond imagination.

“They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”)” ~Angel of God

Tags

Angel, God is God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Joseph, Mary, Matthew 1

God is with us

Nothing is impossible with God. Jesus came to us, born of a virgin.

His name is “God is with us”. That is message of hope in God’s new plan. His goal is that we will have a intense relationship with Jesus.

May I experience His presence every minute of every day. He is Immanuel.

While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term:

Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).

Matthew 1:23

“Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.” ~God

Tags

God is God, Jeremiah 18, Jesus

Who is in control of the outcome, the potter or the pottery? The potter of course.

I admit that I am not very creative when it comes to painting, sculpting, etc. I do enjoy hand blown glass and have seen pottery made.

Everything done is in the hands of the artist. He is in control. The clay has no say in what the outcome is.

And so, God is shaping me as seems best to Him. I  may not always understand it but that is the way Jesus works. He is the creator. He is God.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:1-6

May I open myself to what He sees is best for me.

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command.” ~Author of Hebrews

Tags

Faith, God is God, Hebrews 11, Jesus

Just a quick look at the space images on the NASA site and there is no doubt what a great God we have. He spoke and the stars were born.

It really is more than a person can understand. What a awesome creation. And He put us in the middle of it. WOW!

God is God. God can do anything he wants to. God created everything purposefully and perfectly. My job is to believe that and live a life of faith.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3

“They tracked down and brought in the Levites from all their homes in Jerusalem to carry out the dedication exuberantly: thanksgiving hymns, songs, cymbals, harps, and lutes.” ~Nehemiah

Tags

God is God, God is Good, Jesus, Nehemiah 12, Thanksgiving

Thanks

It is a great biblical tradition to celebrate with Thanksgiving.

Our God is God and in a good mood. Giving thanks to him is what it is all about.

Once a year? Nah!

Every minute of every day.

When it came time for the dedication of the wall, they tracked down and brought in the Levites from all their homes in Jerusalem to carry out the dedication exuberantly: thanksgiving hymns, songs, cymbals, harps, and lutes. The singers assembled from all around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, from Beth Gilgal, from the farms at Geba and Azmaveth—the singers had built villages for themselves all around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 12:27-29 The Message (MSG)

“If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

1 Corinthians 1, God is God, Jesus, Messiah, Pretention

God didn’t choose the brightest and the best. God chooses those who will follow Him. That is it. The brightest and best sometimes think they can do it without God.

There is no pretension with God. He isn’t impressed by what we know or what we have. He knows it all. He has it all. There is nothing we have achieved that He wants.

There is absolutely no blowing our own trumpet with God. Everything comes from God.

May I blow God’s trumpet. He ROCKS, not me. God is God.

May I take advantage of His right thinking.

Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus the Messiah. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

 

"I’m not interested in crowd approval." ~~Jesus

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 5, Popularity

God Knows

Jesus isn’t interested popular opinion or what others think about Him. Jesus isn’t running for political office.

Jesus’ only goal is to please His Father. That is His complete focus.

Crowds would show up on a regular basis but sometimes He would say things and they would leave in disgust.

You can count on Jesus to say what God wants to be said. That may not be popular but we need a God like that.

We can count on Jesus.

“I’m not interested in crowd approval. And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds.” ~~Jesus

Source: John 5:41-44 The Message

“Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work.” ~King David

Tags

God is God, Jesus, King David, Psalm 19, Wise Sayings

Goal

There are all types of ways I miss God’s goal for my life (sin). Some are just plain stupid. As my dad would say, “Not right bright”.

The stupid ones are when I think I can take over from God. This may be subtle but it is stunningly dumb on my part. God is God. I can’t take over from him.

Jesus knows the way. Jesus challenges me to “let go and let God” be in control of my life. Jesus knows that God can do anything.

There is a hidden treasure. That treasure is letting God be in control. That is the smart way in God’s world.

There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Source: Psalm 19:14 MSG – There’s more: God’s Word warns us – Bible Gateway

“I am God, your God.” ~God

Tags

Aaron, Exodus 29, God is God, Israel, Jesus

I am God

God is God.

More importantly, God is my God.

I serve the one and only, true living God. There is no other.

It is one thing to know that God is God. It is everything to know that he is my God. That is the main thing.

Jesus came to show us God and to give us a relationship with God. Through Jesus, I get to know God and understand what he wants me to do.

This is to be your regular, daily Whole-Burnt-Offering before God, generation after generation, sacrificed at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. That’s where I’ll meet you; that’s where I’ll speak with you; that’s where I’ll meet the Israelites, at the place made holy by my Glory. I’ll make the Tent of Meeting and the Altar holy. I’ll make Aaron and his sons holy in order to serve me as priests. I’ll move in and live with the Israelites. I’ll be their God. They’ll realize that I am their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live with them. I am God, your God.

Source: Exodus 29 MSG – Consecration of Priests – “This is – Bible Gateway

“And why? Because God says so. He’s issued the orders.” ~Isaiah

Tags

God is God, Isaiah 24, Jesus, Why

Why? Because God says so.

There is always the question of why looming in front us.

Why?

Why did God allow that to happen?

The arrogance I have some days to question God is stunning. I am embarrassed by it.

God says so. God is God. God doesn’t answer to us.

That is all I need to know. God has issued the orders.

And why? Because God says so.
    He’s issued the orders.

Source: Isaiah 24 MSG – The Landscape Will Be a Moonscape – Bible Gateway

“My strength comes from God.” ~King David

Tags

God is God, Jesus, King David, Psalm 121, Strength, Wise Sayings

There is a lot to know in life. Most of them aren’t critical.

Where does my strength come from? Now that is an important question. When I ignore the answer and pretend I can work it out myself, disaster is right around the corner.

My strength comes from God. Jesus is the source of all power and Jesus will provide me strength.

God is God and God is great. Nothing is ever, ever, ever impossible for God.

I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

Source: Psalm 121:1-2 MSG – A Pilgrim Song I look up to the – Bible Gateway

What matters? There are a lot of things that don’t really matter at the end of the day.

Tags

God is God, God is Good, God is Great, Jesus, Messiah, What Matters

What matters?

There are a lot of things that don’t really matter at the end of the day. Who won the baseball game is interesting but not essential.

There are three things I know. Those haven’t changed and are more important now more than ever.

1. God is God. He is in control, not our government or anyone in our government. We are citizens of His Kingdom. Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one of God. Jesus is in charge.
2. God is great. Nothing is impossible with Him. God has it all planned out. God will make it happen.
3. God is good. He has some really great stuff in store for us.

May I focus on what is important.

“I’m thanking God, who makes things right. I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.” ~King David

Tags

God is God, Jesus, King David, Psalm 7, Right, Wise Sayings

God is God.

God makes things right. God is the only one who can.

I clearly can’t. Justice isn’t within my grasp.

God is a God of justice. Jesus, the Messiah, has been given all authority and is committed to God like no other.

God will make things right. I can count on that.

I thank God for that. I am eternally grateful.

I’m thanking God, who makes things right.
I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.

~~King David

Source: Psalm 7 MSG – A David Psalm GOD! God! I am running to – Bible Gateway

God knows exactly how much you can handle. Trust your struggle. God is in a good mood.

Tags

God is God, God is Good, God is Great, Jesus, Trust

I am God

God knows exactly how much I can handle. God is God and God is Great. God will see me through to the end. There is no doubt about it. It is all about God and has nothing to do with me.

I need to trust my struggle. Jesus struggled. Jesus cried out to God. Jesus trusted God and trusted God would see him through to the end. Jesus promised us that in the world we would have trouble.

God is in a good mood. God is my heavenly Father and loves us. God has nothing but good in mind for me.

“Yes, I am God. I’ve always been God and I always will be God.”

Tags

Creation, God is God, Isaiah 43, Jesus

God is God

God is God. There is no other. 

Jesus is the way to God. There is no other way.

Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.

It has always been this way and it always will be.

“In the beginning, God …”

Get the blind and deaf out here and ready—
    the blind (though there’s nothing wrong with their eyes)
    and the deaf (though there’s nothing wrong with their ears).
Then get the other nations out here and ready.
    Let’s see what they have to say about this,
    how they account for what’s happened.
Let them present their expert witnesses
    and make their case;
    let them try to convince us what they say is true.
“But you are my witnesses.” God’s Decree.
    “You’re my handpicked servant
So that you’ll come to know and trust me,
    understand both that I am and who I am.
Previous to me there was no such thing as a god,
    nor will there be after me.
I, yes I, am God.
    I’m the only Savior there is.
I spoke, I saved, I told you what existed
    long before these upstart gods appeared on the scene.
And you know it, you’re my witnesses,
    you’re the evidence.” God’s Decree.
“Yes, I am God.
    I’ve always been God
    and I always will be God.
No one can take anything from me.
    I make; who can unmake it?”

Source: Isaiah 43:11-12 MSG – Get the blind and deaf out here and – Bible Gateway

No problem ahead of you is more powerful than the God behind you.

Tags

God is God, Grateful, Hateful, Jesus, Problem

No problem ahead of you is more powerful than the God behind you. God is great. God is mighty. God created everything with a word. God is committed to us.

Jesus, the Messiah, has given us the Holy Spirit. This is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. This is the same Spirit that carried Jesus into heaven. God is God.

Be grateful so you won’t walk around being hateful.

Word Up!

“For God makes all the decisions here. God is our king. God runs this place and he’ll keep us safe.” ~Isaiah

Tags

God is God, Isaiah 33, Jesus, Peace, Safety

The peace of Jesus

What happens when God is charge?

We have peace and safety. God keeps us safe. We have nothing to fear.

How often does God remind us to fear not? How do we get to the place of no fear?

I must let God make all the decisions. God has put Jesus in charge. He is my Master.

Isaiah 33:20-22 The Message (MSG)

Just take a look at Zion, will you?
    Centering our worship in festival feasts!
Feast your eyes on Jerusalem,
    a quiet and permanent place to live.
No more pulling up stakes and moving on,
    no more patched-together lean-tos.
Instead, God! God majestic, God himself the place
    in a country of broad rivers and streams,
But rivers blocked to invading ships,
    off-limits to predatory pirates.
For God makes all the decisions here. God is our king.
    God runs this place and he’ll keep us safe.

Source: Isaiah 33:22 MSG – Just take a look at Zion, will you? – Bible Gateway

“Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” ~God

Tags

God is God, Jeremiah 33, Jesus

God is God

God is God. God made everything, the whole universe. The universe of universes. God is a mighty God.

God cares deeply for us. When we call him, he listens and answers us. We are his children and he is in a good mood. He wants us to know amazing things.

Yes, God is God, great and good. All the time.

Jeremiah 33:2-3 The Message (MSG)

This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’

Source: Jeremiah 33:2-3 MSG – “This is GOD’s Message, the God who – Bible Gateway

“God has rolled up His sleeves” ~Isaiah

Tags

God is God, Isaiah 52, Jesus, Strength

Oh my goodness!! Our heavenly Father has rolled up His sleeves. He is at work. He is not sleeping.

Jesus isn’t tired. He is on the job. Everyone can see this. His muscles are bulging out, ready to help me.

What an image this creates for me. As I come into His presence, I can see God is ready. His sleeves are rolled up.

This creates the desire in me to “give thanks in all circumstances” because I see He is ready.

Woo Hoo!!! Our heavenly Father has rolled up His sleeves. God is God and God is great.

Boom it out, ruins of Jerusalem: “God has comforted his people! He’s redeemed Jerusalem!” God has rolled up his sleeves. All the nations can see his holy, muscled arm. Everyone, from one end of the earth to the other, sees him at work, doing his salvation work.

Source: Isaiah 52

“All things are possible with God.” ~Jesus

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Mark 10, Money, Trust

Money

Jesus had been talking with a rich man about some difficult things. He wasn’t willing to give up his possessions to follow Jesus. He left a very sad man.

Jesus commented about how hard it is for the rich to really get into God’s world. The disciples were stunned and were wondering how anyone could get in. All things are possible with God is the simple but profound answer.

May I see God’s power at every turn. God is God. All things are possible with him.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with  God; all things are possible with God.

Source: Mark 10:27

God can do and will do that which no man would ever think of trying

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Power

I have great memories of a time I spent in the mountains of North Carolina in the early 1970’s. I spent 3 summers there. Fortunately I have a few of my journals from that time.

My vision of the power of God is limited. While I can imagine what it takes to create the universe, God actually did it. I can imagine. God knows.

“God wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important.” ~Moses

Tags

Deuteronomy 7, God is God, Jesus, Love, Moses Sayings

Freedom

I shouldn’t think too much of myself. There is nothing there to see of importance. I know that but I like to pretend otherwise. God knows it so I might as well deal with it.

God acts completely out of love. There is no other motivation. Jesus challenges me to see that and get it in my heart and soul.

Jesus has freed me. Jesus has brought me out of slavery. God is God. God is mighty and I can depend on him. God keeps his promises to me and my family.

God does not ignore my choosing to ignore his goal for my life (sin). If I ignore him, there is a judgement day. My choice needs to be to love God.

God wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important—the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancestors. God stepped in and mightily bought you back out of that world of slavery, freed you from the iron grip of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know this: God, your God, is God indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments for a thousand generations. But he also pays back those who hate him, pays them the wages of death; he isn’t slow to pay them off—those who hate him, he pays right on time.

Source: Deuteronomy 7:9 MSG – GOD wasn’t attracted to you and – Bible Gateway

“If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face.” ~Jesus

Tags

God is God, Honor, Humility, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Luke 14

Humility

I must not see myself as more important than others. That kind of pride will get me nowhere in God’s world.

Jesus challenges me to be content with myself. I should not try to be someone I am not. Others will see through me. More important is that God knows. I can’t fool him.

I should always treat others as more important than I am. God is the one who bestows honor, not me. God is God. God is in charge. I am not.

He went on to tell a story to the guests around the table. Noticing how each had tried to elbow into the place of honor, he said, “When someone invites you to dinner, don’t take the place of honor. Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host. Then he’ll come and call out in front of everybody, ‘You’re in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man.’ Red-faced, you’ll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left.

“When you’re invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, ‘Friend, come up to the front.’ That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I’m saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

Then he turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.

~Jesus — Source: Luke 14:7-14 (The Message Bible)

“I don’t think the way you think.” ~God

Tags

God is God, God's Word, Isaiah 55, Jesus, Master, Messiah, Think, Work

God is God

God is God. I am so appreciative of that fact. God doesn’t think the way I think. God doesn’t act the way I act.

God’s way is so much better than my way. My way really stinks compared to God’s.

God is faithful. When God promises me something, it will happen. God’s word must be obeyed. God’s word will complete the assignment. God is God. It must happen.

Jesus is my Master. Jesus has a plan for me and for us. I must tap into it even though it probably involves things I wouldn’t think of. Good for Jesus. For that I am most thankful.

“I don’t think the way you think.
    The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
        God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
    so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
    and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
    and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
    producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
    not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
    they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.”

Source: Isaiah 55:8-9 MSG – “I don’t think the way you think. – Bible Gateway

“You might as well try and dam Niagara Falls with toothpicks as to stop the reform wave sweeping our land.” ~Billy Sunday

Tags

Billy Sunday, God is God, Jesus, Reform

How do you stop God?

You don’t. When He wants to do something, He will. God is God. His plans are all that matters. There is not stopping God. My efforts to do so are futile. I need to get on board with what God wants.

You might as well try and dam Niagara Falls with toothpicks as to stop the reform wave sweeping our land.

~ Billy Sunday

“Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God.” ~King Solomon

Tags

Foolish, God is God, Jesus, King David, King Solomon, Proverbs 1, Wise Sayings

God is God

Wisdom teaches me that everything starts with God. I can’t be wise until I know God is God and God is control. I have to give him and my Master Jesus complete control of my life.

I am a fool if I don’t live this way. Living with an attitude that God is God must be central to who I am. It is folly to live any other way.

Where did Solomon learn this? I think from his father King David. David, while not perfect, lived in awe of God and knew that God is the real King.

God is God. I am not.

Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

~King Solomon – Source: Proverbs 1 (The Message Bible)

“Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.” ~King Solomon

Tags

Authority, Goal, God is God, Jesus, King Solomon, Master, Planning, Strategy, Wise Sayings

God’s plan

I love to plan. It is a passion of mine. It is comforting to me. It provides me the illusion that I am in control. I love to think that if I know where I am going (have a goal), I can figure out how to get there (a strategy). Much of my work is based on this premise. I make money off of it.

I am not alone in this thinking. Just read all the books and internet articles on the topic. We all have been sold this bill of goods.

God knows better. God is God and God is in control. Jesus has been given all authority from his Father. Jesus challenges us to accept him as our Master. Jesus wants to be in control.

God has a goal for me. It is God’s goal and not mine. God will accomplish it. God wants me to take on my part of what he wants to accomplish.

I need to change my mind (repent) about all of this. The culture of planning and success is wrong. God is going to have the last word.

Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.

Source: King Solomon – Proverbs 16:1 (The Message Bible)

“It’s your time—it’s always your time; you have nothing to lose.” ~Jesus

Tags

Easy, God is God, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 7, Time

Easy Way

It is easy to make suggestions for others to follow. The brothers of Jesus thought they had a good idea. They were very clever. Jesus wasn’t having anything to do with it. Jesus had his marching orders from God. Jesus knew the right time to do something.

When I follow Jesus, my decisions mean I have something to lose. Nothing to lose may mean it isn’t from God. Jesus challenges me. Jesus has a radical way for me to live. Jesus doesn’t let me be comfortable. Jesus is focused on getting me to do what God wants.

Later Jesus was going about his business in Galilee. He didn’t want to travel in Judea because the Jews there were looking for a chance to kill him. It was near the time of Tabernacles, a feast observed annually by the Jews.

His brothers said, “Why don’t you leave here and go up to the Feast so your disciples can get a good look at the works you do? No one who intends to be publicly known does everything behind the scenes. If you’re serious about what you are doing, come out in the open and show the world.” His brothers were pushing him like this because they didn’t believe in him either.

Jesus came back at them, “Don’t crowd me. This isn’t my time. It’s your time—it’s always your time; you have nothing to lose. The world has nothing against you, but it’s up in arms against me. It’s against me because I expose the evil behind its pretensions. You go ahead, go up to the Feast. Don’t wait for me. I’m not ready. It’s not the right time for me.”

He said this and stayed on in Galilee. But later, after his family had gone up to the Feast, he also went. But he kept out of the way, careful not to draw attention to himself. The Jews were already out looking for him, asking around, “Where is that man?”

There was a lot of contentious talk about him circulating through the crowds. Some were saying, “He’s a good man.” But others said, “Not so. He’s selling snake oil.” This kind of talk went on in guarded whispers because of the intimidating Jewish leaders.

Source: John 7

“Don’t take yourself too seriously — take God seriously.” ~Micah

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Love, Master, Micah 6

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
    what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
    be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
    take God seriously.

Source: Micah 6:8 MSG – But he’s already made it plain how to – Bible Gateway

Love One Another

God is in a good mood and has already shown us how to live. Our Master Jesus challenges us to love — Love God and love our neighbor.

It also helps to take God seriously. God is God and he is in control. God shows us his goal for our lives. We must change our minds (repent) and put Jesus and others first.

” I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” ~God

Tags

God is God, God is Good, Hope, Jeremiah 29, Promise

God’s plan

Our God is great God who cares for us. God is good all the time. God has a plan for us. God will not abandon us. God wants to give us the future we have hoped for.

Our job is to follow Jesus, the Messiah and focus on what he wants us to do. The rest is up to God. God knows what he is doing. We don’t know. That is a huge difference.

This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:10-11

Source: Jeremiah 29:11 MSG – This is GOD’s Word on the subject: – Bible Gateway

“You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.” ~James, brother of Jesus

Tags

Fog, God is God, James 4, Jesus, Master

God’s plan

I love to plan but do I love to do God’s will? I have great ideas for the future. I deceive myself into thinking I can make them happen. All of that defies the fact that God is in control and I am not. It is a bizarre kind of arrogance.

It should be my habit to say “If Jesus, my Master, wants it to happen and I am still alive, I will do X, Y or Z”. Is Jesus my Master? Is Jesus in control?

If so, it is all up to him and not up to me.

And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.” James 4:13-15

“The sweetest of all sounds is praise.” ~Xenophon

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Praise, Xenophon

Praise the Lord

God’s goal for us is to praise him. God is God and he deserves our praise.

Psalm 150 says “Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies; Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness; Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings; Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute; Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin. Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!”

The sweetest of all sounds is praise. ~Xenophon

 

“I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well.” ~God through the prophet Isaiah

Tags

Blessings, God is God, Isaiah 48, Jesus, Messiah

God is God

God is God. God is in control of everything. God sent his son Jesus to win the victory for us and he has. Jesus is our Master, the anointed Messiah, and he has died for us, was resurrected from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God.

God is God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he teaches us how to live. We can live right and we can live well.

And now, the Master, God, sends me and his Spirit
    with this Message from God,
    your Redeemer, The Holy of Israel:
“I am God, your God,
    who teaches you how to live right and well.
    I show you what to do, where to go.
If you had listened all along to what I told you,
    your life would have flowed full like a river,
    blessings rolling in like waves from the sea.
Children and grandchildren are like sand,
    your progeny like grains of sand.
There would be no end of them,
    no danger of losing touch with me.”

Source: Isaiah 48:17 MSG – Your Progeny, Like Grains of Sand – And – Bible Gateway

How many hairs do you have on your head?

Tags

God is God, Ulrich Zwingli

God is God

How many hairs do you have on your head? Do you know?

“We cannot but admit that not even the least thing takes place unless it is ordered by God. For who have ever been so concerned and curious as to find out how much hair he has on his head? There is no one. God, however, knows the number. Indeed, nothing is too small in us or in any other creature, not to be ordered by the all-knowing and all-powerful providence of God.”

—- Ulrich Zwingli

 

God is talking

Tags

Derek Prince, God, God is God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Messiah

God has been talking to me a long time. I can go way back. Dr. Pirtle spoke the word of God that lead me to Jesus. Jay Fesperman led me into a disciplined life in God. Bob Mumford challenged me to submit to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Derek Prince helped me see how fully I am redeemed. Most recently, Bill Johnson has shown the way to how good God is. Jack Graham shows the way to the goodness of fellowship. Sally Fesperman on how intercession is the way to Gods absolute perfection. On and on it goes. His word right out of the mouths of those I know.

It is a long line of men and women who have addressed me in different ways. And it started way before me. Thousands of years going back to the beginning, the word has come to me through those who went before me. And there were those who proceeded Jesus. In the scheme of things, that wasn’t that long ago. Jesus word holds true today coming to me directly.

It was through Jesus (and the word He spoke) that God created everything that we know as the world and the universe. God created it and it will all be His in the end. It will all belong to Jesus for sure. Jesus absolutely perfectly mirrors God.

Everything God is is stamped into who Jesus is now. Because God spoke it to begin with. God is now holding it all together today by the same word He spoke so long ago. He has such powerful words. Oh my goodness, God’s word blasts forward to make it all happen.

“Forever God is with us.” ~Michael W. Smith

Tags

Forever, God, God is God, God is Great, Michael W. Smith

Give thanks to the Lord, Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

CHORUS:
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever and ever, forever (2X)

From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

(CHORUS)

His love endures forever (8X)

Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

(CHORUS)

What is it that God can’t do?

Tags

God, God is God, Holy Spirit, Jesus

What can’t God do? It is a simple question.

The silence around this one is deafening.

There is nothing God can’t do. Nothing is impossible with Him. Not a single thing. Nada.

May we all have supernatural courage. Let’s give it up for God!! He is so good. He is so great.

God is God.

Nothing is impossible for God.

Everything is possible with God.

“Counting on God’s Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength.” ~Habakkuk

Tags

God is God, Habakkuk 3, Heart, Joy, King, Praise

— God is God

Some days things look bleak. Everything is out of synch. Nothing seems right at all. What I expect isn’t happening at all. It’s just not right.

If I count on God’s rule to prevail, I can be joyous. God is God and he is in control. God’s rule will prevail.

Do I have my eyes on Him or on my circumstances? It makes a difference. I can take heart. I can be thankful. I can gain (not lose) strength.

Jesus, the Messiah, has paved the way to victory. Jesus challenges us to trust God and believe in the goodness of our heavenly Father.

Relax, God is in control.

Though the cherry trees don’t blossom
and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
and the cattle barns empty,
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail,
I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
I feel like I’m king of the mountain!

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (The Message)

Is God over the hill?

Tags

God is God, God is Great, Jesus, Messiah

God is not over the hill. God is not past His prime. He is God. He is great.

God is the same today as He was yesterday. God will be the same tomorrow. God always has been. God always will be. God is!!

The God who created this universe is our Father. Nothing is impossible with Him. Everything is possible with Him.

“Great and powerful God, determined in purpose and relentless in following through.” ~Jeremiah

Tags

Angels, Follow Through, God is God, God is Great, Jeremiah, Jeremiah 32, Jesus, Purpose

Power of God – God is God

God is God and nothing is impossible for him at all. God is great and powerful. God never runs out of time or energy. God’s purpose will be achieved.

God has an army of angels at his disposal. The number of angels at his command can’t be counted. God is waging war to reclaim our souls and restore us to his glory. God will not stop. God will be undeterred.

The power of God that created the universe is at play here. It is hard to comprehend that power but it is real. God is real.  That power resurrected Jesus from the dead.

“And then, having handed over the legal documents to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to God, ‘Dear God, my Master, you created earth and sky by your great power—by merely stretching out your arm! There is nothing you can’t do. You’re loyal in your steadfast love to thousands upon thousands—but you also make children live with the fallout from their parents’ sins. Great and powerful God, named God-of-the-Angel-Armies, determined in purpose and relentless in following through, you see everything that men and women do and respond appropriately to the way they live, to the things they do. Jeremiah 32:16-19 The Message (MSG)

via Jeremiah 32:17 MSG – “And then, having handed over the – Bible Gateway.

“Long before we first heard of the Messiah, he had his eye on us.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

Apostle Paul Sayings, Ephesians 1, God is God, Jesus, Master Plan, Messiah, Plan

God is God

God has a plan.

Stop and think about that. God has a plan. That is stunning but what may feel very haphazard to us some days is not.

God has a plan. God has a plan for us. God has had His eye on us. God is looking to do great things in and through us.

God has a “master plan” for how everything works together to bring His ultimate designs together. God is God. This is the way he works. God isn’t into “one offs”. It all works together for achieving what God, through Jesus, has had in mind all this time.

“Long before we first heard of the Messiah and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” ~Apostle Paul (Ephesians 1:12 The Message)

“Whatever God has done for other men, He can do for me.” ~Smith Wigglesworth

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Smith Wigglesworth

God is amazing. He uses men, like me, to do amazing things. God is God and God is great. Nothing is impossible with God.

“There are some things in the Scriptures which move me greatly. I am glad that Paul was a man. I am glad that Jesus was a Man. I am glad that Daniel was a man, and I am also glad that John was a man. You ask Why? Because I see that whatever God has done for other men, He can do for me.”

—–Smith Wigglesworth, Preached at the Stone Church communion service, November 5, 1922

"Beat it, Satan!" ~~Jesus

Tags

Authority, God is God, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew, Matthew 4, Messiah, Satan

Jesus understands Satan’s approach. Three times Satan tempts him. 

Jesus quotes God’s word and then uses his authority to send Satan on his way. Jesus has given us the same authority. We are in the new plan with God. Jesus brokered the agreement.

May I use the authority of Jesus.

“Beat it, Satan!” ~~Jesus (Matthew 4:10 The Message)

“God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.” ~Isaiah

Tags

Energy, Everlasting, God is God, God is Great, Isaiah 40, Jesus, Tired

Some days I get home and I am really tired. My energy is gone. Not much left. I get tired. We all do. Sometimes it doesn’t even take a whole day. Sometimes we get up tired.

I have to be careful not to project my humanity on God. God is God. He has always been. God created everything. God will never, ever grow tired. I can’t understand that but I know it to be true.

So, when does God get tired? Never!

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,  or, whine, Israel, saying,

“God has lost track of me.
    He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
    He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
    And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
    gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
    young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
    they walk and don’t lag behind.

Isaiah 40:31 The Message (MSG)

“God has made everything beautiful in its time.” ~King Solomon

Tags

Beautiful, Ecclesiastes 3, God is God, Jesus, Patience, Wise Sayings

It is all good. God has His plan. God is going to do it. I need to listen, talk with Him and line up with His desires. God has made everything with nothing left out at all. Everything is beautiful. It is exquisite. It is all made from the very best.

I may not understand what God is up to. It may be a mystery to me. God is God and it is his plan.

The splendor of it all is overwhelming. Woo Hoo!!!!

But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I’ve had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he’s left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he’s coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That’s it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift. Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

God is charge — always.

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Nothing is Impossible

Nothing is impossible. God is God.

This is true but not always easy to remember and act on. God is God. He can do anything. He will do what He wants.

My job is to align with and act on what He wants to have happen at any given moment. My job is to listen and then obey.

” God, your God, is God.” ~~Moses

Tags

Commandments, Covenant, Death, Deuteronomy 7, Faithful, God is God, Jesus, Love, Moses Sayings, Slavery

I am God

God is God. That is all there is to it. We can count on it, day by day. God is loyal in all he does. God loves like we have never known love before. God has made an agreement with us that he will always love us. God’s goal for us, all that expects of us, is that we love God and his son, our Master, Jesus.

We didn’t do anything to deserve God choosing us. It has completely been God’s decision. We haven’t done a thing to deserve God’s love. God loves us no matter what. It is completely God’s decision to bring us out of the slavery of missing God’s goal for our life. God chose to send his son Jesus to completely redeem us from that life. God chose us out his goodness and it is his gift to us.

God wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important—the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancestors. God stepped in and mightily bought you back out of that world of slavery, freed you from the iron grip of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know this: God, your God, is God indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments for a thousand generations. But he also pays back those who hate him, pays them the wages of death; he isn’t slow to pay them off—those who hate him, he pays right on time. Deuteronomy 7:9 The Message (MSG)

Here are the key ideas:

1. We are nothing. God is everything. God chose us. We didn’t have anything to do with it.
2. God’s goal is for us to love him and his son Jesus.
3. God is God. We can’t understand why he chose us but he did.
4. God is in a good mood because he loves us.
5. God is great because he can turn slaves into mighty warriors who take the promised land.

Who are we to question God?

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Obedience

God is God

Who are we to question God?

The answer is we are in no position to question Him. God is God. God does whatever pleases Himself. God has a plan even though it isn’t clear to us. It doesn’t need to be clear to us. In due time, we vaguely see what God has in mind.

God’s goal for us is that we wait on Him, seek His way and do what He wants us to do.

God is God. God does whatever is right, in His eyes. God doesn’t need our approval. God doesn’t need our permission. Period. End of story.

We are no one. God is God.

I am waiting on God. There is no point in moving on without God.

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Patience

Patience

I am waiting on God. There is no point in moving on without God. In that waiting, I find strength. In that waiting, I find my heart finds courage.

God is God and in charge. God’s timing is not my concern. I shouldn’t move until God is ready.

I need strength and courage and so ….

I am waiting on God.

Is God too slow? What is a billion years to God?

Tags

Faith, God is God, Jesus, Trust

Trust

Is Jesus slow?

No, not all. God has made certain promises to us. Some days we say, “OK God, when?”

God seems awfully slow to us. But what is a billion years to God?

God is the epitome of patience. He is very patient with us. He wants us all to have the view of life that never ends. He wants us all to change our minds and meet His goals for us. God wants us to trust Him. That is the issue.

God isn’t slow. God is God. God is patient. God knows the right timing. Our job is to understand it is up to God and not up to us. God’s timing is perfect.

"You can endure change by pondering His permanence." ~~Max Lucado

Tags

Change, God is God, Max Lucado

Max Lucado

God is God. God has always existed and always will. Jesus is God’s son and has always existed with God.

In the scope of eternity, what is a little change?

Let us think on that.

You can endure change by pondering His permanence. ~~Max Lucado

Love Life .. Be free .. Honor God .. Be happy .. Don’t let your life be burdened by negativity.

Tags

God is God, God is Good, Jesus

Love

Love Life. God has given us an abundant life. Jesus wants us to love it.

Be free. God has given us freedom. Jesus wants us live a life of freedom from worry and anxiety.

Honor God. God is God. Jesus wants us to live a disciplined life devoted to God.

BE HAPPY! God is in a good mood today. Jesus wants us to be more than happy.

Don’t let yourself be burdened by negativity. God will take care of us. Jesus wants us to not be afraid. Jesus challenges us to fear not.

“Whoever does not see God in every place does not see God in any place.” ~~Rabbi Elimelech

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God is God, Rabbi Elimelech

God is God

God is God and is everywhere. There is no place we can flee from God.

Jesus challenges us to see what God is doing right now. God’s goal for us is seek Him now. God is with us.

“Whoever does not see God in every place does not see God in any place.” ~~Rabbi Elimelech

“God is sheer being itself—Spirit.” ~~Jesus

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God is God, Jesus Sayings, John 4, Spirit

God is God. He is. God has always existed and will always exist.

We struggle to know what God is like. How do we describe Him. What is His essence like?

Jesus is clear about God. God is Spirit, sheer being itself. God is.

“God is sheer being itself—Spirit.” ~~Jesus (John 4:24 The Message)

"God is faithful even when his children are not." ~~Max Lucado

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Children, Faithful, God is God, Max Lucado

Faithfulness

We get disappointed by others. Perhaps by our father or mother. Could be friend. Could be a spouse.

We get disappointed. We languish in the feelings it creates in us.

We assume God is not faithful.

We are wrong.

God is faithful. God is God. He is not like us. God is faithful, always and forever. God’s word is true.

God is faithful even when his children are not. ~~Max Lucado

“But God doesn’t lose his temper.” ~Nahum

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God is God, Nahum 1, Patient, Power, Temper

God is God

Sometimes we think of God as we think of ourselves. Big mistake.

God is God but His emotions aren’t like ours are. He is more powerful than we can imagine. God can do anything He wants to. His power, however, is a VERY patient power.

If we think because God is patient, we can “get away with things”, we better think again. God’s patience is shown to us so we will change our minds about missing His goal for our lives and so that we will accept Jesus as the answer.

But God doesn’t lose his temper. He’s powerful, but it’s a patient power. Still, no one gets by with anything. ~~Nahum 1:3

"You ditch God’s command and are just taking up the latest fads." ~~Jesus

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God is God, Jesus Sayings, Mark 7, Religious

Religious Fraud is not OK

Jesus challenges the religious to stay focused on God and what He wants. Fads come and go. Jesus and His Father are the same from all of eternity.

It is important to not make a big show of just saying the right thing, but make sure our heart is in it.

Do we  act like we are worshiping God, but don’t mean it?

Do we just use God as a cover for teaching whatever suits our fancy?

This is important. Jesus is challenging us.

God is God and He is in control. What God as said doesn’t change. His command stands forever.

“You ditch God’s command and are just taking up the latest fads.” ~~Jesus (Mark 7:6 The Message)

Our Father would rather do it right than do it quick!

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Father, God is God, Right

God is God

Our Father would rather do it right than do it quick! He is in the “doing it right” business.

Now, in a culture of “I want it now”, that may come as a shock.

He knows what He is doing. He is doing it right. He is doing it. I can count on that. He is a strong man. Mighty in every way.

God is God and doing right. I must lean in to hear God and what He wants. It is not about what I want but what God wants.

Nothing is impossible with God.

He so ROCKS.

“God raised Jesus from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running everything.” ~Apostle Paul

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Apostle Paul Sayings, Body, Church, Ephesians 1, God is God

Jesus is King

This is stunning. God raised Jesus from the dead and He is in charge of running everything. The totality of what God did is staggering. Jesus is in charge of everything.

There is not a single thing that is exempt from His rule. He always has the final word. God is God. He is in charge. His church is His agent on earth carrying out His will. He speaks and acts through us.

So, do I act on this belief daily? Do I conform to what He wants me to do right now?

All this energy issues from the Messiah: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, the Messiah rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is the Messiah’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. Ephesians 1:20-23

"Las Vegas and New Orleans will have it easy on Judgment Day compared to you." ~Jesus

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God is God, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judgement, Luke 10

Las Vegas

Tyre and Sidon were well known pagan cities in Jesus time. It might be like saying Las Vegas and New Orleans will have it easy on Judgement Day compared to Atlanta that has a church on every corner.

Jesus is in our midst performing amazing miracles. Do we see Him? Do we hear Him? Do we believe Him?

It is easy to judge places like Las Vegas and miss what He is doing in Dallas. May I see Jesus here and respond to Him.

God is God. There will be a day of judgement. We may like to believe that a loving God won’t judge us. That would be a mistake.

“Tyre and Sidon will have it easy on Judgment Day compared to you.” ~Jesus (Luke 10:13-14 The Message Bible)

“So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride.” ~Apostle Peter

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1 Peter 4, Faith, God is God, Obedience, Trust

God is God

God is God. That means He knows what He is doing even if I don’t get it. His answer is the right answer. His timing is the right timing. He is God.

My job is give all my difficulties to Him and trust Him. He cares about me in ways I can’t understand. God can do anything He wants to. He is in a good mood and wants the best for us. This is obsession every day. What is in our best interest is God’s every desire.

God’s goal for is for us to trust Him. God doesn’t want to be anxious or live in fear.

Yep, He is God and He isn’t going to stop being God. May I live my life that way.

So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it. 1 Peter 4:17

 

 

” So nobody has a good excuse.” ~Apostle Paul

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Apostle Paul Sayings, Excuses, God is God, Idolitry, Romans 1

No excuse

Oh how we all love excuses. God doesn’t and we don’t have any. The Apostle Paul knew that at his core. We should as well.

And if anyone thought he had some, Paul probably did. He was raised as a very good religous person. He did all the right things. But one day Jesus confronted him.

None of it mattered. Jesus brilliance blinded him. Why was Paul persecuting  Jesus? That was the question. Silence. No EXCUSE. And then God healed him.

No excuses. Period.  End of story. We all need to see that we are falling short of God’s goal for our life. We all need to accept Jesus and follow what He wants, His goal.

God is God. He can’t be trivialized. He must be worshiped. There is no excuse for not bowing down to our creator.

 So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand. Romans 1:19

Free to pursue what God wants and be released from tyranny

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1 Peter 4, Freedom, God is God, God's Goal, Habit, Jesus, Suffering, Tyranny

God is God

I can learn to think like Jesus. He didn’t expect to get His own way. Now that is radical. Who doesn’t want to get their own way? Seriously. But that misses God’s goal for our lives. God has a goal for us. He wants us to love Him completely. That is all.

I can be free. Free to pursue what God wants. Jesus only did what he saw his Father doing. No more, no less. No more being tyrannized by what I want. No more being a selfish child.

I can be free from being tyrannized by what I want. I can be obedient to what God wants. He is in charge of His World. I need to obey.

Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old habit of always expecting to get your own way which misses God’s goal. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. 1 Peter 4

 

The raw power of God

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Creation, God is God, Mystery, Power, Romans 1

Power of God – God is God

There is a time to think long and hard. That of course would be about what God has created. Just think about it. Think about it long and hard. It is amazing. The raw power of it all. Imagine, then think, about what it took to create all that we enjoy and take for granted everyday. Come on, think about it. NOW, think about it some more.

And, how mysterious is it that God could do all of this. We can’t imagine it. It is beyond us. And, that God, lives in side of us. He can do anything in His World. He is in control of it all. God is God.

By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. Romans 1

God is serious business

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1 Chronicles 16, Business, God is God, Serious

Taking God Seriously

There is a lot frivolity going on and there is nothing wrong with that. Fun is fun and God is good with that.

God Himself is serious though. His business is serious stuff. We should take Him seriously. He is in charge of His government. He is not neglecting anything. He is paying attention to His goals. His plan is being executed. He is getting it done. He is serious about it.

God is serious business, take him seriously; he’s put the earth in place and it’s not moving. 1 Chronicles 16:30-33

May I be serious about God’s business.

“Jesus is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one.” ~Apostle Paul

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1 Corinthians 1, God is God, Miracle, Perfection, Wisdom

Jesus is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom

Different cultures and religions have unique views of God. There is only one message though. That is the message of Jesus. He is everything wrapped up in something that doesn’t make sense to our puny minds. The message actually seems absurd to us. It doesn’t make sense to us at our human level.

God is absolute perfection and completely set apart from what we naturally know. God is God.  Jesus came and has given us the key to enter into His presence.  Jesus is everything we need.

While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical  wisdom, we go right on proclaiming the Messiah, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle—and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—the Messiah is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tiny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can’t begin to compete with God’s “weakness.”  1 Corinthians 1:22-25

“Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery?” ~~An angel to the women

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Angel, God is God, Jesus, Joanna, Luke 24, Mary Magdalene, Resurrection

They had waited. It wasn’t easy but they honored the Sabbath. So much had happened and they were so distraught. Jesus was dead. What would they do? They did what they knew to do. They did what was required of them. They went to prepare his body for burial.

Our God had a different plan in mind. Through the mighty power of the Spirit of God, he raised Jesus up from the dead. Not just for Jesus to die again but forever. He lives. He is risen.  God is God. Nothing is impossible for Him.

At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled ba

Jesus and an empty tomb

ck from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn’t find the body of the Master Jesus.

They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words.

They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn’t believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.

But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that’s all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.

via Luke 24:1-12

"The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath. He’s in charge!" ~~Jesus

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God is God, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 12, Religion

What is more important? Rules and regulations? Or the Ruler?

Jesus deals with the problem of “being religious” head on. The religious leaders were giving his disciples a hard time about breaking a rule. Jesus establishes that He is in charge. That is the central issue to be dealt with. Do I believe Jesus is in charge (the Master) and act on it? Will I believe it today or default to religious rules and procedures?

God is God. He is absolutely in control. He has given all authority to His son Jesus.

“The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath. He’s in charge!” ~~Jesus Matthew 12:6-8 (The Message Bible)

“God’s kingdom is already among you.” ~~Jesus

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God is God, God's World, Kingdom, Luke 17

Jesus is King

We keep looking. We think, some day we will go to heaven. We hold out hope.

We don’t get it. God is in control. He is God. We don’t have to wait for that to happen. He is NOW. He is TODAY. God is GOD.

God’s world is already here. We must live it now. We must stop looking for a day when things will get better.

Grilled by the religious leaders on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, “The kingdom of God doesn’t come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, ‘Look here!’ or, ‘There it is!’ And why? Because God’s kingdom is already among you.” ~~Jesus (Luke 17:20-21)

May I see God’s world today. May I know it is already here.