When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:2
As you walk this life’s journey God is with you. As you exodus the world’s view and enter the joy of God’s view you may encounter a wind storm or a season of drought. Even then, God is with you.
You come to the red sea of doubt and fear and you decide to take a chance and trust in God. The moment before hope is shattered, the unexpected occurs, a miracle occurs, a way appears that was never there before. A door of opportunity opens that was closed. A gift is given you from a complete stranger. God is for you.
Time goes by and then trials and tests that you could never imagine take hold of your life. You feel as if you are bound up and thrown into the hottest furnace of the day. You are meet with disaster, with failure, with depression, with misunderstanding, and with distrust. The fire continues and after a while it does not burn as hot. You’ve learned that the opinions of others is really not all that important. You learn to stand alone, on principle, on integrity, for God is with you.
God is with you today and everyday. You may experience the greatest joy or the deepest sorrow and yet He is with you. Your feelings tell you otherwise, but feelings lie. Feelings are like a milkshake, it comes to you quickly and is gone just as quickly. Yet faith and hope will endure and see you through the journey’s of this life.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Joy of the Lord
John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
Christianity is a joyful life when one is continuously being filled with the Holy Spirit. The days on earth are full with all their pleasant breezes. The sunshine seems to warm your heart more than ever before. The love you have for your spouse has grown deeper, and the moments you have together are sweeter than the day before. All of your friends become more important than the details of life. You are happy and content in the middle of all the seemly uproars in the world. You think on whatsoever is lovely, and you speak about the joy of the Lord. Heaven is a place of great joy, as you think of the streets of gold and the Son Light that always fills your soul and spirit. The spirit of joy multiplies time and again within your being. You are looking unto Jesus Christ as you live in the Finished Work. You praise him again and again as joy overflows your heart. You see through the eyes of our Saviour the beauty of the setting sun. You are so overwhelmed within His presence and how He has taken care of you that you burst out with joy; thanking Him for removing the dirty spirit of negativity and replacing it with the joy of the Lord.
The spirit of joy is wonderful. It relaxes your whole being, so at night you can sleep in the everlasting arms of Jesus and awake the next morning in his joy.
Christianity is a joyful life when one is continuously being filled with the Holy Spirit. The days on earth are full with all their pleasant breezes. The sunshine seems to warm your heart more than ever before. The love you have for your spouse has grown deeper, and the moments you have together are sweeter than the day before. All of your friends become more important than the details of life. You are happy and content in the middle of all the seemly uproars in the world. You think on whatsoever is lovely, and you speak about the joy of the Lord. Heaven is a place of great joy, as you think of the streets of gold and the Son Light that always fills your soul and spirit. The spirit of joy multiplies time and again within your being. You are looking unto Jesus Christ as you live in the Finished Work. You praise him again and again as joy overflows your heart. You see through the eyes of our Saviour the beauty of the setting sun. You are so overwhelmed within His presence and how He has taken care of you that you burst out with joy; thanking Him for removing the dirty spirit of negativity and replacing it with the joy of the Lord.
The spirit of joy is wonderful. It relaxes your whole being, so at night you can sleep in the everlasting arms of Jesus and awake the next morning in his joy.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday Morning Cup of Joe
It was another busy week and weekend for me and my family. My wife and I celebrated 10 years of marriage this past weekend and I am so thankful for my loving wife Stephanie. I also had the chance to visit with my father-in-law over the weekend as he was in town for a visit and also ministered in the pulpit for us on Sunday. It was wonderful message and the service went well. It's sunny and cool outside today, but I couldn't ask for a more beautiful morning and God has truly created a great day. God bless and hope you have a good start to your week.
A Tired Pastor's Prayer
After the week I had last week, this is how I felt Sunday morning...I am glad I had my Assistant Pastor pray over the offering. God bless.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
God's Word for Today
"In everthing give thanks, for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you."
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Thursday, May 15, 2008
A Great Gospel Voice Gone
This past Sunday, the church world and gospel music lost one of the greatest singers and songwriters that ever lived when Dottie Rambo died from injuries sustained in a tour bus accident. She was 74 years old and had a long career in gospel music. As a third generation preacher, I and my family loved Dottie Rambo and her music. Some of her more well known songs were "I Go to the Rock", "He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Need", "I've Never Been this Homesick Before" and many others. Dottie Rambo wrote more than 2,500 songs and they have been recorded by Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, Vince Gill and many more gospel recording artists. She may have left this world and made heaven her home, but her legacy and music will live on as we continue to sing her songs. We'll miss you Dottie.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Almighty God
"I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Isaiah 6:1-5 God is wonderfully complex and can never be fully defined by any single thought or idea. He has many natures and many sides which are all very different and all equally valid. For example, one of the most cherished images we have of Jesus is that of an accessible and compassionate friend and companion. Without a doubt, Jesus fulfills that role for his faithful. Yet at the same time, consider the image of Christ we get from the Book of Revelation.
"His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance." Revelation 1:14-16. The contrast is startling. Jesus is kind and loving, but He is also a fierce warrior. The Father is likewise loving and merciful, yet this very same God declares, "I will pour out my vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey me." Micah 5:15. We can be certain that any descriptive term we use for God will fall way short of describing how great that He is. The best we can do is to continually appreciate and accept all his many qualities, without neglecting those we may not understand. There is absolutely nothing wrong with our cherished image of the peaceful and kind Jesus who calls children to Him and always turns the other cheek. It's a completely accurate, however, incomplete description of our Lord. As an extension of that image, we may have the idea that if we were to meet Jesus face to face, we would shake His hand, perhaps give Him a hug and then go grab a coffee. This passage from Isaiah is a startling reminder of what would happen if we were to actually meet our God face to face, revealed to us in all His true glory. Like Isaiah, in the presence of the almighty God, seated on His throne, we would fall on our knees and proclaim "Woe is me - my eyes have seen the King!" Let us never forget that God is to be feared. God is to be respected. He is the creator of everything seen and unseen, and deserves our worship and adoration. His power is limitless and without equal. His glory and holiness are beyond our measure. Our purpose in this devotional is not to in any way diminish his human qualities or his love, mercy or compassion. Without those qualities, we would all be lost! Rather, our hope is that when you ponder Jesus Christ and all that He is, you might never forget His power and glory which completely fill the heavens and the earth. As you love and surrender to Christ, may you not forget to fear Him as well.
"His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance." Revelation 1:14-16. The contrast is startling. Jesus is kind and loving, but He is also a fierce warrior. The Father is likewise loving and merciful, yet this very same God declares, "I will pour out my vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey me." Micah 5:15. We can be certain that any descriptive term we use for God will fall way short of describing how great that He is. The best we can do is to continually appreciate and accept all his many qualities, without neglecting those we may not understand. There is absolutely nothing wrong with our cherished image of the peaceful and kind Jesus who calls children to Him and always turns the other cheek. It's a completely accurate, however, incomplete description of our Lord. As an extension of that image, we may have the idea that if we were to meet Jesus face to face, we would shake His hand, perhaps give Him a hug and then go grab a coffee. This passage from Isaiah is a startling reminder of what would happen if we were to actually meet our God face to face, revealed to us in all His true glory. Like Isaiah, in the presence of the almighty God, seated on His throne, we would fall on our knees and proclaim "Woe is me - my eyes have seen the King!" Let us never forget that God is to be feared. God is to be respected. He is the creator of everything seen and unseen, and deserves our worship and adoration. His power is limitless and without equal. His glory and holiness are beyond our measure. Our purpose in this devotional is not to in any way diminish his human qualities or his love, mercy or compassion. Without those qualities, we would all be lost! Rather, our hope is that when you ponder Jesus Christ and all that He is, you might never forget His power and glory which completely fill the heavens and the earth. As you love and surrender to Christ, may you not forget to fear Him as well.
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