Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Waking the Dead
I was reading a story in the bible the other day that really spoke to me about how God chooses to work and intervene in the trials and situations in our lives. It is easy us to find ourselves in moments of desperation really wondering what God is up to, and why He hasn’t intervened to change our situation. Sometimes its sickness, sometimes its finances, and sometimes its relationships, or whatever the circumstances may be. We face things and cry out to God to act on our behalf and it appears nothing is changing. Why?
God really spoke to me as I was reading John 11 and the story of Lazarus. Lazarus became very ill, and his sisters sent for Jesus, asking that He would come and heal Lazarus. Lazarus and Jesus were friends, however when Jesus heard the news of Lazarus’ illness he stayed where he was for several more days. Jesus had the power to heal, but he remained where he was while Lazarus remained sick.
When Jesus finally made the trip to Lazarus, upon arriving his sisters Mary and Martha told him that Lazarus was dead. The sisters cried out to Jesus saying “Lord, if you had be here, my brother would not have died.” They knew that Jesus had the power to heal Lazarus from his sickness; they knew that Jesus’ intervention would have meant healing.
Instead Jesus decided to wait. But the story did not end there. They story ended beautifully as Jesus shouted into the tomb, “Lazarus, come out!”. And out he came, certainly to the awe and amazement of the people around him. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
So why did Jesus wait? Why didn’t he save them of the heartache and pain that they felt? Jesus answered this question; it was this way so that they could “see the Glory of God.” Jesus’ miraculous intervention of raising Lazarus from the dead revealed God’s glory and power. The story ends in saying that many people who saw what Jesus did put their faith in Him
We may be in a situation right now that we are asking God where He is. We want to know why the situation isn’t changing, or why things are staying as they are. We should ask for God’s intervention in our situations, and pray for our deliverance. However we shouldn’t become discouraged when things don’t happen how or when we expect them to happen. We don’t always know what He is up to, but rest assured that His plan is always accomplished.
Remember the words of Christ today as he spoke, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
God really spoke to me as I was reading John 11 and the story of Lazarus. Lazarus became very ill, and his sisters sent for Jesus, asking that He would come and heal Lazarus. Lazarus and Jesus were friends, however when Jesus heard the news of Lazarus’ illness he stayed where he was for several more days. Jesus had the power to heal, but he remained where he was while Lazarus remained sick.
When Jesus finally made the trip to Lazarus, upon arriving his sisters Mary and Martha told him that Lazarus was dead. The sisters cried out to Jesus saying “Lord, if you had be here, my brother would not have died.” They knew that Jesus had the power to heal Lazarus from his sickness; they knew that Jesus’ intervention would have meant healing.
Instead Jesus decided to wait. But the story did not end there. They story ended beautifully as Jesus shouted into the tomb, “Lazarus, come out!”. And out he came, certainly to the awe and amazement of the people around him. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
So why did Jesus wait? Why didn’t he save them of the heartache and pain that they felt? Jesus answered this question; it was this way so that they could “see the Glory of God.” Jesus’ miraculous intervention of raising Lazarus from the dead revealed God’s glory and power. The story ends in saying that many people who saw what Jesus did put their faith in Him
We may be in a situation right now that we are asking God where He is. We want to know why the situation isn’t changing, or why things are staying as they are. We should ask for God’s intervention in our situations, and pray for our deliverance. However we shouldn’t become discouraged when things don’t happen how or when we expect them to happen. We don’t always know what He is up to, but rest assured that His plan is always accomplished.
Remember the words of Christ today as he spoke, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
The Purpose of Micah
Came across this commentary about the purpose of the prophet Micah and wanted to post them.
Be purposed to make a difference little dude.
Be purposed to make a difference little dude.
"Stemming from the poorer, working class, Micah was acutely aware of the injustices and avarice of the rich. While he was interested in the political affairs of his nation, it was only as they were connected with the religious and moral situation that Micah spoke to them" (Zondervan's Pictorial Encyclopedia). Micah wants the people to realize that true faith in God results in personal holiness and social justice! He "emphasizes the integral relationship between true spirituality and social ethics" (Expanded Open Bible). "Worship and morality cannot be divorced from each other. They are two sides of the same coin" (Jack P. Lewis).
"Keenly he realizes that no multitude of sacrifices can adequately be substituted for righteousness in practice" (Schultz, The Old Testament Speaks). "These people have been professing much and performing little. 'God has been observing the contradiction between creed and conduct,' says the prophet, 'and He will not tolerate it anymore'" (D. Stuart Briscoe).
What does the Lord require of you?! Micah 6:8 answers the question --- "To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." "How will the world know that I am walking humbly with my God? They will know by the way I treat people. Those who walk humbly with their God have a passionate concern for justice being done in society, and a deep concern to treat people lovingly and mercifully" (D. Stuart Briscoe).
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Micah Locked Down and Ready to Go Racing!
Keep sucking on that binky buddy...it's going to be a wild ride!!
M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E
We knew it wouldn't be long...Micah is already trying to make the Mickey ears on his head. We'll get you there soon, dude, soon.
Monday, August 11, 2008
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