Friday, May 30, 2014
GOD'S MOTIVES
"He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me." - 2 Samuel 22:20
Questioning someone's motives for their activities can become an overriding response to those to whom we relate. Wrong motives can result in broken relationships, poor business decisions, and falling out of God's will. Sometimes we do not know the motive of another person. It is wrong for us to assume what their motive is until we have confidence that we know their intentions. When we respond or react prematurely, we become judge and jury over them. God has a motive for every one of His children. His desire is to bring us into a spacious place. He wants us to go beyond our borders of safety and security so that we might experience life at a level that goes beyond ourselves. What do you think of when you think of a "spacious place"? No limitations? A large, grassy field? Open air? These are positive images. Sometimes these spacious places encourage us to step out in faith into areas where we've never ventured. Sometimes we need to be rescued by the Lord. When Peter walked on the water, God was inviting him to a spacious place. He went beyond the borders of his boat and ventured into a whole new world. He didn't have complete success in his venturing out, but it was a process that would lead him to the next victory in his faith walk with Jesus. Sometimes failure is what is needed in order to move us to the next level of faith with God. However, we must be willing to fail and let God rescue us. The Lord delights in this process. His motive for His children is always love. It is always to bring us to a new level of trust and dependence on Him.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
PRACTICING THE PRESCENCE OF GOD
"Enoch walked with God" (Genesis 5:24).
The true test of a person's spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the daily grind of everyday life when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. In the 1600's, there was a monk named Brother Lawrence who was a dishwasher in his monastery. He made a profound discovery that is true for every believer in the workplace today. "For me the time of activity does not differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are calling together calling for as many different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as when upon my knees at the blessed Sacrament." You see, he found no urgency for retreats, because in the common task he met the same God to love and worship as he did in the stillness of the desert. It is this kind of life that Jesus desires for each of his children. Enoch was also a man that practiced the presence of God. The Bible does not give a detailed account of is life. All we know about him is that "He walked with God." In fact, it says in Genesis 5:22 that Enoch walked with God 300 years! Wow! That is faithfulness! What does it mean to practice the presence of God daily? It means we are constantly talking to our Heavenly Father about the issues in our day. It means praying about things as they come up. It means stopping at a red light and praying for the person God brings to mind. It means singing a song in your car while you are sitting in traffic. That is practicing the presence of God. Today, when God gives you times alone or there are needs that arise, stop and consult your Heavenly Father about the situation. Then you will be practicing the presence of God.
The true test of a person's spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the daily grind of everyday life when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. In the 1600's, there was a monk named Brother Lawrence who was a dishwasher in his monastery. He made a profound discovery that is true for every believer in the workplace today. "For me the time of activity does not differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are calling together calling for as many different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as when upon my knees at the blessed Sacrament." You see, he found no urgency for retreats, because in the common task he met the same God to love and worship as he did in the stillness of the desert. It is this kind of life that Jesus desires for each of his children. Enoch was also a man that practiced the presence of God. The Bible does not give a detailed account of is life. All we know about him is that "He walked with God." In fact, it says in Genesis 5:22 that Enoch walked with God 300 years! Wow! That is faithfulness! What does it mean to practice the presence of God daily? It means we are constantly talking to our Heavenly Father about the issues in our day. It means praying about things as they come up. It means stopping at a red light and praying for the person God brings to mind. It means singing a song in your car while you are sitting in traffic. That is practicing the presence of God. Today, when God gives you times alone or there are needs that arise, stop and consult your Heavenly Father about the situation. Then you will be practicing the presence of God.
Monday, May 26, 2014
HEARING THE FATHER SPEAK
"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me." - John 10:27
An Englishman tells a true story of his encounter with a Muslim man while walking in the country. The Englishman wanted to share the gospel with this man but knew little of Muslim beliefs. The two men talked as they walked and agreed they would each share their beliefs with one another. The Muslim went first and dominated the time of sharing. The Englishman asked the Holy Spirit how to share his faith with the Muslim man. "Do you consider your god your father who speaks?" asked the Englishman. "Certainly not," replied the Muslim man. "That is one of the big differences between your god and my God. I consider my God as my Father who speaks to me personally." "You cannot prove that," stated the Muslim man. The Englishman again prayed to himself, "Lord, how do I prove this to this man?" A few moments later the two men began walking toward two young ladies on the other side of the road coming toward them. As they approached, the Englishman spoke to the ladies and made small conversation. He then said to one woman, "I believe you are a nurse, is that correct?" The woman was startled that a man whom she had never met had just informed her of her occupation. "How would you know that? I have never met you before," she questioned. He replied, "I asked my Father and He told me." The Muslim had his proof. Many of us do not hear God's voice because we do not believe He speaks or desires to speak to us. In order to hear, we must listen. In order to listen, we must believe that He speaks. Ask the Lord today for a listening ear so that others might know that you have a heavenly Father who speaks.
An Englishman tells a true story of his encounter with a Muslim man while walking in the country. The Englishman wanted to share the gospel with this man but knew little of Muslim beliefs. The two men talked as they walked and agreed they would each share their beliefs with one another. The Muslim went first and dominated the time of sharing. The Englishman asked the Holy Spirit how to share his faith with the Muslim man. "Do you consider your god your father who speaks?" asked the Englishman. "Certainly not," replied the Muslim man. "That is one of the big differences between your god and my God. I consider my God as my Father who speaks to me personally." "You cannot prove that," stated the Muslim man. The Englishman again prayed to himself, "Lord, how do I prove this to this man?" A few moments later the two men began walking toward two young ladies on the other side of the road coming toward them. As they approached, the Englishman spoke to the ladies and made small conversation. He then said to one woman, "I believe you are a nurse, is that correct?" The woman was startled that a man whom she had never met had just informed her of her occupation. "How would you know that? I have never met you before," she questioned. He replied, "I asked my Father and He told me." The Muslim had his proof. Many of us do not hear God's voice because we do not believe He speaks or desires to speak to us. In order to hear, we must listen. In order to listen, we must believe that He speaks. Ask the Lord today for a listening ear so that others might know that you have a heavenly Father who speaks.
Friday, May 23, 2014
WRESTLING WITH GOD
"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak." - Genesis 32:24
All that Jacob had lived for was coming down to one event - his reunion with Esau. More than 20 years had passed since Jacob had manipulated his father's blessing away from his brother Esau. During these years God had been changing Jacob from a controller and manipulator to a man who was learning to trust God. He was now ready to meet Esau. However, he was fearful that Esau might take revenge on him and his family for his past sin, so he sent a gift ahead, while he retreated and sought mercy from God. As an angel appeared to Jacob, he realized the only hope he had was in God. Only if God blessed him would he survive this ordeal. In the past, Jacob would have sought to solve his problem his way. Now, he wanted only God's way. He wanted Him so badly that he wouldn't let go of the angel. He was striving with God, but it was the right kind of striving. Jacob was striving to have all God's blessing on his life. He was seeking God with all that he had. "When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man" (Gen. 32:25). The only way to overcome the strong will of this man was to physically immobilize him. The angel touched the socket of Jacob's hip. It was painful; it broke him. This was the final stage of removing the old nature from Jacob. It was the place of complete brokenness and surrender. No longer would Jacob walk in his own strength. He would now have to lean on a cane, symbolic of his leaning on God alone. It was the final act from God in Jacob's life that was celebrated with a new name - Israel. No longer would he strive with God or man. The process was now complete. God could now bless this man abundantly. He gave him favor with Esau and restored their broken relationship. What does God have to do in our lives to remove the controlling and manipulative nature that so often is part of a workplace believer's life? Perhaps it will require a time of immobilizing, loss of a job, loss of income, loss of health, loss of a close relationship. These are His methods of preparation. Your new nature will not be complete until you've stopped striving with God through your own self-efforts. If God is taking you through this process, be encouraged; it is because of the inheritance He has prepared for you. However, the inheritance can only be received when God brings us to total dependence on Him.
All that Jacob had lived for was coming down to one event - his reunion with Esau. More than 20 years had passed since Jacob had manipulated his father's blessing away from his brother Esau. During these years God had been changing Jacob from a controller and manipulator to a man who was learning to trust God. He was now ready to meet Esau. However, he was fearful that Esau might take revenge on him and his family for his past sin, so he sent a gift ahead, while he retreated and sought mercy from God. As an angel appeared to Jacob, he realized the only hope he had was in God. Only if God blessed him would he survive this ordeal. In the past, Jacob would have sought to solve his problem his way. Now, he wanted only God's way. He wanted Him so badly that he wouldn't let go of the angel. He was striving with God, but it was the right kind of striving. Jacob was striving to have all God's blessing on his life. He was seeking God with all that he had. "When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man" (Gen. 32:25). The only way to overcome the strong will of this man was to physically immobilize him. The angel touched the socket of Jacob's hip. It was painful; it broke him. This was the final stage of removing the old nature from Jacob. It was the place of complete brokenness and surrender. No longer would Jacob walk in his own strength. He would now have to lean on a cane, symbolic of his leaning on God alone. It was the final act from God in Jacob's life that was celebrated with a new name - Israel. No longer would he strive with God or man. The process was now complete. God could now bless this man abundantly. He gave him favor with Esau and restored their broken relationship. What does God have to do in our lives to remove the controlling and manipulative nature that so often is part of a workplace believer's life? Perhaps it will require a time of immobilizing, loss of a job, loss of income, loss of health, loss of a close relationship. These are His methods of preparation. Your new nature will not be complete until you've stopped striving with God through your own self-efforts. If God is taking you through this process, be encouraged; it is because of the inheritance He has prepared for you. However, the inheritance can only be received when God brings us to total dependence on Him.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
A CONVERSATION IN HEAVEN
"I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always" (1 Sam 2:35-36) .
I once imagined a meeting in heaven between the angel Gabriel and Jesus. It went something like this: "Gabriel, I chose 12 men from the workplace to build my Church. They were an unlikely group. But I wanted a people to express my life where they spend most of their time and experienced most of their challenges. However, today we have a problem. My Church is not being represented in the workplace. So, I've decided to call several people to serve me in this arena. We must awaken the Church in the workplace. There is a man in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He reminds me of my servant Jacob. Boy, what a manipulator and controller he was before I did my work in him. Now you recall that Jacob became one of the patriarchs! This businessman in Atlanta that has the same potential. He is our man to awaken my servants. However, in order to awaken him to my plan and my destiny for him, I must remove some things he relies upon. This will draw him to myself. It will be painful at first, but necessary. It will take 7 years. But I plan to restore all I take from him. The result will be quite amazing. He will engage many others. He'll usher in whole new focus in my Church that has been lost since those early days. I plan to do this with many others as well. My plan is designed to raise up an army in these last days before I return. It is time for you to go now. You know what you must do. Be gentle, but firm with my servant." What kind of conversation might Jesus and an angel have about your life? What catalyst is needed to bring you in alignment with the purposes and plans of God?
I once imagined a meeting in heaven between the angel Gabriel and Jesus. It went something like this: "Gabriel, I chose 12 men from the workplace to build my Church. They were an unlikely group. But I wanted a people to express my life where they spend most of their time and experienced most of their challenges. However, today we have a problem. My Church is not being represented in the workplace. So, I've decided to call several people to serve me in this arena. We must awaken the Church in the workplace. There is a man in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He reminds me of my servant Jacob. Boy, what a manipulator and controller he was before I did my work in him. Now you recall that Jacob became one of the patriarchs! This businessman in Atlanta that has the same potential. He is our man to awaken my servants. However, in order to awaken him to my plan and my destiny for him, I must remove some things he relies upon. This will draw him to myself. It will be painful at first, but necessary. It will take 7 years. But I plan to restore all I take from him. The result will be quite amazing. He will engage many others. He'll usher in whole new focus in my Church that has been lost since those early days. I plan to do this with many others as well. My plan is designed to raise up an army in these last days before I return. It is time for you to go now. You know what you must do. Be gentle, but firm with my servant." What kind of conversation might Jesus and an angel have about your life? What catalyst is needed to bring you in alignment with the purposes and plans of God?
Monday, May 19, 2014
BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION
"But everyone who hears
these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man
who built his house on sand." - Matthew 7:26
There were two kinds of people in the days of Jesus. Some
heard the words that Jesus spoke and were awed by His wisdom and understanding,
but did nothing about what they heard. Others heard those words and acted on
them. Jesus said that those who heard the words but failed to put them into
practice were foolish and likened them to building a house on sand. How foolish,
indeed, it would be to build a house on sand.
The person who followed what Jesus taught was a person who
would be sure to weather life's storms.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts
them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain
came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet
it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).
You never know how well your house is built until it is
tested by the elements. Torrential rains reveal the quality of your roof. Wind
and cold reveal how well your home is insulated. Heat and sun reveal the quality
of your paint and siding. All these elements reveal whether a solid foundation
has been laid to make your home a secure and lasting place to live.
Many of us find that we have given only lip service to God's
commands. We are faced with the reality that our foundations are not strong
enough to weather life's storms. How do we react when the trials come? Do we
fret and worry? Do we take life into our hands? Do we respond inappropriately
when we don't get what we want? The Lord uses these times to help us recognize
whether our foundations are sand or rock. Ask the Lord today if you have built
on His rock. If so, you can be comforted to know that you can weather any storm
that may come your way.
Friday, May 16, 2014
SPIRIT-LED CREATIVITY
"He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things" (1 Chron 28:12).
It is said of George Washington Carver that he got up early in the morning each day to walk alone and pray. He asked God how he was to spend his day and what He wanted to teach him that day. Carver grew up at the close of the Civil War in a one-room shanty on the home of Moses Carver- the man who owned his mother. The Ku Klux Klan had abducted him and his mother, selling her to new owners. He was later found and returned to his owner, but his mother was never seen again. Carver grew up at the height of racial discrimination, yet he had overcome all these obstacles to become one of the most influential men in the history of the United States. He made many discoveries with the use of peanuts and sweet potatoes. However, after he recommended farmers to plant peanuts and sweet potatoes instead of cotton, he was led into his greatest trial. The farmers lost even more money due to the lack of market demand for peanuts and sweet potatoes. Carver cried out to the Lord, "Mr. Creator, why did You make the peanut?" Many years later, he shared that God led him back to his lab and worked with him to discover some 300 marketable products from the peanut. Likewise, he made over 100 discoveries from the sweet potato. These new products created a demand for peanuts and sweet potatoes, and they were major contributors to rejuvenating the Southern economy. As he made new discoveries, he never became successful monetarily. But during his lifetime, he overcame great rejection for being black. He was offered six-figure income opportunities from Henry Ford, and he became friends with presidents of his day, yet he knew what God had called him to do. His epitaph read: "He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world." Like Carver, each of us must connect with our primary purpose in life. Pray that God allows you to fully fulfill your purpose.
It is said of George Washington Carver that he got up early in the morning each day to walk alone and pray. He asked God how he was to spend his day and what He wanted to teach him that day. Carver grew up at the close of the Civil War in a one-room shanty on the home of Moses Carver- the man who owned his mother. The Ku Klux Klan had abducted him and his mother, selling her to new owners. He was later found and returned to his owner, but his mother was never seen again. Carver grew up at the height of racial discrimination, yet he had overcome all these obstacles to become one of the most influential men in the history of the United States. He made many discoveries with the use of peanuts and sweet potatoes. However, after he recommended farmers to plant peanuts and sweet potatoes instead of cotton, he was led into his greatest trial. The farmers lost even more money due to the lack of market demand for peanuts and sweet potatoes. Carver cried out to the Lord, "Mr. Creator, why did You make the peanut?" Many years later, he shared that God led him back to his lab and worked with him to discover some 300 marketable products from the peanut. Likewise, he made over 100 discoveries from the sweet potato. These new products created a demand for peanuts and sweet potatoes, and they were major contributors to rejuvenating the Southern economy. As he made new discoveries, he never became successful monetarily. But during his lifetime, he overcame great rejection for being black. He was offered six-figure income opportunities from Henry Ford, and he became friends with presidents of his day, yet he knew what God had called him to do. His epitaph read: "He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world." Like Carver, each of us must connect with our primary purpose in life. Pray that God allows you to fully fulfill your purpose.
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