What a troublesome set of events that are taking place and we are watching on our TVs as they are unfolding half a world away in Egypt. Newscasters are asking, "what if this and what about that?" There seems to be a great uneasiness in peoples' minds. Yet, I say, "What, me worry? Absolutely not!
Something impressed me this morning as I was reading in God's Word, in the book of Exodus, that the story portrayed was not about Moses and/or the children of Israel. In fact, the whole story as it unfolds is all about God, the great I AM! To say that Exodus is about Moses would be like saying that building a house is about a "hammer." Rather, it is about the one holding the hammer and in this case, its all about God!
Now, with the events unfolding in Egypt right now, I also thought how God is orchestrating all that is taking place for His glory. The hammer is in His hand. Just as God placed the Egyptians in the time of Moses in a state of turmoil, so I can see the hand of God working again. However, we must remember that there is "nothing" that takes place in all the world - especially the Middle East - for which God is not in control.
For all those who are called Christian and who indeed are followers of Jesus Christ, there is NO need to worry! In fact, the Bible tells us that we are loved by God with an everlasting love and no matter what might occur in the world around us, we are told by the Apostle Paul, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
If I am so loved by the God of the universe, then again, I say, "I'm not worried ... in fact I'm anticipating God's next move!" WOW!
Keep looking up,
Gene
PS - Another thought: I also was thinking about the power of God and began to sing a song fashioned after Jeremiah 32:17. It reads: "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You!" Our God indeed is a great and mighty God.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Year Resolutions
Oops! Too many calories over the holidays ... gotta go back on my diet. Lets see, is that #1 or #101. If you are like me you have made 10's or 100's or probably 1000's of resolutions around the first day of each new year for years and years. And, where has that gotten us ... no where for the most part.
Well, one thing that I have decided to do is to make an update to our wills. Lets see, the old wills asked my sister Joyce to raise our two little daughters if we were to die. They are both over 40 now so I guess its about time to update the wills. Done! I can't believe it. Should have been done several times over the past 25 or so years.
I wonder just what God would have us do about these flimsy resolutions. I just read a good answer to this question in Got Questions.com (see link above right). So, here it is:
The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?
Common New Year’s resolutions are: to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.
Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.
So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
Well, I know what I'm going to do and I know who will be helping me to make it happen. "Seek the Lord ... Lay up treasure in heaven ... do all that you do for the glory of God ... first, love the Lord your God and second love your neighbor as yourself"
Praying that this year will be successful for all the right reasons ... that God will receive the glory and honor and power for He alone is deserving.
Well, one thing that I have decided to do is to make an update to our wills. Lets see, the old wills asked my sister Joyce to raise our two little daughters if we were to die. They are both over 40 now so I guess its about time to update the wills. Done! I can't believe it. Should have been done several times over the past 25 or so years.
I wonder just what God would have us do about these flimsy resolutions. I just read a good answer to this question in Got Questions.com (see link above right). So, here it is:
The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?
Common New Year’s resolutions are: to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.
Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.
So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
Well, I know what I'm going to do and I know who will be helping me to make it happen. "Seek the Lord ... Lay up treasure in heaven ... do all that you do for the glory of God ... first, love the Lord your God and second love your neighbor as yourself"
Praying that this year will be successful for all the right reasons ... that God will receive the glory and honor and power for He alone is deserving.
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