I don't get it. I really don't.
How can people believe and claim there is no God?
I
step outside our mountain cabin at night and see a velvet night sky
punctured with thousands of bits of light--and I know He is.
I stand beneath a maple tree, once green, now bathed in brilliant color--and I know He is.
I gaze at a newborn's tiny fist grasping my finger tightly--and I know He is.
Like King David, my heart proclaims:
When I consider Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which You have set in place,
what is mankind that You are mindful of them,
human beings that You care for them? ~Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)
A day is coming when "at
the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father." ~Philippians 2:10-11
Think about it! Even those who deny His existence will bow and confess. And sadly, they will be without excuse.
For
since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal
power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from
what has been made, so that people are without excuse. ~Romans 1:20
(NIV)
If you are one who either denies His existence or
denies what He has done for you through Christ, I dare you to look
around. You will see Him. Wouldn't you rather acknowledge Him now? If you don't, you will someday...
BOOK REVIEW: "Up, Down, or Sideways: How To Succeed When Times Are Good, Bad, or In Between" by Mark Sanborn
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author, Mark Sanborn, uses Biblical principles supported by scripture to help the reader define success and then carry out a plan for success. In our dog-eat-dog world, it's refreshing to read a book on success that focuses on meeting the needs of others.
Whether reading this for application in your life or your business, I believe every reader will come away with useful information after reading this book. I highly recommend it!
(NOTE: This review is my honest opinion, I received no compensation for this review.)
ABOUT THE BOOK: In Up, Down, or Sideways, Mark Sanborn, author of the bestselling book The Fred Factor, prepares you for life’s inevitable cycles of up and down—and, too often, sideways. We tend to be surprised when downturns hit us and treat them as the exception—and when times are good, we act as if they will never change. In this book, Mark shows us what we should always be doing to be prepared for these cycles and events in our lives in order to make the most of them. Mark tells his own story of a downturn he experienced. Then, he identifies the principles and practices that will help you discover opportunities in both good times and bad, in up and sideways years. Mark provides timely wisdom that can’t be ignored no matter where you are in your personal or professional life.
Gospel Essentials
The word "gospel" means "good news." God, in His great wisdom, laid out the perfect plan--one so simple that even a child can understand:
1. God loves us and sent His Son to die on our behalf.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16 (NIV)
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. ~2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
2. Christ willingly laid down His life to redeem us.
"The reason my Father loves Me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father.” ~John 10:17-18 (NIV)
3. Jesus (God in the flesh) died, was buried, and rose again.
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... ~1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NIV)
4. Confessing Him as Lord and believing the gospel leads to salvation.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ~Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:
1. Our own work - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. ~Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
2. Keeping the law as a means of salvation - For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. ~Romans 4:14-15 (NIV)
3. Empty, religious practices and the traditions of men - "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions." ~Mark 7:8 (NIV) (See also Matthew 23.)
Dear Father, thank You for loving us all so much, in spite of our sinfulness, that You sacrificed Your Son on our behalf. Thank You that Your good news of salvation is available to everyone, and that it's simple and easy to understand. Lord, I pray that as Your followers, You will help us to have a firm grasp on what the gospel is so that we can share it with those You place in our path. Lord, I also pray for those who don't yet know You, that they would come to know You as Savior and Lord. I ask this all in the precious and powerful name of Jesus. Amen.
1. God loves us and sent His Son to die on our behalf.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16 (NIV)
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. ~2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
2. Christ willingly laid down His life to redeem us.
"The reason my Father loves Me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father.” ~John 10:17-18 (NIV)
3. Jesus (God in the flesh) died, was buried, and rose again.
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... ~1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NIV)
4. Confessing Him as Lord and believing the gospel leads to salvation.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ~Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:
1. Our own work - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. ~Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
2. Keeping the law as a means of salvation - For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. ~Romans 4:14-15 (NIV)
3. Empty, religious practices and the traditions of men - "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions." ~Mark 7:8 (NIV) (See also Matthew 23.)
Dear Father, thank You for loving us all so much, in spite of our sinfulness, that You sacrificed Your Son on our behalf. Thank You that Your good news of salvation is available to everyone, and that it's simple and easy to understand. Lord, I pray that as Your followers, You will help us to have a firm grasp on what the gospel is so that we can share it with those You place in our path. Lord, I also pray for those who don't yet know You, that they would come to know You as Savior and Lord. I ask this all in the precious and powerful name of Jesus. Amen.
Courageous
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn
from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever
you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it
day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in
it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded
you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. ~Joshua 1:6-9 (NIV)
If anyone should be courageous, it should be God's people. We have His presence and power within us. But too often, we are like the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz. We whimper instead of roar and twist our tails rather than attack.
Perhaps that is why God admonished Joshua--not just once, but THREE times--to "be strong and courageous." The message is still relevant to us today.
1. God has a plan and we're part of it. Notice that God doesn't tell Joshua what might happen. He tells him that he will lead the people to inherit the Promised Land. In like manner, God has placed people in our path for a reason. Consider these people as your divine appointment. It's our task to lead them to Him, our Promised Land.
2. This task requires complete obedience to our heavenly Commander-in-Chief. Remember Christ's equation: Love = Obedience. If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. ~John 14:15 (AMP)
3. We can't obey His commands unless we know His commands, and the only way to do that is to study and meditate on His Word. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. ~Psalm 119:11 (NASB) Our success is guaranteed when we keep His commands.
4. Courage isn't an option; it's a requirement. God commands it. We're not to be afraid or discouraged, because He is always with us wherever we go.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the courage that is ours because of Your presence with us. Help us to embrace that courage for the purpose of leading others to You. Thank You for allowing us to be a part of Your plan, a plan in which victory is guaranteed because of the work of Christ on the cross. Help us to demonstrate our love for You through obedience to Your Word. Grant to us a strong desire to know Your Word and to meditate upon Your Word. Help us to always treasure it in our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.
If anyone should be courageous, it should be God's people. We have His presence and power within us. But too often, we are like the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz. We whimper instead of roar and twist our tails rather than attack.
Perhaps that is why God admonished Joshua--not just once, but THREE times--to "be strong and courageous." The message is still relevant to us today.
1. God has a plan and we're part of it. Notice that God doesn't tell Joshua what might happen. He tells him that he will lead the people to inherit the Promised Land. In like manner, God has placed people in our path for a reason. Consider these people as your divine appointment. It's our task to lead them to Him, our Promised Land.
2. This task requires complete obedience to our heavenly Commander-in-Chief. Remember Christ's equation: Love = Obedience. If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. ~John 14:15 (AMP)
3. We can't obey His commands unless we know His commands, and the only way to do that is to study and meditate on His Word. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. ~Psalm 119:11 (NASB) Our success is guaranteed when we keep His commands.
4. Courage isn't an option; it's a requirement. God commands it. We're not to be afraid or discouraged, because He is always with us wherever we go.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the courage that is ours because of Your presence with us. Help us to embrace that courage for the purpose of leading others to You. Thank You for allowing us to be a part of Your plan, a plan in which victory is guaranteed because of the work of Christ on the cross. Help us to demonstrate our love for You through obedience to Your Word. Grant to us a strong desire to know Your Word and to meditate upon Your Word. Help us to always treasure it in our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Whose Life Is It?
Life. Such an amazing gift. Unfortunately, in our sinful state of
humanity, we view this gift as ours. Like two-year olds, we boastfully
claim, "Mine, mine, mine."
But nothing could be further than the truth. He is the generator of our life in every sense. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ ~Acts 17:28a (NIV)
For those of us who claim to be Christians, this tendency to live life our way is even more ludicrous. Consider the following verses:
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ~Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. ~1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ~Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Since our lives are not our own and Christ lives within us, our greatest task is to complete His mission. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. ~Luke 19:10 (NKJV)
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others...For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. ~2 Corinthians 5:11, 14-15 (NIV)
The last verses reveal two motivating factors when it comes to living our lives out loud for the Lord and for the lost.
1. "We know what it is to fear (reverence) the Lord." Our reverence of Who He is and what His Word says gives us fuel to persuade others.
2. "Christ's love compels us." His death on the cross for all mankind seizes us and consumes us. When we realize (as much as is humanly possible) the depth of His love for us--what He was willing to do to bring us back to Him--we want to share that love with others so they too may experience His amazing saving grace.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ~Matthew 16:25 (NKJV)
Father God, how blessed we are to find our life in You. Make us ever mindful that we are not our own. Keep the fact that we were bought at a great price in the forefront of our thoughts. Lord, You are Almighty and Holy God. May our reverence for You help persuade others. Thank You for loving us so much that You were willing to suffer the agony of the cross to redeem us. Grip our hearts with this truth so we boldly share Your love with a lost and dying world. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
But nothing could be further than the truth. He is the generator of our life in every sense. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ ~Acts 17:28a (NIV)
For those of us who claim to be Christians, this tendency to live life our way is even more ludicrous. Consider the following verses:
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ~Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. ~1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ~Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Since our lives are not our own and Christ lives within us, our greatest task is to complete His mission. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. ~Luke 19:10 (NKJV)
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others...For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. ~2 Corinthians 5:11, 14-15 (NIV)
The last verses reveal two motivating factors when it comes to living our lives out loud for the Lord and for the lost.
1. "We know what it is to fear (reverence) the Lord." Our reverence of Who He is and what His Word says gives us fuel to persuade others.
2. "Christ's love compels us." His death on the cross for all mankind seizes us and consumes us. When we realize (as much as is humanly possible) the depth of His love for us--what He was willing to do to bring us back to Him--we want to share that love with others so they too may experience His amazing saving grace.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ~Matthew 16:25 (NKJV)
Father God, how blessed we are to find our life in You. Make us ever mindful that we are not our own. Keep the fact that we were bought at a great price in the forefront of our thoughts. Lord, You are Almighty and Holy God. May our reverence for You help persuade others. Thank You for loving us so much that You were willing to suffer the agony of the cross to redeem us. Grip our hearts with this truth so we boldly share Your love with a lost and dying world. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
The Benefits of Dwelling with God
God desires fellowship and communion with Him. (See last week's post.)
He is to be our focus and He is the ultimate reward. But above and
beyond that, He blesses us with even more when we choose to make Him our
dwelling place.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” ~Psalm 91 (NIV)Consider the benefits of dwelling with Him:
- shelter
- rest
- refuge
- protection
- removal of fear
- no harm
- rescue
- deliverance
- honor
- long life
- salvation
Intimacy With God
Our most special relationships on earth are those which are intimate.
Within these relationships we find a closeness and a level of trust and
understanding that are missing in our casual friendships. How
mind-boggling it is that our God desires an intimate relationship with
us!
In fact, He created man for this type of intimate relationship and enjoyed it until sin entered the human race and separated us from our Holy God (Genesis 3:1-9).
Throughout God's Word, this idea of intimacy with Him is revealed.
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” ~Psalm 27:8 (NLT)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. ~Psalm 91:1 (ESV)
Ah, I hear my Lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. My Lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there He is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room. ~Song of Solomon 2:8-9 (NLT)
Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. ~John 1:38-39 (ESV)
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. ~Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here am I." ~Exodus 3:3-4 (KJV)
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. ~Exodus 33:11 (KJV)
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." ~Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. ~John 15:5 (NASB)
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple. ~Psalm 27:4 (ESV)
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ~Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT)
How we should long to sit in His presence, until all earthly desires are burned away by His holiness, and the only thing left is a yearning for more of Him. He is our Shelter and Refuge, our Lover leaping over hills to be with us, the One who invites us talk with Him and eat with Him and follow Him.
Only when we turn aside to see Him, when we allow Him to speak with us, when we get away with Him--only then can we recover our true life and live freely and lightly. Only when we abide in Him can we produce fruit. Without Him, we're useless and fruitless.
Like David, we should make our "one thing" dwelling in His presence. Is it any wonder that God considered David a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)?
The only way to get to know someone is to spend time with them. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords--Almighty God, the Creator of the universe--has invited us to the greatest banquet of all time. It's up to us to accept the invitation, to enter in and sup with Him. Why would anyone stand in the doorway when we're invited into the banquet hall of His great throne room? Why would we not consider everything worthless except for knowing Him?
May we seek Him, then enter His presence and dwell there...
In fact, He created man for this type of intimate relationship and enjoyed it until sin entered the human race and separated us from our Holy God (Genesis 3:1-9).
Throughout God's Word, this idea of intimacy with Him is revealed.
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” ~Psalm 27:8 (NLT)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. ~Psalm 91:1 (ESV)
Ah, I hear my Lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. My Lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there He is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room. ~Song of Solomon 2:8-9 (NLT)
Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. ~John 1:38-39 (ESV)
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. ~Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here am I." ~Exodus 3:3-4 (KJV)
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. ~Exodus 33:11 (KJV)
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." ~Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. ~John 15:5 (NASB)
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple. ~Psalm 27:4 (ESV)
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ~Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT)
How we should long to sit in His presence, until all earthly desires are burned away by His holiness, and the only thing left is a yearning for more of Him. He is our Shelter and Refuge, our Lover leaping over hills to be with us, the One who invites us talk with Him and eat with Him and follow Him.
Only when we turn aside to see Him, when we allow Him to speak with us, when we get away with Him--only then can we recover our true life and live freely and lightly. Only when we abide in Him can we produce fruit. Without Him, we're useless and fruitless.
Like David, we should make our "one thing" dwelling in His presence. Is it any wonder that God considered David a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)?
The only way to get to know someone is to spend time with them. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords--Almighty God, the Creator of the universe--has invited us to the greatest banquet of all time. It's up to us to accept the invitation, to enter in and sup with Him. Why would anyone stand in the doorway when we're invited into the banquet hall of His great throne room? Why would we not consider everything worthless except for knowing Him?
May we seek Him, then enter His presence and dwell there...
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