You Can take The People out of , but…
27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. 29But the children of walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30Thus the LORD saved that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. (Exodus 14:27-30)
22And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. 23And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.(Leviticus -23)
It must have been an awesome sight to see some two million Hebrews making their way from the land of Goshen toward the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit. The Israelites reached the water, and Moses, at God’s command, stretched out his rod over the sea. It is here that an amazing miracle happened...the waters parted and these two million people walked through the Red Sea. Not only did they cross through the sea, but they did it on dry ground! When the Egyptians tried to pursue, they drowned as the walls of waters rushed back into place. The Lord had delivered His people from Egypt. (Ex. 14:30).
The book of Exodus is all about God getting the children of Israel out of Egypt, while the book of Leviticus is all about God getting Egypt out of the children of Israel. I once heard a saying, “You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.” This reminds me of so many today. God gets us out of the bondage (Egypt) of drug addiction, promiscuity, low self-esteem, etc, but we still act like the very thing we were delivered from. Now that we are out of Egypt, it is time to get Egypt out of us! If we would just surrender our ways, and allow His word to change us - we would become more like him and less like the world.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Thoughtful Living
Thoughtful Living
Psalm 25:8-15
Are you living thoughtfully and intentionally—or automatically? It’s so easy to get up each morning, do our work, enjoy some relaxation or entertainment, and fall into bed each night without giving any thought to God’s involvement in our lives. But to be ignorant of how He has blessed, guided, protected, and warned us is a foolish way to live. Just consider the benefits of keeping our spiritual eyes and ears open throughout the day.
Those who are aware of the Lord’s presence during their daily activities enjoy the peace of knowing that He is always in control and working to accomplish His good purposes. Every day’s experiences with Him teach them to know and love Him more.
When we learn to see God’s footprints in our days, we will become aware of the scope of His involvement in our lives. Maybe He strengthened you for a task or opened a door of opportunity. Perhaps He guided your decisions or helped you respond in a godly way to a difficult person.
If our ears are open to the Lord’s warnings and instructions, we won’t repeat the same mistakes again and again. But those who are deaf to His voice will continue in unhealthy thought patterns, negative emotions, and foolish responses.
Each night before you go to sleep, take some time to reflect on the day’s activities. The Lord is constantly with you, guarding and guiding your way. He wants you to see Him in everything and understand life from His perspective as you rely on His wisdom and power to face any challenge.
Psalm 25:8-15
Are you living thoughtfully and intentionally—or automatically? It’s so easy to get up each morning, do our work, enjoy some relaxation or entertainment, and fall into bed each night without giving any thought to God’s involvement in our lives. But to be ignorant of how He has blessed, guided, protected, and warned us is a foolish way to live. Just consider the benefits of keeping our spiritual eyes and ears open throughout the day.
Those who are aware of the Lord’s presence during their daily activities enjoy the peace of knowing that He is always in control and working to accomplish His good purposes. Every day’s experiences with Him teach them to know and love Him more.
When we learn to see God’s footprints in our days, we will become aware of the scope of His involvement in our lives. Maybe He strengthened you for a task or opened a door of opportunity. Perhaps He guided your decisions or helped you respond in a godly way to a difficult person.
If our ears are open to the Lord’s warnings and instructions, we won’t repeat the same mistakes again and again. But those who are deaf to His voice will continue in unhealthy thought patterns, negative emotions, and foolish responses.
Each night before you go to sleep, take some time to reflect on the day’s activities. The Lord is constantly with you, guarding and guiding your way. He wants you to see Him in everything and understand life from His perspective as you rely on His wisdom and power to face any challenge.
Change a Diaper - Semper Fi
Thought Tools
Change a Diaper - Semper Fi
April 6, 20112nd day of Nisan, 5771Volume IV Issue #14
Forward to a Friend
The mother raising five youngsters is constantly cooking, cleaning, and comforting. Why? Because she believes that transforming these five little people into the best adults they can possibly become is her Divine purpose. That is why she proudly identifies herself as a mother.
Why does the Marine corporal face fearsome conditions with calm fortitude? Because he knows his purpose. That is why he proudly identifies himself as a Marine.
Similarly, someone in law enforcement might announce “I’m a cop,” and someone in a fire department calls himself a fireman. These are not merely occupations—they are purposes. Many doctors feel the same way when they say “I’m a doctor,” as do some lawyers.
Almost every choice confronting a mom or a Marine can be decided by weighing it up against orders, mission, and purpose. Even chores that seem mundane or menial are part of a greater goal.
However, for those of us who are neither moms nor Marines, life can be a little more confusing. We have our work, certainly, but it may not be our purpose. I may take pride in being a dentist, a driver, or a sales professional, but that doesn’t define me. Yet having a purpose makes navigating life’s choices so much clearer.
Once there lived an unimpressive individual named Sheva the son of Bichri who launched a rebellion against King David (II Samuel chapter 20). The king sent his general Yoav to kill Sheva who was hiding in a city close to the Jordan River. Yoav built a ramp against the city wall and began destroying the wall. Just then a mysterious old lady came out and summoned Yoav. She said to him, “I want you to listen to me,” and Yoav assured her that he was paying attention. She explained that Yoav was wrong to attack the entire city; he should have given them the opportunity to hand over Sheva. General Yoav quickly apologized. The elderly lady promised to send Sheva’s head to Yoav. She returned into the city and soon thereafter, Sheva’s head was delivered and the city was saved.
What made a powerful general apologize to an old lady and change his battle plans? Ancient Jewish wisdom explains that this venerable woman was a daughter of Asher, a granddaughter of Jacob, and she quoted to General Yoav this law from the Torah.
When you approach a city to make war against it,
you shall call out for a peaceful surrender.
(Deuteronomy 20:10)
In the face of this authoritative declaration, General Yoav stood corrected. As a general in King David’s army, his highest authority was God and His word. Yoav knew his purpose.
Remember when the sailors inquired of Jonah ‘What work do you do? Where do you come from? What passport do you carry? (Jonah 1:8) His answer seems strange but it satisfied them. He didn’t say I’m a photographer from Poland” or “I’m a prophet from Israel.” All Jonah said in response was, “I am a Jew and I fear the Lord God who created sea and land.” That was all he had to say. This told them that Jonah had a purpose. If he was avoiding it, that would explain the cause of the storm. Being a general and being a prophet were Yoav and Jonah’s ways of serving God; a tool for achieving their purpose.
In my 2 audio CD set, Prosperity Power: Connect for Success, (on sale online right now) while giving practical tips on becoming more financially successful, I repeatedly stress the importance of truly understanding that one serves God by serving His children, whether as a general, a prophet or a cab-driver. Truly integrating your job and business with a higher purpose transforms the hours you spend working. Listen to this audio CD carefully while you drive, exercise or before going to sleep. Let the ideas sink into your soul.
We all have one, primary decision to make. Do I direct my life on the basis that God conveyed a message to mankind through Moses on Mt. Sinai or not? If yes, we have our purpose. Regardless of how we earn our living, we know what to do and why to do it.
Change a Diaper - Semper Fi
April 6, 20112nd day of Nisan, 5771Volume IV Issue #14
Forward to a Friend
The mother raising five youngsters is constantly cooking, cleaning, and comforting. Why? Because she believes that transforming these five little people into the best adults they can possibly become is her Divine purpose. That is why she proudly identifies herself as a mother.
Why does the Marine corporal face fearsome conditions with calm fortitude? Because he knows his purpose. That is why he proudly identifies himself as a Marine.
Similarly, someone in law enforcement might announce “I’m a cop,” and someone in a fire department calls himself a fireman. These are not merely occupations—they are purposes. Many doctors feel the same way when they say “I’m a doctor,” as do some lawyers.
Almost every choice confronting a mom or a Marine can be decided by weighing it up against orders, mission, and purpose. Even chores that seem mundane or menial are part of a greater goal.
However, for those of us who are neither moms nor Marines, life can be a little more confusing. We have our work, certainly, but it may not be our purpose. I may take pride in being a dentist, a driver, or a sales professional, but that doesn’t define me. Yet having a purpose makes navigating life’s choices so much clearer.
Once there lived an unimpressive individual named Sheva the son of Bichri who launched a rebellion against King David (II Samuel chapter 20). The king sent his general Yoav to kill Sheva who was hiding in a city close to the Jordan River. Yoav built a ramp against the city wall and began destroying the wall. Just then a mysterious old lady came out and summoned Yoav. She said to him, “I want you to listen to me,” and Yoav assured her that he was paying attention. She explained that Yoav was wrong to attack the entire city; he should have given them the opportunity to hand over Sheva. General Yoav quickly apologized. The elderly lady promised to send Sheva’s head to Yoav. She returned into the city and soon thereafter, Sheva’s head was delivered and the city was saved.
What made a powerful general apologize to an old lady and change his battle plans? Ancient Jewish wisdom explains that this venerable woman was a daughter of Asher, a granddaughter of Jacob, and she quoted to General Yoav this law from the Torah.
When you approach a city to make war against it,
you shall call out for a peaceful surrender.
(Deuteronomy 20:10)
In the face of this authoritative declaration, General Yoav stood corrected. As a general in King David’s army, his highest authority was God and His word. Yoav knew his purpose.
Remember when the sailors inquired of Jonah ‘What work do you do? Where do you come from? What passport do you carry? (Jonah 1:8) His answer seems strange but it satisfied them. He didn’t say I’m a photographer from Poland” or “I’m a prophet from Israel.” All Jonah said in response was, “I am a Jew and I fear the Lord God who created sea and land.” That was all he had to say. This told them that Jonah had a purpose. If he was avoiding it, that would explain the cause of the storm. Being a general and being a prophet were Yoav and Jonah’s ways of serving God; a tool for achieving their purpose.
In my 2 audio CD set, Prosperity Power: Connect for Success, (on sale online right now) while giving practical tips on becoming more financially successful, I repeatedly stress the importance of truly understanding that one serves God by serving His children, whether as a general, a prophet or a cab-driver. Truly integrating your job and business with a higher purpose transforms the hours you spend working. Listen to this audio CD carefully while you drive, exercise or before going to sleep. Let the ideas sink into your soul.
We all have one, primary decision to make. Do I direct my life on the basis that God conveyed a message to mankind through Moses on Mt. Sinai or not? If yes, we have our purpose. Regardless of how we earn our living, we know what to do and why to do it.
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples.
Matthew 28
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples.
INSIGHT
Jesus' message of salvation is the greatest news on earth. He does not leave to chance the need for His message to be taken to all earth's people. In Matthew 28, Jesus charges His disciples with that task. If however, you begin the recital of the Great Commission with verse 19, you have the "great omission." Verse 19 begins with "Go therefore." But to fully understand the phrase, we must go to verse 18 to see what "therefore" is there for. On the basis of His authority, we are to go, and to go in confidence that, as we are obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ's commission, He will accomplish His work through us.
PRAYER
Because someone "came" to give the Gospel to us, thank the Lord and give Him your praise:
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations,
"The Lord reigns." . . .
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. . . Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said, "Amen!"
and praised the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:31, 34, 36).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I have sinned greatly in what I have done;
but now, I pray, O Lord,
take away the iniquity of Your servant,
for I have done very foolishly (2 Samuel 24:10).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad(2 Corinthians 5:9-10).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater commitment to the Lord
Blessings on the work of specific Christians
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord (Psalm 31:24).
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples.
INSIGHT
Jesus' message of salvation is the greatest news on earth. He does not leave to chance the need for His message to be taken to all earth's people. In Matthew 28, Jesus charges His disciples with that task. If however, you begin the recital of the Great Commission with verse 19, you have the "great omission." Verse 19 begins with "Go therefore." But to fully understand the phrase, we must go to verse 18 to see what "therefore" is there for. On the basis of His authority, we are to go, and to go in confidence that, as we are obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ's commission, He will accomplish His work through us.
PRAYER
Because someone "came" to give the Gospel to us, thank the Lord and give Him your praise:
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations,
"The Lord reigns." . . .
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. . . Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said, "Amen!"
and praised the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:31, 34, 36).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I have sinned greatly in what I have done;
but now, I pray, O Lord,
take away the iniquity of Your servant,
for I have done very foolishly (2 Samuel 24:10).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad(2 Corinthians 5:9-10).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater commitment to the Lord
Blessings on the work of specific Christians
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord (Psalm 31:24).
Pesach in the Galilee
GALILEE DIARY
Pesach in the Galilee
by Marc J. Rosenstein
Discuss on Our BlogThe mountainsides were festooned with multicolored wild flowers. The Bedouin shepherds led their flocks to graze along the lush valleys. 85% of the Jews of Israel (according to surveys) sat down to observe the seder ritual – and among them the Hilazoner Rebbe and his flock of disciples and their families. There was warmth and light, good fellowship and robust singing in the room that evening. Delicious food, pungent herbs from the local community-supported-agriculture co-op, kosher-for-Passover tofu for the vegetarians; questions and more questions, stories and more stories. They came to the passage:
"In every generation we must see ourselves as if we, personally, had come forth out of Egypt… For not only our ancestors did God redeem – God redeemed us with them."
The Rebbe began to speak softly, and the room grew quiet.
You know, I was one of those who didn't want to leave. There were a lot of us who felt that way. No, no one likes being a slave and I certainly suffered like anyone else. But there was a certain comfort in the routine, in the structure, of knowing your place, of being taken care of. We had plenty to eat. We had our communal life. We even had a sense of professional accomplishment, taking pride in the products of our labors. Life went on, generation after generation. Empires rose and fell, Egypt won and lost wars, Pharaohs came and went (each requiring, of course, a pyramid). We read the papers and had our opinions, but history went on without regard for us. Life was pretty good in Goshen.
We did not see any reason for Moses' intervention. Who was he, anyway - one of us or one of them? Why did he have to rock the boat? What was he after? It seemed pretty clear it would not end well – and indeed, our lives became embittered as the Egyptian establishment cracked down. And the next thing we knew Egypt was wracked by plagues somehow associated with us and after a frenzied journey framed in blood and flood and a great wailing, we found ourselves free, in the desert. We were swept along by these events. We neither chose nor understood them. What we did understand was that suddenly we had nothing of the life we had had before – the jobs, the homes, the neighbors, the foods, the routine, the stability. The story we were told was that we were going to a land of our own, where we would be masters, not slaves, where we would be active, not passive, where we would implement the blueprint for a perfect society we were about to receive in the desert. Moses and his clique kept trying to convince us that having responsibility for our own fate – and that of others – was a desirable goal. I was not convinced.But then the plan got derailed, when ten of our top leaders returned from a mission to Israel and announced their dissent from the official story. And so it happened that I and my friends were allowed to live out our lives in the desert, under God's care and Moses' leadership, and not to have to face the overwhelming challenge of entering history as a sovereign state, of applying to the messy reality of everyday life the lofty principles of Torah, of building a just economy, of living peacefully with strangers. I have gotten over my reservations about freedom. There is mannah every day (well, almost every day); we are just us, by ourselves out here. A routine has returned. God takes care of us. Life is good.Our time will be up soon. The next generation will have to face the challenge we averted – of sovereignty, of responsibility, of coming in out of the simplicity of the desert and building a sustainable society in a world where nothing is simple, and even the most obvious moral value ends up colliding with another equally obvious one, with no Moses to resolve the conflict. I pray that my children are up to the task.There was silence in the room for a long moment. Then the Rebbe lifted his glass and the seder continued: "Let us sing before God a new song, halleluyah!"
Pesach in the Galilee
by Marc J. Rosenstein
Discuss on Our BlogThe mountainsides were festooned with multicolored wild flowers. The Bedouin shepherds led their flocks to graze along the lush valleys. 85% of the Jews of Israel (according to surveys) sat down to observe the seder ritual – and among them the Hilazoner Rebbe and his flock of disciples and their families. There was warmth and light, good fellowship and robust singing in the room that evening. Delicious food, pungent herbs from the local community-supported-agriculture co-op, kosher-for-Passover tofu for the vegetarians; questions and more questions, stories and more stories. They came to the passage:
"In every generation we must see ourselves as if we, personally, had come forth out of Egypt… For not only our ancestors did God redeem – God redeemed us with them."
The Rebbe began to speak softly, and the room grew quiet.
You know, I was one of those who didn't want to leave. There were a lot of us who felt that way. No, no one likes being a slave and I certainly suffered like anyone else. But there was a certain comfort in the routine, in the structure, of knowing your place, of being taken care of. We had plenty to eat. We had our communal life. We even had a sense of professional accomplishment, taking pride in the products of our labors. Life went on, generation after generation. Empires rose and fell, Egypt won and lost wars, Pharaohs came and went (each requiring, of course, a pyramid). We read the papers and had our opinions, but history went on without regard for us. Life was pretty good in Goshen.
We did not see any reason for Moses' intervention. Who was he, anyway - one of us or one of them? Why did he have to rock the boat? What was he after? It seemed pretty clear it would not end well – and indeed, our lives became embittered as the Egyptian establishment cracked down. And the next thing we knew Egypt was wracked by plagues somehow associated with us and after a frenzied journey framed in blood and flood and a great wailing, we found ourselves free, in the desert. We were swept along by these events. We neither chose nor understood them. What we did understand was that suddenly we had nothing of the life we had had before – the jobs, the homes, the neighbors, the foods, the routine, the stability. The story we were told was that we were going to a land of our own, where we would be masters, not slaves, where we would be active, not passive, where we would implement the blueprint for a perfect society we were about to receive in the desert. Moses and his clique kept trying to convince us that having responsibility for our own fate – and that of others – was a desirable goal. I was not convinced.But then the plan got derailed, when ten of our top leaders returned from a mission to Israel and announced their dissent from the official story. And so it happened that I and my friends were allowed to live out our lives in the desert, under God's care and Moses' leadership, and not to have to face the overwhelming challenge of entering history as a sovereign state, of applying to the messy reality of everyday life the lofty principles of Torah, of building a just economy, of living peacefully with strangers. I have gotten over my reservations about freedom. There is mannah every day (well, almost every day); we are just us, by ourselves out here. A routine has returned. God takes care of us. Life is good.Our time will be up soon. The next generation will have to face the challenge we averted – of sovereignty, of responsibility, of coming in out of the simplicity of the desert and building a sustainable society in a world where nothing is simple, and even the most obvious moral value ends up colliding with another equally obvious one, with no Moses to resolve the conflict. I pray that my children are up to the task.There was silence in the room for a long moment. Then the Rebbe lifted his glass and the seder continued: "Let us sing before God a new song, halleluyah!"
A Thermometer of Thermostat!
A Thermometer of Thermostat!
Write to Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God's Yes, the Faithful and Accurate Witness, the First of God's creation, says: "I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot - far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless (Revelation 3:14-17 message bible).
Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? A thermometer is an instrument for measuring temperature, often a sealed glass tube that contains a column of liquid, as mercury, that expands and contracts, or rises and falls, with temperature changes. This device only reads temperature, but cannot make adjustments. A thermostat on the other hand, is: a device, including a relay actuated by thermal conduction or convection, that functions to establish and maintain a desired temperature automatically or signals a change in temperature for manual adjustment. It is a device equipped with a relay switch. A relay switch is a device that responds to a small current or voltage change by activating switches so that you know when the temperature changes.
In this scripture reading, the message is coming to the church at Laodicea. Now the church at Laodicea is a 'market driven' church, a 'do it yourself' church, a 'unity at the expense of truth'church, a 'compromising' church, and a so called 'Purpose Driven' church. All of these are a picture of the church in America today The church (the people, not the building), have become thermometers. We can read the temperature all around us, but we can’t do a thing about it. We feel the absence of spiritual heat. We know that there is a chilly spiritual atmosphere, it registers, but we can’t or won’t do anything about it. . A thermometer will move based on what it feels. Are you only moved by what you feel? A thermometer is up today and down tomorrow. Where are you right now, and where were you yesterday. When we become a thermostat, we know when the temperature has changed, We know when we are no longer doing things we know to do, and start doing things we know we shouldn’t do. A thermostat would began to recognize the drop in temperature - something inside so strong would kick in like an electric current, the relay switch of the Holy Ghost would say: repent and do your first works again. That relay switch of the Holy Ghost will snap you back to your reality and tell you that you have lost your devotion. When you see the chilly atmosphere of the church, you have to say to yourself - Girl get down on your knees and pray. Boy it’s time to take authority over the devil and whoever he’s working in. Where are you this morning? Are you a thermometer or are you a thermostat. Will you just roll over and play dead because the temperature is going up and down. Will what is happening in the economy cause you to read, to register, but not take action. Will your going through trials, tribulations, sickness, hurts, sorrows, wounds, leave you to only measure and not adjust? Or, will you become a thermostat. Will you pray until something happens?
Write to Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God's Yes, the Faithful and Accurate Witness, the First of God's creation, says: "I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot - far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless (Revelation 3:14-17 message bible).
Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? A thermometer is an instrument for measuring temperature, often a sealed glass tube that contains a column of liquid, as mercury, that expands and contracts, or rises and falls, with temperature changes. This device only reads temperature, but cannot make adjustments. A thermostat on the other hand, is: a device, including a relay actuated by thermal conduction or convection, that functions to establish and maintain a desired temperature automatically or signals a change in temperature for manual adjustment. It is a device equipped with a relay switch. A relay switch is a device that responds to a small current or voltage change by activating switches so that you know when the temperature changes.
In this scripture reading, the message is coming to the church at Laodicea. Now the church at Laodicea is a 'market driven' church, a 'do it yourself' church, a 'unity at the expense of truth'church, a 'compromising' church, and a so called 'Purpose Driven' church. All of these are a picture of the church in America today The church (the people, not the building), have become thermometers. We can read the temperature all around us, but we can’t do a thing about it. We feel the absence of spiritual heat. We know that there is a chilly spiritual atmosphere, it registers, but we can’t or won’t do anything about it. . A thermometer will move based on what it feels. Are you only moved by what you feel? A thermometer is up today and down tomorrow. Where are you right now, and where were you yesterday. When we become a thermostat, we know when the temperature has changed, We know when we are no longer doing things we know to do, and start doing things we know we shouldn’t do. A thermostat would began to recognize the drop in temperature - something inside so strong would kick in like an electric current, the relay switch of the Holy Ghost would say: repent and do your first works again. That relay switch of the Holy Ghost will snap you back to your reality and tell you that you have lost your devotion. When you see the chilly atmosphere of the church, you have to say to yourself - Girl get down on your knees and pray. Boy it’s time to take authority over the devil and whoever he’s working in. Where are you this morning? Are you a thermometer or are you a thermostat. Will you just roll over and play dead because the temperature is going up and down. Will what is happening in the economy cause you to read, to register, but not take action. Will your going through trials, tribulations, sickness, hurts, sorrows, wounds, leave you to only measure and not adjust? Or, will you become a thermostat. Will you pray until something happens?
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Peace of Wisdom
The Peace of Wisdom
Proverbs 3:13-26
Godly wisdom can be defined as the capacity to see things the way the Lord sees them and to respond according to His principles. One of the great benefits of this mindset is inner peace and contentment. Generally, when life’s running smoothly and all is well with us and our loved ones, we have no trouble experiencing contentment. But so often when situations become difficult, God’s perspective eludes us, and our peace is rapidly replaced with stress, anxiety, and fear.
To view a difficult circumstance from the Lord’s perspective, we need to see it encompassed by the boundaries of His character and attributes. Even when the particulars of life are beyond our control, the One who rules the universe remains sovereign over all things—down to the smallest details. He loves us unconditionally and always works for our best interest. Therefore, if He has allowed a situation, there is a divine plan and reason, and the outcome will be for our good and His glory.
That wise perspective will lead to a godly response—complete confidence and trust in the Lord despite any pain or hardship. Because of the indwelling Spirit, we have the assurance that He is more than adequate for whatever comes our way, which means we are sufficient in Him.
When difficulty hits, don’t let sound wisdom vanish from your sight. Keep your eyes on the Lord. By seeing every situation through His eyes, you can rest in His wisdom and good purposes. Then stress will lift, anxiety will be replaced with peace, and confidence in the Lord will silence your fears.
Proverbs 3:13-26
Godly wisdom can be defined as the capacity to see things the way the Lord sees them and to respond according to His principles. One of the great benefits of this mindset is inner peace and contentment. Generally, when life’s running smoothly and all is well with us and our loved ones, we have no trouble experiencing contentment. But so often when situations become difficult, God’s perspective eludes us, and our peace is rapidly replaced with stress, anxiety, and fear.
To view a difficult circumstance from the Lord’s perspective, we need to see it encompassed by the boundaries of His character and attributes. Even when the particulars of life are beyond our control, the One who rules the universe remains sovereign over all things—down to the smallest details. He loves us unconditionally and always works for our best interest. Therefore, if He has allowed a situation, there is a divine plan and reason, and the outcome will be for our good and His glory.
That wise perspective will lead to a godly response—complete confidence and trust in the Lord despite any pain or hardship. Because of the indwelling Spirit, we have the assurance that He is more than adequate for whatever comes our way, which means we are sufficient in Him.
When difficulty hits, don’t let sound wisdom vanish from your sight. Keep your eyes on the Lord. By seeing every situation through His eyes, you can rest in His wisdom and good purposes. Then stress will lift, anxiety will be replaced with peace, and confidence in the Lord will silence your fears.
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