"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:2)
That person is perfect in faith who can come to God in the utter dearth of his/her feelings and desires, without a glow or an aspiration, with the weight of low thoughts, failures, neglects, and wondering forgetfulness, and say to God, "You are my refuge."
-- George MacDonald, adapted
#2470
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
OUR ASSURANCE IN CHRIST
"But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God…" (John 1:12 NRSV)
Upon salvation we "become children of God." He alters our lineage, redefines our spiritual parenthood, and, in doing so, secures our salvation. To accomplish this mission, He seals us with His Spirit. "Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13). A soul sealed by God is safe…
God vacuum-seals us with His strongest force: His Spirit. He sheathes His children in a suit of spiritual armor, encircles us with angels, and indwells us Himself. The queen of England should enjoy such security.
Christ paid too high a price to leave us unguarded. "Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30 NLT).
What a difference this assurance makes.
-- Max Lucado in 3:16 The Numbers of Hope
#2469
Upon salvation we "become children of God." He alters our lineage, redefines our spiritual parenthood, and, in doing so, secures our salvation. To accomplish this mission, He seals us with His Spirit. "Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13). A soul sealed by God is safe…
God vacuum-seals us with His strongest force: His Spirit. He sheathes His children in a suit of spiritual armor, encircles us with angels, and indwells us Himself. The queen of England should enjoy such security.
Christ paid too high a price to leave us unguarded. "Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30 NLT).
What a difference this assurance makes.
-- Max Lucado in 3:16 The Numbers of Hope
#2469
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
A PRAYER FOR HAITI
Lord, I just want to say THANK YOU, because this morning I woke up and knew where my children were. Because this morning my home was still standing; because this morning I am not crying because my husband, my child, my brother or sister needs to be buried out from underneath a pile of concrete; because this morning I was able to drink a glass of water; because this morning I was able to turn on the light; because this morning I was able to take a shower; because this morning I was not planning a funeral; but most of all I thank You this morning because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Haiti.
Lord, I cry out to You, the One who makes the impossible, possible; the One who turns darkness into light. I cry out that You give those mothers strength; that You give them peace that surpasses all understanding; that You may open the streets so that help can come; that You may provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all that they need in a blink of an eye. For all those that have lost family members, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue to go on! Protect the children and shield them with Your power. I pray all this in the name of Jesus!!!
-- Source Unknown
#2468
Lord, I cry out to You, the One who makes the impossible, possible; the One who turns darkness into light. I cry out that You give those mothers strength; that You give them peace that surpasses all understanding; that You may open the streets so that help can come; that You may provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all that they need in a blink of an eye. For all those that have lost family members, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue to go on! Protect the children and shield them with Your power. I pray all this in the name of Jesus!!!
-- Source Unknown
#2468
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
THE GOD OF JUSTICE
"Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
He upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin." (Psalm 146:5-9)
So many of the Psalms focus on the majesty of God, on God's power and might. But here, the Psalmist praises God's care for the poor, God's justice on behalf of the oppressed. The God celebrated here is not removed from human suffering. This God is intimately connected with the people God made. This is the God who feeds the hungry and sets free the imprisoned. This God, the God who created the expanses of the heavens and the depths of the sea, cares for the hurting and the lost. This is the God in whose image we are made.
Merciful God, You are Lord of the universe and yet You care for the poorest among us. You see those who are hurting. You bring hope to those who lost hope long ago. Because of our connecting to one another, when one of us suffers, we all suffer. Help us restore humanity by caring for those who are in pain. Give us eyes to see. Make us people of justice.
-- Carla Barnhill in The Green Bible Devotional
#2467
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
He upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin." (Psalm 146:5-9)
So many of the Psalms focus on the majesty of God, on God's power and might. But here, the Psalmist praises God's care for the poor, God's justice on behalf of the oppressed. The God celebrated here is not removed from human suffering. This God is intimately connected with the people God made. This is the God who feeds the hungry and sets free the imprisoned. This God, the God who created the expanses of the heavens and the depths of the sea, cares for the hurting and the lost. This is the God in whose image we are made.
Merciful God, You are Lord of the universe and yet You care for the poorest among us. You see those who are hurting. You bring hope to those who lost hope long ago. Because of our connecting to one another, when one of us suffers, we all suffer. Help us restore humanity by caring for those who are in pain. Give us eyes to see. Make us people of justice.
-- Carla Barnhill in The Green Bible Devotional
#2467
Monday, January 25, 2010
BRINGING THE GOOD NEWS
NOTE: Today's quote was submitted by the author, a SOUND BITES subscriber. You may also wish to read an article called "On Shaky Theological Ground" written by Robin Russell, the Managing Editor of the United Methodist Reporter. It can be viewed by clicking http://umportal.org/article.asp?id=6353.
BRINGING GOOD NEWS
Many Christians speculate as to why God allowed this earthquake to strike Haiti, even some on TV. They say, "God is punishing them. They deserve it." God says in Job about their speculations, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:1) As the world listens, we must make sure that we have a proper attitude in receiving and representing God's will to the hurting people of Haiti and the world. What is a proper attitude in approaching God after such a display of His awesome power? I am mindful of Esther's contrite attitude toward her king, "If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems proper to the king and I am pleasing in his sight..." (Esther 8:5) And what if our actions towards the people of Haiti, including our brothers and sisters in Christ, would be as Mordecai's, "he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people." (Esther 10:3b)
May we speak words of peace and seek for the welfare of all in Haiti, beginning with earnest prayer that God will send many shod with the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ so that a new Haiti will emerge from this catastrophe, born again into God's family. "The scripture says, 'No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' But how are they to call on One in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in One of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim Him? And how are they to proclaim Him unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'… So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the Word of Christ." (Romans 10:11-17)
-- Paula McCarvel
#2466
BRINGING GOOD NEWS
Many Christians speculate as to why God allowed this earthquake to strike Haiti, even some on TV. They say, "God is punishing them. They deserve it." God says in Job about their speculations, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:1) As the world listens, we must make sure that we have a proper attitude in receiving and representing God's will to the hurting people of Haiti and the world. What is a proper attitude in approaching God after such a display of His awesome power? I am mindful of Esther's contrite attitude toward her king, "If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems proper to the king and I am pleasing in his sight..." (Esther 8:5) And what if our actions towards the people of Haiti, including our brothers and sisters in Christ, would be as Mordecai's, "he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people." (Esther 10:3b)
May we speak words of peace and seek for the welfare of all in Haiti, beginning with earnest prayer that God will send many shod with the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ so that a new Haiti will emerge from this catastrophe, born again into God's family. "The scripture says, 'No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' But how are they to call on One in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in One of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim Him? And how are they to proclaim Him unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'… So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the Word of Christ." (Romans 10:11-17)
-- Paula McCarvel
#2466
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