God - We Need Certainty

This lyric bears repeating even though I used it a few weeks ago.

When all around my soul gives way

He then is all my hope and stay

Have you ever seen such a time as this?

Mankind – not just Americans, or the British, or people in Sweden, but mankind is shaken. 

WE ARE SHAKEN!

… And when we are shaken …

~We need certainty

~We need assurances 

~We need stability and an anchoring place

And when we turn to God, what do we seek?

~Assurance He is watching

~Assurance He cares

~Assurance He is in control

~Assurance He is watching

In Matthew 10:29 we are reminded of this:

“Why, the price of two sparrows is small, miniscule.  But not even one sparrow can fall to the ground without Father God knowing about it.”

Wow!  You mean God notices an insignificant sparrow when it falls?  Perhaps He is taking note of our conditions after all.  Could it be true?

~Assurance that He cares

Hebrews 13:5 tells us … “God speaks, and He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Joshua 1:9 says … “Don’t fear, don’t worry.  I, your God will be with you wherever you go.”

~Assurance He is in control

Psalm 121:4 assures us of this … “The God who watches over Israel never dozes off nor falls asleep.”

In an uncertain world, what is certain? 

Only the love of God in Christ. 

In Matthew 28:20, just as Christ is about to be caught up into the heavens, He gives a parting word: “I will be with you, even to the very end of the world.”

The great take-away … God is our certainty in uncertain times. 

He walks with us, He guides us, He prompts us, He assures us, He loves us in the middle of the madness around us.

Brennan Manning paints a lovely metaphor with this thought … “What God promises is that during our desolate hours there will be one set of footprints.”  (Ruthless Trust, Pg. 94 Brennan Manning)

Be encouraged today!

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God Can Use You

My Dear Unique Child:

Why do you compare yourself to others?  You still don’t get it.  I love you, uniquely you.

I don’t care about your IQ.  I care about you.  You have a kind heart, a gentle spirit.  That is what I love about you. 

IQ only measure one aspect of a person.  I care about the total person. 

Really, the only thing you should concentrate

on is “Am I doing my best with what I have?”

I have never demanded that a person be the smartest, the most creative, the most beautiful, or the most credentialed. 

I do care that you develop and build upon the talents you started with.  Do you remember the story of the people given talents? 

One was given five talents and turned them into ten

One was given two talents and turned them into four

One was given one talent and buried it.  What a waste.

If I had really wanted only the best followers, do you think I would have entrusted my messages down through the ages to common men and women?  I could have easily chosen rulers, monarchs, kings and the rich to carry my thoughts forward.

Instead, I have used fishermen, sinners, poor itinerant preachers, a prostitute, and a King who had an affair.  They all played a part in carrying my message forward. 

And even today I use all kinds of people.

So, forget your IQ.  Forget your failures. 

Come to me, with all your skills and ills, all of your successes and failures.  I am the one who declares you worthy.  

You are my choice.  You are a worthy candidate for my grace and love.

I can use a person like you.

God

(This is Letter 16 from my book - The Letters) 

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God Sees in the Dark

I found this nifty little verse in Psalm 139 today and it stopped me in my tracks.  It shouted “encouragement” to me.  May it be so for you.

David is writing this: 

“I said to myself, ‘Oh, my.  God even sees me in the dark.  Even at night I am bathed in His light. 

“It’s the truth; darkness is not dark to you, O God.  Night and day, darkness and light, they are all the same with you.”

I’m taking an editorial privilege here and saying this … David wasn’t speaking just in reality here – he was giving us a metaphorical message.

Darkness isn’t just lack of light.  Darkness is also lack of a sense of direction, confusion, a moment when answers don’t come, a despairing time in life, trials and tribulations of all sorts, and our wandering years when we ‘had it our way.”

David is reminding us of this … God still is with us and SEES us even in the darkness of our journey.

I take great comfort in that. 

Earlier in Psalm 139 David asks, “Where can I go from your Sprit? To where can I flee your presence? 

The great news is this … You can never go anywhere without God’s spirit and presence.  NEVER!

Acts 18:27 says this: “He is not far from each of us.”

Joshua 1:9 reminds us that “God will never leave us nor forsake us.”

There is a hymn we sang in my youth – The Solid Rock.  I was reminded of this phrase tucked at the end of verse three.

When all around my soul gives way

He then is still my hope and stay

These facts are self-evident!

~God is faithful.

~His character/nature never changes.

~He is not caught off guard by anything we 

   do.

~He will get us through whatever we face.

And as we pick up with Psalm 139, we find this:

If I climb to the heavens, you are there.

If I go underground, you are there.

If I go to Dubai, or western Africa, you are there.

You will find me in a minute.  You’re already there waiting for me.

Oh, yes, God even sees me in the dark.”

Thanks be to God!

Internet Church Blog Site

Offering Words of

Hope Encouragement

Inspiration

One Word at a Time