Category: God’s Promises

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Before Take Off…

For the last several days I have been reminding you of what God’s word says about the storms or anxious moments we face.

Why the repetition?

Well… that’s what God has put on my heart to encourage and inform you of His promises.

So, this morning when I heard the Holy Spirit prompting me, one more time, to share more on this message I did say, “Lord, they are probably getting tired of hearing this. Can I come back to it later”?

That’s when I saw, in my mind’s eye, those flight attendants who stand in the aisleways before every flight telling us about seat belt placement, life vests and oxygen masks. Yes, they probably have other things they would like to do but their first priority is our safety. They follow the same routine on every flight. The same script. The same communication with the cockpit. Everything is done to ensure our safety and theirs.

That’s why, once again, I’m going to remind you of the promises God has given us for our daily safety and protection.

Before we take off on the day let’s go over them once more. Take out the safety instructions, the Bible, and let’s go over them together.

“The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.” II Timothy 1:7 ERV

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” II Corinthians 1:20 NIV

“I will soon die, as everyone must. But deep in your hearts you know that the Lord has kept every promise he ever made to you. Not one of them has been broken. 15-16 Yes, when the Lord makes a promise, he does what he has promised. But when he makes a threat, he will also do what he has threatened. The Lord is our God.” Joshua 23:14-16 CEV (This is an amazing testimony to God’s faithfulness. Joshua died at 110. He never saw God break a promise.)

“God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises.” Numbers 23:19 CEV

“The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4 He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. 5 You won’t need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. 6 And you won’t fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon.” Psalm 91:3-6 CEV

And finally, from Jesus’ mouth to our ears:

“I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds? Matthew 6:25-26 CEV

You are now prepared for take off. Enjoy today’s flight. God has you secure under His wings!

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Bringing Life Into Focus

How many of you started wearing glasses when you were a kid? I was one of those kids. My mom took me to the optometrist when I was in sixth grade.

My teacher told her I seemed to be having trouble seeing the blackboard and then Mom noticed that I was leaning in, close to my music books on the piano when I sat down to practice. Sure enough, I was nearsighted.

Going to school on the first day with glasses was embarrassing. My lenses were thick and the frames were anything but stylish. I was now a nerd.

But there was no denying that I could see better. In fact, it was amazing! I could see across a room without squinting to make things come into focus.

This morning I was reading some verses that prompted the memory I just shared.

“I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus. 3 We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4 God made great and marvelous promises, so his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.

5 Do your best to improve your faith by adding goodness, understanding, 6 self-control, patience, devotion to God, 7 concern for others, and love. 8 If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. 9 But if you don’t grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven.

10 My friends, you must do all you can to show God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won’t stumble and fall.” II Peter 1:2-10 CEV

Those words – “if you don’t grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind”, jumped off the page. For years I wasn’t just nearsighted physically but also spiritually.

I knew that God wanted to forgive my sins, but little did I know that He wanted me to be living a life where I wouldn’t stumble or fall. He had given me great and precious promises and I didn’t see it.

Those promises are filled with victory and power, peace and joy, love and forgiveness. Now, the blurriness is gone. God’s promises have come into focus and I see with clarity what He has given me.

“Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:4-5 CEV

Maybe it’s time for a check-up. We can all use a spiritual adjustment in bringing life into focus based on the promises of God’s word.

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Hope is the Anchor

Determination — Perserverance — Strength

All three are needed to get through the tough times and come out victorious.

“God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19  This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place.” Hebrews 6:18-19 CEV

I want us to look at a few guys from the Bible who stepped up and came through in victory.

Noah preached the whole time he was building the ark and didn’t have one convert but he kept building.

Abraham was promised a natural born son and he had to wait 25 years to see the promise fulfilled.

Joseph was sold as a slave, spent time in prison, was forgotten and then made it to pharoah’s palace.

Moses led a nation of grumbling and complaining people for 40 years in the wilderness and never made it to the promised land. That should have been about a 3-4 week trip.

Jesus preached, died, rose again to show us that He is the Messiah and still many did not believe.

Paul was beaten, shipwrecked, nearly drown and held in prison but never tried and still he kept preaching.

God, the Father, isn’t willing that any should perish and has offered salvation to all. He hasn’t given up!

Each of the men above had been given a promise by God and that gave them courage to continue. They encouraged themselves with God’s word and used it to fight discouragement.

“There was no hope that Abraham would have children, but Abraham believed God and continued to hope. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, “You will have many descendants.” 19 Abraham was almost a hundred years old, so he was past the age for having children. Also, Sarah could not have children. Abraham was well aware of this, but his faith in God never became weak. 20 He never doubted that God would do what he promised. He never stopped believing. In fact, he grew stronger in his faith and just praised God.” Romans 4:18-20 ERV

” But the Lord said, ‘My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.‘ So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me. 10 Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.” II Corinthians 12:9-10 ERV

I pray that we become like these men and we continue to hope and find that when we are weak we truly are strong because we go forward in a strength that only God can give!

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God is Trustworthy

COMPLETE TRUST!

What an amazing truth! I’m not sure I can say that I have complete trust – if that shocks some of you, I apologize but I am being honest. I know in my heart of hearts that God is always faithful, His love is unconditional and His Word never fails but I don’t always let that lead me.

I guess I’m kind of like Peter. This morning I was reading in John 21. Peter and some of the others had gone fishing. It had been a couple of weeks since Jesus’ resurrection but they were no longer living in daily contact with Jesus. In fact, this account says it was the third time they had encountered Jesus since His resurrection.

They were probably at a loss of direction, so they went back to doing what they had done before they began following Jesus. They went fishing and having fished all night, they caught nothing.

As they were bringing their boats back to shore, Jesus called to them and told them to cast their nets to the right side of their boat. The Bible said they didn’t recognize that it was Jesus but they obeyed. They trusted Him. Their nets filled with fish and almost broke.

John told Peter, “It’s Jesus.” Peter threw on his outer coat, jumped in the water and headed to shore. Jesus was waiting with fresh bread and grilled fish.

I find it interesting that Jesus met them again where He had originally met them, at the seaside, and called them to be fishers of men. Jesus fed them physically and then He asked them to follow Him, once again.

“Then he said to Peter, ‘Follow me!‘” John 21:19 ERV

In spite of Peter’s actions – his denial of knowing Christ, his fear of the religious leaders after the crucifixion, his return to his old ways of fishing – Jesus still reached out to Peter, restored him and reminded him to trust.

I know that God can’t and doesn’t lie – I know His love never fails – I know that He is faithful to a thousand generations! I know that He is my Savior, my healer, my provider, my counselor, my peace, my protection, my all-in-all!

Then why do I let fear or anxiety, frustration or anger, or self will invade my world? It’s because like Peter I take my eyes off Jesus and look at my own efforts. I neglect to “consider” the one thing that always provides the right answer.

The Apostle Paul said that we are to renew our minds and not be conformed to this world. Jesus went aside to pray and spend time with His Father on many occasions, renewing His mind and refreshing His spirit.

Complete Trust!

It’s something we grow toward and grow in as we spend more time in God’s word and in prayer, bringing our minds into obedience with His word. There is only one thing that has always been right – God and His word!

Trust God and follow Him!

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God Provides

Dave and I spend quite a bit of time reminiscing about our adventures, friends and family. And last night was no different. We spent time talking about where to go for dinner tonight.

You see, today is our 53rd anniversary and we are currently living about 20 miles from where we were married and the night before our wedding we ate at an amazing steakhouse that is no longer there. It was destroyed in a fire but we still remember the delicious dinners we had there. Wish there was a place like that to go tonight.

Kind of reminds me of a Scripture.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trusts in Him! 9 O fear the Lord, all you who belong to Him. For those who fear Him never want for anything.” Psalm 34:8-9 NLV

Years ago when we were young in faith and learning to listen to the Lord’s voice we had a cowboy preacher, a dear friend, tell us this: If God says go South, He will provide; If you go North you’ll think you died!

Now that’s not scripture but it is scriptural. That’s what it means to “taste and see” or it could be put “trust and obey”. We learn about the goodness and provision of God by trusting, tasting, putting Him first.

Our walk with the Lord has been learning to trust Him in the small things and then remembering how “good” it was to be obedient when a large issue came up.

All through the Bible we see examples of the Lord doing just that. He provided for the Israelites in the desert. He gave them manna and quail and water gushed from a rock. Before that, Joseph used the Pharoah’s grain to feed his family during the famine.  Noah and his family were safe and dry in the ark.

When the wise men came to see the child Jesus they brought gifts of gold, myrrh and frankinscense. Soon after their departure the Lord instructed Joseph to take his family to Egypt. The Lord had provided what they needed for the trip.

It’s important that we follow with the Lord with a trusting heart.

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the Lord and stay away from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.” Proverb 3:5-8 ERV

When we follow His plan for us there may be times of uncertainty but we don’t need to be afraid. When we listen, He speaks and when we follow His leading we are blessed!

“Today I am giving you a choice. You may choose the blessing or the curse. 27 You will get the blessing if you listen and obey the commands of the Lord your God that I have told you today.” Deuteronomy 11:26-27 ERV

 We have a choice – it would be silly to lean to our own understanding since following Him is the right way to go and His wisdom is perfect.

“ I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 ERV

Go South today – He will provide!!!

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It’s a Beautiful Morning!

Beautiful morning – the sunrise is clear, the doves are cooing and the quail are talking. The little red headed finches are flitting back and forth from the ocotillo blossoms to the branches of the mesquite tree.

Perfect time for sipping my coffee and praising the God of all creation.

When I was little we sang a chorus in Sunday School…

“The birds upon the tree tops sing their song;

The angels chant their chorus all day long;

The flowers in the garden blend their hue,

So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you praise Him too?”

So join with me in praising the King of King and Lord of Lords. My Father and my God is worthy of praise.

“The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done.2 Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. 3 They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. 4 Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world. In the heavens a tent is set up for the sun. 5 It rises like a bridegroom and gets ready like a hero eager to run a race. 6 It travels all the way across the sky. Nothing hides from its heat.” Psalm 19:1-6 CEV

He is worthy of all praise. His glory shines over the whole earth. Let the mountains stand majestic, let the rivers and oceans roar, let the trees of the fields clap their hands and let all creation praise Him.

“Rain and snow fall from the sky and don’t return until they have watered the ground.
Then the ground causes the plants to sprout and grow, and they produce seeds for the farmer and food for people to eat.
11 In the same way, my words leave my mouth, and they don’t come back without results.
My words make the things happen that I want to happen. They succeed in doing what I send them to do.

12 “So you will go out from there with joy. You will be led out in peace. When you come to the mountains and hills, they will begin singing. All the trees in the fields will clap their hands. 13 Large cypress trees will grow where there were thornbushes. Myrtle trees will grow where there were weeds. All this will happen to make the Lord known, to be a permanent reminder of his goodness and power.” Isaiah 55:10-13 ERV

Praise the Lord with me today and make known His goodness and power!

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Stacking Stones

Recently I have been reading through the book of Joshua, again. It’s one of my favorite Old Testament books. I have a book in my small library entitled “Victorious Christian Living” by Alan Redpath. It’s a study in the book of Joshua written in 1953, the year I was born so that somehow seems significant. (There are copies available on Ebay, if you’re interested.)

Well…back to this morning’s blog.

One of the first instructions Joshua received when crossing into the Promised Land was to establish a monument of God’s faithfulness.

“ After all the people had crossed the Jordan River, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 ‘Choose twelve men, one from each tribe. 3 Tell them to look in the river where the priests were standing and get twelve rocks from that place. Carry these rocks with you and put them where you stay tonight.’

4 So Joshua chose one man from each tribe. Then he called the twelve men together. 5 He said to them, ‘Go out into the river where the Holy Box of the Lord your God is. Each of you must find one rock. There will be one rock for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Carry that rock on your shoulder. 6 These rocks will be a sign for you. In the future, your children will ask you, ‘What do these rocks mean?’ 7 You will tell them that the Lord stopped the water from flowing in the Jordan River. When the Holy Box of the Lord’s Agreement crossed the river, the water stopped flowing. These rocks will help the Israelites remember this forever.’” Joshua 4:1-7 ERV

These rocks will help Israel remember forever.

Do you have a stack of stones, whether physical or mental, that you have stacked to remember forever marvelous things that God has done in your life. Times of rescue? Circumstances miraculously changing for your protection and good? Places you have moved or jobs you have taken that you knew were the Lord’s provision?

There are a number of times in my life that I have stacked some stones. The time when God’s promise to never leave me or abandon me became an indelible truth. Then again, in my deepest heart break when the Lord’s promise to heal my broken heart and give me peace that bypassed my understanding became my firm foundation. I could go on for hours telling you of the times I stopped to stack the stones.

“21 Then Joshua told the Israelites, ‘In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these rocks mean?’ 22 Tell them, ‘These rocks help us remember the way the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry land.’” Joshua 4:21-22 ERV

I think it’s no coincidence that Jesus left a “stone of remembrance” of His own.

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord came from the sky, and there was a huge earthquake. The angel went to the tomb and rolled the stone away from the entrance. Then he sat on top of the stone.” Matthew 28:2 ERV

That stone had been set in place to keep Jesus in but once it was rolled away it could be used as a monument to the power of His resurrection!

May I encourage you to take some time and stack some stones today. With each stone, thank the Lord for His promises and His provision.

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Get Up & Go!

This week has presented me with some real challenges and in fact, I was sidelined for a few days. Maybe you were too. Things just not the way you planned, and you faced set backs? Well, today it’s time to get up and go again!

Today is a day of victory!!

I went to Bible Gateway and looked up the words “arise go”. Definitely didn’t find the vernacular I’m accustomed too, “saddle up and ride” but it means the same.

The prodigal son said “I will arise and go to my father’s house”; Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Arise take up your bed and walk and go to your house”; he also told the leper “Arise and go thy way, thy faith has made thee whole”; then there was the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus when the Lord spoke from heaven and told him to “Arise and go into the city”. Of course, we have the angel telling Joseph to “Arise and go to Egypt” with Mary and baby Jesus to keep him from being killed by Herod.

However this morning I want us to look at a story of victory “Arise and Go” from the Old Testament. Let’s put the story in context, there is a famine in the land. The Syrian army is in full siege against the Israelites. The Israelites are hold up in the city and things are so bad they are eating animal dung and even their own children. There are 4 lepers outside the city wall, and they are starving to death.

“… Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

6 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, …7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.” II Kings 7:4-9 KJV

Notice the thought process of the lepers. If we sit here we will die so they “arose up to go” to the Syrian camp. And when they did, God not only provided for them but He provided deliverance for all the Israelites and destroyed their enemy.

When we arise and go forth, we are moving in the right direction. We can trust the Lord to direct our paths and to secure our outcome. Don’t become complacent and sit where you are until you die. Rise up – go forth – go forth in His name and He provides the victory.

Saddle up – victorys is ahead!

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Knowing What’s Ahead

How many times do we wish we could know our future? What will happen next week, next month, next year? If we only knew…

Jesus knew.

He had preached a message that He was the Good Shepherd and like a good shepherd He would give His life for the sheep. He boldly proclaimed, “I am the Son of God”. Some people believed Him but most wanted to arrest Him and have Him killed. (John 10)

Jesus knew what was ahead. He separated Himself and His disciples.

A few days later He received word that His friend Lazarus was sick. He stayed where He was another two days. He knew what would happen.

Lazarus died. He went to Bethany and He knew that He would perform another miracle. He would raise Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead for four days. This miracle sealed Jesus fate. The religious elite were determined to have Him killed.

“ From that day on, the council started making plans to put Jesus to death. 54 Because of this plot against him, Jesus stopped going around in public. He went to the town of Ephraim, which was near the desert, and he stayed there with his disciples.” John 11:53-54 CEV

Jesus knew. It was almost Passover and people were asking if Jesus would come.

“The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, ‘Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!'” John 12:12-13 NLT

This incident has become known as Palm Sunday. The day we celebrate today!

“Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.” Psalm 118:25 NLT

Jesus knew. He also knew this would lead to His arrest, mock trial, beating and crucifixion. He knew.

So why did He put Himself through all of this?

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” II Corinthians 5:21 NLT

Jesus knew the Father’s plan and He submitted to it willingly.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:2-3 ERV

He knew and He endured the cruelty because He also knew that joy that was waiting for Him.

Jesus knew that His obedience of suffering for sin would keep us from having to pay that price!

Now we can look ahead and see that we have been made right with God and our future is glorious!

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Do Something God!

The message I heard Sunday morning reminded me of this teaching I shared nine years ago. The truth of God’s word never goes out of date.

“Do something, God!” Is that the cry of your heart? Are you dissatisfied with the way things are now and have been for a while? Is there a situation that needs changing and you feel the Lord is moving too slowly?

Those words above are the starting thought of Psalm 68. Do something God – do something. The Lord understands our thoughts and our impatience. However, He wants us to be content no matter our circumstances, not because our circumstances are good but because He can be trusted.

“God, get up and scatter your enemies! May all your enemies run from you…28God, show us your power! Show us the power you used for us in the past…33 Sing to him who rides his chariot through the ancient skies. Listen to his powerful voice! 34 Tell everyone how powerful he is!  He rules over Israel. His power fills the skies.” Psalm 68:1-34 ERV

Look at this story of Peter after one of his arrests.

“He (Herod) arrested Peter and put him in jail, where he was guarded by a group of 16 soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people, but he wanted to wait until after the Passover festival. 5 So Peter was kept in jail, but the church was constantly praying to God for him.

6 One night, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two of the soldiers. More soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Herod was planning to bring Peter out before the people the next day. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord was standing there, and the room was filled with light. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him up. The angel said, “Hurry, get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s hands.” Acts 12:4-7 ERV

What I want you to see is the change in Peter? This is the same Peter who not only denied being a follower of Jesus but denied he even knew him when questioned by a young girl and some men around a fire.

Now he has been imprisoned simply because Herod was wanting to make points with the Jewish people by arresting christians. Peter isn’t pacing in his cell, he isn’t pleading his cause of false arrest, he isn’t even involved in an all night prayer meeting telling the Lord how unfair it is that he is there.

Peter is at rest – he’s sleeping! He’s learned to trust – he’s content. Peter’s confident that God is in control and by his side.

If your day started with the heart’s cry of the Psalms, “Do something, God!’ then calm down by focusing on the words just a few verses below this.

“Our God, you are the one who rides on the clouds, and we praise you. Your name is the Lord, and we celebrate as we worship you.” Psalm 68:4 CEV

Learning to trust brings peace. Trust takes us from fear to rest.

“I can lie down and sleep soundly because you, Lord, will keep me safe.” Psalm 4:8 CEV

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