Yahweh Yireh

I did not know what to blog about this morning.  There was an idea in my head, but work got in the way and I soon forgot.  That is till my aunt posted what was to be my title on her facebook.

Yahweh Yireh.  I'll admit that I had no clue, save that this was a name for God, and I had to exercise my googlefoo.  The definitions I found are "God will provide", "God will see to it." and "God will appear."

This name of God applies so appropriately to my meeting last night.  I was so nervous I did not want to go.  I even thought about canceling.  But I prayed about it and asked others to pray as well.  God did provide and the meeting went exceptionally well.  Once again I'd worried for nothing.

Mathew 6:27
²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

God Bless.

The Lord's Prayer

Mom sent this to me in an e-mail.  Imagine praying and God answering you in an audible voice.  The praying person is in blue and God is in red.  I'll make no commentary today.

Our Father Who Art In Heaven. 

Yes?  

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.  

But -- you called  - ME!  

Called you?
No, I didn't call you.
I'm praying.  

Our Father who art in Heaven. 

 There -- you did it again!  

Did what?  

Called ME.
You said,
"Our Father who art in Heaven"
Well, here I am....
What's on your mind?  

 But I didn't mean anything by it. 
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good,
kind of like fulfilling a duty. 

 Well, all right.
Go on.
  

Okay, Hallowed be thy name. 

Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that? 

 By what? 

By "Hallowed be thy name"? 

It means, it means . . good grief,  
I don't know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It's just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean? 
  

It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense..  
I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before.
Thanks.  

Thy Kingdom come, 
Thy will be done, 
on earth as it is in Heaven. 

 Do you really mean that?

Sure, why not?  

What are you doing about it? 

Doing? Why, nothing, I guess. 

I just think it would be kind of neat if you got  

control, of everything down here like you have up  

there. We're kinda in a mess down here you know. 

 Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you? 

 Well, I go to church.

That isn't what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend 

your money -- all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read ? 

 Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest 

of those People at church! 

Excuse ME..
I thought you were praying
for my will to be done.
If that is to happen,
it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you -- for example .. 

 Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. 
Now that you mention it,
I could probably name some others. 

 So could I. 

I haven't thought about it very much until now, 
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free. 

 Good.
Now we're getting somewhere. 

We'll work together -- You and  ME. 
I'm proud of You.  

 Look, Lord, if you don't mind,
I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. 

Give us this day, our daily bread. 

 You need to cut out the bread..
You're overweight as it is. 

 Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty,
and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups. 

 Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember, you called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now.
Keep praying.  ( pause .. . )
Well, go on.  

 I'm scared to.  

Scared? Of what?  

I know what you'll say. 

Try ME. 

Forgive us our sins, 

as we forgive those who sin against us. 

What about Ann?  

See? I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her! 

 But  -- your prayer --
What about your prayer? 

 I didn't -- mean it. 

Well, at least you're honest.
But, it's quite a load carrying around all that 

bitterness and resentment isn't it?  

Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born. 

 No, you won't feel any better.
You'll feel worse.
Revenge isn't sweet.
You know how unhappy you are --
Well, I can change that. 

 You can? How? 

Forgive Ann.
Then, I'l l forgive you;
And the hate and the sin,
will be Ann's problem -- not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned. 

 Oh, you know, you're right.
You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You . . (sigh).
All right, all right . .
I forgive her.  

 There now!
Wonderful!
How do you feel?  

 Hmmmm. Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, you know. 

 Yeah, I know.
But, you're not through with your prayer, are you? 

Go on....  

Oh, all right. 

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. 

 Good! Good! I'll do that.
Just don't put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted. 

 What do you mean by that? 

 
You know what I mean. 

 
Yeah. I know. 

Okay.
Go ahead... Finish your prayer. 

For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen. 

 Do you know what would bring me glory -- 
What would really make me happy? 

 No, but I'd like to know.
I want to please you now..
I've really made a mess of things..
I want to truly follow you...
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . .
How do I make you happy? 

 YOU  just did. 

Self denial for Christ.

Mathew 16:24-27
²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Deny yourself and take up your cross.  As an American I have certain rights.  As a Christian I have none.  Yes there are promises of God, but there are no rights.  God owes me NOTHING.

How many rights does a dead man have?  How many arguments can he win?  Can he go where he will when he wants?  No, he is dead. To take up my cross means to die to self. To give up my will and what I want.

²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 

When you give your life for the sake of Christ you will not be losing your life.  Look back at the martyrs of the Church.  They gave there lives for Christ and many came to Christ as a result.

We're surrounded by stuff and bombarded by information and entertainment the I for one rarely think of eternity.  Yet vs 26 asks a question that each of us needs to answer as we go about our lives.  What good is gaining it all if you give up your soul?  Your soul is the only thing you take with you when you die.  The Pharaoh's proved that.  All their riches were put in the tomb for the after life yet now it resides in museums all over the world.

²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

This is not about earning salvation.  This is about reward.  When my girls do good I reward them.  They did not need to earn my love.  Even if I chose not to reward them, they are still my children.  Having said that, when Jesus comes back I don't want to be standing there having done nothing worthy of reward.

We work for rewards here on earth that will not last.  Work for those things that will last for all eternity.

God Bless.

Faith and Obedience.

In Deuteronomy 1:19-40, Moses is recounting the Israelites failure to follow God's command and go into the land.  Despite everything they's been through being delivered from Egypt, they still let fear and man's opinion rule and they disobeyed.  As a result they wandered for the rest of their lives and did not enjoy the land God had promised.  Their younger children did.  Those Israelites were pretty dumb.  Right?

Yet here I sit questioning God.  Certain behaviors he told me to put down.  Certain things he's convicted me have to go.  I gave them up after a LONG battle with him and immediately had peace. Yet I came so close to being like the Israelites and not trusting that he knows best and obeying the standards he has set.

I look back at the last 4 months and see His hand in every step.  His provision for my needs at every turn. This passage too was given to me to meet my need tonight.

I challenge you reading this to look back at the past and what God has done for you and trust him as he  leads you in the future.

God bless.

Wisdom

Anyone hear someone pray for patience?  "Dear Lord help me be patient with ..."  Did you know the scripture says patience comes from tribulation? Rom 5:3 KJV  The NIV translates it as perseverance.  Now I realize the scripture also tells us the the Holy Spirit interprets our words and thoughts to God because we truly don't know how to communicate with him. (Romans 8:25-27 NIV)  This is similar to a parent knowing what a child is saying and communicating that to others.  In both cases the need is met, not necessarily the want is met.

Today's passage deals with a promise we can claim and expect to receive it, as God has given us instructions of how to ask for it.

James 1:5-8 NIV
⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 

Don't know what to do or where to go?  Ask God for wisdom.  Simple...or is it?

⁶But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Most of the time we have our own ideas when we pray and are merely asking God to give us the go ahead.  When God's way contradicts our plans we often go our own way.  When things get bad, then we go back and do it His way.

If we seek God's wisdom, we must BELIEVE that his way is best and be willing to follow his instruction when given.

Think of what you going through right now.  Have you sought God's wisdom?

God Bless.

Diligence

Today I wanted to give up.  Just so tired of doing right.  I kept doing what is right even though it was so hard.

I just finished my Bible study.  The reading was once again from Hebrews, this time chapter 6:9-15.  What really stuck out was Heb 6:10-11

¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.

So often when we learn something new for God it's real easy to follow him.  The further from the lesson, the easier it is to forget or ignore.  I am happy for a change that the lesson learned today was one of affirmation and not one of conviction.

If you have a lesson that you have learned, persevere through the hard times.  It will become easier to obey the Lord each time you chose to do what is right.

God Bless.

Only God can Truly Satisfy

Stones Throw Church has a sermon on the book of James.  18 Ways to Ruin Everything.  I have been listening to it on my iPod.  Today's passage was James 4:1-6

¹ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ²You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

 ⁴ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

   “God opposes the proud
   but shows favor to the humble.”

As I'm listening I smile inside because once again my omnipotent and omniscient God has given me what I need, when I needed it.  Pastor Dan Betters put this message together weeks if not months ago.  I've had this series on my iPod for more than a month.  I just discovered today that I'd "accidentally" skipped 3 messages so I went back to this message.  There are no accidents with God.

I am convicted of why I fight and argue.  I still, even as I write this blog, fight to get thing "my way".  I had to fight the urge to spend money yesterday on something I "want" but don't "need".  I never even considered God in the purchase.  I am convicted of my actions to be friends with the world.  To be accepted by my "friends" I often compromise or out right break my convictions and go with the crowd.  I am also very encouraged that God has taught me some humility in relationships.  From that humility has come peace in my heart though it is broken.  I am learning to be content where I am

Then I open my daily devotional.  Dr Stanley used Isaiah 55:1-2 for his passage.

 ¹ “Come, all you who are thirsty, 
   come to the waters; 
and you who have no money, 
   come, buy and eat! 
Come, buy wine and milk 
   without money and without cost. 
² Why spend money on what is not bread, 
   and your labor on what does not satisfy? 
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, 
   and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Again my heart smiles that God put these two messages, written by different men from different back grounds at different times in front of me today.

This world will never make me whole.  Only God can do that.  I encourage anyone reading this to stop striving after what the world offers.  Stop striving after what you want.  Seek for what God has already given then you will be fulfilled.

God Bless

My gains as garbage?

I love stuff. Nice stuff. I was real proud of my knife collection as a kid. It now resides in a box.

As I mentioned in yesterday's study I earnestly sought Cowboy Action Shooting and now all of those firearms and equipment are sold.

At one time I was a WWI/WWII collector. At first everything and then I concentrated on US firearms. I once had all the major battle rifles from the Spanish American war through our modern wars. The vast majority of it is gone. It did not satisfy.

With these facts in mind I have to ask myself the question. Why did I cringe at today's reading?

Philipians 3:7-10

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

I think my answer is that I have not yet surrendered all. I'm still clinging to this world. Yet the closer I get to Christ, the less attractive the "stuff" becomes.

I'm reminded of the song Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus that contains the phrase "And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace."

I am also reminded of the admonition found in the book of Hebrews 12:1-3

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I've got a lot to think about. I encourage you to do the same.

God Bless.

Psalm 63

Reading Psalm 63. Very humbled this morning.

Psalm 63

¹ You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;

Am I really earnest in seeking God? I remember searching for the right firearms to compete in the game Cowboy Action Shooting. I read every article. I searched forum after forum. I drank in every detail that I could find about the sport. Which pistols are both quality and inexpensive? Where can I find a rifle in the same caliber as my pistols? Pump shotgun or lever or SxS? How authentic do I want to make my cowboy costume? I poured over these details daily for years until my interest had run it's course and I gave up on the sport because it no longer satisfied me. Yet the things of God, (that do satisfy), I give 3 hours on Sunday and maybe 3 hours through out the week. With that small of a commitment can I really say I am earnestly seeking God?

I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.

I've been thirsty before. But never a thirst in the desert like David the author discusses here. But even with my limited thirst I understand that I do not seek God with a needy desire. I am grateful that this blog has begun to INCREASE my thirst for him, but it is not yet to the level it should be.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

I don't feel David actually "saw" the Lord in a literal sense. I believe he was able to worship in such a way that he ignored everything else. That is my goal in church. I want to forget those around me and focus completely on Christ.

³ Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

I am reminded of Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian that gave their lives because of their love for Christ. And even knowing the out come , I still struggle with giving up my life. I have "beheld your power and glory" and yet still struggle.

⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Praising God has gotten easier since I realized how much he deserves it even though I do not feel like it. I have also taken to heart that God loved me even when I was a sinner. (Romans 5:7-9) I cannot earn his acceptance. (Isaiah 64:4) Therefore when given opportunity to praise Him, I should praise Him. If sin is holding me back then I confess and then praise Him.(1 John 1:9)

⁵ I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Any one who knows me knows how much I love food. I'm actually headed back to the gym because tying my shoes has become an ordeal. The riches foods here reminds me of a cake my cousin brought to a family gathering. I cut myself a "normal" piece. After only a few bites I had to cut my piece in half and share. It was so rich that I could not finish it all. I was satisfied.

Music is such a part of my life and God has used music to bring me back to him and to keep me on the right path. I am constantly singing. I will continue. It's nice to be encouraged that I am doing something right.

⁶ On my bed I remember you;

I think of you through the watches of the night.

What a great idea, to end the day with the Lord. Though very few of us will need to do a night watch and stand guard, we all have those times when we are alone and to remember the Lord and that He is always with us.

⁷ Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.

We owned ducks growing up. At one time the two mothers had 18 ducklings. I remember seeing them all under mom and under her wings. There was safety there. We too are safe in the Lords care.

⁸ I cling to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Ever see a kid hide behind mom or dad's leg? If the "threat" comes too close, they will actually hold on for dear life and cry out. My baby girl wants to hold my hand every time we're out someplace. There is safety and affection shown in that.

Also note the use of the "right hand". In time this was written the right had was reserved as a place of honor. David says the Lord upheld him in a place of honor.

We too need to cling to God and know that he holds us in a place of honor too as well.

God Bless.