Doubt is a large issue in our world today. There is much going wrong from wildfires, to wars, from trafficking of human bodies to the selling of aborted baby parts. There are times when even faithful Christians ask, "God are you there?" Habbakuk is a great example of someone who doubted God. He is also a wonderful example to us when we may feel awkward about questioning God.
Habbakuk lived in a time when the world seemed out of control. He questioned whether God was there and if He cared. God replied and shared with Habbakuk that He was about to do some things that seemed unbelievable but in doing so, God's goal was to return the hearts of the people to Himself.
In all of this, Habbakuk decided to wait on the Lord and pray,
"I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected," (Habbakuk 2:1 NKJV).
Is there something you are struggling with today or that you may be doubting the Lord's faithfulness in? Will you take time to "stand watch" and wait on the Lord? Will you take your questions to Him and wait for His answer? Will you trust the Lord with all your doubts? Release them to Him today and claim the peace that He has promised. Things may not turn out the way we want, yet we can trust in Him to be faithful in all things.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, Natalie
(I highly recommend reading Habbakuk, it is a short book, packed full of truth. Blessings as you study God's Word.)
Showing posts with label relationship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relationship. Show all posts
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Jesus is Calling
How ironic that the King of kings and Lord of lords would come to us and be slain to give us eternal life (John 3:16)! Jesus was born in a humble and lowly stable (Luke 2:7) and lived a life without a house or place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). He walked the dusty trails of this earth seeking out those who would be obedient to His call to follow Him. Simply follow Him in obedience.
That call has not changed in the years since His death, resurrection, and ascension. The Lord we serve is alive and desires for you to give up your life and follow Him in obedience (Luke 9:23). He may ask something difficult of you, He may give you simple directions whatever it is, Jesus is calling. Are you listening and answering in obedience?
This week I have been drawn to the Lord in awe and wonder at the thought of all He must have endured and I find myself wondering how He could love humanity so much when we fall short in so many ways. However, this is the reality of the One and Only true Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He loves us so much that He spread His arms open wide and accepted a pain, cruel, tortuous death to save sinners from an eternity of torment and suffering. He loves you so much that if He had died just for you, He still would have done it.
Let's not forget the beauty of Jesus' death. The truth is that death could not hold Him and the grave could not keep Him. He rose, defeating death and the grave so that all who come after Him, believing in Him will be granted eternal life in His presence. I am simply a sinner, saved by grace. I don't deserve it, but am so thankful for His saving grace. If you are reading this and don't know Jesus, just ask Him in your life. Pray and ask Him to forgive your sins, believe that He is the One true God, and give your life to Him. Allow Jesus to direct your steps. He alone is worthy, He alone can give you beauty for ashes. He alone has the victory over sin and death. He is a gentleman and will wait for you. All you need to do is take one small step toward Him and He will move heaven and earth to get to you. He loves you dear one, with a love that is overflowing and unending. Won't you trust in Him?
That call has not changed in the years since His death, resurrection, and ascension. The Lord we serve is alive and desires for you to give up your life and follow Him in obedience (Luke 9:23). He may ask something difficult of you, He may give you simple directions whatever it is, Jesus is calling. Are you listening and answering in obedience?
This week I have been drawn to the Lord in awe and wonder at the thought of all He must have endured and I find myself wondering how He could love humanity so much when we fall short in so many ways. However, this is the reality of the One and Only true Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He loves us so much that He spread His arms open wide and accepted a pain, cruel, tortuous death to save sinners from an eternity of torment and suffering. He loves you so much that if He had died just for you, He still would have done it.
Let's not forget the beauty of Jesus' death. The truth is that death could not hold Him and the grave could not keep Him. He rose, defeating death and the grave so that all who come after Him, believing in Him will be granted eternal life in His presence. I am simply a sinner, saved by grace. I don't deserve it, but am so thankful for His saving grace. If you are reading this and don't know Jesus, just ask Him in your life. Pray and ask Him to forgive your sins, believe that He is the One true God, and give your life to Him. Allow Jesus to direct your steps. He alone is worthy, He alone can give you beauty for ashes. He alone has the victory over sin and death. He is a gentleman and will wait for you. All you need to do is take one small step toward Him and He will move heaven and earth to get to you. He loves you dear one, with a love that is overflowing and unending. Won't you trust in Him?
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Love With Abandon
"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind'." Matthew 22:37 NKJV
This commandment is not new. This commandment didn't start with Jesus. This commandment was instituted from the beginning of time. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," Genesis 1:1. When God created the heavens and the earth He also created everything in them. There is nothing here that was not created by God Himself.
When He created Adam and Eve, He told them they could eat from every tree except one. They broke the commandment and disobeyed God. Eve listened to the serpent who asked a simple question and distorted the truth (for further study see Genesis 2-3). Rather than trust her loving Father, she believed the lie and caused all humanity to be born sinful.
Loving God does not mean just being a soldier and following orders to the letter, nor does it mean being a puppet and allowing someone else to pull the strings. Loving God is a choice we all must make for ourselves. Will we choose to love God, or not? Will we choose to obey God, or not? See, God being God, loved us enough to give us a precious gift (though some may call it a curse) called free will. He will not force us to choose Him or to love Him, we must make that a conscious choice for ourselves. Loving God means following His will and His way for us because we know He loves us and so we, in turn, love Him.
Can you choose to follow Him wherever that may mean? Would you choose Him over anyone or anything else? That is the reality of what He is asking. Jesus gave us this commandment first because it is the most important. When we put God first, the rest will come together. It may not seem so at first, but do you trust Him? Do you believe that He knows everything and sees everyone and every situation? Do you believe that He works all things for good, no matter how bad it looks?
Take time today to seek God and love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Pray and seek Him. When we do, He comes close to us. If you don't see it or feel it, keep striving because He is right there. He loves you precious one. He created you and has a plan for you. Put Him first and as Charles Stanley always says, "Obey God and leave the consequences up to Him."
This commandment is not new. This commandment didn't start with Jesus. This commandment was instituted from the beginning of time. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," Genesis 1:1. When God created the heavens and the earth He also created everything in them. There is nothing here that was not created by God Himself.
When He created Adam and Eve, He told them they could eat from every tree except one. They broke the commandment and disobeyed God. Eve listened to the serpent who asked a simple question and distorted the truth (for further study see Genesis 2-3). Rather than trust her loving Father, she believed the lie and caused all humanity to be born sinful.
Loving God does not mean just being a soldier and following orders to the letter, nor does it mean being a puppet and allowing someone else to pull the strings. Loving God is a choice we all must make for ourselves. Will we choose to love God, or not? Will we choose to obey God, or not? See, God being God, loved us enough to give us a precious gift (though some may call it a curse) called free will. He will not force us to choose Him or to love Him, we must make that a conscious choice for ourselves. Loving God means following His will and His way for us because we know He loves us and so we, in turn, love Him.
Can you choose to follow Him wherever that may mean? Would you choose Him over anyone or anything else? That is the reality of what He is asking. Jesus gave us this commandment first because it is the most important. When we put God first, the rest will come together. It may not seem so at first, but do you trust Him? Do you believe that He knows everything and sees everyone and every situation? Do you believe that He works all things for good, no matter how bad it looks?
Take time today to seek God and love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Pray and seek Him. When we do, He comes close to us. If you don't see it or feel it, keep striving because He is right there. He loves you precious one. He created you and has a plan for you. Put Him first and as Charles Stanley always says, "Obey God and leave the consequences up to Him."
Monday, July 29, 2013
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1-4 NIV
How much would a prisoner living on death row desire for the warden to come and declare him not guilty? This is how we all live apart from Jesus Christ. We are separated from God bound to live a life without hope for eternity. There is a heaven and a hell and anyone who does not choose Jesus to lead their life and dwell within them is as condemned as a prisoner on death row. For those who think they have time to wait...you may want to think again. NO choice is a choice. You either choose Jesus or not. Choosing Jesus means that God grants you pardon from your life of sin and brings you into the life that Jesus died to give you. Like verse 1 in the Scripture above says, "There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (emphasis mine). Jesus died to break the power of sin and death over His people and has accomplished it. He has done it.
The only thing left to do is to accept it. Are you willing to accept the grace and forgiveness that God has provided through the work Jesus did on the cross as He died, in the grave as He broke the bonds of death and arose, and in the resurrection as He ascended to be seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede on our behalf? Are you willing to cry out to Jesus so He may claim you as His own and declare you NOT GUILTY before God the Father? He will be coming back one day for His children. Is your name in the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5)? Does He know that you belong to Him? Be assured and comforted that if anyone calls on the name of the Lord, he (or she) will be saved (Acts 4:12). There is hope because we have a Savior who has paid the price for our redemption (John 19:30). Won't you call out to Him today?
How much would a prisoner living on death row desire for the warden to come and declare him not guilty? This is how we all live apart from Jesus Christ. We are separated from God bound to live a life without hope for eternity. There is a heaven and a hell and anyone who does not choose Jesus to lead their life and dwell within them is as condemned as a prisoner on death row. For those who think they have time to wait...you may want to think again. NO choice is a choice. You either choose Jesus or not. Choosing Jesus means that God grants you pardon from your life of sin and brings you into the life that Jesus died to give you. Like verse 1 in the Scripture above says, "There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (emphasis mine). Jesus died to break the power of sin and death over His people and has accomplished it. He has done it.
The only thing left to do is to accept it. Are you willing to accept the grace and forgiveness that God has provided through the work Jesus did on the cross as He died, in the grave as He broke the bonds of death and arose, and in the resurrection as He ascended to be seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede on our behalf? Are you willing to cry out to Jesus so He may claim you as His own and declare you NOT GUILTY before God the Father? He will be coming back one day for His children. Is your name in the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5)? Does He know that you belong to Him? Be assured and comforted that if anyone calls on the name of the Lord, he (or she) will be saved (Acts 4:12). There is hope because we have a Savior who has paid the price for our redemption (John 19:30). Won't you call out to Him today?
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Spiritual Checkup
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV
Have you taken the time lately to analyze your relationship with Jesus? Whether or not you have, there is no time like the present to get alone with the Lord and your Bible, prayerfully reading the Scriptures to examine yourself. We have the wonderful privilege of a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe, thanks to Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation at the cross.
On a scale of 1-10, how important is that relationship—one being not important at all, ten being the most important relationship in your life? We have promise upon promise to hold on to, with words of encouragement for the darkest of days. Joy and peace {just to name two} are gifts waiting for us; ready to be opened.
It amazes me how we can become so absorbed in family, life, church work, volunteering, our jobs and hobbies leaving our relationship with Him until last. Our focus can be shifted so He comes first then the rest comes after. The better we know Him, the more trust and faith we will have in Him.
Bad things sometimes happen in our lives and we want someone to blame. Sometimes we blame God. Yet, when bad things do happen, we are given an opportunity to ask God what He wants us to learn from that particular trial. Growth is never easy. Just ask a teenage whose legs are aching from the growth in their bones. We have a Savior who is with us always and who loves us with a love that is greater than we can begin to understand. That is the hope we have in Him.
Isn’t it exciting to know He cares? He loves you beyond your wildest dreams dear one. Let the truth of the Scripture soak into your soul and may you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let's pray together,
Heavenly Father, thank you Lord, for Your amazing grace that meets us fresh and new each and every morning. May we not take it for granted, not even for one minute. Lord, speak to us through the powerful Words of the Bible. We long to know You more. Help us to know You better and to trust You more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have you taken the time lately to analyze your relationship with Jesus? Whether or not you have, there is no time like the present to get alone with the Lord and your Bible, prayerfully reading the Scriptures to examine yourself. We have the wonderful privilege of a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe, thanks to Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation at the cross.
On a scale of 1-10, how important is that relationship—one being not important at all, ten being the most important relationship in your life? We have promise upon promise to hold on to, with words of encouragement for the darkest of days. Joy and peace {just to name two} are gifts waiting for us; ready to be opened.
It amazes me how we can become so absorbed in family, life, church work, volunteering, our jobs and hobbies leaving our relationship with Him until last. Our focus can be shifted so He comes first then the rest comes after. The better we know Him, the more trust and faith we will have in Him.
Bad things sometimes happen in our lives and we want someone to blame. Sometimes we blame God. Yet, when bad things do happen, we are given an opportunity to ask God what He wants us to learn from that particular trial. Growth is never easy. Just ask a teenage whose legs are aching from the growth in their bones. We have a Savior who is with us always and who loves us with a love that is greater than we can begin to understand. That is the hope we have in Him.
Isn’t it exciting to know He cares? He loves you beyond your wildest dreams dear one. Let the truth of the Scripture soak into your soul and may you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let's pray together,
Heavenly Father, thank you Lord, for Your amazing grace that meets us fresh and new each and every morning. May we not take it for granted, not even for one minute. Lord, speak to us through the powerful Words of the Bible. We long to know You more. Help us to know You better and to trust You more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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