I needed this reminder...

Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” [underline emphasis is mine]
Genesis 9:8-17 NLT

This morning, I had the illustrated sermon of this Scripture passage. It was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience! You may find it a little hard to believe, but every word of it is true... However, before I tell you about it, let me backtrack just a little.

God has been RE-establishing in me the importance of first-time obedience. We get older, we get more laid-back, and many times, we develop an "I'll-get-to-it-eventually" attitude. You can best believe that didn't work for me when my kids were growing up, and by the same token, God doesn't like it, either.

This morning, I felt impressed to make a phone call. I knew in my heart it was the Holy Spirit, but I didn't reach for the phone at that moment. I thought, "Let me finish getting ready for work, and then I'll call." And instantly, I heard, "When the Lord speaks, if it's not first-time obedience, it's rebellion." I do NOT want to walk in rebellion. I want to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I want to hear God's instruction and be trusted to immediately respond. As I asked for forgiveness, I picked up the phone and dialed. And I don't know how to explain this to you, but after the phone call, it was as though I could feel that God was pleased with me. That was cool, but that is not the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience.

As I left for work, it began to rain. In my "aware of God" moment, I thanked Him for it instead of complaining that I was getting wet. As I got a couple miles down the road, the sun was shining like there was no rain. I started looking for a rainbow. I knew there was going to be one. And sure enough, up ahead and to the left, the arc of the bow began to form. I knew it was going to be a good one with the bright sun behind me and the heavy downpour in front of me. It was wide and very vibrant and in a matter of minutes, it was a full rainbow and as the road turned for me to head due west, one end of the rainbow was in the road directly in front of my car! I could hardly believe it! I exclaimed, "Oh, Father, I'm at the end of the rainbow! There's no pot of gold, but this is so much better!" For it was in that moment, that I understood what making a covenant meant to God. Here we are, thousands of years later, and His Word still stands! I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds.

In that moment, I understood that even if I'm heading into a terrible storm, God has promised never to leave me, never to forsake me. He promised. His Word cannot be broken. In Matthew 28:20, His Words are: Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Oh, I have found riches untold at the end of the rainbow!!

Prayer:

Father,
         Oh, that our promises to You would stand the test of time as Yours have to us. Thank You for Your enduring love. Teach us to love as You do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What You Say - a favorite

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Isaiah 40:28-29 NASB

Have you ever had those days that feel like all you do is go from one fire to the next without any lasting results? I've had a month of them. It's like trying to run a marathon with one foot nailed to the floor. You're giving it all you've got, but you're not getting anywhere. 

I've been SO much more busy that at first, I didn't recognize what was going on. Then through the hustle and bustle, I heard Him whisper, "Come away. Come spend time with Me. Make more time for Me - I will help you." In our finite minds, that doesn't make sense. What do you say to that? More time spent on something means less time for everything else when it can feel like we don't have enough time as it is to get everything done in a day. 

However, we're talking about the Creator of the universe. The God of multiplying, not dividing. The One Who always gives more! I was reminded of that when I read Proverbs 21:21, He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor. We pursue righteousness and loyalty and He gives us LIFE. God gives so much more than we could think or ask. So what do you say to a God like that?

You say, "Yes, Lord."

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for always loving us. Thank You for always having the right answer and providing it for us. Thank You for knowing what we have need of before we even ask and for being patient and kind enough to allow us to come into Your presence where all our needs are met. Father, let our heart's desire be always toward You. We want to know You more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What Only God Can Do

The religious experts said to Pharaoh, “This is something only God could do!” 

Exodus 8:19 CEB 

Pharaoh was a stubborn man. He did not take kindly to anyone daring to tell him what to do. Throughout the confrontation with Moses and Aaron, he had his religious experts come in and do signs and wonders by their secret knowledge... until the lice. Then they had to admit - even though they hated to - it was something only God could do. And if you know the story, you know it didn't stop there.

Today's world is just like this. Have we learned nothing in all these centuries? People still hate to be told what to do. There are "religious experts" everywhere, trying to fake it till they make it; spreading half-truths and illusions. There's coming a day - and it won't be long - God will deliver us. A time when we will declare as Moses declared in Exodus 14:13, Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.

But until that day - we need to remember that according to Scripture - it's incumbent upon us to pray! Pray! PRAY! And not just pray, but God said, If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, [emphasis mine] respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.

Forgive our sins and restore our land to health. It doesn't take a religious expert to recognize that, “This is something only God could do!” 

Prayer:

Father,

           As we obey Your Word, to respond by humbling ourselves, praying, seeking Your presence, and turning our backs on our wicked lives, we know You will listen from heaven, forgive our sins, and restore our land to health. We are counting on You, Lord. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What's This World Coming to?

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

Ephesians 5:1-2 The Message

Today was an awful day in Houston, Texas. Five police officers injured in the line of duty; 4 were shot and 1 physically injured his knee in the gunfight. Thank God, all are expected to live and recover; however, two are still critical. Horrific! What is this world coming to when police are treated as targets?

My son preached a great message about this just yesterday - it's time for Christians to wake up from their spiritual slumber. We have available to us the power that can change what's happening, but we're apathetic. Gotta watch our shows. Gotta play our game. Gotta Gotta Gotta... do anything but pray and intercede and worship. Ephesians goes on to exhort us...

Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.

You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;
Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:6-20. The Message

Prayer:

Father, 

          Help us to awaken from our spiritual slumber and pray and seek You. Help us to realize that we can pray a hedge of protection around our families, our pastors, our bosses, our police force, our world leaders. We can't change anything, but Father, we know You can change everything. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Must Repeat - This Little Light of Mine

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Isaiah 42:3 NLT

Candles are very popular and they continue to gain in popularity. Did you know you can purchase a candle that smells like dirt? Truly! And if you like food-scented candles, how about trying the pizza, popcorn, bacon, nachos, coffee, or cotton candy candles? And those who are into the great outdoors but can't get there through work or weather, these will carry you through - lawn mower clippings scent, campfire candle, pigskin candle, or s'mores. And how about this? A Hippie-scented candle - I can't even imagine what would go into that, and I'm not sure I want to know! Whatever the scent, no matter if it's 2 for a dollar or $40 a candle, none of them burn without a wick. And the wick has to be properly maintained for the candle to do all it's supposed to do and for the time it's supposed to do it.

FYI - Wicks should be trimmed to 1/4 inch before each time the candle is lit. The reason is that carbon accumulates on the end of a wick and can weigh the wick to one side so that the candle burns unevenly. That nobby of carbon on the end of the wick can also prevent oxygen from getting to the flame, or if the wick gets too long it cannot draw wax all the way up to the top. Both can cause the flame to go out because the wick itself will then start to burn, which also produces the black soot. It gets ugly rather quickly.

I know you don't need a lesson in candle care and you might be asking what does all this have to do with anything in the eternal weight of things. Well, I can't seem to get away from today's Scripture. I keep seeing the smoldering wick of someone who is overwhelmed by life, the person who sees no way out, the smoldering wick of a life that has born much pain, and wants to believe someone cares - that they matter. They want to believe... and we glance over and think, "They're okay, I still see some light..."

You know who they are - they're burning themselves out and spewing soot all over everything around them, where once they burned brightly, cleanly. Now, there's that faint red glow on the wick that's burning itself out, no light left, just a little smoke because it's drowning. However, if they could just get a little breath of life blown their way to feed the flame... or get a little help to get rid of the weighty carbon nobs of accumulated sin so they can once again draw from the wellspring of life to keep the light burning.

Does that make any sense? Have you seen them? Is it you?

Wicks have to be tended for the candle to maintain a clean flame. Each candle is created to burn for a certain length of time, and that time is NOT accomplished if the wick is not tended properly. And if they don't burn for the length of time for which they were created, how many will not see the Light? Let us care for each other and keep the flame burning.

Prayer:

Father,
           Please, trim what needs to be trimmed in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Breathe Your breath of Life on us to fan the flame of Your Light to the world. As this world becomes darker, Father, cause our flame of fervor for Your Truth to burn ever more brightly so that all are drawn to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Word Upon Word

And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.
Psalm 39:7

What is your hope? What is it anchored in? When the storms of life come (and they will!), do you lose hope or do you have a sure foundation?

I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8 NASB

When life is blowing and going with gale-force winds, what do you have to hold onto that is secure? Where will you take refuge from the storms of life, and be able to maintain your hope?

When my heart is overwhelmed; 

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 

For You have been a shelter for me, 

A strong tower from the enemy.  

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; 

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.
Psalm 61:2b-4 NKJV

Do you have any guarantee for your hope? Anything that will back it up? Will you take a promise?

God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.
Hebrews 6:17-19 NLT

Word upon Word, promised forever. So in the principle of sowing and reaping, what are YOU sowing? Hope or discontent? Promise or despair? Sow seeds of hope. Water it with God's Word. He will give the increase.

Prayer:

Father,
           Let everything we sow be pleasing unto you. Let it bring forth fruit, according to Your Word. Encourage those around the world who are reading this. Multiply their hope in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Put in Position

Then he positioned the boys in front of Jacob. With his right hand he directed Ephraim toward Jacob’s left hand, and with his left hand he put Manasseh at Jacob’s right hand. But Jacob crossed his arms as he reached out to lay his hands on the boys’ heads. He put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, though he was the younger boy, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, though he was the firstborn...

But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head. So Joseph lifted it to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. “No, my father,” he said. “This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

But his father refused. “I know, my son; I know,” he replied. “Manasseh will also become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. And his descendants will become a multitude of nations.”
Genesis 48:13, 14, 17-19 NLT

Joseph was very intentional about the placement of his boys in front of Jacob. Lining up the oldest to get the right hand of blessing, understood to be the greater blessing, reserved for the firstborn.  And even though according to verse 10, Jacob was half blind because of his age and could hardly see, he still crossed his arms to get the right hand of blessing to the one God had ordained to receive it. 

And if you've read any of the previous chapters, you know that "younger over the elder" seemed to be a pattern in their family line: Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over his older brothers, and now Ephraim over Manasseh...

This should encourage you! When God decides you will be blessed; when He determines the order of how it should be and what you should do; it doesn't matter what the accepted rules and regulations may be, or your birth order, or if you should or shouldn't according to society. He will put you in position to be who HE made you to be. To fulfill your purpose according to HIS plan. Stop telling everyone what you can't do and start believing what God can and WILL do through you. Remember, if God can use a donkey to talk to a prophet (and He did!),  He can use you, too... 

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our hearts to receive and believe Your Word. Open our eyes to see You in every area of our lives. Help us to walk by faith. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen