Oswald Chambers today, June 7th

This is a great section from the devotion today by Oswald Chambers.  He is just so dead on:

“Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . .” The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God’s foreordained decrees. Is this mysterious? Does it appear to contradict sound logic or seem totally absurd? Yes, but what a glorious truth it is to a saint of God.

If you get a chance, read the rest of it here:  http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php

My Son asking, “Is God stronger than…”

God's Great Strength

Lately my son as been asking me all sorts of questions.  He seems to be at that stage now.  Well one of his questions he is constantly asking me is, “Daddy, is God stronger than…” The subject of his comparison could be anything from buildings, to cars, to people, even to me! I always tell him that God is always stronger and can choose to do anything He wants, except go against what He has said.  I find it so interesting at how he is so inquisive about life. It makes me want to be like that more often.  The times I have entered my sons “world”, it is at those times I revisit my childhood.  There is nothing like that feeling.  There is a freedom, curiosity.  When days were long and waiting an hour took FOREVER.  I praise Jesus for my children, becuase without them I would have forgotten what it was like to be a child.

The Sin of Self-Pity…

No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests.   (Oswald Chambers, May 16th devotion)

That is a heavy statement! But in reality it is so true.  God wants us to rely on Him for every circumstance, even the hard ones.  For us to complain or wallow in what is happening to us makes us effectively say to God, “You just don’t understand, you can’t help me through this”.  Hummm, last I remember Jesus suffered a whole bunch more than I have in my life! I mean about the worst pain I have ever had is when my gall bladder attack came on.  It was painful, but I really don’t think it was as bad as being flogged! In any case, remember to hold you tongue on complaining.  Remember what it says in Philippians 2:14, ^“Do all things without grumbling or disputing;”. May we be that way the next time we think we have it hard.

I am A Stander!

I AM A STANDER!

I am a stander.  I am standing in prayer for my children. I won’t give up, give in or give out before they are saved, fully following the Lord and home in Heaven.

I am a stander.   I refuse to listen to my children’s rebellious words or the discouragement of those around me.  I will speak the truth in love, discipline in firmness and pray in faith.

I am a stander. If God is for me, who can be against me?  I won’t look at outward circumstances or inward discouragement.  When hopelessness abounds, I will be steadfast in hope and more than a conqueror in Christ.

I am a stander.  I will not lower God’s standards but trust His Word.  I will not violate His covenant, approve what He hates, doubt His goodness or question His promises.

I am a stander.  I won’t quarrel, quit or acquiesce to my feelings or my fears.  I won’t dwell on my failures but count my blessings and see all of my successes as from the hand of the Heavenly Father.

I am a stander.  I have made my choice, set my face and will finish the race as a victor.  I am standing for my children, my home, my church and my nation on the Rock and in the Word

In Jesus Name,

By His Grace,

In His Strength,

For His Glory

 

By: Dr. Hayes Wicker, Jr. 

May 10, 2009, First Baptist Church Naples, FL

Faced with Tough Decisions…

Have you ever been faced with tough decisions that you really wish you did not have to make? I am facing some of those right now.  It is hard when you are responsible for something so much bigger than you.  I mean it is really easy to make decisions regarding what I want to wear, eat, drink, etc. But when decisions involve people other than  yourself, well then it poses a much larger responsibility.  That is why I always call on the Lord of the universe to lead me in these decisions. Even though they may be hard, it is wonderful to know that Jesus guides me with the Holy Spirit. The hard part in that is to obey Him. That is sometimes very hard to do, especially when it can make the situation seemingly worse. But that is becuase I look at from “my” perspective.  God looks from HIS perspective, an all knowing one. I may not see the end of the path through the forrest, but I sure do trust the path maker! Praise be to God for His incredible provision!

The path through the forrest