In God's Own Time

Have you ever looked back at the times you prayed about a matter and wondered why the Lord didn’t answer right away or why He  allowed it to happen?

You aren’t the first to question God’s timing. Mary and Martha questioned the Lord’s timing when Lazarus died. No doubt the disciples questioned the timing of Jesus while being tossed on a stormy sea

Mary and Martha didn’t know that the Lord’s delay was part of His plan. In the end They saw Jesus raise their brother from the dead, and the disciples saw Him walk on water. Sometimes Jesus tarries because He loves us. He wants to be lifted up and glorified.

John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

When it seems that God is moving slow, don’t give up because while He is seldom early, He is never late. What we see as a delay is really God moving at the right time. Deity never has to hurry, He always shows up on time.

Crossing Your Jordan

Joshua 3:7 And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

The Israelites camp beside the swollen, impassable Jordan River --- many wondering how they will cross over into Canaan, the land God promised them. They need supernatural help and only God can give it.

“Follow the Priests as they carry the Ark of the Covenant across but stay back a ways,” God said to Joshua. As the multitude follows, the Jordan waters  back up some twenty miles, leaving them dry ground to walk through to the other side. Wow! Don’t you know the first steps took  faith. I wish I’d been there. After the miracle crossing they built a monument with rocks to remember.

As long as we try to solve our own problems, we are not walking in faith. It’s when we turn loose, step away and let the Lord have them that we will see victory ---- victory for the  glory of God. Faith honors God and God honors faith.

Back there, when you  trusted The Lord and He brought you through your Jordan ---  you never forgot it. When tough times come again ---  and they will --- go to that monument of His faithfulness  and of your faith. Know that what worked before will work again. God will bring you through your Jordan again and again when you believe.

Shine For Jesus

Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

When the Lord speaks, He wants us to obey  without trying to change His mind or seek  a way out of doing His will. Believers are simply to “trust and obey” if we want to please the Lord.

There’s no hypocrisy or pretense in the life of the blameless and harmless Christian. We are to stand out as “sons of God” without “rebuke”.

The world is dark and need the light pointing to God. Believers are to shine, to be lighthouses, warning of the dangers of sin and pointing them to the safe harbor of salvation ---  always reflecting the light of Jesus. You may be the only Bible some folks  read.

My Home Over There

Revelation 22:4-5 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

One day  believers will go Home to God and rest from their labors. The following phrases in gospel music give me hope. In this day and time we need to tighten our grip on hope.

Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it Heaven,
of touching a hand and finding it God's,
of breathing the air and finding it celestial,
of waking up in glory and finding it home.

God shall wipe away all tears; There's no death, no pain, nor fears,
And they count not time by years, For there is no night there.

I'll soon be at home over there, For the end of my journey I see;
Many dear to my heart over there are watching and waiting for me.

When my life work is ended and I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see;
I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,
and His smile will be the first to welcome me.
I shall know Him . . . and redeemed by His side I shall stand.
I shall know Him . . . by the print of the nails in His hand.

The Death, Burial, And Resurrection

1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 Thank God there is power to transform the lost sinner into a redeemed saint of God, to bring about an instant, complete and eternal transformation in his life.

Jesus is special. He died on the cross; was buried, and rose from the grave to secure eternal life for all who believe in Him.

 The death of Jesus paid for our sins, but His resurrection gives life to all who trust Him, John 11:25-26.  Thank God, because He lives, we will live also after death.

The risen Lamb of God sits at the right hand of God in heaven; waiting the day when His enemies will be defeated. He will reign throughout eternity because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Rev. 17:14.

Those After God's Own Heart

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

As a result of King Saul’s rebellion, God chooses a new king to rule over Israel. David wasn’t perfect. He failed, and he failed big, but he was quick to repent with a genuine heart.

God  isn’t nearly as impressed with achievements of people as we are. He is caught up in the condition of their heart. He looks at what they can become. I’m thankful that He judges us on the basis of amazing grace, not what the eye can see.

Allow God to develop your character, your integrity, your faithfulness, and your sense of responsibility in the mundane events of life. You never know when his call will come. In His time He will use you for His glory. He's looking for those after his own heart.

The Making Of A Godly Father

We tend to get emotional on Father’s Day. Many of us have already left the shell of our father's body at the cemetery, caressing precious moments  ever swelling our hearts. But others are blessed to have their fathers with them today. The Apostle Paul gave fathers in the Church at Ephesus instructions on being a godly father.

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

My Dad didn’t provoke me to wrath, he just put the “fear” in me --- maybe when I was a toddler --- the “fear” that I’d better do what he said or there would be unpleasant consequences. Well, I also saw the whippings my stubborn sister Ruthie got.              

There are no perfect fathers, except our Heavenly Father, and He  wants to make them  godly fathers. The makings of a godly father is to put the Lord first, wife  second, and then the children. That will help them bring children up “ in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”.