For the Lord gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
Everybody wants to make good decisions. Unfortunately, not everybody wants to be instructed in how good decisions are made. The Bible is a book of God's wisdom. Whether we are told, directly, what is wise or if we are reading stories about people who struggled with life's decisions before us, we learn how to live our lives wisely from scripture.
What is wise may not always improve our circumstances. Making wise choices will, however, improve our character. Are you a person of integrity? You can learn how to be that kind of person in the Bible. Are you a person of kindness? The Bible will teach you how to be kind. Do you need wisdom? God gives this freely to those who ask for it. But, don't just ask. Search it out in the Bible.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Relationship and Answered Prayer
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. 1 Peter 3:12
Who do you pay more attention to, those who talk to you or those who don't talk to you? Peter tells us that God watches the righteous and he listens to their prayers.
Many people complain that God never answers their prayers and the fact is that they give God little thought until they need Him. God responds to those who have a relationship with Him.
What is your relationship with God? Do you talk to Him regularly? Do you chat with Him about your life and about His goals? Are you a righteous person? Is there a sin issue in your life that interferes with your relationship with God? Do you, at least, try to live a righteous life?
The closer you are to God, the more likely He is to answer your prayers.
Who do you pay more attention to, those who talk to you or those who don't talk to you? Peter tells us that God watches the righteous and he listens to their prayers.
Many people complain that God never answers their prayers and the fact is that they give God little thought until they need Him. God responds to those who have a relationship with Him.
What is your relationship with God? Do you talk to Him regularly? Do you chat with Him about your life and about His goals? Are you a righteous person? Is there a sin issue in your life that interferes with your relationship with God? Do you, at least, try to live a righteous life?
The closer you are to God, the more likely He is to answer your prayers.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Will God Answer?
At the voice of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. Isaiah 30:19
I remember being a new mother. When my child was asleep in his crib, I was thankful for time where I could rest or get something done that was harder when he was awake. But, when I heard his voice, I was there. He didn't have to be crying. I just wanted to be with him and, of course, I took care of any of his needs.
We are God's children and he responds when he hears our voices. He loves being with us and he wants to take care of our needs. Don't be hesitant about sharing your life with God. Share your concerns with him and also share your joys. He is a god who takes delight in us and when we call out to him. He is right there, ready to gently meet our needs.
I remember being a new mother. When my child was asleep in his crib, I was thankful for time where I could rest or get something done that was harder when he was awake. But, when I heard his voice, I was there. He didn't have to be crying. I just wanted to be with him and, of course, I took care of any of his needs.
We are God's children and he responds when he hears our voices. He loves being with us and he wants to take care of our needs. Don't be hesitant about sharing your life with God. Share your concerns with him and also share your joys. He is a god who takes delight in us and when we call out to him. He is right there, ready to gently meet our needs.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Help from the Lord
My help comes from the Lord, who has made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2
Where do you get help? These days, if we need help getting information, we go to Google. If we need medical help, we go to the doctor. If we need help with our car, well, a mechanic is probably the best place to get help. My mother has a lawn service mow her lawn once a week. She can't do it herself and they are a great help. Any time we go to an expert, we stand a good chance of getting good help.
Psalm 121 reinforces to us that no matter where we get our help, ultimately, we get help from God. He keeps us safe. He looks out for our welfare. Doctors can treat us; but, only God can cure us.
God created us to tend the Garden. He wants us to take responsibility in our lives. We are to make decisions about medical care, mechanical problems and our lawn service. But, never forget who made the physical laws of the universe. It is God who created us and the world we live in. It is He who is our ultimate help when the doctor, the mechanic or even the lawn service don't know what to do.
Where do you get help? These days, if we need help getting information, we go to Google. If we need medical help, we go to the doctor. If we need help with our car, well, a mechanic is probably the best place to get help. My mother has a lawn service mow her lawn once a week. She can't do it herself and they are a great help. Any time we go to an expert, we stand a good chance of getting good help.
Psalm 121 reinforces to us that no matter where we get our help, ultimately, we get help from God. He keeps us safe. He looks out for our welfare. Doctors can treat us; but, only God can cure us.
God created us to tend the Garden. He wants us to take responsibility in our lives. We are to make decisions about medical care, mechanical problems and our lawn service. But, never forget who made the physical laws of the universe. It is God who created us and the world we live in. It is He who is our ultimate help when the doctor, the mechanic or even the lawn service don't know what to do.
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Last Day
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. . . . All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from Heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:35-40 NIV
We only get hungry if there is nothing to eat or if we choose to not eat what is available. We only get thirsty if there is nothing to drink, or if we choose to not drink what is available. Jesus makes it clear that he is always with us to draw on for nourishment.
And the nourishment Jesus gives us is more than just comfort and inspiration. We can find those in other places. The goal of Jesus is to give us eternal life with God. He says it twice: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." He let us know what the will of God is concerning us. Then he reassured us that he is capable of the task and it is his will as well: "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
This is an election year and I'm sure we will all be happy when the Presidential election is over. With Jesus, we don't have a choice between candidates. He is the only one who has died for us. He is the only one who was raised from the dead. Jesus tells us that just as he was raised up, He will raise us up. He will NEVER drive us away. He wants all of us. He paid the price. He has done it.
We only get hungry if there is nothing to eat or if we choose to not eat what is available. We only get thirsty if there is nothing to drink, or if we choose to not drink what is available. Jesus makes it clear that he is always with us to draw on for nourishment.
And the nourishment Jesus gives us is more than just comfort and inspiration. We can find those in other places. The goal of Jesus is to give us eternal life with God. He says it twice: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." He let us know what the will of God is concerning us. Then he reassured us that he is capable of the task and it is his will as well: "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
This is an election year and I'm sure we will all be happy when the Presidential election is over. With Jesus, we don't have a choice between candidates. He is the only one who has died for us. He is the only one who was raised from the dead. Jesus tells us that just as he was raised up, He will raise us up. He will NEVER drive us away. He wants all of us. He paid the price. He has done it.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
God is our Refuge
The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed. A refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9
Trouble comes in a lot of different ways. What is trouble to some of us may not seem like trouble to others. Trouble often involves a loss. We can lose our home, our job, our marriage or a person we love. Trouble means that a change that we don't want has happened or will happen. To be "in trouble" means that something has gone wrong and there are going to be consequences. Trouble threatens us. It is something that we try to avoid.
David tells us that God is a refuge in times of trouble. A refuge is a place of safety. A refuge is a place where our needs are met. A refuge is a place to rest. We can turn to God when we are faced with trouble.
What trouble are you dealing with right now? What are you frightened of? Marriage problems, health issues, stress from work? We have the privilege of turning to God who is bigger than any problem we bring before him. We cannot always see God at work; but, he is always there. We are never alone when we are in trouble. God is with us and we can find comfort and safety in Him.
Trouble comes in a lot of different ways. What is trouble to some of us may not seem like trouble to others. Trouble often involves a loss. We can lose our home, our job, our marriage or a person we love. Trouble means that a change that we don't want has happened or will happen. To be "in trouble" means that something has gone wrong and there are going to be consequences. Trouble threatens us. It is something that we try to avoid.
David tells us that God is a refuge in times of trouble. A refuge is a place of safety. A refuge is a place where our needs are met. A refuge is a place to rest. We can turn to God when we are faced with trouble.
What trouble are you dealing with right now? What are you frightened of? Marriage problems, health issues, stress from work? We have the privilege of turning to God who is bigger than any problem we bring before him. We cannot always see God at work; but, he is always there. We are never alone when we are in trouble. God is with us and we can find comfort and safety in Him.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
No Rubber Ducks
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1 NIV
Feeling in control of our lives is important to us; but, it is an illusion. We try to make ourselves feel better by looking for fault in others when things go wrong. When someone has an automobile accident, we want to know if they were wearing their seat belt or if they were drinking or speeding. If someone gets lung cancer, we want to know if they smoked.
I remember watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon had to drive Penny to the hospital because she had fallen in the bathtub and dislocated her shoulder. While filling out forms in the ER, he wrote in the blank asking the cause of the accident, "Failure to apply rubber ducks in bathtub."
As Christians, we are in the business of saving drowning people. When you see someone drowning, you don't stand on the pier or in a boat and lecture them on why they should have worn a life jacket. You throw them a life jacket or a rope or whatever will get the job done to pull them out of the water.
God does not want us to make ourselves feel like better people by finding fault with his other children. He created us all and he wants us to help each other.
It is ironic that the things we dislike most about other people are things that remind us of ourselves. Yes, we are all sinners. Jesus died for all of us. Will you help him pull people into his lifeboat? Or do you stand in the boat condemning those who are drowning because they aren't where you think they should be in life? Don't forget Romans 2:1. Jesus died for others as completely as he died for you.
Feeling in control of our lives is important to us; but, it is an illusion. We try to make ourselves feel better by looking for fault in others when things go wrong. When someone has an automobile accident, we want to know if they were wearing their seat belt or if they were drinking or speeding. If someone gets lung cancer, we want to know if they smoked.
I remember watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon had to drive Penny to the hospital because she had fallen in the bathtub and dislocated her shoulder. While filling out forms in the ER, he wrote in the blank asking the cause of the accident, "Failure to apply rubber ducks in bathtub."
As Christians, we are in the business of saving drowning people. When you see someone drowning, you don't stand on the pier or in a boat and lecture them on why they should have worn a life jacket. You throw them a life jacket or a rope or whatever will get the job done to pull them out of the water.
God does not want us to make ourselves feel like better people by finding fault with his other children. He created us all and he wants us to help each other.
It is ironic that the things we dislike most about other people are things that remind us of ourselves. Yes, we are all sinners. Jesus died for all of us. Will you help him pull people into his lifeboat? Or do you stand in the boat condemning those who are drowning because they aren't where you think they should be in life? Don't forget Romans 2:1. Jesus died for others as completely as he died for you.
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