Sometimes when I’m dealing with a particularly surly, angry, or overbearing person, the Lord will quietly remind me that it may be Himself, in disguise, wanting to see how I’ll conduct myself. Will I repay evil with evil…or will I show compassion and understanding? Or if I see an elderly person struggling with groceries in the parking lot…will I go to their aid or walk away? We never really know when He may be checking on us.
Tag: God
Ezekiel 2:5 ” And whether they listen or fail to listen – for they are a rebellious house – they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Ezekiel was called of God to be His spokesman. His duty was to the Lord and speaking on His behalf… in other words, Ezekiel was responsible to the people, but not for them. For in the end, they all recognized that he was a Prophet of God…but they chose not to heed his warning.
I Corinthians 15: 45 ” The first man Adam became a living being, the last Adam, a life-giving Spirit.”
In the very beginning God breathed life into the body of Adam, and to this day, each breath of ours belongs to God. But when Jesus came to the earth, He offered us something new…He breathed life into our dead Spirits, and enabled the Holy Spirit to come and dwell inside. By His death and resurrection, He gave us eternal Life, and a chance to live with Him forever.
Isaiah 64:8 ” Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.”
There are times in all our lives when we think we know more than God. We have this idea in our heads of how this “vessel” of ours should look…but God has a different idea…and this is where the conflict starts. He pushes and prods one way, and we whine and rebel the opposite. But the Master Potter always knows what the perfect vessel will be for the particular type of clay He has on the wheel. Yes, being “remolded” can be quite painful, and then there’s the firing… but at the end, a perfect vessel will emerge from the kiln.
Colosians 2: 6-7 ” So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Saying “Yes” to Jesus isn’t a one time deal, rather it’s a life-long journey that starts anew each morning you wake up and greet the new day. It’s a constant renewing of your faith in the Lord as you face each new challenge…your trust growing ever deeper as you see Him working in your life. Thank you Lord for your love and faithfulness!
Luke 18:16-17 ” Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
A small child is trusting and readily accepts things as true. A baby isn’t cynical or showing contempt towards those in authority. But sadly with age comes all the negative emotions and attitudes of this broken world…our heart of stone must become a heart of flesh again… that the kingdom of God may dwell within.
Psalm 55:13 “…my companion, my close friend.”
A few years ago we had the very difficult task of having our beloved dog, Whimsy, put down following a lengthy illness. Both my husband and I mourned for that funny, stubborn, but always entertaining dog…and for the hole that was left in our hearts on her passing. We had talked about getting another dog, but neither of us were ready to put Whimsy in the past and love a new dog. Until last week…when Duncan came into our home and our hearts. It reminded me of a clipping I have in my Bible about a conversation between God and Adam . Adam was complaining to God that he was lonesome, so the Lord said,” I will create a companion for you that will be a reflection of My love for you… regardless of how selfish, childish and unlovable you may be. This new companion will accept you as you are and love you as I do, in spite of yourself.” And God gave him a dog…a reflection of God’s love for us, his name of reflection of God Himself…For Dog is God spelled backwards.
Deuteronomy 2:2-3 ” Then the Lord said to me,’ You have made your way around this hill country long enough…’ “
The Lord has a way of teaching us lessons. If we’re a quick study and obey immediately, we move forward with Him. But if we ignore or refuse to heed the message…He will “send us around the mountain one more time”…until we’re again facing that same old matter. Depending on our willingness, stubbornness, or just plain stupidity will determine how many times we make that long trip around.
Jeremiah 10:12 ” But God made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.”
The Lord is the Maker of all things…He brought into existence the land, sea, and sky for our enjoyment and pleasure. By His infinite wisdom everything was formed perfectly…with careful attention to every detail. We thank you Lord for the vast beauty around us…and we thank you for the opportunity to enjoy it all.
Numbers 21: 8-9 ” The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.’ Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake, he lived.”
God had sent a plague of snakes to the rebellious Israelites in the wilderness, with many dying of poisonous bites. When Moses cried out to the Lord on their behalf, God instructed him to make the Nehushtan. Sadly, in II Kings 18:4, King Hezekiah broke the bronze snake into pieces because the people were treating it as an idol and burning incense to it. They were exalting the object rather than worshipping the God who healed them.
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