Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 77

Friends With God?

You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I
call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing;
but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My
Father I have made known to you. -John 15:14-15 (NASB)



I
believe with all my heart that God created man for the purpose of an
intimate relationship with Him. We only have to look at God's
relationship to man before the fall, to read between the lines in the
Song of Solomon, and to hear God's church referred to as the bride of
Christ to know this is true. But how do we go about developing that
intimacy--that tight, close-knit relationship we were built for--in the
midst of a fallen world, in the midst of being, well, a sinful human
being?



If anyone in the Bible had friendship with God, it
was Moses, so let's examine this relationship for some clues on how we,
too, can experience God in a close and personal relationship.



Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. ~Exodus 33:11a (NASB)



Since
that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew
face to face, for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to
perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all
his land, and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror
which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel. ~Deuteronomy 34:10-12
(NASB)



“Not so, with My servant Moses, he is faithful in
all My household; with him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not
in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the Lord..." ~Numbers
12:7-8a (NASB)



Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter
and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by
themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like
the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses
and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ~Matthew 17:1-3 (NASB)



1.
Moses responded in faith to God's initiative in their relationship and
in being obedient to God's calling as His chosen vessel.



When
the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the
midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
~Exodus 3:4 (NASB)



By faith Moses, when he had grown up,
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to
endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than
the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he
left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing
Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of
the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing
through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were
drowned. ~Hebrews 11:24-29 (NASB)



And without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He
is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. ~Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)



2. Moses sought to intimately know God and spent time in His presence.



The
Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on
the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they
might travel by day and by night....Now Moses used to take the tent and
pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called
it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to
the tent of meeting which was outside the camp...Whenever Moses entered
the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance
of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses....[Moses speaking to
God]"Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let
me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your
sight."...Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”  ~Exodus
13:21; 33:7, 9, 13a, 18 (NASB)



3. Moses was humble.



(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.) ~Numbers 12:3 (NASB)



(Side Note: In my personal opinion, humility is one by-product of spending much time in God's presence.)



4. Moses willingly interceded for those whom he led, even when they constantly grumbled and complained against him.



"Now
leave Me alone so that My anger may burn against them and that I may
destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” But Moses
sought the favor of the Lord his God. “O Lord,” he said, “why should
Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of Egypt with
great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was
with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains
and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce
anger; relent and do not bring disaster on Your people. Remember Your
servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by Your own self:
‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I
will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be
their inheritance forever.’” Then the Lord relented and did not bring
on His people the disaster He had threatened.~Exodus 32:10-14 (NIV,
1984)



APPLICATION:
An intimate friendship with God is not only possible, but desirable.
Only by dwelling with Him and in Him can we be whole and complete.
There's a God-sized hole in each of our hearts that can't be filled by
anything (including our work for Him) but Him.



Father
God, we come before You with humbled hearts thanking You for taking the
initiative in reaching out to us, even in our sinful human state. Thank
You that You desire for us to know You, even as You know us. We're
grateful to You in that even our faith is a gift from You. Give us the
grace of obedience to Your perfect will and calling on our lives. May we
be quick to seek Your face instead of Your hand. Help us to continually
dwell in Your presence. Make us intercessors on the behalf of others.
Oh God, give us more and more of You. Amen.

Tired of Being a Dartboard?

I'm gonna let you in on a not-so-little and not-so-secret "little
secret." The enemy will stop at nothing to immobilize us as warriors for
Christ. He'll use our thoughts, our past, our friends, our agendas,
other believer's words and actions, fabricated lies by his
minions--absolutely anything--to keep us in a state of confusion for the
purpose of making us ineffective.



The Culprit:



The Bible calls Satan:


"a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8)
a murderer and the father of lies (John 8:44)
the embodiment of evil (Matthew 13:19; Luke 10:19; 1 John 2:13)
the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10)
our accuser and adversary (Job 1:6; Zechariah 3:1-2; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:10)
the prince and ruler of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
the deceiver (Revelation 20:10)

The Curse:



Because
of Satan's deception and man's resulting sin, the perfect world God
created has been cursed (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12; 8:22). Satan was hurled
to the earth (Revelation 12:13) and immediately went to war against
those who trust in God, in an all-out effort to make us doubt and
neglect the gospel (Revelation 12:17).



The Champion:



Christ
came to destroy the work of Satan (Romans 16:20; 1 John 3:8). Through
His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, He has won
the victory (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). When He returns to earth the
second time, Satan and evil will be done away with once and for all
(Revelation 20:10).



The Cure:



Though the ultimate cure is through our champion, Jesus Christ, there are some things we can do to defeat Satan:


pray! (Luke 22:40)
humble ourselves before God and submit to Him as we resist Satan (James 4:7; 10)
remember the ONE who is greater (1 John 4:4)
be alert and sober-minded (1 Peter 5:8)
overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)
put on the new self and the whole armor of God (Ephesians 4:22-24; 6:10-18)
use our God-given authority (Luke 10:19)
live by His Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17)
rely on His faithfulness (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
give thanks to God for the victory and triumph we have in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14)
have peace and encouragement in Christ, who has already overcome the world (John 16:33)
look forward to our heavenly reward (Revelation 3:21)
claim the blood of the Lamb and testify to what He has done in us, through us, and for us (Revelation 12:11)
and to keep from being Satan's dartboard, let's take up our faith in Christ as a shield (1 John 5:4-5; Ephesians 6:16)

Prayer: Father
God, I praise You, giving You all the thanks and glory for defeating
the enemy of our souls. Thank You, that through You and Your blood, we
don't have to shrink back in terror at the fiery darts of Satan. Help us
to claim You and Your Word as our defense. In the powerful name and
blood of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Bigger Than

One has only to view the expanse of the heavens to realize the
vastness of our God. But sometimes our behavior contradicts that He is
bigger than anything and everything. Our lack of faith is revealed by
the few and small things we expect God to do in us and through us. We
sadly have the tendency to make God over in our image, thereby putting
Him in a box of our making and limiting our belief in His ability.



As
a shepherd boy, David spent many a night beneath the star-studded
heavens and many a day under sunny skies of blue. As a result he was
well-acquainted with His more-than-able and bigger-than God. It was
David who penned:



The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours
forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech,
nor are there words; their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out
through all the earth, and their utterances to the end of the world. In
them He has placed a tent for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming
out of his chamber; it rejoices as a strong man to run his course. Its
rising is from one end of the heavens, and its circuit to the other end
of them; and there is nothing hidden from its heat. ~Psalm 19:1-6 (NASB)



And also:



When
I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the
stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of
him, and the son of man that You care for him? ~Psalm 8:3-4 (NASB)



Oh,
that we might have this view of our great God's vastness! (Perhaps we
should all spend more time outdoors, heads back, searching the heavens
and contemplating our big God.)



Because of David's lofty view of
God, it comes as no surprise to us in 1 Samuel 17 when as a youth, he
takes on a giant by the name of Goliath. To refresh your memory, let me
paraphrase part of the story as the Israelites and King Saul meet the
Philistine army in the valley of Elah.

One of the Philistine
soldiers, Goliath, over nine feet tall with his armor weighing in at 125
pounds, taunted the Israelite soldiers for forty days. David happened
upon the scene at the end of this time, and his brothers informed him of
Goliath.



David's response showed his belief in his bigger-than God. "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” (vs. 26b, NASB)



The
young shepherd was brought before King Saul, and he quickly offered to
fight Goliath. The king gave David use of his armor and sword, but he
refused in favor of his shepherd's garb, a sling and five smooth stones.



Goliath
laughed when the young man approached, continuing his taunts and
threats, but David's bold and courageous faith in his bigger-than God
comes through loud and clear in his answer to the giant.



“You
come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in
the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you
have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my
hands...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and
that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword
or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our
hands.” (v.45-47, NASB)



Story after story in God's Word
reveals people's big faith in their even bigger God--Moses, Abraham,
Caleb, Joshua, Paul, and countless unnamed people who expected and
received the miraculous. It's time to exhibit that same kind of faith,
realizing the battle belongs to our bigger-than God. Only then will we
experience victory and give Him the glory He deserves.



Now to
Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or
think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory
in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.
Amen. ~Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB)



APPLICATION:


Can you remember a time in your life when God personally demonstrated His "big"-ness to you?
What was your response?
What seemingly insurmountable battle are you facing right now?
How have you exhibited faith in our bigger-than God?
Do you know someone who could use a reminder of how big God is?

PRAYER: Father
God, we praise You for being "bigger than" any problem, situation or
battle we face. Forgive our lack of trust and tendency to limit You and
Your ability. Help us view our problems in light of who You are. May we
be quick to offer You the glory and praise You so richly deserve as our
bigger-than God. Amen.

The Importance of Correct Application

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the
word of truth. ~2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

 

We cannot underestimate
the importance of correct application. For example, if I purchase a
topical medication, but then ingest it rather than spread it on my skin,
the medicine won't work in the way intended. Conversely, if I buy cough
syrup and lather it on a wound, my cough is not likely to disappear
from the manner in which I use the medication.



The same is true for God's Word.



James
1:22-25 exhorts us to apply God's Word, so we're doers and not just
hearers. Teachers realize that student's learn best with "hands on"
learning, and our Master Teacher knows it, too. An active faith is a
practiced faith, and if we merely say we believe something that
statement isn't proven until we put action behind it.



But just as
important as applying God's Word, is the importance applying it
correctly. The only way to do that is to truly understand it. This is
where we usually mess up. Someone says it and we accept it as true
without dusting off our Bibles and checking it out for ourselves.



Now
the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in
Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and
examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
~Acts 17:11 (NIV)



If the Berean Jews were shrewd and wise
enough to double check the apostle Paul, how much more should we check
the accuracy of what is spoken from the pulpit, from books we read, and
from classes and conferences. Don't assume the person speaking or
writing is accurate in everything they say! I truly believe if Jesus
walked the earth today, He would call a lot of what is spoken in His
name as the "traditions of men" (Mark 7:8)--or worse yet, false teaching
meant to deceive and manipulate--rather than the Word of God.



There
are very strict warnings in the Bible about not adding anything to or
taking anything away from God's Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs
30:5-6; Galatians 1:9; Revelation 22:18-19). No wonder teachers are held
to a different standard (James 3:1). Let me tell you, I know there are
times when I've not handled His Word correctly, and I tremble to think
of the consequences!



The following probably goes without saying, but in order to handle God's Word correctly, we should:



Study, memorize and meditate on God's Word on a regular basis. (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-2; 119:11, 97, 148; 2 Timothy 3:15)
Make sure to study passages in context. (NOTE: There are numerous online
study helps and word lexicons, but remember to hold up the teachings of
even commentaries and study helps against God's Word.)


Rely on the Spirit's guidance and direction. (John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13)
Put into practice what you learn. (James 1:22-25)
Test the accuracy of others' teachings by holding them up to the light of God's Word. (Acts 17:11)



"Holy Scripture is the unchangeable word of God to which man must
bend himself, and not something which he can bend to his own personal
ideas." ~Jean Danielou



Father God, thank You for Your
Word, which is truly "a lamp for our feet and a light for our path."
We're grateful for the presence of Your Spirit within us helping us to
understand and know You. Help us to put into practice what we learn and
to test everything we hear by holding it up to the light of Your Holy
Word. In the power of Jesus we pray, Amen.

BOOK REVIEW: "A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain and God's Sovereignty" by Joni Eareckson Tada

About The Book :

 In this eloquent account of her current struggle with physical pain,
Joni Eareckson Tada offers her perspective on divine healing, God’s
purposes, and what it means to live with joy. Over four decades ago, a
diving accident left Joni a quadriplegic. Today, she faces a new battle:
unrelenting pain. The ongoing urgency of this season in her life has
caused Joni to return to foundational questions about suffering and
God’s will. A Place of Healing is not an ivory-tower treatise on
suffering. It’s an intimate look into the life of a mature woman of God.
Whether readers are enduring physical pain, financial loss, or
relational grief, Joni invites them to process their suffering with her.
Together, they will navigate the distance between God’s magnificent yes
and heartbreaking no—and find new hope for thriving in-between.






About the Author:

Joni Eareckson Tada is the founder of Joni and Friends, an organization
accelerating Christian outreach in the disability community that numbers
610 million people worldwide. This organization operates out of the new
Joni and Friends International Disability Center located in Agoura
Hills, California. Joni is not only an international disability advocate
but an artist and the author of numerous bestselling books, including
Pearls of Great Price, Diamonds in the Dust, More Precious Than Silver,
the Platinum award-winning Joni, Heaven: Your Real Home, When God Weeps,
and The God I Love.



My Review :

Though this book was first published in 2010, I recently discovered it during a free download opportunity at Amazon. In a personal quest for healing, I almost passed on the opportunity, thinking the book would be more about physical healing when I sought emotional healing. I'm so glad I decided to give it a try.



Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Though my reading time is limited, every chance I had, I snatched up the book and read some more. Chock-full of God's grace, comfort and encouragement, I did indeed find healing as I learned again the benefits of suffering--strengthened faith, dependence on grace, increased discernment, wisdom, and so much more.



Though I may never have to face the same trials Joni has, I must face what God has in store for my life, recognizing that our sovereign God brings purpose from my pain and uses life's difficulties and challenges to transform me into all He wants me to be.



Regardless of whether you feel the particular need for any type of healing in your life at the moment, I highly encourage you to read this book. It will prepare you to better face the storms and trials of this earthly life, and see them all through the parameters of God's Sovereignty.



(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I received no compensation for this review.)

BOOK REVIEW: "Finding God When You Need Him Most" by Chip Ingram

About The Book :

Experience the love of God today In Finding God When You Need Him Most,
Chip Ingram reveals how you can meet God in the midst of your most
difficult circumstances. Chip's candid discussion, personal stories, and
solid guidance will allow you to move from "knowing about God" to
profoundly experiencing his presence and power in your life. Whether
you're struggling with a rocky relationship, an unexpected crisis,
depression, or injustice, Finding God When You Need Him Most will remind
you that the Lord is faithful to hear your heart's cry and will be
there for you, time and again.



"Chip Ingram's book calls us back to the
Psalms to help us remember that God is our 'strong tower,' sufficient
for every need. It turns out that--in the midst of those crises that
life offers us regularly--our job is simply to get closer to the One who
welcomes us back into intimate fellowship day by day."--Hugh O.
Maclellan Jr., president, Maclellan Foundation



"Chip Ingram reveals his
heart in a transparent and authentic way. This book has the potential to
change your belief system which will ultimately change your feelings
and behavior. I am privileged to offer an endorsement for a very
relevant book."--Ron Blue, president, Christian Financial Professionals
Network



"In a world obsessed with personal strength and power, Chip
Ingram brings home a surprising yet profound truth . . . that weakness
is often a prelude to unusual and significant strength. Read this and
you might just embrace moments of weakness as a friend!"--Joe Stowell,
teaching pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel; former president, Moody Bible
Institute



About the Author :



Chip Ingram's passion is to help Christians really live like
Christians. As a pastor, author, coach, and teacher for twenty-five
years, Chip has helped people around the world break out of spiritual
ruts to live out God's purpose for their lives.



Today, he serves
as Senior Pastor of Venture Christian Church in Silicon Valley,
California, and President of Living on the Edge - an international
teaching and discipleship ministry. Chip and his wife, Theresa, have
four children and eight grandchildren.



For more information about Chip or Living on the Edge, please visit www.LivingontheEdge.org.



My Review :

Change of any kind is stressful. Multiply it by ten and life can seem more than overwhelming. Such was my state of mind when I signed on to read and review Finding God When You Need Him by Chip Ingram.



Every Christian struggles with the right way to respond to life's difficulties, but one of the hardest struggles for me are those times when you wonder if God has forgotten your address. This book addresses those hard times with chapters on finding God: When You Get a Raw Deal, In Times of Crisis, When You Feel like a Nobody Going Nowhere, When You Are Troubled and Depressed, When You Are Gripped by Fear, When You've Blown It Big Time, and In Times of  Confusion. Then Ingram ties it up with the final chapter, God Is with You Always.



Chock full of scripture, life stories and application, the author helps the reader through the difficulties of life. There are also questions for discussion, which would make this a great book club/Bible study read.



I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, especially if you find yourself in a desperate place in need of our mighty God.



NOTE: This book was provided to me by the publisher. The opinion expressed is my own, and I received no compensation for this review.

BOOK REVIEW: "Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul" by Jennie Allen

About The Book :

Safe. Comfortable. Happy.



Words we all love. Feelings we want. Even crave. We may love God, but being that he's invisible, words like comfortable seem to feel better faster.



We
are all chasing something. Our hearts were made to run hard and fast
after things that move us. But as a generation we are all beginning to
stir and wake up, identifying that these words don't satisfy for long,
especially when compared to God. If God is real, and we are going to
live with Him forever, shouldn't He be everything?



Caught in this
familiar haze of worldly happiness and empty pursuits, Jennie Allen and
her husband Zac prayed a courageous prayer of abandonment that took
them on an adventure God had written for them.



"God, we will do anything. Anything, "



Anything is
a prayer of surrender that will spark something. A prayer that will
move us to stop chasing things that just make us feel happy and start
living a life that matters. A life that is...



Surrendered. Reckless. Courageous.



If we truly know a God worth giving anything for, everything changes.



From Publisher's Weekly:
"Bible
teacher Allen (creator of the new Stuck DVD Bible study) comes out of
the gate strong, displaying accessibility and purposefulness in her
first book. With an eye to the fears and doubts teeming beneath the
surface for many female churchgoers, she compels her audience to figure
out what's stopping them from using their God-given talents, and to be
willing to do anything that God asks of them. By giving readers a
glimpse of her own introspection and the interior life she's revealed on
her personal blog, she employs heartfelt honesty to connect with
readers. Tales of loved ones who have taken the "journey to total
abandonment" show how giving one's life over to a higher purpose can
"wreck" comfortable lives-and allow people to seize more important
opportunities. Though the book is aimed at women who must balance their
calling against more practical tasks like finishing the laundry and
shopping at Target, Allen's friendly yet urgent messages will have the
wheels spinning in the minds of all audiences and may be the tough
medicine that propels them to action."

"Jennie Allen is a
visionary, a girlfriend, and a Jesus-chaser. I can't think of three
qualities I appreciate more in a woman. I loved this book from cover to
cover and have been really contemplating the way a one-word prayer can
affect one's heart and ministry in this life. I want to be an 'anything'
kind of girl, and I appreciate and respect the example Jennie has set
in pursuing God and what he desires in us. It's just a word on a paper,
but it's a lifetime choice that can make all the difference. You in?"
- Angie Smith
Speaker, Women of Faith
Author, I Will Carry You and What Women Fear



About the Author :



My passion is to inspire a new generation of women to encounter the
invisible God. I love words and I believe God uses them to heal souls
and to reveal Himself to people. I am blessed to be working with Thomas
Nelson to publish several studies and trade books, engaging women's
minds and hearts toward Christ. The first study, Stuck released in the
fall of 2011, and the book, Anything released Spring 2012.



I
graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Biblical
Studies. And while all that sounds pretty fancy... I am really just a
mess of a girl, trying to figure out God, and why I seem to keep
struggling with the same invisible issues I had in kindergarten.



I
am so blessed to serve alongside my husband Zac, in ministry in Austin,
Texas. We have 4 children: Conner 11, Kate 9, and Caroline 6 and our
youngest son, Cooper 4, recently adopted from Rwanda.



My Review :

Why am I still amazed after all these years at how Father God brings me face-to-face with answers to the very questions my soul has been harboring? Yet that is exactly what He did when I agreed to review Anything by Jennie Allen.



As the wife of a music minister, I had grown comfortable--too comfortable--with my life, to the point that I woke up and wondered if in our attempt to serve God we had somehow ended up serving ourselves. Was I truly living by faith in a big, supernatural God, or had I limited Him to my comfortable little box, making Him over into my version of what I thought He should be?



From chapter one, the author captured me as she paralleled what I had been experiencing on a spiritual level. I was convicted by my narrow concept of our big and mighty God. Jennie writes, "Plastic gods are safe. Plastic gods don't mess with you. Plastic gods don't matter much; they fit in a small crevice of the life you want, the life you were planning to have. And when everything in life is working . . . plastic gods feel like enough."



Like Jennie, "I started craving . . . a reckless faith where I knew God was real because I needed Him, a faith where I lived surrendered, obedient, a faith where I sacrificed something . . . comfort or safety or practicality . . . something."



I can't begin to express how this book has helped me deepen my faith walk. It's a keeper for my bulging bookshelves, and a book I feel sure I will use as a resource on a regular basis. I highly recommend it for everyone.



NOTE: This book was given to me to review by the publisher. The opinion expressed is my own, and I was offered no compensation for this review.



   

What Do You Believe About the Bible?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant
of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ~2 Timothy
3:16-17 (NIV)



At the risk of copying a sermon I heard this
morning, I felt this message was too good not to share. Why? Because
what we believe about the Bible determines what we ultimately believe
about God, and what we believe about God determines our final destiny.
In other words, if we miss the truthful answer of this one question, we
miss it all.



As an example, the belief that there are many ways to
God is a rampant wildfire in our world right now. Tolerance is the buzz
word of the day. But when tolerance means compromising our faith and
the capital-T Truth, we're headed down the road to disaster. The Bible
says that Jesus is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes
to the Father but through" Him (John 14:6). Whether or not we believe
that statement depends on what we believe about the Bible.



So how
can we know for sure the Bible is God's Word? The accuracy and
authenticity of any document is proved by the number of witnesses and
the consistency of their message. The earliest scribes of God's Word
copied scrolls with great precision. With the discovery of the Dead Sea
Scrolls, further proof was added to the accuracy of the scriptures. In
comparing the Dead Sea Scrolls to later manuscripts, there was no change
in meaning and only different spellings or missing words from
deterioration.



In contrast, the Koran and Book of Mormon are based
on one person's testimony, so there are no witnesses to corroborate
their accuracy or authenticity. The Christian New Testament discusses
numerous witnesses to the life of Christ, from the apostles to the "over
five hundred" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:4-6.



Yet another way
to prove the Bible is indeed God's revelation of Himself to mankind is
the historical and archaeological authenticity of the ancient texts. The
same can't be said for other religions' holy books. Also, the accuracy
of the prophecies in the Bible further testifies to the truth of its
validity. Statisticians have noted that there are thirty major
prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the birth of Christ, all of
which came to pass with mind-blowing accuracy hundreds of years later.



If
nothing else, I hope this post sparks enough curiosity in those who
read it to compel them to study the matter even further. C.S. Lewis, in
his quest to find the Truth himself, wrote this in his book, Mere Christianity: "A
man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would
not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the
level with a man who says he is a poached egg - or he would be the devil
of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of
God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a
fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us
not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human
teacher. He has not left that open to us."



The same could be
said about those who lived at the time of Christ and testified to His
deity. They could have lied about it. But why would they do that in a
time period where Christians were crucified,or at the very least
persecuted? They could have been crazy, but if so, they were all crazy
in the same way. Or, perhaps, they were simply relating the truth about
all they'd seen, heard and experienced.



In the end, the choice is
up to you. What you believe about the Bible is your decision. You get to
decide what you choose to believe, so I challenge you to pull out the
Bible and study it. Try to disprove it. And please--don't take my word
for it. Take His.



After all, your eternal destiny hinges on it.

Too Much Of A Good Thing

The morning glory vine completely covered my day-lilies. Now, no
matter how hard I tried, I could not rip out the vine without destroying
some of the day-lilies as well.



Even good crops--and something as
beautiful as morning glories--can take over our garden if we don’t pay
constant attention, eventually crowding out other beneficial plants.



In
dealing with the vine, I was reminded about some of the good things in
my life which had inadvertently taken precedence over better things.
This subject is addressed in Luke 10:38-40 with the story of Mary and
Martha:



As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came
to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a
sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He
said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be
made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister
has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”



Martha's
ministry was important and good, as she served the Lord from a heart of
love. She opened her home to Jesus, and most likely, a large number of
his followers as well. If you've ever had a large number of guests
descend on your house at once, you know the logistics of doing so can be
overwhelming--planning the menu, making a grocery list, shopping,
cleaning, preparing the food--the list goes on and on. We can't help but
admire Martha for providing this service to our Savior and His friends (and perhaps even secretly wish we were more like her).



But
somewhere along the way her priorities became misplaced, and her
service took precedence over her relationship with the One she desired
to serve. Her busy-ness became more important to her than the person she
did it for.





If we're not diligent at keeping ourselves
in check, the same can happen to us. In fact, we can probably all point
to times when we've allowed it to happen. We get so busy doing good
things that our time with the Lord gets shoved to the wayside. We run
ourselves ragged in an effort to serve God, possibly in an attempt to
please or repay Him, our only communication with Him a harried prayer.





“Martha,
Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many
things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen
what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” ~Luke 10:41-42
(NIV)



Based on Jesus' response to Martha, I'm pretty certain
He would also rather have a time of intimacy with us than our frantic
service, a time where we shut out the world and communicate with Him on a
personal level. Our relationship with Him is truly the only thing
that's needed, and it will always be the better choice.



Father
God, at those times when we scurry around in a frantic attempt to serve
You, may we remember there is something better. Remind us to take the
time to sit at Your feet, so we can truly experience the only thing
that's needed--a close and intimate relationship with You. Amen.

Surprise!!!

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing ever occurs to God?



As
the self-existing being (Yahweh, Jehovah, I AM), He has always been. In
light of this, there is nothing He doesn't know. He brought forth
everything in perfect and complete knowledge of His creation.



Before
the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting You are God. ~Psalm 90:2 (NIV)



As
finite human beings, we're often waylaid by a turn of events, totally
shocked and surprised at how things turn out. But we can take comfort in
knowing we serve an omniscient God who is never surprised. He is
well-acquainted with each moment of our lives before they ever
happen--the good, the bad, the past, present, and future, our sins, our
victories. Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. ~Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG)



Consider this song by King David:



You have searched me, Lord,
    and You know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    You are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    You, Lord, know it completely . . . .
For You created my inmost being;
    You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    Your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from You
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in Your book
    before one of them came to be. ~Psalm 139:1-4; 13-16 (NIV)



We
may often be surprised by circumstances, by unexpected blessing, by
unimaginable sorrow, but dear friend, our God is never surprised, and He
has a reason for everything in our lives--reasons that will only be
fathomable on the other side of heaven.



So take heart! Be
encouraged! Don't look at all the negative news around us and your own
shortcomings as something to be feared! Instead see it filtered through
the hands of our loving Father, who "in all things works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV)



Trust Him! We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow!



Jehovah
God, we praise You for who You are--the self-existing God--the One who
knows even what is yet to happen. Thank You that You're in control and
that we can be at rest in our souls because of that. Thank You for never
being surprised by anything we endure, and for using it for good in our
lives. Amen.