Andy Bonikowsky's Blog, page 18
April 12, 2017
To forget, or not.
There are things to forget; there are things that don't really matter; and there are things that we should never, ever forget.
God, who gave us the ability to remember, does not leave us in a fog. He tells us to use our mind, to control what we think about, and know what we should ignore.
Isaiah 51:12-13 says that we have no business paying attention to man while forgetting our Maker.
Is this not the issue that so often bends us out of shape? Do not others--in a bad way--have too much effect on our thinking? And is it not the easiest thing in the world to forget that God is the ultimate Comforter because He made us, knows what we need and don't need, and has all power to provide?
May we learn to forget--
Or not.
"I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die . . . And forgettest the LORD thy maker"
God, who gave us the ability to remember, does not leave us in a fog. He tells us to use our mind, to control what we think about, and know what we should ignore.
Isaiah 51:12-13 says that we have no business paying attention to man while forgetting our Maker.
Is this not the issue that so often bends us out of shape? Do not others--in a bad way--have too much effect on our thinking? And is it not the easiest thing in the world to forget that God is the ultimate Comforter because He made us, knows what we need and don't need, and has all power to provide?
May we learn to forget--
Or not.
"I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die . . . And forgettest the LORD thy maker"
April 10, 2017
Does it really matter if I pray?
Does it make any difference?
Some will stew over how it can be possible for an omniscient God and a human prayer to mesh.
And in stewing, they don't pray.
Others skip the anguish through pure and simple faith. They realize that we will never understand the mysteries of eternity from this earthly platform in time. So they just believe, and pray.
In Isaiah 37:21, God delivered a pretty straightforward message to Hezekiah: BECAUSE YOU PRAYED... I WILL SPARE YOU.
Now what would have happened had Hezekiah not prayed? Well, we can speculate, or wish for a fuller explanation, or beg for more light on the subject. But we cannot claim ignorance of God's will.
He wants us to pray.
He wants us to pray more than He wants us to understand how prayer works.
He wants us to pray so He can show us His interest, His love, and His glory.
"Lord, teach us to pray."
Some will stew over how it can be possible for an omniscient God and a human prayer to mesh.
And in stewing, they don't pray.
Others skip the anguish through pure and simple faith. They realize that we will never understand the mysteries of eternity from this earthly platform in time. So they just believe, and pray.
In Isaiah 37:21, God delivered a pretty straightforward message to Hezekiah: BECAUSE YOU PRAYED... I WILL SPARE YOU.
Now what would have happened had Hezekiah not prayed? Well, we can speculate, or wish for a fuller explanation, or beg for more light on the subject. But we cannot claim ignorance of God's will.
He wants us to pray.
He wants us to pray more than He wants us to understand how prayer works.
He wants us to pray so He can show us His interest, His love, and His glory.
"Lord, teach us to pray."
March 28, 2017
To think and to thank
For some random reason I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep.
So I started thinking, and thanking.
My wife is sleeping peacefully tonight. My four children are out of the home but in the Lord. My parents are comfortably retired and live with my brothers. The church ministry is full of growing, changing people. The Aierdi ministry is expanding in ways I’d never dreamed about. I have a bunch of godly friends, nearby and far away, who are in constant communication with me. I have no material needs unfulfilled, at least that I know of.
I believe the Lord woke me up so I could think.
And thank Him for all His goodness.
Psalm 119:55-I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night,…
Maybe it wasn't so random after all.
There are still several hours before dawn.
Good night, Lord.
And, Thank you.
So I started thinking, and thanking.
My wife is sleeping peacefully tonight. My four children are out of the home but in the Lord. My parents are comfortably retired and live with my brothers. The church ministry is full of growing, changing people. The Aierdi ministry is expanding in ways I’d never dreamed about. I have a bunch of godly friends, nearby and far away, who are in constant communication with me. I have no material needs unfulfilled, at least that I know of.
I believe the Lord woke me up so I could think.
And thank Him for all His goodness.
Psalm 119:55-I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night,…
Maybe it wasn't so random after all.
There are still several hours before dawn.
Good night, Lord.
And, Thank you.
March 27, 2017
Job's step counter
Some people count their steps.
Some think it’s a ridiculous thing to do.
Others are probably considering the idea:)
At any rate, there are plenty of options out there… smartphone apps, fitness trackers, pedometers, etc… gadgets that at the end of the day tell us how many steps we took.
Well, more or less 4,000 years ago, a man claimed that every step he’d ever taken was counted—Job! (in 31:4-Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?)
This is a sobering thought, and could be downright scary, if you consider the implications. We are not talking about a satellite, but a Person with a capital P—God. Whether this is good news or bad news depends on your relationship with Him.
For His faithful children, having His watchful eye monitoring every movement is a good thing. For those not in the habit of loving Him as Father, or who don’t even know Him personally, this should be a huge reason for concern.
Some think it’s a ridiculous thing to do.
Others are probably considering the idea:)
At any rate, there are plenty of options out there… smartphone apps, fitness trackers, pedometers, etc… gadgets that at the end of the day tell us how many steps we took.
Well, more or less 4,000 years ago, a man claimed that every step he’d ever taken was counted—Job! (in 31:4-Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?)
This is a sobering thought, and could be downright scary, if you consider the implications. We are not talking about a satellite, but a Person with a capital P—God. Whether this is good news or bad news depends on your relationship with Him.
For His faithful children, having His watchful eye monitoring every movement is a good thing. For those not in the habit of loving Him as Father, or who don’t even know Him personally, this should be a huge reason for concern.
March 15, 2017
Read
Some people like to read.
Some people don't.
And some people learn to.
In my years of ministry -- about 30 now -- I have rarely known of a growing Christian who did not read... the Bible AND good books.
If you do not like to read, learn to. It is possible, and IT WILL change your life. Start small. Make it a priority. Log your reading if that helps. But do it.
You may soon mourn the fact that you started so late. AB
(Bring ... the books, but especially the parchments--2 Tim 4:13)
Some people don't.
And some people learn to.
In my years of ministry -- about 30 now -- I have rarely known of a growing Christian who did not read... the Bible AND good books.
If you do not like to read, learn to. It is possible, and IT WILL change your life. Start small. Make it a priority. Log your reading if that helps. But do it.
You may soon mourn the fact that you started so late. AB
(Bring ... the books, but especially the parchments--2 Tim 4:13)
March 12, 2017
THAT CLOUD!
He did not say we were surrounded by a cloud of heroes, nor a cloud of examples, nor a cloud of masters.
The Spirit said, "cloud of WITNESSES", and that has one obvious thrust -- they see! In the past week, two dear friends have changed sides. Bob and Rosi went from the race to the stands, from earth to the Lord's presence, from running to watching, from striving to resting...
It is the Christian's privilege to understand that their saved loved ones may well be allowed to watch their own funeral. If so, they definitely watch it with the full realization that God is God, and all is under control, all is well.
But how they must long for us to pay attention to the implications of this one amazing verse -- Hebrews 12:1!
(In memory of Bob Bixby and Rosi Minguez)
The Spirit said, "cloud of WITNESSES", and that has one obvious thrust -- they see! In the past week, two dear friends have changed sides. Bob and Rosi went from the race to the stands, from earth to the Lord's presence, from running to watching, from striving to resting...
It is the Christian's privilege to understand that their saved loved ones may well be allowed to watch their own funeral. If so, they definitely watch it with the full realization that God is God, and all is under control, all is well.
But how they must long for us to pay attention to the implications of this one amazing verse -- Hebrews 12:1!
(In memory of Bob Bixby and Rosi Minguez)
March 2, 2017
ECHOES FROM THE DESERT
Right before entering the Promised Land, Moses assured the Israelites that their rest and inheritance was on the other side of Jordan. And though their situation was different than ours, and we should not try to establish a direct parallel, it is obvious that there are strong echoes of meaning for us today.
For the truth is that we have not arrived at our destination. We are not permanent citizens here. Our home, our place of rest, our inheritance, is still ahead. May we never forget it . . .
(Deuteronomy 12:9)
For the truth is that we have not arrived at our destination. We are not permanent citizens here. Our home, our place of rest, our inheritance, is still ahead. May we never forget it . . .
(Deuteronomy 12:9)
February 28, 2017
What is time?
It seems to fundamental to us, but not so much for the Lord. 1500 years before Peter told us that to God one day was like a 1,000 years, and vice-versa, the Israelites watched this truth illustrated in a remarkable way.
In one night, God made an almond stick sprout, bud, blossom, and give ripe almonds!
We often fret about how slow or how fast things are moving. In doing so, we waste the most important aspect of time for us--the right now. It is better to focus on doing moment by moment what we are supposed to do. God can put life into slow motion or have it scream past us whenever He wants. He can bring our productivity to a crawl or give us so much fruit we can't keep track of it.
Our main responsibility is to properly manage the sliver of time we have right NOW.
(Numbers 17:8 and 2 Peter 3:8)
In one night, God made an almond stick sprout, bud, blossom, and give ripe almonds!
We often fret about how slow or how fast things are moving. In doing so, we waste the most important aspect of time for us--the right now. It is better to focus on doing moment by moment what we are supposed to do. God can put life into slow motion or have it scream past us whenever He wants. He can bring our productivity to a crawl or give us so much fruit we can't keep track of it.
Our main responsibility is to properly manage the sliver of time we have right NOW.
(Numbers 17:8 and 2 Peter 3:8)
February 20, 2017
Wisdom is...
Priceless.The book of Proverbs, especially the first part of it, is full of encouragement and instruction about it. However, today's wisdom does not guarantee tomorrow's wisdom. Solomon is the classic and ironic example.We live by the grace of God. The more we understand and believe this, the safer our spiritual future is. (Pro 3:13, Eph 2:8)If you want some excellent reading on the subject, I recommend chapter 10 of Knowing God, by J.I. Packer.
February 8, 2017
Best is always ahead!
No matter what you are facing today, or what will come to you tomorrow, the very best is still ahead -- that is, if you are a follower of Jesus. This truth is designed to help us establish a higher-than-earthly perspective on our current situation. This requires faith, the faith Habakkuk so eloquently wrote about (2:4). In one of the most fantastic chapters of the Bible, Paul makes this statement to all who are joint-heirs with Christ, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
