"Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.'" -Genesis 17.1-2
Thirteen years have passed since Ishmael was born, and at the age of ninety-nine, God appears to Abram again. He declares Himself, as God almighty. He is God, all powerful. There is nothing He cannot do. And reading it just that far, you get the sense that God is about to do something unbelievable. But if we would see the hand of God do incredible things, we must be ready and worthy to watch and receive them.
And so there is an instruction given. Walk before Me, and be blameless. Enoch walked with God, and God took him. Noah was a blameless man, and God rescued him and his family from the flood because of it. And now Abram is commanded to walk before God and be blameless. He is instructed to live his life openly before God, and to live with complete integrity and purity. And as he does this, he will see Almighty God do unimaginable things.
God doesn't do things like this for people who don't live this way. Yes, God is present always, and I believe He works in the lives of people who don't believe in Him in order to open their eyes and hearts to Him. But His greatest works are reserved for the righteous and blameless. Do you want to see what God can really do? Then walk blamelessly before Him.
If we would receive the greatest works, and blessings, from God, we must live in a manner pleasing to Him. It's not that God's love for us increases as we live this way, God loves all of His children the same. But living in a way that pleases God allows us to receive blessings from Him, just as living in obedience to your parents brings their favor.
God is wanting to do unbelievable things in your life, things you can't even imagine. Are you living in a way that allows Him to? Are you walking before Him and being blameless?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Taking Matters into Your Own Hands
"So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him." -Genesis 16.15-16
Genesis 15 gives the account of an incredible moment Abram had with God. God promises him a biological son, and Abram believes God and enters into a right standing relationship with him. Then God seals the covenant with Abram by passing a smoking oven and a flaming torch between the halves of animals. Everything is in place for God to do great things. But we see more time pass, and with it probably some impatience, and maybe even some questioning.
And so Sari, Abram's wife, gives her maid to Abram, and with her, Abram has a son. The only problem is this is not the son of promise. This is the son of a slave, not of a free woman. And countless problems unfold because of this. Such is the case when we take matters into our own hands.
There is no mention of seeking God about this decision in chapter 16. Sari makes a decision, and Abram goes along with it. And today the world is still dealing with the outcome, but we may talk more about his later, so I don't want to get too far into it now.
When God makes a promise, we must never forget it. In the past when God has spoken, Abram built an altar, but it doesn't say anything about that in chapter 15. I doubt Abram forgot what God said, but the more time that passed, he probably began to wonder how and when the promise would be fulfilled. And then one day someone says something, and all of a sudden pieces start to get forced together. And when you force the pieces of a puzzle, it doesn't come out right.
When God makes a promise, we must seek Him about its fulfillment. The moment we begin to take matters into our own hands, trying to fulfill God's promises for Him, we begin to get off track. And the consequences could reach so march farther then we ever imagined. So let's keep our hands off, and let God be God. Let's patiently wait, holding firmly to the promise, and trusting Him to fulfill it in His time, and in His way.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Genesis 15 gives the account of an incredible moment Abram had with God. God promises him a biological son, and Abram believes God and enters into a right standing relationship with him. Then God seals the covenant with Abram by passing a smoking oven and a flaming torch between the halves of animals. Everything is in place for God to do great things. But we see more time pass, and with it probably some impatience, and maybe even some questioning.
And so Sari, Abram's wife, gives her maid to Abram, and with her, Abram has a son. The only problem is this is not the son of promise. This is the son of a slave, not of a free woman. And countless problems unfold because of this. Such is the case when we take matters into our own hands.
There is no mention of seeking God about this decision in chapter 16. Sari makes a decision, and Abram goes along with it. And today the world is still dealing with the outcome, but we may talk more about his later, so I don't want to get too far into it now.
When God makes a promise, we must never forget it. In the past when God has spoken, Abram built an altar, but it doesn't say anything about that in chapter 15. I doubt Abram forgot what God said, but the more time that passed, he probably began to wonder how and when the promise would be fulfilled. And then one day someone says something, and all of a sudden pieces start to get forced together. And when you force the pieces of a puzzle, it doesn't come out right.
When God makes a promise, we must seek Him about its fulfillment. The moment we begin to take matters into our own hands, trying to fulfill God's promises for Him, we begin to get off track. And the consequences could reach so march farther then we ever imagined. So let's keep our hands off, and let God be God. Let's patiently wait, holding firmly to the promise, and trusting Him to fulfill it in His time, and in His way.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Believe God
"Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." -Genesis 15.6
Abram has been on a journey of faith. He left his home and followed God into the unknown, to a land that God only said, "I will show you." He went to Egypt and passed his wife off as his sister, then came back, separated from his nephew, and then rescued his nephew after he had been captured. And after all of these things God speaks to him in a vision. He promises him a great reward, but then Abram brings up one little problem, he's childless.
God has promised to give the land to his descendants, He's promised to make Abram a great nation, and yet Abram still has no children. And so Abram points out the obvious, saying one of his servants shall be his heir. But then God makes him another promise, perhaps the most specific promise to date. "Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.' And He took him outside and said, 'Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.”'And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.'" (verses 4-5)
God promises his own son. Abram is old, he was 75 when this journey began. His wife is old too, she was a 65 year old barren woman at the beginning of all of this. But after God makes this promise we see that Abram believed the Lord. He trusted that God would, and could, do what He was promising. He believed that God was telling him the truth. And this brings him into a right standing relationship with God.
What promises has God made? Do you believe Him? What has He spoken to you, that lines up with what you know of Him from Scripture? Do you believe Him? Abram has found God to be trustworthy. He has been on this journey that began with faith, and God has not failed Him, He never does. How have you trusted God in the past? How are you believing God in the present?
If we believe the Lord, it will be reckoned to us as righteousness. It is through faith and trust in God that we are made righteous, so do we trust Him? Do we believe Him? He is always trustworthy. Will we be righteous and believe Him?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Abram has been on a journey of faith. He left his home and followed God into the unknown, to a land that God only said, "I will show you." He went to Egypt and passed his wife off as his sister, then came back, separated from his nephew, and then rescued his nephew after he had been captured. And after all of these things God speaks to him in a vision. He promises him a great reward, but then Abram brings up one little problem, he's childless.
God has promised to give the land to his descendants, He's promised to make Abram a great nation, and yet Abram still has no children. And so Abram points out the obvious, saying one of his servants shall be his heir. But then God makes him another promise, perhaps the most specific promise to date. "Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.' And He took him outside and said, 'Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.”'And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.'" (verses 4-5)
God promises his own son. Abram is old, he was 75 when this journey began. His wife is old too, she was a 65 year old barren woman at the beginning of all of this. But after God makes this promise we see that Abram believed the Lord. He trusted that God would, and could, do what He was promising. He believed that God was telling him the truth. And this brings him into a right standing relationship with God.
What promises has God made? Do you believe Him? What has He spoken to you, that lines up with what you know of Him from Scripture? Do you believe Him? Abram has found God to be trustworthy. He has been on this journey that began with faith, and God has not failed Him, He never does. How have you trusted God in the past? How are you believing God in the present?
If we believe the Lord, it will be reckoned to us as righteousness. It is through faith and trust in God that we are made righteous, so do we trust Him? Do we believe Him? He is always trustworthy. Will we be righteous and believe Him?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, January 27, 2014
Work For it
"Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, "I have made Abram rich." I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share." -Genesis 14:22-24
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
I've debated on writing this section all day. I have to be careful how I say what I'm about to write. As I read these verses I kept thinking about how much of my generation is just looking for a handout like this. So many don't want to work and feel that they are simply entitled to everything. And on top if that we have a society that allows them to leech off of it.
It drives me crazy. I'm all for helping people who need help. I'm all about reaching out to those who cannot do for themselves for one reason or another. But I am not a supporter of allowing, and empowering laziness. And as I read this section I see a man who has no intention of taking a handout.
There is no shame in accepting help, something that I need to remind myself of time and again. But help and handouts are two different things. But a man works for what he has. He invests his time and strength, and the reward is so much better because of what he has put into it. A man doesn't take what he hasn't earned, and doesn't live off of the hard work of others as he sits lazily and gets fat off of their labor. A man takes pride in the ability, and opportunity, to work hard. There is something so satisfying about a hard days work.
Take joy in the opportunity you have to work, but don't be to proud as to refuse necessary help when it is offered.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Defend the Defenseless
"When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people." -Genesis 14.14-16
Today gets into a subject that I feel passionately about. Abram's nephew has been taken captive, and so Abram does something about it. He leads his trained men into battle, defeats the enemy, and rescues those who are prisoners. He's a man, his strength is needed, and so he takes action.
I know the gun debate is hot button right now, and will be most of the year. I'll be the first one to say I love the second amendment. When I have a house, my shotgun will be next to my bed so that I can protect my family if someone breaks into my home during the night. I want to get my concealed carry permit so that if I'm in public, say at a mall, and a shooting happens, I have the ability to do something to stop it.
As a husband and father, it is my responsibility to protect my family. God has blessed me with them, and entrusted me with their care and protection. As a man, God has given me strength and courage to protect society. I have the responsibility to do what I can to make the world a safer place. In times of crisis it is my responsibility to act. It is my job to defend the defenseless.
As men, this is our role and responsibility. We have strength to use on behalf of others. Our strength is ours to protect and serve. We don't go looking for a fight, but we're ready when one comes, and we stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. When we have the ability to act, we must.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Today gets into a subject that I feel passionately about. Abram's nephew has been taken captive, and so Abram does something about it. He leads his trained men into battle, defeats the enemy, and rescues those who are prisoners. He's a man, his strength is needed, and so he takes action.
I know the gun debate is hot button right now, and will be most of the year. I'll be the first one to say I love the second amendment. When I have a house, my shotgun will be next to my bed so that I can protect my family if someone breaks into my home during the night. I want to get my concealed carry permit so that if I'm in public, say at a mall, and a shooting happens, I have the ability to do something to stop it.
As a husband and father, it is my responsibility to protect my family. God has blessed me with them, and entrusted me with their care and protection. As a man, God has given me strength and courage to protect society. I have the responsibility to do what I can to make the world a safer place. In times of crisis it is my responsibility to act. It is my job to defend the defenseless.
As men, this is our role and responsibility. We have strength to use on behalf of others. Our strength is ours to protect and serve. We don't go looking for a fight, but we're ready when one comes, and we stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. When we have the ability to act, we must.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Build Altars
"The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, 'Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.' Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord." -Genesis 13.14-18
God speaks, and Abram builds and altar. He marks the spot where God communicated with him and made a promise. He sets a monument up as a marker to what has taken place. What are the altars in your life?
I had a professor in college who built an altar. Every time God did something for his family, they added a stone to it. Maybe that's something you could do. Maybe the altars are places like I've shared, the Chapel, the prayer room, or on a rock ledge over looking the forest.
Where has God spoken to you? Mark the spot, and return to it as needed. May you never forget the promises God has made to you. And may you never lose the spot where the promise was given. Build an altar.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God speaks, and Abram builds and altar. He marks the spot where God communicated with him and made a promise. He sets a monument up as a marker to what has taken place. What are the altars in your life?
I had a professor in college who built an altar. Every time God did something for his family, they added a stone to it. Maybe that's something you could do. Maybe the altars are places like I've shared, the Chapel, the prayer room, or on a rock ledge over looking the forest.
Where has God spoken to you? Mark the spot, and return to it as needed. May you never forget the promises God has made to you. And may you never lose the spot where the promise was given. Build an altar.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Selfless
"So Abram said to Lot, 'Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.' Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom." -Genesis 13.8-12
Abram and his nephew has grown wealthy. They have great flocks and herds, so great that the land cannot support both of them. Quarrels begin to break out between the herdsmen, and Abram wants to avoid family quarrels. And so he proposes a separation. The land has been promised to him by God, but we see here the selflessness of a man.
He allows Lot to choose. Abram doesn't demand where he could have. He's the elder of the two, Lot is his nephew. This alone gives him seniority in the matter. But on top of that, God has promised the land to Abram, Lot is no where in the picture of the promise. The whole land is Abram's, and yet, we don't see him force his right. Rather he selflessly offers the choice to his nephew.
Humans are naturally and innately selfish, that just the simply truth. We don't have to learn the words "No" or "Mine" they come quite naturally to us when we are children, and they are words we usually never forget. But a real man doesn't demand things go his way.
Marriage has been a great teacher for me in this. When I was single I did what I wanted, went where I wanted, bought what I wanted. Then I got married and all of that changed. Now life is no longer about me, but we. There is another opinion I need to seek. Another person with opinions, passions, and desires that I need to take into account. And as the family grows, it becomes all the more important.
Where are you demanding your way and your rights? What damage is it doing. We'll see shortly the damage it causes Lot and his family. But the way of selflessness leads only to peace and blessings. There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing my wife happy. That is what selflessness accomplishes.
We live one of two ways, selfishly, or selflessly, which way do you choose?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Abram and his nephew has grown wealthy. They have great flocks and herds, so great that the land cannot support both of them. Quarrels begin to break out between the herdsmen, and Abram wants to avoid family quarrels. And so he proposes a separation. The land has been promised to him by God, but we see here the selflessness of a man.
He allows Lot to choose. Abram doesn't demand where he could have. He's the elder of the two, Lot is his nephew. This alone gives him seniority in the matter. But on top of that, God has promised the land to Abram, Lot is no where in the picture of the promise. The whole land is Abram's, and yet, we don't see him force his right. Rather he selflessly offers the choice to his nephew.
Humans are naturally and innately selfish, that just the simply truth. We don't have to learn the words "No" or "Mine" they come quite naturally to us when we are children, and they are words we usually never forget. But a real man doesn't demand things go his way.
Marriage has been a great teacher for me in this. When I was single I did what I wanted, went where I wanted, bought what I wanted. Then I got married and all of that changed. Now life is no longer about me, but we. There is another opinion I need to seek. Another person with opinions, passions, and desires that I need to take into account. And as the family grows, it becomes all the more important.
Where are you demanding your way and your rights? What damage is it doing. We'll see shortly the damage it causes Lot and his family. But the way of selflessness leads only to peace and blessings. There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing my wife happy. That is what selflessness accomplishes.
We live one of two ways, selfishly, or selflessly, which way do you choose?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, January 24, 2014
Return
"He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord." -Genesis 13.3-4
After the incident in Egypt Pharaoh sends Abram away. He leaves Egypt and moves back towards the land God has promised him. And finally he comes back to the beginning, to the place where he first pitched his tents. The place where he first built an altar and called on the name of the Lord (Genesis 12.8). He returns to this place, and again calls on the name of the Lord.
Abram goes back to the place where it all began, the place where he first built the altar, and there he seeks the direction of God again. What are the places in your life like that?
When I was in college I had two spots on campus that I would go to and seek God, places where He had spoken to me before, places of significance. One was the Chapel, a large room with gorgeous stained glass windows. I'd go when no one else was there, and I'd find a spot up in the balcony where I could just sit in the darkness, the only light coming through the windows, and be alone with God. I have so many memories of encounters with God in this room, it was natural to seek Him there.
The second was a smaller venue, a little room, maybe 10 x 8, that we used as a prayer room for weeks of constant prayer. I'd spent many hours there reading the Scriptures and crying out to God. He'd spoken to me there and given me guidance. Part of me really misses these places, the "altars" in my life.
Now, to be clear, I don't have to be in either of those places to seek God. I can seek Him anywhere, and every where I encounter Him can be a new "altar". I have a newer one, though it's outside, and inaccessible right now. The only significance to the places is that they are places where God has spoken to me. That is why they built altars, to commemorate God speaking or acting on their behalf.
We need places like this in our lives. Places we can return to and remember what God has spoken to us. Where are your altars? Return to them, and connect with God again. And seek Him where you are now, build new ones.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
After the incident in Egypt Pharaoh sends Abram away. He leaves Egypt and moves back towards the land God has promised him. And finally he comes back to the beginning, to the place where he first pitched his tents. The place where he first built an altar and called on the name of the Lord (Genesis 12.8). He returns to this place, and again calls on the name of the Lord.
Abram goes back to the place where it all began, the place where he first built the altar, and there he seeks the direction of God again. What are the places in your life like that?
When I was in college I had two spots on campus that I would go to and seek God, places where He had spoken to me before, places of significance. One was the Chapel, a large room with gorgeous stained glass windows. I'd go when no one else was there, and I'd find a spot up in the balcony where I could just sit in the darkness, the only light coming through the windows, and be alone with God. I have so many memories of encounters with God in this room, it was natural to seek Him there.
The second was a smaller venue, a little room, maybe 10 x 8, that we used as a prayer room for weeks of constant prayer. I'd spent many hours there reading the Scriptures and crying out to God. He'd spoken to me there and given me guidance. Part of me really misses these places, the "altars" in my life.
Now, to be clear, I don't have to be in either of those places to seek God. I can seek Him anywhere, and every where I encounter Him can be a new "altar". I have a newer one, though it's outside, and inaccessible right now. The only significance to the places is that they are places where God has spoken to me. That is why they built altars, to commemorate God speaking or acting on their behalf.
We need places like this in our lives. Places we can return to and remember what God has spoken to us. Where are your altars? Return to them, and connect with God again. And seek Him where you are now, build new ones.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Self-Preservation
"It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, 'See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, "This is his wife"; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.'" -Genesis 12.11-13
Here we see one of the classic traits of humanity, that of self-preservation. What is it about life that we cling so desperately to it, even at the expense of others? Here Abram travels to yet another foreign land in order to escape famine in the land God has promised him. But forgetting the promises God has just made him, he fears for his life because his wife was a beautiful woman. And so to save his own skin he asks her to lie, and in that puts her at risk. When we seek to save ourselves, others are put at unnecessary risk.
And yet how many times have we done this as men? In an attempt to save a job, we lie and throw someone else under the bus. In an attempt to save face, we ask someone else to jeopardize their own reputation. We sacrifice morals and values, just to try and save something. We risk more than we have to gain.
Near the end of Kingdom of Heaven Saladin has laid siege to Jerusalem unsuccessfully, and is ready to discuss surrender. The Bishop, Patriarch of Jerusalem, says to Balian, "Convert to Islam... repent later!" He is a coward of a man, who seeks only to preserve his life. Earlier he tries to convince Balian to flee the city with the other nobles, abandoning the people. This is the way of the coward. Self-preservation is a cowardly act.
A man does not seek to save and preserve his own life, as the Bishop, or Abram do. A man chooses as Balian did, to stand in defense of the helpless, no matter the cost to him. He is not afraid of death if it means saving the lives of others. A man puts his own life at risk before the life of anyone else. He takes the risks, and embraces the consequences of his actions and choices.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Here we see one of the classic traits of humanity, that of self-preservation. What is it about life that we cling so desperately to it, even at the expense of others? Here Abram travels to yet another foreign land in order to escape famine in the land God has promised him. But forgetting the promises God has just made him, he fears for his life because his wife was a beautiful woman. And so to save his own skin he asks her to lie, and in that puts her at risk. When we seek to save ourselves, others are put at unnecessary risk.
And yet how many times have we done this as men? In an attempt to save a job, we lie and throw someone else under the bus. In an attempt to save face, we ask someone else to jeopardize their own reputation. We sacrifice morals and values, just to try and save something. We risk more than we have to gain.
Near the end of Kingdom of Heaven Saladin has laid siege to Jerusalem unsuccessfully, and is ready to discuss surrender. The Bishop, Patriarch of Jerusalem, says to Balian, "Convert to Islam... repent later!" He is a coward of a man, who seeks only to preserve his life. Earlier he tries to convince Balian to flee the city with the other nobles, abandoning the people. This is the way of the coward. Self-preservation is a cowardly act.
A man does not seek to save and preserve his own life, as the Bishop, or Abram do. A man chooses as Balian did, to stand in defense of the helpless, no matter the cost to him. He is not afraid of death if it means saving the lives of others. A man puts his own life at risk before the life of anyone else. He takes the risks, and embraces the consequences of his actions and choices.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Promise from God
"The Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your descendants I will give this land.' So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him." -Genesis 12.7
Abram left home, and followed God west, until they come to the land of promise. They reach the land of Canaan, and there God says, "This is the place, we're here, but it is not yet time." So Abram builds and altar to mark the spot where God appeared to Him and made the promise.
What promises has God made to you? What things has He laid on your heart that He will accomplish in you and through you? What have you done to mark them?
I've been out of professional ministry for since August 2012, and part of me has wondered if I'll ever get to do it again. I've had times of great doubt and frustration. Part of me has thought about just giving up, and finding something else to do for the next thirty odd years of my life. But part of me just can't let it go.
I still believe God is leading me back into a Church leadership role. I don't know what, when, or where, but I can't escape the prompting and passion of my heart. Again, this is part of my journey into the unknown with God.
As I've struggled with what to do, whether to stay the course, or change directions, I've thought about the "altars" in my life. I've had many people affirm the call on my life, even when I've felt it the least. My Bible has words of wisdom and encouragement written by professors and pastors who have walked with me and guided me. But those words can only take you so far. It comes down to the moments when God has spoken.
What has God spoken to you? What marks the moment? Listen to God, and cling to His promises. Build an altar.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Abram left home, and followed God west, until they come to the land of promise. They reach the land of Canaan, and there God says, "This is the place, we're here, but it is not yet time." So Abram builds and altar to mark the spot where God appeared to Him and made the promise.
What promises has God made to you? What things has He laid on your heart that He will accomplish in you and through you? What have you done to mark them?
I've been out of professional ministry for since August 2012, and part of me has wondered if I'll ever get to do it again. I've had times of great doubt and frustration. Part of me has thought about just giving up, and finding something else to do for the next thirty odd years of my life. But part of me just can't let it go.
I still believe God is leading me back into a Church leadership role. I don't know what, when, or where, but I can't escape the prompting and passion of my heart. Again, this is part of my journey into the unknown with God.
As I've struggled with what to do, whether to stay the course, or change directions, I've thought about the "altars" in my life. I've had many people affirm the call on my life, even when I've felt it the least. My Bible has words of wisdom and encouragement written by professors and pastors who have walked with me and guided me. But those words can only take you so far. It comes down to the moments when God has spoken.
What has God spoken to you? What marks the moment? Listen to God, and cling to His promises. Build an altar.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Blessed to be a Blessing
"And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." -Genesis 12.2-3
A few years ago I had a rare opportunity for a protestant minister. I got to deliver a message in a Catholic church. It was part of a community Thanksgiving service, and as the new guy in town, I got the task of speaking. It was a bit of an overwhelming week, but looking back, I'm glad I got to do it, because how many protestants get an opportunity like that?
I used this passage from Genesis. In our world today there is a lot of teaching on what is called the Prosperity Gospel. It's the idea that God blesses us for our comfort and happiness. In a sense, God blesses you for you. But the more I think about it, the more I realize how messed up that point of view is. As clearly see here in Genesis 12, God blesses us so that we can in turn bless others.
God says to Abram, "I will bless you, and in you everyone else will be blessed." Abram isn't blessed for his own comfort and well being, he is blessed so that he can be a blessing. Ultimately this blessing comes in the person of Jesus Christ, who brought salvation for the world. But there is also the call, and the commission, to bless others in any way that we can.
My wife and I have finally gotten to a point in life where we can begin to get on our feet. All part of the journey into the unknown we're on. But as we've gotten to this new position, we started it with a prayer "God, help us to be as generous as we always said we would be."
We've always talked about wanting to help people, but financially we were never in a position to really be able to do much. When you make next to nothing, and from that nothing have to live, and pay off student loans, there isn't much left. To clarify, we did do what we could even then, but now we're at the point where we can do more. And so we want our focus to be, "God help us to bless others with what You have blessed us with."
God doesn't bless us so that we can hoard and stock pile. He blesses us so that we can bless. What has God blessed you with? How can you take that and bless someone else? You have been blessed to be a blessing.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
A few years ago I had a rare opportunity for a protestant minister. I got to deliver a message in a Catholic church. It was part of a community Thanksgiving service, and as the new guy in town, I got the task of speaking. It was a bit of an overwhelming week, but looking back, I'm glad I got to do it, because how many protestants get an opportunity like that?
I used this passage from Genesis. In our world today there is a lot of teaching on what is called the Prosperity Gospel. It's the idea that God blesses us for our comfort and happiness. In a sense, God blesses you for you. But the more I think about it, the more I realize how messed up that point of view is. As clearly see here in Genesis 12, God blesses us so that we can in turn bless others.
God says to Abram, "I will bless you, and in you everyone else will be blessed." Abram isn't blessed for his own comfort and well being, he is blessed so that he can be a blessing. Ultimately this blessing comes in the person of Jesus Christ, who brought salvation for the world. But there is also the call, and the commission, to bless others in any way that we can.
My wife and I have finally gotten to a point in life where we can begin to get on our feet. All part of the journey into the unknown we're on. But as we've gotten to this new position, we started it with a prayer "God, help us to be as generous as we always said we would be."
We've always talked about wanting to help people, but financially we were never in a position to really be able to do much. When you make next to nothing, and from that nothing have to live, and pay off student loans, there isn't much left. To clarify, we did do what we could even then, but now we're at the point where we can do more. And so we want our focus to be, "God help us to bless others with what You have blessed us with."
God doesn't bless us so that we can hoard and stock pile. He blesses us so that we can bless. What has God blessed you with? How can you take that and bless someone else? You have been blessed to be a blessing.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, January 20, 2014
Trust and Follow
"Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you;'... So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him;" -Genesis 12.1, 4a
God says to Abram, "Go, leave all that is familiar and secure, and follow me into the unknown." And Abram does it. Back in Genesis 4 Cain was told to wander. He was sentenced to a life of trust and dependence upon God, and he builds a city instead. But now we see Abram, a man in his mid seventies, being told to pack up and leave everything familiar, and follow a God whom he has never met before. But he does it.
How many of us would go? Abram at least got a heads up that the journey was beginning, sometimes we don't even get that. For almost a year and a half my wife and I have been on a journey into the unknown. Recently we've gotten some insight on how long this journey will last, but we still don't know where we are being led yet. But in the past several months we've learned to trust and follow God.
I think that's really what the beginning of the journey is all about, do you trust God enough to follow Him? I can tell you this much, the ultimate destination is never given to us. I've heard that it's because if we knew at the beginning the full scope of what was in store we wouldn't have the courage to take the first steps. But I think a bigger part of it is that if we knew where we were going, we wouldn't need the same faith and trust to get there.
God says, "Go where I will show you." Not go here to this specific place, but go where I will show you. God is leading us into the unknown. Faith is required with each step, and the journey contains trials we will be ready for when we reach them. But we must be willing to trust and follow, or we'll simply stay at home on the couch, watching others adventure on TV.
I don't want to watch others live, I want to live myself. Recently God has begun to give me some more directions, but it wasn't until I decided to trust Him that He could begin to lead me where we're going. I'm on a journey with God into the unknown. It isn't easy, and it isn't always happy, but I'm excited to see where the road leads.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God says to Abram, "Go, leave all that is familiar and secure, and follow me into the unknown." And Abram does it. Back in Genesis 4 Cain was told to wander. He was sentenced to a life of trust and dependence upon God, and he builds a city instead. But now we see Abram, a man in his mid seventies, being told to pack up and leave everything familiar, and follow a God whom he has never met before. But he does it.
How many of us would go? Abram at least got a heads up that the journey was beginning, sometimes we don't even get that. For almost a year and a half my wife and I have been on a journey into the unknown. Recently we've gotten some insight on how long this journey will last, but we still don't know where we are being led yet. But in the past several months we've learned to trust and follow God.
I think that's really what the beginning of the journey is all about, do you trust God enough to follow Him? I can tell you this much, the ultimate destination is never given to us. I've heard that it's because if we knew at the beginning the full scope of what was in store we wouldn't have the courage to take the first steps. But I think a bigger part of it is that if we knew where we were going, we wouldn't need the same faith and trust to get there.
God says, "Go where I will show you." Not go here to this specific place, but go where I will show you. God is leading us into the unknown. Faith is required with each step, and the journey contains trials we will be ready for when we reach them. But we must be willing to trust and follow, or we'll simply stay at home on the couch, watching others adventure on TV.
I don't want to watch others live, I want to live myself. Recently God has begun to give me some more directions, but it wasn't until I decided to trust Him that He could begin to lead me where we're going. I'm on a journey with God into the unknown. It isn't easy, and it isn't always happy, but I'm excited to see where the road leads.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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