Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. – Philippians 4:11, KJV There are so many lessons to be learned from Genesis 3:1-6. But I had a new one (at least for me) brought to my attention by my friend, Dan, who taught our Sunday School class… Continue reading Don’t take the bait of discontentment.
Category: Guidance
Sometimes you just have to say, ‘No.’
It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food. – Acts 6:2, AMP If you are a caring person of integrity, you will yearn to help people in… Continue reading Sometimes you just have to say, ‘No.’
Confused about what to do? Submit your will to God’s, and things will clear up for you.
If any man desires to do His will (God’s pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God… – John 7:17, AMP During a recent missions conference held at our church, a young man asked missionary Kris Blumer how to choose between two… Continue reading Confused about what to do? Submit your will to God’s, and things will clear up for you.
Be mindful of who you join forces with.
Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. – 2 Chronicles 19:2, AMP In 2 Chronicles 18 we find Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the righteous king of Judah, fighting together against the people of Ramoth-gilead. By the end of chapter 18, Ramoth-gilead was victorious, and Ahab was… Continue reading Be mindful of who you join forces with.
Once God has given you the go-ahead, get on with the work He’s told you to do.
Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee. – 1 Chronicles 22:16, KJV The movie Shenandoah, starring the late Jimmy Stewart, tells the story of widower farmer Charlie Anderson and his family during Civil War times. Although not an overtly Christian movie, the story demonstrates how the prideful Charlie learns just how… Continue reading Once God has given you the go-ahead, get on with the work He’s told you to do.
God’s not terribly excited when you rely on yourself.
And God was displeased with this [reliance on human resources], and He smote Israel. – 1 Chronicles 21:7, Amplified Bible Most Christians don’t have a clue how irritated God gets when we rely on ourselves rather than on Him. Consider 1 Chronicles 21. In this passage, King David instructed his captain, Joab, to take a… Continue reading God’s not terribly excited when you rely on yourself.
Why don’t you wait until God can join you?
Then they were quite willing and glad for Him to come into the boat. – John 6:21, Amplified Bible We make the Christian life harder than it needs to be. In John 6, Jesus had just finished feeding the five thousand. In order to avoid being seized and made king after this miracle, Jesus withdrew… Continue reading Why don’t you wait until God can join you?
Hold on to God while the fog clears.
Life can be confusing at times. Although we can be confused when good things are happening to us, the confusion surrounding such times isn’t problematic; it’s welcome. It is the confusion that surrounds the hard times in life that is difficult to bear, and when assaulted by such confusion, we need something sure to hold… Continue reading Hold on to God while the fog clears.
God would rather you not rebuild Jericho.
In his days, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho… – 1 Kings 16:34, Amplified Bible Merriam-Webster.com defines the word “stronghold” as a “a fortified place” or “a place of security or survival.” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold) The word “fortification” is derived from the Latin words fortis, or “strong,” and facere, or “to make.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stronghold) So, the intent of a… Continue reading God would rather you not rebuild Jericho.
Watch those itching ears. They’ll get you into trouble.
…I hate him, for he never prophesies good for me, but evil. – 1 Kings 22:8, Amplified Bible Years ago we had a missionary visit our church who told us about one of the many interesting plane rides he had experienced in his career. During the flight he was seated next to a man from… Continue reading Watch those itching ears. They’ll get you into trouble.