And the patriarchs [Jacob’s sons], boiling with envy and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him. – Acts 7:9, Amplified Bible I was reminded of a great life lesson when speaking recently with a retired Army Colonel. During the conversation, the Colonel said, “One of the best pieces of advise I ever gave my children was… Continue reading God likes it when you choose not to brood.
Category: Victorious Living
Here’s the key to impacting the culture around you.
Because this was in your heart and you have not asked for riches… – 2 Chronicles 1:11, Amplified Bible We often lament the horrid spiritual state of our culture, and rightly so; it is horrid. One of the reasons it is so horrid, however, is that we Christians have done an awful job of being… Continue reading Here’s the key to impacting the culture around you.
Don’t fret the exercise of faith. It draws us closer together.
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. – John 9:6, KJV In John 9, Jesus restored sight to a man born blind from birth. For years I was puzzled as to why Jesus chose… Continue reading Don’t fret the exercise of faith. It draws us closer together.
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?
Joy is a choice.
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24, KJV When trouble comes, it is never welcome. Trouble comes to us all, and it usually comes upon us as a thief in the night – unexpectedly, suddenly, and without mercy. No matter how hard… Continue reading Joy is a choice.
God is closest to you when you make disciples.
…I am with you all the days… – Matthew 28:20 In the introduction to David Platt’s book, Follow Me, Pastor Francis Chan (author of the book, Crazy Love) wrote the following: “When people say that they don’t “feel close to Jesus,” I ask them if they are making disciples. After all, his promise to be… Continue reading God is closest to you when you make disciples.
Have the faith of a potato farmer.
…For those who honor Me I will honor… – 1 Samuel 2:30, Amplified Bible Some years ago I heard a challenging parable of two farmers. I don’t remember where I heard it or who originated it, but it goes something like this. Two farmers were staring disaster in the face as their farms languished in… Continue reading Have the faith of a potato farmer.
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.