Believe, Trust and Obey!

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead – since he was about a hundred years old – and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.” Romans 4:18-21

I am so inspired by the scriptures above and I hope you are too!  I don’t know what you are facing today but I do know that NOTHING is too hard for the LORD! (Genesis 18:14)

The Bible says that Abraham, against all hope, seeing that his situation was as good as dead, did not waver through unbelief but instead was strengthened in his faith!! Abraham was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He said He would do!

For 24 years Abraham had heard  - and believed – the same promise: One day he would become the father of a son who would found the nation of promise. When Abram was 99 years old, God spoke to Abraham and made the promise plain that he had promised years earlier: “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” Genesis 17:21

The father and mother were named, the child was named, and the time was named! Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90 years old when Isaac was born!

“When Abraham was physically beyond any hope of having a child, he based his hope on God’s promises instead. He believed that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars of the heavens, because the All-Powerful God had promised it.” Commentary

“Abraham never doubted that God would fulfill his promise. Abraham’s life was marked by mistakes, sins, and failures as well as by wisdom and goodness, but he consistently trusted God. His example of faith was strengthened by the obstacles he faced, and his life was an example of faith in action. If he had looked only at his own resources, he would have given up in despair. But Abraham looked to God, obeyed Him, and waited for God to fulfill His word.” Commentary

How about us? What are we basing our hope on? Is there a situation in your life that seems as good as dead and is against all hope?

Let’s ask ourselves this question, “Am I only looking to my own resources or am I looking to God, obeying Him, and waiting for God to fulfill His Word?”

“Within God’s unconditional promises, God made demands. He commanded Abram and Sarai to leave their home and their extended family to go to a new land (Genesis 12:1). He commanded them to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2), to walk before Him and be blameless (Genesis 17:1), and to circumcise the males in their household as a sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:10). Although God’s promises were unconditional, Abrams’ temporal participation in God’s blessing was conditioned on his faithfulness and his obedience to God’s commands. Abram withstood the test – he believed and obeyed (Genesis 15:6; 22: 1-18).” Commentary

Let’s be encouraged! Let’s be faithful to what God has called us to do no matter how hopeless the situation may be and/or no matter how long the wait!  Let’s be fully persuaded that nothing is too difficult for God! 

May we receive the reward that comes when we are fully trusting, obedient and fully believing in the His Son Jesus Christ!

"For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Romans 4:3

Conquerors!

“….IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US.” Romans 8:37

In Romans 8:37, God gives us a promise that I believe we sometimes forget - we are conquerors through Him! Do you feel like a conqueror today or do you feel like you have been the one who has been conquered? 

“The people we meet every day are harassed by demands and deadlines; bruised by worry, adversity, and failure; broken by disillusionment; and defeated by sin. They live somewhere between dull discouragement and sheer panic. Even Christians are not immune! We may give off this “I’ve got it all together” air of confidence, but realistically, we also struggle, lose our balance, slip and slide, tumble and fall flat on our faces.

All of us need encouragement – somebody to believe in us. To reassure and reinforce us. To help us pick up the pieces and go on. To provide us with increased determination in spite of the odds.” Charles Swindoll

The Bible says that God is the source of every comfort, consolation and encouragement! (2 Corinthians 1:3)

May I encourage you today through the promises of God’s Word? 

Whatever situation is causing you to struggle, lose your balance, slip and slide, tumble or cause you to become disillusioned, remember this.....through HIM you are an overcomer! An overcomer is someone who prevails over the situation! 

Yes, we will have trouble walking here on earth but through Christ, IN ALL THESE THINGS, the Bible says we are more than conquerors! 

We are not just conquerors – we are MORE than conquerors! We are the children of the most High, we are His beloved and we are written on the palms of His Hands! (Isaiah 49:16)

Looking K-C-A-B to Move FORWARD!

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your Hand will guide me, your right Hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:9-10

Have you ever taken the time to look back and see all of God’s faithfulness in your life?

Sometimes we can become discouraged or maybe even a little ungrateful because in our minds we are not where we thought we should be or we are not where we want to be or we have not accomplished the things that we have desired to accomplish.

I have found that if I take a few moments and look back on my life with a grateful heart, I see the long road that God has graciously allowed me to travel on.

I see the times that God has redirected me from the path that I thought was best.

I see all the precious people that God has lovingly placed along my path – people who have taught me, loved me, comforted me, prayed for me and encouraged me - people that I would not have otherwise met.

I see His light shining brightly in the times of my darkest moments to give me hope.

I see His grace covering all of my mistakes – from the smallest to the biggest!

I see how He used even the worst of trials to bring me to a place of peace.

When we are feeling discouraged and wondering if God has forgotten us, let’s look back and reflect on all the times that God has protected us, provided for us, guided us, sustained us, blessed us, healed us, trained us and loved us!

Now with grateful hearts and a renewed spirit, let’s continue to move FORWARD confidently, courageously and decisively knowing that God’s hand is upon us and that our best days are still before us!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Unspoken Language

Psychologists estimate that between 60% and 80% of all of our communication with other people is non-verbal. We communicate with our face, our hands, and even our body. We show our feelings, attitudes, moods, hopes and wishes far better with non-verbal language than with words. 

Below is a great story of how our attitude is not only reflected by our body language but by the expression that is on our faces!

"During his days as president, Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the country on horseback. They came to a river that had left its banks because of a recent downpour. The swollen river had washed the bridge away. Each rider was forced to ford the river on horseback, fighting for his life against the rapid currents. Each rider was threatened with the very real possibility of death, which caused a traveler who was not part of their group to step aside and watch. After several had plunged in and made it to the other side, the stranger asked President Jefferson if he would carry him across the river. The president agreed without hesitation. The man climbed on, and shortly thereafter the two of them made it safely to the other side. As the stranger slid off the back of the horse onto dry ground, one in the group asked him, "Tell me, why did you select the president to ask this favor?" The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the president who had helped him. "All I know", he said, "is that on some of your faces was a written the answer 'No,' and on some of them the answer 'Yes." His was a 'Yes' face." (From the book, Great Attitudes! by, Charles Swindoll.)

What kind of expression is on our faces today? Or maybe a more telling question would be, "Are we filled with hope or filled with despair?" 

Can you imagine looking into the face of Jesus! Try to imagine what you would be seeing. I believe we would see a "Yes" face. I believe the expression on Jesus' face is love, hope, peace, kindness and strength - to name a few! 

I have noticed that when I spend time praying to the Lord, afterwards my entire countenance changes. I am more gentler, more hopeful, kinder and more patient. My attitude is one of hope! I believe this change in my attitude and disposition is due to my time spent in His Presence. 

When we pray, we are approaching the Throne of Grace and The God of All Comfort. We are receiving from Him the mercy, grace and help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). During our times of prayer and praise to Him, we are exchanging our weaknesses for His strength - our worry for His peace - our limited and fearful tendencies for His truth, His confidence, His promises and His unlimited understanding!

"What's the secret of a great attitude? Choice." Charles Swindoll

May we choose to spend time with God today and every day and may our choice to spend time with Him result in giving us a "Yes" face - especially to those who are hurting and are in need! 

"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures FOREVERmore." Psalm 16:11

Fear Magnified = No Go

“But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.” Numbers 14:24-25

God was preparing His people to enter the promise land. In preparation, the Lord asked Moses to send out twelve men to spy out the land of Canaan – a land that God promised to His children – a land that was flowing with milk and honey (Numbers 13:1). One of the twelve men sent out to spy the land was named Caleb.

When the twelve men went out to spy out the land, they saw that the land was truly flowing with milk and honey just as God had said. 

“When they reached the valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.” Numbers 13:25-27

The land was rich, fertile and bountiful and the Lord promised that it would be theirs - a place where they could build their homes and raise their families. However when the twelve men came back to give their account to Moses, this is what ten of the twelve men said in Numbers 13:27-28, “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is the fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.”  We even saw descendants of Anak there.” (The descendants of Anak were a race of abnormally large people.)

Ten of the twelve men came back with fear in their hearts as they reported back their observations of the land. However, two of the men named Caleb and Joshua, came back as they went, with the same trust and confidence in God that they left with.

As the ten men began expressing their fears to the community, this was how Caleb responded, “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (Numbers 13:30)

“Caleb was not so much a man of great faith as a man of faith in a GREAT God! His boldness rested on his understanding of God, not on his confidence in Israel’s abilities to conquer the land. He could NOT agree with the majority, for that would be to disagree with God.” Commentary

Unfortunately, the ten men were effective in discouraging the entire community to trust their fears and not trust God. The fearful community wept, and conspired together in despair to select a new leader to take them back to Egypt where they were once in slavery. How tragic when our fears are magnified and our God is minimized!

In response to the community’s foolish decision, Moses, Aaron (Moses’ right hand man), Joshua and Caleb also wept but they wept for the sins of the people against the Lord.

“Isn’t it interesting that people, could see the exact same sights – the same grapes, the same strong men, the same land, the same cities – but one can come away singing in faith, and the other is filled with a sense of certain doom. Ultimately, faith or unbelief does not spring from circumstances or environment, but from our hearts.” Commentary

Are we singing in faith or we filled with a sense of certain doom?

Although none of the people who rejected God entered the land, God allowed their children to inherit the land forty years later!  God also made it a point to single out the faith of Caleb and Joshua.

 “Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb and Joshua.” Numbers 14:30

In fact, God also made it a point to distinguish Caleb as a man who had a “different spirit”.  Caleb followed God wholeheartedly and God noticed him and rewarded him and his descendants!

I found the following commentary very interesting:

“Their unbelieving response was a potent combination of truth, lies and exaggeration.

-       It was true from a human perspective that the people in the land were stronger than them – but to say, “we are not able to go up against the people” was a lie. (Numbers 13:31)

-       It was true that they had gone through the land – but to say, “a land that devours its inhabitants” was a lie. (Numbers 13:32)

-       Each of the statements, “all the men whom we saw in the land are men of great stature” or “the giants” and “we were like grasshoppers” were all terrible exaggerations, plain and simple lies. (Numbers 13:33)

Unbelief often presents itself as being “factual” or “practical” or “down to earth.” Yet the most factual, practical, and down to earth thing we can do is to trust the Word of the Living God. Their unbelief was not according to the facts, but despite the facts.” Commentary

I have noticed that at times when I am afraid, I turn my fears into exaggerated giants.

Let’s not magnify our fears but instead let’s be like Caleb and trust the Word of the Living God! In believing God's Word, let’s say what Caleb said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it!"

When I Say.....

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus


I was so blessed when I heard this poem today - I want to share it with you!

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting, "I've been saved!"
I'm whispering "I get lost sometimes
That's why I chose this way"

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I don't speak with human pride
I'm confessing that I stumble -
needing God to be my Guide

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong
I'm professing that I'm weak
and pray for strength to carry on

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting that I've failed
and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I don't think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
asking humbly to be taught

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible
but God believes I'm worth it

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache
which is why I seek God's Name

When I say, "I am a Christian" 
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority
I only know I'm loved

By Carol Wimmer

God loves you so much! It was never intended that you should go through life alone. Instead, Jesus wants to be your Guide on this journey called life. 

Remember that you are always on His mind and He is acquainted with all of your ways! 

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand." Psalm 139:17-18

"You are acquainted with ALL my ways." 
Psalm 139:3b

Check Your Chain

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Not long ago, I watched something that fascinated me and I want to share it with you. Perhaps you have heard of this before: “The Butterfly Effect”.

The Butterfly Effect is a term used in chaos theory to describe how small changes to a seemingly unrelated thing or condition (also known as an initial condition) can affect large, complex systems.  The name of the effect, coined by Edward Lorenz, a mathematician and meteorologist is derived from the theoretical example of a hurricane’s formation being contingent on whether or not a distant butterfly had flapped its wings several weeks earlier. WOW! CAN YOU IMAGINE!

Similarly, in human behavior, it is possible for one small action, taken by one person, to result in changing the lives of millions if not billions of people.  In other words, your life makes a difference and God can use your life to change the world one small action at a time.

Let me share with you an example of the Butterfly Effect taken from Greg Laurie’s book, A Passion for God. Although Greg Laurie does not use the term “The Butterfly Effect”, you will see how the faithfulness of one person’s action can, as Greg Laurie says, “Cause God’s Divine Domino Effect”.

“It all began when Edward Kimble felt the tugging of the Spirit to share his faith with a young shoe salesman he knew. At first Kimble vacillated, unsure if he should talk to the man. But he finally mustered his courage and went into the shoe store. There Kimble found the salesman in the back room stocking shoes, and he began to share his faith with him. As a result, the young shoe salesman prayed and received Jesus Christ that day. That shoe salesman’s name was Dwight L. Moody, and he became the greatest evangelist of his generation.

But the story doesn’t end there. Several years later a pastor and well-known author by the named of Frederick B. Meyer heard Moody preach. Meyer was so deeply stirred by Moody’s preaching that he himself embarked on a far-reaching evangelistic ministry. Once when Meyer was preaching a college student named Wilbur Chapman accepted Christ as a result of his presentation of the gospel. Chapman later employed a baseball player to help him prepare to conduct an evangelistic crusade. That ballplayer, who later became a powerful evangelist himself, was Billy Sunday.

Years later, a group of businessmen invited Billy Sunday to hold a evangelistic campaign in Charlotte, North Carolina, which resulted in many people coming to Christ. The businessmen were so touched by Sunday’s preaching that they brought in another evangelist, Mordecai Ham, to hold another crusade. Ham’s crusade went well, even though it did not have many converts. On one of the last nights of the meetings, however, one tall, lanky young man walked up the aisle to receive Christ. That man’s name was Billy Graham.

Talk about a chain of events! And it all started with an ordinary Christian named Edward Kimble, who reached D.L. Moody, who reached Wilbur Chapman, who reached Billy Sunday, who reached Mordecai Ham, who reached Billy Graham. Look at what God has done over these many years because of the faithfulness of one person.”

How are we impacting our chain? Imagine what God is doing through your faithfulness! Everything we do – sets off a chain of events that God uses to accomplish His purposes.

Nothing you do is insignificant – nothing! If the flutter of a butterfly wing can somehow change the molecules in the air that can be felt in another state, can you imagine what your faithfulness to your Lord, to your family, to your friends, to your employer will do in the life’s of others?!

Every action you take, every word of encouragement, every prayer you prayed, every smile you gave, every person you forgave, every test you took, every assignment you took on, every day you purposed to work, every time you spent your “time” mentoring others or caring for others or helping others or providing for others, set off a chain of events, whether intentional or unintentional, that can have long reaching effects.

The beautiful part of following God is knowing the promise He gives to His children in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Never forget how valuable your life is! Your life makes a difference! What you are doing today, may change the world tomorrow! 

 "You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it." Psalm 139:5-6