Don't Forget Who is in Charge - REVDN

A brief thought.

Don't Forget Who is in Charge

And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
Jeremiah 45:5

I was told by a family member once, all they had done to get to where they were in life. They ended it by declaring, I am a survivor.

Thank God there is survival only through God's Grace and Mercy. 

The question is asked here in Jeremiah, Should you seek great things for yourself? The answer was and is as if the Lords states, don't forget I'm in the midst of your experiences and life.
What consolation this should be, having the knowledge that there is the Unseen Hand of God at work in our lives.

I. A Great Discovery
From time to time I find myself looking back in retrospect. One thing that seems to stand tall above it all, is that life has not been the way that I thought it would.
( Someone said, it's been like a box of Chocolates. You never know what you're getting ...)
I have made some great discoveries, that wasn't even considered as a young man. Jeremiah described them as disasters. I've had a few of those. Actually I've had a lot of those. 

The reasons for this are:
1. Selfishness - seeking great things for myself.
2. Scenery - ( it's just goes with the territory. ) we live in an imperfect world that has been cursed by God and full of imperfect people.
3. Sovereign's Design:
I will bring disaster.. Saith the Lord
You can search all you want, trying to figure out why such events are happening in your life, only to come to this conclusion, only God knows and why.
Isrealites were told the Path God had design for them was to Prove them, Humble them and to know what was in their heart. 

II. A Great Difficulty
The truth being echoed is this, the Lord did not promise us that life would be easy. We were convinced, it would be easy. I'm embarrass at times when I recall some of the conversations I had with myself, where I convinced myself this path I'm choosing would be easy.
There's a reason when two people stand before an altar and pledge to each other in their wedding vows I am and will be yours for better or for worse, sickness and health, richer or poorer.
It's because life is filled with great difficulty. 

III. A Great Danger: disasters
The thought, escaping with your life,seems to imply that ones life will be from time to time in jepoardy.
Paul was under great pressure, far beyond [their] ability to endure, so that [they] despaired even of life" (2 Cor 1:8)
You ever had those times, you felt like if something doesn't happen you're going to die.
David cried from the end of the earth, when his heart was overwhelmed .. Lead me to the Rock...

IV. A Great Declaration: declares the LORD
In spite of the place, people, dangers God said, he would let us escape.
My what a promise. My what proof we have of who is in charge of out Lives.
Job was and is proof
Daniel was and is proof
Three Hebrew Boys was and is proof
On and on I could go, for the list is without end.
His heart, hand and haven is far greater than our problems and places we find ourselves in.

If we are true Christians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to heaven. We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace along the way, and glory at the end all this our Savior has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no afflictions. (J C Ryle )

REV DN

 

Goals - REVDN

We all have our goals.

There are those whose goals are to be rich, others to be successful, and some to be beautiful and handsome. Then there are those who seemingly live in such a way, it's as if they have no goals. My how we should labor, to keep this from claiming our lives and years..

How long has it been since you sat and thought about what it is you're after? What are the goals in which you are pursuing?

Then ask yourself, how successful are you in achieving them.

I think it's safe in saying, the eternal should precede the temporal. Matthew sets a standard for us in Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

John revealed to us in 1Jn 4:19 What I believe should be the precedent for our life and its goals. We love him, because he first loved us.

You think the world would be a better place if this was at the first of our list?

To be lovers of Christ. Lovers of His Word, His Works, Lovers of the Wonders in which he loves?I believe it would.

A quote I came across this morning that stirred my heart in thought was by the 19th century Anglian Bishop J C Ryle. He said, Of all the things that will surprise us resurrection morning, this I believe will surprise us the most, that we did not Love the Lord more before we died!
J C Ryle.

For the time I have remaining on earth, I want to love Christ more, how about you??

Rev DN

 

Even though you're Down, Look up - REVDN

A bit of my devotion today.

Even though you're Down, Look up

Psalms 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

In these past months, I've tried by the Grace of God to put this plan to use.

In fact in all honesty I can say my days have gone better. I didn't say the days were without their challenges, but with the challenges came strength. 

We all have the same routine, every morning.
1. We Wake up:

2. We Get up:
Why not take the time to 

3. Look up:
One of the greatest bits of advice, a hero of the faith said to me was, keep your sights high..
In a time of great sorrow, Isaiah stated, when the king died, I saw the Lord high and lifted up. He said in essence, I looked up!

David in one of my favorite Psalms said,
I will lift mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.He's saying I am going to look up!
Jesus stated, If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me. In essence, if I am put in a place where men can look up, I will draw them unto me. 

Oh! The need of being near to and seeing the sacred, bleeding, resurrected, enthrone lamb!
It is a proven fact that a person will head in the direction they are looking.
What is it that you are looking at today?

Your eyes see it, your mind thinks it, your imagination dwells upon it, your soul desires it — and eventually you do it.

The hymnist said it this way, 

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” (Helen H. Lemmel, 1922)

Look up!!!

Rev DN

 

Be still and know that I am God -RevDN

PSALMS 46:10
Be still and know that I am God

For that individual that's constantly on the move and busy about with the chores and adventures of life, stillness can be be a curse. 

But for the child of God whose times are in Gods hand it can be quite rewarding.
There comes a time when instead of being busy we must be still.
A wise old preacher told me once, before there will ever be a standing for Christ, there must be sitting with Him.

1. Silliness and knowing God are inseparable.
2. Stillness and knowing God are important.
3. Stillness and knowing God are inspirational.
My the help that's received by that servant who left the business of the crowd to still away and sit at the feet of God. 

Mary fell at Jesus feet in a graveyard and said with tears and a broken heart, Lord if you'd been here my brother would not have died! 

He saw her tears and said lets go get your brother!

That which you are after, that seems unreachable. In fact it has gone from bad to worse. Have you tried finding your place at the Lord's feet with tears?
The poet said it well,

THERE IS A PLACE I GO TO REST AT THE FEET OF GOD.
THERE IS A PLACE WHERE I AM BLESSED AT THE FEET OF GOD

Rev DN

What Paul wanted the Christians at Corinth to know - RevDN

2 Cor. 1:8
For we would not brethren have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure,above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
2 Cor. 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul felt there was a need for these believers to know. Often time he resorted to this little phrase, " this know also or as he stated here in this verse before us, I would not have you to be ignorant.
There should be no reason for us to be ignorant and without knowledge.
For we have the
1. Scriptures-
2. Spirit-
3. Sermons- these messages from the like of Paul, God's servant.
Paul wanted the Christians of Corinth to know about his:

I.) Troubles: We all have them. It's a common bond that unites us as humans..The mystery that confuses many, are the troubles that meet up with Christians, Gods people..Christians have troubles.
Jesus said in the world ye shall have tribulation.

2.) His Trial- he even despaired of life. It should not go unnoticed, that even the strongest have challenges in the midst of their troubles. He lost hope, the man, the great apostle, the writer of most of the New Testament, despaired of life.

3.) His Triumph - 2 Cor 12:9
I like those 5 little words, And He said unto me!
O! The blessing of hearing God speak when you are having troubles.
Through his trials and troubles, Paul was aware of these things
A. God had selected him for these troubles
B. God had spoken unto him in his troubles
C. God had settled him in his troubles.
Through God's Grace he was made strong in his troubles.

Rev DN

Lesson from the corn seed - RevDN

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone:but if it die,it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it;and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (John 12:24-25)

1. A Prerequisite: Except a corn of wheat ... Die
In life and success for Christ, there hast to be a first. This prerequisite is death. 
Our lives are compared to a seed of corn being planted. It's not placed in the ground to live, but to die. 

In God's economy to live you must die.To receive you must release. This is totally opposite in the worlds economy. 

2. A Process:If it dies it bringeth forth much fruit.
Isn't this what we are interested in, producing and having more fruit? The dying is not for the moment, but for the days ahead, yea years and centuries later.
I read it's estimated there's about 800 kernels of corn on one ear or cob of corn. Not bad from one seed?

But the seed must be placed in the ground to never be seen again.

3. A Problem: it's getting difficult, finding those who are willing to die.
They want to be seen. Jesus Said if you are going to follow me, you must first deny yourself. (Die)
John the Baptist said in reference to Christ;
He (Christ) must Increase and I must decrease.

I heard a man say many years ago, referring to a missionary in Mexico; as good of a preacher as he is, it seems like a waste for him to be a missionary.

Give him your Dreams
Give him your Goals
Give him your Reputation
Give him your Riches
Rev DN

Jesus saw their faith - RevDB

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Mark 2:5

The Bible teaches us we are saved by grace, through faith. When Jesus looked up, He saw the faith of four men lowering a sick friend through the roof into His presence. He also saw the faith of he who needed His help
.
As then, Jesus still responds to acts of faith. Not only the faith of those who need to be saved, but the faith of those who bring them to Christ. If we are to win the lost, we must believe that Jesus will save those who we bring into His presence.

 

REV DB

 

Why This Response? - Rev TG

Musing Through Matthew- Why This Response?

Let us muse again today from Matthew 15:26 and the theme of Jesus the King.

In our text for study today we see a truth about why this response? He calls this lady crying for help a dog and tells her she’s not worthy of the children’s bread, why this response? One reason was to remind her of the fact she was a Canaanite and not a part of the chosen family. If she was given this bread it would certainly be grace that gave it. The second reason was to see what it would take to stop her from asking.

Let us not be deterred by anything when seeking His help.

Rev TG