The Sovereignty of God

If any of you are anything like me…human, then you have experienced some things that to you were evil and harsh.  Those things could have changed your life for the worse.  They also could have caused you bodily harm or sickness.  When “life” in this world happens, it can send us down a path that we never thought we would go.  Whatever your story might be, I am sure if there was a person involved in that life changing experience, then you might have a hard time forgiving them. Sometimes that person is our self, and we have to forgive ourselves for the choices that we have made. 

As I read the story of Joseph again, these versus stand out to me and minister to me once again about the sovereignty of God.

Genesis 45:4-8 “Come closer to me,” Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. “I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don’t feel badly, don’t blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn’t you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt. The Message

I am always so amazed at the wisdom that can come with a humble heart, perseverance and an understanding that our steps are ordered in the Lord. Is this an easy lesson to learn? Is waiting on and trusting God, no matter how hard the situation easy? Do we always see these things clearly at the beginning, and when we are going through? The answer is “NO” to all of these. But the hope is in Jesus, and the power to get to this place that Joseph gets to in Genesis 45:5 is by the Holy Spirit. God will not leave us or forsake us. He has a plan that shows that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Join me today and in this year called 2013 as we trust God and His sovereignty more and more each day. 

Thank you Lord for your unfailing love and endless grace. Amen.

In Position for a Miracle

We as Christians try to encourage one another when the issues of life try and bring us down.  That is what we are supposed to do.  The Lord is our comforter and His Word says that we are to comfort one another as He has comforted us.  The thought that popped into my mind this morning is that when our sisters and brothers in the Lord are in a tough situation and we say things like, “you are in the perfect position for God to show up and do a miracle”, do we really understand how difficult the position the person is really in if that is true?

If that is true, then that person is potentially in peril for their life, a Moses red sea parting moment when they would have died if God did not deliver them, or they are potentially in a situation where what they believe needs to be done is so “stupid” in the eyes of man, that they face ridicule and their faith is pushed to the limits.  Think of Joshua and the Israelites marching around the wall of Jericho and shouting, expecting the walls to fall down.  Is that sound battle strategy?

Well, I challenge you today that if you know a child of God who is really in an “only God can do it miracle moment”, that you pray for their faith to fail them not.  Pray that the Lord helps their unbelief.  Pray earnestly for them that the Word of God envelops them and girds them up so that by faith they see the salvation of the Lord.  Words of comfort and encouragement are good, but at times like these prayers of strength in faith avail much.  AMEN.

For Life

I was watching a commercial with the song by Nicki Minaj, with the words “I wish I could have this moment for life…..for life”.  First I will say that I like the song, but I have not heard all of the words, so I leave a disclaimer that I might not agree with everything she says.  But what the song really does for me is make me think of the fact that all it takes is one moment to have real “life”, life in Jesus Christ.  It also can mean that if you miss that moment, you are subject to your own devices, and the whims of the evils of this world.  The Lord God can change things in a moment.  Jesus can give you Favor “for life”.  One moment can save you from an eternity in hell, to eternity with Jesus starting that very moment. 
A moment of love
A moment of change
A moment with Jesus
A moment that saves….

Leads to endless moments of peace
Moments of comfort
Moments of joy
Moments with our Lord forevermore

You can have that moment for life.  For life.  Eternal Life.  Jesus the Christ.