| Archive - July 2007 God's FaithfulnessPosted Jul-31-07 07:59:14 PDT Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Jeremiah saw one ray of hope in all the sin and sorrow surrounding him: "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." God willingly responds with help when we ask. Perhaps there is some sin in your life that you thought God would not forgive. God's steadfast love and mercy is greater than any sin, and he promises forgiveness each and every time. Jeremiah knew from personal experience about God's faithfulness. God had promised the punishment would follow disobedience, and it did. But God also promised future restoration and blessing, and Jeremiah new that God would keep that promise also. Trusting in God's faithfulness day by day makes us confident in his great promises for the future. Trust Him today.
God Bless you,
J.H. Come TogetherPosted Jul-30-07 08:36:03 PDT You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm - but you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the Church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of the Abel.
Hebrews 12:18, 22-24
What a contrast between the people's terrified approach to God at Mount Sinai and their joyful approach at Mount Zion! What a difference Jesus has made! Before Jesus came, God seemed distant and threatening. After Jesus came, God welcomes us through Christ into His presence. Accept God's invitation! As Christians, we are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem right now; because Christ rules our lives, the Holy Spirit is always with us, and we experience close fellowship with God as well as other believers. God has created us as relational people who seek out and cultivate meaning relationships with others in an effort to fulfill the Great Commision and to unify the Church in Love and Unity.
God Bless you,
JH Deep ImpactPosted Jul-27-07 07:31:02 PDT For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the Lions.
Daniel 6:26-27
Nebuchadnezzar had come to believe that Israel's God was real, because of the faithfulness of Daniel and his friends. Here Darius was also convinced of God's power, because Daniel was faithful and God rescued him. Although Daniel was captive in a strange land, his devotion to God was a testimony to powerful rulers. If you find yourself a new surroundings (or wherever you are, for that matter), take the opportunity to testify about God's power in your life. Be faithful to God, so he can use you to make an impact on others.
God bless you,
JH My Refuge and StrengthPosted Jul-26-07 07:55:33 PDT If you may the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:9-11
One of the functions of angels is to watch over believers. There are examples of guardian angels in Scripture, although there is no indication that one angel is assigned to each believer. Angels can also be God's messengers. Angels are not visible, except on special occasions when it is necessary for them to be seen, such as when the Angel appeared to Mary regarding the birth of Jesus. Indeed, it is comforting to know that God watches over us even in times of great stress and fear. He is always there. No matter what.
God Bless you,
J.H. Peace to YouPosted Jul-25-07 07:19:11 PDT Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict. Jesus says he will give us that peace if we are willing to accept it from him. Indeed, the end result of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance; with Christ's peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future. If your life is full of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ's peace.
God Bless you,
J.H. The Great High PriestPosted Jul-24-07 08:00:17 PDT Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Christ is superior to the priests, and his priesthood is superior to theirs. To the Jews, the high priest was the highest religious authority in the land. He alone entered the Holy of Holies in the temple once a year to make atonement for the sins of the whole nation. Like the high priest, Jesus mediates between God and us. As humanity's representative, he intercedes for us before God. As God's representative, he assures us of God's forgiveness. Jesus has more authority than the Jewish high priests because he is truly God and truly man. Unlike the high priest who could go before God only once a year, Christ is always at God's right hand, interceding for us. He is always available to hear us when we pray.
Prayer is our approach to God, and we are to come "with confidence." Some Christians approach God meekly with heads hung low, afraid to ask him to meet their needs. Others pray flippantly, giving little thought to what they say. Come with reverence because He is your King. But also come with bold assurance because he is your Friend and your Counselor.
God Bless you,
J.H. How to be SuccessfulPosted Jul-23-07 08:03:48 PDT Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:6-9
Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria. He said that to succeed Joshua must be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy. He said to obey God's law, and constantly read and study the Book of the Law - God's Word. To be successful, follow God's words to Joshua. You may not succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes - and his opinion lasts forever. And ultimately, his opinion is all that matters.
God bless you,
J.H. The Lord of the HarvestPosted Jul-20-07 08:04:11 PDT When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Matthew 9:36-38
Ezekiel also compared Israel to sheep without a shepherd. Jesus came to be the Shepherd, the One who could show people how to avoid life's pitfalls. Jesus looked at the crowds following him and referred to them as a field ripe for harvest. Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how. Jesus commands us to pray that people will respond to this need for workers. Often, when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using us. Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to Him. Think about it. You have already gone down the road their travelling. Who better to lead the way?
God Bless you,
J.H. On ForgivenessPosted Jul-19-07 05:32:59 PDT Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life. I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
Psalm 26:1-3
By saying that he was "blameless," David was not claiming to be sinless - that is impossible for any human being to achieve. But he was consistently in fellowship with God, clearing his record when he sinned by asking for forgiveness. Here he pleads with God to clear his name of the false charges made against him by his enemies. We also can ask God to examine us, trusting Him to forgive our sins and clear our record according to His great mercy.
God Bless you,
J.H. Praying for GuidancePosted Jul-17-07 07:09:32 PDT Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love, remember me, for you are good, O Lord.
Psalm 25:4-7
David expressed his desire for guidance. How do we really receive God's guidance? The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God's primary guidance system is in his Word, the Bible. Psalm 119 tells of the endless knowledge found in God's Word. By reading it and constantly learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God's direction in our lives. We may be tempted to demand answers from God, but David asked for directions. When we are willing to seek God, learn from his Word, and obey his commands, then we will receive specific guidance.
God Bless you,
J.H. The Power of Prayer and ForgivenessPosted Jul-16-07 06:49:13 PDT Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
Christ has made it possible for us to go directly to God for forgiveness. But confessing our sins to each other still has an important place in the life of the church. If we have sinned against an individual, we must ask him or her to forgive us. If our sin has affected the church, we must confess it publicly. If we need loving support as we struggle with a sin, we should confess that sin to those who are able to provide that support. If, after confessing a private sin to God, we still don't feel His forgiveness, we may wish to confess that sin to a fellow believer to hear him or her assure us of God's pardon. In Christ's kingdom, every believer is a priest to other believers. The Christian's most powerful resource is communion with God through prayer. The results are often greater than we thought were possible. Some people see prayer as a last resort to be tried when all else fails. This approach is backward. Prayer should come first. Because God's power is infinitely greater than ours, it only makes sense to rely on it-especially because God encourages us to do so.
God bless you,
JH ForgivenessPosted Jul-12-07 07:05:24 PDT Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21
These verses summarize the core of Christian living. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God's grace, we will want to pass it onto others. And remember, Grace is undeserved favor. By giving an enemy a drink, we are not excusing his misdeeds. We are recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sins - just as Christ did for us. In this day of constant lawsuits and incessant demands for legal rights, Paul's command sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of giving him what he deserves, Paul says to befriend him. Why does Paul tell us to forgive our enemies? Because forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation that leads to mutual reconciliation. It may make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways. By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you, just as much as it hurts your enemy. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness.
God Bless you,
J.H. Freedom!Posted Jul-11-07 07:00:52 PDT As obedient children, did not conform to the evil desires you had what you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
1 Peter 1:14-16
After people commit their lives to Christ, they usually still feel a pull back to their old ways. Peter tells us to be like our heavenly Father - and holy in everything we do. Holiness means being totally devoted or dedicated to God, set aside for his special use and set apart from sin and its influence. We are to be set apart and different, not blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of being different. What makes us different are God's qualities in our lives. Our focus and priorities must be his. All this is in direct contrast to our old ways. We cannot become holy on our own, but God gives us his Holy Spirit to help us obey and give us power to overcome sin. Don't use the excuse that you can't help slipping into sin. You can always call upon God's power to free you from sin's grip. We do not be stuck in our old ways. We can be free, and free indeed!
God bless you,
J.H. God and ManPosted Jul-10-07 07:52:39 PDT For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:19-20
By this statement, Paul was refuting the Greek idea that Jesus could not be human and divine at the same time. Christ is fully human; he is also fully divine. Christ has always been God, and always will be God. When we have Christ, we have all of God in human form. Do not diminish any aspect of Christ - either his humanity or his divinity. Christ's death provided a way for all people to come to God. It cleared away the sin that keeps us from having a right relationship with our Creator. This does not mean that everyone has been saved, but that the way he has been cleared for anyone who will trust Christ to be saved. We can have peace with God and be reconciled to him by accepting Christ, who died in our place. Is there distance between you and God? Be reconciled. Come to him through Christ.
God Bless you,
J.H. Freedom!Posted Jul-09-07 07:49:28 PDT Loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke . . . then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; and your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:6,8 Freedom from sin; freedom from unforgiveness; freedom from injustice. There are many things that hold us in spiritual bondage, things that do not allow us to grow, but rather to stagnate in one place, perpetually running in circle after vicious circle. It is up to us to cast off those chains and cords by accepting what Christ has for us by faith, and make a decision for Him, each and every day. By this, we are free, and free indeed. Once we realize our freedom in Christ, we will realize what life is really all about. We realize that light, healing and righteousness that He has placed in us and that we are ultimately responsible to our gifts share with others through random and not-so-random acts of kindness. We cannot be saved by deeds of service without faith in Christ, but our faith lacks sincerity if it doesn't reach out to others.
God Bless you,
J.H. Rejoice!Posted Jul-05-07 08:06:42 PDT This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad and it.
Psalm 118:24
There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. We can relate to the writers of the psalms, who often felt this way. But no matter how the psalmists felt, they were always honest with God. And as they talked to God, their prayers ended in praise. When you don't feel like rejoicing, tell God how you truly feel. You will find that God will give you a reason to rejoice. God has given you this day to live and to serve Him - that alone is reason to rejoice! Tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us. Each day is a precious gift. Remember that.
God bless you,
JH His Great LovePosted Jul-03-07 07:35:38 PDT But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions . . . For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - in this not from yourselves, is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:4,8-10
The apostle Paul emphasizes that we do not need to live any longer under sin's power. The penalty of sin and its power over us were miraculously destroyed by Christ on the cross. Through faith in Christ, we stand acquitted, or not guilty, before God. God does not take us out of the world or make us robots - we will still feel like sinning, and sometimes we will sin. The difference is that before we became Christians, we were dead in sin and were slaves to a sinful nature. But now we are alive with Christ. When someone gives you a gift, do you say, "That's very nice - now how much do I owe you?" No, the appropriate response to a gift is. "Thank you." Yet how often Christians, even after they have been given the gift of salvation, feel obligated to try to work their way to God? Because our salvation and even our faith are gifts, we should respond with gratitude, praise, and joy. We become Christians through God's unmerited grace, not as a result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or active service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. While no action or work we do can help us obtain salvation, God's intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit, but to serve Christ and build up the church and to help one another. Indeed, we are all God's workmanship. Our salvation is something only God can do. It is his powerful, creative work in us. If God considers us his work of art, we dare not treat ourselves or others with disrespect.
God Bless you,
J.H. I Will Still RejoicePosted Jul-02-07 06:52:33 PDT Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Crop failure and the death of animals would devastate the livelihood of any country and the sustenance of its people. But Habakkuk affirmed that even in times of starvation and lost, he would still rejoice in the Lord. You see, Habakkuk's feelings were not controlled by the events around him, but by faith in God's ability to give him strength. When nothing makes sense, and when troubles seem more than you can bear, remember that God gives strength in the midst of these extremely difficult circumstances. Take your eyes off your difficulties and look to God. He is there. Always.
God bless you,
JH |
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