Tag: good

Posted on

God is Good

Greetings to all of you, my sisters in Jesus Christ.  I’m reading a new book, well at least a new book for me entitled, “Blessed Beyond Measure”, by Gloria Copeland.  In the first couple of pages, she got me thinking about God’s Word and how every circumstance, every word shows us just how much God loves us and wants absolutely the best for you and I.  Gloria’s book speaks to God’s Goodness and how we miss out on receiving all He has for us by our own misunderstanding, wrong thinking and actions.  God NEVER withholds, it is us who miss what He is offering.  God’s Holy Word clearly tells us the outcome of our obedience to Him and the outcome of disobedience.  In His Words God says “Place these words on your hearts.  Get them deep inside you.  Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder.  Teach them to your children.  Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night.  Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21 MSG  God is telling you right here what to do in order to make way for His goodness to be manifested in your life.

Just like God’s children of the Old Testament, it is our life choices, our decisions and actions that put us into captivity.  Many believers and non-believers get confused about the sovereignty (supreme power or authority) of God, they find themselves blaming God for the misfortunes, disasters, heartbreaks, sickness…saying this must be a curse put on us by God.  The truth is it is our own curse,  through man’s sinful nature and the influences of the devil.  Now I must make something perfectly clear…illness in most cases is not the result of sin however sinful behavior can weaken our body making it vulnerable to sickness.  An example of this would be drug addiction which damages God’s perfectly created body and makes it susceptible to health conditions, often leading to death.

The famous scripture which hangs in many homes today says, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11 NASB  But most people stop right there believing all I have to do is believe and I will live in prosperity.  We have a responsibility in receiving the “goodness” God is speaking of…read further, “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.   And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will let Myself be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.”  Jeremiah 29:12-14 NASB

Now let me get to the entrée of what I wanted to share with you, we are sitting at God’s Table, and He wants to serve a full course meal including dessert, I believe one of the best scriptures that describes God’s Goodness is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  I know your thinking that’s the “love” chapter and is not God telling us how to behave?  How to love?  Well, yes but how much better we can understand if we look at it as a description of God and know with confidence that we being made in His image have the ability within our spirit with the help of the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the same goodness in our lives. We know that God is love and all true love flows from Him into us therefore let us look at these precious words exchanging the word “love” for God to gain a deeper understanding of the depth of God’s goodness. I have personalized these scriptures using several translations.

God  is patient, enduring, understanding…God is kind,

God is not suspicious or bitter however He desires for us to keep our eyes on Him some might say He is jealous, but I say protective.

God has no need brag He is sovereign, God is not arrogant, boastful, proud or rude there is no need for there are no other Gods only those manmade with no power and influenced by Satan to distract us.  If we look at nature and all of God’s creation we see there is no need for God to boast or demand His own way…He is a gentleman who never forces.

God never acts disgracefully, God does not seek his own benefit; God cannot be provoked, He is not irritable, God does not keep an account, no record of a wrong suffered, God exists in the light never in darkness, no good thing EVER comes from darkness.  God is GOOD!

God does not rejoice in unrighteousness or wrongdoing; He never rejoices concerning injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.   God’s heart breaks at man’s sinful nature, His Word was meant and remains our personal guide in life to experience God and all He has for us. God’s great sacrifice is the evidence of His love, that He Himself is Love…to suffer and die for each of us upon the cross.

God’s truth bears up under anything and everything that comes, God is always ever ready to believe the best all His children, God’s hopes are fadeless under every circumstance…

God will  never fail you…He will never change, fade out or become obsolete…GOD IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY and TOMORROW!

In closing, I will leave you with this final truth.  The goodness of God and the glory of God spoken in the Bible are practically synonymous meaning interchangeable, identical, equal or it might be said one in the same.  In the Hebrew language the word “glory” means “to be heavy with everything good.”  In today’s world and language, we might find words that seem superior to the word “good” such as best, better, or excellent, however, in Hebrew “good” is the superlative word meaning there is no higher word, nothing more grand or descriptive.  In other words, the word “good” found in God’s Word speaks of the highest and greatest, everything that is positive and desirable.  Ladies that is who God is…God is Good.

Blessings, Sister Laurie

Posted on

The Lord’s Prayer

women kneeing in prayer

Recently I had the honor of sharing with a group of women.  As I prayed each day prior to the day, the Lord began to speak to me about giving them insight to the Lord’s Prayer as given in Matthew 6:9-13.  I felt the Holy Spirit say give them a new meaning, one they can use when journeying deeper in their relationship with Me.  I call this a Jesus Habit. Prayer and studying God’s Word are a true level of connecting with Him in an intimate way.  It’s important to attend church or a Bible study to gain insight from others, however, your quiet personal time with God will bring new meaning to your relationship with Him.

Read Matthew 6:9-13, take note of my comments and write ones of your own as God speaks to you.  There is meat in these scriptures.  Use this as a guide in your daily prayer time.  I would like to say, don’t let others or the devil make you feel as if you have failed if you do not hold to a specific time of day or a hard rule of when and where to seek God.  He is always with you.  So whenever and wherever works! The point is just do it!

One more thing, get a Bible! Don’t relay on your phone, tablet or iPad, even a computer.  There is nothing better than the written Word in a tangible printed way.  Write in the margins, add pages using some of the new techniques used by art journalers. Let your Bible express your love for Jesus.  As your relationship matures your Bible will reflect that relationship, or provide a history of your journey, no electonic device can show your love better.

v6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” 

Intimate, private relationship with God – praying and studying His Holy Word alone grows your relationship with Him.  Empty platitudes spoken in public prove  nothing but expose your pride.

v7-8 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” 

Do not be meaningless, repetitive, God knows your mind and heart’s motive. He knows before we ask so be honest. Come surrendered and humbled, lay yourself open before your Lord.

v9 “Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” 

Recognize His Authority, Who He is, the great I AM. Then declare His  Holiness… Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord for the whole earth is filled with His Glory.  Isaiah 6:3

v10 “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” 

Acknowledge the need for God, and the need for all people to know Him, we have a responsibility in representing Him to the world through our life and in spreading the Gospel with those we encounter.

v11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”

We are depend, so make our-self dependent on God for all things.  Acknowledge that only God can give you what you need…physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Matthew 6:33 says “seek Him first, His Kingdom and His righteousness and you will receive all you need.” 

v12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

God forgives us of our (debts) sin, through this we have an example of forgiveness for those who hurt or sin against us.  We cannot claim God’s forgiveness if we harbor anger and unforgiveness towards  others.  Ask God to continually and daily to reveal any bitterness we may hold in our heart.

v13 “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the   kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” 

God does not tempt us with evil,  James 1:13 says “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.“ Ask God to guide you and give you discernment.  God will deliver you from evil when we stand in God’s strength and authority based in His Word.  James 4:7  tells us to “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee.”  Finally have confidence in God,  I Corinthians 10:13  confirms God is there for us, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 

This afternoon of sharing turn into an amazing day of lives changed through God’s Word.  I am but his empty vessel, set on a course of sharing truth, and the life changing experience found in living and serving the one truth God…Jesus Christ!

Be Blessed,

Laurie

 

Posted on

Thank You Lord

Scripture: He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the lord.  Proverbs 18:22 NIV

Observation: This proverb says it clearly. I can’t add to or take away from it.

Application: I must understand and appreciate the wife that God has given me. I sure don’t deserve her. One more evidence to me that God loves me unconditionally.

Prayer: Father,  thank you for giving me Laurie. Help me to be worthy of her. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

Posted on

A Dad’s Discipline

Scripture: Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Revelation 3:19 NIV

Observation: Jesus is talking of the church at Laodicea. This is the luke-warm church that is about to be “spit out!” They are neither hot nor cold. He is closing his words to John about that church with a reminder to learn from discipline when it is administered.

Application: If a parent loves his child he will discipline him instead of letting him learn that running into traffic is dangerous by allowing him to actually be hit by a car. The difference is teaching a valuable lesson and a trip to the hospital or worse. I am not a Theologian but I do know that there are occasions throughout scripture where God’s name must be translated as “daddy.” In this passage I believe that he wants us to know him as “daddy” and he wants, just like our earthly fathers, for us to heed his discipline and know that it is given for our own good.

Prayer: Daddy, thank you for loving me so much that you will show me when I sin and allow me to make amends and learn from my mistakes. Amen

Doug

Posted on

Merry CHRISTmas

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

Doug

Posted on

Our Number One Tool

Scripture: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

Observation: Paul clearly states that all scripture is from God and is good for and intended for instructing to improve ourselves and/or others.

Application: I have to read it and apply its words in order to use the bible as it is intended to be used.

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me a means of learning how I must live and for giving me a way to share that information with others. I thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

Posted on

Be Job-like

Scripture: At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:20&21 NIV

Observation: The wealthy, God-fearing, humble man Job just lost all of his possessions and family and yet he worships and praises God.

Application: Oh to be like Job instead of his wife, “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!’” Job 2:9 NIV I want the humility and integrity of Job. That is my prayer.

Prayer: Father: help me to accept all of life’s circumstances, good and bad, and see how they are blessing in my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

Posted on

God’s “Pay it Forward”

Scripture: “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:8-11 NIV

Observation: Malachi relays God’s words about the tithe.

Application: To my knowledge this is the only place in the bible that God says that his promise may be tested and I believe that this promise is specifically about tangible possessions. God says right here in Malachi that if we tithe we will be so richly blessed that we will have more “stuff” than we can handle. I believe that our inclination will be to then give the excess away to help sustain others because that’s a natural inclination God put within us–give to him, he gives back to us in excess, we give to others. In the secular world a few years ago they termed it, “paying it forward.” That was a big theme in a movie that gave no credit to God as the author of the concept but it was basically God’s tithe principle. When we give back to God what he has given us, he blesses us with all that we need and so much more that we bless others by giving to them as well as back to him. Then they bless him and others…and so on. Ain’t God cool?!

Prayer: Father, thank you so much for all of the blessings that you give to me. Help me to bless others as you make it possible by providing for those blessings. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

Posted on

No Greater Joy

Scripture: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4 NIV

Observation: John tells of his joy in knowing that the followers that he and the other disciples had converted were flourishing.

Application: There is no greater joy than knowing that your children are following the Lord.

Prayer: Father, thank you for children that strive to know you. I ask that you continue to strengthen them in their walk. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug

Posted on

For My Kids

This is for all of my children. Especially Andy on the eve of his marriage.

Scripture: A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.  Proverbs 12:4 NIV

Observation: King Solomon shares many truths through Proverbs 12.

Application: Andy & Heather, Rodney, Grace, and Ashley, as I read today I felt compelled to share with you how true I know this Proverb to be.  I lived my life in the past as I saw fit. I sought to please myself and my selfish desires.  I did not seek the Lord’s guidance in my personal life or my marriage. I was led by my lustful heart; my marriage failed.  I know that it was because of my sinful heart and that I never exhibited any spiritual leadership in my home that I failed. In many ways my ex-wife is like decay in my bones. She is a constant reminder to me of my failure to God, to her, and to my family.  Kids, I apologize for what I put all of you through because of my sinfulness and lack of leadership.  However, even though I know I don’t deserve it, God gave me another chance. He blessed me with Laurie.  She is a woman of God and she truly is like a crown for my head.
Andy, learn from my mistakes.  Don’t repeat them. Cherish the gift the God has given you in Heather. Remember how Tommy Nelson taught from the Song of Solomon that a man is to treat his ” ewe lamb” of a wife.  Adore her, encourage her, and she will grow in nobility before men.  Then she too, will be a crown that adorns your head like Laurie adorns mine.
Ashley, Rodney, Grace, all of you please remember to always treat the spouse that God gifts to you as something much more precious than yourselves. Do that to please the Lord and your marriages will be greatly blessed.

Prayer: Father, thank you for blessing me with a crown of honor that is Laurie. I pray for the same honor and blessing for my children.  I wish for them all to learn from the mistakes that Laurie and I made in our pasts.  I pray that they not repeat those mistakes and that their marriages are blessed and their spouses are crowns of honor for their heads. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug