Be A Power Broker for God

 

Friday, December 5, 2014

 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory”.  (Isaiah 6:3,   Read 6:1-8) "And blessed by His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth  be filled with His glory.  Amen and Amen"  (Psalm72:19). 

 In this day, when everything that can be shaken is being shaken, it may not seem like the earth is filled with His glory, but rest assured it is – For the Bible tells me so! (Hebrews 12:26b-28)

 Hey Gang, can you say, Wow!  is it not neat to know that the whole earth is full of His glory?  True, the news would seem to indicate that the earth is not filled with His glory.  But keep in mind, we are not to judge by what we think or see, but by what God has given us in His Word. He did say: “I will be with you always!” Matthew 28:20

 In recent months I have gained a new appreciation for the book of Habakkuk.  It begins with a cry to God: "How long, O Lord, will I call for help, and You will not hear? (Hab. 1:2).  God's response is found in verse five when He said: "Look among the nations!  Observe! Be Astonished!  Wonder!  Because I am doing something in your days - You would not believe if you were told." 

 Now skip over to Chapter 2, verses 13-14 and tucked in the midst of four "woes" we find these words: "Is it not indeed from the Lord of hosts that peoples toil for fire, and nations  grow weary for nothing?  For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”  

 Would it not be awesome to see God's glory covering Michigan and all the world as the waters cover the sea?   Is it not awesome to know that is exactly what is going to happen one day- in the not-too-distant future for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose?

 Toni Evans wrote in his book Our God is An Awesome God that holiness is the center piece of God’s attributes.  In other words, at the center of what God is, is His holiness and to understand His holiness is to unlock the door to understand Him better and better.

 I like Peter’s words when he asked the question, “Do you want to learn to know God better?”  His answer, “Then work hard”.  To get things handed to us on a silver platter is to forget as quickly as we close the Word.  Returning to the words of James who said: it is the trials and wilderness experiences that opens the door to a deep understanding of God.

 Soooo, my challenge to you today?  Do something sacrificially to honor Father God.  Plant a seed in someone’s heart who needs to feel the Lord’s touch.  Paul said be an imitator of me – a bond servant for Jesus.  Do you think it would be fan-tab-u-lous to be like Paul?  Call someone – tell them you are thinking about them and praying for them.  What joy that will bring to their heart!

Blessings,

Gramps

Are You Giving Gifts That Have Eternal Value?

 Monday, December 8, 2014

 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

 Hey Gang:  When was the last time you shut down all the things that cloud your mind from looking at the more important things of life?  Gar Trusley, who did time studies for corporations, identified the three top things participants would do if the doctor said: “You have one month to live”. By a large percentage, those he studied said, “Seek the Lord- make sure they were in good relationship with the Lord, make sure they were in right relationship with spouse and family, and repair all the breaches that might exist between them and their neighbors.

 It was interesting to note that, when he asked them to list the ten things in which they tended to invest their time and energies, these three things were are the bottom of the list. Soo, they knew that the things that brought real joy into their heart was not making a buck, climbing the corporate ladder or becoming something super special in the eyes of man!  

 A recent study discovered that, in our culture, suicides are increasing by leaps and bounds, and each year depression is the number one plague among a growing number.  As we move God further from the life of our country, despair and hopelessness grow in equal proportion.

 We go to great pains to fill that vacuum that is just the size of God in our chest cavity.  We just experienced another ‘Black Friday’ –which began on Thanksgiving.  The world's retailers spread the good news that they have the very thing that will fill that vacuum.  People lined up hours in advance to make sure they were the first in line to purchase that aphrodisiac that would give them a moment or two of joy.  

 I vaguely recall a song of years gone which told us that we seek the things that give us peace in all the wrong places.  I believe the Psalmist knew something about that when he wrote these words, “But let all who take refuge in You be glad. Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You.  For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:11-12).

 Soooo, my young lassies and lads, am I saying the giving of material gifts is wrong?  In no way! But, keep in mind the gift will be probably be forgotten in due season but the intent behind the gift will never be forgotten.  God’s Gift to us, His only Son, is eternal.  Be sure and share this with all of your family and friends;  His return to claim His own grows closer each day… as seen by what is happening daily in the world!

  Blessings,

 Gramps