Category: God’s Promises

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With God

With God NOTHING is impossible!

Nothing…not your financial situation, not your health, not your kids or your spouse, your job, your safety, your peace of mind. Nothing!

These words were spoken to a young Jewish girl by an angel.

“Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, ‘Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.’

34 Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this happen? I am not married!’

35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!’

38 Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.’ And the angel left her.” Luke 1:29-38 CEV

What could be more impossible than this – a young woman, who was a virgin, having a child? No situation in your life or mine could be more impossible than this. Truly!

How? God’s power and Mary’s agreement. If Mary hadn’t believed the angel’s message to her, he would have gone to someone else. But she accepted that NOTHING was impossible.

She believed, she conceived, and she received God’s promise.

The hard thing was walking it out. She had to tell her family, she had to tell Joseph and then she had to hear the whispers and the criticism that followed.

God has made us a promise that He will supply all that we need and He will give us the strength that we need in every situation. (Philippians 4:13, 19)

The Bible is filled with promises.

There was another woman who saw the power of God at work. She was old, I mean really old. Almost 90 and her reproductive system had never worked but God made a promise. Sarah saw God work.

” The Lord asked Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age? 14 I am the Lord! There is nothing too difficult for me. I’ll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.'” Genesis 18:13-14 CEV

Compare your situation with Mary and Sarah. Whose need is bigger or more difficult to fix? God is the same – nothing, absolutely nothing, is too difficult or impossible for Him.

Time and time again I come back to my favorite verse. It is the foundation I stand on everyday.

“God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises.” Numbers 23:19 CEV

Christmas is a time for miracles. Get in God’s word, find His promise then stand knowing that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

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24/7/365

I have to tell you; I love finding God in every day occurrences.

I can find Him in the grocery store, in traffic, at a noisy NASCAR race, in the still quiet of the morning. I can find Him while holding David’s hand in prayer, in conversation with friends, in spontaneous outbursts from my grandchildren. I can even find God in a Hallmark movie or in the commercials that come in between shows on television.

That’s where I found the Lord speak to me yesterday. I had one of those sentimental movies playing on television while I sat knitting a Christmas stocking. I wasn’t really paying much attention to the movie, it was the commercial that gained my attention.

I don’t remember what item was being prompted but the dialogue said something like this, “it’s the gift that keeps on giving all year through”. I looked up and said out loud, “that’s God love! It’s the 24/7, 365 gift. That’ll preach.”

I told Dave, “I have tomorrow’s blog title”. 24/7/365

Today I will share with you some of those 24/7/365 verses that mean so much to me.

“The Lord came to us from far away, saying, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. So I have helped you come to Me with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 NLV

“When the rain-bow is in the cloud, I will look upon it to remember the agreement that will last forever between God and every living thing of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the special thing to see because of the agreement I have made between Me and all flesh upon the earth.” Genesis 9:16-17 NLV

“Go into His gates giving thanks and into His holy place with praise. Give thanks to Him. Honor His name. 5 For the Lord is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. And He is faithful to all people and to all their children-to-come.” Psalm 100:4-5 NLV

“For to us a Child will be born. To us a Son will be given. And the rule of the nations will be on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Teacher, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NLV

“Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is a Rock that lasts forever.” Isaiah 26:4 NLV

“Those whom the Lord has paid for and set free will return. They will come to Zion with singing. Joy that lasts forever will crown their heads. They will be glad and full of joy. Sorrow and sad voices will be gone.” Isaiah 35:10 NLV

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God’s Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever.” John 3:16 NLV

“We give honor and thanks to the King Who lives forever. He is the One Who never dies and Who is never seen. He is the One Who knows all things. He is the only God. Let it be so.” I Timothy 1:7 NLV

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13 NLT

There you have it. Love, promises, strength, joy, loving-kindness or mercy, Father, King and life – all of these gifts are from our Eternal Father and all of these gifts are eternal – 24/7/365. God’s gifts to us!

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In The Storm

The wind decided to blow, ALL NIGHT! When you live in an RV you hear the wind, at times it sounded like a freight train moving rapidly alongside the 5th wheel. I’m so glad for the shelter of my home.

Peter and the disciples were in a storm on the sea. Jesus was exhausted and fell asleep “in the back of the boat”. The waves grew larger and as they crashed against the bow, the boat began to fill with water. Jesus still slept.

Finally, in desperation the disciples woke Him with a startling cry.

“A very bad wind came up on the lake. The waves were coming over the sides and into the boat, and it was almost full of water. 38 Jesus was inside the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The followers went and woke him. They said, “Teacher, don’t you care about us? We are going to drown!” Mark 4:37-38 ERV

Don’t you care – aren’t you worried, don’t you love us?

Here’s the answer: Jesus didn’t have a care about the situation; no, He wasn’t worried but yes, He loved them dearly. So He stood, and said:

“ Jesus stood up and gave a command to the wind and the water. He said, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and the lake became calm.” vs 39

Have you ever had the same reaction as the disciples? Lord, don’t you care? I can’t pay my rent this month, the doctor said cancer, my child has left home and I don’t know where they are, my loved one is dying. Don’t you care?

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” I Peter 5:7 CEV

God isn’t weighted down with worry but He definitely cares for you!

Jesus was right where He needed to be, He was resting in the peace of God.

“You can go to God Most High to hide. You can go to God All-Powerful for protection.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety, my fortress. My God, I trust in you.” Psalm 91:1-2 ERV

The disciples did the right thing. In their worry, they ran for shelter, shelter was found in the presence and protection of the Father.

Is the wind howling and are the waves crashing in around you today? Run to the Father. Be grateful – there is always shelter from the storm!

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Commissioned for Greatness

Last night I spent some time compiling a list of Scriptures on healing for a prayer meeting tonight. But I had forgotten about these verses until this morning.

“Jesus came and said to them, ‘All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to do all the things I have told you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the world.’” Matthew 28:18-20 NLV

This is referred to by some as the Great Commission.

Commissioned – ships are commissioned, officers are commissioned, salesmen are commissioned, works of art are commissioned and we have been commissioned too. To commission is to put into service.

Jesus has put us into service just like He did with the disciples.

“Jesus called His twelve followers to Him. He gave them the right and the power over all demons and to heal diseases. 2 He sent them to preach about the holy nation of God and to heal the sick. ” Luke 9:1-3 NLV

As His followers, we have been commissioned to do the works of Jesus. Somewhere along the way we have lost sight of that. Peter and John were part of this group of twelve and they were also there when Jesus gave this command shortly before His ascension back to heaven. They took their commission seriously. One of the first things they did after Jesus left this earth was heal a lame man.

“The man who was healed held on to Peter and John. All the people who were surprised gathered together around them in a place called Solomon’s Porch. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them, “Jewish men, why are you surprised at this? Why do you look at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or holy lives? 13 The God of our fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, has done this. He has honored His Son Jesus…16 You see and know this man here. He has been made strong through faith in Jesus’ name. Yes, it is faith in Christ that has made this man well and strong. This man is standing here in front of you all.” Acts 3:11-16 NLV

By faith in the name of Jesus – our calling, our commission is a mission of faith. Not blind faith but faith in the name of Jesus and in the power of God. The religious leaders arrested Peter and John following this miracle; they were intimated by the impact it had on the people in the Temple. They kept them in jail overnight and when they were released, the religious leaders commanded them not to speak of Jesus like this anymore.

Hear Peter’s answer:

“‘There is no way to be saved from the punishment of sin through anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.’ 13 They were surprised and wondered how easy it was for Peter and John to speak. They could tell they were men who had not gone to school. But they knew they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:12-14 NLV

Commissioned for greatness.

We too, have been commissioned to show the greatness of God in the world. As Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel (the good news) to every person”. Let’s go!

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Loving-Kindness

Today starts our month of heart preparation. Preparation for gratitude.

There is a Hebrew word used throughout the Old Testament, the word is Hesed, Chesed or Chesedh. Most often it is translated loving-kindness or mercy but it’s much deeper than we imagine.

“I will show you and teach you in the way you should go. I will tell you what to do with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the donkey which have no understanding. They must be made to work by using bits and leather ropes or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the sinful. But loving-kindness will be all around the man who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord and be full of joy, you who are right with God! Sing for joy all you who are pure in heart!” Psalm 32:8-10 NLV

Hesed is a deep and abiding love – the unconditional love of God. It is His covenant, His unbreakable promise to us as His children. It is a blood bond, a blood covenant. Not something we are familiar with in Western culture but something that was very prevalent in the African and European histories. The closest we come to it here in the America’s is the “blood brothers” of Native American tribes.

A stronger, more affluent, tribe would cut the skin, mingle their blood with a weaker and more defenseless tribe. The stronger vowing to protect and defend the weaker; the weaker promising to provide food or water for the more powerful. Each one vowing to give all they had to provide for the other. That is hesed.

That is loving-kindness.

Here in Arizona the Apache and Pima tribes had just such a covenant. The Apache were fierce warriors, and the Pima were excellent farmers. They entered a blood covenant, an hesed, where the Apache would protect the Pimas, who were not warriors at all and in turn the Pima would grow enough corn and other crops to feed their Apache blood brothers.

“ But it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the promise He made to your fathers. So the Lord brought you out by a strong hand. He set you free from the land where you were servants, and from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know then that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God. He keeps His promise and shows His loving-kindness to those who love Him and keep His Laws, even to a thousand family groups in the future.” Deuteronomy 7:8-9 NLV

With grateful hearts, we thank the Father for His loving-kindness that extends to a thousand generations and beyond. By His power, He delivered the Israelites from Egypt and by His promise of love, hesed, He keeps that promise of loving-kindness to us, thousands of generations later.

“Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 NLV

For the next couple of days we will look at more Scriptures that speak of the loving-kindness of God.

I can’t think of a better way to prepare our hearts for a day of thanksgiving than by focusing on the One who shows us unconditional love and favor! Afterall, He’s written us a love letter.

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Defeat the Giant

Yesterday we talked about impatience. How did you do? Did you sail through your day, willing to wait, with a good attitude or did you hit the road block of unexpected delays and disruptions?

I can say that my morning was pretty much interruption free but that doesn’t require much patience. In the afternoon, I felt more hurried and pressed to get things done and done NOW. I know I wasn’t as patient as I should have been.

When those obstacles or disruptions come our way we need to face things head on like a little shepherd boy with a giant. Am I comparing impatience to Goliath? You bet!

Impatience is a giant of an emotion and just like Goliath, impatience has brothers – anger, criticism, strife and rude behavior.

While the Israelite army was standing on a hillside trying to avoid conflict with the Philistines, Golaith would walk out and taunt them daily. There was no victory, no peace. What was a needed was a confrontation – a confrontation wrapped in prayer and the power of God.

You see, when David went to meet Goliath he picked up 5 stones. This was not a backup measure in case he missed with the first one. No! If that had been the case he would have been dead. It was an offensive tactic, he wanted to be armed to take out the whole family.

So let me ask – what giants are you facing today? Have you been avoiding them? Choosing to go another direction? There will come a time that you must face the giants but not in your own strength. God will be there to lead you into battle victoriously – you must simply trust in Him.

” David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me using sword, spear, and javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel. You have said bad things about him. 46 Today the Lord will let me defeat you. I will kill you. I will cut off your head and feed your body to the birds and wild animals. And we will do the same thing to all the other Philistines too. Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel. 47 All the people gathered here will know that the Lord doesn’t need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to the Lord, and he will help us defeat all of you.” I Samuel 17:45-47 ERV

Follow His lead and claim victory today!

“I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 ERV

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Better Than

The theme of my morning Bible reading seemed to be “better than”. Let me explain.

First, I was reading in Isaiah, the last chapter, and I came across these words:

“My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine.
 I, the Lord, have spoken! ‘I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.'” Isaiah 66:2 NLT

It goes on to say that those who are trying to look religious and spiritual with all their actions have false and deceptive hearts. What God is looking for are the humble and repentant.

“But Samuel replied, ‘What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.” I Samuel 15:22-23 NLT

Samuel, the priest, was correcting King Saul because of his disobedience to what the Lord had said. Saul tried to cover up his rebellious acts by offering sacrifices but his heart wasn’t repentant.

Obedience is better than sacrifice.

From there, I went to the book of Proverbs. Solomon, in chapters 22 and 23, gives thirty wise sayings. He’s giving instruction to young men.

He says being wise is better than expending all your energy to get rich.

“Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.” vs 4

He goes on to say that keeping silent is better than wasting your advice on fools.

“Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.” vs 9

His next wise saying has to do with raising children. Discipline is better than letting our children live a disobedient life.

“Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them. 14 Physical discipline may well save them from death.” vs 13-14

At this point, I encourage you to read the whole chapter, Proverbs 23, and look at the wise sayings of Solomon. I’ll end with this one. Avoiding drunkards and gluttons is better than joining in their ways.

“My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course. 20 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.” vs 19-21

These all seem like such obvious instructions, don’t they? Our heavenly Father cares about every area of our lives and He doesn’t want us to be caught unaware of its dangers. His loving instruction and compassion is better than life without Him.

“Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.” Psalm 63:3-4 NLT

This is what our Father intends for us:

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” Colossians 1:9-10 NLT

We are promised wisdom and understanding and a life that produces good fruit as we grow in our knowledge of the Father.

A life of knowing God is BETTER THAN anything else!

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A Good Read

I have to honestly tell you that I have never been a good or ambitious reader. I can read well enough but have never learned to enjoy reading. Now, I imagine that’s a strange confession for a writer to make.

However, I LOVE reading the Bible! God’s word is a constant source of joy, excitement and inspiration.

This morning I’ve read of wars, an attempted murder and of great preachers persuading the hearts of large crowds with the message of God’s love.

I’ve also read simple-to-the-point life instructions from King Solomon. Many years ago I began reading the book of Proverbs, one chapter each day, for the month and then repeating again the beginning of the following month. There are thirty chapters in Proverbs, it serves as an instructional manual to the young. Since I am younger than some I still continue to read it.

“Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. 2 The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both.

3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. 4 True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.” Proverbs 22:1-4 NLT

There’s quite a bit of wisdom in these few verses from Solomon. Just a few nuggets to chew on today.

Protect your reputation more than you protect your wallet – it has greater value. The best way I know to stay out of worldly trouble is to serve the Lord because He will maintain our right and our cause.

The Lord has great plans for those of us who honor and reverence Him. The “fear” of the Lord isn’t a scary thing, instead it is an attitude of humility and reverence. Deferring to God as our ultimate source in every situation.

There’s an old hymn whose words say, “Without Him, I could do nothing. Without Him, I’d surely fail. Without Him, I would be drifting like a ship without a sail”. I’ve tried doing life my way and I definitely found myself drifting.

The chorus goes on to say:, “Jesus, oh Jesus, do you know Him today? Please don’t turn Him away. Jesus, oh Jesus, without Him how lost I would be”.

Living every day, following God’s word and the example of Jesus brings a promise of a long and fulfilling life.

Make God’s word the foundational premise of every day; it’s a good read!

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Finish Strong

In my quiet time this morning the Lord reminded me of the importance of finishing strong.

Yesterday I told you about Caleb’s stand and how he said, “God is well-able”. It wasn’t just a slogan; it was his life’s mantra.

“Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. 12 So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.” Joshua 14:10-12 NLT

At 85, Caleb was still strong and still determined to see the will of God accomplished in his life. He didn’t care about the giants. He didn’t give up on God’s promise. Never give up on a God-given dream or promise.

“ For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[a] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 NLT a.2:9 Or in him dwells all the completeness of the Godhead bodily.

If the Father has made you a promise or given you a dream He has also given you the power and the plan to see it come to pass.

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” I Corinthians 15:57-58 NLT

We give thanks to God who gives us the victory over life’s situations because of our relationship with God through Christ Jesus. It may not always look like we are victorious but when we give Him thanks, we will see the circumstances change.

Jesus didn’t look victorious when they laid him in the tomb. Peter didn’t look victorious when he was sinking in the sea of Galilee. Daniel didn’t look victorious when he was thrown into the lion’s den. Paul didn’t look victorious when he was stoned and left for dead. At 85, Caleb probably didn’t look like a fighting man in his prime.

But…Thanks be to God who gave them the victory and He has given us victory as well. Paul said in Romans 8 that God calls us overcomers and more than conquerors. So, we will stand strong in doing the work that God has called us to do.

We have victory in Christ Jesus so let’s finish strong and give thanks.

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Through & Through

This morning my thoughts went to a Scripture I had memorized as a child in Sunday School. It made an impression on me because of one word. The word was thoroughly.

I’m not sure why I was so intrigued by that word, but I was. And as I sat here this morning that word came up in my heart with the same intensity that it had all those years ago.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary the following words are synonyms that can be used in place of, but keep the meaning of, thoroughly.

  • completely
  • comprehensively
  • detailedly
  • exhaustively
  • fully
  • roundly
  • systematically
  • through and through
  • totally

Now that you know the background, let’s look at the verses I’m referring too.

“and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV

Timothy was a young man and Paul, the Apostle, was mentoring him in his walk with Christ. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were godly women who had raised him to know the Scriptures. Paul was reminding him of the importance of that early upbringing.

This is also a good reminder to all of us. It is through the Scriptures that we obtain faith for salvation. It is also through God’s written word that we have the pattern for godly living.

God never intended for us to attempt this lifestyle on our own. No, to the contrary, it is through the instruction of God’s word that we are complete and thoroughly equipped. We are changed from the inside out, through and through, systematically, totally, comprehensively fitted for every good work.

WOW!

On those days when you feel like quitting, giving up and giving in you are thoroughly equipped. in those times when you are discouraged and disheartened you have been systematically and totally undergirded by the power of Almighty God.

“ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT

We were created as a masterpiece of the Father’s love. He planned for us to do good things.

“ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

I hope this has been an encouragement to you today. You are totally, completely, fully, exhaustively equipped through and through by the power of God’s word!

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