Archive for November 2012

But God

November 26, 2012

Don’t you hate a whiner!

 

“But Mom, all the kids are going.”

 

“But Dad, I’ve already spent my allowance.”

 

“But, you promised to keep it a secret.”

 

“But, I thought I had unlimited credit.”

 

“But, I’m too old to change my ways.”

 

“But, what I do is nobody else’s business.”

 

Is that my voice I hear? Did I say or think that?

 

Joseph said, “But God.”

 

Now that is an all together different story.

 

He was not a whiner; he was a winner.

 

“But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God (Genesis 45:7-8a NIV).”

 

Joseph was not a whiner; he was a doer.

 

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20 NIV).”

 

God is in control, even of if’s and’s or buts!

 

 

 

 

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Cold Turkey

November 19, 2012

Cold Turkey… We use the expression to describe a sudden cessation of a bad habit. We resolve to quit smoking, drinking of alcoholic beverages or other addictive behavior. Bravely, we decide to go it on our own, declining outside assistance of support systems or medications to take the edge off the withdrawal. I think I can, I think I can!

Turkey and Thanksgiving are partners in time. The traditional family Thanksgiving dinner features the fowl and stuffing with all the trimmings. The aroma of basted baked birds tantalizes our appetites, and we can hardly wait to gather around the table to view carving of the golden browned center of attraction.

What do we do with leftovers? Is cold turkey something merely endured until a skeleton remains on a spacious platter? Maybe cold foreshadows our feeling of sadness at the realization that another family gathering has passed and mundane routines will return.

Our attitude of gratitude must never grow cold. We do not receive bountiful blessings by picking leftovers from a dead carcass. The resurrected Lord sustains life and through His gift of grace dishes out trimmings of unexpected joy and fulfillment. I come to Him daily with a hearty appetite, knowing He desires to fill me with His Holy Spirit. Thanksgiving is not a tip on a plate; it is praise on my lips! “Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done (Colossians 2:7b The Living Bible).”

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Proof Propensities

November 12, 2012

We are a people of proof propensities. We want to see before we believe. Gullibility is a liability; we would rather see proof than pay the price of wrong choices and consequences. It is with this in mind that I share the truth that God shows me proof positive of His sovereignty.

“From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse (Romans 1:20 HCS).”  He is the only true God.

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Unanimous Decision

November 10, 2012

It’s unanimous, the issue carries! Are you involved in critical decisions at home, office, church, community, state and nation? Your opinion counts; God expects us to be light in darkness, salt to preserve and add flavor, being his ambassadors of reconciliation and peace amidst conflict.

How often do votes reflect a unanimous decision? Very often the vote is split down the middle, there is no clear winner. Those involved may postpone a final answer till a later date, calling for recount or run-off. It’s hard to get people to rally around any issue with little enthusiastic backing.

Is a unanimous decision a guarantee that we have made the right decision? “So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: ‘O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:6-7 NAS).” The public officials were in total agreement, their unanimous decision would lead to persecution of Jews.

“So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:16a NAS).” His fate did not rest in the hands of a bad decision; he found protection in his deliverer! “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions (Daniel 6:22a NAS). Believers rejoice in their unanimous decision; God is in control!

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