2 Simple Ways God Reveals Himself..... By: Mandy Smith

 2 Simple Ways God Reveals Himself (Romans 1:20)

By: Mandy Smith

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. - Romans 1:20

God is everywhere. Take a step outside and you will be surrounded by the intricacies and fascinating systematic creation that was created by our God. He is in the mountains, the beaches, jungles, ocean depths, prairies, farmland, desserts, and valleys. To see His creation is to see a piece of Him. As it says in Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Not only can we feel His presence in His creation but there is more knowledge that He wants to share with us through it all.

1. He Delights in Beauty

Look around as the seasons change and you will see beauty upon beauty emerging from its cocoon. An orange fiery sunset, crystal clear waters, snowcapped mountain peaks, miles of sunflower fields…the list goes on and on. Sometimes something is so beautiful we can only stand in awe of its presence.

God shines from His creation. It is just a glimpse of the beauty we will fully behold in Heaven. Eden was perfect. The trees, food, river watering all the vegetation, and the first two people created in perfection, Adam and Eve. Though sin entered the world shortly after, the beauty of the remains is all we see of a glimpse of the New Eden that will be restored in Heaven.

To see God’s creation is to see God. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10

2. His Timing Is Perfect

God not only times our lives into a patchwork quilt of His will but also the cyclical timing of a 24-hour day, 365-day year, and constant motion of planets spinning on their axis at just the right angle is a testament to His control. To see the change of seasons in nature is to see God’s perfect timing, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…”

Your dream may not be visible, or your heart may be aching from a loss. Remember that the same God that ordains the sun to rise and set is the same God that has your heart in the palm of His hands. In His timing, all is made right whether here on earth or in glory, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

God Promises His Return..... Denison Ministries

 God Promises His Return

Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

There is only one constant in this ever-changing world, and that’s the character of our heavenly Father. The very earth itself is undergoing changes constantly. What seems the most immovable now will one day be done away with. But God is unchanging. God is unwavering. He’s completely faithful and committed to seeing through the promises he’s made you. As we look this week at the promises of God may you ground yourself in his unchanging love. May God’s character become your source and refuge—your constant and unshakable foundation.

Scripture:“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2-3

Devotional:

The second coming of Christ will mark the end of this age with resounding and final punctuation. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.” Jesus promises that he is coming back for you and me. He’s returning to make his lordship known to all the earth. Upon his return, he will destroy once and for all the destructive works of the enemy. He’s going to rid the earth of the damage sin has caused, and bring about the final restoration of all things to himself.

Jesus’ return will be both powerful and triumphant. It will be a time of sorrow for those who did not believe in him and a time of rejoicing for us, his Bride. Jesus is coming back in all his glory, lovesick for those who have been brought into his fold by faith. You see, he’s coming back for you because he loves you. He longs for the day when you can be with him, face to face, held back by nothing. He’s so overjoyed to walk in relationship with you right now, but like you, he longs for something greater. Like a bridegroom patiently awaits the marriage ceremony, he’s waiting, expectant for what is to come.

It’s his love that is our source of hope. It’s his desire for our final restoration to him that is meant to give us cause for joy here on the earth. What you’ve known of life thus far is not all there is. What you’ve experienced of God is just a drop in the vast ocean of his loving kindness. Jesus says in John 14:2-3, “In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” He desperately wants you to be where he is. If you are a believer, he’s promised that you have a place in his kingdom. You can have hope here that all the suffering, trials, temptations and heartache you’ve experienced on earth will pass away with his return. Written within his promise to return is his promise of a life lived free from all the destruction sin has caused.

We’re meant for relationship with our Savior both here and in the age to come. He’s made a way for us to experience him both now and forever by his death and resurrection. Your greatest joy should come from this truth. Your highest calling is meant to be drawn from his promise of relationship. All of eternity hinges on his promise to return. And he who gave up his life for you will return to lead you to the Father. Spend time in his presence today. Experience the very God who will return in all his glory. Live today in light of his promise, and experience the love and hope of your God who is faithful to bring to fruition all that he’s promised you.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the powerful, hope-filled truth of Christ’ return.

“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2-3

2. Where do you need hope today? Where do you need the truth of Jesus’ return to transform your emotions?

3. Let the truth of Christ’s return sink into your heart. Allow it to heal any place in your heart that feels hopeless.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

Looking toward the day of final restoration is meant to give you fuel to live in light of eternity. This life on earth is but a vapor in the scope of your eternal life. It’s a dust blowing in the wind. It doesn’t mean today doesn’t matter. What it does mean is that you know how your life will turn out. You know how the story ends. May the glorious, triumphant ending of your story produce steadfastness and hope in your heart today.

Extended Reading: John 14

Learning To Live in a World With Unanswered “Whys”..... KAREN EHMAN

 Learning To Live in a World With Unanswered “Whys”

KAREN EHMAN

A close friend and I recently took a walk together at a nearby nature center, trying our best to cheer each other up. She even tried interjecting a little humor into the conversation.

“It reminds me of that old saying,” she quipped. “‘If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all!’” Even though neither of us believe in “luck,” I giggled for a welcome moment as together we recounted the hard experiences we’d both endured in the recent past.

Due to downsizing, she’d lost a job she loved. She’d also lost a decade-old friendship over what should have been a simple misunderstanding. A few family members were also now altering their relationships with her over some political differences, heaping on further heartbreak. And most recently, her beloved family dog had passed away.

I could relate to her feelings of loss. I’d seen eight extended family members buried, including my father and my mother, within barely two years. We also moved to a new town at the beginning of that time so the kids could be closer to all the grandparents on my side of the family — the very relatives who began passing just three weeks after we moved. Nearly all of this happened during the first year-and-a-half of the pandemic.

During this time, I found myself behaving like a toddler following around her parents, uttering that one-syllable word repeatedly with each new situation she encounters: “Why?”

Why did God move us to a brand-new town just 10 minutes from my parents if they were both going to pass away so shortly after we moved? Why did a cousin of mine have to bury her mother while almost simultaneously burying her husband, nearly collapsing under the weight of such grief? And of course, probably all of us wonder why this dangerous and disruptive pandemic has hit.

I take comfort in knowing the writers of the psalms often lamented, wrestling with questions of “why” and expressing deep grief. In Psalm 22:2, written by King David, we read his relentless begging for answers from God, even when none were anywhere in sight:

“O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”

The psalmists didn’t possess a slick, easy formula for learning to live in a world without the answers to “why.” What they did have was a freedom to pour out their sorrows before the Lord, knowing He hears even when we, as humans, don’t feel like He’s listening.

Like the psalmists, we must all sometimes dwell in the space between the now and the not-yet — that future time when we will no longer wonder but will reside in a place without sorrow or tears. I’ve learned there are some benefits to dwelling in this in-between place.

I’ve discovered that not knowing “why” pushes me harder into God’s Word. It makes me long to cling to the Lord like nothing else does. It grants me deep empathy for others who are also navigating a life without answers. In short, living in a world with unanswered “whys” forces me to lean on Jesus with every ounce of my being.

Might we be bold enough to trade in our “why” for a “who”? God can help us resist putting so much emphasis on all our unanswered questions. Instead, He will enable us to develop a closer walk with Him — the One who tenderly sustains us even though our “whys” yet linger.

Dear God, there are some unanswered questions in my mind today. From now on, help me to focus less on them and more on learning to trust You despite what life throws my way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God's Grand Plan..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 God's Grand Plan

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

It's amazing but true that God's grand plan for your life is far greater than you can imagine. In fact, this earth-bound existence has us so preoccupied with the demands of life that most of us give little thought to what it will mean to be completely sanctified.

In the Christian life, sanctification is a three-stage process. At the moment of salvation, God sets us apart for Himself. Then throughout the rest of our earthly life, He works to transform us into the image of His Son. One day, however, there will be a glorious culmination to our sanctification. Presently, we all struggle with sin, but when we die, our spirits and souls will ascend to heaven and be completely sinless. Then we'll see our Savior face to face and experience unimaginable joy. No longer will we struggle with the pride of life or the lusts of the flesh and the eyes (1 John 2:16).

However, as great as this will be, it's not yet the final step. Some day in the future, Jesus will descend from heaven, bringing with Him the souls of those who have died in Christ. They will be united with their resurrected bodies, and believers who are still alive on the earth will be changed (1 Thess. 4:14-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-54). Then sanctification will be complete--spirit, soul, and body.

This is not a fairy tale, but the believer appointed destiny. God Himself promises to bring it to pass. We'll walk in His presence, spotless and without blame, for all eternity. Knowing this, how will you live today? The promise of salvation isn’t meant just to give hope, but to spur us on to holy living.

My Two Voices..... by John UpChurch

 My Two Voices

by John UpChurch

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

I never read the Bible alone. Instead, there’s a squeaky voice tucked away in my head that likes to tag along. For the most part, it hums along in time with the steady cadence of Scripture, just waiting. But when something challenging pops up, something that pushes against the way I’m living, the tiny warble begins.

Brace yourselves because I’m taking you inside here.

Me: You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires

The Warbler: You don’t need to worry about that. It says “old self.” You’re all brand-spanking new in here. Just ignore that.

Me: to be made new in the attitude of your minds

The Warbler: See. That’s totally you—new times two. Nothing left in here but soapy clean suds.

Me: and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The Warbler: Being like God? Yeah, right! That’s impossible. Not what that verse means. You can only do what you can do. Don’t worry about it. Next!

Me: Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

The Warbler: Oh, man! You’re a truthfulness beast of awesome.

Me: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

The Warbler: That doesn’t mean you have to be nice all the time. Do you really want people stomping all over you? You’ve gotta push back and give them some smack when they need it.

Me: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

The Warbler: All? Pshaw! After the way you acted yesterday, that’s obviously a ridiculous goal.

Me: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The Warbler: Eh, just focus on the Christ forgiving you part. It’s all about you, right?

Okay, okay, that’s probably a bit of an exaggeration. But from the conversations I’ve had, I don’t think I’m the only one who has such a voice that “helps” interpret Scripture. We all come to the Bible with certain ingrained expectations about ourselves, the world, and God. But God’s Word tends to sandpaper over them… a lot.

Not surprisingly, we push back. We justify trouble spots in our own lives and shift the tough passages to “worry about later” or “not about me” lists. I know I’m good at that.

Intersecting Faith & Life: You’ll never turn off the voice of justification that warbles along as you read the Bible. We’re sin-kissed creatures with hearts that like to dance the shuffle. But you can drown out that subtle whisper with prayers of confession. If nothing else, that little voice is good for telling you exactly where you need the help.

Here’s a prayer that works for me: Father, your compassion makes my resistance seem so ridiculous. Give me the guts to accept the chastisement of your Word. Knock through my love-of-self and give me love-of-You instead. Weaken me so that I can be stronger in Christ. Amen.

For Further Reading:

Ephesians 4:1

James 1:1

A Prayer While You’re Still Waiting for God to Answer..... By Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer While You’re Still Waiting for God to Answer

By Betsy de Cruz

 “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant…” – Nehemiah 1:5,6a

When you pray for something forever and still don’t see an answer, you might start to wonder if God really hears or cares. How to keep on praying when you’re not even sure if it makes a difference?

Although most of us have heard prayer develops our relationship with God, if you’re like me, you pray most when you’re desperate for God to do something. We want Him to heal our loved one, help our child, provide for our needs, or show us the way forward. Of course, God wants us to tell him about our needs. However, if we make prayer about coming to God to get what we want, we might be setting ourselves up for disappointment when He doesn’t come through in the exact way we hope.

What if we have it all wrong about prayer? Maybe we are missing the point, and our mistaken expectations set us up for disappointment.

Nehemiah shows us how to pray in the midst of a difficult situation. He is grieved over bad news; Scripture tells us he even sat down and wept (Nehemiah 1:4), yet rather than focus on the problem, he starts his prayer by focusing on God. Nehemiah calls God’s greatness to mind. He praises God for His faithful love and asks God to hear Him.

If you look at the rest of the prayer in Nehemiah 1, you will see he also confesses sin, remembers God’s promises, and asks that God would show mercy and give him success, but today we will focus on how he begins the prayer.

As we pray today, let’s turn our attention to the awesome and majestic God who loves us. Let’s center our prayer around our Heavenly Father and His character, not around ourselves and our needs. The God of the universe hears us, and we can take joy in the privilege of prayer.

As we invite God to act on our behalf, let’s also remember He wants to walk with us through our situation. Obstacles give us the opportunity to see God in a new light, to grow our faith muscles by learning to trust in His lovingkindness. We learn to surrender as we choose to believe God will fulfill His good purpose in us.

Let’s turn our hearts towards God and invite Him into our situation:

Lord, I want to stop where I am right now and turn my eyes and heart toward you. I praise you for your great power and eternal, unchanging goodness. You reign over all creation, and I can rest in knowing you care for me and my loved ones. Father, thank you for your faithfulness to the covenant you made with your people. Thank you for the forgiveness we have in Jesus. Thank you for the love you expressed to us through the death of your son and the continued presence of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, I believe you hear me. Thank you for listening to my prayer. I invite you into my situation, and I pray you will act. Show your mercy, Lord; hold me close and work all things for good. You and you alone are able to bless me through my challenges. Give me a faith that believes you and praises your goodness in all situations.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Easter: All That Matters vs. All I Live For..... by Shawn McEvoy

Easter: All That Matters vs. All I Live For
by Shawn McEvoy

He has risen, just as He said.
Matthew 28:6, NIV

What would I ever do if someone I knew came back from the dead? Especially if he had said he would, and if he had spent a couple nights in a grave already?

Seriously, what would I do? What would you do? Wouldn't I blab to everyone I know - and most people I don't - about this miraculous event? Heck, I tell everyone when I'm feeling under the weather or when I saw a good movie.

Then factor in that the same guy was now telling us that because of what he had done, none of the rest of us would ever have to suffer death. What's more, simply by believing what we had seen, no matter our background, history, race, or education, we could restore our long-lost connection with the Almighty, and live forever.

Man... unfortunately, I'm having a hard time conceiving what I would do. Or, even if I can conceive it, I can't quite believe it, because honestly, I have seen this, I do believe this, and yet my daily reaction to it doesn't exactly line up with The Acts of the Apostles. 

Has the news of a resurrected savior really become passe?

Why don't I want to read Acts?

What am I afraid of?

That I'll be rejected?

(He who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 4:8)).

That I won't be powerful enough?

(God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7)).

That the good news isn't relevant enough?

Salvation and the message of the resurrection, the miracle of born again-ness, is a salve to all wounds.

This Easter I'll join choruses like "He's Alive" while pondering and praising the miracle, but when it comes time for the next day of my life to begin, a day and a life that means nothing if not lived for my Savior, it'll be all about me again and my troubles and making my way and who cut me off and what I have to get done and who I don't like and what can we complain about today.

Yuck.

I want this Easter to be real. Because I did see it happen (so to speak; the resulting spread of those who ran to the corners of the earth to tell the story with no regard for personal safety is traceable to this day), it is real, and I'm cheating life and people God loves if I'm not shouting those facts from every corner and rooftop I can find. Everything else is just window dressing; "Christian living" is often just how we pass all our extra time in this country where so many of our basic needs are so easily met, and where we can cordon ourselves off from each other. What matters in life?

1. That there is life, and...
2. how it came about that there might never be death, but...
3. there are still dead men walking.

Really, why else are we here if not to keep excitedly shouting the truth of the miracle as if we'd just experienced it with our own eyes yesterday?

Intersecting Faith & Life: For the longest time, I've felt a leading in my heart to launch out into a complete study of the book of Acts, something I've never fully done. For some reason, I continue to put it off. But in my quest this year to make Easter real, I'm beginning a study of what those who witnessed the resurrection couldn't keep themselves from going out and doing. Care to join me? 

Further Reading
Acts 1:1