HOW GREAT S OUR GOD!
READ:
Job 38:31-41; 42:5-6
Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,
or loose the belt of Orion?
--Job 38:31
A team of astronomers from the University of Minnesota say they
have found a giant hole in the universe. The void they've
discovered is in the region of sky southwest of Oriona.
The mysterious empty place has no galaxies, stars, or even dark
matter. One of the astronomers said that the hole in the heavens
is a billion lightyears across.
When I try to capture the meaning of such immensity, something
happens to me. The fight goes out of me.
I don't know what to do with my thoughts. Who can relate to the
magnitude of such emptiness?
Then I remember what the Lord did with Job. He drew His suffering
servant's attention to the same part of the night sky. Using the
region of the constellation Orion along with the wonders of the
weather and the natural world, the Lord brought Job to the end of
his reasonings and arguments (Job 38:31; 42:5-6).
In the presence of such wonder, I want to join Job in collapsing
before the Lord in surrender to His inexpressible power and
wisdom. I want to let go of my anxiety, my anger, and my
resistance to the mysterious leading of God. I want to claim my
only confidence as being in the immeasurable greatness of our
God. --Mart De Haan
......
THE WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE COMPEL US TO WORSHIP OUR WONDERFUL
GOD.
IMPOSSIBLE ITOKAWA
READ:
Matthew 19:16-26
with God all things are possible.
--Matthew 19:26
In 2005, Japan's unmanned Hayabusa spacecraft visited an
"impossible" asteroid. Images and data indicate that the
asteroid, named Itokawa, is twice as porous as loose sand. This
has astonished scientists, who believe that asteroids make
repeated impacts with other space rocks and hence should be very
dense. As they make additional discoveries, scientists may learn
why Itokawa is different. But for now, we have an asteroid that
challenges scientific understanding.
Two thousand years ago, a young ruler asked Jesus an "impossible"
question: "What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal
life?" (Matt.19:16). After an intriguing exchange, the man "went
away sorrowful" (v.22) when he realized he would have to give up
his wealth - the very thing he valued more than a relationship
with Jesus. This upright man had kept the letter of the law, yet
had fallen short. "Who then can be saved?" asked the astonished
disciples (v.25). Jesus answered, "With men this is impossible,
but with God all things are possible" (v.26).
The One who created this universe out of nothing has a history of
accomplishing the impossible. When we forsake what this life has
to offer and follow Him, He does the impossible once again - He
gives us eternal life! - C.P.Hia
It took a miracle to put the stars in place, It took a miracle to
hang the world in space; But when He saved my soul, cleansed and
made me whole, It took a miracle of love and grace! --Peterson
OUR LIMITED ABILITY ACCENTS GOD'S LIMITLESS POWER.
SIN CROUCHES AT THE DOOR
READ:
Genesis 4:1-16
Sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should
rule over it.
--Genesis 4:7
The award-winning author John Stelnbeck often used biblical
themes in his novels. In his book "East of Eden," he describes
characters who illustrate the conflict of jealousy and revenge
reflected in the story of Cain and Abel. Steinbeck shows how an
angry heart burning with revenge doesn't have to act a certain
way. There's always a choice.
When Abel's animal sacrifice received divine favor and Cain's
offering of fruit was rejected, Cain burned with anger (Gen.
4:1-6). But the Lord admonished him, "Sin lies at the door. And
its desire is for you, but you should rule over it" (Gen.4:7).
The original Hebrew words paint the picture of an animal
crouching, ready to devour its prey. Cain's anger and jealousy,
if not brought under control, would "eat him up" and spill out in
destructive behavior. Tragically, Cain gave in to his evil
desires. It resulted in the first homicide and his departure from
the presence of the Lord (Gen.4:8-16).
Do you have feelings of jealousy or anger toward someone? If so,
you have a choice. If you ignore the internal struggle it will
only get worse and control you. But if you bring your anger to
the Lord and ask for His help, in His strength you will have
victory. --Dennis Fisher
When faced with trials from without
Or tempted from within,
Rely upon the Lord for strength
To turn away from sin. --Sper
CONTROL YOUR ANGER OR IT WILL CONTROL YOU.
HE'S WAITING
READ:
Psalm 34:1-15
I sought the LORD,
and He heard me.
--Psalm 34:4
Jane Welsh, secretary to Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle (1795-
1881), married him and devoted her life to him and his work. He
loved her deeply but was so busy with his writing and speaking
that he often neglected her. Some time into their marriage, she
became ill and suddenly died.
In a new book by John Ortberg, I read that after the funeral
Thomas went alone to Jane's room and looked at her diary. He
found these words she had written about him: "Yesterday he spent
an hour with me and it was like heaven. I love him so." On
another day, she wrote, "I have listened all day to hear his
steps in the hall, but now it is late. I guess he will not come
today." He wept brokenly, realizing his neglect of her and her
desire just to talk with him.
As I read that, I couldn't help but think, God loves me dearly
and waits for me to fellowship with Him. How many days do I
forget Him? The Lord welcomes our worship, our prayer, our
praise. He has told us in His Word to pray all the time (I Thess.
5:17). As He did with the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3,
Christ knocks on the door of our heart and patiently waits
(v.20). He listens attentively for our call, our cry, our prayer.
How often does He wait in vain? --Dave Egner
We can know that God is watching,
Always present, everywhere,
And with hope and joy and patience
He is waiting for our prayer. -Roworth
TALK WITH GOD -- HE LONGS TO HEAR FROM YOU.
NO GOOD DEED
READ:
1 Samuel 25:32-39
Blessed he the Lord,
who has pleaded the
cause of my reproach.
--1 Samuel 25:39
Playwright and US Congresswoman Boothe Luce (1903-1987)
once said, "No good deed goes unpunished." Sadly, it sometimes
seems as if this aphorism is true.
David, soon to be king of Israel, had an experience that
corroborates this idea. While hiding from Saul, he and
his men watched over the property of a rich landowner named
Nabal. But later, when David asked a favor of Nabal, he was met
with scorn. "Surely in vain I have protected all that this
fellow has," said David. "He has repaid me evil for good" (1 Sam.
25:21). Before David could carry out revenge, Nabal's wife
intervened and kept David from acting rashly. Soon, God struck
Nabal dead (v.38). Then David praised God for keeping him from
evil and for returning "the wickedness of Nabal on his own head"
(v.39).
Perhaps you've had an experience when kindness was repaid with
ingratitude, a generous gift was treated as an entitlement, kind
actions were interpreted as an attempt to control, or
well-intended advice was received with scorn.
David's story reminds us that even when it seems as if we're
being repaid with evil for doing good, we don't have to take
matters into our own hands; we can trust God with the outcome. -
-Julie Ackennan Link
This is my Father's world
0 let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet. --Babcock
ONE DAY GOD WILL RIGHT EVERY WRONG.
THE DEBT OF LEADERSHIP
READ:
Psalm 86
Save Your servant who
trusts in You!
--Psalm 86:2
Examine the words of Psalm 86, and you might forget that you are
reading the musings of a good leader.
King David prayed, "O LORD, hear me; for I am poor and needy" (v.
I).
Then the king of Israel refers to himself as a "servant" and
pleads for mercy. Think of it! This was the man God had chosen to
lead His people, pleading for God's help. Wow!
As we think about the role of leaders - whether centuries ago or
today it's vital that we review what leadership means. According
to businessman and author Max De Pree, whose leadership moved his
company near the top of the Fortune 500: "The first respon-
sibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say
thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant
and a debtor. That sums up the progress of an artful leader."
Those two words, servant and debtor, describe David's view of
himself as he asked God for help during his time of leadership.
All of us who are in a leadership position - whether leading a
family, a church, a classroom, or a business - need the humble
words of Psalm 86 as our guide. The "poor and needy" (v.1)
servant-leader who trusts God is the one who, in the end, can say
as David did, "You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me"
(v.17). --Dave Branon
Controlling other people's lives
Is not a godly leader's trait;
But serving other people's needs
Is what the Lord considers great. --Sper
THE ONLY LEADERS QUALIFIED TO LEAD ARE THOSE WHO HAVE LEARNED TO
SERVE.
ANTI-AGING POWER
READ:
Isaiah 40:25-41:1
Those who wait on the
LORD shall renew their
strength.
--Isaiah 40:31
Americans spend more than $20 billion annually on various
anti-aging products that claim to cure baldness, remove wrinkles,
build muscle, and renew the powers of youth.
Can those products deliver what they promise? Dr.Thomas Perls of
Boston University School of Medicine says there is "absolutely no
scientific proof that any commercially available product will
stop or reverse aging."
But there is a promise of spiritual vitality that defies the
ravages of time.
"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men
shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they
shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isa.
40:30-31).
Isaiah used the eagle as a symbol of freedom and endurance, held
aloft by a source of power outside itself. As we put our hope and
trust in the Lord, we are carried along by His strength and not
our own. The psalmist said it is the Lord who nourishes us so
that our "youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Ps.103:5).
Are we taking advantage of God's anti-aging power? It's promised
to all who put their trust in Him for strength of heart, vigor of
spirit, and energy of soul. --David McCasland
The ravages of time cannot be stopped;
Yes, outwardly we perish every day;
But inner strength of heart can be renewed
By trusting in the Lord to light our way. --Sper
GROWING OLD IS A BLESSING WHEN YOU'RE GROWING CLOSER TO GOD.
........................
I WROTE THE FOLLOWING MANY YEARS AGO; I'M NOW 80.
Ah, when I think back over the years of my 67 years of life so
far, I am truly blessed. From the days of a child in a Church of
England School from grade 1 to 12, was a blessing. Reading the
Bible every school morning for the first half hour. Then the
Sunday School church I attended, for all those years, never
hardly missing a Sunday. I think of the little "red letter"
New Testament an adult gave me, and how I loved to read the words
of Christ. It was a foundational blessing in the Word of the Lord
that I cherish. There was little if any "theological
indoctrination" in all those early years with the Bible. It was
sweet and good as honey. Then I think of the years that have gone
by since coming to Canada at age 18 .... that is 49 years ago
now. Wow, how times flies. I think of all the wonderful
instruction from the Lord I have been given, as I loved to grow
in grace and knowledge, as I cried out for His teaching, His
truth, His correction, His guidance, His knowledge .... and OH I
HAVE BEEN GIVEN IT!! The strength He has given me, the doors He
has opened to me. With the abilities of John Rumnanus (who was
the first to build my Website) and then the talent of Jesse
(who built it mored and taught me how to maintain and upload
studies, until her sleeping in death), I have been able to PASS
ON to you the KNOWLEDGE of the Lord and the TRUTH of His word.
I have been truly BLESSED; I am still truly BLESSED!
I have been blessed so far in my life with PROTECTION from
serious injury in all the sporting programs I've done, from
soccer to field and track, to horse breaking, to trick-riding, to
pleasure riding, to now and again today, opening up my wonderful
fast as a bullet, golden Palomino horse, Final Touch (or "Goldie"
as I call her). I have been blessed in having the knowledge given
to me as a young man going into my teens, as to how to keep fit,
the correct foods to eat to help keep your body healthy, the
right simple but good calisthenic exercises.
In so many ways I do indeed feel the strength of mind and body,
as soaring as on the wings of an eagle. I feel BLESSED of the
Lord in so many ways. I pray that you will at LEAST BE BLESSED
"spiritually" like being on the wings of an eagle, as you study
from my Website and grow in grace and knowledge of our heavenly
Father and His Son (our Savior) Christ Jesus.
Keith Hunt
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