Like David, most all of us experienced constant stress. For much of his younger adulthood David was pursued by Saul who sought to kill him. He became the king of a nation that endured wars, giants, national problems, famine, only to name a few. His family problems were horrendous. Sibling rivalry looked petty compared to the soap opera of David's family. This guy was a potential psychiatric patient. Stress can break even the sturdiest of hearts. David had an antidote—Trust in a living God. This was the controlling factor in his life. David composed a song that began, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge. My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from ...
We talk often about the fact that we are a child of God, His treasured possession. He created us in His own image and He chose the day for you to be born, and He has a plan and a purpose for our life. Whenever I do a funeral I usually read or refer to their birth-verse: http://www.birthverse.com
Now I’m not saying that every verse given is God’s direct verse for that person’s life, but I have found it very interesting that more times than not the verse will describe that person’s life in some way. I celebrated my 55th birthday today and my birth verse is Acts 2:21, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (NIV) Now over the last 55 years I have called many times and God out of His goodness and mercy answered. <?xml:namespace prefix = ...
This weekend we saw six people cross over from death to life, and many others move forward in their total commitment in the cause of Christ; that NEVER gets old! For years I have always thought that I was more like the Good Samaritan, but after reading Luke 10:25-37 God showed me that more often than not, I was actually more like the Priest and the Levite. Honestly, this one STUNG a lot…wow! Now it cost the Samaritan to cross the street and it will cost us our time, talent and treasure, temple to impact our world. We HAVE to be willing to be interrupted and inconvenienced. Being emotional about something will cause is to cry, but being filled with compassion will actually cause us to cross the street!
There will always be a reason why we can’t do what God ...
During a Q&A session at a conference, someone asked, "What has been your greatest challenge as a leader?” "Leading me!” he answered, "That has always been my greatest challenge as a leader.” Now some in the audience were surprised by this response. The more experienced leaders were not. Like me, they could trace many of their failures to their own personal leadership mismanagement. Isn’t that also true for you? If I could kick the person responsible for my problems, I wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week!
Most people use two totally different sets of criteria for judging themselves and judging others. We tend to judge others according to their actions. It’s very cut-and-dried. However, we judge ourselves by our intentions. Even if we do the wrong thing, we let ourselves off the hook if we believe our intentions ...
The most impossible situations are God’s best occasions for miracles. Nothing can intimidate Him. Shut the door on hope, drown your dreams in the bitter tears of disappointment—God will raise them to life. Raise the white flag of defeat, pretend it is all over, and watch God restore, renew and revitalize your life, ministry and purpose. It is God at work in the silent moments in the unexplainable moments of your life. It is God that turns the pages of your spiritual history. When you thought it was over, when all you could do was be faithful!<?xml:namespace prefix = o />
"The Chinese bamboo tree has no growth for four years. However, in the fifth year, it shoots up in the air to enormous heights. The same can be true in the life of a believer. The devil has lied to some ...
