August 1, 2014 - February 28, 2014 December 4, 2014 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. Isaiah 46:10 I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. Isaiah 48:3 So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish. Isaiah 42:9 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. Ezekiel 39:25 December 4, 2014 - See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT? So many times we have such visions, such dreams, such plans and we find that we have a purpose that utterly amazes us. But the question today is do you not perceive it? You see we have to believe. When was the last time you had an extended, uninterrupted conversation with someone face-to-face? Without checking for text messages or taking a call? For a lot of us, we’d have to think for some time to come up with an answer. And even if you have enjoyed such a moment in recent days, you likely will still agree that there’s so much noise – too much, perhaps – in the world around us. It’s hard to stand still when we’re all so busy. It’s difficult to stay centered when we’re pulled in so many directions. The same can be said of our spiritual selves when so many forces vie for our attention and our affection. When our lives spiral out of control and we can’t make sense of the circumstances we are in, we often find ourselves longing for a solid place to stand, to find rest and make sense of it all. In the song “We Believe,” we’re given a musical reminder of what it is that is essential to our Christian faith. When we find ourselves on the periphery without hope, we can find something to center us in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. When we find ourselves arguing about things that don’t matter, we can remember that we all are united as children of the same Heavenly Father. We believe in God the Father / We believe in Jesus Christ / We believe in the Holy Spirit / And He’s given us new life / We believe in the Crucifixion / We believe that He conquered death / We believe in the resurrection / And He’s coming back again / We believe - these are some of the lyrics to the song WE BELIEVE. Placing these central truths in our mind and heart will allow us to stand strong when the uncertainty of life attempts to move us away from what truly matters. The Spirit at work within us will keep us strong, and we can help by creating space to recall what is true about God and His work in our lives. Psalm 1:1-3 tells us - “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” May you become like a tree planted firmly, rooted in the deeper truths of God. May we remember and reflect on what it is that we truly believe and carry that in our hearts as we step back into the chaotic moments of the world around us. Centering ourselves on the core of our faith allow us to bloom with the fruit of God’s kingdom and offer love and beauty to a world that needs it. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT? God speaks to people who decide they’re going to do what He tells them to do, even before he tells them. It’s saying, “God, before You even tell me, my answer is ‘yes.’ Whatever You want me to do, I will do it.” God wants you to have an attitude of obedience so that you can bear fruit — the biblical term for being successful. God wants you to be fruitful in your business, your family, your friendships, your relationship with God and with others, and your health. So how do you bear fruit when God tells you something? You pass it on. When God tells you something, the quickest way to let it bear fruit in your life is to tell somebody else what you just learned. Luke 8:15 says - “They listen to God’s words and cling to them and steadily spread them to others who also soon believe” See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT? There comes a time when you have to doubt your doubt and believe your beliefs. Have you ever had doubts about your faith or ever wondered if it were really true? If so, do not be too hard on yourself. Some Christians are reluctant to admit that they have any questions at all, but in reality, all believers do. I think that we sometimes have the idea that questioning God is an act of spiritual treason or betrayal, or that doubt is an unpardonable sin. Listen, everyone has moments of doubt. Even John the Baptist—the cousin of Jesus, the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and the direct forerunner of the Messiah—had them. After he had been arrested and imprisoned, he sent word to Jesus, asking, Are you really the Messiah weve been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else? Doubt is not always bad. Oswald Chambers said that doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong; it may be a sign that he is thinking. It has been said that skepticism is the first step toward truth. Chuck Swindoll said, It is the right of every believer to go through halls of doubt on their way to rooms of truth. Psalm 91:14-16 tells us - Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation. Isaiah 61:7 tells us - Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT?
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:24:39 +0000
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