Category: Uncategorized

He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you’ —Hebrews 13:5   I don’t think I completely realize the significance of this verse: the promise of God that He will never leave or forsake me. Wow. There are times I would leave or forsake myself. He promises not to leave me for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. So those times when I feel alone, when I feel forsaken, I need to realize that I can’t rely on my feelings. I have to trust His promise. He’s there; even if I can’t feel his presence. Those time of great testing or trial; He’s there. Actually, I can usually feel His presence in the really tough times. I can usually recognize that what is happening is a test and He’s there to pull me through. It’s the hum drum times of life that I need help recognizing He’s around. When I have to do things that aren’t particularly tough, but are also not particularly exciting. When the ordinary seems to scream boredom at me, then I need help recognizing His presence. Finally, if I recognize and believe He will never forsake me; it forces […]

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him . . . —Psalm 25:14 Many of us learned in the past 6 weeks, the power of the small group. We need an outlet to share our secret sorrows and joys. It is extremely beneficial to talk to and listen to other Christians. We learn that we are not alone with our struggles or our joys. We may have someone whose shoulder we can cry on; but the sign of a real friend is someone with who we can share our secret joys.  Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets, leaving Him no time to talk to us? What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us— He knows every detail of each of our individual lives. A great prayer and share group is a mirror of what our relationship with Our Lord should be growing to: knowledge and care of another in the big and small parts of our lives. If you haven’t known the benefits […]

Who is the man that fears the Lord? —Psalm 25:12 Are we obsessed by God? If not, why not? If we are not obsessed by God we probably have a limited view of Him. Jesus realized this was a problem as He came close to the end of His ministry.  His disciples did not have a complete view of Him. So He took His closest disciples to the top of a mountain and there was transfigured before them. They caught just a glimpse of His glory. It was a glimpse that would get them through many tough times ahead, including, for most, martyrdom.  If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives— not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy. Fear of the Lord, wipes out all other fear and worry and concern. It is the one great fear. Heavenly Father, grant us enough of a view of your Glory that we […]

He said to me, ’Son of man, can these bones live?’ —Ezekiel 37:3 It’s truly amazing what the intervention of God can accomplish in a human life. The most twisted life can  become straight; the driest bones can come to life. Never forge ahead with your religious common sense and say, “Oh, yes, with just a little more Bible reading, devotional time, and prayer, I see how it can be done.” It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we see the activity and mistake panic for inspiration. That is why we see so few fellow workers with God, yet so many people working for God. We would much rather work for God than believe in Him. Do I really believe that God will do in me what I cannot do? The degree of hopelessness I have for others comes from never realizing that God has done anything for me.  Is your life dry? Just a little? Twisted? Just a little? You can’t fix it; but He can.  Can these bones live? With God’s help, you bet they can. Nick

Jesus did not commit Himself to them . . .for He knew what was in man —John 2:24-25 Successful people have ordered lives; ordered but not necessarily orderly. They have priorities. They use, but are not ruled by, to do lists and calendars.  Jesus taught a successful life style: Seek First the Kingdom of God. Our priorities are not best determined by what we believe or say or plan. They are best read in what we do. Try keeping track of your time for a week. If you do that, your priorities will emerge. You will clearly see what is really important to you by what you do, by how you spend your time. How should our worlds be ordered?  As usual, OC has the right idea. Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I […]

Lord, I will follow You, but . . . —Luke 9:61 We say we are willing to follow the Lord; but we assume He wouldn’t ask us to do anything  “unreasonable.” If He asks us to do something that goes against “common sense” then we assume it must not be God, but Satan trying to lead us astray. But we must get to the point that we are so sure of God’s voice that we don’t have to put it to a “reasonableness” test before we act. If we study, the guidance of God in scripture, we find that He often asks His children to take the “path less traveled” to do something that goes against “common sense.” If we insist on filtering His guidance to us we will lose our way, while acting “within reason.”  Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or […]

In that day you will ask in My name . . . for the Father Himself loves you . . . —John 16:26-27 Last night Kaydence spent the night with us. It amazes me how I love her. How her every move and word delights me, sometimes to laughter, sometimes to tears. I just want to squeeze her into me. I would do anything for her. I would die for her. It amazes me even more to think that my creator feels the same about me. I’m not naive enough to think I’m  as cute and lovable as a two year old. But I know He wants me to be one with Him in that same passionate way. It’s all about moving toward that eventual oneness with the Creator, the state which we are ultimately created for. We will ask in His name because we will be so intimate with Him that we will be one with Him. And “that day” is not a day in the heavens but a day meant for here and now. Our Lord does not mean that our lives will be free from external difficulties and uncertainties, but that just as He knew the […]

In that day you will ask Me nothing —John 16:23 Will I ever stop questioning God? Will there be a point that my confidence in Him is such that I question no longer? I will never know everything; but I believe that it is possible that I will come to the point in faith that I will be one with the Father just as Jesus is, and He said, “In that day you will ask Me nothing.”  The source of my current questioning my lack of total reliance on Him.At some point I will understand and accept that I don’t need to question further, because I will be confident that God will reveal things in accordance with His will. I will know what I have a need to know. The faith and peace of John 14:1 will have  become the real attitude of my heart, and there are no more questions to be asked.With the vanishing of questioning will come complete blessing and perfect peace. It will be great. Nick