Category: God is Good

The difference between Luck and Providence

I have been thinking alot about luck recently. Some would say that there is no such thing as luck, but I actually believe in it. It is hard to deny it when one person can call up the radio station and never even get to the operator, while another has won more than one time. Luck is the lottery winner that has won twice. Luck is even being bit by a shark or struck by lightening, I mean what are the odds of that. I have never understood why someone would be luckier than someone else; for good or for bad. Today I was contemplating the difference between luck and God’s Providence and I think that I have come to a conclusion. Luck is fleeting while providence is forever. Think about it! It is commonly known that many that win the lottery, are sometimes worse off after. Some have gone bankrupt because they don’t know how to handle that kind of cash, while others just become different people. Even winning a gift is fleeting, or just in a moment. Providence on the other hand is God providing for your every need. You may not win the lottery and get through the telephone to the radio station, but your needs are always taken care of. Providence is making sure that the right thing happens at just the right moment – God is in Control. So I don’t need luck, even though it would be nice now and then; what I need is the providence that God gives and I can be content in the life that he has given  me.

Just a thought. It may not be too enlightening, but it struck me as something important. The next time I see someone that gets the glory or luck of the draw, I can look back at all what God has done for me and realize. He is my all, and all that I need. Thank God for his Providence, there is nothing in the world that can compare.

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God of all Comfort

2 Cor 1:3-11 (NASB77)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed upon us through the prayers of many.

This scripture caught my eye this morning. I have always thought of the fact that we will suffer in this life because of our faith. We are not to be a friend of the world, we are to be part of the family of God – which the world hates. Jesus gave us the Comforter, and when we go through trials he is there to comfort us. I highlighted the parts that stood out to me this morning and don’t really know why I posted it, but felt that I should. If you are going through a rough time right now, just know that he is there to walk with you through it. Most of all he is there to comfort you through it as well.

In God’s Peace, My prayer goes out for you.

Heavenly father, I ask you as the God of all comfort to be in the midst of the person that is reading this right now. I don’t know what their circumstances are, but you do. I know that you will help this person through any trials and troubles and will see them through the tough times. I ask you to open their heart to you so that they would gain a better understanding of you in their life. If they are not going through anything right now, then I ask you to meet them at their need, whatever that might be.

Thank you for hearing me, and I ask this all in JESUS name, AMEN! (Let it be done according to your will.)

I hope that this blog will be a blessing for you today.

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Open Door Policy

What a day! It is amazing how many things can break in one day, or at least over a short time period. I woke up and found that my car didn’t want to start (I think the battery is going bad and we just spent some money on it as it is), my computer doesn’t want to work, my IPOD froze (I cannot turn it off to reset it), the washer broke, and the dishwasher is not cleaning well for some reason. Am I complaining (Maybe a little) but what surprised me was what I was thinking.

You see my wife and I are trying to put the house on the market, pay for school, and go to Russia for a mission’s trip. All of which costs money. I started to think that maybe we are getting something wrong and God does not really want us to do something. After all shouldn’t he open the doors for us to make it happen, if it is his will! At least that has been my train of thought.

Have we been trained to think this way? Does God choose the easy way? If it is God’s choice, isn’t he just going to make it happen? That is when I started thing of things that were God’s choice like:

  1. His plan for Redeeming mankind – Christ had to die and rise again. It was not a easy path.
  2. For his Disciples – Many of them died a martyr’s death and lived hard lives.
  3. Scriptures like “Take up your cross and follow me” ring in my ears
  4. etc. etc. etc.

Maybe I have been thinking about this in the wrong way. This is when I remembered something that Dr. Woo was talking about in New Testament class. “When God opens doors, Satan is waiting!” We are in a spiritual war after all, and he doesn’t want the things that God wants. The open door can lead to opposition and not an easy life.

So what am I getting at? In everything give thanks and continue searching for God’s will. Simple answer, but even in the opposition I can count on him to make it happen even if it is not going to be easy. I like easy, but it is praiseworthy when you see God fill in the blanks and make things happen his way.

The next time you have an open door policy, when it comes to God, remember that, “just because opposition comes, it does not mean that that is not the way he wants you to go.” It could very well be the thing he desires for your life.

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Heart Breaking News!

Recently I read a couple of blogs online that seem not only to reject the God that created them, but also to chide those who embrace him. I know that persecution is not that strong in the United States, but it is in other countries (See Voice of the Martyrs), but it still doesn’t take away the fact that these people are rejecting God. It is heartbreaking news to know that someone is outright rejecting God – that is heartbreaking enough, but to know that they reject and hatefully go after those who do, is even more heartbreaking.

I used to be the type that would argue my point until I was blue in the face. Then I realized that it was going to do no good when they closed to the idea that Christ died for them so that he could spend an eternity with them. This is when Matthew 7:6 came more to light for me.

Matthew 7:6 (www.biblegateway.com)
” Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:5-7 (in Context) Matthew 7 (Whole Chapter)

The “Good News” (Gospel) that we have is a precious pearl and treasure to the Christian. It brings hope. It brings life. It brings joy (notice I said joy not happiness there is a difference). It brings us closer to a God who loved us enough to send His son to take on the penalties of our wrong doing (Sin).

Romans 5:8 (www.biblegateway.com)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-9 (in Context) Romans 5 (Whole Chapter)

But your faith will also bring persecution. They will turn on you and trample you, but just like Paul you have to brush yourself off and continue in the Faith. It is not always easy but it is always for the good.

Now I read things like this with a saddened heart and maybe or maybe not leave a comment, then I move on. It is heartbreaking to leave them as they are, but we have to remember, “Just like the people complaining to Moses, it wasn’t him who they were rejecting.” We cannot give up on sharing the gospel, but remember Matthew 7:6. Give what information that you can in love and pray for those who persecute you – but don’t throw your pearls before swine for they will turn on you and trample it underfoot.

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Invite Him This Season

Last night I had a dream about a man that decided that he wanted to be a Christian, so he thought that the best way was to get up between 4-6 AM and dedicate that time to the Lord. As time passed he noticed that not much had changed except the time that he woke up. Frustrated, he became angry at God and started to yell at him. “Where are you!” Then with a small still voice he heard, “You dedicated the time but you never invited me to join you.”

I woke up thinking to myself, “What does this really mean?” I gather that he was saying what Scripture says.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

and 

that (A)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and (B)believe in your heart that (C)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10

I am sure that it has some to do with that, but I think he was talking to me directly. I haven’t really gotten into this Christmas season so far and have not taken the time to include him in on all the hustle and bustle that this holiday season has caused. This Christmas season I want to take some personal time, to spend with my Lord. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate his birth, then to spend some quality time with him. That is the gift I imagine that he wants the most. It is good to love people, but we cannot forget that that command was the second of two. The first was to “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind – then people. -Matthew 22: 36-40” I know that we can love God by loving people, but sometimes I think he just craves us!” I hope this Christmas season, I get a better attitude, Love people, and Take some time for the God who created me. I hope the same for you as well. – Merry Christmas

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Snow Way!

Now here is something that doesn’t happen every day. It is snowing in Houston. I remember in 2004 that it snowed on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. White Christmases are a Blue moon experience when you are not used to it. I know that it is not theological, but either way God is Good.

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