Tag: God

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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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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Passion

At the beginning of this semester Dr. Woo asked us to introduce ourselves to the class and tell the class what we are passionate about. Sitting about halfway around the room and listening to all the wonderful things that people were saying made me think,  “What am I passionate about.” Finally I settled on archeology, but realized that it was not my passion. It is enjoyable just like comics, movies, and stories but I cannot say that I am really passionate about them. They are just interests.

I really do know what I am passionate about. I was just afraid that it would sound too egotistical. I don’t know why because it really isn’t. My passion is “I want to make a difference!”  I want to make a difference in the lives of the people, in my family and in the family of God, in the Kingdom of God, and in the community. I believe this is the desire that God has placed in my life and I need to pursue it in the best way I know how.

Many of you don’t know it but Chaundra and I had a few people praying for us to help us find out God’s will is for our lives. For 40 day we had them praying to help us understand where God is calling us. To be honest we had begun to think that we were being called into the Mission Field. At this point we don’t know if that is where he has called us in the end, but many people felt like we need to concentrate on the answers that God is providing for us now and step out on faith in those areas; even if we don’t understand His direction. God desn’t show us the whole plan. He only shows us what we need to know at the time that we need to know it. Pastor Keith was right when he thought “These guys are going to be more confused after these forty days then when they began.” It was very confusing, but I think that the clarity comes in waiting for the right moment and following what God has for us now. I know what passion God has given me and maybe that is the best place to start. Bob McMahon gave us this verse and I am clinging to what it has to say.

Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Beyond what we know that he is telling us personally to do, we need to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. For after all, if we are walking with him, He will always be where He wants us to be.  My suggestion is to find your passion and walk humbly with Him.

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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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Word of the Week: Micah 6:8

I have been wondering for a while now what God has next for me. I have only 4 classes left before I get my Advanced Diploma in Theology. Basically a Bachelor’s Equivalent degree to get me into the Master Program. But now I am starting to wonder, “What Next?” I have been having some people pray about it and this scripture was brought to my attention.

Micah 6:8 (www.biblegateway.com)
 8He has (R)told you, O man, what is good; And (S)what does the LORD require of you but to (T)do justice, to (U)love kindness, And to walk (V)humbly with your God?

Whether the answer comes or not, I can look at this and realize, “if I just do what Micah 6:8 is saying” then the next step does not seem to matter as much. If I walk humbly with my God, then I will be where he wants me to be. He is already heading in that direction! The problem is that I am the type of person asking “Are we there yet?” and He is patient enough with me to deal with my impatience. Either way I look forward to the journey, but I am still hoping that he will clue me into the next step.

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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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Deliverance

Scripture Search:
I woke up this morning thinking that it would be appropriate to have a Scripture verse for the Community Wide Thanksgiving Dinner. I could think of a few, but what I noticed as I was searching was that most often when giving thanks to God it was because of deliverance. Throughout the Old Testament it shows our mighty God continually making a way for deliverance and ultimately through the Deliverance of His son on the cross. This is the thing that I am most thankful for today. I no longer have to bear the punishment for the things that I have done wrong. Christ paid the price so that I may be with Him. That is good news and I am plenty to be thankful for.

And I leave you with this Scripture:
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises. 8 Awake up, my glory; Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early. 9 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. 10 For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the skies. 11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth.
Psalms 57:7-11 (ASV)

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