Hearing God Speak

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 [“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”] , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23 [“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”]? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.’ CHAMBERS

 

God speaks to us by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and other Believers.  The question is .. are you listening for God to speak to you?  When God speaks, you know it’s God who is speaking .. sometimes He whispers and sometimes He shouts … but you know it’s Him and you know what He said … our challenge is not in our hearing but in our doing.  He prefers obedience over sacrifice .. we prefer sacrifice over obedience …. What has He been saying to you?

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Have I been persecuting Jesus by an eager determination to serve Him in my own way? […]  My way will not be to foster a meek and quiet spirit, only the spirit of self-satisfaction. We presume that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord— “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . .” (Psalm 40:8).’ CHAMBERS

 

Serving is a good thing … Serving is focusing on others and not yourself.  The second greatest commandment and clearly the heart of God.  But, it is possible to subvert that service and make it something that you find gain in.  It is not so much for the benefit of others, but instead it becomes something in which you find personal affirmation. The reason you do it is not because you feel compelled by the Lord to do it, but your actions are motivated by your need to receive recognition … or feel OK about yourself …

 

When and if that happens, you rob God of His glory.  You usurp His position in your life and claim the throne for yourself.  Sound radical or harsh .. the truth often seems that way.  We must be on our guard against this.  The chief end of man … is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  Is that your chief end … your ultimate purpose … so give credit where credit is due …

 

“I will serve you, because I love you.  You have given life to me.  I was nothing until You found me, You have given life to me.  Heartache, broken pieces, ruined lives are why You died on Calvary. Your touch is what I long for, You have given life to me.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Having "More Than" A Form Of Godliness

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing— a perfect oneness with the Father. And He tells us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me,[…]’ CHAMBERS

 

The belief that I can be good .. that I can live my new life in Christ through self-effort is perhaps the greatest deception that a Christian will face.  How is that we acknowledge that only Jesus can save us and then live as though we have the ability to be righteous on our own.  Galatians 2:20 says … it’s not me who is the source of power in my new life, but Jesus.  2 Timothy 3 tells us about people who have a form of godliness but deny the power of godliness.  We can easily find ourselves in the same condition if we don’t abide in Jesus.  Bottom line, we cannot live this life successfully on our own power or persistence .. but only by the power of God in us.

 

A song sung by Dale Evans .. the wife of Roy Rogers … (you may have never heard of these people) both were Christian movie and television stars … when television promoted biblical principles through regular programming …. “Have faith, hope, and charity.  That’s the way to live successfully.  How do I know?  The Bible tells me so.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Where Is Your Faith?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.’ CHAMBERS

 

What issues are raging in your life that cause you to turn your focus away from the Lord?  It all boils down to where you place your faith.  When Peter got out of the boat, when the disciples thought they would drown in the storm, when Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, when Noah was told to build a boat, when Joshua was told to step into the water, when the young rich man was told to sell everything he had …. All of those times were opportunities to trust God or not.

 

We are to walk .. live .. by faith and not by sight.  If you look around you and put your trust in what you see … you will live a life of worry, frustration, despair.  This new life begins with faith and is successful only by faith … Put your faith where it belongs and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus .. even in the midst of a very real storm.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

As Close As "Yes Lord"

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him-to give God “elbow room.” We plan and figure and predict that this or that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never expected Him to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way, but do look for Him. The way to make room for Him is to expect Him to come, but not in a certain way. No matter how well we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that He may break in at any minute.’ CHAMBERS

 

In the Experiencing God study, Henry Blackaby says that God is always at work around us.  And He invites us to join Him in that work.  This life is not just for preachers or missionaries, but for everyday people.  Christians who are stay at home moms or truck drivers or pizza delivery people, or someone who is out of work.  God is at work and wants to use His sons and daughters for His glory and the advancement of His Kingdom .. the spreading of the Gospel.

 

As much as it may seem to you that being part of the kingdom, beyond your personal spiritual life, is out of reach … it is as close as a “Yes Lord to Your will and to Your way.”  When God shows up, it will be in an opportunity .. to speak a word, to show kindness to someone who does not deserve it … to be like Jesus … So what do you say?

 

“Yes Lord yes to Your will and to your way.  Yes Lord yes, I will trust You and obey.  When the Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree, and I will answer, Yes Lord, Yes!”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Fulfilling God's Purpose

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).

 

When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause.’ CHAMBERS

 

When Martie and I first accepted Christ in 1976, I had a vision of us devoting ourselves to ministry not to secular work and living.  It was nearly 20 years later that we realized that vision.  God’s purpose for us was always clear and never changed .. although there were times when it was clouded by the life we were living and the desires for what the world had to offer.

 

Ephesians 2:8-10  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

 

Whatever it is that God has called you to do and to be … you need to be that and do that … There is nothing better than to be in the center of God’s will for your life.

 

What vision has He given you?

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Take Me Back Lord Where I First Believed

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?’ CHAMBERS

 

Andrae Crouch wrote the song “Take Me Back”  It is about someone who has let the fire go out in their relationship with Jesus.

 

“Take me back, take me back dear Lord -- To the place where I first received you. Take me back, take me back dear Lord where I first believed.

 

I feel that I'm so far from you Lord, But still I hear you calling me. Those simple things that I once knew, their memories keep drawing me.

 

I must confess, Lord I've been blessed but yet my soul's not satisfied. Renew my faith, restore my joy and dry my weeping eyes.”

 

Is your love for God still fresh, like the day you prayed to receive Christ as your Lord? Or, have you become casual in your relationship with Him. Do you still acknowledge His divine nature and His sacrifice and the unbelievable grace and mercy that God poured out on your life with unbridled devotion to Him? Or do you treat your relationship as “no big deal”, you are a Christian .. you love Jesus .. but you are no fanatic.

 

Maybe it is time to rekindle the fire that once burned so brightly in your life.  To remember just how magnificent your salvation is .. and how great our God is.

 

"Take me back, take me back dear Lord -- To the place where I first received you. Take me back, take me back dear Lord where I first believed.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Your Source of Joy and Peace

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one”-with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.’ CHAMBERS

 

As Christians, we have a new life .. a new source of life … we need no longer depend upon circumstances for our joy and peace or our feeling of well-being.  All of that is found through Jesus Christ.  The fruit of the Spirit is being produced in us every day as we seek after God.  We have a new perspective on everyday life.  There are still difficulties … but they should no longer weigh us down as they once did.  In John 16:33, Jesus said “These things I have spoken to you that you might have peace … in the world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer (be encouraged) I have overcome the world”

 

We must bring everything into perspective.  Jesus has overcome sin and death. Sin and its affects are all around us.  We are in the midst of it, every day.  But we do not have to let it steal our joy … sap us of our strength.  The fruit of the Spirit is produced on the inside not the outside. It is a result of a strong relationship with the Lord.  This promised life is not something that is reserved for some.  It is for every believer.  But to experience it, your relationship with Jesus must be a priority … a vital part of your life … not just a passing thought ..

 

“My life is in You, Lord,  My strength is in You, Lord

 

My hope is in You, Lord,  In You, it's in You.

 

I will praise You with all of my heart.  I will praise You with all of my hope.

 

With all of my life, and all of my strength.  All of my hope is in You.”

 

Daniel Gardner - My Life Is In You, Lord Lyrics

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

It Is Not The Knowing It Is The Going

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘The call of God is an expression of His nature; the service which results in my life is suited to me and is an expression of my nature. […] Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service.’ CHAMBERS

 

To answer the call of God requires faith and action.  God has shaped you for service.  It may be as a mom staying at home to raise a family in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  It could be as a missionary in some foreign land.  Whatever it is, your service is a gift to God.  Your obedience is the test of your love.  I tell the students in our Experiencing God class .. “it is not in the knowing .. it’s in the going”.  We all know what God wants us to do .. the question is, will we do it .. or will we say “no” to God and flee to Tarshish like Jonah did?  We can do that by choosing to not live the life God has called us to .. but going another way.  Another thing I tell them is the “God is not at work because of our service, but we are serving because God is at work.”  God is at work all around us.  Be who God intended you to be and be fulfilled.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Getting Your Fruit Inspected

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a “white funeral”-the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a “white funeral,” a death with only one resurrection-a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose— to be a witness for Him.’ CHAMBERS

 

Galatians 2:20 says that we are crucified with Christ … but we have been resurrected .. and the new life we live is because He is in us. That we live by faith.  When Jesus talked with Nicodemus in John 3, Jesus spoke of the Kingdom and the fact that it is by spiritual birth that we can see it.  The day you received Jesus as Lord is the day you entered the Kingdom. You are a new creation from that point on (2 Corinthians 5:17) Paul said that because of our new life that we should no longer practice those things that characterized our old life.  At the Experiencing God bible study, I was asked .. “How do you know someone is a Christian?” I told them, to begin with, you should inspect, not judge, the fruit that they are bearing in their lives .. Galatians 5:19-25 tells us what the fruit of our flesh (our first birth) is like and what the fruit of the Spirit (our second birth) is like.  If I say I am an apple tree but am bearing sour oranges … what is your conclusion?  So what do people see hanging off of your branches?  You once were a sour orange tree but a new variety has been grafted in. You have a new nature … a new reality .. you are a child of the King!

 

I Am A Promise (Gaithers)

 

“I am {You are} a promise, I am a possibility. I am a promise with a capital “P”.  I am a great big bundle of potentiality.  And I’m learning, to hear God’s voice and I’m trying to make the right choice. I’m a promise to be anything God wants me to be.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

His Love Never Fails

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us.’ CHAMBERS

 

What is it that God is teaching you?  God will use life to get our attention and then to reveal His nature to us. The God of all comfort will meet us in the midst of our trouble.  He is the answer to everything. You may want to look to other things for solutions to your problems .. and most people do.  But God is the only place you can go that is certain.  He is the source .. the creator …

 

"As I look back on the road I've travelled, I see so many times He carried me through; And if there's one thing that I've learned in my life, My Redeemer is faithful and true." …  "His love never fails .. He never gives up …. He never runs out on (you)" … Call on the Lord … "Lean on Him, when you’re not strong He will be your friend He will help you carry on" …

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

The Cost Of Following Jesus

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘A lack of progress in our spiritual life results when we try to bear all the costs [the cost of my saying yes to God] ourselves. And actually, we cannot. Because we are so involved in the universal purposes of God, others are immediately affected by our obedience to Him. Will we remain faithful in our obedience to God and be willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent? Or will we do just the opposite and say, “I will not cause other people to suffer”? We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him. Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to Him.’ CHAMBERS

 

A man said to Jesus, “first let me go bury my father” Matthew 8:21  Jesus said “If anyone follows me they must deny themselves .. pick up “their” cross … and [then] follow Me” Luke 9:23.  When we choose to follow God’s call, it will cost us something .. relationships, worldly things, plans for our future … When I was in the military I had a 5 and 10 year plan for my career with two or three alternatives. I had no real control over it, but I had a pretty good idea what would or should happen.  God has a plan and purpose for us … but He only lets us see as far as the next step.  We have to trust Him.  To follow Him means to trust and to be willing to lay down everything.

 

It may mean that you miss special times with your family … you miss your grandchildren growing up.  Would God ask you to do that? It might mean that you are not there when your father is buried.  Not everyone is willing to pay that cost.  The rewards are great .. eternally .. but the personal cost is also great for you and for the ones you love.  Are you willing to lay your life down for God?  You don’t have to go to a foreign country to do it …

 

“Knowing You”

 

“All I once held dear, built my life upon.  All this world reveres and wars to own.  All I once thought gain, I have counted loss. Spent and worthless now, compared to this.  Knowing You, Jesus.  Knowing You.  There is no greater thing.”

 

There is no greater thing …

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

When Seeing Is Not Believing

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins.  This is followed by God’s second mighty work of grace: “. . . an inheritance among those who are sanctified . . . .” In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God’s ministry to others.’ CHAMBERS

 

Chambers often addresses issues that most of us never consider as we live our lives as Christians.  Change in what we want to do, what we think, what we say, the way we treat others … that is all part of the Christian experience.  When Moses was on the mountain, he saw the burning bush, then he turned to go to the bush.  Exodus 3:4 “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”.  Moses had to do something .. first in his heart .. then in his life .. God saw his heart was open to God … and Moses was willing to take the next step.

 

Many people are willing to look, but they are not willing to take the next step .. surrender their lives.  They see Jesus … hear the message of the Gospel, it gets their attention, but they don’t make a heart commitment to God.  Romans 10:8-9 says “Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart” Seeing is not believing.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

It Is Not What You Don't Say.

My Utmost For His Highest

 

“Do we believe that God can fortify and protect our thought processes far beyond where we can go? “. . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If this verse means cleansing only on our conscious level, may God have mercy on us. The man who has been dulled by sin will say that he is not even conscious of it. But the cleansing from sin we experience will reach to the heights and depths of our spirit if we will “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). The same Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirit. It is only when we are protected by God with the miraculous sacredness of the Holy Spirit that our spirit, soul, and body can be preserved in pure uprightness until the coming of Jesus-no longer condemned in God’s sight.” CHAMBERS

 

Do you have control over your thought life? Do you have thoughts that are not God-honoring.  If you actually did or said what you were thinking it would not be Christian-like.  So you just tuck it away.  In Matthew 5, Jesus said “21  You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. …. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  God sees the heart .. what comes the mind and sometimes out of the mouth reflects the heart.  The point is you don’t have to actually say something or do something to sin.  The words and the action are the acting out of the sin in our hearts.

 

But the Spirit and the Word can cleanse the heart.  Do not be content with thoughts that are contrary to what you know is right.  Confess them before God and keep your heart clean before Him. Matthew 22:38 says to love God with everything, heart, mind, soul and strength.  That is the greatest commandment.  What God asks of us is too hard for us to do .. that is why Jesus died on the cross … you want to get control of your thoughts and your tongue … walk after the Spirit and meditate on the word.  Joshua 1:9 .. then you will be successful.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

What Do You Find Comfort In?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this error, and the same process is at work in our lives. God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, namely, life with Himself. It is a matter of loosening the bands that hold back our lives. Those bands are loosened immediately by identification with the death of Jesus. Then we enter into a relationship with God whereby we may sacrifice our lives to Him. It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a “living sacrifice”— to let Him have all your strengths that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus (Romans 12:1). This is what is acceptable to God.’ CHAMBERS

 

As part of our journey with God, we have greatly simplified our lives.  The accumulation, the comforts, the hobbies .. most of that has been cast off.  The selling of our house to serve.  The things that we, typically, in the United States consider necessities for comfort and security.  As we travel around telling our story and what God is doing in various parts of the world, many people marvel at what has been given up.

 

Paul said, “I consider everything as a loss or trash” (Philippians 3:8)  He said he cast off everything that slowed him down as he ran the “race” .. that is lived for God.  It is not about what you or I give up that is the focus here.  It is what we have replaced it with .. that is the point.  We live for God and to know Christ.  Our comfort, our confidence and our hope is in Him.  These other things that we formerly clung to are nothing more than wood, hay, and stubble.  They will all be burned up.  They will not last .. they never truly satisfy.

 

What do you need to make you feel secure in this life? Money in the bank, a nice home or car … cable TV .. maybe new clothes …  whatever it is that is not from God may be pleasant but it is not sufficient.  Give your heart to God.  ‘Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart’ (Psalm 37:4) In other words, He will cause you to desire what He desires.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

A Walk In The Garden

My Utmost For His Highest

 

“Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.” CHAMBERS

 

When you prayed to receive Christ in your life, did you realize that the relationship that was formed was the most important relationship in your life?  Or was it an event, like getting a diploma after graduation.  I get email from a web based service that connects high school classmates.  I thought it would be interesting to see what some of my old friends were doing, until I realized , Duh!, that the service was a fee for service site. In order to find out about other classmates, I would have to pay. The point being that I really don’t feel a compulsion to spend money to refresh memories with friends from the “good old days”.  I just doesn’t mean that much to me.  In the same way, even though we are Christians, having a continuous, day to day, intimate relationship with Jesus, can be like that.  It just doesn’t mean that much.  We are not willing to “spend” our resources to keep the relationship fresh.  Big mistake!

 

It is through our relationship with Jesus that we can enjoy the blessings of God.  Where the fruit of His Spirit will become real and not just a list that we can rattle off or post on the wall.  I have quoted this before … “Do you believe that what you believe is really real” TRUTH PROJECT

 

If you do, you must be intentional about maintaining your relationship with Jesus. It just doesn’t happen by itself.

 

“I come to the garden alone.  While the dew is still on the roses.  And the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.  And He walks with me and He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.” In The Garden

 

How long has it been since you took a walk in the garden?

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

How Great Is Our God!

My Utmost For His Highest

 

“The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable “darkness” of realizing who He is.  Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us — “clouds and darkness”— then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words.” CHAMBERS

 

Have you ever heard someone refer to the Father as the “man upstairs”? Or how about Jesus as “JC”.  That is what flippant means.  I once saw a sign in front of a church that read “Cappuccino and Christ” Well-meaning perhaps but communicates a less that reverent attitude. When we sing “What a friend we have in Jesus”, that song was not meant to imply that somehow Jesus is our buddy.  He is our Lord and Savior.  I continue to marvel at the fact that the creator of the universe, cares about me.  God does not need us .. but He loves us.  Consider how great your salvation is. How great our God is.  And then praise Him.

 

“How great is our God.  Sing with me.  How great is our God. And all will see, how great, how great is our God.”

 

Lord You Have My Heart

“Lord you have my heart And I will search for yours Jesus take my life and lead me on

Lord you have my heart And I will search for yours Let me be to you a sacrifice

And I will    praise you   Lord And I will    sing ---- of-love come down

And as you    show your face We'll see your glory   here”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Are You Walking With God Or Just Watching Him

My Utmost For His Highest

 

“He went out, not knowing where he was going” —Hebrews 11:8

 

“Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?” You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “. . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . .” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.”” CHAMBERS

 

That has been our life for the past 22 years .. .since we left the Army in 1992 we have been going out .. not really knowing where God was sending us … what would happen when we got there … God has always provided for us .. sometimes the circumstances of our life were difficult, sometimes not so difficult, but God was always faithful in all of the circumstances.  The real test of the Christian life is .. are you willing to live it without reservation.  No matter what may come.  God takes us deeper with each step of faith.  What he required of you yesterday will not be enough for today. God is infinitely deep and so is the depth that he calls you to.  If you walking with God and not merely watching God, it requires something that is far beyond you will and your abilities.  It must be so … because it is God who has initiated it .. So your challenge is to trust Him.  What a great way to start the new year.

 

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)