Ps. 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
"You're being followed." These usually are not very comforting words to hear. They cause fear and uneasiness. They cause us to constantly look over our shoulder with the uncertainty of what might happen or with worry over what evil may come against us.
As believers, however, we can and should rejoice in knowing that we are constantly being followed. In a good way. God's goodness (blessings, favor) and mercy (loving kindness, forgiveness) follow us every single day. All the days of our lives. We live in the provision and pardon, the favor and forgiveness of God.
He is always with us (Mt. 28:20). In verse 4, David says that because God is with him, he will fear no evil. He doesn't need to be afraid or feel uneasy. He can enjoy and count on the perfect comfort and absolute security that come from God. And so can we. He gives us the rest (v.2) of green pastures. He gives us the refreshing (v.2) of still waters. He gives us the restoration (v.3) of our soul. His goodness supplies our needs and His mercy forgives our sins. And we can know it with the sames certainty, the same "surely", that David did. So rejoice, you're being followed!
Sock Monkey Snippet: His goodness and His mercy always follow us.
Showing posts with label Provision. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Provision. Show all posts
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Creating Something New
Isa. 43:19 I am creating something new. There it is! Do you not see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands. (CEV)
Considering the heavens and the earth, and all they contain (including us), it would be understandable to think that God's full-time job is just maintaining or managing that which already exists. And He does do that, but I think we sometimes limit our present-day view of God to only that of being a manager and no longer a creator.
The fact of the matter, however, is that God still continues to create. In the visible as well as the invisible realms (Col. 1:16). And His creations are new and unique. They are wondrous and awe-inspiring, confirming His glory (Ps. 19:1). Also, each and every one of God's creations has purpose. Look around you. For obvious things like snowflakes, clouds and newborn babies. For perhaps less obvious things like new friends, a new home or a new job. As Isaiah 43:19 asks, "Do you not see them?"
In our daily lives, it's easy to become discouraged and overlook or stop looking altogether for the continuing, purposeful creations of God that are meant for us. So, what are you looking for? What unique need do you have in your life right now that God can and will creatively fill? Look for Him to do it. God still is, and will forever be, in the business of creating something new!
Sock Monkey Snippet: God is creating something new for you. Look for it.
Considering the heavens and the earth, and all they contain (including us), it would be understandable to think that God's full-time job is just maintaining or managing that which already exists. And He does do that, but I think we sometimes limit our present-day view of God to only that of being a manager and no longer a creator.
The fact of the matter, however, is that God still continues to create. In the visible as well as the invisible realms (Col. 1:16). And His creations are new and unique. They are wondrous and awe-inspiring, confirming His glory (Ps. 19:1). Also, each and every one of God's creations has purpose. Look around you. For obvious things like snowflakes, clouds and newborn babies. For perhaps less obvious things like new friends, a new home or a new job. As Isaiah 43:19 asks, "Do you not see them?"
In our daily lives, it's easy to become discouraged and overlook or stop looking altogether for the continuing, purposeful creations of God that are meant for us. So, what are you looking for? What unique need do you have in your life right now that God can and will creatively fill? Look for Him to do it. God still is, and will forever be, in the business of creating something new!
Sock Monkey Snippet: God is creating something new for you. Look for it.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Our Daily Bread
Mt. 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread."
The children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. Brought out of the bondage of Egypt, they found themselves traveling through the wilderness hungry and wanting for food. And God provided it in an unconventional way. In fact, when the bread (manna) rained down from heaven, the Israelites asked each other, "What is it?" because they had never seen anything like it before. They didn't recognize the supernatural daily provision only God could supply.
God supplies bread to meet our daily needs, too. He provides nourishment to satisfy and sustain us.
The same God who cares for the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field (Mt. 6:33) cares for us and meets our physical needs. But in addition to meeting our physical needs, He meets our spiritual needs, too.
Jesus described Himself as "the bread of life" (Jn. 6:35) which came down from heaven. Only He satisfies the spiritual hunger and wanting in us. He is an endless, inexhaustible supply of life-giving, life-sustaining bread that we enjoy and experience daily through our communion with Him.
May we always recognize God's supernatural nourishment raining down from heaven into our lives, both physically and spiritually. He supplies all our need according to His riches in glory because of what Jesus did for us (Phil. 4:19). He will give us this day, and every day, our daily bread!
Sock Monkey Snippet: Thank God for providing our daily bread.
The children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. Brought out of the bondage of Egypt, they found themselves traveling through the wilderness hungry and wanting for food. And God provided it in an unconventional way. In fact, when the bread (manna) rained down from heaven, the Israelites asked each other, "What is it?" because they had never seen anything like it before. They didn't recognize the supernatural daily provision only God could supply.
God supplies bread to meet our daily needs, too. He provides nourishment to satisfy and sustain us.
The same God who cares for the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field (Mt. 6:33) cares for us and meets our physical needs. But in addition to meeting our physical needs, He meets our spiritual needs, too.
Jesus described Himself as "the bread of life" (Jn. 6:35) which came down from heaven. Only He satisfies the spiritual hunger and wanting in us. He is an endless, inexhaustible supply of life-giving, life-sustaining bread that we enjoy and experience daily through our communion with Him.
May we always recognize God's supernatural nourishment raining down from heaven into our lives, both physically and spiritually. He supplies all our need according to His riches in glory because of what Jesus did for us (Phil. 4:19). He will give us this day, and every day, our daily bread!
Sock Monkey Snippet: Thank God for providing our daily bread.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Entitled to Eat
Mk. 7:27-28 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." And she answered, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."
Jews and Gentiles. Those who were God's children and those who were little dogs. Those who were entitled to eat until full and those who were not.
The woman here who begged Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter was a Gentile. As such, she was ineligible to receive God's covenant promises made to the Jews. Yet because of her faith, Jesus responded by delivering her daughter. No one who approached Him in faith was ever turned away or refused. Most likely this encounter pointed toward the eventual "grafting in" (Rom. 11:17) of the Gentiles into God's kingdom. Nevertheless, and even though she received a significant blessing, it was still only a crumb compared to the fullness of what was available to His children.
As God's children, now grafted in, we have an incredible privilege and blessing. We are entitled to eat, to be filled and satisfied. We needn't settle for crumbs or even morsels because we are given the whole loaf of bread. So, are we seated at His table enjoying the bread that is the fullness of His presence, promises and provision? Or are we scrounging around under the table like little dogs looking only for an occasional crumb? God has an overwhelming and abundant supply available to all believers, to those having faith in Him. Don't settle for crumbs. We are entitled to eat!
Sock Monkey Snippet: Don't settle for crumbs when you are entitled to eat.
Jews and Gentiles. Those who were God's children and those who were little dogs. Those who were entitled to eat until full and those who were not.
The woman here who begged Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter was a Gentile. As such, she was ineligible to receive God's covenant promises made to the Jews. Yet because of her faith, Jesus responded by delivering her daughter. No one who approached Him in faith was ever turned away or refused. Most likely this encounter pointed toward the eventual "grafting in" (Rom. 11:17) of the Gentiles into God's kingdom. Nevertheless, and even though she received a significant blessing, it was still only a crumb compared to the fullness of what was available to His children.
As God's children, now grafted in, we have an incredible privilege and blessing. We are entitled to eat, to be filled and satisfied. We needn't settle for crumbs or even morsels because we are given the whole loaf of bread. So, are we seated at His table enjoying the bread that is the fullness of His presence, promises and provision? Or are we scrounging around under the table like little dogs looking only for an occasional crumb? God has an overwhelming and abundant supply available to all believers, to those having faith in Him. Don't settle for crumbs. We are entitled to eat!Sock Monkey Snippet: Don't settle for crumbs when you are entitled to eat.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Treated to a Feast
Ps. 23:5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. (CEV)
My daughter and son-in-law came home to visit us this weekend. As a 28th wedding anniversary blessing for my wife and I (and son), they treated us to an elegant dinner out on Saturday evening. I'm not talking a meager meal of burgers and fries. I'm talking a feast with steak and all the fixings.
It has been a difficult year so far for my wife and I. It seems like our enemy, the devil, has been just throwing one thing after another at us. We're definitely in a fight. I've tried my best to see God in the midst of all our trials. Admittedly, at times it hasn't been easy.
But I couldn't help but see that here we were on Saturday night not struggling or lacking but rather feasting. While the devil looked on. Try as he might, he couldn't prevent it, he was forced to watch it and he understood that God provided it. Through our children. We were definitely treated to a feast while the enemy watched. In your face, devil!
The whole weekend, not just the meal itself, was a feast. Despite our circumstances, it was a wonderful anniversary. Spending time with family, even for a few short days, when so many families are broken, divided or apart for one reason or another was a full-course blessing all by itself. I enjoyed every minute of it.
Thanks Stephanie and Mike. Not just for the exquisite meal, but for your love, God's love. And for letting me see that, in spite of our enemy, God can and will put a feast right in front of us. God bless you both!
Sock Monkey Snippet: In the midst of the fight, look for the feast.
My daughter and son-in-law came home to visit us this weekend. As a 28th wedding anniversary blessing for my wife and I (and son), they treated us to an elegant dinner out on Saturday evening. I'm not talking a meager meal of burgers and fries. I'm talking a feast with steak and all the fixings.
It has been a difficult year so far for my wife and I. It seems like our enemy, the devil, has been just throwing one thing after another at us. We're definitely in a fight. I've tried my best to see God in the midst of all our trials. Admittedly, at times it hasn't been easy.
But I couldn't help but see that here we were on Saturday night not struggling or lacking but rather feasting. While the devil looked on. Try as he might, he couldn't prevent it, he was forced to watch it and he understood that God provided it. Through our children. We were definitely treated to a feast while the enemy watched. In your face, devil!
The whole weekend, not just the meal itself, was a feast. Despite our circumstances, it was a wonderful anniversary. Spending time with family, even for a few short days, when so many families are broken, divided or apart for one reason or another was a full-course blessing all by itself. I enjoyed every minute of it.Thanks Stephanie and Mike. Not just for the exquisite meal, but for your love, God's love. And for letting me see that, in spite of our enemy, God can and will put a feast right in front of us. God bless you both!
Sock Monkey Snippet: In the midst of the fight, look for the feast.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
A Blessed House
Ps. 132:13-15 For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.
After Uzzah was struck dead while helping to carry the ark of God, David was afraid to proceed any further with it toward Jerusalem. We're told (1 Chron. 13:13) that David took the ark (God's presence) aside into the house of Obed-Edom where it remained for three months. During that time, the Lord, because His presence was there, blessed Obed-Edom and all his household (1 Chron. 13:14). Obed-Edom knew what it was like to have God dwell in his house instead of just visit it. God's blessing and provision followed His presence.
David tells us here in Psalms that God has chosen Zion, symbolic of the church or more specifically us, for His home, His dwelling place. Not just to visit, but as His resting place forever. He promises to bless us and provide for us, to prosper us and make us successful. His blessing and provision followed Him into our house just like it did into Obed-Edom's house. Rejoice in knowing that we have a blessed house!
Sock Monkey Snippet: God's blessing and provision follow His presence.
After Uzzah was struck dead while helping to carry the ark of God, David was afraid to proceed any further with it toward Jerusalem. We're told (1 Chron. 13:13) that David took the ark (God's presence) aside into the house of Obed-Edom where it remained for three months. During that time, the Lord, because His presence was there, blessed Obed-Edom and all his household (1 Chron. 13:14). Obed-Edom knew what it was like to have God dwell in his house instead of just visit it. God's blessing and provision followed His presence.
David tells us here in Psalms that God has chosen Zion, symbolic of the church or more specifically us, for His home, His dwelling place. Not just to visit, but as His resting place forever. He promises to bless us and provide for us, to prosper us and make us successful. His blessing and provision followed Him into our house just like it did into Obed-Edom's house. Rejoice in knowing that we have a blessed house!
Sock Monkey Snippet: God's blessing and provision follow His presence.
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