Month: June 2024

Endless Possibilities

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Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

My father in law, Dr. Robert H. Schuller once said, “The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own head.” That’s because he knew the words of Jesus – with God nothing is impossible. What does God know that we don’t? The answer is, plenty!

Where We See Impossibilities God Sees Possibilities.

Faith is trusting that God will have the last word and that word will be good. Our job is to love one another, and do what we can with the gifts He has given to us, and then trust that God will guide our steps every minute of every hour of every day. This is the reason Dad Schuller encouraged me to cut the word “impossible” out of my dictionary. I’ve done that, perhaps you should too.

Miracle Power

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“She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.” Luke 8:44

Over the past thirty years I’ve had any number of conversations with people who just did not believe miracles were possible for them. These conversations were not with unbelievers, but with those who had the faith that God was real and that Jesus was their Savior. Yet through the years they had prayed and did not see what they prayed for come to pass. Thus, they had come to the conclusion that miracles were not going to happen for them. My response is always the same. I take the Bible at face value. Jesus said believe that what you pray for will come to pass and it will. So

Pray & Believe.

That’s our one task to perform. Our job is not to create the miracle, that’s up to God. But I do believe that He will keep His word. Somehow, some way, and some day that miracle will come. The woman in Luke 8 waited 12 years for her miracle yet she still had the faith to approach Jesus and touch His garment, believing that would unlock her miracle. Of course instant gratification is wonderful for that’s the society we live in. But faith goes beyond timelines and simply believes Jesus is who He claimed to be, and that His wonders He will perform. You don’t need to complicate faith. Simply believe and leave the results to God.

Lift

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“I will lift my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

David tells us in Psalm 121 is that we need to take the time and look up in prayer and wonder. Something miraculous happens when we do, for all too suddenly God will be standing right beside you, and lift you into His arms to carry you.

You Can Experience God’s Lifting Power

Some may say “you can’t be serious, how is that even possible”. There is one five letter word that will unlock this experience for yourself. It’s called “FAITH”. Jesus said, if you have faith you can move mountains. Faith is lifting your eyes and saying, Jesus, I believe you are for me and not against me. I need Your help for I can’t do life alone. I believe in you as my Savior. Save me today, Lord. Look up, lifting power awaits.

Compassion

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“He (Jesus) had compassion on them.” Matthew 14:14

The great automotive statesman Henry Ford was famous for saying, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”. The simplest translation to this quote is that life is lived between our ears. How we process in our mind the joy and sorrow and pain and excitement and stress in life largely determines our outlook, our relationships, and our success. Jesus knows exactly what we are going through, and not just because He is Devine and knows everything. It’s because Jesus walked among us as human to experience our massive array of emotions we live out on a daily basis. He’s more than qualified to understand what you are going through. That’s why Matthew 14:14 is so comforting.

Jesus Has Compassion In Supernatural Measure.

Don’t get caught up in the lie that God simply wound up the earth like a top, set it spinning, and then took his hands off and passively stands back and watches to see what happens. That thought could not be farther from the truth. He cared so much that He sent His son Jesus to walk among us, to demonstrate through miracles that He’s for us and not against us, and ultimately to pay for our sins that we would be restored in our relationship with God our Heavenly Father. If you were Jesus, you wouldn’t live out the hand He was dealt unless your compassion levels were truly off the charts. The most famous song in the world really does say it all. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Welcome

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“In God’s Presence there is fullness and joy.” Psalm 16:11

So many I have talked with in life approach God from a point of intimidation, or fear, or uncertainty. In fact, one word that I do not hear often from people as they approach God is the word “Welcome”. And yet, scripture tells us there is fullness and joy in God’s presence. Romans even says, “May the God of all hope fill you with joy and peace”. Only a joyful welcoming God could create all that our eyes behold. God is constantly extending an invitation to you that says,

You Are Most Welcome In My Presence!

God is in a good mood and He want’s a relationship with you. All that guilt or trepidation you feel when approaching God, He wants to take care of that for you, and through Christ forgiveness put it behind you, then move forward with an incredible relationship. When God says to Jeremiah, “I have plans for you, plans to prosper you” He is speaking that to you today. Get past your fears and come before the Lord with thanksgiving! A joy filled life is waiting for you.

Love Language

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“The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness”. Psalm 145:8

In 1st Corinthians 13 we read the familiar attributes of love. That love is patient, kind, does not envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude, is not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. The passage completes by saying “love never fails”. To me, this passage about how I should strive to live life also points out one very significant thing. This passage describes God, for as 1 John 4:16 says,

God Is Love

How could God be anything but love, for over and over again He is so incredibly patient and merciful with us. If we were in charge we’d have thrown in the towel on us at least a few times a day. But not God. He is the very definition of graciousness and mercy, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. If you look up those words from Psalm 145 you’ll actually find them repeated many times throughout the Old Testament. So, the next time you feel unworthy of love, don’t believe the lie. God is love, whether we deserve it or not God is still love. Talk to Him.

Time With God

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God said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

There is a peace that only solitude with God can bring. We fill every minute of our lives with something. Even when we are alone we turn on music, or have the television playing in the background, or scroll our phones through social media or news or podcasts. We tune God out, and then not surprisingly we find ourselves asking, where’s God? The reality is, He’s right there with you. You’ve just chosen to stop listening to the only voice that really matters in life.

God Is With Us Even When We Don’t Realize It.

And yes, even when we’re not asking for it. When God says, “I will never leave you”, He means just that. It’s your choice whether you want to accept that precious gift. Tune out the world and tune into God. Spend some time alone with Him. Peace awaits.

Beach Walk

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“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand.” Psalm 139:17-18

Few pleasures in life are as relaxing as taking a stroll along a sandy beach, feeling the thousands of grains of sand massage your feet. As you walk, just think, David tells us in Psalm 139 that God’s precious thoughts toward us are

More Numerous Than The Sand.

It’s easy to feel like we are lost in this vast world filled with 8 billion people. With all of these people, how in the world can I possibly matter? Don’t kid yourself. God, who created the heavens and the earth, and every single human on this planet, has infinite capacity. You are precious to Him, much more than you will ever know. Talk to Him and feel His warm embrace

Miracles

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“Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you receive.” Matthew 21:22

Do you believe in miracles? Jesus said, “whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  

I Believe In Miracles.

Perhaps you’ve seen a miracle in your life, or the life of a friend, but with the passage of time you’ve begun to discount it as a miracle. It feels safer to try and explain it away as the advancement of medical science, or your hard work in a job search paying off, or a friend stepping forward to help you out just in the nick of time. After all, it’s easier to believe that what we can touch and see had something to do with our good fortune. Believing that God is at work in your life requires just a little bit more. It requires a simple act of faith.  

Free!

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“As far as the East is from the West, so far has He (God) removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

Are you holding on to your past? Refusing to let go of something you’ve done to yourself, to a friend, to a love one, or even to a complete stranger? Do you feel guilty and remorseful? Feeling that there must be something you can do to correct the situation? Are you tired of living daily with the thought of what you have done and are searching for something, anything to make the unwanted memory go away? Cannot imagine going through life free from your past? The real question is, are you ready to accept forgiveness?

Freedom Is Closer Than You Think.

On the cross Jesus paid for every sin you have ever committed. He bore your transgressions and your iniquities. He stood in your place and took the punishment for you to give you life. Ephesians 2:1 says, “and you Jesus made alive who were dead in sin”.  You can live again through Christ, and I mean truly live with joy and complete peace! I love how Psalms 103:12 talks about just how far we can be separated from our past: “As far as the East is from the West, so far has He (God) removed our transgressions from us.” Today, stop holding on to your past. Turn your past over to Jesus, ask his forgiveness, and then forget about it! That’s exactly what He is going to do!