Beauty of Creation

July 30, 2010

Psalms 19:1-4 
“The heavens declare the glory of God;
     the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
     night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language
     where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,
     their words to the ends of the world.” (NIV)

All around us, nature and the beauty of creation gives proof of God’s existence.

I could continue with picture after picture of God’s magnificent creation. There is no doubt that God exists, and He created all of this. And that same God created you, and He wants a relationship with you. Will you accept Him today?

Living Water

July 29, 2010

Before my girl friends and I were all married, we took a girls weekend to Chicago. While we were there, we squeezed as many sights and attractions in as humanly possible. We had done our homework and had looked up all the must sees of the city.

One must see that we kept reading and hearing about was the Buckingham Fountain. So, we decided to save this magnificent fountain for our very last day. We had seen a few postcards of the fountain, and it looked amazing. We couldn’t wait to behold this masterpiece of water and sculpture.

We followed our map directly to the fountain as the anticipation built. We could see it off in the distance, so we quickened our pace. As we drew near, we thought something seemed strange. We realized we heard no sounds of a gigantic fountain, nor did we see one drop of water.

Where's the water?

We knew something was missing—the water! Without the water, the fountain loses its life. Without the water, the fountain is just a stone sculpture. Without the water, the fountain cannot reach its full potential.

Just like a fountain without water, our lives are dead without the living water. We are not truly living without the water that brings true abundant life.

So, where can we get this living water? From only one source—Jesus!

John 7:38 says, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (NKJV)

The Greek root word for living is ‘zao’. Here is how living is defined.
1) to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
2) to enjoy real life
    a) to have true life and worthy of the name
    b) active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God
3) to live i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting
    a) of mortals or character
4) living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul
5) metaph. to be in full vigour
    a) to be fresh, strong, efficient
    b) as adj. active, powerful, efficacious
(from the Blue Letter Bible)

“To enjoy real life.” Are you enjoying real life? Are you reaching your full potential? Is your heart overflowing with living water?

The Greek root word for water is ‘hydor’. Here is how water is defined.
1) water
    a) of water in rivers, in fountains, in pools
    b) of the water of the deluge
    c) of water in any of the earth's repositories
    d) of water as the primary element, out of and through which the world that was before the deluge, arose and was compacted
    e) of the waves of the sea
    f) fig. used of many peoples

Have you sipped the living water of Jesus? Have you let Him wash over you completely?

Are you living your life dry and dead?

Or are you flowing with the Living Water?

Scattered

July 27, 2010

“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria…Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Acts 8:1, 4 (NIV)

The day mentioned in Acts chapter eight is the day Stephen was stoned to death because he refused to stop preaching the name of Jesus Christ. That day had to have been a dark and dismal day in the eyes of all the other believers. Stephen, the first martyr.

Saul had been at the forefront giving the orders to continue the stoning. Saul meant the persecution for the destruction of the believers and their faith.

God used the persecution for His glory through the spreading of the name of Jesus.

One man’s death sparked many lives of faith and conviction. What will my life and death inspire?

Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

Acts 13:47 says, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

Safe in His Arms

July 26, 2010

Anthony and I recently bought a new golden retriever puppy. We named her Sophie, and we love her dearly already. I will always remember that first night when we picked her out and took her home. She was only seven weeks old at the time. When I held her in my arms, she was shaking because she was so scared and nervous. All the way home, she clung to me with her little paws wrapped around my arms. Finally, she stopped shaking because she realized that she would be safe in my arms.

That illustration reminds me of a song that I hear often on the radio these days.

“Safe in His Arms” by Phil Wickham

Verse:
To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong and never let you go
oh you're not alone

Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Verse 2:
Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

Bridge:
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me
These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free


I love the verse that promises over and over again about the safety found in God’s arms. When someone’s arms are wrapped around you, an overwhelming safety comes over you. There is protection in outstretched arms.

Psalm 16:1 says, “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.”

Waterfall of Power

July 23, 2010

In Acts chapter five, Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin because they did not obey the orders given of not preaching in Jesus’ name. People’s lives were changing and the high officials started to worry about all this change and unrest. Peter and John are questioned again, and they still refuse to stop preaching the truth. Just as they are about to be put to death, one man speaks up.

Acts 5:33-39 says, “When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."” (NIV)

Gamaliel was one smart man! He knew that anything that comes from God cannot be stopped. He knew that God was all powerful.

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine God’s power. I catch a glimpse of what God’s power may be like in a rushing waterfall. Beavers try to build dams and stop the powerful water, but eventually the water rushes through, the power overcoming it all. Remember, our God is all powerful, and whatever comes from Him cannot be stopped!

Ultimate Authority

July 22, 2010

Take a look at this picture. You are the captain of the boat on the other side of this bridge. You have been given strict instructions to sail from point A to point B, and then you run into this obstacle. Your sail is taller than the bridge. What are you going to do?

You could turn around and go back failing your mission. You could continue forward and crash into the bridge losing your sail.

OR You could follow a higher authority who has the power to change the obstacle.

Peter and John found themselves in a similar situation in Acts chapter four. They were preaching in the name of Jesus Christ, and people were believing! Then, they were taken into the high priest and asked not to speak in this name anymore.


“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.


The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"


Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."


When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."


Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."


After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.” (NIV)


The best part of the story is the reply that Peter and John offer when the high officials demand that they stop preaching in ‘this name’.


“But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (NIV)


The New Living Translation puts it this way: “But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”


The boldness that Peter and John speak with only comes from the power of the Holy Spirit! They are bold enough to stand their ground in the face of a blatant obstacle.

The bridge was lowered in their face, and it seemed like there was no way around it. But, because of their faith and belief and obedience in the ultimate authority, their obstacle became a passageway to new opportunities.