Embedded Files
Too Late
Too Late
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. —Hebrews 4:1
If you’d like to know the love of God the Father,
Come to Him through Jesus Christ, His loving Son;
He’ll forgive your sins and save your soul forever,
And you’ll love forevermore this faithful One. —Felten
Calvary reveals the seriousness of our sin and the vastness of God’s love.
http://odb.org/2014/04/30/too-late/
Christ In The Storm
Christ In The Storm
Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? —Mark 4:40
Be still, my heart; for faithful is thy Lord,
And pure and true and tried His holy Word;
Though stormy flood which rageth as the sea,
His promises thy stepping-stones shall be. —Anon.
God is a safe dwelling place in life’s storms.
http://odb.org/2014/04/29/christ-in-the-storm/
Two Lessons Learned
Two Lessons Learned
The Lord your God led you all the way these forty years . . . to humble you and test you. —Deuteronomy 8:2
God gave me a humbling reminder of how vital it is to keep my heart set on obeying Him—and to pay attention along the way.
Thou who hast freely given
Thine all in all for me,
Claim this life for Thine own to be used,
My Savior, every moment for Thee. —Christiansen
To love God is to obey God.
http://odb.org/2012/07/14/two-lessons-learned/
A Sense Of Dread
A Sense Of Dread
Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. —2 Timothy 2:23
As James says, “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18). Pursuing the goal of being a peacemaker can reduce the sense of dread that conflicts generate.
O Lord, help us to turn aside
From words that spring from selfish pride,
For You would have Your children one
In praise and love for Your dear Son. —D. De Haan
Christians at war with each other cannot be at peace with their heavenly Father.
http://odb.org/2012/05/27/a-sense-of-dread/
Regaining Our Balance
Regaining Our Balance
Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. —Ephesians 6:13
Sometimes life is like that. Something unexpected upsets our routine, and we are knocked off-balance. Perhaps it’s bad news about our job being eliminated or disturbing test results from our doctor. It may even be an attack from our spiritual enemy. In each case, our emotional equilibrium is hammered, and we feel as if we can’t stand.
Those moments should cause us to turn to God. When we feel we are losing our balance, He can help. He provides spiritual resources to help us stand. Paul says, “Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:13).
When life knocks us off our feet, we don’t have to be frustrated. With God’s strength lifting us up and God’s armor protecting us, we can still stand strong.
With patience in His love I’ll rest,
And whisper that He knoweth best,
Then, clinging to that guiding hand,
A weakling, in His strength I’ll stand. —Pentecost
We can endure anything if we depend on God for everything.
http://odb.org/2012/01/18/regaining-our-balance/
Pain No More O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?...
Pain No More
Pain No More
O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? —1 Corinthians 15:55
For a good portion of my life, I shared the perspective of those who rail against God for allowing pain. I could find no way to rationalize a world as toxic as this one.
As I visited people whose pain far exceeded my own, though, I was surprised by its effects. Suffering seemed as likely to reinforce faith as to sow doubt.
My anger about pain has melted mostly for one reason: I have come to know God. He has given me joy and love and happiness and goodness. It leaves me with faith in a Person, a faith so solid that no amount of suffering can erode it.
Where is God when it hurts? He has been there from the beginning. He designed a pain system that, in the midst of a fallen world, bears His stamp. He transforms pain, using it to teach and strengthen us if we allow it to turn us toward Him.
Occupational Hazard The things which happened to me have actually turned out...
Occupational Hazard
Occupational Hazard
The things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. —Philippians 1:12
The apostle Paul had reason to focus on what was wrong in the Philippian church. Certain people were preaching the gospel out of selfish ambition to add to Paul’s suffering (Phil. 1:16). But instead of concentrating on the negative, he chose to look at the positive and rejoice in it: Jesus Christ was being preached (v.18).
God wants us to be discerning—we need to know good from bad—but He doesn’t want us to focus on the bad and become critical or discouraged. Even in circumstances that are less than ideal (Paul was writing from prison), we can find something good because in times of trouble God is still at work. —Julie Ackerman Link
Standing Ovation Look! I see . . . the Son of Man standing at the right han...
Standing Ovation
Standing Ovation
Look! I see . . . the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! —Acts 7:56
Stephen was confronted by a hostile crowd in the days of the early church (Acts 6�7). A panel of religious authorities listened to lying witnesses accuse him of blasphemy (Acts 6:13). Stephen responded by speaking the truth of God’s Word, which reinforced his faith in Christ. At the end of his speech, he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (7:56). Then the crowd stoned him (v.58). Jesus, who was watching from heaven, welcomed Stephen home.
Most Christians aren’t confronted with this much hostility. Yet we all need to “stand fast in the Lord” when the pressure is on (Phil. 4:1). We can’t let others silence our voice for Christ. Speaking up for Jesus does not always win the crowd’s favor here on earth, but it does ensure His approval in heaven, where it matters the most. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
If you meet opposition, maybe it shows that you are doing something that counts.
Upside Down You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor ...
Upside Down
Upside Down
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies. —Matthew 5:43-44
If you were to ask me who I am, I’d tell you that I’m a follower of Jesus. But I have to admit, at times following Him is a real challenge. He tells me to do things like rejoice when I’m persecuted (Matt. 5:11-12); to turn the other cheek (vv.38-39); to give to someone who wants to take from me (vv.40-42); to love my enemies, bless those who curse me, and do good to those who hate me (vv.43-44). This kind of lifestyle seems very upside down to me.
After all, His ways are not our ways (Isa. 55:8), and I’ve come to realize that His ways are always best! —Joe Stowell
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse