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Archive for November, 2010

God is Looking For You!

Posted in Grace, Jesus, Knowing God, Love, Salvation, The Father on November 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »

20“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  Luke 15:20

Often times our view of God is that He is just sitting on His throne watching the world go by, not really involved unless we engage Him.  Jesus showed us the Father when He was here on earth.  Jesus did not show us an aloof God but a Father that loves His children.  In Luke 15 Jesus tells of three parables dealing with the lost sheep, lost coin and the prodigal son.  In all three parables the person is looking for what has been lost and rejoices when they have found the thing they are looking for.

God is like the Father in the parable of the prodigal son.  When the son left with all his money, his father did not disown him but waited for him to return.  He probably looked out the door and window many times hoping his son would return.    When the son began to make his way back, the father saw him off in the distance and began to run toward his son.  God is the same way.  He is always looking for us and seeking after us to return to Him.

Unfortunately, we think God doesn’t care and many times washes his hands of us when we have sinned again and again or when we have wondered far from Him.  God loves us because He created us.  He created us in His image and breathed life into each one of us.  When we became separated from God, He sent Jesus to bridge the gap and to atone for our sins.  Through Jesus we have redemption and our relationship with God the Father has been restored.

See God is looking for you and wanting you to come home.  He doesn’t care where you have been or what you have done, just come home.  Even if you lost your way, He will find you – just call and He will come running.  As you approach God’s throne of grace, He will come embracing and kissing you just like Jesus tells us in the parable.

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Pray for Them!

Posted in God's Glory, government, Salvation on November 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »

“But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And no one can ward off His hand
Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’

“At that time my reason returned to me And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”  Daniel 4:34-37

Now that the election is over what do we do?  We pray for our leaders.  Even if we do not agree or like our leaders we are responsible for praying for them.  We should not just pray for those we like but pray for all of our leaders from our local leaders to our national leaders.  We can have influence over our leaders through prayer because God has authority over all of them.

Daniel was known as a praying man.  Even King Nebuchadnezzar knew about Daniel’s God and sought Daniel’s wisdom and influence.  Daniel went on to influence other kings.  Daniel did not just sit back and complain about the kings but he committed everything to prayer and God’s hands.  When we commit ourselves to praying for other God will actually knit our hearts together and give us wisdom and insight.

Our government needs our wisdom and prayers.  God is the one with all the answers and when we seek God’s face and stand in the gap for our nations God will intervene and bring about change for the better.

Look at what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar, he was the wicked king in the world but when he lost his kingdom and everything he finally called on Daniel’s God – the Most High.  When King Nebuchadnezzar called out to God all that he lost was restored to him and he gave all glory and honor to God.  One of the reasons that King Nebuchadnezzar came to know God was through Daniel; Daniel stood in the gap and we must do the same for our leaders whether we like them or not.  We must pray because prayer changes everything – including the salvation of a wicked king.

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Please Vote!

Posted in government on November 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

13So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them.

 14Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;

 15he said to Arioch, the king’s commander, “For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.

 16So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.

19Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven;

 20Daniel said,
         “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
         For wisdom and power belong to Him.
    21“It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
         He removes kings and establishes kings;
         He gives wisdom to wise men
         And knowledge to men of understanding.  Daniel 2:13-16, 19-21

King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream and asked for interpretation from the wise men in the kingdom.  Daniel was one of those wise men and had been taken from his people and made to stay at the king’s court.  When no one could interpret his dream, King Nebuchadnezzar issued the death sentence of every wise man including Daniel.  Daniel was surprised to learn of this and inquired why the King made this decree.  When Daniel learned about the King’s dream, he asked God for the interpretation and gave King Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation.  Daniel found favor with the King and was made ruler over the province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men.  Daniel was not apathetic to the King’s decree but instead sought God’s wisdom and found favor with the King.

As Christians we cannot be apathetic in participating in elections and having a role in who gets elected to various government offices.  In the US only a slight majority participates in the presidential elections and only about a third participate in “midterm” elections.  Too often we complain about those that are in power but we sit back and do nothing because we think it will not matter.

Voting is our right and privilege we should not take it for granted.  God has given us charge over this land and we should have a part and say who are elected officials are.  Even if the people we vote for do not win we still should participate in the electoral process.  God will give us wisdom and even favor before these government officials if we just put our faith and trust in God.

Daniel found favor with many kings and government officials.  He did not compromise his beliefs or faith in God. But because he chose to be involved he had great influence over their decisions and how his people were treated.  We also must be involved in the selection of government officials, and we will be able to have an impact and even change how our government operates. 

The founding fathers intended this to be a nation run by the people for the people.  They never wanted a government that was controlled by a few select individuals who used their money and power to control the rest of the nation.  So please go and vote your, vote will make a difference.  Above all ask God for wisdom and direction and He will give it.

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