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Archive for October, 2011

We Need More Daniels

Posted in government, Love on October 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

  “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.
22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;
Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2: 20-23

When King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem he took some of the sons of Israel and brought them to the king’s court.  Daniel was one of the young men brought to King Nebuchadnezzar.  Daniel found favor with his overseer and God gave Daniel intelligence and knowledge in every branch of literature and wisdom (Daniel 1: 17). 

One day King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and asked the magicians, sorcerers, conjurers and the Chaldeans to interpret his dream.  Because they could not interpret the king’s dream he ordered all wise men to be killed including Daniel.  When Daniel heard the news he asked if he could have a chance to interpret the king’s dream.  Before going to the king Daniel prayed to God and asked for wisdom and the interpretation.  God gave Daniel the interpretation which Daniel then gave to King Nebuchadnezzar. 

King Nebuchadnezzar was so pleased that he gave homage to Daniel; gave him gifts; made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2: 48)

We need more people like Daniel.  Daniel did not allow his circumstance as the king’s servant to stop him from serving and relying on God for everything.  Daniel could have accepted the king’s decree that all wise men to be killed but he took a stand and inquired of the Lord.  God gave Daniel the answer and Daniel was able to interpret the king’s dream and found favor with the king. 

King Nebuchadnezzar was an evil king.  Daniel never complained about the king or his circumstance.  Instead Daniel served God and the king.  Later when Daniel interprets the king’s dream of God’s judgment Daniel wishes that the dream was for one of his enemies and not him.  We see how Daniel’s heart is toward the king and not toward his destruction.  Even after King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign Daniel continued to serve under other kings and found favor in their sight.

As Christians we seem to enjoy sitting back and criticizing our leaders.  We sit in judgment and complain about their policies and governing tactics.  We are told to pray for kings and leaders.  We are to stand in the gap.  Though we may not agree with their policies are how they govern; we should seek to bring the kingdoms of the world under God.  We can do this by asking God for wisdom in the problems our society faces.  We should be active participants like Daniel.  We should not idly sit by why a leader makes decrees that would destroy us.

Daniel prayed and asked God for wisdom.  Daniel found favor before the king and in the end because of Daniel’s love and compassion for King Nebuchadnezzar, he acknowledged God.

We can greatly impact our government but we can’t do it by just sitting back and complaining about what is going on.  God has the answers all we have to do is ask and then present these to our leaders.  If we are not in a position of influence we should pray for those that are.  We may not like who is in charge but we have a responsibility to pray for them; to support them and serve them.  Through us God will bring the kingdoms of this world into His Kingdom.

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Identity Crisis

Posted in Jesus, Knowing God, Salvation, The Father, The Holy Spirit, The Righteous on October 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »

14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.  Romans 8:14-17

As a Christian I constantly struggle with my identity in Christ.  I grew up in a church that taught you had to be good to go to heaven.  I was told by some as a child that I would not amount to anything.  At one time I defined myself by my career.  Currently, I am a wife, mother, and pastor.  However, we are told in the bible we are sons of God; we have been adopted and are fellow heirs with Christ.  This is where, at times, I have confused my identity.

Sometimes I struggle to see myself the way God sees me.  I don’t always act like a child of God’s.  There are times I walk in accordance to my flesh and not by the spirit.  Many times I have walked by sight and not by faith.  In the times I have fallen or made mistakes I often ask myself “who am I?”  It’s very easy to fall into the old patterns of my thinking that I am not good enough or what I do is not good enough.  Honestly, I wish I could always see myself the way God sees me.

There are times I try to impress God with my “good” deeds.  I seek His acceptance instead of receiving His love.  I struggle with my faith when I don’t understand my identity.  Things are much more difficult when I look at my own weaknesses instead of keeping my eyes on Jesus.  When God looks at me He sees His child; not a slave nor a servant.  There are times I act like a slave full of fear and doubt lacking faith in God.

God created us in His image and in His likeness.  Jesus knew and understood His identity; He only did what He saw the Father doing.  Jesus didn’t struggle with sin; sin was not a part of Him because sin was not in the Father.  God hates sin; Jesus hates sin.  Jesus healed because the Father is a life giver.  Jesus raised the dead because death has no place in the Father.  What fellowship does light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)  Jesus saved us so that we would be reconciled with the Father.  So through Jesus we are made righteous and are now considered the children of God.  Even the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

Each day I have to make a conscious decision to know that I am a child of God’s.  I am no longer to walk according to my flesh or what others say that I am.  I should not hold the opinion of others or of myself above what God says about me – He is perfecting me in the image of Jesus.

So I will no longer live based on my past identity but I will press forward in understanding and knowing my true identity in Jesus.   Do you know your identity?

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Visionaries

Posted in The Righteous on October 5, 2011| Leave a Comment »

18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained…  Proverbs 29:18

Steve Jobs was a great visionary.  He transformed Apple Computer and changed how we use computers and electronics in our everyday lives.  Apple was the first computer I learned to do programming on.  It was an Apple II that we used in my computer math class and we used a program called “Hello”.  Then in college I remember the Macs we had.  Both my high school and college were behind in the times but I always loved Apple products. 

When Steve Jobs returned to Apple he brought us the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad.  When each one was launched many questioned Steve Jobs’ vision but we cannot deny how these products have changed Apple but even our lives.  Apple was driven by Steve Jobs’ vision and continued to innovate new products.

So many companies in this great recession have crashed and burned but Apple continues to grow.  It’s interesting that some of Apple’s major product launches happened when this country was in a financial downturn.  Still Apple was able to convince the average consumer to buy their products.  Apple was not driven by money but by vision.  I believe it is the reason Apple is so successful.

We so desperately need vision; without it we caste off all restraints.  Many failures can be attributed to lack of vision.  We are all called to be visionaries.  It’s part of our DNA because without vision we will actually perish.  Our brains thrive on creativity, imagination and vision.  We are at our best when we have a vision set before us.

However, visionaries can be very lonely people because often times others do not see or understand the vision.  Many visionaries were laughed at during their time but not until after they are long gone do we realize just how much of an impact they had. 

As Christians that is the kind of life we are to live as visionaries.  There are so many issues that the world has they are in need of great visionaries.  We are living in very critical times and we cannot live a life without vision the world needs us.  So as we reflect on the impact Jobs had on the computer world; imagine the impact we could have if take the vision of spreading the Kingdom of God to the whole world.

The world still needs visionaries; the world needs You.

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A More Personal Approach

Posted in Uncategorized on October 1, 2011| 1 Comment »

When I started this blog my purpose was to create devotionals based on scriptures and how God’s word pertains to our everyday life.  I tried to take a more theological approach to life but find this approach is not working for me.  Also, many of the things I shared was based on my knowledge and interpretation of the scriptures.  However, I know that there are many blogs, writings, teachings, books, sermons that interpret  the scriptures.  Do we really need another one?

Quite honestly I have been stuck for months as to what to write.  The devotional approach I took just hit a wall.  Nothing was coming to me.  However, in the past few months I have been growing in my spiritual walk and many changes have taken place.  I have been seeking God more for answers to questions I have.  Also I have been questioning many religious things I was taught in the church for years that do not seem to agree with God’s word.

I thought the better approach to this blog would be to chronicle my journey in seeking answers to my questions and my own personal experiences in my walk.  I will still use the scriptures as my jumping off point but the entries will be more personal.  My hope is that as I reflect on questions I have, what God is doing in my own life and what is happening around me you too will be blessed.

I really do welcome comments and questions.  We are all on a similar journey of going from faith to faith and glory to glory.  I pray that this blog will bless you as it is blessing me.

Yours in Christ,

Anna Mangeni

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