Seek GOD - May 10, 2014

Scripture: Isaiah 29-33
22 “My people will no longer be ashamed or turn pale with fear.
23 For when they see their many children and all the blessings I have given them,
they will recognize the holiness of the Holy One of Israel.
They will stand in awe of the God of Jacob. 24 Then the wayward will gain understanding, and complainers will accept instruction. - Isaiah 29

15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.
18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say,“This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.- Isaiah 30

2 But Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you.

Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble. 

14“Who can live with this devouring fire?” they cry. “Who can survive this all-consuming fire?” 15 Those who are honest and fair, who refuse to profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong—16 these are the ones who will dwell on high.

The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress. Food will be supplied to them,
and they will have water in abundance. - Isaiah 33

Message:

The LORD wants us to depend on Him not on any human or thing else.

Observation/Promise:

When we trust in the LORD He will bless us because we wait and depend on His help and on His power alone. The LORD wants to instruct us, to guide us in everything that we do. 

The LORD wants to provide everything we need, He wants to bless us and shower us with His kindness and love but there is a requirement for those that seek His love and blessing. The LORD will only give His love and blessings to those who are truly seeking Him.

Application/Command:

We have to be dependent on GOD alone. We have to follow the ways of GOD, to be honest and fair in all our dealings, even in the thoughts of our hearts. We have to be righteous not by our own strength but by GOD's grace. We have to seek His will and follow Him diligently. We have to seek justice when there is evil in the land. We need to stand with GOD and His agenda. We cannot seek to live our lives for our own pleasure and benefit but for His pleasure and glory. We have to seek GOD and His righteousness, our lives should cling to Him and not on anything else in this world. 

In your youth, Live in the ways of GOD - Feb 27, 2014

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11-12
5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.
6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
7 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
9 Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. - Ecclesiastes 11
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”
13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. - Ecclesiastes 12
Message:
God's works in mysterious ways and in all you do, do it out of reverence for GOD for He will judge us according to what we have done on earth.

Observation/Promise:
God does all things, He is working out everything according to His purpose. Are we working according to His purpose? Are we one with His will? God has given us youth and vigor, strength and energy and we can do anything with it as we please but everything we do can be a waste when we are not working in line with GOD's heart and will for us. It is wonderful to enjoy life, it's good to wake up early, to see the day dawning. Be eager to live and be excited for the future. But whatever we do on earth, we must give an account to Him who is the giver of our life. So it is good to sow seeds early in life, because whatever we sow, we will reap later. 

Command/Application:
Sow! Start sowing early in life. Invest, and divide your investments. Do everything you can do today, do not wait for the best time to do things. Let GOD work out things for you for He is the one working behind all things. God's ways are mysterious, just trust Him. More importantly than money, Invest in your spirit, which is eternal, for whatever things you invest in the spirit, you will reap eternal rewards in Heaven. The young because of their energy is prone to anger, we can be angry for a time but we can it go right away. Chose to keep your body healthy by not letting anger take it's grip on you. And in your youth, thing of pleasing your creator, the GOD who loves you more than anyone does because you are going to grow old someday and what more can you do when you are already in this dying age? Above all, fear GOD, and walk in His ways. 

Ways of Wisdom - Ways of God

18 18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly

22 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
Hang on to them,for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.
23 They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble.
24 You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.
25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster

or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26 for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

- Proverbs 3

Wisdom, discernment, understanding are important treasures that the Word - the Bible emphasizes to those who walk in God's ways. The Lord wants us to have wisdom, and He will not withhold it from us if we ask it from Him. If wisdom is free, then why not too many people ask of this? We are proud sometimes, we think we already have wisdom. We are stubborn, nobody should tell us what to do. But discernment and common sense will refresh your soul. In the middle of emotions and rage, we lose sight of discernment, and a lot of us would rather follow what we feel like doing but this is very wrong for our emotions can never be trusted.

But wisdom will keep you safe, you gain wisdom by asking for the advice of godly and mature people regarding your situation, and they will be able to tell you what is best to do because they are third party people not involved emotionally. It is wise to never make decisions out of anger or deep emotions. With following wisdom, you will feel safe even when you sleep, you will find security in keeping with wisdom and following common sense. Sometimes the right thing to do may not be easy, it will keep you from disaster one day, the disaster that comes upon the foolish and the wicked. GOD will secure you in following wisdom because you have chosen to follow the ways of wisdom which are the ways of God, He will make sure you will not fall into a trap.

What About You?

17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
- Genesis 50

The story of Joseph is an incredible and emotional one. His life story was painful because he had to be away from his family at a young age because of the envy of his brothers towards him and then he had to work hard to earn a living and work while being in prison and finally GOD made him Egypt's leader. All this time, GOD had set him apart from his family because GOD was training him to be a King someday to a Foreign Nation! It took years for GOD to make him able. And when the right time came, he ruled Egypt well and was able to save his whole family during famine.

After his father's death he could have been bitter and could get back at his brother for what they did to him. But Joseph understood that it was all GOD's great plan to save him and his family during this famine. GOD's ways are completely unthinkable and humanly impossible to predict, but it's understandable. Forgiveness comes easy when we look to GOD and understand why He allowed pain to come to our lives. Forgiveness comes easy when we are all about GOD and His agenda, nothing becomes personal and it's hard to be offended when one choses to live for GOD and not for himself. What about you? What are you about?