The Great Equipper

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;"

2 corinthians 9:8

There is nothing God will call you to do, that He won't equip you to do. His divine assistance is more than sufficient for every task He wants to accomplish through you. Feel you're not strong enough to handle what God has asked you to do? Piece of cake for the Almighty. You can do all things through the One who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13).  Afraid to take a step in the direction God has mapped out for you? No big deal for the Omnipresent Father.  Wherever you go, He's all around you (Psalm 139:5). Having trouble making a decision or discerning the solution to a problem? Not an issue for the All Wise God. He generously gives wisdom to all who ask for it in faith (James 1:5). Whatever your needs, our Father will abundantly provide. He's the Great Equipper.

Testify

"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."

Acts 20:24

Life is a gift from God. What we do with that gift is up to us. We can squander it on self-centered living or we can invest it in serving God. This doesn't mean we must have a formal ministry as Paul did. Not everyone is called to  become a missionary and plant churches. But if we know the Lord Jesus, if we have claimed Him as our Savior, then God has given us an even greater gift than physical life. He has given us eternal spiritual life.  And we are called to testify of His gracious gift to others.  If you know the Lord Jesus, if you have a personal relationship with Him, then more than likely someone first shared the gospel of grace with you. Aren't you grateful they did? Show your gratitude by sharing Jesus with others. Testify.

Talk to God

"Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises."

James 5:13

Here is the instruction we need for each day. Go to God first. If we are having a bad day, He will help us. There's no shame in being dependent upon Him. It's what He wants. If we are having a good day, then give the credit to the Lord. He deserves the glory. Whether in good times or bad, God wants to hear from us. Have you talked to Him today?

Faith That Gets Jesus' Attention

“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  Luke 21:3-4

The poor widow's faith certainly got Jesus' attention. He commended her for her sacrifice.  He singled her out and compared her generosity in poverty to the generosity of the wealthy. What kind of faith does it take to place your last two coins in the temple offering? I've never been in this woman's position, so I can't say if my faith is that strong. I hope it is. I pray that it is. But whether I'm rich or poor,  I want to have the kind of faith that gets Jesus' attention.

The Ultimate Achiever

“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, 

In paths they do not know I will guide them. 

I will make darkness into light before them 

And rugged places into plains. 

These are the things I will do, 

And I will not leave them undone.”

Isaiah 42:16

God is the ultimate Achiever. He will always accomplish what He sets out to do. His boundless love drives Him to care for us, even when we refuse to acknowledge Him. Darkness can't hide Him, rugged mountains can't stop Him. He doesn't quit in frustration or fatigue, leaving things undone. Think of what God has done for you. Count the ways He has blessed you. God is faithful. He deserves all the honor and praise we can give Him. To God be the glory!

Write It on Your Heart

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

As we began to remodel our recently purchased cabin, my friend Deb suggested I write scripture on the framing before the drywall was hung. One day I went from room to room with my Bible in hand, and chose verses to inscribe on the studs and headers. As I printed the words, I thought of Deuteronomy 6:9: "You shall write [God's words] on the doorposts of your house. . ." God gave the Israelites that instruction, along with the direction to teach His word to their children, talking of it during daily work and leisure. His commandments were to be a distinguishing mark on His people's hands and worn as bands around their forehead. Why did God want them to go to all this trouble? So that they wouldn't forget Him. God wanted them to love Him with all their "heart, soul and might". Having His word around them in constant view would cause them to remember their God. Today the scriptures I wrote in our home are covered by sheetrock and paint. Now that they are invisible, I am reminded of the psalmist's words: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11). We can write scripture everywhere, but it will mean nothing unless we first have written it on our hearts.

Father's Day

Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Galatians 4:6

Today is Father's Day, a day America has set aside to celebrate the dads of our country. Many children will joyfully honor their fathers with gifts and special attention. Unfortunately, there are some children who have been abused or abandoned by their fathers, and for them remembering their father today only brings pain. But there is a father who is always faithful, always loving and kind. His name is Jehovah, Yahweh, God. He holds out His arms to us and beckons us to come to Him and discover what it feels like to have a relationship with a perfect father. By receiving Christ the Son, we become the adopted sons and daughters of God the Father. We receive His Holy Spirit and our hearts cry out Abba! Father!  Vine's Expository Dictionary of the New Testament says, "Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; "father" expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child." What a beautiful description of the redemptive relationship we have with God once we become followers of Christ. We are His beloved children, who can now approach Him with unreasoning trust and confidence. For us, every day should be Father's Day.