Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all Gods. Psalm 95:1-3.
Families will be gathering together during this Thanksgiving season. They will eat much turkey, with all the dressings, and some will watch some football. Most will spend a little time remembering the many blessings they have. With acts of kindness and service, some will remember that there are many people who are less fortunate.
My encouragement for each of us is to spend some time reflecting on the One who provided all the blessings we enjoy. David, the author of nearly half of the Psalms (73 bear his name), was passionate about remembering that God was the source of all. He was not shy in proclaiming in bold terms some of the ways that we could demonstrate our thankfulness – by singing for joy, shouting aloud, coming before Him and extolling Him with music.
I, personally, will probably not shout, extol, or dance in my expression of thankfulness to God. Perhaps I will sing. But one thing I am going to make sure that I do is this: as the Psalmist proclaims, I will give thanks to my God, for He is truly my Rock and my great God and King.
Will you join me in spending some time during this season giving thanks to God? If so, be intentional and specific in your thanks to Him. And will you join me in remembering the poor and less fortunate, and do some act of kindness for them?
Prayer: Father, I praise You! You are the mighty God, the creator of all things, and the One who holds all creation in balance. And yet, You care so intimately and personally for each person on earth. May Your kingdom come, here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
November 12, 2009 - Acts 10:45
“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.” Acts 10:45.
Peter travelled to Cornelius’ home with several Jewish disciples. As Peter began to speak, the Holy Spirit somehow made Himself present in and through the Gentiles in this meeting. And the manifestation was similar to what happened to the Jews on Pentecost. When the Jewish believers witnessed the Holy Spirit come on these Gentiles, they were dumbfounded. They hadn’t expected this in any way. They thought that God would act one way, but God had something else in store. God was radically challenging the paradigm of the Jewish believers, opening up a life of faith in Jesus to the Gentiles. And the world would never be the same!
There have been many times when I thought that God would act a certain way, and I must admit that He has dumbfounded me over and over again. It seems that the one constant in this is that I have very often gotten it wrong! But God has given me a heart that is willing to change, to learn, and to adjust with His paradigm shifts. This happens usually with some resistance on my part, but in the end, it does happen and I eventually come around.
Questions to consider: Have you ever realized that God was doing something dramatically different than what you expected? What was that like for you, and how did you adjust? Is there anything that you are presently experiencing that might represent a paradigm shift in your life? What is God saying to you concerning this?
Prayer: Father, thank You for not leaving me to flounder in my own limited thinking. Thank You for giving me opportunities to change, to learn, to adjust – and to be astonished - with the moving of Your Hand in our world. Amen.
Peter travelled to Cornelius’ home with several Jewish disciples. As Peter began to speak, the Holy Spirit somehow made Himself present in and through the Gentiles in this meeting. And the manifestation was similar to what happened to the Jews on Pentecost. When the Jewish believers witnessed the Holy Spirit come on these Gentiles, they were dumbfounded. They hadn’t expected this in any way. They thought that God would act one way, but God had something else in store. God was radically challenging the paradigm of the Jewish believers, opening up a life of faith in Jesus to the Gentiles. And the world would never be the same!
There have been many times when I thought that God would act a certain way, and I must admit that He has dumbfounded me over and over again. It seems that the one constant in this is that I have very often gotten it wrong! But God has given me a heart that is willing to change, to learn, and to adjust with His paradigm shifts. This happens usually with some resistance on my part, but in the end, it does happen and I eventually come around.
Questions to consider: Have you ever realized that God was doing something dramatically different than what you expected? What was that like for you, and how did you adjust? Is there anything that you are presently experiencing that might represent a paradigm shift in your life? What is God saying to you concerning this?
Prayer: Father, thank You for not leaving me to flounder in my own limited thinking. Thank You for giving me opportunities to change, to learn, to adjust – and to be astonished - with the moving of Your Hand in our world. Amen.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
November 5, 2009 - Acts 10:34-35
“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.’” Acts 10:34-35.
Peter, in entering Cornelius’ home, is entering into a new phase of his faith journey. As a Jew, he had never to his knowledge entered into the house of a non-Jew. To go into such a home was strictly against Jewish tradition, and, being a good Jew, Peter tried to avoid contact with Gentiles. But God had something else in mind, and to Peter’s credit, he recognized God’s hand at work in bringing him to Cornelius’ household. Upon entering, Peter recognized that God had a bigger vision: that no favoritism was shown by God and that all from every nation were accepted in His sight.
In order for him to recognize God’s movement so easily, Peter had become pliable in God’s hand. He was growing in his ability to hear, to respond, and to obey God’s leading. As I think about this trait in Peter, I remember how impetuous and strong-willed he had been in the past. There was now a dramatic change in the focus of his heart.
I can identify with Peter, especially his old, brash, impetuous nature that was – “talk first – think later.” I can also recognize how God has helped me to become more pliable and workable in His hands. It has taken quite a bit of time, and I still have my moments of falling back into old patterns, but I do see changes in my ability to hear and to obey as God leads and directs me.
Questions to consider: How pliable are you in God’s hands? What hinders you from becoming more pliable? Is there an area in your life that God is challenging you in right now where you need to be more pliable?
Prayer: Father, help me to recognize Your movement in and through my life, and help me to obey how you are guiding me and stretching me. Help me to be pliable in Your hands. Amen.
Peter, in entering Cornelius’ home, is entering into a new phase of his faith journey. As a Jew, he had never to his knowledge entered into the house of a non-Jew. To go into such a home was strictly against Jewish tradition, and, being a good Jew, Peter tried to avoid contact with Gentiles. But God had something else in mind, and to Peter’s credit, he recognized God’s hand at work in bringing him to Cornelius’ household. Upon entering, Peter recognized that God had a bigger vision: that no favoritism was shown by God and that all from every nation were accepted in His sight.
In order for him to recognize God’s movement so easily, Peter had become pliable in God’s hand. He was growing in his ability to hear, to respond, and to obey God’s leading. As I think about this trait in Peter, I remember how impetuous and strong-willed he had been in the past. There was now a dramatic change in the focus of his heart.
I can identify with Peter, especially his old, brash, impetuous nature that was – “talk first – think later.” I can also recognize how God has helped me to become more pliable and workable in His hands. It has taken quite a bit of time, and I still have my moments of falling back into old patterns, but I do see changes in my ability to hear and to obey as God leads and directs me.
Questions to consider: How pliable are you in God’s hands? What hinders you from becoming more pliable? Is there an area in your life that God is challenging you in right now where you need to be more pliable?
Prayer: Father, help me to recognize Your movement in and through my life, and help me to obey how you are guiding me and stretching me. Help me to be pliable in Your hands. Amen.
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