Are you willing to do all that God asks and desires of you? Continue reading
Jeremiah
Christmas Trees Rejoice Before the Lord
There is a Christmas tree in my living room. It’s not a real tree, though I do love the smell of a fir.
We have lights on our tree and there are ornaments on it. Some of the ornaments are the baby pictures of me, my wife, children and grandchildren.
I’ve said previously that the lights remind me of the twinkling stars that shine in the night.
But is my tree a pagan symbol?
Many think so!
For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. Jer 10:3-4
This was not a Christmas tree in Jeremiah. Christ had not come. Were they worshipping the tree?
It’s likely. They also cut wood and stone and made little statues to worship.
I’ve cut wood and have made things but never worshipped them. Neither do I worship the Christmas tree.
What I am reminded of is that a tree got us in trouble and a tree got us out of trouble.
It was a tree that Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat it’s fruit. They did. It was called sin and it has affected everyone.
It was another tree that was cut down, put in the shape of a cross, and upon it was nailed the Son of God.
This act on the second tree took away the reproach of the first.
I often think how cruel people can be with what God had created; and I often wonder what kind of tree became the wood of the cross.
I think of how the Bible says,
The trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord, 1 Chron 16:33
What a joy that the trees rejoice before the Lord. I rejoice before the Lord too!
Abba, all of Your creation is beautiful to me. I love the change of leaves in Autumn and I love the budding of green in Spring. I love the beauty of snow (or ice) on the pines around my home. I rejoice in your creation, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN
Get an Answer
Job 20:2-3 “Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me. I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.
You may be seeking an answer to something that concerns you. Or you may need confirmation.
You can always answer yourself and go on your gut feeling. You can ask the opinion of friends. Or you can ask God.
This is what revival at our church has been about – answers from God; confirmation.
I have received answers, my wife, and others in church. Last night a pastor I know came and told me that she had wanted to come for two nights but was hampered. And last night she came and the minister spoke a confirming word to her.
Major decisions need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Small decisions need the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
God has said:
‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jer 33:3
He does not prerequisite that with a call during crisis or a call during calm. God just wants you to call on Him. He will answer!
Abba, I need Your answers today, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN!
Know the Future
Sometimes it would be nice to know the future.
Abraham and Sarah had that knowledge.
Gen 17:19 God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac;
Gen 18:10 And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.”
Abraham and Sarah are told they will have a son. They will call him Isaac. And they even knew the time he would be born.
Often the desire for futuristic knowledge isn’t about having a baby. More likely it’s for next weeks $250 million lotto numbers, the final score for the next Superbowl, or penny stocks that will increase in value 500%!
Such knowledge is selfish, greedy, and temporary.
There is one future you can know.
God has said;
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord; Jer 29:11-14
God’s future for you is one full of hope and promises. It’s full of love, forgiveness, and grace. It’s also eternal.
The future belongs to God. Join in.
Abba, my future is in You. I trust you with it. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN
The Flaming Sword
Gen 3:24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. Continue reading
Call & Equipped
Jer 1:6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” Continue reading
He is God Almighty
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—’God Almighty’—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. Ex 6:3
His name was so sacred it was not uttered by His people for fear of violating the third Commandment Continue reading
I do and don’t understand but I believe!
Last night at church there was a question about Revelation. To be honest, I’m not sure it was answered.
If you have ever read the book, then you know some of the difficulties and the imagery involved.
Some things are pretty easy, like seeing a Lamb as though it had been slain (Rev 5:6) is obviously a reference to Jesus the Messiah Savior. Continue reading
A Godly Man – 2
Another thought from yesterday on the Godliness of Daniel.
It says that God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. Dan 1:9
I wonder what may have happened if this man did not like Daniel and his friends – if he had treated them harshly. Continue reading
Protecting Life
One of the great sins of our nation is its failure to protect the unborn. They are seen as disposable tissue with no purpose and not life. Certainly in the hands of lawmakers and abortionists the unborn have no chance. Continue reading
Morning Thought with Pastor Tim 