Promises

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Don’t be Mara!

There are so many people up one moment and down the next. It’s like a rollercoaster of emotion.

Everything is going so well, and then nothing ever goes well. Sounds like life to me!

There was a woman in the Bible that felt that way. She was married with two grown sons and daughters-in-law. But the men-folk died and she found herself a childless widow with no one to take care of her.

Living in a foreign land, she decided to move back home. When Naomi arrived everyone was pleased to see her.

But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” Ruth 1:20-21

God never promised you easy times but He promised to see you through all times.

Like Naomi, many have bitterness over how things have turned out. They jumped to the conclusion to quickly that nothing is going to change.

But it did for Naomi and it will for you.

The Lord has a purpose for you. Sometimes you just have to wait for the fruition of it. As it is written,

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Ps 27:14

Abba, You have promised never to leave me or forsake me. And I believe Your promise. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Mistakes – #1

Have you ever made a mistake?
Of course you have; many you couldn’t undo or change.

Don’t feel alone. The Bible is full of men and women that made mistakes – some minor and some really major.

In the case of Abram and Sarai, they had no children but a promise from God that their descendants would be like the stars of the heavens.

But maybe they figured their problem was bigger than their God. So she took matters into her own hands.

Gen 16:2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

If God is restraining you it’s either because He doesn’t want you to have it or it isn’t the right timing for it.
In this case it is the latter, this wasn’t the right time for Abram and Sarai to have a child. That day is coming but it is not today.

God’s delay is not a weakness. Patience in waiting on God is a virtue that you can ill-afford to tamper with.

God’s promises don’t need your help. God has been running the universe just fine without you winding up the mechanism. Let Him do what He does best.

God’s plans will be fulfilled. Every promise made will come to pass. If the Bible says it, you can believe it will happen.

Never believe your problems are bigger than God can handle. If you think you can do a better job than God then your ego may be bigger than God can handle!

Abba Father, help e leave the ego behind, wait, and depend on You! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Big Promise

My promises to others are small. I try not to commit to what I cannot do. And sometimes I forget something, so I try to keep notes in my iPhone.

You don’t want to promise what you cannot deliver to begin with. Time and effort work against promises

I know I have broken promises, both intentionally and unintentionally. And promises have been broken to me.

God is the opposite of you and me.

Gen 15:5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

God’s promises are big. I mean to say your descendants will be as numerous as the stars is a huge commitment. It’s happened! How many descendants of Abraham have there been through the ages – both born naturally and adopted and grafted in!

It’s not the only promise He has made!

Isa 1:18 “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Matt 28:20 “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Rom 10:13 “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Heb 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

1 John 1:7 the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Acts 1:11 This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.

Rev 22:20 “Surely I am coming quickly.”

Abba, I have yet to see a broken promise from You. I believe them all, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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What will You give me?

Gen 15:2 Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me…

What did Abram already have?

The Bible reports he was rich in gold, silver, and cattle. He had a beautiful wife that was desired by other men even though she was in her 70’s.

He had trained servants that could take on the armies of four different kingdoms. He had the promise of possessing all the land.

And most importantly, he had God!

It’s not what you have from God that you are concerned about – it’s what you don’t have.

Though Abram was a rich man with a lot to be happy about, he had no children.

Gen 15:2
Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

Abram had one other thing – God’s promise of an heir from his own body, but it was one promise he struggled to patiently wait on.

Look around your home at all the things you possess. It’s proof that people are never satisfied. Garage sales are further proof of too much around the house.

Can your possessions compare to the gift of eternal life from God?

Matt 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

How much of your life can you give God credit for having?
Are you coming to Him and asking for more?
Can you wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled?

Abba, I am rich because of You! My greatest possession is my salvation. Every day I only ask that I can encourage someone else, in Jesus name, with the Good News.YES&AMEN

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I will never…

never

I’ve heard many use the word “never” over the years.
I’ll never leave this church. I’ll never stop loving you. I’ll never do that again.
The word “never” is one that should be reserved for only God to use because only He can truly keep a promise.
Even the apostle had problems with people leaving him. Continue reading →