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Archive for the 'God' Category

Question of the Week

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Here’s this week’s question . . .

What’s your favorite Bible verse and why?

Great question.

As you can see here, I have a hard time answering this question — I have at least 100 “favorites.” But if I had to choose just one, it would probably be . . .

God is love.
(1 John 4:16)

Even though I’ve read that verse hundreds of times, for some reason my lame brain needs to be constantly reminded that no matter how bad things may seem, one thing is absolutely certain:  GOD LOVES US.

That simple truth answers a lot of other questions . . .

Why did God create a world that gives Him so much grief? Because God is love and love is expressed in relationships (even messy ones).

Why did God give us free will? Love can’t be forced — a true love relationship involves the ability to choose love and to reject it.

Why does God save us? God doesn’t let us wallow in our sin without hope.  Because He loves us, He gives us a loving way out:  Jesus.

Why does God offer believers eternal life?  Because He loves us and wants us to be with Him forever.

Can anything ever separate us from God’s love? You be the judge:

Neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39)

GOD IS LOVE!

(Got some favorite verses you’d like to share? Send ‘em to me at getupwithgod1@yahoo.com. I’d love to hear from you!)


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Sunday Prayer

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

Father,

I am seeking.

I am hesitant and uncertain.

But will you, O God,

watch over every step of mine

and guide me?

–Augustine


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One Day

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Better is one day in your courts
than thousands elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
(Psalm 84:10)

Is the above true of you?

Would you rather spend one day in God’s house than 378,269 in the very best place this fallen world has to offer? Or, put another way . . .

Would you rather:
(a) spend a day with God praying and reading the Bible or
(b) get a free 100-year pass to Disney World?

Would you rather:
(a) be God’s janitor or
(b) be the CEO of sin?

Lots has been written on this lovely little Psalm. Here’s how The Message paraphrases it:

One day spent in your house,
this beautiful place of worship,
beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.
I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God
than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.

Here’s another take, from David Crowder’s thought-provoking book Praise Habit:

We have not been promised palatial housing,
but we have been promised his presence.
We often find ourselves in spaces
that seem the last spot on earth
we would have picked to insert ourselves,
engaged in things that we never
imagined ourselves having to do,
but we can know this comfort:
that wherever we are,
we are in the very residence of God
and this is sweeter and greater
than anywhere without Him.

The bottom line?

ONE DAY WITH GOD
BEATS ANYTHING ANYWHERE ELSE


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God’s First Question

Friday, June 18th, 2010

The Bible is packed with intriguing questions, many of them from God himself.

What was God’s first question? It came right after man’s first sin. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, realized they were naked and then tried to hide from God.

What did God do in response? He asked a simple question:

Where are you?

What if God asked you that question right now? How would you respond? Are you following Him? Or are you stumbling around on your own? Is God enough for you? Or do you long for forbidden fruit? Are you at peace? Or are you ashamed of something you’ve done? Are you open and honest with God? Or is there something you’re trying to hide?

God already knows all of our deepest, darkest thoughts and all of our ugliest, nastiest actions. But He still loves us more than we could ever imagine.

Turn from your sin.
Run back to God.
Never leaves His side.


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God’s Plan

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
(Jeremiah 29:11)

TRUST ME.

That’s basically what God was telling the Israelites in the above verse. They had been ripped away from their homeland and exiled to Babylon. Life was hard. Hope was dim.

But God had a plan. He always has a plan. And it’s a good one.

So, what’s God’s plan?

Prosperity. Hope. And a future better than anything we could imagine or create ourselves.

Here’s what God said next:

“Then you will call upon me
and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart.
I will be found by you,” declares the Lord,
“and will bring you back from captivity.”
(Jeremiah 29:12-14a)

Feel like you’re in captivity? Getting desperate? Losing hope?

Seek God with all your heart. He’ll rescue you, restore your hope and give you a future full of love.

TRUST GOD


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God All Day

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Don’t just get up with God today. Here are verses for every part of your day. Read ‘em. Pray through ‘em. Meditate on ‘em. Live ‘em.

MORNING

Because of the Lord’s great love
we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:23)

DAY

This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
(Psalm 118:24)

EVENING

At night his song is with me –
a prayer to the God of my life.
(Psalm 42:8)

BEDTIME

I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
(Psalm 4:8)

WALK WITH GOD
ALL DAY LONG


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Top 10 Bible Verses: #1

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

We’re counting down the top ten Bible verses of all time, based on an exhaustive study conducted by research scientists with very large brains (and apparently a lot of time on their hands) who determined how often each verse has appeared in print.

Drum roll, please. Here’s the absolute #1 most popular Bible verse in the history of the world. You learned it in Sunday School. You’ve seen it on banners at sporting events. Maybe you’ve even got it tattooed on your biceps.

But don’t let familiarity rob it of its power and truth. Pray through every single precious word right now with all your heart and thank God for his mind-blowing love.

For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him
shall not perish
but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)

BELIEVE!


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Nothing or Everything?

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

I find that I have to remind myself constantly that I’m not alone down here and that I don’t have to do things under my own strength. If you’re at all like me, here are two verses straight from the mouth of Jesus to keep in mind today . . .

“Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“All things are possible with God.” (Matthew 10:27)

It’s that simple. Here’s how the math works out: 

WITHOUT GOD = NOTHING

WITH GOD = ALL THINGS

Here’s my humble suggestion:

GO WITH GOD


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Do You Know Him?

Saturday, March 7th, 2009

Click here for 6 minutes and 15 seconds of electrifying, soul-stirring, goose-bump-raising preaching guaranteed to help you get to know our King better.

Here’s the full script, written and spoken by Dr. S. M. Lockridge:

The Bible says He’s the King of the Jews. He’s the King of Israel. He’s the King of righteousness. He’s the King of the ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of glory. He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that’s my King.

David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. No means of measure can define His limitless love. No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

Well, well, He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. That’s my King.

He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s august. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s preeminent. He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the supreme problem in high criticism. He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology. He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That’s my King.

He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He’s a strong God and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him?

Well, my King is the key of knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of the heroes. He’s the leader of the legislatures. He’s the overseer of the overcomers. He’s the governor of governors. He’s the prince of princes. He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King! Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King. My King, Yeah!

His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Well, I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.

Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my King! Yeah!

He always has been and He always will be. I’m talking about He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor. There was nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign. That’s my King! That’s my King!

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. The glory is all His. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever and ever and when you get through with all of the forevers, then . . .

AMEN!


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God Is . . .

Friday, March 6th, 2009

What if someone asked you to describe God in 1 word? How about 50?

Here’s how the Bible answers those questions.

GOD IS . . .

ONE
KING
KIND
LOVE
ROCK
HOLY
GOOD
LIGHT
JUDGE
PEACE
TRUTH
SHIELD
TOWER
GIVING
GENTLE
CARING
HEALER
FATHER
MIGHTY
HUMBLE
PATIENT
PERFECT
PRESENT
SHELTER
ETERNAL
TEACHER
CREATOR
SERVANT
FAITHFUL
MERCIFUL
PROVIDER
SHEPHERD
FOUNTAIN
AWESOME
AVAILABLE
REDEEMER
GRACIOUS
DELIVERER
GENEROUS
FORGIVING
SOVEREIGN
RIGHTEOUS
COUNSELOR
WONDERFUL
COMFORTER
REFRESHING
UNCHANGEABLE
TRUSTWORTHY
COMPASSIONATE

GOD IS ALL THAT


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