Feeling down, alone, or just out of sorts?
I believe we all do at some point or another. No one is exempt from feeling depressed; even when things seem to be going good and you're surrounded with people, you may feel alone and somewhat empty. It's at that time when we need to look to the Lord and fix our eyes on Him.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 - "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the LORD, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments."
You often read verse 19, but hardly the verses before it... It puts things into proper perspective and helps you understand in what circumstances you can walk surely upon the dangerous cliffs of disappointment, of lack, of a desert-like season in life and of feeling alone.
Be encouraged, you're not alone. God is with you and He is your strength and He makes your steps sure...have confidence that He will not let you fall.
These verses are a song unto the LORD... praising Him.
Feeling down? Look up to the Lord, He will lift your head up. Feeling alone? Look around, the Lord is with you. Feeling out of sorts? Look within, the Spirit of God is holding you together.
Sing unto the Lord and trust in Him. Praise and Worship Him for He is worthy.
May He be your joy and your strength in all times and in all places.
God Bless you - Pastor Raul
Friday, September 04, 2015
Tuesday, September 01, 2015
Idolatry - The Worship of a Whore
Hosea is an Old Testament book that is shocking in its opening, a stern warning in its body and a call to discern the ways of the true God in its ending.
Idolatry is defined by God as NOT ONLY the worship of an image that represents a god, but the turning away from trusting the only true God and turning to trusting in anything or anyone other than Him.
It can NOT only be money, power, intellect, position, favor, possessions etc., but it can also be the arrogance of having and maintaining, in comparison to others, more money, power, intellect, position, favor, possessions etc. There is an arrogance that emanates a stench from such a person that reaches the very nostrils of God.
God hates idolatry and pride is the thought of superiority, which is another form of idolatry, as one puts himself in that place that only God should occupy.
James 4:6 - "But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"
Israel thought it knew better than God, and trusted in riches, external favor and relationships with others, even worshipping foreign gods. But God deemed them a whore for this. It's a clearly defined position a nation chose and we can easily fall into if we are not choosing daily and even by the moment who is that Person we trust and walk with.
Know that this is who God is and He pursues and loves you perfectly - Hosea 11:4 - "I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them."
There is nothing and no one else that will satisfy a person - only the true God.
Hosea 14:9 - "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them."
Idolatry is defined by God as NOT ONLY the worship of an image that represents a god, but the turning away from trusting the only true God and turning to trusting in anything or anyone other than Him.
It can NOT only be money, power, intellect, position, favor, possessions etc., but it can also be the arrogance of having and maintaining, in comparison to others, more money, power, intellect, position, favor, possessions etc. There is an arrogance that emanates a stench from such a person that reaches the very nostrils of God.
God hates idolatry and pride is the thought of superiority, which is another form of idolatry, as one puts himself in that place that only God should occupy.
James 4:6 - "But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"
Israel thought it knew better than God, and trusted in riches, external favor and relationships with others, even worshipping foreign gods. But God deemed them a whore for this. It's a clearly defined position a nation chose and we can easily fall into if we are not choosing daily and even by the moment who is that Person we trust and walk with.
Know that this is who God is and He pursues and loves you perfectly - Hosea 11:4 - "I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them."
There is nothing and no one else that will satisfy a person - only the true God.
Hosea 14:9 - "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them."
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Ephesians 2:10 - You Matter This Much!
Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
There are times in my life that I have to admit that I need a little encouragement to keep going and there is no better encouragement that can come my way than from the Lord Himself.
Maybe you're like that also and you need a little reminder of your value in God's eyes. Ephesians 2:10 not only reminds us that our lives have purpose and we are to act in accordance to that purpose, but also that there is a work that God desires to do THROUGH us, and IN us, and BEFORE us.
This is absolutely INSPIRING and AMAZING when I thought about it.
#1 - We are HIS workmanship - Jesus is the Master Craftsman, the Potter and we are His object of art, of beauty - He sees what no one else does; His vision goes beyond the block of wood or the lump of clay; He holds us in His hands for the purpose of making us into a beautiful vessel that honors and blesses Him.
#2 - We are created IN Christ FOR GOOD WORKS - There useful, specific and practical reasons for the work that Jesus is performing in our lives; it is a good reason for good works that are established by our Good Shepherd. This is a plan that He had established BEFORE we were even formed in our mother's womb.
#3 - We are a God's workmanship and are designed to live out this plan in our lives.
AND, there is one more important point to consider - God goes before us and around us and is with us to arrange everything in such a way that we are capable of fulfilling His plans in our lives; we just need to be willing - acknowledging Him, growing in our relationship with Him through reading His Word, prayer and fellowship, and being aware of our surroundings so as to respond in ways that He is glorified.
God makes sure that everything is perfectly arranged for you, so that you may walk out the plans that He has established for you to accomplish - you are loved and valued that much!
This day matters and so do you.
All to His glory - Raul
There are times in my life that I have to admit that I need a little encouragement to keep going and there is no better encouragement that can come my way than from the Lord Himself.
Maybe you're like that also and you need a little reminder of your value in God's eyes. Ephesians 2:10 not only reminds us that our lives have purpose and we are to act in accordance to that purpose, but also that there is a work that God desires to do THROUGH us, and IN us, and BEFORE us.
This is absolutely INSPIRING and AMAZING when I thought about it.
#1 - We are HIS workmanship - Jesus is the Master Craftsman, the Potter and we are His object of art, of beauty - He sees what no one else does; His vision goes beyond the block of wood or the lump of clay; He holds us in His hands for the purpose of making us into a beautiful vessel that honors and blesses Him.
#2 - We are created IN Christ FOR GOOD WORKS - There useful, specific and practical reasons for the work that Jesus is performing in our lives; it is a good reason for good works that are established by our Good Shepherd. This is a plan that He had established BEFORE we were even formed in our mother's womb.
#3 - We are a God's workmanship and are designed to live out this plan in our lives.
AND, there is one more important point to consider - God goes before us and around us and is with us to arrange everything in such a way that we are capable of fulfilling His plans in our lives; we just need to be willing - acknowledging Him, growing in our relationship with Him through reading His Word, prayer and fellowship, and being aware of our surroundings so as to respond in ways that He is glorified.
God makes sure that everything is perfectly arranged for you, so that you may walk out the plans that He has established for you to accomplish - you are loved and valued that much!
This day matters and so do you.
All to His glory - Raul
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