The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. – Nahum 1:3
The Message. The Prophet Nahum – God’s mercy. This scripture is regarding the sayings to Nineveh and God’s anger against her. However, we can look at the words of this verse and see a message for us today.
The scripture reads that God is slow to anger. This small part of this scripture speaks of the mercy and patience of God. We often confuse God’s patience with a lack of power. The enemy fools us into believing that because God hasn’t moved against our sinful behavior he is some how powerless over our situations, and our sins. Or the enemy makes us believe our sin has gone unnoticed by God and we have somehow fooled him by our deeds. Yet, we are reminded that even though he is slow to anger his is also great in power.
God shows not only his mercy upon those that trust him, but he is extending his mercy even to the unsaved. Think about this. Even as one goes about their day continuing in unrighteousness, they are functioning within the mercy of God. It is God’s mercy that the unrighteous are able to continue, but it is all done so that God can draw them to himself.
Even though God is slow to anger, he will not allow the deeds of the unrighteous to go on continually unchecked. God is a loving God and he seeks that all would turn to him, but if we refuse to heed in the time he has given to us, we will have to stand before him for the unrighteousness of our deeds.
If you find yourself in a storm, caught up in the whirlwind, just maybe it is God saying to you, “today is the day I am calling for you to yield”. Did you know that if God calls you to accountability while you yet live, he is still showing you mercy? He is calling you to accountability NOW because he doesn’t want you to perish. He will correct you now, so that you have the chance to change and right your relationship with him.
Today I pray and ask that we all pray for those that have turned from God’s calling. There are people you know that have been living on the mercy of God, yet are refusing to obey him. He has been extending his mercy, but by his great power he will correct. So today, let us pray that when God calls to those that are disobedient, they will hear. And then let us pray for ourselves that there be nothing hidden in our hearts that would make us disobedient to God. Let us pray that we would always yield to the will of God. God is calling, are you listening?
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Words of Encouragement
The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. – Jonah 1:1-3
The Message. The Prophet Jonah – The Reluctant Servant. Most of us have heard the story about Jonah being in the belly of the fish quite often. We have heard of the story of Jonah’s reluctance to do as God has instructed him to do. Jonah’s reluctant to do what God is telling him is because of the treatment they have received from the people of Nineveh.
If we look at this from our times and situation, this is what that means. God wants you to go to the person that has treated you the worse, and tell them the message of salvation. Maybe you just don’t want to tell them, partly because you know if God says he will save them, he will. Your desire for your worse enemy is vengeance. Yet, we must be willing to let go of the desire for vengeance against those that hurts us, because God says vengeance is his.
So here we have Jonah, receiving a message from God to go and preach against the wickedness. Instead of going as the Lord instructed it says, “He went down…” When Jonah went down to Joppa, he was also going down spiritually. For everything after this leads down for Jonah. He ran from God and he went down to Joppa. He went down into the ship and then he ended up down in the sea, and finally down in the belly of the fish for three days.
What’s the message for us today? When we refuse to heed what God is telling us to do, we can expect to take a downward trip. The things we are trying to accomplish will go down. The self-promotion will go down, the activities will lead down, until finally we find ourselves trapped in a “fishy” situation. But the merciful God of heaven allows us to be trapped in some fishy situations because it is in those places he has our full attention. It is in those places that we must humble ourselves, if we ever hope to find release.
I pray for us today that we would not be reluctant to hear the word of the Lord and his instruction for our lives. I pray that when he calls, we listen. God is calling, are you listening?
The Message. The Prophet Jonah – The Reluctant Servant. Most of us have heard the story about Jonah being in the belly of the fish quite often. We have heard of the story of Jonah’s reluctance to do as God has instructed him to do. Jonah’s reluctant to do what God is telling him is because of the treatment they have received from the people of Nineveh.
If we look at this from our times and situation, this is what that means. God wants you to go to the person that has treated you the worse, and tell them the message of salvation. Maybe you just don’t want to tell them, partly because you know if God says he will save them, he will. Your desire for your worse enemy is vengeance. Yet, we must be willing to let go of the desire for vengeance against those that hurts us, because God says vengeance is his.
So here we have Jonah, receiving a message from God to go and preach against the wickedness. Instead of going as the Lord instructed it says, “He went down…” When Jonah went down to Joppa, he was also going down spiritually. For everything after this leads down for Jonah. He ran from God and he went down to Joppa. He went down into the ship and then he ended up down in the sea, and finally down in the belly of the fish for three days.
What’s the message for us today? When we refuse to heed what God is telling us to do, we can expect to take a downward trip. The things we are trying to accomplish will go down. The self-promotion will go down, the activities will lead down, until finally we find ourselves trapped in a “fishy” situation. But the merciful God of heaven allows us to be trapped in some fishy situations because it is in those places he has our full attention. It is in those places that we must humble ourselves, if we ever hope to find release.
I pray for us today that we would not be reluctant to hear the word of the Lord and his instruction for our lives. I pray that when he calls, we listen. God is calling, are you listening?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Words of Encouragement
Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria." – Isaiah 7:13-17
The Message. The Prophet Isaiah – God Promises. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the promise of a coming messiah to the people of Israel. Isaiah says to the people that God would give them a sign of his promise of protection. That sign would be a virgin would be with child and call his name Immanuel. The promise was a sign also regarding the breaking of the control of the two kings that were bothersome to the Israel.
However, the people did not truly understand the words of the prophet, Isaiah. We know that because when Jesus did come, they were looking for a different kind of savior, messiah. They were looking for a savior that would fulfill the later part of what Isaiah spoke. They were looking for someone to break the hold of other kingdoms over them. They were looking for a savior that would come in and set up an earthly kingdom, with physical strength and might. The people’s misunderstanding of the words of the prophet does not change the words of the prophet. Isaiah’s words were true because they were the words of God. And God always fulfills his own word.
What is the lesson for us, the message in this scripture? We must listen carefully to the words of the Lord however he sends them. If he sends the message by a person, or if it comes from the very scriptures of the Holy Bible, it must be heeded. We must listen carefully to them so that we understand what God is saying. We don’t want to be like the people of Isaiah’s time and misinterpret the message and lose out on the promise. Many rejected Jesus because he was not the messiah they were looking for.
Let us not reject the truth about Jesus because he is not what we think. Let us not reject the promises of God when he sends word to us of what he is offering to us. Let us respond to the message, to the call.
I pray for us today that we would heed to the message of God so that we can hear the truth of what he is telling us. Help us Lord to hear clearly what you are speaking in your word and through your servants. Help us not to reject Jesus, because to do so, we reject your promise of our safety, our deliverance and our soul’s safety. God is speaking, are you listening?
The Message. The Prophet Isaiah – God Promises. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the promise of a coming messiah to the people of Israel. Isaiah says to the people that God would give them a sign of his promise of protection. That sign would be a virgin would be with child and call his name Immanuel. The promise was a sign also regarding the breaking of the control of the two kings that were bothersome to the Israel.
However, the people did not truly understand the words of the prophet, Isaiah. We know that because when Jesus did come, they were looking for a different kind of savior, messiah. They were looking for a savior that would fulfill the later part of what Isaiah spoke. They were looking for someone to break the hold of other kingdoms over them. They were looking for a savior that would come in and set up an earthly kingdom, with physical strength and might. The people’s misunderstanding of the words of the prophet does not change the words of the prophet. Isaiah’s words were true because they were the words of God. And God always fulfills his own word.
What is the lesson for us, the message in this scripture? We must listen carefully to the words of the Lord however he sends them. If he sends the message by a person, or if it comes from the very scriptures of the Holy Bible, it must be heeded. We must listen carefully to them so that we understand what God is saying. We don’t want to be like the people of Isaiah’s time and misinterpret the message and lose out on the promise. Many rejected Jesus because he was not the messiah they were looking for.
Let us not reject the truth about Jesus because he is not what we think. Let us not reject the promises of God when he sends word to us of what he is offering to us. Let us respond to the message, to the call.
I pray for us today that we would heed to the message of God so that we can hear the truth of what he is telling us. Help us Lord to hear clearly what you are speaking in your word and through your servants. Help us not to reject Jesus, because to do so, we reject your promise of our safety, our deliverance and our soul’s safety. God is speaking, are you listening?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Words of Encouragement
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." - Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Message. The Prophet Jeremiah – God Calls. This is the calling of the prophet Jeremiah. The Lord is speaking to Jeremiah and reassuring him that he was formed in his mother’s womb with a purpose. That purpose was for him to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah’s response isn’t much different that others (such as Moses) when called for such an awesome task.
His response is, But God I cannot speak I am only a child. Maybe our response isn’t the same as Jeremiah, but we can relate. Maybe your response to God when he spoke his purpose to you was, I can’t do that, or will people listen to me, or even I don’t know enough, I’m not good enough. Whatever the excuse is, God’s answer to us is the same as it was to Jeremiah.
God told Jeremiah, do not say you are a child, but you must go and speak everything I command you to say. Do not be afraid to speak the words I give you for I will rescue you. In other words, I will be with you as you speak the words I give you to speak.
Then God reached out and touched Jeremiah’s lips and said, I now put my words into your mouth, so go forth and do as I have commanded. God’s word comes through us to uproot and tear down those attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that would set themselves up above God. God’s word also comes to build up and to plant, to build up his people for the fight ahead and to plant the good seed that will take root and bring forth fruit.
Today, God is calling. He is calling for his people to step forth and walk in the truth as he sets forth. He is calling his people to pick up their armor and begin to run this race, his way. I pray for us today that we allow the truth of God’s word to set us free from the sins that so easily besets. God has a message for us, are we listening?
The Message. The Prophet Jeremiah – God Calls. This is the calling of the prophet Jeremiah. The Lord is speaking to Jeremiah and reassuring him that he was formed in his mother’s womb with a purpose. That purpose was for him to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah’s response isn’t much different that others (such as Moses) when called for such an awesome task.
His response is, But God I cannot speak I am only a child. Maybe our response isn’t the same as Jeremiah, but we can relate. Maybe your response to God when he spoke his purpose to you was, I can’t do that, or will people listen to me, or even I don’t know enough, I’m not good enough. Whatever the excuse is, God’s answer to us is the same as it was to Jeremiah.
God told Jeremiah, do not say you are a child, but you must go and speak everything I command you to say. Do not be afraid to speak the words I give you for I will rescue you. In other words, I will be with you as you speak the words I give you to speak.
Then God reached out and touched Jeremiah’s lips and said, I now put my words into your mouth, so go forth and do as I have commanded. God’s word comes through us to uproot and tear down those attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that would set themselves up above God. God’s word also comes to build up and to plant, to build up his people for the fight ahead and to plant the good seed that will take root and bring forth fruit.
Today, God is calling. He is calling for his people to step forth and walk in the truth as he sets forth. He is calling his people to pick up their armor and begin to run this race, his way. I pray for us today that we allow the truth of God’s word to set us free from the sins that so easily besets. God has a message for us, are we listening?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Words of Encouragement
We look to the hills, from which cometh our help.We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. – Psalm 20:5-7
You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! – Psalm 68:35
He is Risen, What Next? We receive power. One of the most difficult things in our lives is facing those things that disappoint us, hurt us or devastate us. Some how we want those things to simply disappear, but no amount of wishing will make life’s situations go away. Some may even believe that when you become a Christian you are exempt from the tragedies, disappointments and upsets in life. The truth is Christians are not exempt from life’s situations, but are equipped for them.
God will grant to us our requests or prayers for his power to help us through our situations. Sometimes we may pray for him to remove them, but he sometimes says no I will not remove them, but I will strengthen you to go through so that I can make you better in the process. We do not always understand the reason, but we must simply acknowledge that God’s ways are above us and his understanding is higher than ours.
We do not have to feel defeated because of our situations because we are not in them alone. God is there in the midst of the situation with you. The scripture says that God will save his anointed. We do not have to trust in chariots or in other words, physical power and might, but in the power that comes only from God.
God promises that he will give his people the power and strength they need. Today my heart is heavy for those that are being defeated by the tricks of the enemy. Satan wants someone to think, they don’t have enough inside to be able to stand. He wants you to think that what you are facing will last forever. I come to tell you this season you are in won’t last forever. God will keep you in the protection of his mighty hand. He will not allow you to bear more than you are capable. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When you feel weak or unable to hang on, trust in God’s strength.
I pray for us right now, may the spirit of the liar be revealed for what he is, a liar. Lord do not allow your people to be tricked into giving up their victory. You already gave us the victory the day Christ died on the cross. Help us to see the truth. Give us spiritual eyes to see clearly. Satan does not care what lie we believe, as long as it is not the truth. Today, I speak
You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! – Psalm 68:35
He is Risen, What Next? We receive power. One of the most difficult things in our lives is facing those things that disappoint us, hurt us or devastate us. Some how we want those things to simply disappear, but no amount of wishing will make life’s situations go away. Some may even believe that when you become a Christian you are exempt from the tragedies, disappointments and upsets in life. The truth is Christians are not exempt from life’s situations, but are equipped for them.
God will grant to us our requests or prayers for his power to help us through our situations. Sometimes we may pray for him to remove them, but he sometimes says no I will not remove them, but I will strengthen you to go through so that I can make you better in the process. We do not always understand the reason, but we must simply acknowledge that God’s ways are above us and his understanding is higher than ours.
We do not have to feel defeated because of our situations because we are not in them alone. God is there in the midst of the situation with you. The scripture says that God will save his anointed. We do not have to trust in chariots or in other words, physical power and might, but in the power that comes only from God.
God promises that he will give his people the power and strength they need. Today my heart is heavy for those that are being defeated by the tricks of the enemy. Satan wants someone to think, they don’t have enough inside to be able to stand. He wants you to think that what you are facing will last forever. I come to tell you this season you are in won’t last forever. God will keep you in the protection of his mighty hand. He will not allow you to bear more than you are capable. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When you feel weak or unable to hang on, trust in God’s strength.
I pray for us right now, may the spirit of the liar be revealed for what he is, a liar. Lord do not allow your people to be tricked into giving up their victory. You already gave us the victory the day Christ died on the cross. Help us to see the truth. Give us spiritual eyes to see clearly. Satan does not care what lie we believe, as long as it is not the truth. Today, I speak
life back into the heart of your people that are feeling burden by their trials. You Lord will not leave us or forsake us. You are truthful and you would never lie to us. So you tell us we can trust you, so help us to trust you completely, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart. Help us to know with clarity that you have the final say in every situation, and we can trust you to do what is best. Help us now to receive the strength back into our very bones. Help us to receive your power. We need your power to stand, to stay the course and to walk in the victory you have just for us in our situations and circumstances. This is my humble prayer for your hurting people, Amen.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Someone You Should Know!
Michelle with her sisters and brother (now deceased) at the recording.Jewel - How does your music inspire you?
Michelle - Well, I don't know if my music inspires me so much, but I'll say God definitely inspires me. He'll take an everyday situation and all of a sudden in the quiet, in the stillness of a moment...literally--He will place words and a tune in my heart and mind and it just will keep on coming and flowing. That's what happened when I found my brother dead in my deceased parents living room. After reflecting...it felt so empty, cold, lonely, hopeless...but God--placed His presence and love in the midst of the void and He kept on pouring the words in me. The same happened during on of the last times I saw my dad alive in the hospital...in the hospital bed...where he deteriorated to a sub-vegetated state...God right there flooded my soul with John 14:27 or 26, "Peace I leave with you...not as the world--giveth--give I unto you..."
He gave the melody along with the words instantaneously and I had to literally run out of the E.R. and ask the guard for the location of the hospital's chapel and I found it and hopped on the organ minutes after...so I wouldn't lose the revelation. God gave me the entire song in a matter of 5 minutes...I know it sounds weird, yet it was as if He was giving my dad a last song--to play--before He took him on to glory! Praise God! So I will say the inspiration is from God-Himself and the awesome opportunity He gives me to express His glory in a very tangible manner.
I thank Michelle for taking the time to answer my questions. Her answer were insightful. I don't think it's strange how God inspired her to write her music. I was rejoicing because that is how he does me with my writing. He will take the every day things and show me something. I have to sit down and write it as soon as he gives it to me, not because I'll lose it, but because it will continue to play in my thoughts until I put it on paper. I've sat down and written entire plays in one sitting, because I could not stop the flow of the words. I often tell people, I am just the typist. So again, thank you Michelle. Her current project as she mentioned is to do a musical. We will keep you abreast of the developments of that.
Words of Encouragement
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, - Romans 8:1-3
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. – Psalm 18:24-26
He is Risen, What Next? Our records are clear. I was speaking with someone on yesterday and this thought came to my mind. When we accepted the gift of salvation from Christ we also accepted a new start. The old life, our life of sin, lies; backbiting, etc. were erased and removed from our records. We were given a new start, a new record. As we walk this journey, all the things that need to be changed in us are not instantly removed. God’s longsuffering ways grants us his mercy to cover us as he gets our attention to those things that need to be changed.
When he gets our attention, he reminds us there is no condemnation now, you are free from this sin because you have seen it and repented of it. He then tells us go forward and come this way no more. I also began thinking, how are we called righteous, or faithful or blameless? Is it because we have always been righteous, or faithful or blameless in our walk? I can dare to say no. We are these things because our records are clear. They are clear because of the power of the blood. It washes away our sins. It washes away the sins we commit, even when in our hearts we thought we were doing right. It was the mercy that said, I will hold you today…and each day, until you see the full picture.
I have a question for us, when we finally see where we are not living up to God’s standard, does he beat us over the head with it? Does he bring back what we did wrong several years ago to remind us of how wrong we are; is he still judging us by our lack of understanding from 1999? No. He simply reassures us that he loves us and our records are clear. What we should take from this is, we as believers need to be more like God when dealing with each other. We are good at holding what someone did wrong, and not letting go of it. We want to forever see them through what they did wrong (real or perceived). Yet, we can take comfort in this, God says our records are clear! So even when someone wants to tell you about all the wrong you have done, you can say to yourself, “well if you check with God, he’ll tell you, my record is clear”. That thing isn’t even on the list anymore. That is how we are called faithful, righteous and blameless. It is because the blood continues to wash away the stains, leaving us spotless before God.
I pray for us today that we would rejoice in knowing that we have a clear record with God. Not so that we can boast, because the record isn’t clear by our own power, it is clear because of the power of Christ. We can rejoice and know when the enemy comes to condemn us; we can tell him there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, because his gift is continually perfecting me.
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. – Psalm 18:24-26
He is Risen, What Next? Our records are clear. I was speaking with someone on yesterday and this thought came to my mind. When we accepted the gift of salvation from Christ we also accepted a new start. The old life, our life of sin, lies; backbiting, etc. were erased and removed from our records. We were given a new start, a new record. As we walk this journey, all the things that need to be changed in us are not instantly removed. God’s longsuffering ways grants us his mercy to cover us as he gets our attention to those things that need to be changed.
When he gets our attention, he reminds us there is no condemnation now, you are free from this sin because you have seen it and repented of it. He then tells us go forward and come this way no more. I also began thinking, how are we called righteous, or faithful or blameless? Is it because we have always been righteous, or faithful or blameless in our walk? I can dare to say no. We are these things because our records are clear. They are clear because of the power of the blood. It washes away our sins. It washes away the sins we commit, even when in our hearts we thought we were doing right. It was the mercy that said, I will hold you today…and each day, until you see the full picture.
I have a question for us, when we finally see where we are not living up to God’s standard, does he beat us over the head with it? Does he bring back what we did wrong several years ago to remind us of how wrong we are; is he still judging us by our lack of understanding from 1999? No. He simply reassures us that he loves us and our records are clear. What we should take from this is, we as believers need to be more like God when dealing with each other. We are good at holding what someone did wrong, and not letting go of it. We want to forever see them through what they did wrong (real or perceived). Yet, we can take comfort in this, God says our records are clear! So even when someone wants to tell you about all the wrong you have done, you can say to yourself, “well if you check with God, he’ll tell you, my record is clear”. That thing isn’t even on the list anymore. That is how we are called faithful, righteous and blameless. It is because the blood continues to wash away the stains, leaving us spotless before God.
I pray for us today that we would rejoice in knowing that we have a clear record with God. Not so that we can boast, because the record isn’t clear by our own power, it is clear because of the power of Christ. We can rejoice and know when the enemy comes to condemn us; we can tell him there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, because his gift is continually perfecting me.
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