My puny God

“For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God..."  Deuteronomy 10:17 (NLT)

Forgive me, Lord, that today I lived parts of my day as though MY God is puny, impotent, and mundane. I have dishonored your glory by acting as though you are not able take care of the things on my mind or strengthen me for the challenges of my day.

Each time I worried -- every time I was afraid -- any time I became anxious -- in those moments I forgot that You, O God -- MY God -- are great, mighty, and awesome.

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Flourishing Faith

Sometimes in reading Scripture it is helpful to take a new look at a familiar word.  One I came across recently is the word "flourish".  A quick look in the dictionary confirms my impression:

1. to thrive; prosper

2. to be at the peak of condition
3. to be healthy

"Flourish" brings to my mind a picture of abundance, extravagance, lavishness. I think of a flourishing garden. A flourishing economy. A child flourishing under a kind and skilled teacher.

That quick review of the word prompts three questions for insights into this portion of 2 Thess 1:3 (NLT):     "...we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing ..."

• What does a flourishing faith look like? 
• Is my faith thriving, prospering, healthy, flourishing?
• What have been the situations in which my faith experienced a growth spurt and flourished? [Worth considering: Paul's comment here is aimed at those who are enduring through persecutions and hardships (see also James 1:2-4).]

I'd love to learn of your thoughts on these questions. Please put a note in the in the 'comments' portion below. (see how)
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Perfect Storm

The waves were pounding. The wind was whirling.
Jesus was there, walking on the sea, in the midst of it all.
He invited Peter to join him.
So Peter got out of the boat.
Onto the waves. Into the wind. 
The others stayed in the boat and watched.
But when they saw what happened,
they worshiped Jesus.

How more perfect can a storm be?


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Ways and Means

It is said in Psalm 103:7 that God showed his ways to Moses and his deeds (means) to the children of Israel.  Perhaps those are two different levels of knowing God. 

I can know how someone acts -- the MEANS they use to do things -- by simple observation and casual encounters. But I can only know their WAYS -- their motivation and character -- as I spend time with them and get to know them.

I can be an observer of God. OR I can be sojourner with God. 

Teach me your WAYS, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!   Psalm 86:11a (NLT)

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ALL things

In Romans 8:28 we are told that God promises to work ALL things together for good for his children.  Ever thought about the word ALL? That includes EVERYTHING. That excludes nothing.  It covers this thing I am going through and that thing I went through and the thing I will face tomorrow.

ALL. whole. entire. full. complete. total. thorough.

ALL. No exceptions, exclusions or fine print.  ALL.


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Withholding Good

Proverbs 3:27 

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.  (NASB) 

Sometimes the 'good' that I have and can give to others isn't money or time. Sometimes it is words. Words of encouragement, appreciation, support.  May I not act miserly or greedy by withholding praise, but be extravagant and generous in blessing others with kind words today and always.


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Outside of normal

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews we read a roll-call of Bible characters who believed God no matter what. Their faith led to their obedience to do all kinds of things that are way, way, outside of normal or routine or even reasonable.  Noah built an ark, old, old Sarah had a baby, Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac. In each instance we read something like:

By faith {name} believed that God keeps his promises and so they obeyed him by {doing something}.

What is it the extraordinary thing God has called me to do that is outside of normal, something that requires my full faith in His faith-full-ness? I have to wonder how an entry in the passage might end if it started out like this:

By faith, Carol believed that God keeps His promises and so she obeyed him by ...


My personal version of Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible for Carol to believe in God, for when Carol comes to God she must believe that He is and that He rewards her when she seeks Him.

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For Justin

In honor of my first-born's 30th birthday, here is a poem I wrote when he was three, right after we had read the fable of Jack and Beanstalk. (With apologies for the syncretism).

Each day he comes home

with his bag of magic beans.

O Lord, give him good soil

where he can plant his dreams.


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Surprise!

God does things in surprising ways. Each time I am caught off guard by God's ways, I am chagrined to  realize that I thought that He would act in a way I could predict.

But while He always does things in ways I would not have imagined, He also acts in ways so keeping with His character that I know immediately it is His doing.

Who would have guessed God would...

Bring down the giant Goliath by a child with a stone?
Part the sea to provide the way of escape?
Birth His son through a virgin?
Love us while we were yet sinners?

Surprise!



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The perfect fit

God gives us two wardrobes.

One is the wardrobe of royalty. It is how those who are part of the King's household should dress: As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience...(Colossians 3:12ff). This is what we are to wear when we are connecting and interacting with others in the family of believers.

The other is the garb of a warrior. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil... (Ephesians 6:11ff). This outfit is truth, righteousness, faith, peace. This is what we are to wear when we are facing the enemy of our souls.

God gives us both wardrobes to fit perfectly for each occasion. But sometimes we wear the wrong outfit. Sometimes when interacting with our brothers and sisters in Christ we try to show off our righteousness, assert our truth and glory in our faith. Then when we come in contact with sin in our lives we indulge ourselves with an abundance of kindness and patience or we make peace with the devil rather than standing firm against him.

SEE ALSO:  ill fitting Blog
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