Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.
1 Kings 19:19-21 (NASB)
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth . And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. 20 He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" 21 So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.
There are times when God gives us a new direction in life. These times often require us to leave the comfort and security of things we know and love, to enter into a place of uncertainty. To follow requires great trust in God's sustaining hand.
I pointed to the account of Elisha's calling today, because of the way Elisha dealt with his choice. He closed the door to his past life in a dramatic way. Once the decision was made, there was no turning back for him. I find that all too often, we try to keep our foot in the door, just in case things don't work out. By doing so we declare with our actions that we do not fully trust God's direction or provision.
Today, God may be calling you in a new direction in your life. Are you willing to cut the lines to the securities of your past, so that you can move forward into the fullness of God's plan for you life? I hope today you will choose the best and not simply settle for "good enough."
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
A New Direction
Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.
Acts 22:6-15 (NASB)
6 "But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 "And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord ?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' 9 "And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord ?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.' 11 "But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus. 12 "A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing near said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight !' And at that very time I looked up at him. 14 "And he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 15 'For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
There are times in our life when we need a radical shift in our lives and God intersects us to bring about the change that is necessary. Saul was one of the people we find in scripture. He was a zealous pharisee who would stop at nothing to bring an end to the spread of the Christian faith. God had a greater plan for Saul, but it would take a powerful experience to reshape him into the man we know as the Apostle Paul.
I find that many times in life God takes me far outside of my comfort zone, often to a place of utter helplessness in order to bring about a shift in my life. These become some of the defining moments that, just as Paul is doing here, become the testimony of God's work in my life. When God brings me into those times there are generally two things that happen. First my viewpoint adjusts to conform more with His will. Second, there is generally a new assignment that comes with these experiences.
Today you may find yourself way out of your comfort zone and perhaps even flat on your back. Pay close attention as God is seeking to bring about His purposes in you. With this experience will come new vision, renewed strength and a testimony that you will share for years to come.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Acts 22:6-15 (NASB)
6 "But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 "And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord ?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' 9 "And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord ?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.' 11 "But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus. 12 "A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing near said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight !' And at that very time I looked up at him. 14 "And he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 15 'For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
There are times in our life when we need a radical shift in our lives and God intersects us to bring about the change that is necessary. Saul was one of the people we find in scripture. He was a zealous pharisee who would stop at nothing to bring an end to the spread of the Christian faith. God had a greater plan for Saul, but it would take a powerful experience to reshape him into the man we know as the Apostle Paul.
I find that many times in life God takes me far outside of my comfort zone, often to a place of utter helplessness in order to bring about a shift in my life. These become some of the defining moments that, just as Paul is doing here, become the testimony of God's work in my life. When God brings me into those times there are generally two things that happen. First my viewpoint adjusts to conform more with His will. Second, there is generally a new assignment that comes with these experiences.
Today you may find yourself way out of your comfort zone and perhaps even flat on your back. Pay close attention as God is seeking to bring about His purposes in you. With this experience will come new vision, renewed strength and a testimony that you will share for years to come.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Only Believe
Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.
In Mark 5 we read the account of Jairus. Jairus was a synagogue leader whose daughter was deathly ill. Jairus came to Jesus, believing that the touch of His hand would bring healing to the young girl. Jesus is delayed when a woman with severe bleeding touches the hem of His garment. While Jesus is speaking to the woman, Jairus is informed that his daughter has died. I want to focus on Jesus' response:
Mark 5:35-36 (NASB)
35 While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died ; why trouble the Teacher anymore ?" 36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe."
Maybe you've been there. At your wits end, holding out hope for a miracle. You know Jesus is the key to that miracle, but the answers to your prayers are not coming quickly. Others are having their prayers answered and it seems like Jesus has forgotten about your request. Then before you know it, things actually get worse.
As you watch your dream die, the words of Jesus ring in your ears: "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." In the case of Jairus, they arrive at the house to find people in mourning. Jesus dismisses the crowd and enters the girl's room. He takes her by the hand and raises her to her feet, alive and well. In the end Jairus received the thing he was seeking to being with...a daughter who was well. It was the journey to get there that took great faith.
I find often times that God takes me to the end result I was asking for, but the journey to get there takes me into some of my deepest doubts and fears. By going through these places of my soul, my faith is ultimately strengthened and the glory of God is revealed to an even greater degree.
Today you may be waiting for prayers to be answered. Don't lose hope, but simply believe. God is working in ways you can't even imagine.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
In Mark 5 we read the account of Jairus. Jairus was a synagogue leader whose daughter was deathly ill. Jairus came to Jesus, believing that the touch of His hand would bring healing to the young girl. Jesus is delayed when a woman with severe bleeding touches the hem of His garment. While Jesus is speaking to the woman, Jairus is informed that his daughter has died. I want to focus on Jesus' response:
Mark 5:35-36 (NASB)
35 While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died ; why trouble the Teacher anymore ?" 36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe."
Maybe you've been there. At your wits end, holding out hope for a miracle. You know Jesus is the key to that miracle, but the answers to your prayers are not coming quickly. Others are having their prayers answered and it seems like Jesus has forgotten about your request. Then before you know it, things actually get worse.
As you watch your dream die, the words of Jesus ring in your ears: "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." In the case of Jairus, they arrive at the house to find people in mourning. Jesus dismisses the crowd and enters the girl's room. He takes her by the hand and raises her to her feet, alive and well. In the end Jairus received the thing he was seeking to being with...a daughter who was well. It was the journey to get there that took great faith.
I find often times that God takes me to the end result I was asking for, but the journey to get there takes me into some of my deepest doubts and fears. By going through these places of my soul, my faith is ultimately strengthened and the glory of God is revealed to an even greater degree.
Today you may be waiting for prayers to be answered. Don't lose hope, but simply believe. God is working in ways you can't even imagine.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
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