Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.
Over the weekend, I moved my marketing blog from the Quickblogcast system to Wordpress. This changed required me to not only re-design the appearance of the blog, but I also had to rebuild the entire infrastructure of the blog. In the end, the only thing that remained the same is the website address and the posts I had made to the original blog.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature ; the old things passed away ; behold, new things have come.
The same could be said of the transformation that takes place when we put our faith in Jesus. He begins a transformation process that not only changes our outward presentation to the world, through a change in word and deed, but he also does an interior renovation as well. Our thoughts and feelings are transformed by the presence of the Holy Spirit. We begin to see with spiritual vision not just physical sight. The only thing that remains when this process is complete is our name and the experiences of our lives, everything else is made new.
As you examine your life today, you may see evidence of this ongoing renovation project. Don't get impatient for the work to be finished, in due time the transformed you will be on display and the world will see the glory of Christ displayed through you.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Monday, September 13, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Are You Trying To Lend God a Helping Hand?
Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.
Genesis 16:1-4 (NASB)
1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid ; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived ; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.
Have you ever tried to give God a helping hand? I think at some point all of us are guilty of doing that very thing. Abraham and Sarai were a perfect example. God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great and mighty people, even though his wife Sarai had been barren and they were advanced in age. The fulfillment of that promise was not immediate in coming and as the years passed it seemed to be out of the realm of possibility. So Sarai decided it was time to give God a helping hand. She offered her maid Hagar to her husband, that she might give birth to a child for him.
In the end, Hagar did end up giving birth, but this was not the joyous celebration Sarai had imagined. In fact it became a source of great conflict and resentment. When we seek to assist God in bringing about His promises, we often end up in the same place. The plans that made sense in our minds create pitfalls that we never imagined.
The walk of faith requires patience and obedience. What God has spoken, He will accomplish in His perfect timing. We have to trust in the validity of His words to us and not deviate simply because we get impatient or the fulfillment of those promises appears to be impossible. It is in these moments we must cling tightly to the words of Jesus:
Matthew 19:26 (NASB)
26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
It is through these situations of impossibility that God brings forth His glory through our lives. When the impossible becomes reality there is no other choice, but to give Him the credit.
Today you may be impatient in waiting for the promises of God to be fulfilled in your life. Take a deep breath and remember that He has your best interest at heart. By trying to lend a helping hand, you will only create new problems in your life. In the end, the glory of the promise fulfilled will be well worth the wait.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Genesis 16:1-4 (NASB)
1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid ; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived ; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.
Have you ever tried to give God a helping hand? I think at some point all of us are guilty of doing that very thing. Abraham and Sarai were a perfect example. God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great and mighty people, even though his wife Sarai had been barren and they were advanced in age. The fulfillment of that promise was not immediate in coming and as the years passed it seemed to be out of the realm of possibility. So Sarai decided it was time to give God a helping hand. She offered her maid Hagar to her husband, that she might give birth to a child for him.
In the end, Hagar did end up giving birth, but this was not the joyous celebration Sarai had imagined. In fact it became a source of great conflict and resentment. When we seek to assist God in bringing about His promises, we often end up in the same place. The plans that made sense in our minds create pitfalls that we never imagined.
The walk of faith requires patience and obedience. What God has spoken, He will accomplish in His perfect timing. We have to trust in the validity of His words to us and not deviate simply because we get impatient or the fulfillment of those promises appears to be impossible. It is in these moments we must cling tightly to the words of Jesus:
Matthew 19:26 (NASB)
26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
It is through these situations of impossibility that God brings forth His glory through our lives. When the impossible becomes reality there is no other choice, but to give Him the credit.
Today you may be impatient in waiting for the promises of God to be fulfilled in your life. Take a deep breath and remember that He has your best interest at heart. By trying to lend a helping hand, you will only create new problems in your life. In the end, the glory of the promise fulfilled will be well worth the wait.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Monday, August 09, 2010
You Are Being Refined
Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.
Psalm 66:10 (NASB)
For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.
We each go through times in our life where the heat of our circumstances is almost unbearable. We cry out to God for relief and yet we find the heat remains. It is in these times that we may even questions God's love for us. Why would he let me go through so much challenge?
What we later realize is that we were in the midst of God's refining process. God is transforming our lives into a thing of beauty that brings about His glory. Unfortunately the only way we purify anything in this world is by heating it up. We purify water by boiling it. We purify metal by melting it down and skimming the impurities. Heat is the mechanism of purification. As the heat is applied to our lives, the hidden darkness within us gets revealed as it surfaces. Once visible, God forces us to deal with that darkness and our purity increases.
Today you may find yourself in the crucible of refinement. Remember that God is purifying your life and that with each passing day you are becoming more radiant to the world around you.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Psalm 66:10 (NASB)
For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.
We each go through times in our life where the heat of our circumstances is almost unbearable. We cry out to God for relief and yet we find the heat remains. It is in these times that we may even questions God's love for us. Why would he let me go through so much challenge?
What we later realize is that we were in the midst of God's refining process. God is transforming our lives into a thing of beauty that brings about His glory. Unfortunately the only way we purify anything in this world is by heating it up. We purify water by boiling it. We purify metal by melting it down and skimming the impurities. Heat is the mechanism of purification. As the heat is applied to our lives, the hidden darkness within us gets revealed as it surfaces. Once visible, God forces us to deal with that darkness and our purity increases.
Today you may find yourself in the crucible of refinement. Remember that God is purifying your life and that with each passing day you are becoming more radiant to the world around you.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Monday, June 14, 2010
I Can Do All Things
Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.
In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul spoke about his contentment in all circumstances, whether he found himself lacking or with plenty. He summed up the reeason for this contentment in verse 13:
Philippians 4:13 (NASB)
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
One of the things I think we are all too guilty of is thinking we "can't." We are convinced that because of our circumstance, personality, situation of life, etc... that there simply are things we are unable to do. If we are simply looking at things from the perspective of our own strength and abilities, then there is a sliver of truth in this type of thinking; however, this type of thought negates the power of God that is at work in our lives.
Time and time again I have seen God do things in and through me that I did not think were possible. I have seen His strength propel me past obstacles, doubts and fears to bring the impossible into reality. I have learned that my "position" in life has no bearing on God's ability to work in, through and around me.
Matthew 19:26 (NASB)
And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Today you may be facing a circumstance in your life that you believe is impossible to overcome, change or survive. Remember that in your strength that may be entirely true, but in God's overwhelming power all things are possible.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul spoke about his contentment in all circumstances, whether he found himself lacking or with plenty. He summed up the reeason for this contentment in verse 13:
Philippians 4:13 (NASB)
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
One of the things I think we are all too guilty of is thinking we "can't." We are convinced that because of our circumstance, personality, situation of life, etc... that there simply are things we are unable to do. If we are simply looking at things from the perspective of our own strength and abilities, then there is a sliver of truth in this type of thinking; however, this type of thought negates the power of God that is at work in our lives.
Time and time again I have seen God do things in and through me that I did not think were possible. I have seen His strength propel me past obstacles, doubts and fears to bring the impossible into reality. I have learned that my "position" in life has no bearing on God's ability to work in, through and around me.
Matthew 19:26 (NASB)
And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Today you may be facing a circumstance in your life that you believe is impossible to overcome, change or survive. Remember that in your strength that may be entirely true, but in God's overwhelming power all things are possible.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tell your story
Good morning! I hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day. Take time to thank God for the freedoms you enjoy and for those who gave their lives to pay for those freedoms.
Acts 22:15 (NIV)
You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
Each of us has a story to tell. Some stories are more dramatic than others, but the fact remains that each of us has a unique story. Our life experiences are unique to us and because they are personal, they are also stories that we tell with passion.
There is great power in the telling of your story. When we talk of where we have been, God's power is revealed in our lives. His presence in the mountains and valleys of life is revealed. His helping hand in times of trouble is seen clearly through our own experiences.
The telling of your story is an encouragement to those who hear it. Sadly, all too often we keep our stories to ourselves. We hold back our experiences from others, depriving them of the strengthening that our story would bring.
As Christians we have been called to “bear witness” to the work of Jesus in our lives. Telling our stories is a key part of our ongoing witness.
Today I encourage you to share your life with someone. Tell a part of your story as the opportunity arises. You never know how God will use that story to change a life in a powerful way.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Acts 22:15 (NIV)
You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
Each of us has a story to tell. Some stories are more dramatic than others, but the fact remains that each of us has a unique story. Our life experiences are unique to us and because they are personal, they are also stories that we tell with passion.
There is great power in the telling of your story. When we talk of where we have been, God's power is revealed in our lives. His presence in the mountains and valleys of life is revealed. His helping hand in times of trouble is seen clearly through our own experiences.
The telling of your story is an encouragement to those who hear it. Sadly, all too often we keep our stories to ourselves. We hold back our experiences from others, depriving them of the strengthening that our story would bring.
As Christians we have been called to “bear witness” to the work of Jesus in our lives. Telling our stories is a key part of our ongoing witness.
Today I encourage you to share your life with someone. Tell a part of your story as the opportunity arises. You never know how God will use that story to change a life in a powerful way.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Monday, May 24, 2010
Unmet Expectations
Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.
All of us have expectations in life. We expect things will occur according to our preconceived ideas and plans. Sometimes things do not happen as we expect, and our response to those unexpected events can determine whether or not we miss out on God's best for our lives. To illustrate this point consider the account of Naaman from 2 Kings chapter 5:
2 Kings 5:9-14 (NIV)
9. So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.
10. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
11. But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
12. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.
13. Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!"
14. So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Naaman had an expectation that he would be met by Elisha the prophet, not Elisha's messenger. Naaman was a highly regarded military leader, he could not believe that this prophet would disregard him. Naaman found himself at a decision point.
As we see in verse 11-12, Naaman got angry and left. Naaman was getting ready to miss out on God's best for his life. Naaman was more concerned about not having his expectations met than he was about his true need, healing. Isn't it interesting how having our expectations unmet can often make us lose sight of the greater needs in our life.
Fortunately for Naaman, his servants were the voice of reason in his life. They brought his focus back to the need for healing. When Naaman considered the truth of their words, he once again remembered the reason he had come in the first place. He needed to be healed. In the end it was Naaman's simple obedience to the instructions he had been given that brought about his complete healing...and to think, he nearly missed it, because his expectations were not met.
Today you may have some unmet expectations in your life and just like Naaman you are at a crossroads in your life. Don't lose sight of the greater need that God may be trying to meet in your life. Realize that god wants to meet that greater need, but he may forsake your ego in the process.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
P.S. I've re-released two of my books as e-books. Check them out at troubles.carlwillis.com and lessons.carlwillis.com
All of us have expectations in life. We expect things will occur according to our preconceived ideas and plans. Sometimes things do not happen as we expect, and our response to those unexpected events can determine whether or not we miss out on God's best for our lives. To illustrate this point consider the account of Naaman from 2 Kings chapter 5:
2 Kings 5:9-14 (NIV)
9. So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.
10. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
11. But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
12. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.
13. Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!"
14. So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Naaman had an expectation that he would be met by Elisha the prophet, not Elisha's messenger. Naaman was a highly regarded military leader, he could not believe that this prophet would disregard him. Naaman found himself at a decision point.
As we see in verse 11-12, Naaman got angry and left. Naaman was getting ready to miss out on God's best for his life. Naaman was more concerned about not having his expectations met than he was about his true need, healing. Isn't it interesting how having our expectations unmet can often make us lose sight of the greater needs in our life.
Fortunately for Naaman, his servants were the voice of reason in his life. They brought his focus back to the need for healing. When Naaman considered the truth of their words, he once again remembered the reason he had come in the first place. He needed to be healed. In the end it was Naaman's simple obedience to the instructions he had been given that brought about his complete healing...and to think, he nearly missed it, because his expectations were not met.
Today you may have some unmet expectations in your life and just like Naaman you are at a crossroads in your life. Don't lose sight of the greater need that God may be trying to meet in your life. Realize that god wants to meet that greater need, but he may forsake your ego in the process.
Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
P.S. I've re-released two of my books as e-books. Check them out at troubles.carlwillis.com and lessons.carlwillis.com
Monday, May 03, 2010
Understanding the Purpose of Your Delays
Good morning from Kitale, Kenya. I hope you had a great weekend.
My visit to Africa has been marked by obstacles and delays. Everything from the Iceland volcano to the illness of a driver has created delays for every conference I have been scheduled to speak in. I am reminded of this description of Paul's missionary travels in Acts 16:
Acts 16:6-10 (NASB)
6. They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia ;
7. and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
8. and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9. A vision appeared to Paul in the night : a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
10. When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
I find that the reason for obstacles often becomes apparent on the back side of those obstacles. In my experience on this trip, I have seen how God has used others to take on new roles of leadership, simply because I was delayed. He has allowed me to hear a word of encouragement that I would not have received had I been "on schedule." A greater excitement to my ministry has been experienced, because of the delays that took place. In each instance though I can see the hand of God at work.
There may be some issues in your life that seem delayed today. I can ensure you that there is a purpose to your delay. The purpose may or may not become evident to you, but make no mistake the delay is according to God's plan. This is the place where trust comes to bear. You must trust in God's direction and leading during these times of uncertainty. When the time is right the answer will become evident.
Until next week (if I have internet access), may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
My visit to Africa has been marked by obstacles and delays. Everything from the Iceland volcano to the illness of a driver has created delays for every conference I have been scheduled to speak in. I am reminded of this description of Paul's missionary travels in Acts 16:
Acts 16:6-10 (NASB)
6. They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia ;
7. and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
8. and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9. A vision appeared to Paul in the night : a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
10. When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
I find that the reason for obstacles often becomes apparent on the back side of those obstacles. In my experience on this trip, I have seen how God has used others to take on new roles of leadership, simply because I was delayed. He has allowed me to hear a word of encouragement that I would not have received had I been "on schedule." A greater excitement to my ministry has been experienced, because of the delays that took place. In each instance though I can see the hand of God at work.
There may be some issues in your life that seem delayed today. I can ensure you that there is a purpose to your delay. The purpose may or may not become evident to you, but make no mistake the delay is according to God's plan. This is the place where trust comes to bear. You must trust in God's direction and leading during these times of uncertainty. When the time is right the answer will become evident.
Until next week (if I have internet access), may God's richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
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