To Varying Degrees

18 “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water.  Ezekiel 12

I love reading the Amplified translation of the Bible.  It digs in to the words that are used and tries to get close to the original language's meaning for words that may have changed over time.   In a way, it gives the "Eskimo snow" approach to the words in the Bible.

Take a look at the word "Tremble" above.  Ezekiel is being called to tremble before God.  Exercise time!  Tremble in your seat.  Go ahead, I won't watch.  Now, another word for tremble is to shake.  Go ahead and shake now.  The word used above though is the same word that's used in another place in the Bible to describe a quake - as in, an earthquake.

Now, "tremble" as though you're in an earthquake.

Enough of the silliness.  If you did the three exercises, you not only probably chuckled at yourself, but you also noticed that there's a wide difference in severity of your movements.  Ezekiel is being to told to tremble before God, in awe of his power and might.  Tremble as though he's in an earthquake!  Added bonus for the exercise, tremble as though you're in an earthquake during your lunch and see how much you're able to eat.  Good luck!

God sometimes uses little words for what he asks of us, but he wants big motions.  We are called to "tremble" before God.  We are also called to love God.  Is your love more like the trembling in the first example, or are you loving God like you're trembling in an earthquake?

Thurs Devo: The Holy Spirit before & after prayer

I’m usually very hesitant and don’t often post comments or responses on our company website, but Tuesday’s “Poll of the Week” caught my attention. I knew the question targeted innovation, but I thought one of my situations tied in and could also be used to give glory to God.

Here’s the Innovation Network question of the week and my response:

"What is something you've done that people said you couldn't do?"

“I was told I could not do several different things that eventually did happen. One was during my senior year in college when I still needed to complete an accounting internship. I was told I would not be able to get a real hands-on internship like I wanted, especially if I only had 15 hours a week of availability. I could work in the accounting firm where most of my predecessors interned. However, in talking to some of them, they said they just learned how to copy source documents.

I prayed about what to do and reiterated to my advisor that I wanted an internship where I could gain experience actually preparing tax returns. In God’s perfect timing, just before the second semester started, my advisor called me about a 15 hour a week internship at Fifth Third Bank, in their trust tax department preparing Federal 1040’s and 1041’s! It was perfect and probably led to my job at Deloitte after graduation!

Prayer, persistence and patience do work together to make the impossible, possible.”

After posting my response on Tuesday, I later remembered my short prayer that morning for boldness.  I don’t usually struggle to know what to pray about, but that morning I had. So, I was overwhelmed with amazement at the Holy Spirit’s work to guide me in what to pray and then to prompt me to act in answer to that prayer. I didn’t recognize all His work until well after the fact!!! The Holy Spirit was working before and after my prayer!

Romans 8:26        ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Yet again, I had experienced this promise fulfilled!

Ephesians 3:14-21       ¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Alice

Your Servant is Listening

So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”

Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.

And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”  1 Samuel 3:8-10

We live in a world that is fast paced and ever changing. We are pushed to do more with less, and situations force us to give them our entire attention. With all that goes about me, I find it difficult at times to not only speak to God but also and more importantly to hear Him. Now I realize that God does not speak to me all of the time, and there may be some of you out there who may have never heard God speak at all. But He does speak, and if you are in tune to Him, He speaks a lot! But how can one hear God when all about them is going on? For me, I have to find a moment where there is utter and complete silence. I have to be careful the voice I hear is not the one in my head. You know that voice. The same voice that tells you to eat a bunch of Doritos even if you know they are not good for you. God’s voice is distinct, and is the voice of love, guidance, and discipline. But how are we to know when God is speaking to us?

We will hear God speak to us only if we are willing to receive Him. This story of Samuel is one of my favorites for we all at times wonder what voice we are hearing is. What Eli, Samuel’s Dad, said should not be lost in understanding these verses. How often have we tried to mute out God’s voice saying to ourselves, “I know what is best for me,” or, “I do not wish to hear you?” If we were to follow what Eli said to his son answering, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening,” God will speak clearly to us. Sometimes, He might say “Don’t worry about the obstacles you see in front of you. Trust in me. I am with you!” Other times, He will say, “This is wrong, and you know it.” Just like preparation is the key to success, we too must prepare our hearts and minds to receive God’s word in both writing and thought. Then, you will hear God’s voice in situations where you have doubt, and then see His awesome power create changes in your life.

We must always be receptive to the voice of God. With the many distractions the world places in our way, we must be vigilant in ensuring we do what is necessary to connect with Him. So if you feel you need to hear from God, take a walk by yourself. Go to a quiet place in your house. And yes, even take a long drive if necessary. What is God calling you to do today? How will ensure you are receptive to God’s voice? My prayer is that when God speaks, we like Samuel are willing to answer, “Speak, your servant is listening.” Amen.

Tues Devo: It matters

1 Corinthians 3:11-17 “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”(NASB)

Hello,

One of the prevailing thoughts of people today is “what does it matter anyways?” or “no one cares”. Well, as a believer in Christ, things do matter! We are told in scripture that our works will be evaluated. It is not about if the works will get us to heaven, scripture is clear on that, but those works we do as a Christian are evaluated for rewards. I like how after Paul brings this up, he shifts the timetable, and discusses now – not just later. A reminder that we are the temple of the God, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Our evaluation on works is not just something that happens later, but the things we do matter for now as well – with our bodies as the temple of God.

So, next time you catch yourself thinking “eh, doesn’t mater….” Stop for just a moment and evaluate if perhaps it really does matter.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:25-34

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This was the base of the message at my church yesterday.  It was what the message was as well for me to teach during Children’s Church.  I found it rather fitting for a number of reasons yesterday.  First of all, it was a crazy weekend for me full of stress and worry.  We had my two of my nephews and my niece with us, in addition to our own 2 year old.  On Saturday, my neighbor’s house caught on fire.  Thankfully no one was hurt.  We were not home at the time and for that I am also thankful! 

So to get to church yesterday and hear these verse then go and teach on them, I had to stop and realize how much I had been worrying needlessly.  God always provides!  He even provides for the birds.  I loved this part of it when I was teaching as the kids got to color a picture of baby birds being feed by their mommy.  I was able to show the kids a picture of a baby bird that landed in our driveway just two weeks ago and was not able to fly.  We watched as the mom bird brought the baby food.  We ended up moving it to a safer place nearby and continued to watch as  the mom kept taking care of it.  Three days later we got to see it fly for the first time. 

God cares for us the same way.  We may fall from our nest and be unable to fly back but he does not leave us there alone and hungry.  He protects us and feeds us while we learn how to fly again.  We have no reason to worry as it will not add any time to our lives. 

Stop today to think about what it is that you worry about and give that worry to God.  He will take care of you!