Plans

Something to think about.

Plans

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Is it a secret? The plans He has for you are they a secret? This is an inspiring, invigorating, motivating verse. However, taken in context, it is not secretive. God promised His people He would restore them back to their homeland. 

It is important that when we recite this verse, we keep it in context. We have to know what God's plans are for our lives. It does you no good to recite this verse without knowing His plans for your life. In Jeremiah 29:10 God tells Israel His plans. In verse 11 God is expanding on what He has already promised. Verse 11 is not a mystery verse of hopeful expectations. It is an explanatory statement tied to verse 10. God is referring to the prophecy He gave to Jeremiah. He is reassuring Israel of His good intentions.

What are the dreams God has placed in your heart? In Jeremiah God is speaking to captives and telling them I have a dream for you. A dream of freedom and restoration. He even tells them the time frame for the fulfillment of the dream. So, when verse 11 is made it is not something new it is the confirmation of an intended result. 

What dream do you have buried in your heart? What dreams have laid dormant in your life for years? Bring those dreams to the fore of your mind and then repeat express, recite and claim verse 11 of Jeremiah 29.

What if God has placed a dream in you too turn the world back to Him.  For years your dream has laid dormant in the furthest recesses of your mind. But now your God is saying to you "I know the plans I have for you." He is saying to you this is the time, this is the place I will bring this about through you.

All of the promises of God require one thing your action. Even the free gift of salvation requires something. John 3:16 (KJV) ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The condition of salvation is a belief in Jesus. 

The plans of God for you require the same thing your belief in Him.  Those dreams long regulated to the area of fantasy are they dreams God has placed in your heart? Dreams that require no more than belief in the God who put them there?  You must believe His plans for your life are for your benefit.

Leia Mais…

Family of Faith

Something to think about.

Family of Faith.

¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

As some of you know this is the mission statement of the Faith Business Alliance. The reason I choose this verse is that it best describes what I envision the Faith Business Alliance doing.  Helping all people but especially those of the family of Faith.  This has been a motivating verse in my life. It is the reason I do much of what I do in the church. As I think about this verse I ask myself what else can I do to fulfill the heart of this verse, what can I do to help those in the family of faith. 

I would like to see the church become or return to be more responsive time. A time when we were more interested in the needs of our brothers and sisters. I don't just mean those who are in immediate need but all of us. We need as a family to begin to share the wisdom and knowledge the Lord has blessed us with.

The Lord never intended for us to keep what he has taught us to ourselves. We have a spiritual responsibility to get involved in the lives of our brothers in sister in helping them to accomplish the dreams the Lord has placed in their hearts.

Who is better equipped to help them than we? Who can love them into the next level in their lives if not us? We need to overcome our fear of involvement in the lives of our families. Now I am not talking about being noisy or busybodies but advisers and mentors to those who are in need of our help both in the Lord and in business. We need to get involved in such a way as to positively impact the lives of others especially of those of the family of faith. 

The New Testament speaks of us as being parts of the same body.  We need to move from the allegorical into the actual and begin to understand that we need each other to accomplish what the Lord has placed in our hearts. We cannot continue and should not continue to look outside of the church for mentors and advisers that are not part of the family of God.  If we engage with other believers in every area of life would not the blessing of God flow from one to the other? I am not asking for something out of the ordinary we do these things with people outside the body of Christ on a consistent basis. I am saying let's begin to look inside the church and strengthen each other. As we strengthen ourselves, we will more effectively impact our society with the truth of Christ. 

¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 

How can I help you? 

Leia Mais…

Kit and Caboodle

Something to think about.

Kit and Caboodle

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV)

If this verse only ended with"visible and invisible" but no it doesn't. It goes right on to claim ownership of the whole kit and caboodle.  I am not able to manipulate the words in these verses and turn it into something other than what it says. God is taking responsibility for all things that exist.  Which is only logical if you accept what it says in verse 16, or in Genesis 1:1.

Now we can get into a philosophical discussion on cause and affect about the genesis of evil and attempt to place it at God's feet. Thereby accusing him for all the evil in the world. After all, he does take responsibility for everything that's been created. Except for taking responsibility for something is not the same as saying I am the creator of the thing. 

For instance, if your child goes out and performs acts of violence as in "Son of Sam" his parents must take responsibility for him but not for his actions. You might argue that the parents are responsible because they bore and raised him. The reality is that at some point you can not continue to blame the parents. The blame is solely on the perpetrator, it is on the child who decided of his own accord to be violent.  Likewise, God is responsible for creating all things, but He is not responsible or to blame for the choices we make. In the end, it is not Gods fault we sin. He created everything for His glory and our pleasure. We perverted that intent of our own accord. By the corruption of perfection with sin, we turned perfection into principalities and powers of evil.  

"All things were created through him and for him." If we accept all things were made by Him, why would have he created evil? All things were not just made by Him they were made through and for Him. So all things have there origin Him, and He is perfect as the bible claims. It is impossible for perfection to come from imperfection as it is impossible for imperfection to come from perfection. Sin was introduced into the world through choice resulting in the corruption of perfection. Evil came into being not because God created it but because He gave man a choice. Man made a choice, and the choice man made lead to evil.  

God is responsible for creating the condition where a choice could be made.  We could have chosen perfection or imperfection. The choice we made had the inevitable consequence of evil. God is still offering us the same choice pick Him and live in eternal perfection, i.e., sinless perfection. Or choose imperfection, i.e., sin which leads to inevitable self-destruction. Whichever choice you make whether perfection or imperfection it will not be Gods fault it will be your choice and hence your fault. 
If you choose perfection, evil can't exist. If you choose to sin, evil is the prerequisite result.

Leia Mais…

Same Jesus

Something to think about.

Same Jesus

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:11 NIV

This is an unusual moment. Jesus has been resurrected for 40 days and now before his disciples and the public he is ascending into heaven.  This event is so amazing. The only time in the history of mankind we see another realm of existence interact with our physical world.

It is our hope in the concrete form of our future.  It is the actualization of the totality Christianity. It is what we live and breathe for.  The resurrection and transformation of our lives to our permanent, eternal life.  Jesus is ascending into a different life. A different existence.  

He is showing us what the future holds for us.  In this amazing moment, he leaves the audience captive. So much so that angels in human form have to address them and tell them what has happened. They pronounce or define what they have just seen. These two witnesses give humanity a hope that is not equaled anywhere in the world. He will return in the same way he left.  

Christ will return. It is what separates Christianity from any other belief system in the world.  The subject of our hope and faith is actually coming back for us. He will return. This moment this occurrence is beyond the imaginings of anyone.  The risen savior of humanity has ascended to His home from where He came. He left us with a promise of His return and our reuniting with Him.  

The really amazing thing is this we, those who believe in Him are the only ones with this hope. The rest of the world is hoping in what? There is no substance for their hope.  We have the substance of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. We have the testimony of many an eyewitness. We have the fulfillment of prophecy. We have the witness of the Holy Spirit in us. We have a hope and faith In the one that defeated and conquered the grave. 

".......This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 NIV

Leia Mais…

A Magician He is Not

Something to think about

A Magician He is Not

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians. 4: 19
This scripture and many others like it have been used to express that willingness of God to bless people.  It is often quoted out of context or out of ignorance. Often interpreted to mean that God will give us whatever we need or want regardless of the circumstances. Then when it doesn't happen, we wonder about the veracity of this verse and others like it.  Is God really able to fulfill this promise?

It is akin to the soldier in the midst of battle asking God to keep Him from injury while he engages in the fight to inflict harm on his enemy.  While his enemy is asking the same thing from the same God. What most people are asking for is for a magician to extricate them from their circumstance. They want to be freed, delivered from every undesirable situation without having to deal with the cause that brought them there. They want a free pass, and when they don't get it they ask, where is God in all this? He is where He always is, where they put Him on the outside. 

For you to be blessed by God, you have to be in His will. Now, that is not a difficult thing. At least it is not a difficult thing to understand. Do what He has told you to do. How do I know what he wants me to do? Read the bible. Don't be so thick-headed it is not about you. It is about God it has always been about God. It will always be about God. He allows us to be part of His kingdom but be assured of this He is the boss and always will be.  

To be blessed by God "according to his riches in glory" you must be part of His kingdom. Even then He is not a candy man. He is not going to give you the desires of your sinful heart. You must begin the process of transformation by the "renewing of your mind." Renewing as in turning away from your sin and after the precepts of God. Then is when you will begin to see the blessings of God. The blessing of God is continual and never-ending but are also tied to our personal transformation into the image of Him.  To receive the blessing of God, you must be in a place where you can receive them. God does not bless those outside of His will. The blessing of God extends only to those that are called by His name. All appearance of blessing outside of the family of God will end in permanent separation from God. Regardless of how good it may appear and be confirmed by society. Without God, that apparent blessing may lead to permanent loss and separation from God.  

If you want to be blessed of God and receive all the blessings He has in store for you move into His will. Then be ready for a life of blessings, challenges, and victories. 

 

Leia Mais…

Four Words

Four Words

Last year about this time I participated in a fast my church had encouraged us to engage in. As I completed that fast, I felt the Lord shared with me four words. Expect, receive, glorify, repeat.


Expect
Means to expect something from God. It meant and means if we want to see God work in our lives we must expect Him to do something in our lives. A specific thing. Not something ambiguous and undefined.  Vague and unclear can't be attributed to God.

Receive
It means we must receive what God wants to give us or do for us. If you don't receive what God is giving you, then you can't be blessed by Him.  Accept what He provides for you so you may accomplish what He has for you.

Glorify
Acknowledge that it is His doing that has brought you to where you are. Acknowledge publicly not privately.  Let it be known that God has called you to the task and the success of that mission is dependant on His provision and not on your wisdom.

Repeat
Do the process again, expect from God, receive from God and Glorify God. Then repeat.

From last year to this year, the Lord has brought about the Faith Business Alliance. Which is responsible for the Faith Business Directory. Which is also responsible for the Aging With Grace Conference 2017 and the soon coming 2018 Conference. Which is also responsible for the Business Luncheons and Business After Hours.  As well as providing the "Essentials For a Startup, a class for new business owners.  While using all the monies collected from our activities to help fund the mission efforts of our church. Though my expectations were high last year and the Lord has exceeded my expectations. I am expecting more, receiving more so I can glorify God more. Then I will repeat.

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 
EXPECT, RECEIVE, GLORIFY, REPEAT

Leia Mais…

Time Limits

Something to think about.

Time Limits

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 1 Corinthians 12:1

Upon reading this verse, you are probably thinking I am going to write about spiritual gifts. Well yes and no. I am assuming you understand spiritual gifts are a given. Spiritual gifts are active and given by God to His people. The proof of the spiritual gifts given by God to His people is evident in the use of them not in the exposition of someone writing about them.   

This past Christmas I experienced the joy of watching my two-year grandchild play with all of her new gifts. It was the sheer pleasure watching her open an express her joy or displeasure at receiving a gift. She spent the day running from one gift to the other playing with them as long as her attention would allow. It's been two weeks almost three since she received her gifts and some gifts have been regulated to the bottom of the toy box, and others are her constant companion. She prefers her blanket and her teddy bears or plush. She travels with her blanket and plush. I know, her mother knows, and the rest of the world knows that she would learn a great deal more about the world around her if she uses the other toys as well as her blanket and teddy bear.  

What are the gifts God has given you?  Has He given you crayons, a book, and robot, a microphone, a drum set, a dream? More importantly which one are you using?  Because God gives us spiritual gifts are we only supposed to use them in church only on church time? Only for those who are spiritual? Is there time limit, a location limit, a people limit.  Are we only to use the gifts of God on the people of God. For sure we are to share the gifts God has given to us to edify and uplift the church but is it only for the church?  

The gifts of God unlike the gifts given to my grandchild should become part of our DNA. They should be something we use on a continual basis. They should be what leads us in the direction of our lives. The positive figures of history are in the pages of history not for the mundane things in there lives but because they used the gifts they where given for the benefit of mankind. We know them for the exemplary use of there abilities not for anything else.  

We should be using the gifts God has given us at all times in all places for all situations. Jesus used the gifts He was given all the time in all places with all people.  And He said greater things than these you will do. With the gifts, God has given you, do for greater things. 

Leia Mais…