My Weakness, God's Strength

One night, a few years ago, as I was praying I started to ask God to give me strength. Then I stopped and corrected myself and asked God to be my strength. I am sure it was God that caused me to make that correction in my prayer. I immediately thought of 2 Corinthians 12:9, "my strength is made perfect in weakness." I said, "God, I don't like feeling so weak." His immediate response was, "you might as well get used to it." I chuckled. Even now as I think about this, it brings a smile to my face.

I truly am weak and would do well to recognize that on a daily/moment by moment basis God is my strength, rather than trying to do things in my own strength. God wants to be the strength of my life and carry the burdens and responsibilities, resulting in a walk of peace and rest.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I grew up believing that being weak is a bad thing. But God has been showing me that it is not the case. My attempts to walk in my own strength have just gotten in the way. The reality is that even when I thought I was strong I was really weak and always have been. By trying to give the illusion of being strong I have just worn myself out trying to carry and do the things that God should have been.

When I feel the weakest God is just as strong within me as when I feel the strongest. I just need to yeild to His strength that is always there.

Oh God, please help me, teach me, to walk in the humility that acknowledges my weakness and does not feel ashamed of it, but can truly revel in your strength being made perfect within me in my weakness.


2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Psalm 27:1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Psalm 18:1-2 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Increasing Government of Christ

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

At Christmas we often hear Isaiah 9:6. So we tend to be quite familiar with this scripture and think about it in terms of Jesus' first coming. But the ultimate fulfilling of this scripture is in Jesus second coming and in the establishment of His kingdom in the earth. During that time there will be a continual increase of His government and peace spoken of in verse 7. We also see in this verse, that the throne of Jesus is established with judgment and with justice. I look forward to that day when the throne of God, whose foundation is righteous and judgement (justice), is established in the earth. (Psalm 97:2)How wonderful to have a government operating from foundational principles of righteousness and justice!

I also see an application of this personally for me in the present day, for the phrase "of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end." As I daily submit to the government of Christ and allow Him to more fully rule in my life in more and more areas then His government will continually increase within me. The result of that will also be an increasing level of peace in my life.

Prayer for Egypt

My prayer for Egypt is for God's kingdom to come and God's will to be done in this situation. I pray for the Christians of Egypt to arise and to cry out for God's mercy for Egypt and I join my prayers with theirs for their nation.

Earlier today I watched some prayer alerts from Rick Ridings a prayer leader in Israel. Here are the links to his alerts:

1/27/11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5T68W61hro&feature=related

2/2/11 pt. 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDtyvvjlKk&NR=1

2/2/11 pt 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE4puozl3W8&feature=related

The enemy often tries to push the timing of legitimate events to try to bring them about ahead of God's timing. As we see in Dan. 7:25, the enemy seeks to change times and laws. But as we see in Dan. 2:21,it is God that has the ability to change times and it is God who raises up and takes down leaders. But the enemy would love to seek to upset the balance of things. I believe we need to pray for God's will to be done and not that of the enemy.


Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Daniel 2:20-22 20Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Beauty of God in Creation (part 2)

Why are we so awed and inspired by the beauty in the creation? Is it because of something built inside of us by God that gets stirred by that beauty? I believe so. Is that thing inside of us that gets stirred the inborn part that desires to connect with God, thus the beauty that is in God that is expressed in His creation stirs that part inside of us? I think so.

God says in Romans 1:18-25 that He is revealed in creation and therefore man has no excuse for not knowing Him.

Beauty of God in Creation

God is so amazing. Even in this fallen creation there is so much beauty all around us.

Back in mid-December, as I watched the snow come down, I was thinking about how beautiful the snow is. Each season has its own beauty. Winter can be such a dull drab time of year with the leaves off the trees and no flowers, etc. But the snow covers all of that.

God could have made the snow another color, like brown and then the winter would be just dull and drab. But God made the snow white and thus it creates a beautiful landscape. White snow on the tress and ground make them have a unique beauty.

God as creator is obviously reflected in His creation. God Himself must be incredibly beautiful!

Christ Our Hope

Over the past week I have thought a lot about those who die as Christians and go on to be with the Lord. A friend of my mother's, who I had known all my life, died just over a week ago. She was a very committed Christian and thus I know she has gone on to be with the Lord. Her youngest daughter had died just a few months ago, so she has also gone on to be with her daughter once again. Because of Christ we can have this assurance of eternal life and hopeof being with Him forever.

This may seem a strange thing to be writing about at this time of festive celebration. But had Christ not come to the earth as a man to deliver us from the penalty of sin, which is death, we would have no hope. It is only because of Christ that we can celebrate in life and in death.

It makes me think of these two scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:16-23 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Why the Shepherds?

In Luke 2:8-20, we are told who the first recipients of the news of the birth of the Messiah were.  Of all the people on earth in places of “importance” and authority that the revelation could have been made to, it was made to a small group of lowly shepherds out in the fields near Bethlehem. Who would I have first announced the birth of the Messiah to? It probably would not have been to some lowly shepherds, men despised by many, an occupation that was not well thought of. 

Fortunately, I am not God. He knows best. God revealed it to these men, who without question went in search of the baby and spread abroad the message shared by the angel about who this baby really was. Perhaps if God had revealed the true identity to more reputable or educated people, they would have been too afraid of their reputation to risk making such a declaration. Would a more “cultured” person have considered going to a smelly stable? Perhaps a more educated person would have had to consult with scholars first to make sure that this could be the case. 

God’s ways are not our ways. God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise.

1 Corinthians 1:25-31 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 7:1

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

This is a verse that captured my attention recently. Although I have read this many times, this time it real jumped out at me. There is little I can say about it. The verse itself is quite clear.

Freedoms and Repentance

We just celebrated Independence Day and the wonderful freedoms we have in this country. I want to say, "Thank you God for all the freedoms we still have in this country." We still can go to church freely and openly. We can still buy and read the Bible without being jailed. We can still legally preach the gospel.

I know our freedoms as Christians in this country have begun to be eroded in recent years. But whose fault is that? Is it because we as Christians have failed to stand up? Have we become apathetic? Have we tried to be "politically correct" in our churches? Have we failed to preach the truth of God's Word in our churches, the truth that salvation is only through Jesus Christ? We can stand around and point fingers and say that our freedom is being taken from us, but I think in some cases we have given it up, by our failures.

Again, I must say that I believe there is room for repentance within the church within this country. The Bible says "If MY PEOPLE, WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME." That is us the the church of Jesus Christ.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We need God to heal our land. What are we going to do about it?

"These Things"

As there is so much going on in the world and the economy getting worse and worse in this country it is easy to get caught up in all of it. But there are two scriptures that I think we need to keep in mind especially in this time.

The first verse is: Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

"These things," that this verse is talking about are the things that indicate the end of the age. The kind of things we see increasing every day now such as; earthquakes, weather changes, wars and rumors of wars, etc. As I heard one person say some years ago, "we are not to look at these things, but we are to look up,."

The second verse is: Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

In this verse, "these things" is referring to the material needs that we have such as, food, clothing and shelter. God will supply our needs, if we seek first His kingdom.