09.27.06
Posted in Thoughts on Isaiah at 9:26 am by Administrator
Text: Isaiah 38:9-20 Theme: God uses our pain to benefit us. Key verses: “‘In the prime of my life, must I go through the gates of death…?’” (v. 10) “‘I cried like a swift…I moaned…My eyes grew weak…I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!’ But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anquish of my soul. Lord, by such things men live…Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anquish.” (vs. 14-17) “For the grave cannot praise you…The living - they praise you, as I am doing today.” (vs. 18-19) “…we will sing…all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord.” (v. 20) What God said to me: Dwayne, sometimes I must bring terrible distress into a person’s life in order to break them and get them to look up to me. Hezekiah discovered what it meant to be broken. He wept bitter tears and felt total despair as he faced the real possibility of death. Though you have been spared such anquish, don’t think you are immuned. Don’t think for a moment I won’t bring such trouble and heartache into your life if that is what it takes to cause you to praise me more. True, death can’t praise me. But life out of near death or life in spite of near death - now that is motivation to sing my adoration and fall more deeply in love with me than ever before. What I said to God: Holy Lord, I choose to praise you in all of life, whether life is good or not so good, whether I understand your ways or whether I don’t, when my path is easy and when my path grows hard. By your grace, I will praise you always. May my household, my family, and your Church worship you because you are God and you are worthy…period.
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09.26.06
Posted in Thoughts on Isaiah at 9:25 am by Administrator
Text: Isaiah 38:1-8 Theme: Seriously, God can do anything Key Verses: “‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria.’” (vs. 5-6) “‘I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the steps of Ahaz.’ So the sunlight went back the ten steps…” (vs. 7-8) What God Said to Me: When will you believe me? When will you really and completely trust me that I can do whatever I want? Nothing is too difficult for me. I give and take away as I please. I cause the waters to fill the sea and the mountains to hold their places above the horizons. I paint the skies with whatever colors I desire. Now here’s the kicker: I also love you endlessly - which means all my power and ability is turned toward helping you and making you more like my Son. See? I heard and responded to Hezekiah’s anquish for help - as only the Creator (and extender) of life could do. Fortunately for you (and all my children) I am for you, never against you. Yes, you anger me at times - all children do that to their fathers. But I am able to present you faultless before me with everlasting joy. That’s the plans, the thoughts, that I, the true, living, all-powerful El-Elyon have for you, my precious, precious child. What I said to God: What can I say? I will let my words be few. Jesus, I am so in love with you. Thank you. Thank you, most awesome and majestic One.
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09.25.06
Posted in Thoughts on Isaiah at 10:16 am by Administrator
Text: Isaiah 37 Theme: Showing Himself to be the true God Key verses: “The king (of Assyria) sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying…’Do not let your God in whom you trust decieve you, saying, ‘Jerusalem will not be given over’…Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed?’” (vs. 10, 12) “Then Hezekiah prayed…saying ‘O Lord of hosts…You are God, you alone…” (vs. 15) “…the kings…have laid waste all the nations…and cast their gods into the fire”…”save us from his hand that all kingdoms…may know that You are the Lord, you alone.” (vs. 19, 20) What God said to me: Dwayne, my Word is chugged full of incredible and defining moments just like this one. Why aren’t you reading about them more often? I will gladly remind you everyday of the big picture of life - how that I am Lord over all, how that you need not fret or wonder who’s in charge. When my sovereignty is questioned or challenged by power-mongers and bullies around you, do you immediately turn to me for help, like Hezekiah did? Or do you shake in your shoes and secretly hope I’m big enough to come to the rescue? Need I prove myself to you over and over? Trust me, try me and once you’ve proven me, then rest in your Blessed Hope… What I said to God: Holy and Righteous God, the only true and living God, I do trust you. ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus! How I’ve proved you o’re and o’re! Even if this world and my world crumble, I will place my hope and faith in you, precious and faithful Father. Thank you for your Word that lays on my shelf begging to be read so to remind me who you really are and whose I am in you! I love you, Lord. Fill me and use me today.
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09.22.06
Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 2:11 pm by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 3:16b Theme: Patient resolve based on hope and trust Key verses: Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. (v. 16b) What God said to me: Dwayne, what have I told you? What have I made clear to you will happen? Am I big enough, strong enough, determined enough to bring it to pass? Why was Habakkuk so confident of Babylon’s eventual doom? It is because I revealed to him Babylon’s future in my answer to his complaint. Fortunately he listened to my reply. Fortunately he accepted and believed what I said as gospel truth. I didn’t have to repeat myself over and over. I didn’t even have to restate it in different ways to make him finally stop and try to comprehend it. Habakkuk could wait patiently because he had clearly heard what I promised and planned. That’s all he needed to hear. He had no more questions - just an unnatural and supernatural acceptance that my will is best and my will will happen as I say. What I said to God: Thank you, Lord and Master, for meeting with me today. I long to be more like Mary and less like Martha. I long to live in your presence, quieting myself as a weened child, hanging on your every word. Help me simply believe what you say in your Word. That is the key to prolonged patience in the face of great trial. No more need for questions - just supernatural trust in my beyond-anything-natural God.
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09.19.06
Posted in Thoughts on Ephesians at 8:58 am by Administrator
Text: Ephesians 3:20-21 Theme: The Kingdom is about us not me. Key verse: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church…” (v. 21 -22a) What God said to me: Son, I am just waiting to blow your mind with what I can do through my church. You are a part of that church. As you better comprehend my glory and experience my fullness, as you more fully surrender yourself before my Lordship, I can use you and empower you to help accomplish my plans on earth. However, never forget, you need others. You must work as a team. Do not seek the credit alone and never hesitate to utilize and partner with those I put in your path. If fact, if they get more attention and kudos than you, so be it. It is ultimately my glory and I will not share it with anyone, not even you. Now, ask and think really big for me, and watch me outmatch it! What I said to God: Dear heavenly Lord, praise you for meeting with me this morning. I need to be reminded of your greatness and your determination to accomplish your will in your church, which amazingly includes me! You are holy, majestic, all-powerful Lord of Lords and I submit before you today. Use me within your church. To you be all the glory in your church and in my life!
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Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 7:33 am by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 3:15-16a Theme: Moved by his awesome power Key verses: You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the waters. I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. (v.15-16a) What God said to me: Son, it’s no accident that you are waking earlier and building this discipline of journeling into your life. You are moving into the second half of your ministry and I am building up your most holy faith. Habakkuk got in my presence long enough to feel the effects of my power. Intellectual knowledge is a good first step. But not until you have been shaken to your core, not until your heart pounds and your legs tremble at my deeds have you begun to realize the awesome effects of my power. So, listen. Do you hear the waters churning? You will. Can you sense my anger against evil-doers and those who want to crush you? You should. Are you physically weakened by the heaviness of my wrath and by my passionate love for you? You will be. What I said to God: Holy and awesome God, I am humbled by your love and power you are revealing to me. Please show me your glory. I want to know you - not just with my mind, but to the very core of my being. Let all that is within me bless your holy name, both today and forevermore!
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09.18.06
Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 10:45 am by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 3:3-15 Theme: God’s anger against those who mess with his people Key verses: He stood and shook the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. (v.6a) Were you angry with the rivers, O Lord? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea…? (v.8) In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations. You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. (v. 12-13) What God said to me: Dwayne, I know you question my motives at times. You wonder about my actions. You even get frustrated at my apparent lack of action. Notice that Habakkuk not only asked the hard why questions; he stayed long enough in my presence and focused on me to receive an answer to his dilemma. Too many of my children want to run away from me rather than face me with their tough questions and problems. Then when I don’t answer them right away or in the manner they expect and want, they give up and look elsewhere for solace and satisfaction. I am your God. I will not allow anything or anyone to harm you but what passes through me first. Ie, If they want you, they gotta come through me. Yea, I get angry alright. Sometimes I get angry at you and your constant rebellion. But you are still my child and I will defend you and love you and form you into my image. And noone is going to mess up that plan. What I said to God: Wow, Lord, did you ever speak straight to my soul today. Thank you more than words can say for loving me, my family and this world the way you do. I’ll never comprehend the height, depth, width and breadth of your love but I want to! Grant me a fresh perspective of you and a renewed determination to serve you, knowing you are fully determined to be my Father and my God. I love you!
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09.15.06
Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 8:58 am by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 3:1-2 Theme: in awe of his deeds Key verses: A prayer of Habakkuk (v. 1) …I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord… in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. (v. 2) What God said to me: Son, notice the progression. Habakkuk prayed. He saw my deeds in the past. He was awe-struck. He desired they happen again and be shown to others. He humbled himself and sought mercy. Notice also that he did not ask that my wrath be removed or negated. Rather in my wrath leave room for mercy. Or better, my wrath can include and express mercy. On individuals my wrath can be devastating; but on a nation or community it can lead people to turn back to me. I wish that none perish but that all come to repentance and restoration. So, remember the progression. Start with prayer, with waiting, with meditating on me and my deeds. The other steps will quite naturally follow. What I said to God: Almighty Maker of heaven and earth, Omnipotent Father, Prince of Peace, I yield myself before you now. Thank you for reminding me to pray and seek your face first. In order, I will be awed and hungry to see your power and glory again. I will want others to experience it too. Please be merciful to us as sinners!
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09.14.06
Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 8:43 am by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 2:18-20 Theme: Idols have no value Key verses: What value is an idol, since man has carved it?…for he who makes it trusts in his own creation. (v. 18) Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver there is no breath in it. (v. 19) But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. (v. 20) What God said to me: Dwayne, never say I’m not a logical God. Never assume I don’t want to reason together with man. How much more logical can I be than here? Do people actually believe they can create something superior to me? Can they not see how useless wood, stone, and metal are compared to me? Imagine standing at a distance and watching someone talk to a tree! How ridiculous. I am still in my holy temple. No wood here. No manmade objects present. Never will be. I am God; you are not. Be silent. Everybody take note. What I said to God: Omniscient and majestic El Elyon, I submit to your authority. Show me my idols, my self-made and useless strongholds. Forgive me when I don’t look to the only One who resides in the holy temple. You are King, Lord, Master, Creator, Ruler, God. May this generation see your glory.
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09.13.06
Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 7:31 am by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 2:15-17 Theme: Our sins will find us out Key verses: Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors…so that he can gaze on their naked bodies. (v. 15) Now it is your turn!…The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. (v. 16b) What God said to me: Son, like it or not, what you sow you will reap. It is a principle that governs this entire universe. Plant a seed, grow a harvest. Plant an action, grow a result. What you do to others will come back on you. I will make sure of it. You are not special. I will not overlook your secret sins. I will not allow you to take advantage of others, even if they are unaware of your proweress. No, you can’t do it - not without fallout to yourself and to your family. What do I require of you? Think on that. Do that. What I said to God: Thank you, Holy and Righteous One, you are the only wise God my Savior. To you be glory and praise forever and ever, Amen. Cleanse thou me of secret faults. Take your tongs from the altar and cleanse my lips and heart. Forgive my sneaky ways. What I have sown already I cannot change. What I sow today is still a choice I have to make. I choose to only do what glorifies you and sows into your Kingdom and into others. I really do love you.
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