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 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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09.06.06
Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 9:58 am by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 2:6-14 Theme: Laboring for ourselves only brings ruin Key verses: Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion. (v. 6) Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain (v. 9) Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime! Has not the Lord determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as waters cover the sea.(v. 12-14) What God said to me: When you feel exhausted check your motives. Are you tiring yourself out for me? Or do you labor for yourself? Extortion, bloodshed, greed, these all lead to destruction. Sure you may not see it now. But the day is coming when all the earth will be under my dominion and reign. All will see my glory and bow. So look yourself in the mirror and say a good strong woe. Never forget that only what’s done for Christ will last. What I said to God: Holy Father, Almighty God, I choose not to wait to have to bow. Help me not labor in vain. I listen today to your prompting, to only to what you say when you say it. Check my heart, search my motives. Show me any wicked ways. I am thrilled that your glory will be revealed for all to see. I am fearful that I might not recognize your greatness and authority before it’s forced upon me. Help me and my family bow now.
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09.05.06
Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 8:10 am by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 2:1-2 Theme: Determined to hear from God Key verses: I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts. I will look to see what he will say to me… (v. 1-2a) What God said to me: Son, when righteous people get really desparate for an answer to their pleas, when they really need a word from me, they make time to listen. Like the Children of Judah in 2 Chronicles 20, they will stand before me until I answer. What choice do you have really? I am sovereign God. I am your vine, your source, your Father. I love a good challenge. Stand and challenge me to answer. Knock until the door is opened to you. Ask. Seek. What I said to God: Holy and present God, you are our focus, our supply, our breath of life. I fear your ways while I seek your face. May my face look upon you and be lightened. I know my family and I will never be put to shame as we trust in you alone. Praise you, Lord, above the heavens!
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09.04.06
Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 10:42 am by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 2:4-5 Theme: How the righteous don’t live Key verses: …his desires are not upright-but the righteous will live by his faith (v. 4) …wine betrays him, he is arrogant and never at rest…greedy as the graves…never satisfied…takes captive all the peoples. (v.5) What God said to me: See what unholy success can bring? When left to your own devices this a picture of what you could become. The King of Babylon may have looked successful on the outside. But in reality he was betrayed, restless, greedy, unsatisfied, and desparate. Dwayne, your heart is deceitfully wicked. Your old nature if in charge would deliver you the same results. The righteous who walk consistently by their holy convictions will live. Notice that word live is never used of the King of Babylon. He was merely existing, waiting for the weekend, desparate for a moment of peace. Get in the righteous line and live. What I said to God: Praise you Lord for loving me despite my frequent stupidity. Forgive me when I want to “get out of line” and run over to the unrighteous group. I never leave there feeling satisfaction and joy. Those feelings only come when I’m with you. You are my peace, my all in all. Help me walk in righteousness. I choose today to live!
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09.02.06
Posted in Thoughts on Habbakuk at 1:17 am by Administrator
Text: Habakkuk 2:2-3 Theme: Trust and tell what God said Key verses: Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain…so that a herald may run with it. (v. 2) Though it linger wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” What God said to me: You must first of all know for sure the revelation is from me. Habakkuk was confident “the Lord replied.” That will give you the confidence needed to run with it, obey it, and proclaim it. Next, you must clearly understand the revelation so that you can make it plain. Listen carefully. Check it out with my written Word, the Bible. Ask me for discernment to fully grasp what I’m trying to tell you. Then, write it down so that others can understand and spread its message. For over ten years you knew in your spirit I wanted you to write. The reason is simple: Why would I entrust you with insights that you will only keep to yourself? Be disciplined to always journal. Be willing to share those writings with others. Finally, you must trust that what I say will come to pass. Ten years ago writing seemed like a distant pipedream. Now, it’s a reality for you. That’s just one example of how I will fulfill in your life the desires I have placed in you - just patiently wait for them as you continue to proclaim my truth. What I said to God: Thank you faithful God that you continue to speak to and through your servants today. I am humbled that you would love me enough to speak to me in these quiet moments. Forgive me when I don’t make time to listen. Help me trust you and run with it!
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