All things are possible

Genesis 18: ¹³ Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ ¹⁴ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

¹⁵ Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

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Patting my picket I noticed I didn’t have enough money to get on the bus. To my dismay, my money had fallen out of a hole in my pocket. And I couldn’t get home. I was too ashamed to ask people for money.  The bus stopped right in front of me and a person handed me their “bus transfer” ticket. I got a free ride home that day.  It’s hard to believe GOD had a plan for me to run a large department of a corporation someday.

• There are times when things seem impossible.
• There are times when only a miracle would transform my situation.
• There are times when life seems unfair to me.

Current situations blind me to what truly is possible. I think the world is ending because I’m seeing things through a dismal view.  If anyone would have told me my future, I would have laughed.

• GOD knows the future and doesn’t want me to doubt HIS power.
• GOD knows what HE is capable of and doesn’t want me to laugh at HIS might.
• GOD knows HIS plan for me and doesn’t want me to stray away from HIS path.

When I have bad days it seems like GOD doesn’t know what HE is doing. GOD knew the day would be a struggle and has taken that into account with HIS plan for me. All things are possible!

• Do you think your situation is impossible?
• Do you feel a bit lost?
• Can you stop for a moment and ponder GOD’s power?
• Won’t you believe that if HE says it you should believe it?

It takes faith to get ahead

Genesis 17: When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. ² Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

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Bad news just seemed to find its way to me one year.  It seemed like a blues or country western sad song where everything happened and I felt all alone. I can’t say that I was acting the way GOD wanted me to so I decided to try HIM out. For the first time in years I went to church and the message seemed to be directed at me.

I surveyed my problems after my church experience and do you know what? My problems seemed to double. Wait, I thought going to church would fix my problems. I wondered if I should continue following GOD back then.

• When I face difficult circumstances I want them fixed immediately or I start doubting GOD.
• When I face adversity in my life I want things to change or I start getting mad at GOD.
• When I face hardship I just want relief or I start blaming GOD for my condition.

GOD wants me to have unyielding faith through impossible circumstances.  At ninety-nine GOD said Abraham would be a father and his ministry was just beginning. GOD sees the beginning and end of my life and builds a plan for me that only I can execute.

• GOD says walk before ME faithfully and be blameless because MY SON has taken the blame.
• GOD says I am GOD almighty, with ME nothing is impossible.
• GOD says I will make my covenant between ME and you and HE developed a plan just for me.

When GOD makes a promise no one can stop it. HE has already poured out HIS blessings on me in spite of me.

• Are you in a difficult situation that seems like there is no way out?
• Does the future seem a little murky?
• Can you hear GOD’s message to you that HE loves you dearly?
• Won’t you believe HE can and will fix your situation, HIS way in HIS time?

The ONE who sees me

Genesis 16: ¹³ She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

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Excited about the position, I followed up with the recruiter.  I had been through three rounds of interviewing and my buddy said if I made it past the second round I would be a shoe in. “We would like to present an offer BUT…” the only word I heard was “offer.” 

As she kept talking I came to my senses and realized they were not going to extend an offer to me or anyone else.  For the first time in their history this very large nameless computer company went on a hiring freeze. I was furious! LORD, am I stuck in this town?

• Sometimes I think GOD isn’t listening to me.
• Sometimes I think GOD isn’t watching me.
• Sometimes I think GOD doesn’t care.

From situation to situation I looked at GOD like HE was the problem.  Whether it was an untimely speeding ticket or a lost valuable item or a physical pain that would not subside I looked at GOD and asked “why me?” I wonder if it was because I was looking at the wrong thing.

• GOD helps me see HIM when I stop looking at the situation.
• GOD helps me see HIM when I stop fretting and start believing.
• GOD helps me see HIM when I stop thinking HE can’t fix this situation.

GOD has a deep unadulterated love for me that I cannot understand. HE disciplines me much softer than HIS outpouring of love on me. HE hears me when I sincerely cry out and sees me all the time. GOD never leaves me nor does HE forsake me.

• Do you feel alone even though people are around you?
• Do you think you are being punished for some sin?
• Are you feeling a bit lost in your direction?
• Won’t you take a moment to look at what GOD “is” doing in your life and praise HIM?

GOD is with you through the tough times

Genesis 15: After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.
    I am your shield,
    your very great reward.

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As I sat at my desk I calculated just how much work I had to do to get the project finished.  My boss seemed to care less about our health and well being and just wanted everything done. I actually thought this was going to be the place I was going to retire from.  I tried to look at my future but the more I looked at it the more frightened I became. What was I going to do?

• When things look difficult I can only see problems.
• When situations get tough I get blinded by my circumstances and I fret about the outcome.
• When obstacles are placed in front of me I think there is no way out and I get frightened.

One problem with looking into the future is I don’t own it. In other words I have never been in the future so why do I think it is going to be as bad as my mind is making it.  Looking back on the many times I have been scared about situations I realize GOD brought me through them and made me a bit stronger.

• GOD said “Do not be afraid” for HE alone holds the future.
• GOD said “I am your shield” so anything that will harm my soul will be guarded by HIM.
• GOD said “I am your great reward” so instead of thinking of the solution to my circumstance I should be thinking about how GOD is using this to grow me.

Life has its difficult moments and GOD knows I will be frightened about the future BUT HE wants me to focus on HIM rather than the circumstance to grow me and mature me in areas HE knows I need to grow.

• Are you going through something?
• Do you believe you need to grow?
• Can you understand that GOD knows you and loves you deeply?
• Won’t you let go of your fears and allow GOD to grow you today?

Some money isn’t worth it.

Genesis 14: ²¹ The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”

²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’

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Day twenty one out of thirty of being on the road and I finally made it home. The company would take any account and since I was trained they would send me anywhere. Promotion possibilities were only whispered to me but nothing solid was spoken.

At that time we had just had our first child and I was stuck with a dilemma, keep traveling or get a new job paying less money and be home each night. “I am making a lot of money” I thought to myself.

• My love of money can sometimes cloud my judgment.
• My love of money can sometimes make me do things that GOD may not want me to do.
• My love of money can sometimes cause my worries to mount and I feel enslaved to those who may not have integrity.

Abram chose between getting richer and integrity and chose integrity. Of course when integrity is chosen, no one puts your name in the newspaper or gives you any awards.

• GOD owns everything and it is up to HIM to take away from me or to give to me.
• GOD is not excited about my worldly wealth but is excited when I follow HIS ways.
• GOD loves when I look to HIM for wealth and not be so desperate that I would do “anything” for a little money.

Integrity doesn’t mean I will be poor, it just means I won’t let greed get in the way of my relationship with CHRIST. Where the money comes from and how I make the money is just as important as getting the money.

• Are you miserable because of lack of money?
• Do you think having new stuff will make you happy?
• Can you look at yourself to see if money is making you miserable?
• Will you look at GOD and trust HIS reason for having you right where you are?

When my ambition supersedes GOD

Genesis 11: ³ They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. ⁴ Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

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“I can run this place” I thought to myself.  I mean if I work hard I will get promoted and they will put me on top. Well, that didn’t happen, but I did notice that when others were promoted, they executed a smear campaign to take the person on top down. Should I stoop to that kind of behavior?

• Sometimes my ambitions drive me to take over rather than achieve.
• Sometimes my ambitions lead me to be on top at any cost.
• Sometimes my ambitions make me say “I can do that better than that person.”

Ambitions can blind me at times.  I’m not saying having goals is a bad thing, but what I am saying is my goals need to include GOD as the direction I am headed.

• GOD needs to be first in my ambition otherwise I will complain that HE is in the awy.
• GOD needs to be the center of my attention otherwise I will sometimes think HE is a hindrance.
• GOD needs to be top of mind in my plans otherwise I will leave HIM out of my plans and go my own way.

Ambition has gotten me in trouble with GOD before.  My plans were not HIS plans, yet HE allowed me to go with my plans. When my plans failed, I came running back to GOD asking for help and sometimes it was too late. GOD wants to be first, not last when it comes to my desires.

• Are you driven to achieve?
• Are you trying to do whatever you are doing without GOD?
• Can you take a moment to add GOD to your plans?

GOD is no longer mad at me.

Genesis 8: ²¹ The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

²² “As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.”

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Plastering was something I had never done before but this particular summer, it was my job.  I had to carry heavy bags of tools or plaster mix or boulders, well it seemed like boulders. I was constantly doing things wrong that the owner would have to correct me. I think I broke stuff and had to take numerous breaks because I got a splinter on my elbow or somewhere!

After my first day I didn’t want to come back but I said “thank you” and the owner seemed delighted. “See you tomorrow” he said. You mean he wants me to come back? I’m pitiful.

• Sometimes I think I have messed up royally with GOD.
• Sometimes I think my clumsiness in life translates to GOD being disgusted with me.
• Sometimes I think GOD is mad at me and that’s why I’m not getting my way.

GOD sees my pitiful attempts to serve HIM and others and is delighted by what HE sees.  I’m not speaking about the times that I try too hard or when I’m feeling ultra-religious and judging others. GOD sees when I have very little to offer and I give that up for HIM.

• GOD knows my heart is evil yet loves when I try to serve HIM.
• GOD knows every inclination I have is against HIM yet HE loved me enough to die for me.
• GOD knows I was born and raised in sin yet HE has a plan that’s great for me.

HE provides food, great weather and enables me to sleep and wake to a new day. HIS love for me will never cease and it’s a great feeling of relief.

• Do you think GOD is mad at you?
• Are you feeling like you have not reached your potential?
• Can you recognize GOD is faithful to you?
• Won’t you realize HE does not go back on HIS great plan HE has for you?