Admittedly, when I hear “Wait on the Lord,” it is often easier said than done. One reason is that we live in a microwave society. In other words, many of us lack patience; we want things fast—we want them NOW. No doubt, I am not the only one who has felt that way.
As a matter of fact, I am waiting on the Lord for some things at this very moment. But even when I find myself impatient; guess what I’m going to do? Wait on the LORD. Because, one of the many things I’ve learned in my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is that I cannot rush God.
In general, most people have faced hard or sometimes life-changing circumstances. In all likelihood, no matter what they did to remedy the situation it appeared to be over. With that in mind, if you have spent any time in church; you have heard, “It’s not over: breakthrough is coming.”
In many instances, it is at that moment that praise breaks out over the congregation. Why? Because many of them are facing what appears to be the loss or death of something. Thus, that declaration helps them through those trying times.
Even at the start of our lives, God has been taking care of us. In the womb, as we began to form, God was there supplying what we needed and we didn’t even know it.
We didn’t have a care in the world, and we didn’t even think about what was needed. Likewise, we didn’t have to know what we needed because God made sure to supply our needs since the beginning of time.
And just like He knew we would need food and water, he also knew we needed a Savior. Thus, God sent HIS Son, Jesus, to meet our need for Salvation even before we were even born.
And, sometimes the need is met through discomfort or pain. For instance, Jesus died on the Cross supplying our need for Salvation. It cost HIS life, but then, when He got UP, HE made new life readily available to all that would believe in Him.
Emmanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23), knowing that we needed HIM, provided a way to HIM. So, for all that would believe in HIM would find forgiveness of all sin.
Purpose—believe it or not, everyone has a purpose in this world. No doubt, some of you may be thinking, “After all of the bad choices I’ve made, there is no way God has purposed me for anything.” Well, Ecclesiastes 3:1 Modern English Version says this, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” Now, I’m here to tell you; God loves you and HE is not holding those bad choices against you. Why—because you are indeed imperfectly purposed to do something great. Hence, this episode title; Imperfectly Purposed—The Story of Rahab the Harlot.
“Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.
Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’
But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, ‘Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!
Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.’
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.
Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen.”
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT–Taking God’s Armor with You; but what does that even mean? First, what is the Sword of the Spirit? Second, what is God’s Armor? And furthermore, why do we need them? Well, I am so happy you care to learn or further understand the answers to those questions.
Because Proverbs 4:7 New King James Version says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” So, let’s do just that–get an understanding of the Sword of the Spirit and the Armor of God.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
For the Christian, we struggle at times in our walk with Christ trying to do right. Let’s be honest—it’s hard! We’re not perfect—But, Jesus IS! He knows our struggles to make the right decisions daily.
Sometimes it feels like driving at a high speed on a race track and all of a sudden we are spinning out of control. It’s scary and we feel like screaming, “God Help! God, how will I get back on course?
The good news is that God is full of goodness, kindness, and mercy. He’s faithful to help us correct our course if we just look to His Word. HIS help is readily available to us who trust in HIS Word.
To begin with, relationships are a part of life. Whether family, friendship, romantic, or professional we all have them. At the end of the day, that is why ‘Understanding What Love IS’ is so important. Because for the most part, no ‘successful’ relationship happens without love.
It is true some people believe love is the most powerful force in the universe. As a Christian, I believe in the power of love because the Holy Bible tells us that God is love. And He created everything out of love. You may be thinking, “But SD, does ‘every’ successful relationship ‘really’ operate from a place of love?” And my answer is a resounding “Yes!”
“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.”
The love God has for HIS creation goes far beyond our imagination. And, this love did not come without a cost. In John 3:16-17, we find that this love had a hefty price to be paid by Jesus Christ and came with a divine purpose—Salvation.
You see,Heaven’s Perspective of Love is that it’s a sacrificial giving of all that you are to benefit another. In fact, this love carries a load that belongs to another. This love lifts every burden, every problem, and every dreaded thing upon itself.
The BIG message—GOD has a plan; if you are wondering, SD, what does that have to do with me or how I live my life? Well, I am happy to answer that for you. As I have shared in earlier blog posts, when we seek God’s wisdom for direction and instruction, the outcome is always ‘good.’ Simply put, those who sought Hiswisdom received His best for their lives.
Jeremiah 29:11 Modern English Version says, “For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Now this is a common theme throughout the Holy Bible.
