Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Talk Tuesday-In The Crucible of Trials

When we find ourselves in the crucible of trials and the agony of the refiner’s fire, along come our “well meaning supporters and detractors” to convince us that we must have done some dastardly deeds to stir up the wrath of God upon our lives. Job, a man considered by God to be “blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil, (Job 1:8)” faced horrible, denigrating trials. As he endured in utter humility, his face set like flint in reverence to God, along came four “well meaning friends,” accusing him of justly receiving the wages of his sins.

Eliphaz expounds: “Consider now: Who being innocent, has ever perished: Where were the upright ever destroyed:” Job:4:7

Bildad zeroes in: “ If you are pure and upright, Even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf And restore you to your rightful place.” Job 8: 6

Zophar rebukes: “Put away the sin that is in your hand.” Job 11: 14

Then the Lord expressed His anger to Job’s friends: “..because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has….My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what right as my servant Job has. Job 42: 7 – 9

After Job’s trials, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before, “And the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” (Job 42”12)

BGO brethren, are you in the Crucible of trials or in the agony of the Refiner’s fire? Do you stand blameless before God? Then do not listen to the lies of your accusers and detractors. Keep your focus on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith, and like Job, God will bless the latter part of your life more than the first!

GUEST WRITER

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Talk Tuesday – Falling in Love With God, Again

Today I was blessed at our men's prayer meeting. I saw two men totally in love, not with their wives, but with God. One was a man so on fire for the Lord that it reminded me of the days when I first came to Christ-all I could do was enjoy being in His presence. Another was an elder in the church still very much on fire for the Lord. I pray that I am still like that when I am his age. At the prayer meeting I felt the Holy Spirit say, “Fall in love with me again.”

 Is God our all? Do we pursue Him as we would the person we love? Are we on fire for Him just as we were when we were first saved? My challenge to you is, “Fall in love with God again!” I know you read your Bible. I know you go to church. But are you totally, madly in love with Jesus? Join me in pursuing God and let's fall in love with Him again.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."   Jeremiah 29:13

Blessings
Andrew

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Talk Tuesday-The Power of Praise

I woke up on Monday with a terrible feeling of sadness. Sorrow's blanket had cloaked the sun from my heart and it's heaviness weighed me down. I sat up, picked up my journal and began to pour out my heart to the One who hears, sees, and knows all things-to the One whose mercy and love covers all my sin, burdens and pain. It is fitting to seek solace in the arms of the One who created us, for God our Father loves us beyond measure-Christ's nail pierced hands bear witness to this.

The Psalms reflect the many emotions of King David and the people of Israel, as they experienced trials throughout the journey of life. Yet even when they reflect despair they inevitably end by echoing songs of praise. By the second page of my letter to the Lord, I paused and thought, 'I have many things to give thanks for. Why don't I write them all out?' I immediately switched gears and began each new sentence with, 'Thank you for...'. I became lost in the task at hand, expressing thanks to my Father for each little and big blessing in my life. I had just finished writing two and half pages of thanksgiving when I suddenly realized that I felt better. The heaviness simply left! I was stunned, and frankly unable to remember the exact moment the sun pierced through the darkness of my heart.

The Psalmist writes, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God,' Psalm 43:5.

Yesterday I was reminded of the Power of Praise. GOD is enthroned in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night," Psalm 92:1-2.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Talk Tuesday-Happy New Year; Keep Watch!

The Psalmist writes, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom," Psalm 90:12. Many of us rang in the year 2013 amidst much celebration. However, with each new year, comes the sobering realization that we are drawing closer to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. How we choose to live our lives is as important today as it was yesterday. Jesus tells us that while, "...about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father..." Matthew 24:36, we are to live our lives in a state of readiness,"...So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him," Matthew 24:44.

Let us take stock of our lives and keep watch. Jesus uses the lesson of the Great Flood to remind us of this very important thing. "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away," Matthew 24:37-39. 

Lord, help us to be like the 10 Wise Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), whose lamps were trimmed with oil in faithful expectancy. Let us be the servants to whom you say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:21. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

We, here at BGO, wish you a Blessed, Christ-centered, New Year guided by the watchwords 'FAITH', 'TRUST', 'OBEDIENCE', 'LOVE' and 'GRACE'! 


 

 

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