SCRIPTURE - Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
OBSERVATION
David was going through a very stressful season. His son Absalom betrayed him, the integrity of his kingdom is in peril, his army commander Joab is abusing his power, and the pressure keeps mounting up. So many difficult circumstances came to him at once. Anyone would loose his mind in his situation. However, David survived it and was sustained by God because he knew how to cast all his cares on the Lord.
APPLICATION
We all have seasons of lots of pressure. Sometimes it comes from all fronts: emotional, spiritual, physical, internal, and external. And we think things are bad, it gets worse. These are difficult seasons where our ability to cast our cares on the Lord is tested. What do we do? We usually fight or flight. When we fight we try to solve them on our own, adding more stress and anxiousness, which results in making decisions and acting out according to what we consider is best. When we flight, we go in hibernation mode, we hide for problems, and we swipe them under the rug expecting they will go away.
Either way, fight or flight, we are sustaining ourselves. We need to remember that these trials are not for me to experience stress or isolation, but to experience God love sustaining my life. In those difficult moments, if we cast our cares before God, trust in his wisdom and act according to his righteousness, we will pass the test and be sustained by the Lord.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for taking me through seasons where my character is tested under fire. I need to remember that I must cast my cares on You. I cannot deal with those situations according to my own understanding. I need to listen to your voice, make decisions according to your ways, and act with courage and faithfulness knowing that you will prevail. Please forgive me when I retain my cares on my side and please help me to give them away to You. I love you Lord. Amen.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
2 Samuel 12:12
O
David committed a series of sins when no one else was watching. he schemed to cover up his iniquity by misusing his authority and taking advantage of others for his personal gain. But God is always watching. Sooner or later God was going to convict David of his multiple sins. and God revealed the whole thing to Nathan. The Holy Spirit gave him wisdom to confront the king and led him to a place of repentance. But God's judgment was already in place. regardless of his sincere repentance, David had to suffer the consequences of his behavior.
a
how naive we are when we think that we can get away with hidden sin! what we do in the secret sooner or later will become evident in public because that's the way sin works. sin promises all the rewards up front and leave the pain at the back end. for that reason, we need to be on the alert when we are tempted under the retention that nobody is looking.We need to be aware of our tendency two isolate ourselves so nobody can watch our sinful decisions. What we do in private will sooner or latter become public.
P
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for the grace and mercy bestowed over me. I have my share of hidden sins that you have covered with your blood because I realized I cannot run from you. but before the secret sins happen, please make me aware of the set up I build for myself with isolation.
O
David committed a series of sins when no one else was watching. he schemed to cover up his iniquity by misusing his authority and taking advantage of others for his personal gain. But God is always watching. Sooner or later God was going to convict David of his multiple sins. and God revealed the whole thing to Nathan. The Holy Spirit gave him wisdom to confront the king and led him to a place of repentance. But God's judgment was already in place. regardless of his sincere repentance, David had to suffer the consequences of his behavior.
a
how naive we are when we think that we can get away with hidden sin! what we do in the secret sooner or later will become evident in public because that's the way sin works. sin promises all the rewards up front and leave the pain at the back end. for that reason, we need to be on the alert when we are tempted under the retention that nobody is looking.We need to be aware of our tendency two isolate ourselves so nobody can watch our sinful decisions. What we do in private will sooner or latter become public.
P
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for the grace and mercy bestowed over me. I have my share of hidden sins that you have covered with your blood because I realized I cannot run from you. but before the secret sins happen, please make me aware of the set up I build for myself with isolation.
Monday, May 3, 2010
RELATIONSHIP ABOVE REVELATION. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURES - 2 Samuel 7:3, Psalm 2:8
Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you." 2 Samuel 7:3
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. Psalm 2:8
OBSERVATION
David has plans to built a majestic temple for the Lord. Nathan encourages him to go ahead and do as he wants because God is with him. But God interrupted their plans and gave clear instructions about His plan. But God's plan is much better and the blessings are greater. David was humbled to discover the favor that God had for him and totally surrenders to God's revelation. He understood that God wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. He wants to give us even the nations of the earth, if we ask for them and if we follow His plan to get them. But relationship with God is always a priority above a revelation from God.
APPLICATION
As I've been praying about reaching out and increase our impact beyond our walls for the church during this year of harvest, I've been very surprised by God's revelation. My plans were good, but His plan is much better. Ive seen the hand of God leading me to the right opportunities, to the right people, and to the right resources. I've seen the heart of the homeless ministry thriving in our community and I've seen His direction to take us into new ventures in Taiwan and Thailand. I'm humbled to see God's hand over my life and I want to remain dependent of his direction through more intimacy with Him.
Recently my friend Don Horner reminded me about God's way to reveal His plan for us. If God provides all the parts of the puzzle, our human tendency is to do it on our own without dependency on His presence. But when God gives us glimpses of it, we are challenged to seek him, to depend on Him more and more, and to trust that His plan is much better that ours. We cannot trade revelation for relationship. Relationship with God is always first. When we walk closer to God, He will always reveal His plans just like He revealed His intentions to His friend Abraham.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for reminding me about the importance of prioritizing my relationship with you over a revelation from you. Forgive me for being more concerned about revelation rather than relationship. Let me seek you more and more as you continue giving me snopshots of your amazing plan for my life. Bless our efforts in our community and give us the souls of the nations as we continue building a long term impact in the places where your hand guides us. Let me surrender my plans to embrace yours. But more than anything, let me depend on you daily and grow closer and closer to your presence. Amen!
Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you." 2 Samuel 7:3
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. Psalm 2:8
OBSERVATION
David has plans to built a majestic temple for the Lord. Nathan encourages him to go ahead and do as he wants because God is with him. But God interrupted their plans and gave clear instructions about His plan. But God's plan is much better and the blessings are greater. David was humbled to discover the favor that God had for him and totally surrenders to God's revelation. He understood that God wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. He wants to give us even the nations of the earth, if we ask for them and if we follow His plan to get them. But relationship with God is always a priority above a revelation from God.
APPLICATION
As I've been praying about reaching out and increase our impact beyond our walls for the church during this year of harvest, I've been very surprised by God's revelation. My plans were good, but His plan is much better. Ive seen the hand of God leading me to the right opportunities, to the right people, and to the right resources. I've seen the heart of the homeless ministry thriving in our community and I've seen His direction to take us into new ventures in Taiwan and Thailand. I'm humbled to see God's hand over my life and I want to remain dependent of his direction through more intimacy with Him.
Recently my friend Don Horner reminded me about God's way to reveal His plan for us. If God provides all the parts of the puzzle, our human tendency is to do it on our own without dependency on His presence. But when God gives us glimpses of it, we are challenged to seek him, to depend on Him more and more, and to trust that His plan is much better that ours. We cannot trade revelation for relationship. Relationship with God is always first. When we walk closer to God, He will always reveal His plans just like He revealed His intentions to His friend Abraham.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for reminding me about the importance of prioritizing my relationship with you over a revelation from you. Forgive me for being more concerned about revelation rather than relationship. Let me seek you more and more as you continue giving me snopshots of your amazing plan for my life. Bless our efforts in our community and give us the souls of the nations as we continue building a long term impact in the places where your hand guides us. Let me surrender my plans to embrace yours. But more than anything, let me depend on you daily and grow closer and closer to your presence. Amen!
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