Matthew 17:20 …"I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you...”
How many times have we heard that faith can move a mountain? Yet having faith is so hard at times. What does it take to have that kind of faith? What mountain would you move if you had the faith?
Philippians 4:13 ..."I can do all things in him who strengthens me..."
I remember watching the Olympics and marveling at the abilities of the athletes. It is really impressive to see the drive and determination of the athletes. Yet it is not the athletes alone who do the feats. It is God who does the work through them and provides the strength and ability. What things can you do for God?
Revelation 1:8 ...“I am the Alpha and the Omega...”
God is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. God always was and always will be. Yet He wants to have a personal relationship with you. He wants to know you, and He wants you to know Him. What are you doing to get to know God?
Philippians 4:4 ..."Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice..."
How do you rejoice always? Do you know that God loves you? That He would do anything for you? What more do you need to make you rejoice?
Romans 8:28 ..."We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose..."
God loves us. God wants what is best for us. God calls us. What is your response?
John 3:16 ..."For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life..."
This is probably one of the best known verses. God traded His Son for you. What are you doing for Him?
Luke 2:13 ..."And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God…"
I used to think of a majestically robed choir appearing as backup singers to the angel when I read this verse but I have changed my mind over time. I now think of the heavenly host as ordinary people doing God’s work. They are the people taking care of the sick, the poor, the hungry, and the prisoner. They are just everyday people doing what God has asked them to do. I believe that if we listen with the right spirit, we can still hear the heavenly host praising God. How are you praising God?
Matthew 28:20 … "and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age...”
Sometimes I feel so alone and that I am not worthy of the love and fellowship of others. I realize that I mess things up. But God has made a promise. He is with us, always. There is nothing that will keep God from us. Do you realize how much God loves you and that He will always be with you?
Psalm 23:1 ..."The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want …"
I grew up around sheep. They are not the brightest of God’s creation. They need someone to take care of them, to keep them safe and to help meet their needs. They need a shepherd. At times humans are not the brightest of creatures either. We need God to be our shepherd, to keep us safe and meet our needs. He is willing to do that if we let Him. Are you letting God be your shepherd?
1 Kings 8:57 ... "The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers; may he not leave us or forsake us; that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways , and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers..."
This is a plea. It is asking that we follow God and do what He wants. We do not always want to do His will. We start to think that we know better, that we can run things. But it never works out well that way. Just as previous generations found and just as future generations will find, God knows best. What can you do so that you are walking in God’s ways?
Ruth 1:16 ..."But Ruth said, 'Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God …'”
Judges 21:25 ..."In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes..."
Matthew 25:40 …“Truly, I say to you, as you did to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me...”
Malachi 3:1 ...“Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me…”
Isaiah 40:3 ..."A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God...”
Sometimes my life seems like a wilderness. I get confused. I get lost. But God is preparing the way in my wilderness. He is preparing a way for me to get back to him. What are you doing to prepare a way for Him in your wilderness?
Job 42:2 ...“I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted..."
God can do all things. His will, ultimately, will be done. What do you need to do to get your will in line with His will?
Esther 5:3 ..."And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom...”
Queen Esther was in a tight spot. If she did not go in to see the king, her people were set to be killed. If she did go in and he did not respond to her, she would be killed. What did Queen Esther do? She boldly took her request and went before the king. What did the king do? He responded and asked her what she wanted, even half of his kingdom. Do you have any bold requests you need to take before your heavenly King?
Genesis 1:1 ..."In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..."
What a great statement of faith! Regardless of whether you believe in creationism, evolution, intelligent design or some other approach, we start with God. As “A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada” says, “who has created and is creating”. How are you responding to the God of heaven and earth?
1 Peter 2:9 ..."But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light..."
Hebrews 11:1 ..."Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen..."
2 Timothy 4:7 ..."I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith..."
Life can be tough at times. Sometimes life seems like a fight or a marathon where you have hit the wall. God does not call on us to win the fight or the race. Rather, He calls upon us to keep the faith, play by the rules, and do the things we should be doing. Are there things you should be doing to keep the faith?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 ..."Rejoice always, pray constantly…"
How do you rejoice always? How do you pray constantly? We all have times when it is difficult to pray and almost impossible to rejoice, yet we are instructed to do so. Do you have something in your life for which you can always be thankful and express that joy to God?
2 Corinthians 9:7 ..."Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver..."
Hebrews 12:1 ..."Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…"
I have been blessed in my life to have people who have gone before me to show me the way. Some I know, and some I don’t. There have been family, teachers, professionals and members of the church. We are here today because of what previous generations have done for us. What are you doing to be a witness for future generations?
John 13:34 ...“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another...”
God loves us! What joy we have from that knowledge. With His love, we cannot help but respond and love others. How are you sharing God’s love?
Matthew 7:7…“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you...”
Life wasn’t just given to you so you could sit back and do nothing. It requires action. God has done His part, and it’s now up to you. You have to ask, seek, and knock. If you do, God will be faithful and respond. What actions are you taking to seek God’s will for your life?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 …"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”
In Oklahoma we are lucky enough to experience all of the weather seasons. However, there are all types of seasons, not just winter, spring, summer, and fall. People can experience periods (or seasons) of emotional droughts or floods, physical exhilaration or exhaustion, loneliness or camaraderie. It’s natural to move from one season to another. Are you stuck in one season? What can you do to move on to the next season?
John 14:2 ...In my Father’s house are many rooms…
Why are there many rooms in our Father’s house? When my family gets together, we all seem to end up in one area talking and sharing, even though there are many rooms in the house. Could it be that there are many places that our Father is reserving for us to share with others? What are you doing to share in your Father’s earthly house?
Luke 18:16 ... Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. ...
How do we “let the children come” to God in our church? What are we doing to provide for future generations that will come through our doors? What are we doing to be good stewards with the faith and resources that have been given to us by earlier generations?
Luke 12:24…Everyone to whom much is given, of him will much be required…
This is my favorite verse from the Bible. I have been so blessed in my life, with resources, family, career and many other ways too numerous to mention. But with those blessings comes a requirement. Out of what I have been given, I believe I am required to pass those blessings on to others. The verse doesn’t say I am required to give what I don’t have, just to share what I do have. Have you been given joy? Then, share your joy. Have you been given resources? Then, share your resources. Have you been given love? Then share your love. What ways have you been blessed that you can share?
