The enemy (who is the father of all lies), loves to convince us that God is someone other than who He truly is.  Deep down, we may start believing some untrue things about God without even realizing it.  Here are five things God does not do: God does not leave things unfinished (Philippians 1:6, Numbers 23:19). Sometimes it can feel like we are stuck in “wait mode”; waiting on something to break open or come to pass. It feels like we are in a never-ending situation, but the

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth–he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.   –Psalm 33:13,14 www.intellicast.com One of my favorite apps on my smartphone is my radar app. Why I feel the need to compulsively check it every time I see a couple dark clouds in the sky, I don’t know; but it makes me feel a little better knowing what kind of weather may be headed my way. Sometimes

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  –1 John 4:4 Remember the old Looney Toons episode where the two dogs, Spike and Chester, spend the whole episode trying to catch Sylvester the cat?  Initially Spike, the bulldog, is the hero and Chester, the hyper terrier, is the sidekick.  Chester idolizes Spike, but by the end of the episode Chester becomes the hero because he succeeds in taki

and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.  This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands. You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin eve

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed…But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will posses

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  —Nehemiah 8:10 Why is it so important that we put ourselves in a position to receive joy from God? Because it is His joy that gives us strength! Keep in mind, joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes. True joy is a spiritual experience that occu

Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain.  –Isaiah 40:4 During the deep-freeze much of the United States experienced recently, many people (who aren’t normally used to such low temps) experimented with the phenomenon of watching boiling water turn into snow in the frigid temperatures (click the link provided to check out one example). How

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  —Romans 12:2 If you’ve ever done any gardening, you know the success of your labors has a lot to do with the kind of soil you use, how often you water it, and whether or not you use fertilizer or plant food. The more you feed your plants these things, the healthier, bigger and stronger

But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them. –Psalm 106:13-15 One of my favorite actresses is Meryl Streep. The movie that won me over was Bridges of Madison County (yes, I know, I know. She had an affair and it was wrong, but that’s a discussion for another time, mkay?). Wha

But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. –Luke 21:12-15 There is one type of approach in counse

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?  Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. –Galatians 1:10 One of my favorite Christmas cartoons as a kid was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. For the first part of the movie, Rudolph’s parents are embarrassed by his glowing red nose and cover it up with dirt to keep it a secret. For discussion’s sake we could say they were so concerned about what

For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.  Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:3-4 What an incredible passage, so full of promise!  How many times do we dream small and expect little when God is dreaming big and expecting much?  It’s easy to trust God when things are going well, or when somethi