Welcome!
Date: Friday, July 30, 2010
Today: Through the fire, through the water; safe and sound!
Passage: Isaiah 48: 21 NIV
21 They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts;
he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and water gushed out.
Isaiah 43:2, NIV
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
God does not promise a life on a bed of rose flowers, but He promises a life on a bed of roses
Roses have beautiful flowers; but they also have the leaves and the thorns
Christian life is like that. There are surprises and shocks, just like in marriage
Most people love to have a life without any troubles
God likes that too. So, God has promised for us a trouble-free life – in heaven
These are tough days that we are living in
We need the abundant grace of God to live
The two major factors that has been affecting many New Yorkers adversely these days, has been fire and water
There have been so many deaths in New York these past few months, from drowning and fire
God says, “You will go through some experience of fire and water, but it will not destroy you”
How many times have we been rescued from accidents and the like, in a miraculous way!
When we live for God, the enemy does not like it
When Israelites got out of Egypt, devil didn’t like it either
He wanted to block their supplies-of food and water
He brought the red sea like a big stumbling block
But the Lord made a highway, right there
If you started something because the Lord told you, He will remove the hindrances
But if you started something on your own, that’s your problem
Every time we go through a trouble, we need to ask God – why?
There are troubles that the enemy brings because we do good things for God
But when we skip things like our tithes and offerings, we may hit troubles
When we go in the wrong way, we may face troubles, like Jonah
But let no prophet tell us this and that. Ask God
Many people did so many blunders because “that prophet” told this and that!
Let God be our guide
In our walk through the deserts and the valleys, didn’t He provide us with all that we wanted?
I remember the words of this song-”Great is thy faithfulness….”
And then, it says, “all I have needed thy hand has provided….”
Some of you may be saying that it is not true for you
May be you are struggling with day to day needs
Call upon God. Make sure you give to God what is God’s
He will bring us out and bless us
We will come out of water, just like how Israelites came out of red-sea
- Not a drop of water on them!
And, from fire, like how Daniel’s friend came out-not even the smell of fire!
What more do we need? Isn’t this God more than enough?
Have a blessed week-end!
BG
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for being thankless and complaining. Thank you Lord, for your faithfulness and provisions. Forgive me for holding back that which rightfully belongs to you. Amen