Marching Forth!

God sees the big picture.  This is quite the opposite of man, whose tendency leans towards self-focus and immediate gratification.  Our physical eyes may have "perfect" vision, yet we can be spiritually shortsighted to the point of blindness.  To enter in to all God has for us requires us to trust Him.  We must be convinced He intimately knows us, our needs, and what is best. After God led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He intended to bring them into the land He promised to give them.  When they arrived at the doorstep of Canaan, they sent spies into the land for 40 days.  10 out of 12 brought an evil report of the land.  They acknowledged it was a good land but there were giants and massive strongholds.  In their shortsightedness they looked at the giants and their own relative physical stature and strength rather than the power of God who had done mighty wonders to miraculously deliver them from Egypt.  The people cried a...

It is good to be reminded that God is in control.  In good times and bad, God stands at the helm of the circumstances of our lives.  He rules and reigns, sovereign over all.  It is common for a Christian to attribute what we see as good and beneficial as Divine Providence blessing us, and when trials or difficulties come it is seen as an attack of Satan.  While it is true Satan is alive and well on planet earth, that he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, he is not to blame for anything we perceive as "bad" which happens to us.  God's sovereignty is not only what we perceive as good, but also has control over what we see as inconvenient, troubling, and even fiery trials. Do you struggle that God allows both good and evil in the world?  He allows even His own children to suffer greatly at the hands of sinners.  A reason why God's sovereignty is hard for us to comprehend can be our own unbelief.  We look at tragedies, obstacles, even delays, and wo...

Today marks the beginning of a new year, a year of vast potential, purpose, and promise.  In His wisdom God designed the earth to orbit the sun and orchestrated the division of seasons, months, weeks, and days.  If all we counted were days without hours, time would hold little promise for the future.  There would be no possibility for a year to hold the potential of being "the year where everything changed for good."  A new year opens countless possibilities, and reminds those whose eyes have been opened to the new life we have granted us through faith in Christ.  Every day is a new day to seek God and worship Him, as we grow in His love and wisdom.  Our God is not one of second chances but new beginnings!  Every new day and every new year is one to take hold of as a gift from God and relish the opportunities and even challenges He places before us. It is now 2014, two-thousand and fourteen years since the birth of Jesus Christ, the One who makes all...

" Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly ." Romans 5:1-6 During a drive last night, part of this passage continued to rattle through my mind:  " Now hope does not disappoint ."  Everyone alive at some time has been disappointed, and for good reason.  In every heart there are dreams and expectations that this ever shifting world has unceremoniously shattered.  In the KJV the word " hope does not ...