Marching Forth!

During a worship service recently I was struck by the awesomeness of God, how He can do things for us before we ever thought to ask.  Countless wonders He has fulfilled by His grace and only rarely are we made aware of them.  It is not that God isn't listening, speaking and doing great things, but our faith and minds are awfully small.  A ship only need be about 12 miles apart from another ship at sea before they drop below the horizon and out of sight, and this illustrates well our inability to see all God has purposed and is accomplishing right now. We sang words to Hillsong's Oceans :  "Y ou call me out upon the waters, the great unknown where feet may fail. And there I find You in the mystery. In oceans deep my faith will stand ."  This song was written in 2013, several years after my family and I immigrated to Australia located across the Pacific Ocean.  While the song hearkens to Peter being called by Jesus to come to Him on the stormy Sea of Galilee...

I have heard people say, "Everything happens for a reason."  Like many Christian-sounding cliches, this is not a phrase you will find in the Bible.  This sentiment is possibly a hackneyed quote from  Ecclesiastes 3:1 that says, " To everything there is a season,  a  time for every purpose under heaven.. ."  It is important to point out that "purpose" and "reason" are not synonyms, though we might use them interchangeably in common conversation.  Purpose is the target to be reached, and the reason is the cause.  Purpose is all about plans and intention of the will, while a reason is what causes something. When Solomon spoke about God having a time for every purpose under heaven, it means God has an intended end for everything He allows to occur.  Perhaps a good illustration to explain the difference between purpose and reason can be seen in answering the question:  why is the kettle boiling?  One might explain how the heat causes th...

Genuine faith in God is established in knowing Him and what He has done.  Those who are convinced of God's power displayed in creation and salvation are enabled to rely upon Him presently.   Psalm 121:2-3 says, " My help comes from the LORD , Who made heaven and earth.  3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber ."  God's miraculous power demonstrated by making the heaven and earth reveals His timeless wisdom, authority and strength.  He Who made us can help us, and He is our only Hope. Psalm 121 clearly connects the miraculous deeds God has done to helping us today and for the future because He is eternal.  He made the earth long ago and helps us now; He will not allow our feet to be moved.  God in His wisdom established the earth on nothing, and nothing is hard for a God who can conceive, design and order such things.  Placing our faith in God as revealed in the Bible who created us and helps us is the ...

Some hold the view that if the opportunity presented itself in person, they would have some rather pointed things to say to God.  They relish the idea of giving God a piece of their mind over trials or troubles they pin on Him.  In the midst of his affliction, Job thought along these lines.  This righteous man of faith said in  Job 13:20-22:  " Only two things do not do to me, t hen I will not hide myself from You:  21  withdraw Your hand far from me, a nd let not the dread of You make me afraid.  22  Then call, and I will answer; o r let me speak, then You respond to me ."  Job desired an opportunity to present his case to God and be heard, yet when God revealed Himself and began to ask Job questions instead, his views changed dramatically. God used imagery from the world to show His supremacy over all.  Workmen measured and laid foundations of building, but where was Job when God created and established the earth?  Midwive...