A Life Worthy

Tag: God’s power

  • One-a-Day Friday, 11/21/14

    number 1The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

    The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic…

    The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars…

    The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning…

    And all in his temple cry, “Glory!” (Psalm 29:3-9)

    It’s 3:45 a.m. where I live, and I was just awakened by a rainstorm.

    The lightning is flashing.

    The thunder is booming.

    The wind is howling.

    The dog is trembling.

    The backyard is flooding.

    And my heart is crying, “Glory!”

    Glory! to the One who created it all.

    Glory! to the One who has power beyond imagining.

    Glory! to the One who brings life and death, creation and destruction, by the merest thought.

    Glory! to the One who commands the cosmos

    and yet stoops to notice

    and love

    my shriveled little heart

    and call me

    Beloved.

    Happy Friday, Beloved.  Take today by storm.

  • One-a-Day Wednesday, 10/8/14

    number 1For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  (Ephesians 6:12)

    Ever have that nightmare where you’re being chased by a terrible monster, and no matter how fast you run it keeps getting closer and closer, and you’re absolutely powerless to stop it?

    It’s kinda like that.

    Only worse, because it’s real.

    Physical skills cannot suffice against spiritual evil.  And that’s what you and I face each day as we go about our business.

    Your only hope, my only hope, the only hope, is to let the righteous power of God guard us.

    Don’t get macho about this.  There’s too much at stake.

  • One-a-Day Monday 3/31/14

    number 1The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and correction (Proverbs 1:7).

    Fear can be a good thing.

    In our culture, we act like fear is something to be avoided at all costs.  Maybe it’s our rebellious, pioneer, Westward Ho! roots.

    Perhaps we just don’t understand the healthy side of fear.

    Fear is an acknowledgment that something is beyond our scope, beyond our ability to command.  It doesn’t have to be blind, cowering terror; it’s more a healthy respect for power.  I fear lethal doses of nuclear radiation.  I fear rabid dogs.  I fear really bad haircuts—as a middle-school teacher, this is by far the most dangerous of the three.

    I fear God.

    But I’m not afraid of God.

    Of course, nonbelievers have every reason to be afraid; indeed they’re foolish not to, when considering the consequences of an eternity without Christ.

    But I believe.  My name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

    I fear God’s power, because I know that he could erase me with a thought.

    I am not afraid, because I know he won’t.

    He has given us many promises that we who are his are his forever.  Still, that power is there, and he has no qualms about using it to keep me in line should I stray.

    Which makes me want to stay very close to him.

    And that, Beloved, is the beginning of knowing him.

    Fear him today.

    But do not be afraid.

  • One-a-Day Monday, 3/3/14

    number 1What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

    For the record, the “this” above refers to the fact that God has predestined, called, justified, and glorified us.  We talked about it last week.  This is why it’s a good idea to read your One-a-Days every day…keeps you in the loop.

    God is for you.  He is on your side.  I don’t wanna get all Greeky on you, but that “If” at the beginning of the sentence does not imply “maybe so, maybe no,” but rather “since.”  We could read it, “Since God is for us…”

    Since God is for us, who can be against us?  I want you to do something this morning.  I want you to make a mental list of all the things and people and circumstances that seem to be against you.  Pile them all on one side of your mental scale.

    On the other side, put the Creator, Sustainer, and Lord of the Universe.

    What happens to your scale?

    Exactly.

    So, hold on to that picture today.  Whatever Monday tries to throw at you, remember that it pales in strength next to the One who is on your side.

    The One who created you.

    The One who died for you.

    The One who calls you his own.

    Walk in confidence today, Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Friday, 12/27/13

    number 1He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:7)

    Not through political activism.

    Not through military strength.

    Not through personal charisma.

    Not through any power of man.

    The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

    Chew on that today.

  • One-a-Day Monday 10/14/13

    number 1Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.     (Eph. 3:20-21)

    Now, there’s a kick-start to your week!

    I have quite an imagination.  I mean, I can be pretty creative, you know? But I serve a God who can do “immeasurably more” than I can even think of asking for.  Once again, Paul reminds me that God is too big for me to wrap my brain around.  And yet, that power—the power that created the universe—lives in me.  That sound you hear?  That is my brain exploding.

    Yes, to him be glory for ever and ever!!!