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Gleanings From The Word

Category: Christian Living

  • Circles

    Circles

    Yesterday, Kathy and I took two of our granddaughters to Castle Fun Park (a local amusement park). One of the highlights for them was the go-carts, going around in circles (okay, not exactly circles. More of a circuit) in carts driven by lawn mower-sized engines.

    I remember the thrill of that when I was a youngster. Getting to drive and racing around at what seemed like great speed. Trying to pass others or avoid getting passed. I could hardly wait to grow up and drive my own car, and I was convinced I knew everything about driving. Of course, I really knew nothing.

    Life is a lot like that. We get busy going around in circles, we’re busy, and think we know far more than we do. We spin our wheels, going nowhere and accomplishing very little, if anything.

    It’s a tool the enemy, and our own fleshly nature use to keep us from growing in our faith walk and doing what god wants us to do. We get caught in empty activity, or struggling with what we think is urgent rather than important. We waste time, money, and energy pursuing things that don’t matter but seem just around the next bend.

    If we’re honest with ourselves, we all waste a lot of time. Much of it may even be on things that are good, but not the best use of our time. I confess that I’m that way far too often.

    We’re called to follow Jesus with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. That takes focus and intentionality.

    Paul exhorts us to:

    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-8

    Stop running in circles chasing things that never satisfy. Take some time to intentionally follow Paul’s exhortation. Allow your heart, mind, soul, and strength to be focused on the things of God.

    That plan comes with blessings.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Impossible Task
    # Right Belief Must Become Right Living
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

  • The power of the natural world points us to God

    Vedder River near Chilliwack - flooding with the powerful atmospheric river

    We have just come out of another atmospheric river, a powerful series of rainstorms. It has created powerful flood and near-flood conditions. It has washed out roads and caused mudslides and landslides. Just another typical spring in BC’s Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. 

    It’s a powerful sight, and it’s often commented on. There is no doubt that it can be an awe inspiring sight to see, and it can also be incredibly destructive

    I frequently hear people commenting about the “Power of Nature.” There is power there, but the power isn’t caused by “nature.” Nature has no power to do or cause anything outside the constraints set by God. There are rules that the natural world must abide by.

    The power that created this “Nature” that many worship is none other than the God of the Bible, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. As its creator, he stands outside of time, space, and matter, but can intervene in any way that He sees fit, in any manner that does not violate His character. There is nothing and no one more powerful than Him.

    Our world is a broken place and will continue to fall apart until the Lord redeems it at the culmination of time. The new heavens and new earth will be better than this one, even better than Eden.

    Those who worship the created are blind.

    For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  Romans 1:18-25

    There is much to be admired and awed by in the natural world, but it ought to send us in search of the creator.

    Open your eyes. What do you see? The fingerprints of God are on everything in the created universe.

    Give Him the glory due His name.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Creation is a Signpost: Why You Can’t Say You Didn’t Know
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