Quiet Time Archive
Stories Of Hope
Date: October 06, 2008
Read: Hebrews 11:30-40
The Bible is filled with stories of people who conquered and overcame great circumstances! It is also filled with stories of people who did not conquer or overcome in their lifetime but were willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. Today it is much the same, you see those who achieve great victories in this life for Christ and others whose oppression is unimaginable; but just like those in the scriptures they see so clearly what lies before them. These scriptures reveal that a blessed life is not always where God uses us but many times just like with many godly people in the Bible he uses us in the midst of oppression and mistreatment. In any and all circumstances we are to continue to move forward for His kingdom, never giving up on what lies before us - Heaven!
Published: October 06, 2008
Need A Red Sea Experience?
Date: October 05, 2008
Read: Hebrews 11:23-29
Moses gave up all the Egyptian treasure to seek God and trusted in what God would provide. Most of us are not in a financial position to give up any riches but yet we find it difficult to give up something as small as an hour of television or an hour of some type of hobby or sport. We wonder why we don't have a parting of the Red Sea experience in our own lives with a God who can do the impossible then and now. We live such mediocre lives just getting through one day at a time with no real great miracles taking place in our lives and we wonder why others don't follow? God wants to continue to perform the parting of the Red Sea in all of our lives but we ourselves eliminate the possibilities, so get your feet wet and see how truly amazing God can be in your life!
Published: October 05, 2008
The Struggle of the Seeds
Date: October 04, 2008
Read: 1 Kings 16:29–17:1
In this passage we see the ongoing conflict that God predicted in the Garden of Eden—the struggle between the two seeds, the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. This is a constant theme throughout the pages of Scripture. The seed of the serpent is seen in Ahab and Jezebel, while the godly seed of the woman is seen in the life and ministry of Elijah. Ahab and Jezebel come onto the scene as the most wicked king and queen the Northern tribe of Israel had seen. Jezebel came from Tyre; her father was a king-priest of Baal. Baal was the god of fertility and of the rain clouds. Her agenda was to introduce the false worship of her gods into her adopted land of Israel. She seems to have succeeded in getting her weak husband to do just that. It is interesting to note that the names of Ahab’s sons, Ahaziah (the Lord gasps) and Joram (the Lord is exalted), perhaps suggest that he intended to blend the heathen worship with the worshiping the God of Israel. Though many today still attempt this, it is a practice that never works.
God sends Elijah to pronounce a curse on Ahab and his kingdom. There will be no rain until Elijah says so. This is a direct attack and contest against the impotent god, Baal, and the true God, Jehovah. God then sends Elijah into hiding for protection from Ahab and to symbolically withdraw Himself and His word from Israel. They are left on their own to struggle through the drought and accompanying famine. At the same time He miraculously provides for His servant food and water at the brook. When the brook dries up because of the draught Elijah doesn’t have to worry about His provision. He knows God is able to supply His needs as he continues to trust and obey. This contest of power still goes on today. People are still deciding which god to trust, the gods of this world or the true God. When God’s people believe Him they give God the chance to show Himself strong. A world is watching and will follow the God who wins the contest in our lives.
Father I believe you alone are the one, true living God. May I realize others are watching my faith or lack of it and drawing conclusions about you.
Published: October 04, 2008
Kingdom Minded
Date: October 03, 2008
Read: Hebrews 11: 13-22
All that God promises us may not be just what we see while we are here, we forget that we have eternity with Him. We are to remain faithful and use our lives working towards the heavenly kingdom and what God has for us here on this earth and there for eternity. Life is too short to be involved in anything outside the heavenly kingdom so we should avoid any pettiness. It is easier to get bogged down with the little things and forget about the greater things that God would have us to be thinking about instead, such as the souls around us who need Him so desperately. Today I am attending a small party with family and friends of who many are lost, another opportunity to be an ambassador for Him, in everything we should always be kingdom minded!
Published: October 03, 2008
Faith
Date: October 02, 2008
Read: Hebrews 11: 7-12
In these passages we read about the faith of Noah and Abraham. Faith begins when we are in the valley and have no way out and we look up and see God on the mountain. Noah's valley.... the earth was about to flood. Abraham's valley..... moving to a foreign land and being too old to have children. These stories begin with fear. Yet we all know how both of these stories end.
Faith often begins with fear. God never said there wouldn't be times of real fear in our lives. God's biggest concern is not whether or not we're feeling safe and secure and comfortable during our time here on earth. For this life is but a blink of an eye. His concern is for our eternity.
Pastor John once said..... " He never gave us the burden of understanding but instead He gave us the responsibility of obedience."
Have faith.......your story has not yet ended!
Published: October 02, 2008