One of my all time favorite verses of scripture is Romans 8:28 which reads..."And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Now, I believe that there are two key words in this verse; "All" and "Together". Let me explain. One of my favorites foods is homemade biscuits. I'm not talking about those biscuits that you slam on the countertop and a little doughboy pops out. I'm talking about "Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits". They are absolutely the best made. But you have to know how to make them. I'm sure if you find an older lady and ask her about it, she can give you directions. Let's try to make some ourselves, okay?
First, you need some flour. You need shortening and some salt. Don't forget the baking powder. And you also need some buttermilk. This is an important ingredient because there is nothing better than buttermilk biscuits. Okay let's consider these ingredients. How would you like to take a cup of flour and eat that by itself? How about the shortening? Would you eat it alone; boy that would help the flour come back up! What about the salt or the baking powder. And what about the buttermilk. Man I HATE buttermilk. I mean, you take regular milk, set it in the sun for four days and you've got buttermilk. I hate to drink anything I have to chew first. I hate that stuff. But, you HAVE to use it if you want to make these wonderful biscuits. How do you think these ingredients taste individually? I think you are getting the picture. Not so good, huh? But, take one of these older women, who know how to make biscuits, put them in the kitchen with those ingredients and man that's livin'. The whole house smells like fresh cooked biscuits. Put a little butter and honey on those biscuits and man, your in heaven.
You see, this is where the words "all" and "together" in the verse come into play. "...God causes all things to work together FOR GOOD..." Of course my problem is there are a lot of things that happen in my life that are just "NOT GOOD!" But God takes all of these things; He takes them into his heavenly kitchen, and He makes buttermilk biscuits with them. And man, it doesn't get any better. You see, God's Word has told us already that there would be measures of "buttermilk" in our lives. We would experience the bad taste of some things as we grow in this life. But God has taken everything, and I mean everything that has happened to me, in my life, and He is creating "buttermilk biscuits". And when these older women make you these biscuits what do you say? THAT WAS GREAT! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THESE BISCUITS FOR ME!
Just a simple illustration to show that God is taking everything that happens in our lives, good and bad, and working it "...all together for good" BECAUSE He loves us; because He cares for us. So what should be our response to God while He is in the kitchen working on our lives. THANK YOU, GOD! THAT WAS GREAT! I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ALL THE INGREDIENTS IN MY LIFE, BUT I KNOW YOU ARE "...CAUSING ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE YOU..." THAT'S ME!
Tired of the hurt? Disappointed in the time it is taking to get over the pain? Take some time to thank the cook! All the glory belongs to God, so give it to Him and allow Him to minister to you today.
Dave
Crazy Papa
I'll make 'um an offer
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The Excellence of Love
"If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing" (1 Cor. 13:2).
I was looking over my website (http://www.nowwhut.org/) and blog tonight and noticing the difference in my appearance in each photo with a hat. What a difference can take place in just under 3 years. And I wanted to mention the different hats in each picture.
I have a precious sister-in-law in California who thinks of me always, continues to pray for me and knows that I like baseball hats. So when we first found out about the cancer I said to her, "Well, it is what it is" while she was here visiting and when she went home she immediately had my first hat made with that phrase inscribed. Then when the chemotherapy was over, we spoke on the phone and I commented that I survived the chemo and "Now What" so she went right out and made me another hat. From that I created my new website (above) and she had my third had made for me that shows my website.
This is her way of showing me that she loves and cares for me. Others have sent "knitted angels" in the past and others have sent me money (wow!). And my precious wife has spent endless nights awake and watching me sleep just to make sure I was okay. All three of my children have shown their "unconditional love" for me during these difficult years. All of us with these difficulties in life, usually have a loved one or two who shows their love consistently just as my wife and her sister. She has another sister who was gracious enough to take Barb and I to Maui after 6 months of chemotherapy just to celebrate getting through the "rough stuff". In fact we had so much fun that they took us again (to Honolulu) the following year.
In my life, I have had so many people who show their love and compassion for me and I could not be more grateful. In this love chapter expresses how important love is (from both sides). I, and those who minister to me, could be the most knowledgeable people alive and without love (given & received) " we are nothing."
Jesus has given us the ultimate "love" gift in His sacrifice at Calvary for our sins. And I am so grateful! Are you grateful to someone today? Why don't you let them know? If you don't know the love of Jesus that I speak about, go to www.nowwhut.org/4laws.htm and read the page. If you make a decision, please let me know.
Glory to God!
I was looking over my website (http://www.nowwhut.org/) and blog tonight and noticing the difference in my appearance in each photo with a hat. What a difference can take place in just under 3 years. And I wanted to mention the different hats in each picture.
I have a precious sister-in-law in California who thinks of me always, continues to pray for me and knows that I like baseball hats. So when we first found out about the cancer I said to her, "Well, it is what it is" while she was here visiting and when she went home she immediately had my first hat made with that phrase inscribed. Then when the chemotherapy was over, we spoke on the phone and I commented that I survived the chemo and "Now What" so she went right out and made me another hat. From that I created my new website (above) and she had my third had made for me that shows my website.
This is her way of showing me that she loves and cares for me. Others have sent "knitted angels" in the past and others have sent me money (wow!). And my precious wife has spent endless nights awake and watching me sleep just to make sure I was okay. All three of my children have shown their "unconditional love" for me during these difficult years. All of us with these difficulties in life, usually have a loved one or two who shows their love consistently just as my wife and her sister. She has another sister who was gracious enough to take Barb and I to Maui after 6 months of chemotherapy just to celebrate getting through the "rough stuff". In fact we had so much fun that they took us again (to Honolulu) the following year.
In my life, I have had so many people who show their love and compassion for me and I could not be more grateful. In this love chapter expresses how important love is (from both sides). I, and those who minister to me, could be the most knowledgeable people alive and without love (given & received) " we are nothing."
Jesus has given us the ultimate "love" gift in His sacrifice at Calvary for our sins. And I am so grateful! Are you grateful to someone today? Why don't you let them know? If you don't know the love of Jesus that I speak about, go to www.nowwhut.org/4laws.htm and read the page. If you make a decision, please let me know.
Glory to God!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
When We Pray
For those of you faithful readers, I have posted my devotion on my website at http://www.nowwhut.org/devotion.htm. You can click on the link and will be taken right to the page.
Thanks for listening,
Dave
Thanks for listening,
Dave
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Is your pain God's will?
Luke 22:42..."Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done." In the Old Testament, the cup is often used as the symbol of divine wrath against sin. On the very next day, Jesus Christ would bear the sins of many and the fullness of divine wrath would fall on Him. This was the price of sin that He, Jesus, bore, and He paid it in full. His cry of anguish in Matt. 27 ("My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?") expresses the extreme level of bitterness of the cup of wrath He was given. This does not imply that there was any conflict between the will of the Father and the will of the Son. It was a perfectly normal expression of His humanity that He shrank from the cup of divine wrath. Those of us who experience pain on a daily basis have some of the same normal expressions as we live our humanity. But even though the cup was ugly and painful beyond perception, He willingly took it, because it was the will of the Father.
Have you ever wondered if what you are experiencing is the will of the Father? Is it possible that there is something or someone at work producing something far greater than your comfort from pain? I experience pain that, at some times, literally brings me to tears and still I know that there are others out there in far worse shape than I am. I want so strongly, to follow the will of the Father, no matter how much is hurts. What we see in this prayer is that Jesus was consciously, deliberately, and voluntarily turning over all of His human desires to the Father's perfect will. So there was no conflict between the Father and the Son, or between the deity of Christ and His human desires. I see so much more of the Father in my life when I turn "my desires" over to His will.
Today, you are reading this devotion and you don't know how to get the hurt to stop and the peace to flow within your spirit. The level of pain is so intense you cannot concentrate on Jesus or the Father or spiritual matters at all. You need to close your eyes and allow the next verse (22:43..."Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.") to minister to you. Realize that your situation may have far reaching consequences to others as they see you carry your cross. I'm not speaking "out of school." I know exactly what I am talking about and have a pretty good idea of what you are feeling. You can't fix it. So why not ask God to comfort you while you experience it? You'll be blesses and so may someone else.
I pray that God would be just the ointment you need today.
Dave
Have you ever wondered if what you are experiencing is the will of the Father? Is it possible that there is something or someone at work producing something far greater than your comfort from pain? I experience pain that, at some times, literally brings me to tears and still I know that there are others out there in far worse shape than I am. I want so strongly, to follow the will of the Father, no matter how much is hurts. What we see in this prayer is that Jesus was consciously, deliberately, and voluntarily turning over all of His human desires to the Father's perfect will. So there was no conflict between the Father and the Son, or between the deity of Christ and His human desires. I see so much more of the Father in my life when I turn "my desires" over to His will.
Today, you are reading this devotion and you don't know how to get the hurt to stop and the peace to flow within your spirit. The level of pain is so intense you cannot concentrate on Jesus or the Father or spiritual matters at all. You need to close your eyes and allow the next verse (22:43..."Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.") to minister to you. Realize that your situation may have far reaching consequences to others as they see you carry your cross. I'm not speaking "out of school." I know exactly what I am talking about and have a pretty good idea of what you are feeling. You can't fix it. So why not ask God to comfort you while you experience it? You'll be blesses and so may someone else.
I pray that God would be just the ointment you need today.
Dave
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
I know the plans I have for you
Jer 29:11-13..."For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me."
A week ago, last Sunday morning, at about 1:30AM, I walked out the door of my apartment like one of the "Caped Crusaders" and when they placed me into the ambulance I felt like the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" feeling like I had fallen from a 4th story window to the concrete below. Today, I learned the results of all the x-rays and exams. My steel cage is still standing strong, however I have a cracked rib, some blood pooling in my right lung, and it looks like a slight infection of pneumonia. I truly thought I could "reason" with a couple of drunk teen-agers but that was not the case. Turns out they were not planning on respecting any authoritative figures on that night.
Tonight I wish I had never been awaken by their noise. I would have had absolutely no problem sleeping through all they were doing. But I believe in "reasoning" with others and spirited debate. After all, isn't that what the above verse says? God knows what He has planned for us and He says they are "...for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope". Of course the last 3 or 4 years have not brought out all of that "future and hope" in my life. In fact, that one action I took early that Sunday morning of trying to be an authoritative figure was probably NOT the plans God was referring to. Then in the middle of my pain, I did exactly what the passage says..."In those days when you pray, I will listen." So I prayed. And God said "If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me." I needed to seek God and when He responded He reminded me that this world is not my home and I am only passing through. His Word reminded me in John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
We are all sick and hurting believers in Jesus and finitely, we think all should go well. But just as it didn't go well "in the garden" we will continue to have tribulation in this world. Thank God, Jesus overcame the world. I learned a valuable lesson at 56 years of age too. I learned that the next time someone creates that kind of disruption in the middle of the night, I will call the police first, then go outside to "reason" with the world (after I see the flashing red lights).
I've said this before but it bares repeating. "When you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."
Ain't God Great?
Dave
A week ago, last Sunday morning, at about 1:30AM, I walked out the door of my apartment like one of the "Caped Crusaders" and when they placed me into the ambulance I felt like the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" feeling like I had fallen from a 4th story window to the concrete below. Today, I learned the results of all the x-rays and exams. My steel cage is still standing strong, however I have a cracked rib, some blood pooling in my right lung, and it looks like a slight infection of pneumonia. I truly thought I could "reason" with a couple of drunk teen-agers but that was not the case. Turns out they were not planning on respecting any authoritative figures on that night.
Tonight I wish I had never been awaken by their noise. I would have had absolutely no problem sleeping through all they were doing. But I believe in "reasoning" with others and spirited debate. After all, isn't that what the above verse says? God knows what He has planned for us and He says they are "...for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope". Of course the last 3 or 4 years have not brought out all of that "future and hope" in my life. In fact, that one action I took early that Sunday morning of trying to be an authoritative figure was probably NOT the plans God was referring to. Then in the middle of my pain, I did exactly what the passage says..."In those days when you pray, I will listen." So I prayed. And God said "If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me." I needed to seek God and when He responded He reminded me that this world is not my home and I am only passing through. His Word reminded me in John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
We are all sick and hurting believers in Jesus and finitely, we think all should go well. But just as it didn't go well "in the garden" we will continue to have tribulation in this world. Thank God, Jesus overcame the world. I learned a valuable lesson at 56 years of age too. I learned that the next time someone creates that kind of disruption in the middle of the night, I will call the police first, then go outside to "reason" with the world (after I see the flashing red lights).
I've said this before but it bares repeating. "When you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."
Ain't God Great?
Dave
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