Reminder: We Serve An Unconventional God

Below is a post that I did a while back on how we serve a unique God. Our God is never average or boring. He does everything in a spectacular way!
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We serve an unconventional God. He doesn't do things normally. He likes to be creative. He loves to show off His power and might.

When He wanted to bring forth His chosen people, He selected a previously barren couple who were well into old age. In looking for a leader to help deliver His people, He chose to use a scared young man who only had 300 men to fight with him. God plucked a shepherd boy off the country hills and turned him into a mighty man of valor and Israel's greatest king.

Our God can take nothing and turn it into greatness.

What situation are you facing? What's looking impossible in your world? The very thing you think can never come to pass is the very thing that God may use to show off His spectacular power. Your crazy situation can very well be an amazing testimony in the making.

You serve a God that can do anything with anyone! Plus, He's always looking for opportunities to show off. He's just looking for someone who believes that He can make it happen. All God needs is your faith.

Don't let your circumstances tell you that you've lost. Don't allow your surroundings to say what you can't do or who you can't be. God Almighty is your Father! The King of Kings is your Lord! You can do and be anything.

Verse of the Day: Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 1 Corinthians 1:27, 28

For God's Glory

When Mary and Martha's brother Lazarus died, they were rightfully devastated. Of course they were upset with the death of their brother, but it hurt even more because they were close to Jesus. While Lazarus was still alive they sent word to Jesus for Him to come and minister to their brother. Yet, by the time Jesus showed up, Lazarus had been in the grave for a couple of days.

Martha voices her distress to Jesus: "...Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." (John 11:21b) Mary reiterated the same view when she saw Jesus. However, Jesus was unfazed.  Even as he worked through his own emotions, Jesus pointed out that the occurrence was a prime opportunity to see God's glory.

Jesus had the family roll away the stone, and He called Lazarus back into the land of the living.

Sometimes we feel like Mary and Martha. We consider ourselves to be close to the Lord, but it seems as if our prayers have gone unanswered. We sought the Lord in times of true need, and it seems like He didn't show up for us.

Could God possibly be working something out in a way that will allow you to see His glory?

The Bible says that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He will never leave us hanging. He will always answer when we call. Even if your situation now seems unsolvable... even if it seems like the subject is dead... even if you have buried away the thing that you cried out to God about... don't let your faith die.

Continue to trust in believe in the God that can do exceedingly, abundantly, and above all that you can ask or think. It's never over, until God says so.

Verse of the Day: Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. John 11:40-44

 

 

 

Showing Love for All

In 2 Kings chapter 5 we find the story of a young girl who was taken into captivity by the Syrians. She was made a slave to the wife of one of the captains who defeated her country. Yet even while enslaved, the young girl displayed the love of God.

Her master, Naaman, was a leper. Seeing his sickness, the young girl spoke up. She mentioned to his wife that Naaman should go see the man of God because she knew that Naaman could be healed if he went to see him. As a result of this young girl's suggestion, her master was ultimately healed after following the prophet Elisha's instructions.

This young woman had every right to be bitter. She was taken captive from her home and she was now forced to be a slave to a family of her enemy. But, this young woman was not bitter. She recognized a need and knew how it could be fixed. She spoke up in faith believing that God would heal even her enemy. In showing her faith in God, she was able to give Naaman his miracle and ultimately show him that the Lord was the one true God.

Are you in a "captive" situation? Do you find yourself working with someone or in a situation that you see as totally against your favor? Don't get so caught up in what you see as a slight that you allow bitterness and anger to cloud your vision. Choose to remain full of God's love. Bless those that curse you. Do good to those who despitefully use you.

As you showcase God's love - even to your enemies - He may point out some problems that only He can fix. As you speak up in faith, you may be just the instrument to bring someone their miracle and ultimately lead them to the Lord.

Verse of the Day: And he [Naaman] returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel... 2 Kings 5:15a

Unconventional God

We serve an unconventional God. He doesn't do things normally. He likes to be creative. He loves to show off His power and might.

When He wanted to bring forth His chosen people, He selected a previously barren couple who were well into old age. In looking for a leader to help deliver His people, He chose to use a scared young man who only had 300 men to fight with him. God plucked a shepherd boy off the country hills and turned him into a mighty man of valor and Israel's greatest king.

Our God can take nothing and turn it into greatness.

What situation are you facing? What's looking impossible in your world? The very thing you think can never come to pass is the very thing that God may use to show off His spectacular power. Your crazy situation can very well be an amazing testimony in the making.

You serve a God that can do anything with anyone! Plus, He's always looking for opportunities to show off. He's just looking for someone who believes that He can make it happen. All God needs is your faith.

Don't let your circumstances tell you that you've lost. Don't allow your surroundings to say what you can't do or who you can't be. God Almighty is your Father! The King of Kings is your Lord! You can do and be anything.

Verse of the Day: Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 1 Corinthians 1:27, 28

Press In!

When the woman with the issue of blood heard that Jesus was in her city, she made sure that she got to where he was. She got there, saw the crowds, and put aside the Jewish restrictions that forbade her to intermingle with society and pressed in to get close to him. She was determined in her heart that she would at least touch the Savior.

That woman got close enough to touch the hem of Jesus' garment. And she instantly got her healing.

Many of us know that Jesus has the answers to the questions that we seek. We know that he holds the miracle that we've been searching for our entire lives.

Like the woman with the issue of blood, we've gone to other places, people, religions, and schools of thought trying to find an answer. We've spent money in hopes of finding our cure. We've gone to seminars and meetings, tried folk remedies, and advice.

All to no avail.

And then we heard of Jesus. We knew he was the answer to everything.

Despite our letting him into our lives, however, some of us have chosen to stay on the outskirts of the crowds. We've allowed what other people would think to hold us back from trying to get closer to the Master. We know of him, but we haven't made the effort to get close enough to touch him.

It does take more of an effort to get close enough to touch the Savior. Yet, if the woman with the issue of blood is any indication, that very act could instantly unlock the miracle that we've been searching for our whole lives.

Don't let your fear hold you back from your answer. Jesus is there. Are you willing to press in to get to him?

Verse of the Day: And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. Luke 8:46-48

You're In a Position of Privilege

Last night while I was having prayer and devotions, God shined a light on another facet of His goodness. Our Father doesn't have to do anything for us. Just because we pray, doesn't mean He has to listen. Just because we have a need, doesn't mean God has to meet it. Just because we cry out, doesn't mean He has to save us.

Yet He does. Our God has given us the privilege of His personal touch.

But He doesn't stop there.

The Lord could make the lives of those He loves a breeze. We could pass our time on earth without a care, concern, worry, or need if He so chose.

But God loves us so much that He allows us to arrive to positions of need. He allows circumstances to arise that may cause pain. He lets certain instances come to pass that confound us to where we don't know how we'll survive.

Why?

So, we can have the privilege of knowing His miraculous power firsthand.

There's something about experiencing God's awesome power personally that supercedes any scripture or Bible story or testimony you can find. When it's your needs that are on the line and God comes through, there is no explaining the fullness of joy and overwhelming love that washes over your spirit.

So, don't be downtrodden when tough circumstances come into your life. Keep your chin up as you fight against the enemy. Your God is watching your every step and guiding everything that hangs in the balance. Take courage knowing that you are being privileged to be placed in a position to experience God's wonder.

The harder the press, the more glorious the triumph. Not everyone can say that they've experienced God's glory personally on this earth. You will!

Verse of the Day: Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! Psalm 66:5