Saturday, June 11, 2011

Book Review: I Am His

What happens inside your heart when you hear the word father? Some women feel indifference or pain, while others become wistful or sense an aching void. Still others recall their dads with fondness. Whatever your experience with your earthly father, I Am His invites you to know the comfort of dwelling in the arms of a tender, wise, and powerful Abba Father. Through personal stories, creative interaction with Scripture, quiet reflection, and guided responses, the wonder of living as a child of God will come alive and be more accessible to your heart. Do you ever wonder if God really loves you, even though you know you are forgiven, that He saved you and you will live forever with him? In this 8 week Bible Study, Rita J. Platt explains how we can Experience the Comfort of Abba's, our Heavenly Father's love for us. The chapters in this study are: Abba Father; Chosen to Belong; The Father's Love; In His Arms; Under His Wings; Through Abba's Eyes; A Generous Father; and A Daughter's Inheritance.
 
When going through a difficult time, and at other times, for no apparent reason, I wonder if God really loves me like the Bible says. It sounds really ungrateful, but these feelings happen to so many people. Reading and studying through this book, the author gives scripture after scripture, as well as phrases, sentences, and statements concerning Gods real love for His children. You can feel Rita Platt's heart in this study, in what she is teaching.
 
This is a great study for those who long to become closer to God. This devotional will give you a loving view of God the Father.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Proverbs 8:6-9

"Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right,
for I speak the truth
and detest every kind of deception.
My advice is wholesome.
There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge."
 
 
What characterizes wisdom from God as opposed to mere human wisdom? It is excellent and important, not trivial. It is right and true, having no deception as part of it. It is wholesome and good, with nothing twisted. It is plain and clear, not hidden. When evaluating whether something is truly wise, look for these characteristics. If the ideas pass the test, embrace them as valuable wisdom.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Proverbs 8:1-5

"Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
By the gates at the entrance to the town,
on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
'I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
You simple people, use good judgment.
You foolish people, show some understanding.'"
 
 
Wisdom is available to all, for all areas of life. Wisdom calls from the hilltop: We need wisdom to see the big picture, the "aerial view." She cries at the entrance to the city gates: We need wisdom for the everyday matters of life. Wisdom is available, not hidden. Wisdom wants to be heeded! So search for wisdom in everything. You won't need to go far to find it.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Matthew 12:46–50

"As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told Jesus, 'Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you.'
"Jesus asked, 'Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?' Then he pointed to his disciples and said, 'Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!'"
 
 
Jesus knew who had a greater claim on him than his biological family. His spiritual family, consisting of those who do the will of his Father—these are his true family, he said. These are the ones who have a claim on Jesus' attention. That includes you! And, it means we belong to the family of Jesus, which is made up of other believers. They have an important claim on our lives as well. How committed are you to a community of other believers?

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Genesis 39:2, 19-22

"The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. … Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife's story about how Joseph had treated her. So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king's prisoners were held, and there he remained. But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison."
 
 
The Lord was with Joseph and gave him great administrative gifts which were noticed and utilized. God caused Joseph to succeed wherever he went, but that did not protect him from the effects of other people's sin. Potiphar's wife tempted him, and when he refused to give in, she lied about what happened and got Joseph punished for something he never did. God is with us, but we do still suffer from living in a sin-ridden world, even when we do what is right. We should expect that and trust God to still be with us and to bless us.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Psalm 17:3-5

"You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
I am determined not to sin in what I say.
I have followed your commands,
which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
My steps have stayed on your path;
I have not wavered from following you."
 
 
Again we see the connection between our hearts and our words. Here it's both the heart and the mind. David determined not to sin with his words, and he felt completely okay with God examining his thoughts and his heart, even as he slept. (We sleep, but God never does.) The thoughts and beliefs and images we hold in our hearts are what God cares about, what he looks at. These plus our words and actions are what make up who we are. We are what we think, feel, say, and do. This is what God evaluates.