Blogs

At the end of my ministry on earth I called my disciples my friends. By extension this applies to you. During the time I spent with them, I accepted their humanity and at the same time sought divine purpose in their lives. I do the same with you. Have you found that this is the highest ideal of friendship, to offer human acceptance and jointly seek the noblest things? Some people aren’t interested in either of these and some only one or the other, so you should recognize those who are interested in both for the rare and precious treasure they are. Seek them as friends and seek to be such to those you would befriend. 

When you encounter unmarried unbelievers living together, do you think they should get married? Would this put them in a state of holy matrimony? This would not deal with their true condition and needs. Wouldn’t it be better for them to come to me? Then they could inquire of my intentions for them. Isn’t it possible that I would say, Go (your separate ways) and sin no more? If this is the case, wouldn’t it be better if they were not married? If you have a high regard for the sanctity of marriage then you should not recommend it to be entered lightly or unadvisedly. I am the Lord who turns two into one. 

Do you lead a busy life, with a constant unbroken sequence of events? Do you make it a point to spend time with me early and in deliberate structured ways? A regular daily devotional or your attendance at church with fellow believers would be examples of this. These are beneficial habits but you may find even greater blessings seeking me in unstructured ways. Have you ever devoted time to me without an agenda, but sought to follow where I would lead? Your time is always at hand. Be about your Father’s business even as you go about your business in the marketplace and I will give you unexpected opportunities to minister life in my name. 

Modern technology makes it possible for you to talk to your friends anywhere you go. Do you see this as having only advantages? For it also makes it easier for you to ignore the people around you. In many cases these are also your friends and family members, but you also encounter strangers and casual acquaintances in the course of your day. Not all of these are random, for some are appointments that I made for you. Will you have the awareness to know which ones these are, and to be present in your immediate surroundings to minister life in my name? Beware lest a technology meant to connect you serve to isolate you and diminish your abundant life. 

Have you discovered that you don’t have to go to very many church services before you hear a message about giving? What line of reasoning do you typically hear? That giving is a principle that unlocks blessings for you? That giving is the key to getting greater blessings? This is true at a certain level, but have you seen people respond to this in a way that is calculating and self-serving? What if there was a higher level of mystery to sowing and reaping? What if the blessing you received from giving was the development of Christlike character in your life? Can you see how this is a greater blessing than money coming back in greater measure? Would this make you more or less likely to give? 

Do you assume that you are ready for anything? It is not a part of the human condition to be able to make immediate dramatic changes in your thinking and behavior at will. It is helpful for you to understand this. I have a plan for your life. Do you think of this only as salvation? As important as that is, it is not the beginning of my work in you for I laid the groundwork for you to come to me. In my ongoing work in your life I continue to prepare you in advance for what I will do next. Even now can’t you look back and see how I prepared your heart for changes that seemed to occur suddenly? Trust me to continue and complete the good work I have begun in you. 

So you know when you’re just casually reading the bible and suddenly a section of words jump off the page as if they were highlighted in flashing neon lights?  Yeah that happened to me the other day.

God I’m waking up in the cabin down by the river. Last night’s fire is still there, the sun’s just coming up over the hill and into the valley. Birds gossiping, dog stretching. The day’s turned up and it seems like you’ve turned up with it.

And you’ve got something to say haven’t you?

I have.

You just said it before as I was waking up didn’t you?

I did. Tell me what you think I said.

God has appointed … miracles, then gifts of healings (I Cor. 12:28)

Question: I have been told that if I pray more than once for a miracle, then I have a lack of faith and I will not receive anything. Is this true? I have also heard that you must thank God for your miracle even before you see it as an expression of your faith. But what am I supposed to do if the miracle doesn't happen even when I thank God for my healing? If I am not healed when I ask or when someone else lays hands on me, does that mean God isn’t going to heal me for some reason? If I don’t believe that sickness is God’s will for me, and I am not miraculously, instantaneously healed, what can I do?

Here's a brief look at what's been happening on our latest Journey of Compassion to India. See the all the reports at Facebook.com. Want to experience it for yourself? Register for Uganda today by visiting www.ImpactNations.org