Does God have enough?

This seems pretty timely. The economy goes up and down. That creates a lot of uncertainty. A lot of us trust in it our 401K. Better to trust in God who provides for us according to His richness. We should be rich in good deeds. We should be generous. We should share with those in need.

Then there is God's economy. It is certain. It will never evaporate from in front of our eyes. God's economy doesn't need a bailout. He is in a good mood. He is generous. He has plenty to go around.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

"Any area of my life for which I have no hope is under the influence of a lie." ~~Bill Johnson

"When the wicked die, that's it—the story's over, end of hope." ~~King Solomon

We are a people of hope. We know we are living in a new world under Jesus' new agreement with God. Not so, however, for everyone else. For them, death is the end of the road.

"When the wicked die, that's it— the story's over, end of hope." ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:7)

Words of strength and heart

John the Baptist was an amazing man of God. His words gave strength to people. His words put heart in them. Of course, they also offended the powerful. But John was faithful to the Message. His focus was on delivering God's message of hope. He did not focus on who he would offend in the process.

May I have his same faithfulness. May I speak words that give people strenght and heart.

There was a lot more of this—words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them. The Message! But Herod, the ruler, stung by John's rebuke in the matter of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, capped his long string of evil deeds with this outrage: He put John in jail. Luke 3:18-20

Leaning In: A Poem

I am not where I want to be.
I am leaning in to hear
the Lord more clearly.
I want to get closer.
I want to hear Him clearly.

I want the completeness
that comes from knowing Him.

So what can lead to that?
What is the path I should be on?

Trust.
Trust steadily in Him.
Trust completely.
Trust in what He says to me.

Hope.
And hope more.
Hope unswervingly.
Hope without the doubt
that can creep in.
Hope.

Love.
Love extravagantly.
Love without fear.
Love perfectly in His love.
Love like He loves me.

The best of all of these
is His extravagent love.

Love extravagantly

There is love and then there is extravagant love. My Father loves me extravagantly. I should love the same way. He isn't reserved and holding back. Not at all. He sees me from afar and comes running. When I ran from Him he watched everyday waiting for me to return.

On seeing me a long way off, He came running for me. His heart was pounding. He embraced me. He kissed me. He brought me clean clothes, the best He has. He put His ring on my finger; the family ring He has been saving for a special time. He prepared an amazing feast for me. We celebrated. I was lost but He never stopped loving.

May I love like that!!! May I love extravagantly!!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Trust steadily

As I seek to mature in the Lord, one of the big three things to focus on is trusting Him more and more. I need to be steady in my trust. Not trusting one day and then not the next. Maturity is what I need to strive for. It is so easy to slide into trusting anything but God. That is so immature.

So it is focus and consistency. That is the key. Focus on Him who will complete everything. He is leading us toward that consummation. It is His heart's desire.

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. 1 Corinthians 13