It All Comes From Him!

“Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”(I Chronicles 29:12 NIV)

If we think about where everything we have comes from, we have to realize it all comes from Him! He is the Creator of all things and without Him, nothing was created.

The jobs or careers we have or had–inspired ideas given to those willing to hear and do.

From the jobs or careers we have opportunity to make money. With the money we make we have opportunity to amass things or wealth. From the wealth we attain we have opportunity to help others. By helping others, we help ourselves to become who He wants us to be. Our help indeed comes from the Lord, streaming to and through us to assist others.

Without Him, we have nothing and are able to do nothing for self or others. Without Him and His guidance, we wander through life, lost and confused.

With Him, we have direction and access to sound counsel–leading to our ability to do great things and all to His glory.

All of the greatness we think we have attained is through Him. All of the power and strength we have to do what needs to be done, comes through Him.

If we really think about what we can do–in our own abilities, without Him, we’d understand that we are nothing and can do nothing great–without Him.

It is to You, O Lord, we give the glory! It is to You O Lord we give the praise. For You have so much for us and we will bless Your Holy Name! There is no one like You! No one who cares about us the way You do! None who loves us like You do! None who can lead us into greatness like You can! None who can speak to our hearts and lead us to those who need assistance like You! There is none who is willing to sacrifice self like You did so we might abundant life! O God–all thanks and praise are Yours alone!

We thank You for loving us, leading and guiding us, forgiving us, and restoring us–creating the path for wealth and honor like only You can and providing us with wisdom to do all things well, to Your glory!

When we really think about all we have–we have to know–it all comes from Him!

Advertisement

What Will You Receive?

“To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God” (Ecclesiastes 2:26 NIV).

The writer, who most conclude to be Solomon before his health failed, provides us with nuggets of wisdom and insight that pertain to all–whether in relationship with God or not.

Sometimes, we don’t want to hear both sides of the story and there are usually two sides of every story.  We love to hear all the good stuff–the prosperity, fame, victory, etc., but there is another side of the story which will happen whether we believe it or not. In more than one place in scripture (in the Psalms, Proverbs, Zechariah, etc.) we are told that those who gather wealth–outside of a relationship with God–will see those in relationship with God, enjoy their riches.

God has stated in His Word that He has given us (His Children) power to get wealth and when we please Him, we get to enjoy it. When we don’t please Him, we won’t.  At this stage of life, here on earth, we must be more concerned about pleasing God, than pleasing man. Man’s favor may last for only a moment, but the favor of God will last as long as we please Him.

What to do, what to do? For those in relationship with God, there is but one answer. Our conduct and our lives must demonstrate what it is we want to receive from God–from which side of the fence (or the story). Our history–can be written with one of two endings–we lived to please God and enjoyed the abundance of His goodness or we lived to please self and suffered the consequences of our actions–sowing, but never reaping!

In which reception line will you be found? Receiving the wealth by pleasing God or watching others enjoy the fruit of your labor?

O God, help us to stay in position to please You and receive all of Your many benefits that we may be a blessing to others as You have blessed us.

Wickedness in Washington!

“This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth” (Psalm 73:12 NIV).

Thank God for His Word that keeps us from being amazed or astonished at the things that occur in the land!  What we are seeing right now–at the hands of “greedy” politicians–has already been foretold.  When reading the first eleven first verses of this Psalm, it would appear to be prophetic in nature because we can “see” it coming to pass right now!

Notwithstanding my refusal to claim allegiaince with one political party over another, I do see politicians as the enemy of the poor and needy; especially those Republicans who profess to be Christians and yet do not do the things we have been commanded to do.

First, they attempt to starve those who already have limited resources by cutting their ability to eat.

Then, the very people who need healthcare–preventive care–to keep down hospital costs, are being denied the right to have access to it because of greedy politicians to want to sustain their connection to those in the insurance industry who have aligned themselves–financially–with them.  Their actions–holding America hostage–in order to maintain their supporters borders being anti-Christ.  They need to do the job for which they have been elected–keep government moving in the right direction and not standing stagnant, stinking.

For those who affiliate themselves with the “tea party” and claim to be Christians–be very careful of mocking God! For truly, it is He you mock when you refuse to take actions that would support the poor and needy above your own concerns of amassing wealth. You, as a party, are not supporting the needs of all people, but your private agenda and God will deal quite thoroughly with you–in just a matter of time. History has a tendency to repeat itself and those who oppose God by not doing what He says, have reaped the consequences for their actions.  The Tea Party has demonstrated they have no relationship with God, but with foolish religious ideology that makes them blinded and callous. They (TP) have spent so much time hating a president simply because of his skin color they have forgotten to address the needs of all people: job development, tax reform, climate control, etc.  If people had jobs–earning income–they would pay taxes and increase tax revenues.  This is where the real effort should lie–not in creating obstacles for those who really care about all the people.

O God, how long must we tolerate those who are indifferent to Your people–all of us?  How long will it be before You reveal Yourself to them in ways they can understand–diminishing their wealth and the attention they so love?  How long Lord, will the people have to suffer the indignities of those who are so arrogant and prideful that they forget–whatever they sow, they shall reap? How long Lord will it be before You leave them powerless and stunned at their loss because they refuse to consider all people?  How long Lord? How long?

Fulfilling His Purpose!

“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).

If we, as believers in God, accept His Word as His revealed purpose for our lives, then what He spoke through Jeremiah speaks volumes as to God’s plans for our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,”declares The Lord,  “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (29:11 NIV).

When we prosper (and not just in material wealth), we are fulfilling God’s good purpose for our lives. Our prosperity is a result of our obedience in all things and therefore we should not be ashamed to declare what God has done and is doing in our lives.

With all of the head-shaking and murmurs against “prosperity preachers” one would have to wonder if those complaining read and understood and had God reveal His truth about His Word. God is not against our prosperity--He might have some issues with how some have prospered, especially if the means to prosper encompassed misleading people or lying, or being corrupt. Not every so-called prosperity preacher is just preaching prosperity. We need to listen with our whole “spiritual ears” and hear what is being said.  The notion that God intended for His children to live like paupers is so beneath a loving, Father, that I wonder–who people are really serving when they think God wants us to be poor!

Throughout The Word, we are told the outcome or results, if you will, of our being obedient: we would have good success and everything we put some effort into would prosper; His blessings will overtake us and we’ll be the lenders, not the borrowers; we’ll be the head and not the tail in business; and this list could go on and on. When Jesus was teaching His disciples just before His return, He told, “whatever you ask of the Father in my name, that I will do.” So, where’s the problem with prosperity?

Some want to amass riches for their own purposes, but there are many of us who have faith and confidence in God’s Word so that we can “assist those in need.” The more we prosper, the more we can help others and this is the Will of God that we–born-again believers–help those who cannot help themselves. If we were doing this right now, this country would not need welfare benefits, but it is because of those in political offices–those who have become greedy and forgot the needy, that this country is in such a mess. When those who God has promoted to positions to help, forget how they got there, chaos and confusion reign and their only concern is what they can get out of the situation; not in helping others. We see that right now–with a Congress that won’t work for the people, but are more interested in pushing their own agenda. This is not part of God’s plan–this is pure politics. Since that is the case–I can only conclude the politicians involved are not acting in accordance to God’s plan to fulfill His good purposes.

Father, help us to understand You better.  Give us a heart like Your heart.  Give us a mind-set so we can think like You think. Move every obstacle out of our way so we can accomplish all that You have planned for us so Your good purposes will be fulfilled. In Jesus’ name, I pray and thank You, Amen!

Getting Rich!

“The blessing of the LORD, it make one rich, and he adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22 paraphrased).

For everyone who has ever tried a “get-rich-quick scheme” and failed, there is a way to assure riches and that way only comes from God through His blessings.  Solomon understands that the blessing of being obedient result in abundant wealth.  Just look at life!

When Solomon had an opportunity to receive great wealth from God, he asked for wisdom.  And because he did not ask for wealth, and because he was obedient, he received great wisdom and abundant wealth, until he was influenced by his flesh instead of his faith in God.

But The Word reminds us that God has given us “power to get wealth” through the Holy Spirit.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our lives, we can expect to see the promise made to Joshua (fulfilled in our lives) when God told him that “whatever he put his hands would prosper” when he was obedient.”

When God blesses a person, He does not add any sorrow (regret) to the blessing, but sometimes we end up with sorrow and regret because we did not know (had no wisdom) how to handle the blessing. We see this in those who have won large jackpots in lotteries and still end up miserable and broke.  For many, who do not understand, the blessings of the Lord are not just material things, but happiness, joy, peace and good health.  When we can appreciate these things and are willing to hear and obey, we have access to receiving great riches.

If we want great riches, we must hear and obey and have faith in His Word.  Lord, give us wisdom in how to receive all that You desire to give us and in what to do with that knowledge and wealth so we can to help eliminate the struggles of others.

Stop Talking and Start Doing!

“Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such as you have…” (Hebrews 13:5).

Wow! With all of the current promotion of prosperity versus poverty, a person could get confused when reading this scripture; especially the part about being content with what you have.”

First of all, we must understand that God does not intend for His children to be poor; He is rich and therefore so are His children. However, the riches are not just measured in dollars or tangible means. He is rich in mercy, grace, and love. But He also tells us, “He has given us power to get wealth.”

The power to get wealth is the anointing/ability He has placed in us to be creative and innovative. He does not intend for us to “look at what others have and plot to get it from them” (covetousness). That is greed or a desire to gain illegally or immorally. That is not how our Father works. He wants us to have an abundant life, gained legally and morally.

But let’s get back to the conversation part–have something more to say than just talking about what others are doing or how well they’re doing and how much you wished you had what they have. Examine yourself and your gifts and motives. What do you have? Be happy with what God has blessed you with and be happy for those who have what you don’t–it’s their right. The more you are sincerely happy for those who accomplish their goals, the greater the likelihood they’ll be in your corner, supporting your efforts and cheering you on to accomplish your own.

Stop talking and start doing!