January 2019 – Page 3 of 3 – Sonshine's Journal

January 5, 2019

Choosing to Trust and Obey God

amy-velazquez-gen 12 to 15 trust me.2a Genesis 12 to 15 “I am not quite sure, but I’m going to Trust and Obey.” These words were spoken by a young man in an evangelistic meeting and later set to music as a hymn by John Sammis. One line reflects our lives and the life of Abraham.

“When we do his good will, He abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey”––even when we are not “quite sure.”

Beloved, what God has spoken He will do. That is the essence of the gospel message.

In Genesis chapter 12, God said to Abram: “I will make you into a great nation; I will make your name great; I will bless those who bless you.” And yet, like many of us, Abram wavered and perhaps doubted for we find him seeking help in Egypt and telling a lie to protect himself instead of trusting God to provide. Also, not too many verses later we find Abram questioning God about His promise to provide an heir.

Many, perhaps even you, like Abram, have received a word of blessing but like him, we waver as we wait. Reader, even if you aren’t sure, step out and know that God is a promise keeper if you will only trust and obey.

detective-questions So here are some questions for you to consider:

Are you like Abram?

Is your belief shortlived?

Do you, like Abram, fail to trust that God will fulfill His Word of blessing to you?

God is saying will you trust Me? I am not a man that I should lie. What I have spoken, I will do. [Num 23:19]

Pray with me: Father in our weakness make us strong, forgive us we when we don’t trust you. We now choose to trust You and obey you stepping out in faith…even when we are not sure.

January 4, 2019

Every Thought….

Genesis 10-11 “Every thought….”

What goes around comes around so the saying goes because unless we change our thinking we will get the same results. Case in point: before the flood men’s hearts were evil; after the flood, nothing changed. Men’s hearts were still deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked and the story of the Tower of Babel in the plain of Shinar men’s hearts are revealed. The people sought to build a tower that would reach heaven for one purpose; to make a name for themselves. Fast forward to today and the entire world continues to strive to make their mark from dictators to movie stars. We see in the obituaries those who lived a life minus God. Their legacy is as the rich man of Luke 16. He calls out to have someone tell his brothers to not come where he is before it is too late. Abraham reminded him that unless their heart changes their legacy remains as they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them. [1John 4:5]

Yet, God in His omniscience will not allow his plans to be thwarted. Even though the evil intents of the heart are still before us, He will use all things for His good purposes. Do not waver, do not lose heart; God is sovereign and He is in control of all. He will accomplish His purposes as He has been doing since Genesis 11 to scatter men so that His gospel message may be proclaimed far and wide.

Are you like the men of the tower of Babel, seeking to make a name for yourself or do you seek to glorify Him by sharing the good news?

Photo courtesy of Dreamstime

January 3, 2019

Are You a Snail About Your Legacy?

legacy2a Genesis 6 to 9, Ps 78 Snails move slowly as if they are considering their next move. They leave behind a trail of where they have been but it is slow. Our lives move at warp speed these days but we might take a clue from the snail as we ponder how to leave a legacy that will honor God. What does a snail leave behind but goop but as people of God we have a mind to make choices. Some choose to pass on money, some wisdom; others the character qualities of godliness and righteousness. But what is the one thing that tops all of those ideas? It is what Enoch and Noah did: they walked with God and God noted it. He has recorded it for all of us to see and learn that their relationship with God was their priority day in and day out; they could weather the storms of life.

Walking with God is a trait that Jesus affirmed when he said: Abide in me so you can bear much fruit. That means it is an active choice to listen, obey and affirm God’s ways above all. Your worship includes extravagant love and extreme submission to Him that He alone may be glorified. Matthew Henry says: “it is to make God’s word our rule and his glory our end in all our actions.” When the rest of the world denied Him as Lord, Enoch and Noah kept their integrity and passed that quality on to their children. They chose to “tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, about his strength and the amazing things he has done.” [Ps 78:4] for one reason: that the next generation, children yet to be born might know about Him and then, in turn, pass that on to their descendants.

Don’t be like a snail; begin NOW in 2019 to set your goal to establish a legacy!

Why not start today?

January 2, 2019

How to be Sagacious in a Topsy Turvy World

bible study 2tim3 Genesis 3 -5 Have you a constant struggle with the adversary Satan? It may be 2019 and our new year like newly fallen snow looks beautiful but if you look beneath you will see all of the dirt and grime that is hidden from sight. Truthfully, today like any other day is just like that dirt and grime and with ups and downs which began so very long ago all because our first parents were not being sagacious (prudent, discerning) before the serpent or as we might call him, the Devil and the devil he is! Jesus told us that we are to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Believer, the wisdom that the serpent has may seem mind-boggling but is not omniscient because it lacks the fear of God. It is as James tells us earthly, natural, demonic. It seeks to glorify self, not God and to deny the penalty for self-gain and self-aggrandizement. Satan has one goal: to take back what he thought was rightfully his because deep down he believes the bumper sticker: “The one with the most toys wins.” His first encounter with these newly created beings of man and woman was with great shrewdness: “Is it really true?” causing Eve to doubt. James warns us of this when he said: “he who doubts is like the wave of the sea blown and tossed about with the wind.”

Every day we face the seeds planted in that garden. But not all is lost for God’s grace and mercy provided the redemption that Adam and Eve needed and He does the same for us as well. He does that because He is not willing any should perish but all come to repentance.

Are you facing what seems a constant struggle?

Do you have your armor on? Go read Ephesians 6 about the armor if you have no idea what that means.

Start the new year right by meditating on the Word of God and hiding it in your heart so you are ready to give an answer to the adversary. He may question but God’s Word has the answers!

January 1, 2019

A New Beginning

walk with God2a Genesis 1-3 Today as you surf the web or open your inbox you will be met with these words: A New Beginning, new deals to start the year and more. But, our God already gave us a new beginning and it began eons ago in eternity past when He planned and then completed His Work. Yet, although His work was completed ours lies ahead. That is why we must hunger and thirst for righteousness so we will receive the blessings of God.

Through His marvelous Word, we will be given wisdom to glean what is profitable for teaching us, reproving us, correcting us and instructing us in righteousness so that we may be dedicated to Him and be equipped for every good work.

Moses recorded the majesty of God’s creation, the birth of the man and woman and the entrance of the adversary who seeks whom he can devour. But, God also has a plan to thwart his work. He comes into our lives to redeem us through His Son and to place on us His robe of righteousness, His ring of authority and His shoes as evidence of being a part of His family. [Luke 15]

Pray that God open your eyes to see the marvelous infinite beauty He has created so we may say with the writer of Ecclesiastes: “God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time,”[Ecc 3:11] that we might worship Him because of His works.