Where are you ? Archives – Sonshine's Journal

March 18, 2019

God is on that Mountain, Where are you?

1Samuel 14 King Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree. The king’s son, Jonathan was ready to go and engage the enemy. Jonathan knew where the enemy was but he also knew that he could not face them without the Lord. “Perhaps the Lord will intervene for us” was his prayer. What is your prayer as you face the enemies of God?

When God has a plan, He not only instills it in our heart but brings along an encourager willing to lay down their life like Jonathan’s armor bearer was willing to do. Remember this; the battle is the Lord’s and He has given us His armor bearer, the Holy Spirit to go with us. We can be like Saul who feared the enemy or like Jonathan who feared/revered God. God used the example of Jonathan and his armor bearer to expose the weakness of Saul’s spiritual strength. Saul was in it for himself, Jonathan was in it for God.

Jesus willingly laid down his life for you that you might engage the enemies of His and He can show Himself powerful. Jonathan said God is on that mountain, let’s go, and trust God and that is what we need to do. 1sam 14 god on that mt2

Are you under the pomegranate tree where it is safe or are you ready to climb that mountain?

January 19, 2019

God’s Mercy

ben-white-the mercy of god.2ajpg Exodus 11 to 13 As we have watched, there were two camps of people in Egypt; those who believed and obeyed as in the hail plague. God’s mercy was showered upon those who obeyed because they took their animals and families in and were spared.

God’s mercy overshadowed all that we have seen and now see in the 10^th plague. Pharaoh’s heart remained hard but the Egyptians hearts were softened because of God’s doing. Pharaoh had no respect for Moses yet Pharaoh’s servants had respect.

God desired that Pharaoh and the Egyptians soften their hearts and turn to Him because He does not delight in the death of the wicked. Instead, He is long-suffering giving them many opportunities to turn to Him and not perish. [Ez 18:23 & Ezek 33:8; 2Peter 3 ] God offers the way to salvation but if men continually reject His mercy His plan will be executed. [Is 55:8]

God’s mercy led the Israelites out from the hardened Pharaoh and away from the land of the warring Philistines. He covered them with a cloud from the searing heat of the sun by day and the pillar of fire by night to keep them warm.

Truly God demonstrates His mercy to all yet each man is responsible for his attitude and response.

Where are you?

January 31, 2016

Recognizing the Risen Christ

luke 24 recognizing gods provision2 As we read this last chapter in Luke we wonder why he did not focus on just the beauty of the resurrection. Dr. Luke is drawing us into these real life scenes that we might relate as to why there are those today who also cannot understand the resurrection and see how God is at work amongst us. We are brought front and center that we might learn from these encounters as a means to share the gospel message.

First are the women who needed an angel to walk them back spiritually to the words of Jesus: “Remember how he told you?” The two on the road to Emmaus needed the presence of the risen Christ to jog their memory of the passages he had taught them. And just as with the women, we too need our physical and spiritual eyes opened that we might recognize the risen Christ. Is this not the work of the Holy Spirit? We remember John’s words: For God so loved and we begin to put the puzzle pieces together.

It took an angel to open the understanding of the women. It took the “stranger” to begin questioning the Emmaus walkers as to what they already knew. But, it was not until the angel asked the key question and it was not until Jesus broke the bread at the table of fellowship that their eyes were opened and they recognized and put 2 and 2 together.

So what is the lesson? God loves us and He will provide what we need to have our eyes opened and our understanding illuminated. Where are you? God will provide what we need to see and understand the risen Christ.