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Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
He made the earth with His might - ISRAEL365
What do We Mean when We say, God is in Control? by Tania Harris
What do We Mean when We say,
God is in Control?
by Tania Harris
Identity Network
It's a phrase we use often, mostly as an easy slogan when something goes wrong. "God is in control," we say when someone dies; when we lose our job; when our health fails.
But what do we mean by this?
Do we mean that God controls every decision, every event; every single thing that happens?
The color of the socks I wear, the speed of the cyclone, the actions of my boss?
That's Muslim theology. Inshallah. Nothing happens without the direct, intervening hand of Allah willing it so.
But Christians don't believe this. We hold firmly to the notion of free-will. We are free to decide how we spend our money, how we drive our cars, who we marry, what career path we should follow.
So herein lies the thorny theological paradox. How does God's sovereignty and human free will interact? It's a debate that's older than time. Paul in his all-over-the-place discussion of this as it applies to salvation of the Jews and Gentiles, declares it a mystery and proclaims: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out!!" (Romans 11:33) Theologians in history have tried to reconcile the issue and the recent work of Gregory Boyd in God of the Possible has opened the discussion again.
What does this Mean?
So what exactly does this phrase mean? Here's what we can be sure of:
- God is not controlling.
God does not control us. He does not give us free will then take it away. He offers us blessing and cursing, life and death. He gives us options. He says; "Stay faithful to the covenant life," but doesn't usually hit us over the head with a sledgehammer when we don't.
- Not everything that happens is God's will.
If everything that ever happened on earth was God's will, there would be no reason to pray; "Thy will be done on earth as it heaven." (Matthew 6:10). Much of what we see here is not God's will. That's heaven.
Sometimes I think using this phrase can be dangerous. It can lead us to blame God and avert taking our own responsibility.
So if I chose to drink myself silly during pregnancy and my baby is born with a disability as a result, was God in control of that?
If I don't my pay my bills on time, recklessly whittling away my budget on luxuries and go bankrupt with crippling debt, was God in control of that?
If I don't resolve the failings of my relational behaviors, learn to manage my anger and my marriage falls apart as a consequence, was God in control of that?
I wonder if we should re-work that statement a little. I wonder if we should change the default line from "God is in control" to; "God is always good. He is always able to bring good from any situation as we trust him."
Yes, His awe-inspiring, miraculous and mysterious, all-knowing sovereignty means while I make my choices and they have consequences, a life consecrated to God means that he can take my fumbling weaknesses and use them for his glory.
It means that when people wrong me and the consequences of their decisions fall upon me, I don't miss out on his favor. That no matter what happens to me that is outside God's perfect will, he is able make all things work together for those who love him.
Tania Harris
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[RUDDICK UPDATE] BENIN: THE RESPONSE
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has been the byword. God's people are truly reaching for that dimension that only God can bring. Each place we went, we experienced fervent prayer and serious commitment.
was evident there as well. We navigated dirt roads with deep, water-filled chuck-holes getting to their church. Their hunger for the God's economy message pulled hard, as we ministered late. The anointing of the very seasoned pastor overseeing them grasped the importance of the strategic nature of the entrepreneurial. His prayer that wrapped things up spiritually shook the rafters as these brethren reached hard for that dimension of "something more" as community builders and people of influence.
had a video made of testimonies of those who attended. This pioneer for the Kingdom in his nation attended the entire two-day workshop. He began his own video-testimony with the words: "We have had a visitation."
Israel Determined to Crush Hamas
Israel Determined to Crush Hamas
Tuesday, June 17, 2014 | Ryan Jones ISRAEL TODAY
Israel is working hard to find and rescue three abducted Jewish youth, but it is also using the crisis as an opportunity to hopefully deal a debilitating blow to the Hamas terrorist organization.
Israel has determined that Hamas was behind the kidnapping of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel last Thursday, and that assessment has been largely backed up by the United States, Europe and the Palestinian Authority.
Israel has issued a limited call-up to IDF reservists as it arrests hundreds of Hamas leaders and lays siege to the Judean town of Hebron, a stronghold for the radical Islamist group. On Tuesday, Israel extended the operation to the Samarian town of Nablus (biblical Shechem), where even more Hamas leaders were rounded up.
“As long as our boys remain abducted, Hamas will feel pursued, paralyzed and threatened,” said army spokesman Lt. Peter Lerner. “We are committed to resolving the kidnapping and debilitating Hamas terrorist capacities, its infrastructure and its recruiting institutions.”
Army Radio called the operation as a “root canal” aimed at “uprooting everything green in the West Bank,” referring to Hamas’ official color.
Economy Minister Naftali Bennett was even harsher in his remarks. “We will turn membership in Hamas into an entry ticket to hell,” he told reporters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, cautioned Israelis to be patient and prepare for an extended ordeal. “We are here in the midst of a complex operation. We need to be prepared for the possibility that it may take time. This is a serious event and there will be serious consequences,” said the Israeli leader.
The Palestinian Authority condemned what it called escalating Israeli aggression, but also took steps to halt implementation of its recently signed reconciliation pact with Hamas. A senior PA official told The Times of Israel that if Hamas truly was behind the abduction, then the Palestinian unity deal of which Israel was so derisive would become null and void.
For its part, Hamas condemned cooperation between Israel and the PA in the search for the missing Jewish youth, and said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas should instead be declaring jihad against the Jewish state.
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Happy To Be God’s Treasure - Now Think On This by Steve Martin
Happy To Be God’s Treasure
- Now Think On This
by Steve
Martin
“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair; persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed. We always carry in our bodies the dying of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may be manifested in our bodies too.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 Complete Jewish Bible
A chosen people, called by God, to do His work – the One New Man, Jew and Gentile, saved and appointed together to be His feet and hands on this planet. That is who we are.
I like how Peter says it, being ones chosen by God as “God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others…from (being) rejected to accepted.”
1 Peter 2:9-10 in The Message version reads, “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you - from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”
We are God’s treasure, chosen by Him.
But I don’t recall thinking of myself as His treasure.
I am very familiar with the verses that speak of Him being the treasure, the One that we are to go out and seek in the field, and the verses that tell of the Jews being His special treasure above all the peoples on earth, which now also includes those of us grafted in with them into the olive tree.
But to think of ourselves also as God’s treasure? Wow, that is really special!
Knowing the high value placed on treasure of any kind - be it gold, silver, jewels, or more importantly a dear friend, one who is very close to us – for us to be known as a treasure to the Lord gives us value beyond all of these in comparison to His love He has for us.
When you
have treasure, you protect it, secure it, guard it from being harmed, lost or
stolen. You keep it in a safe place. But you at times also let it be displayed,
for all to see the glory and the beauty that it is. Be it as a piece of art in
a gallery, or an ancient artifact that has been found, making it very rare and
precious, you even display it for many to see. That is how the Lord views each
of us.
Along
with being His treasure, we have the honor of manifesting the life of Yeshua
(Jesus) in our lives too, so that those we walk among may see Him shining
through us. Though “We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we
are perplexed, yet not in despair; persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down,
yet not destroyed” as Paul states in 2 Corinthians. We have Him, this treasure
in us, to be evidence of His power working through us. That will not only give
hope to us in our daily walk, but to those we come in contact with - our
families, those we work with on our jobs and the ones we gather with on
occasions.
I am
happy to be God’s treasure. Knowing of the value He has placed on us and in us,
showing forth His love for me and you, strengthens our hearts and emotions, in
order to let others know of their value they also have because of Him, their
Creator. They too can receive His salvation through Jesus, and be a chosen
vessel for His good pleasure.
May you
know deep in your heart that you are His treasure, highly esteemed and valued,
loved and admired, known by Him, and thus enabled and empowered to let others
know of Him.
Now think
on this,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People. Inc.
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization
started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.
If these messages minister to you, please consider sending
a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless
families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian
ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each
donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.
Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People If
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Contribution checks can be sent to:
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Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)
Please share Now Think On This with your
friends.
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Now Think On This #156 “Happy To Be God’s Treasure” by Steve
Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (6.18.14) Wednesday at 5:15
am in Charlotte, NC.
All previous editions of Now
Think On This can be found on
this Blog, and on our newest website: Now Think On This
King of the Universe - There IS Only ONE
The Lion of Judah
Jesus Christ
Yeshua HaMashiach
Artwork by James Nesbitt. See his entire collection of prophetic art: James Nesbit Art Collection
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Sharing Love from Sweden - HUNGRY FOR GOD by Eva Haglund
Hungry for God
We need more of God.
In John.6:35 is written that Jesus is the Bread of life. We need the heavenly Bread.
We need more of Jesus. We need to seek Him more. We also need the Word because Jesus is the Word. We need to be hungry for it - to read it more. If we do not have Jesus we starve in the world because the Bible say He is the Bread. The Bread came to House of Bread - Bethlehem. The Bread came to the earth. In John.1.14 is written that the Word became flesh.
In nature we can see nestlings who open their mouth very big longing for food from a parent. We need to be hungry like this birds after food -after more of God.
Many people are starving today. They do not have usual food. Also many are starving if they do not have the Bread -Yeshua in the world. Like nestlings who are waiting for bread they need the heavenly Bread.
Christians need to learn to know God more and His Word more - to know God more - more of Him.
The enemy want us to think that we do not need more of God and to read His Word more, but we need more of Him and His Word! In Matt.5:3 we read, " Blessed are the poor in spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
I am thinking that this means that we shall be poor - thinking that we do not think we have "anything" - what we have is not so much of God but we need more. In churches leaders sometimes there can have attitudes - " see what we have" and "see what we have done. See how good we are." They boast about themselves. Their attitude is not humble when they ought to be.
Sometimes people want to have like a party when it is time for humility, crushed heart, tears before God and the church, to seek Him in prayer. I am not against parties but it is not always right time for it when the church needs to be humble and seek God.
We need to be humbly like children who has an attitude to a parent: " I need you."
To be poor I think is to think that I need more. I have not "got it." I need more of God. GOD has got it.
To learn to know him is like to learn to know a big sea because he is so big. The Word is like a golden mine.
It is like a big treasure. In Isaiah 45:3 we read, "I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places." God want us to get more of this treasures. We need to seek Him.
To learn to know God is not boring because He is love. To seek Him more is good for us. To read the Word build us up.
David says in Ps. 63:1 "O God, You are my God,early will I seek You. I thirst for You. My flesh longs for you. In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water." Here we read about a hunger for more of God.
In Ps. 42:1 David says, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, oh God." Here we see again a longing for God.
I think God wants us to learn to know him more as a friend and to know more of the heavenly treasures.
It is good to learn to know his voice more and this needs time with God.
We need to be like the nestlings.
"I am so hungry! I need food!"
In Isaiah 55:1 it is written, "Ho,Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And you who have no money,Come buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk.
Without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good. And let your soul delight itself in abundance."
We need to be hungry for God.
We need Him!
Eva Haglund
SWEDEN NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS! PLEASE PRAY FOR SWEDEN!
MANY BLESSINGS!
Eva
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