Month: January 2021

Quick Bible Thoughts: Give Praise

One aspect of praise to God is to “give” to Him. You may reasonably say, “But what can I give God?”

One aspect of praise to God is to “give” to Him. You may reasonably say, “But what can I give God?”

I believe one answer to this is provided in John’s vision in Revelation 5:12, as the multitude of heaven says,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

Here is a list of seven things we can give to God as praise:
1) Power – Any real, perceived or implied authority or power we have, or think we have.
2) Riches – anything valuable to us or others.
3) Wisdom – any concept of smarts, experience, or wisdom we have.
4) Might – Any concept of strength.
5) Honor – Any idea of fame we believe we hold.
6) Glory – Any weight or authority that has been given to us.
7) Blessing – any real or perceived favor that has been placed on us.

When we give these to God, we are truly left with nothing.

At this time, we are truly ready to be filled with whatever God has for us.

May God be praised today in our lives!

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave

This was originally written for the youth worship team at On-Pointe Youth, which is a group of amazing teens who love to praise God with all they have.

Quick Bible Thoughts: Whirlwind

Isn’t it easy to believe that God only speaks when we get silent? Doesn’t it all have to be calm and quite to hear from God?

I have heard several sermons about how God spoke to Elijah. It wasn’t through a strong wind, an earthquake, or a fire, but through a gentle wind or a whisper.

Isn’t it easy to believe that God only speaks when we get silent? Doesn’t it all have to be calm and quite for you to hear from God?

Nope!

In all the chaos of Job’s situation (loss of family, finances, and health), when is friends had been arguing with him about why all of this happened, God spoke to Job. And it wasn’t a gentle whisper. I love how it is written:

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind…” Job 38:1

Did you hear that? God spoke to Job through a whirlwind!

This is the same word used to describe the whirlwind that took Elijah to heaven. It really means a storm.

Remember this when your life seems out of control and things don’t make a lot of sense. When everything seems chaotic around you and within you, I want you to know that God speaks at that moment too. Right out of the whirlwind God can bring you a message that you need to hear.

The next time you see a storm outside, may it remind you that God will speak to us in any situation…even a storm.

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave

Quick Bible Thoughts: Light

What if the God of the universe could shine light on your situation today?

And God said, “Let there be light”. (Genesis 1:3)

Did you know that God has been bringing light into darkness since the opening verses of Genesis?

Did you know that in heaven there is eternal light…no darkness at all?

I love the passages like this:

He bowed the heavens and came down with thick darkness under His feet. (Psalm 18:9)

They almost always show God stomping out the darkness.

If God was able to speak and bring light into the universe. If the heavens are so bright there is no darkness. What if the God of the universe could shine light on your situation today?

I believe God can. I pray God brings light to you today.

Love and blessin’s,

Flatland Dave

Quick Bible Thoughts: Job’s Friends

Do I base my belief in God on my pocketbook? Or maybe on whether I have the right relationship(s)? Do I ignore my struggles, and potentially miss anything God may be teaching me? What if I determined that no matter what happens, I know that He is my God?

I enjoy looking up the meaning of different names in the Bible. In ancient eastern cultures a name meant something. Many times it defined the person.

When I look at the meaning of names I think of it as “interesting” (not really doctrine). However, it often brings ideas to my mind that make me wonder if God wants me to meditate on something related to their names.

Here is a simple example.

When Job was going through the most significant trial of his life, he had three friends come to his aid: Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar.

  • Eliphaz means “My God is fine gold”
  • Bildad means “Confusing Love”
  • Zophar means “Sparrow” which is rooted in the idea of “Impudece” or “lacking respect”

Then in Chapter 32, a young man enters the scene named Elihu.

  • Elihu means “He is my God.”

So I wonder, which of these friends come to comfort me when struggles come? Or, which of these friends am I to my brothers and sisters during their time of distress?

Do I base my belief in God on my pocketbook? Or maybe on whether I have the right relationship(s)? Do I ignore my struggles, and potentially miss anything God may be teaching me? What if I listened to my friend Elihu, and determined that no matter what happens, I know that He is my God?

What about you? What friends come to help you in time of need? What friend do you need right now?

I truly hope you put your trust in God above, who sent Jesus Christ to forgive you and give you everlasting life.

Love and blessin’s,

Flatland Dave

Quick Bible Thoughts: Bethel and Ai

Have you ever looked around and thought, “God, is this really where you called me?” I have.

Have you ever looked around and thought, “God, is this really where you called me?” I have.

Imagine that you are Abram for a moment. God called Abram out of his home country to show him the land God wanted to go give to him and his descendants. It had to be a amazing. And then we see this verse:

“From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.” Genesis 12:8

I believe there is something spectacular for us in the location of Abram’s tent. He build his tent between two locations: Bethel and Ai

  • Bethel – which means “House of God”
  • Ai – which means “Heap of ruins”

On Abrams journey to the promised land, he found himself between God’s house and a heap of ruins.

Can you relate? I can. In fact, I think this is a truth for all believers on our way to heaven. While we live on this earth, we see that our “tent” is between God’s house (heaven) and a heap of ruins (this world). This is where God is calling us on our Journey.

In fact, when Abram would look at the sunrise to the east, he would see Ai. And at the end of the day he would see Bethel. Much like us.

When we find ourselves in this place we can do what Abram did: make an altar. We thank God for His promise, and we stand between these two worlds with the same message God had for Abram – leave your homeland and go to a place God designed for us.

My friends, thank the Lord for the journey, knowing that you are in between God’s house and a heap of ruins.

Happy New Year!

Love and blessin’s,

David