Category Archives: Look UP

Doing HIS Work HIS Way!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #522

11 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Attitude of Gratitude, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Encouragement, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Growing in Jesus!, I Can Do All Things?, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Look UP, Roaring Lion, The Love of God, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #522   Doing HIS Work HIS Way!!!

 

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13

Just a bit of encouragement this morning to finish out our week looking up—and not around. As I often tell people, we need to be like Daniel and look to the Lord, not at the “lions”; and we all have lions roaming around in our lives! But it is keeping our eyes on Jesus that keeps those lions at bay! God is ever at work conforming us into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ—by Him, for Him and through Him!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth

for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom

he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us

unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered

a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.” 1 Peter 5:6-10

God is ever at work to help us resist that “roaring lion”, for as I heard a preacher say many years ago, “God’s children are really facing a ‘toothless’ foe!” for the blood of Jesus has loosed us from the power of sin, death and hell!

So remember this morning that you “can do all things” that God has called you to do!!! Yes you can! All by the power of The One who has called us and saved us not by our own “works of righteousness”, but by the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

“Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly

through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Titus 3:5-6

So in closing, praises to the One who has defeated that lion—so that we can truly have “Victory In Jesus”! (A Gospel song written by Eugene Monroe Bartlett, Sr.) As the Psalmist writes in Psalm 28:7:

“The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;

and with my song will I praise him.”

Amen and Amen!!!

His Blessings Abound!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #475

06 Friday Jul 2018

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Distractions, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Look UP, Sovereignty, The Only Way, The Word, Trust God, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #475  His Blessings Abound!!!

 

Just a few thoughts from scripture this morning to remind us to keep our eyes on the skies—our God is still God, and Jesus His Son is coming soon!!!

“O taste and see

that the LORD is good:

blessed is the man

that trusteth in him.”   Psalm 34:8

Sometimes it’s hard to keep our focus on our Lord, but He is faithful even when we fail, and we simply need to look up at the God who reigns (Because HE holds the ‘reins’!) not the circumstances which distract us!

“For the LORD God

is a sun and shield:

the LORD

will give grace

and glory:

no good thing will he withhold

from them that walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts,

blessed is the man

that trusteth in thee.” Psalm 84:11-12

We must remember that God is God no matter our circumstances, and when we keep our eyes on HIM, we will find victory in our daily walk—not necessarily ease—but victory! Because our God is faithful and sovereign, and is every present in the hearts and lives of His own!

“Blessed is the man

that trusteth

in the LORD,

and whose hope

the LORD is.

8 For he shall be as a tree

planted

by the waters,

and that spreadeth out her roots

by the river,

and shall not see when heat cometh,

but her leaf shall be green;

and shall not be careful

in the year of drought,

neither shall cease

from yielding fruit.”   Jeremiah 17:7-8

All this confidence in our God who never fails because He saves and keeps His own–always:

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he that is in you,

than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

So stand fast today in our Great God Almighty—He’s got this!

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”   Philippians 1:6

Amen and blessings on your day!!! Keep looking up!

 

 

 

Our God Still Reigns!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #456

25 Wednesday Apr 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Dependence, Faith, God of all comfort!, Great is Thy Faithfulness, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Look UP, My Grace Is Sufficient, Our God Reigns, Sovereignty, The Word, Trust God

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #456    Our God Still Reigns!!!
 

Just a midweek reminder that YOU are not alone! No matter the stress or strain, the difficulty or joy—God is still on His throne, and He hasn’t forgotten where you and I are! I may not know what’s going on with you, but I know as scripture reminds us, it has happened before and it will happen again, for there truly is ‘nothing new under the sun’! Yet our sovereign Lord has not left us alone—HE is with us—Now!

“The thing that hath been,

it is that which shall be;

and that which is done

is that which shall be done:

and there is no new thing under the sun.”    Ecclesiastes 1:9

Even more important than the recurring and cyclic nature of life, is the sure and certain truth that God is still in charge! And we can find great comfort and assurance in the immutability (unchangeableness) of The God Almighty whom we serve!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

“My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father

are one.” John 10:30-31

All because Jesus IS God, the same attributes that are true of God The Father, are true of Jesus The Son!

What an awesome assurance from our Lord Jesus that we can live victorious lives with the same confidence in Him and His faithfulness. God wants you to know that no matter what you are facing, no matter the trial or difficulty, or the joy or delight, or what worry or concern is looming over your head and your heart—“Our God Reigns”!!! May you take comfort from HIS powerful truth!

“How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him that bringeth

good tidings,

that publisheth peace;

that bringeth good tidings

of good,

that publisheth salvation;

that saith unto Zion,

Thy God reigneth!” Isaiah 52:7

What a glorious triumph awaits us, when our precious Lord Jesus returns—and I believe it is imminent–and that’s a sure and certain confidence you can “stand fast” in today!

“And I heard as it were

the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God

omnipotent reigneth.”   Revelation 19:6

I can hear the beauty of Handel’s wondrous ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ ringing in my ears and in my heart. Have a blessed day my friend, and remember—look up, walk forward and press on with Jesus. We win! The “Lord God omnipotent reigneth”—“Yesterday and today and forever”! Amen!

Is It Always MY Way??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #452

11 Wednesday Apr 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, God of all comfort!, Great is Thy Faithfulness, I Will Never Leave You, Look UP

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #452 Is It Always MY Way???

 

Just a short word this morning, as I sit here watching the windmill turn in the breeze—and for Oklahoma, it’s nice to have a breeze and not the gusty winds we often have—and relish the beauty of God’s creation. I couldn’t help but think about how often we begin to think that we are the “creator” and have the right to tell God what to do. Yet God calls us to come to Him with our burdens, our needs and our frustrations, trusting to His provision and care not our own!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come

boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

Praise God for His abundant grace and mercy—He saves us and calls us unto Himself, that we might know His goodness and faithful provision. As an old song says, “if I’d never had a problem, I wouldn’t know that He could solve them…” (Through It All, by Andre’ Crouch!), and we can trust all our cares to the One who gave Himself for us.

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

So instead of exalting ourselves in our own pride and self-importance, we must humble ourselves before The One who loves us and cares about everything in our life, especially His work of drawing us near to His own heart, to conform us into the image of His Son!

“And we know that all things work together

for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29

No luck, no chance, but the mighty hand of Almighty God ever at work in the lives of His children to conform us “to the image of his Son” that we might have life “more abundantly” through Jesus Christ The Son! And the ultimate picture of the life that Jesus lived on earth is seen in one of my favorite passages. Ponder it today; think on it’s principles; feast on its power; and rejoice in the goodness of our God—and humble yourself in HIS presence—God’s got this (no matter what your “this” it!)

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” Proverbs 3:5-6  Amen and Amen!!!

I WILL Trust In YOU, LORD!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #451

06 Friday Apr 2018

Posted by in Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Fearfulness, Fearlessness, Growing in Jesus!, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Look UP, Made like Jesus!, Sanctuary, The Word, Trials, Troubles, Trust God

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #451 I WILL Trust In YOU, LORD!!!

 

We all have trials and difficulties—it’s common to all of us—but what’s not common is the ability to trust our past, present and future to The Lord God Almighty through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, I want to take a few minutes this morning to remind us all to just look up!

“And when these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

and lift up your heads;

for your redemption

draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

I know the immediate context of this verse is the “latter days”, yet we can take heart today because this is true whenever or whatever the difficulty, or how hard of a trial we are encountering. Our hope is in our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and HE will see us through. It hasn’t caught Him by surprise, and as one of my favorite evangelists says, “God never says, ‘oops’!” And I’m sure glad that’s true. God is ever at work molding His own and making us more and more like The Son.

“And we know that

all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image

of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn                            among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29

God’s purpose for you and for me is that we will become more and more like Jesus!!! And my dear friends, when we get a hold on that reality, it will transform how we view the difficulties that come upon us! God isn’t wasting one iota of our circumstances—HE is orchestrating them to lead us closer to Himself, and more like Jesus!!! I can’t balk at that!

So whatever your situation or circumstance today, step back and take another look up, and remember that God has YOU in HIS hand, and He’s not letting go! You can trust Him and overcome your fears and frustrations when we just remember to “lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”! And I believer He is more “nigh” than we believe! Take heart my friend—don’t be afraid—don’t give up—press on—for we win!

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.“     Psalm 56:3

And our old standby reminder:

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”    Hebrews 13:5-6

Blessings on your day, and remember—Look UP! Amen and Amen!!!