Monday, Mar 31, 2008

March 31, 2008

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March 31, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Genesis 24:1-31; Ezekiel 26; Revelation 5

Today is March 31, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. Together we are strong. As we walk though the word together we help each other grow.

It is Monday and Susan and I are in Lynwood Washington for a Pastor’s conference. The drive up was pleasant enough, in between hail storms, slush, now, sunshine and rain… we got it all. The only real excitement was when two state patrol cars pulled a U-Turn on I-5 and came charging up behind us, we pulled over and they passed. 5 or 10 miles up the freeway was a traffic accident. We came to a dead stop. Then a fire truck attempted to pass. We pulled over, and then got behind him and followed him all the way to the accident. There were at least a dozen police cars surrounding the accident! It must have been a serious matter. Once we got here, we ate at the Spaghetti factory. You can see a pic of us at timewithgod.mypodcast.com. Yesterday was the Lord’s day, and we had a good time with God’s people. In the morning service I spoke on “sloth and the nobility of work.” I hope to post that within the week. In our Discovery Class we talked about the Holy Spirit and his amazing work of making us into a child of God and living in us! We are truly blessed.

This week’s theme verse is Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

How is everything working out for you? Good? Not so good? Bad? Right now, with prices rising on everything… most of us are a little concerned. Inflation means tough times are here for a while. Maybe the plans you had are turning sour. Maybe your master plan has hit a roadblock. How does your attitude hold up when bad things happen to you and your loved ones? Does your outlook need some improvement? How’s this for a starter, “ALL THINGS work together for good.” Let me state the obvious; that doesn’t mean all things are good, it just means that God has a master plan that is painted with some darker colors of difficulty and some brighter colors of joy… but both are required to complete the picture, and both are for our good. God even uses evil men and horrible circumstances that appear to be counter to His grand scheme, and in the background, he has, all along, been directing them to accomplish the best for us. God is amazing like that. It’s part of his plan. He’s in complete control. Nothing surprises Him. So when you get hurt or sick… when you have a financial setback, or experience a complete loss… we never need completely loose hope. Because we KNOW all things work together for good. How do we KNOW that? God said so. Right here, and dozens of dozens of places in the Bible. We know it in our head. Now we just need to trust! It wouldn’t hurt to repeat the truth a few times. I know all things in my life work together for good! Believe it. Treasure it. Trust Him! And then, have a good day, knowing that the master is working out His master plan in your daily life. Thanks God.

Dear Father. I know that You are working every detail of my life out for your grand purposes and my best. Sometimes, with the way that I am, and the way that the world is, sometimes, I doubt. Help me in my unbelief. I do believe. Even now, I am putting my trust in you again, because I know you are trustworthy. I know you are the God who was faithful to Abraham, Moses, David, and you are the God who came down in the flesh to live and die for me. Now I want to live with the optimism of a true believer. I trust you.

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