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Name: Gail Elizabeth
Country: United States
State: Texas
Gender: Female
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Nonprofit
Message: message me
Member Since:
6/26/2005
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| "But God"I've been "playing" with an interesting study during my quiet time lately. I've been looking up "but God" verses - places where something is happening and God steps in to have His say or impose a different direction on what would naturally happen. I'll share a few of those here, starting with some from the book of beginnings, and perhaps I'll add a few more as my study moves along over time. If you have or find some "but God" verses, please post a comment and I'll add them to my list!! "But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters receded from the earth continually." Gen 8:1-3 (ESV) All seemed lost, but God was there with them, never forgetting them, always knowing the plan. "And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before You!" But God said, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac ; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." Gen 17:18-19 (NASB) God would not accept human solutions. His plan was SO much bigger than an offspring for Sarah and Abraham. When Abraham unwisely let Sarah go to Abimelech: "But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married." Gen 20:3 (NASB) As God interceded to protect Sarah, so God will intercede to protect me. God addresses the crisis when Sarah throws Ishmael out of the house: "The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. "And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant ." Gen 21:11-13 (NASB) Abraham was in a pickle. Two wives and two sons - and the competition was stiff between them. God came to Abraham, quieted his heart, gave him direction and promised him a future for both sons. Isn’t it amazing how God even comforts us and cares for us even in the midst of the trouble that we make for ourselves? Joseph speaking to his brothers following their father’s death: "But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today". Gen 50:19-20 (ESV) Even the wicked plans of men are used by God to accomplish His good. | | |
| Jesus - My AdvocatePicture the Heavenly throne room with the Devil reading a list of charges against you. He throws you an accusing glance and sneers, "This wretch deserves to die!" Now picture Jesus stepping forward as your advocate. He speaks confidently and with authority, saying, "This person is mine. She is my treasured possession. I died for every sin that she ever committed." That would be enough, but then Christ adds an amazing announcement: "What is more, I’ve not only erased her debt, but I want you, Father, to credit to her account all of my righteousness." Jesus, our advocate, would be generous enough in canceling the debt of our sin on the cross. But He went further. He not only paid the penalty and cleared sin’s slate, He gave us (me!) His righteous standing, His goodness. When the Father looks at you, He sees all the good things His Son has ever done. Such a debt we can never repay. We can only praise!! "Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend" (Job 16:19-21). "Blessed is the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." (Rom 4:6-7) Adapted from Diamonds in the Dust by Joni Eareckson Tada, Nov 13th | | |
| A Candle Among GunpowderA wife was devastated to learn that her husband had an affair with a woman at work who often dressed very seductively. Now, who was responsible for that affair? Of course, it was the husband. But did the sensually-dressed woman also have some responsibility? Absolutely. As women, our clothing choices can either help men succeed morally or can put temptation in their path.Richard Baxter was a 17th century pastor who realized how a woman's clothing could snare a man's mind. He gave women this counsel: "You must walk among sinful persons as you would do with a candle among straw or gunpowder." Our clothing choices today can either encourage men around us to be morally pure, or we can distract them. Are you walking as if you had a candle among gunpowder? This transcript is taken from the nationally-syndicated daily radio program Seeking Him with Nancy Leigh DeMoss, 10/17/07. | | |
| A Lesson from a Four-Year-OldYesterday a four-year-old came visiting my backyard pool. He is a capable young man, but not gifted in the area of wisdom. For some reason he decided that the best place to jump into the water was across the concrete stairs - and he wanted to show the group of moms gathered how it was done. Needless to say we did our best to convince him that it was far better to jump into the deep water, not the shallow. It was interesting to watch him, a short but determined young man, try to convince us that he knew what he was doing! "You don’t understand." "I’ve done this before." Four adults couldn’t possibly understand that this action was good, desirable, even wise. I felt like I was watching myself reason with God - trying to convince Him that I am right and He is wrong - that I know better than He about what I need. It was an interesting picture! | | |
| Lessons from NaomiEven when I do not see God at work, He is. Just as Naomi had thought God had abandoned her, so I often feel lost and alone. But I am reminded that God is always at work. Naomi’s "ah ha!" moment is recorded in Ruth 2:20: "The LORD bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. "He (that is, God) has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." She added, "That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers." When Naomi thought all was lost (for indeed she had lost a great deal), when she had returned home in poverty and disgrace, when her only blessing in life was a Moabite daughter-in-law (not a real asset in the eyes of the Jewish community), God was still at work, and He had not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead!! Naomi learned that God was the main character in the narrative of her life. So also, God is the main character in the narrative of my life. When things go well, when I feel good about life, when things go NOT well and I am struggling, still God is at work and He has a plan. His plans may not look like the unfolding of something good, but the story is not over. | | |
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