Who’s To Blame?

It drives me crazy when I hear people blame God for the bad things that happen in their lives.  Can you honestly picture God and Jesus sitting on their thrones in heaven and one of them asking the other, “Hey, what can we do to mess up that guy’s day?”  Of course not. 

However, I can easily picture Satan asking his demons that very same question.  He probably targets Christians most of all.  He can’t stand us.  We’re the ones who got away.  We’re the ones who see the truth about what he is.  So he wants to make our lives especially difficult. 

But God uses our difficulties to teach us about FAITH.  Remember what the Bible says?  God takes something bad and turns it into good. (See Romans 8:28) All we have to do is trust in Him.  Hey, we placed our trust in Him regarding our eternities.  Shouldn’t it be easy to trust Him with our lives as well?

God is Honest

God keeps his promises.  Genesis 21 is proof.

157) The Lord was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and He did for Sarah what He had promised. (God keeps his promises!)

158) Sarah gave birth at the very time God had promised Abraham.  (Things happen in God’s timing.)

159) God commanded Abraham to circumcise Issac.

160) Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter.” (Our joy comes from the Lord.)

161) When Sarah requests that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away, God said to Abraham, “Do not be so distressed about the boy (Ishmael) and your maid servant (Hagar).  It is through Issac that your offspring will be reckoned.”

162) God told Abraham that He would also make Ishmael into a nation because he is Abraham’s offspring.

Give Me Strength

My mom used to say that a lot when she was raising three teenagers.  Life isn’t for wimps.  Who do you draw strength from?  Yourself?  Why??  Are you Superman?  As for me, I plug into the Holy Spirit when I need power.  If I had to rely on myself, I WOULD be a wimp!

Exodus 15:2   The LORD is my strength…

2 Samuel 22:33   It is God who arms me with strength…

Psalm 18:1   I love you, O LORD, my strength.

Psalm 28:7   The LORD is my strength and my shield…

Psalm 29:11   The LORD gives strength to his people…

Psalm 46:1   God is our refuge and strength…

Isaiah 40:31   … but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

Habakkuk 3:19   The Sovereign LORD is my strength…

Philippians 4:13   I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

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God Is Fair

Genesis 20 demonstrates that God is fair.  He gives us a chance to right a wrong.  But if we don’t choose wisely, we will be punished. 

152)God came to Abimelech, King of Gerar, in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman (Sarah) you have taken; she is a married woman.” (God gives warnings in order for us to correct our wrongs.)

153)Then God said to Abimelech, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me.  That is why I did not let you touch her.” (God knows our hearts.  He can also keep us from sinning.  He makes it clear that when we sin, we are sinning against God.)

154)God said, “Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live.  But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die.” (We always have a choice.  We can do the right thing!  But if we choose the wrong path, there will be punishment at the end of the road.)

155)Abraham told Abimelech, “There is surely no fear of God in this place.” (How can someone NOT respect God?  He holds our lives in His hand!)

156)God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his slave girls so they could have children again, for the Lord had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah.  This restoration was done only after Abimelech returned Sarah to Abraham. (It is wise to do the right thing.)