Month: January 2013

For Those whom He foreknew(of whom He was aware and loved beforehand) He also destined from the beginning (foreordaining them) to be molded into the image of His Son (and share inwardly His likeness), that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 amplified bible

I am not a certified bible scholar, but I do spend time reading, studying, praying and discerning the word of God. Sometimes there are things that grab me and won’t let go until I am exhausted and drowning in the truth of God’s word. This happened to me most remarkably prior to my divorce, when I was desperate to know what God said about divorce. All I had heard was that He hated it and not to do it. But I also knew that this very same God wouldn’t want his child living how I was living…I needed truth and after hours of seeking, I found it and God led me to higher ground and I was free, just as God foreknew that I would be…..

…and so I share with you parts of what He has taught me concerning Romans 8: 29 & 30. We’ll take little parts at a time. Today we will come to the conclusion that there are some things where only FAITH is the answer. Some things that we acknowledge and that we don’t have to explain.

This is one of those things.

Foreknew, foreknowledge, predestined.

This word means God was aware and loved those he called before all things began. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world (eph 1:4) His gracious purpose to work all things together for good began with foreknowledge and foreordination. Not only was God aware but this also leads us to understand the idea that God gave prior consent to those things he works together for the good of those he has called and love him.

This word ‘foreknew’ is reserved for those matters which God favorably, deliberately and freely chose and ordained. This is something we just acknowledge and we cant really explain. We use this as a moment to have faith and rest in what He says, for His ways are higher. Without faith, questions like ‘did God predestine everyone to know him?’ and ‘what if he didn’t foreknow my child?’ get in the way of our faith in a good and righteous and perfect God. They tie us up in our earthliness, in our little minds and we worry and complain and judge the goodness of God.

This limitation is not with God. Its with you and I. To question any of these things is only a manifestation of our ridiculously feeble and proud minds. We were not made to reconcile our little minds with the vast purposes of God.

Here is what I do know:

There is no where in scripture where it says God foreknew or predestined any person to hell.

Only faith can give us peace with the truth of God.

Nothing takes God by surprise, his decisions are not determined by our decisions.

Whatever God purposes to do he does it and nobody can stop it.

He is God.

“The deeper things shall be left with God” ~Charles Spurgeon

Sing praises to The Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Isaiah 12:5

The women lifted their voices and hearts to The Lord. The guitar accompanied us that morning and the sweet voices sang gently to our Father. As I was worshipping and giving all my heart and attention to the Glorious Creator I knew He had arrived. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Matthew 18:20

About 25 women gathered in one place to worship Him and learn from His word. Each week we gather but this week my God gave me a big picture. I sat silently and heard the beauty of the praise that was being offered. Tears filled my eyes as I saw us from a heavenly realm. Women in desperate need of an encounter with Jesus. I could see a glimpse from heaven of God resting and listening to the praises of his people. Not just our praises, but I imagined many small groups such as ours gathered around in the same neighborhood, in the same city, around our state, in the states of america, all over each country….offering themselves, at this very moment, giving praise to whom all Glory is given. I imagined God smiling, as I was, at that very moment.

I know there is a lot of bad stuff happening in our world today. Things that we don’t mention and things that are spread all over the news. I’m sure there could have been things in the houses around us that broke the heart of Jesus but for this one moment I felt the sweetness in the room we were in and I knew God could bask in the Glory given him by these small gatherings while at the same time taking on the downfall of humankind. I knew that it was in these moments that God was glorified and that he took note and perhaps even took a moment to listen and hear these insignificant women give praise to him.

I don’t think these moments go unnoticed. I think God takes time to join us and to minister to us through his Holy Spirit. I think he hears each group that is gathered, each woman or man that is worshiping alone in the shower, each child that says a small prayer before entering school, each doctor before he goes into surgery. I think our God cares about these moments and as they all occur at one time the sweet sounds rise and fill the heavens and God is bless

He Hears.

Digestive enzymes are naturally occurring in your stomach and are important to help break down food in your body for digestion. Sometimes I take extra digestive enzymes with a meal because I know my body will need some help with digestion.

Gods Word is much the same way for me. God is revealing some good truth to me concerning Romans 8:29-30. I’m getting ready to share with you what I learned but before we take a bite I have some scriptures for you to know and learn in preparation. Look at these like digestive enzymes. Words from God that will help us digest and understand and receive the truth of Romans 8:29-30. Here they are, read them slowly and write them on your heart:

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 10:13 For, everyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved.

Ephesians 1:4 for he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Ephesians 1:5 In Love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

Ephesians 1:12 In order that we, who were the first hope in christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

John 6:44 no on can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

1 Corinthians 2:7 We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

Isaiah 64:4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thought, neither are your ways my ways.

These are big truths and for me they really go a long way in preparing my heart to be bigger and ready for even more of God! I’ve written each down and read them throughout the day. Each time I do God gets bigger and bigger. He loves us so much and it is a comfort to know that all things are in his jurisdiction and plan.