Sam is a Problem Solver

The situation: Sunday Morning was BGMC (missions) day at our church. Thirty-five first through fifth graders had prepared a song with motions and then came into the sanctuary to present their production from the platform/stage to the adult congregation.

The problem(s): Sam does not like to be up in front of people. Sam does not like to sing publicly. Sam does not like to do motions. In other words, Sam is opposed to anything that draws attention to himself in a public forum.

The solution: As a second grader, Sam has learned, at least tacitly, that the girls are generally bigger than the boys. He has also learned that the girls are generally much more willing to sing publicly and certainly more willing (and able) to do the motions. Therefore, he positioned himself behind a larger and more effusive girl and was content to stand there smiling at the congregation.

Yep, he’s a problem solver.

The True Kingdom

Jesus continued His model prayer by saying “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Kingdom of God is His presence. We need His presence established in our lives. God’s Kingdom has a King – Jesus. As followers of Christ, we should ask Jesus to establish His rulership over our lives.

God’s Kingdom should be established in four major areas according to the pattern of heaven – from personal to public.

First, His Kingdom should be established in my life according to the pattern in heaven.

Secondly, His Kingdom should be established in my family for my mate and my children and the atmosphere in our home.

Thirdly, His Kingdom should be established in my church. Pray God’s Kingdom will for the pastor and other leaders in the local church.

Fourthly, His Kingdom should be established in my nation. Pray for God’s will in America (or your nation), your state, your city, your community, and your neighborhood.

May God’s will be done in our lives and through our lives to His glory.

This Is How You Should Pray

For some people, it is easy to pray and for others it seems difficult to get through to God. Jesus, God’s Son, gave clear instruction as to how we should not pray and how we should pray to have victory in our lives. What is referred to in the Sermon on the Mount (Plain) as the Lord’s Prayer is found in Matthew 6:9-13. A similar prayer is in Luke 11:2-4

Jesus’ opening statement gives praise to God: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Praise God for who He is.

Psalm 22:3 says “You are enthroned as the Holy One; You are the holy One of Israel.”

We can praise Him because He is: Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Healer, Deliverer, Helper, Provider, Savior, and more. He is enthroned upon our praises and sits down among us. We are to bless the Lord.

“I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips” – Psalm 34:11.

The prophet Isaiah tells us to put on the garment of praise.

"To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

Take off the heavy coat; the heaviness and despair. When I am in despair, I will worship Him. Tell God who He is; it will build your faith in Him. Look what You have done. You are great! You do miracles! There is no one else like You!

Psalm 90:2 – “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

Psalm 121:1 – "I will lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Isaiah understood the importance of building his own faith in God."

Isaiah knew God and what he had done.
He acknowledged what God had done.
He glorified God for what He had done.

Romans 1:20-21 shows the contrast of those people that refused to acknowledge God. When we know who He is and what He has done we can better see what He will do. Do you know what God has done and what God will do in your life?

Noah Found Grace - Final

Noah was a just man, He was justified by faith in the promised seed that he never knew; “By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” – Hebrews 11:7.

He was sanctified and he was righteous in his conversation; He was a man who made God's ethics his own ethics and was careful to give to God His due and to men theirs. Only a completely honest man or woman can find favor with God.

Noah was perfect, not with a sinless perfection, but a perfection of sincerity; He was not perfectly holy, or free from sin, but he was a recipient of the true grace of God; as we accept Christ’s work of grace, His righteousness is accepted as our perfection.

Noah walked with God, as Enoch had done before him.

He was not only honest, but also devoted and dedicated; he walked with God. He knew that God saw him. And lived accordingly.

He lived a life in relationship with God; it was Noah’s unwavering desire to conform himself to the will of God, to please Him, and to approve himself to Him and not men.

Noah was righteous and perfect and walked with God, in his generation.

He did not ask to be born in that corrupt degenerate age. But he was born into that sinful society and he lived in that society with his eye toward heaven and his ear toward heaven that he might see and hear God and act for Him.

No one else in all the world of his day could be described this way. We are called to be like Noah in our generation; to be just, sanctified, perfect, and to walk with God. While we live in a wicked fallen world, we are here to walk with God and show others the way to God.