His Love Our Response

Alex Bangle on February 13, 2011

In Luke 1:38 mary says “…Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word… ” in response to God ‘s call on her life. Of course today is valentines and for many it ‘s a time of love. I want to challenge us today not to forget the love that God has shown us. In all his glory and power he choose to show us love through Jesus Christ.

So back to the verse, should we not respond the same way to the God who has shown us so much love. But do we truly view ourselves as servants to God? Do we serve and perform duties according to the Word of God as a servant of God would? God loved us so much that he sent His son to die for us, the least we could do is love and serve Him everyday.

Prayer

Alex Bangle on February 9, 2011

I define prayer as the intentional conveying of a message to God. Intentional is important as it’s a direct and earnest effort on our part to convey a message to God, not just a statement about God. The bible teaches that God is in control and sovereign over every situation but it always tells us to pray and that God hears our prayers. (1 John 5:15)

We underestimate the power of prayer. God hears our prayer if we pray with a humble heart that is seeking Him. Daniel 10:12 “…humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. ” It is a health habit for us to pray to God often, how else can your relationship with God increase, unless you spend time talking with Him.

Fully Rely on God

Alex Bangle on February 8, 2011

“God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do and directs them to fulfill his purposes. ” Wayne Grudem.

There are more scriptures then I can list that support this statement. With this truth we should be confident everyday to rely on God, to trust Him with all of our heart. He is the God who holds the universe together (Heb 1:3 & Col 1:17) and by Him all things were made (Col 1:16). So take heart that God is always there, always involved and acting upon our prayers according to His will and desire.

Pray

Alex Bangle on February 7, 2011

Please if you read these blogs, take the minute you would read it and pray to God for this day.

All Creation Cries Out

Alex Bangle on February 2, 2011

(Psalm 19:1-4 ESV) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. ” Luke 19:40 (ESV) He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out. “

In my life I am very inspired by God ‘s created universe, the sky, the trees, the stars all of God ‘s creation that surrounds me. It is amazing to look at it like a child and see the beauty of God ‘s glory shown in His own creation! I think sometimes we need to stop and pause and look at this beautiful creation He has made and know that the reason it ‘s there and the reason it does what it does is because of God, by His very word. “Be still and know that I am God… ” Psalm 46:10

Supremacy Of Christ

Alex Bangle on February 1, 2011

It is important and healthy for us to wrestle with big thoughts about God. One of these being Christ ‘s Supremacy over all things. “Psalms 135:6 Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. ” Here we see evidence of Christ ‘s Supremacy, that He does what pleases Him in all creation. I am humbled by this passage and I am very encouraged by it. Since God is Good, Holy and Just then He has all rights to do as he pleases and we should rejoice in this.

“Isaiah 46:10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose “. I love the power of this verse. Christ declares from the start, the things that would be done. This assures me of God ‘s control over everyday, but even more of the Trinity ‘s power and eternal presence. The statement God makes is an absolute assurance “shall stand ” and “I will ” and that should comfort us that we don ‘t live in chaos but in God ‘s control.

Joy of the Lord

Alex Bangle on January 30, 2011

Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. ” It is hard to maintain joy during at all times everyday. There are days when things may not go as planned or we encounter negative circumstances. I am learning that in all things let the joy of my salvation overcome all sin and strife. That Joy being Jesus Christ, Son of God.

I struggled with how that works, and it was so fitting yesterday on what our pastor preached on. I realized that this joy comes and is rooted in Christ and our salvation. Which means we must abide in Him at all times. The daily joy is available for those that will let go of worldly things and their pride and let God be the center and focus of their every moment.

The Trinity

Alex Bangle on January 27, 2011

Introduction

“God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God ” – Definition by Wayne Grudem. Even though the bible never states the word Trinity, we see from scripture overwhelming evidence of a triune God. It is often easy for us to miss the importance of this in our everyday life. Realizing that God is 3 persons yet still one God is an amazing truth that can radically change the way we live and pray. I do not plan to explain the trinity but simple put it out there as truth and pray that we all may seek God in honesty and truth. Please pardon me for lack of explanation or reference as this cannot be contained into 5 simple blogs. Yet the daily joy it brings to even glimpse the Triune God as He is overwhelms and challenges me and I hope to share a part of that.

God the Father

The Father is a member of the Trinity and is fully God. Gen 1:1&3 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…And God said,… ” We see in the opening of the bible the evidence of the Father, in creation by speaking and ordering the creation of the World. John 6:38&40 “For I (Jesus the Son) have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me…For this is the will of my Father,… “. We here bridge the connection of Father and Son, God who sent the Son and the Son doing the will of the Father, mind you both the One God.

God the Son

The Son is a member of the Trinity and is fully God. Heb 1:2 “…He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world ” We now see that Jesus the Son was involved during creation, we see here clearly the Son ‘s involvement during creation. The son is fully God “Col 2:9 “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily ” this destroys any false teaching that Jesus was only a man who God brought into heaven. Scripture shows and reveals the truth of Jesus Christ, that He is God and this is a amazing truth since Jesus Christ humbled himself to our condition enduring all that we endure and being faithful even to death on the cross.

God the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity and is fully God. Gen 1:2 “…And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters “. I ‘ve read the opening of Genesis many times and never caught this connection of the presence of the Trinity even in the beginning. This only confirms the eternality of all members of the Trinity as God. We also see in the new testament Jesus in Acts 1:5 “…you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… ” The trinity of God paints a wonderful and beautiful picture of the most supreme being. A picture we cannot fully understand but just stand in awe of.

Conclusion

Gen 1:26 “Then God said, Let us make man in our image… ” It is a beautiful thing to look at the 3 members of the trinity and read the verses and see the seamless interaction of the 3 members at creation, during salvation and caring out the will of God each in their own way. Although we may not understand it all it is clear that God as the Trinity is telling a wonderful story about His glory. It amazes me even more to know that if we accept and trust in Jesus Christ that we are adopted into His family, into the family of God. We don ‘t think on that as we should, that the human race which rebelled against God has been given a chance to join in communion with God as adopted sons and daughters, and that is a huge deal!

Children of God

Alex Bangle on January 20, 2011

I don’t know if that title has a beautiful sound to you, but it sure does to me. It’s been a while since I shared a song that has touch my heart so, these song lyrics are by Third Day and truly provide joy in my heart when I reflect on them. Just for me to realize that God loved me enough to adopt me as Child is amazing. “Children of God, sing your song and rejoice, For the love that He has given us all, Children of God, by the blood of His Son, We have been redeemed and we can be called Children of God…A mystery is revealed to the universe, The Father above has proven His love, Now we are free from the judgment that we deserve, And so we are called the children of God” – Children of God – Third Day.

Place God First

Alex Bangle on January 19, 2011

Such an easy concept but so hard to put into action. Placing God first in our life is a challenge because it requires self sacrifice on our part. I think we should look at the cross and realize the example that God made when sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross. Each and everyday we have opportunities to place God first, we need to change our mindset on things and let God transform us.