Divine Encounters

Day 260 Reading: Luke 17:1 - Luke 20:47 Do you feel frustrated? Do you feel like life is passing you and God seems to be far? I know many people who are at the place of giving up. Many today are fighting inner thoughts of failure and have a mental battle to just stay alive. As I was preparing to write this blog after having spent time in the Word I began to feel the need to just encourage myself. Just because it seems that your life and the promises of God are parallel lines don't assume that will be your state forever.  While reading today's passages I was struck by the phrase Jesus used to warn the disciples of the days ahead, 'Remember Lot's wife.' Lot was Abraham's nephew who after seeing his wealth increase and to avoid strife between their herdsmen opted to move to Sodom. He chose where to stay without consulting God. The Bible says he saw the land looked good and decided to settle there, however, Sodom which was where he settled was full of d...

Day 246 Reading: Matthew 5:1 - Matthew 9:38 Ever wondered what exactly the Kingdom of God is about? The children of God were expecting a Messiah who would bring God's Kingdom on earth. Jesus when He began preaching declared that the Kingdom was at hand or nearby. Matthew the writer doesn't waste time revealing to us aspects of the Kingdom. As I read and meditated God stirred my heart to pray for sensitivity and willingness to learn. As human beings we have our ways that we think are the way however while reading the teachings of Jesus one thing I am sure to learn is how much I need to learn to conform to the Kingdom of God. Kingdom Blessings Jesus is the best preacher who ever lived. Many say His best sermon was titled the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, called by many The Beatitudes, Jesus declared 9 blessings. Each blessing recorded in Matthew 5:3-12 is not just a blessing that is received by faith. Jesus was declaring blessings for demonstrating qualities...

Day 245 Reading: Matthew 1:1 - Matthew 4:25 A new beginning is here. A new day; the new season is upon us. As we begin this part of this journey may I encourage you to know that your heart will be refreshed as we study the Word. May hope come alive in you. The Book of Matthew was written primarily to the Jews who were expecting a Messiah. The Old Testament contained promises of a Messiah who would save the people from their enemies and set a Kingdom that would be without end. Matthew in writing this gospel sought to show the reader how some of those prophecies aligned with Jesus.  As I read the portion of scripture today a thought struck my mind about Jesus, the temptations and the tempter. Satan wasn't tempting Jesus just using His needs but the enemy was using the same tactic he used in Eden. The devil doesn't have new tricks. In the Garden of Eden, he made Eve to question the Word and thereby her identity. When she conversed with the serpent the question of ...

The days ahead will be awesome, wondrous and glorious days but only to those who choose to follow God wholly. As we come to the end of 2011 and enter a new season called 2012, my heart is concerned that many others and even myself may not see the fullness of what God has planned. You might wonder why I have included myself, but that is because I also have to pay the price if I want to win the prize allotted for me in 2012. I have made the choice to pay the price to succeed in all areas of endeavour. One key to victory that will separate those who succeed from the rest is the ability to listen and hear God clearly. The days of depending on someone to hear God for you are over. God desires relationship with us but unfortunately we have relationships with everyone and everything else apart from our Creator. Even when we say we have a relationship with Him too many times we have shallow relationships with Him that cannot sustain the new season we are about to enter. Too many of us kno...