Month: May 2022

We may have to ‘push through and sacrifice’ to find our Destiny.

¹⁸ When Naomi realised that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. Ruth 1

¹⁴ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’ Acts 21

Both Ruth and Paul were advised by those who cared for them and had their best interests at heart to turn back, BUT NEITHER DID. Even those who love us and care deeply for us may not understand the Lord’s plan for our lives.

The name Ruth is predominantly a girl name of Hebrew origin, meaning “friend,” “friendship,” or “compassionate friend.” It is derived from the Hebrew word re’ut, meaning “friend.” Ruth certainly lived up to her name by her care for her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. We don’t fully understand why she clung so tightly to Naomi, did she love her so much? Or was there nothing for her to go back to in her family home? Or did she feel a call to her Destiny, that lay with Naomi and the Jews, much like Rahab?

¹⁶ But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. MAY THE LORD DEAL WITH ME, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.’ Ruth 1 

Ruth had a wonderful Destiny in Bethlehem with a new people and a new God. But she had to take a huge step of faith to get to it. It was Naomi who opened the door for her to meet Boaz as a kinsman redeemer (a type of the Lord Jesus who has redeemed us). The Lord may position us alongside someone who will help us to come into our Destiny. Older, experienced mentors (Fathers and Mothers) can be a great blessing from the Lord.

In Matthew’s genealogy (1:1–6), Jesus Christ is the son of Tamar and of Rahab and of Ruth, (Bathsheba is also referred to as Uriah’s wife, the mother of King Solomon). Rahab and Ruth were both foreigners, but in God’s Grace they were grafted into the people of God. Truly with God all things are possible.

Is the Lord calling some of us today to Trust Him for His Plan for our lives and take a step of faith? He blesses those He calls! It would be a shame to live our lives here on earth and only later find out that God had a greater calling for us. He is faithful and well able to keep us as we trust Him.

God bless and keep you today.

¹ GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH,
    AN EVER-PRESENT (well-proved AMP) HELP IN TROUBLE. Psalm 46

We said yesterday that seven of the Psalms begin with the declaration of God as our Refuge. The Sons of Korah, who wrote this psalm, also said God is ‘our strength’. Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to remove his ‘thorn in the flesh’ but the answer was;

⁹ But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.’ 2 Corinthians 12

Our flesh dislikes being helpless and dependent, it’s humbling for us, but at times God arranges our circumstances so that we are utterly dependent on Him.

² Therefore we WILL NOT FEAR, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46

The first words of verse 2 are, ‘WE WILL NOT FEAR’. No matter the trouble, we mustn’t allow fear to rise up. Hold onto God and He will come through for us – we are personally looking to God at this present time.

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ GOD IS WITHIN HER, SHE WILL NOT FALL;
    GOD WILL HELP HER AT BREAK OF DAY.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

Despite all that’s happening to us and around us, God will help us and we’ll enter a new day. The earthly Jerusalem will not fall, despite all the violent attacks, because God is within her. (There’s a Heavenly Jerusalem, still to be revealed.)

¹⁰ He says, ‘BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD; …’

Graham Cooke has changed the order of this verse by saying, ‘There is no knowing God without STILLNESS’. In present day society, especially with mobile technology, it is increasingly difficult to be STILL. God Himself says that this is the way to KNOW HIM, become attuned to His Presence. This is an antidote to the fear of events around us, to Be Still and Settled before God.

Fathersloveministry is a faith based ministry, please Donate on our webpage today and help support the Father’s work;

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Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Lord is no man’s debtor, Hallelujah.

God rewards those who give to Him, don’t miss out on your blessings, give to Him today.

We are available to seek personal words of direction and encouragement for those who want them. Please contact us on our webpage above. We can also provide counselling online, contact our webpage. A donation is normally required for this service.

The Lord bless and keep you today.

Everyone needs a refuge at sometime, where is yours?

I listened to Ian White singing Psalm 31 today and posted it on our Facebook page earlier. Doing a simple search on Bible Gateway, the word ‘Refuge’ is mentioned 24 times in the Psalms and I see it occurs in the first verse 7 times.

The word Refuge can mean – a shelter, protection, safe haven, safe house, hiding place (Corrie Ten boom’s book The Hiding Place, for protecting Jewish people under Nazi German rule).

Refuge also has particular connotations in our day, such as a Refuge for abused women and children suffering under domestic violence. We also now have ‘Tech Abuse’, people who are being horribly maligned online, with terrible results.

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 

Six names and titles that were given to Jesus, in John 1.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

What a dramatic opening to John’s Gospel! Jesus was the (Living) Word and the Word was God. He was the creator of all things. In Him was Life and the Light of all mankind. This is the God Christians believe in and serve.

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ 

John, (The Baptist), uniquely called by God to be the forerunner of Christ refers to Jesus twice as the, ‘Lamb of God’. A very distinctive name among Jewish people, with their annual sacrifice of the Passover Lamb.

³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.” ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.’

John also identifies Jesus as the ‘Son of God’ (still God), to distinguish Him from the Father.

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.

Peter’s brother Andrew and one other heard John the Baptist saying that Jesus was the ‘Lamb of God’. They turned and followed Jesus to the place where he was staying and spent the day with Him.

Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter).

Jesus renamed Simon as Cephas or Peter soon after He met him; there’s no record of Peter asking to be His disciple. Jesus’ authority was evident soon after He met Simon, now Peter.

⁴⁸ ‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.’

⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.’

Nathanael declared Jesus was the ‘Son of God’, but also the ‘King of Israel’. The name that His persecutors wanted struck from the Cross, ‘King of the Jews’, but they failed. From the outset He was known as the King of God’s people.

Six significant titles/names bestowed on Jesus in the first chapter of John’s Gospel. He surely was the true Messiah.

God bless and keep you today.

⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because HE CARES FOR YOU. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

⁷ casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. AMP

⁷ Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. TLB

^6-7 So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live CAREFREE before God; he is most CAREFUL with you. MSG

We saw yesterday that Peter quoted David’s words from Psalm 55:22; they were just as relevant to the early Church as they had been for David. He had faced external enemies and also betrayal by friends who’d gone up with him to the House of the Lord. Jesus too faced attacks by religious people, who wanted a righteousness of their own and later betrayal by one of the Twelve, Judas.

In the preceding verse Peter told the believers to ‘Humble themselves under God’s mighty hand’. 1 Peter 5:6 The apostle Peter believed that humility had to come before other things in the Christian walk. However, he wanted to assure believers in Christ that they were deeply loved and cared for by the God who holds all of creation in His hands.

Peter was speaking by the Spirit to a Church, ‘to the elders among you’, I too am an elder (he was much more) but he appealed as an equal, like one of them.

² be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – NOT BECAUSE YOU MUST, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE WILLING, AS GOD WANTS YOU TO BE; not pursuing dishonest gain, but EAGER TO SERVE; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK (God sees the heart, even of leaders). ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory (will be for those who served with honest motives before the Lord) that will never fade away. 

Then Peter spoke to the young men, telling them to ‘be submissive to those who are older’. Finally he speaks to everyone so that no one is left out;

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because,

²² Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55 NIV

²² Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail). AMP

²² Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—
    he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.
He’ll never let good people
    topple into ruin. MSG

I read this verse in David’s Psalm 55 and was encouraged by it. (Peter, quotes the same words in 1 Peter 5:7, also to believers who are enduring trials.)

David tells us the effect that the wicked are having on his life;

⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in (wait for) the Lord will inherit the land. 

³⁴ Hope in (wait for) the Lord
    and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. Psalm 37

These two verses in Psalm 37 give us a Conditional Promise from the Lord concerning our Inheritance, namely we have to Hope/Wait for Him.

HOPE IS THE CONFIDENT EXPECTATION OF GOOD.

There are many references to Hope in the Psalms;

¹³ I REMAIN CONFIDENT of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ WAIT FOR THE LORD;
    BE STRONG AND TAKE HEART
    AND WAIT FOR THE LORD. (Repeated Twice) Psalm 27

David spoke personally of his faith in his God, ‘I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living’. His enemies and his circumstances weren’t going to triumph over him, God was with him and He’s with us and in us now.

There are many references to Waiting/Hoping in the prophet Isaiah, but one that will always stand out for me;

²³ Then you will know that I am the Lord;
    THOSE WHO HOPE IN ME WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED (PUT TO SHAME). Isaiah 49

I was approaching marriage to my first wife, now in Glory, and I was trying to book a hotel in the English Lake District for our honeymoon. I had written to a good hotel with my budget for one of their superior rooms. It was only a couple of weeks to the wedding and I’d heard nothing. I awoke on a Saturday morning and had a flood of thoughts in my mind, ‘you’ve nothing booked for your honeymoon and it’s going to be a disaster’. Then, almost immediately, I heard the above scripture, for which I had to look up the reference. I felt certain God had things in hand and the following week the hotel contacted me with a keen price for the room I wanted. PS they also left a front door key outside, for two perfect strangers, as we were arriving on a late ferry from N.Ireland after the wedding. GOD IS SO GOOD!

There may be some today, including ourselves, who need to hear afresh, THAT THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED – WE SERVE A FAITHFUL, LOVING FATHER.

Fathersloveministry is a faith based ministry, please Donate on our webpage today and help support the Father’s work;

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Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Lord is no man’s debtor, Hallelujah.

God rewards those who give to Him, don’t miss out on your blessings, give to Him today.

We are available to seek personal words of direction and encouragement for those who want them. Please contact us on our webpage above. We can also provide counselling online, contact our webpage. A donation is normally required for this service.

The Lord bless and keep you today.

The Righteous will endure, but the wicked will soon pass away. The wicked have no future, but the righteous have.

It’s remarkable the number of times in Psalm 37 that David says the wicked won’t last, they’re passing – God will see to it .

¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away. Psalm 37

This is the opening of David’s psalm, telling people ‘NOT TO FRET about the wicked’, they’re fading away just like grass. This theme is underlined again and again throughout the psalm. It’s as if God is telling us that no matter how things may seem now, His Hand will intervene and bring it to an end.

²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;
²² those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses will be destroyed.

Ultimately the Lord will determine destiny, according to whether we have served Him or not.

Even the wicked who grow like a tree will be brought down.

³⁷ Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
    a future awaits those who seek peace.
³⁸ But all sinners will be destroyed;
    there will be no future for the wicked.

Contrast this with God’s good promises to the righteous,

²⁷ Turn from evil and do good;
    then you will dwell in the land for ever.
²⁸ FOR THE LORD LOVES THE JUST
    AND WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS FAITHFUL ONES.

Wonderful promises of God to those who walk with Him here on earth.

God bless and keep you today.

We looked on Monday in Psalm 37 how David by the Spirit told us to, ‘dwell in the land and ENJOY SAFE PASTURE’, God’s power Will Keep Us.

Yesterday we saw that there were six references to Inheritance in the Psalm, verses 9, 11, 18, 22, 29 and 34. God CHOSE His people’s Inheritance and Gave it to them. Don’t allow any of our inheritance to be stolen!

There are also some wonderful promises which God has given to us through David.

¹⁹ In times of disaster they (We) WILL NOT WITHER;
    in days of famine they WILL ENJOY PLENTY. Psalm 37

Disaster and famine are not things anyone wants to live through, but God promises to provide for us, even in the most difficult times. We shouldn’t become discouraged, God is well able to keep us through even the toughest trials.

²³ The Lord MAKES FIRM THE STEPS
    OF THE ONE WHO DELIGHTS IN HIM; (Declare it)
²⁴ THOUGH HE MAY STUMBLE, he will not fall,
    for THE LORD UPHOLDS him with his hand. 

We’re never told that we won’t stumble, so don’t be alarmed if it’s happened already, but the Lord still hangs on to us and lifts us up again.

²⁵ I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have NEVER SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN
    OR THEIR CHILDREN begging bread.
²⁶ They are always generous and lend freely;
    their children will be a blessing (or blessed).

God looks after His Righteous people and also their children. He provides for those dear to us as well.

³⁰ The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
    and their tongues speak what is just.
³¹ THE LAW OF THEIR GOD IS IN THEIR HEARTS;
    THEIR FEET DO NOT SLIP.

God’s promise to guard us as we walk/live our lives, especially as we keep His Word in our hearts. There’s a difference between reading God’s Word and having it in our hearts.

³² The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
    intent on putting them to death;
³³ but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

Some time ago I had a very minor incident with my car. My car was completely unmarked, but the other party later tried to claim damages. The Spirit spoke Proverbs 11:8 to me (very similar to the verse above);

⁸ THE RIGHTEOUS ARE RESCUED FROM TROUBLE, 
    and it falls on the wicked instead. Proverbs 11

On this occasion the insurance company refused the claim against me – I was rescued from trouble just as I was told.

The psalm of David ends with a powerful statement of God’s protection for His Righteous ones. (Remember David was sustained and protected through many attacks on his life.)

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    HE IS THEIR (OUR) STRONGHOLD IN TIME OF TROUBLE. (He truly is)
⁴⁰ THE LORD HELPS THEM AND DELIVERS THEM;
    he HE DELIVERS THEM from the wicked AND SAVES THEM,
    BECAUSE  THEY TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.

God gave us these promises through a man who desperately needed them in his own life, we can trust that the same God who delivered David will rescue us.

God bless and keep you today.

 

 

God chose Israel’s inheritance – what has He chosen for us?

Inherit means; RECEIVE (money, property, or a title) as an heir at the death of the previous holder. An inheritance is Given to the one(s) chosen for it.

God Chose the best for His people and He wants the best for us too. 

¹⁰ When the LORD YOUR GOD BRINGS YOU INTO THE LAND he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, ¹¹ houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied, ¹² be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Deuteronomy 6

You did not do it with your own sword and bow. ¹³ SO I GAVE YOU A LAND ON WHICH YOU DID NOT TOIL AND CITIES YOU DID NOT BUILD; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.”

¹⁴ ‘Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Joshua 24

Psalm 37, see yesterday’s blog, has multiple references to Inherit/Inheritance.

⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in (wait for) the Lord WILL INHERIT the land.

¹¹ But the meek WILL INHERIT the land
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.

¹⁸ The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
    and their INHERITANCE will endure for ever. (Our Inheritance is to be a lasting one, Praise the Lord)

²² those the Lord blesses WILL INHERIT the land,
    but those he curses will be destroyed.

²⁹ The righteous WILL INHERIT the land
    and dwell in it for ever.

³⁴ Hope in (wait for) the Lord
    and keep his way.
He WILL EXALT YOU TO INHERIT THE LAND;
    when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

Surely it’s not coincidence that David mentions six times that God wants to bless His people with an inheritance, CHOSEN FOR US. We need to press in and thank Him today and tell Him that we want ALL HE HAS FOR US.

God bless and keep you today.