n0klu's Rants

  May 26, 2022 at 12:28 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     At Peace With Your Story At Peace With Your Story "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."       Genesis 50:20 Scripture Focus: Genesis 50:15-21 Through 14 long and detailed chapters of the book of Genesis, the life of Joseph unfolds. In his young life he was deeply loved by his father but resented, betrayed, and sold into slavery by his brothers. Through every moment of     mockery, abuse, and false accusation, the Lord was with Joseph. God's power was working out his story for good.   God is intimately engaged in the story of your life as well. He is faithful to bring His goodness out of your trials. Joseph's journey not only eventually positioned him to     become a leader in Egypt, it also cultivated a spirit of mercy and abiding trust in God.   That is the sort of trust the Lord sows into your life as you face painful days of loss, grief,

  May 25, 2022 at 2:20 PM CST Topic: +DEV+     Peace Away From Home Peace Away From Home "For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. ,We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance."     Psalm 66:10, 12   Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 29:1-7 After repeatedly turning away from the Lord, many Israelites were taken captive from their homeland to Babylon. But even in their rebellion, God encouraged His people and gave them hope. Jeremiah's letter to the exiles provided instructions on how to conduct themselves while prisoners in a strange land. They were to "settle down," "build," "plant," "increase," and "seek the peace and prosperity" of their temporary home so that "you too will prosper" (Jeremiah 29:4-7).   My Wife and I have been married nearly 46 years. We've experienced great joys and great sorrows. At one particular time, we faced several consecutive painful years of lo

  May 24, 2022 at 12:35 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Confession Begets Peace Confession Begets Peace "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."       Isaiah 57:15b Scripture Focus:Psalm 51:6-10 Both King Saul and King David committed great wrongs in their lives. However, David pursued transformation so God would make him a better man. With a contrite heart, he confessed his sin. Saul pursued an impressive image fueled by fear and pride. In the process, he sabotaged genuine fellowship with the Lord.   Think of it like the story of an attractive waterfront home that came on the market not far from where I live. People poured into the spectacular house to view it. Within hours there were multiple offers. During the home inspection, it was discovered that much of the structure had been eaten away by termites! In the inspector's words, "The only thing holdi

  May 23, 2022 at 2:31 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Armed for Peace Armed for Peace "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. ,They have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God."       2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Scripture Focus: Ephesians 6:10-18 The Word of God is truth, and truth is the reference point used to define what is good and what is evil. Without undefiled, holy clarification, there is confusion and disorder. Without truth there is no capacity for administering justice when evil has been done, and there is no cause to give honor to what is good.   God's perfect truth is one of those not-of-this- world weapons that Paul is referring to which we use to fight off the devil's schemes. To his Ephesian friends he later details those weapons more, calling them the "armor of God": truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer.   W

  May 18, 2022 at 1:50 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Gifts of Peace Gifts of Peace "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."       Hebrews 10:24-25 Scripture Focus: 1Corinthians 12:14-27 We are God's children, created to uniquely use our spiritual gifts for "the common good" (see 1 Corinthians 12:7) of the church and for His glory.   Sometimes we struggle to recognize what our gifts are. Two friends of ours stepped away from traditional pastoring to begin what they've called a "listening ministry." They go out and simply listen to what has made a person's heart break. Some stories are fresh. Some have been bottled up for decades and never shared. When their pain is validated, it is somehow made lighter. Our friends have found a way to share Jesus through their ministry, using their gifts for "t

  May 16, 2022 at 1:30 AM CST Topic: +DEV+ Made For Peace Made For Peace "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 Scripture Focus: Romans 8:15-18 We were created for peace, but we have not been born into it. The void within us where true peace is to reside cannot be filled or fully satisfied through human relationship or materials. Every one of     us will be hurt in a relationship and will ourselves cause wounds. Lasting peace must come from a source greater than human or earthly resources.   We are     born in     need of love,     acceptance, and encouragement. When people fail us and bring harm, we can become     paralyzed by pain. We sink into hopelessness or live fearful lives. Soon we find we are willing to sacrifice precious things for approval and appreciation. Our pursuits appear to be worthy investments but are distractions from the real problem. We