Sunrise to Sunset

It has been hot this week so last night we went for a walk and the breeze from the Gulf felt wonderful. I got some nice sunset photos that remind me of the verse about giving praise to God no matter the time. He is worthy to be exalted not only at sunset but even all through the night!

From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord ’s name is to be praised.
Psalms 113:3 NKJV

God’s Open Door

 

1554975554024_image.jpgIn the ancient Macedonian city of Philippi, Paul and Silas found themselves at the epicenter of an earthquake that changed not only their own his lives; but the future of Christianity in the West. Previous to their travel there; Paul had a dream of a Macedonian man calling for help and so had obediently left a successful work  of planting churches throughout Asia minor, Cyprus and Syria. But not long after going to Macedonia, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and thrown into prison.

If you are anything like me, you might have started moaning or at best patiently enduring the pain and humiliation of that day. Should I have been in Paul’s place I could have complained saying; “God: You called me here and this is the thanks I get!” But no! …In fact Paul and Silas were singing hymns at midnight when suddenly an earthquake shook the prison so hard that the doors swung open and their chains fell to the ground. Often we pray for an open door and in my mind that is most definitely an open door!

If that had happened to me while chained in a dungeon I am pretty sure that I along with most of you would have been half-way home before slowing down long enough to catch our breath. But the funniest thing about that night is that the open door let the jailer in; not the prisoner out!

So no matter the problem or situation we find ourselves in today may this remind us that God’s doors are more about entrances than exits. God is working not so much to get us out of things as He is bringing others to us so that we can point them to Him and together go out through His open door!

Have We Worshiped?

Were the songs familiar? How many people were in church today? What did our friends think about the service?

True confession time…all those thoughts made their way through my mind today. I sat in my seat, gave my offering and even sang every song. But did I really worship today? And if I didn’t worship then what exactly was I doing? As I get older I pray I would simply be more honest with God and others. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that God is looking for real true worshippers. Worshipping God truly must begin with being true, telling the truth and obeying the things that He truly asks me to do. When I really truly worship Him then He will really truly seek me and teach me how to worship him more!