Sunday, October 26, 2014

Random Thoughts-46

This morning as I went out for a walk, I noticed a few birds hopping and bathing in the small water pools, near our residence. The water came from a sprinkler system that watered the grass on the lawns. As I watched, the bigger birds time and again scared away the smaller birds like the sparrows by charging at them. There was enough water for all but the attitude of the big birds was surprising. The water was not theirs, it was freely given, yet they were not willing to accomodate the smaller ones. We can forgive them, for they are just birds; not as wise or intellectual or with reasoning power as us humans.

Looking at this from a Christian point of view, the blessings that come from accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior are for every Christian to experience and be blessed. The river of blessings flow because of Jesus' atoning work on the cross. The big birds should not look down on the smaller ones, for the price was paid by Jesus. God has released the blessings because of the obedience of his son. God is not limited by denominations or human reasoning. He says, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. (Romans 9:15, 16)

I praise you Father God.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Random Thoughts-45

God is interested in details, that's for sure. Consider the minute details of many things that he has included in his Word, especially in the Old Testament books. Some of us skip through these to more interesting portions. Reading the book of Ezra this day, I noticed the author writing about the number of silver and gold articles that were brought back to Jerusalem by them who were released from captivity. I don't think anyone would have objected if the author had just mentioned that the gold and silver articles that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem were brought back. But God, the Holy Spirit inspired the writer to mention the numbers. 

This was the inventory: gold dishes 30, silver dishes 1,000, silver pans 29, gold bowls 30, matching silver bowls 410, other articles 1,000. In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles came up from Babylon to Jerusalem. 
(Ezra 1:9-11)

God is interested in the details of our lives too. Things that people may consider trivial are important to him. Not only the big matters, we can take our smallest issues to our Lord....He will hear...he will care.....that's for sure.