All in a Game of Skip-Bo

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. ~ Romans 8:28-30

I’ve heard Romans 8:28 my whole growing up, as it was my mom’s favorite verse.  I was thinking about it again yesterday, in light of some recent teachings I’d heard.  I began to remember my Grandma Mary Erkilla, my mom’s mom, and how she loved to play cards.  We would play everything from Gin Rummy to Skip-Bo.  I remember when my cousins were just old enough that they could understand and grasp rules and so my grandma worked hard to teach them to play Skip-Bo, as they always wanted to play with us.  My grandma would sit them to her left—as play went to the left—so that what she did always benefited them.  Every time she would finish her turn she explained what she had done, reminded them of the cards they had in their hands and how the two working together would benefit them.  She always let them pick which card to play, so that they could learn.  But if it was going to be a very bad play for them, she would stop them and say, “Well let’s look at this,” and begin to point out how that one play would affect so many future plays.

Isn’t that what God does with us?  Doesn’t He send us teachers and friends to teach us things about Him and His Truths and then ask us to dig more into the Word and spend personal, quiet time with Him?  He allows us to make our own moves, but also sends the Holy Spirit to walk daily with us, giving us constant instruction to help mold and shape us, so that we begin to better reflect the image of His Son.

Thank you, Father God, for sending me friends and teachers, for my parents, my grandparents, my uncles and aunts, my cousins, and all the other relatives you have sent to help mold me to become more like You.  Lord, I pray that I will continue to draw closer and closer, so that I will be the best reflection of You, Lord.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Expect What You Accept

We can’t expect to walk in the fullness of God if we can’t accept the fullness of God.

In Leviticus 25, God talks about taking a “Sabbath” year of rest, once every seven years.  During this year, the people are to do no planting and no harvesting.  “But you might ask, 'What will we eat during the seventh year, since we are not allowed to plant or harvest crops that year?' Be assured that I will send my blessing for you in the sixth year, so the land will produce a crop large enough for three years,” (Leviticus 25:20-21).

Consider that you are a farmer and you have been given this decree from God to trust His Word.  Now, you’ve probably been sowing and harvesting crops a long time and so you understand how seed time and harvest time work.  You know that a specific amount of seed produces a specifically sized crop.  You also know that one year’s worth of seed to crop ratio does not produce a 1:3 harvest.  So in the fifth year, you have to make a choice.  Do you A) trust God’s Word to produce a 1:3 harvest in the coming year, or B) spend the next year fretting about how you only have enough seed to produce one year's worth of crop, forgetting God's promise to you?

Maybe your issue isn’t about trusting God’s promises, but rather accepting that His Word is final and when Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant it, (John 19:30).  Maybe you need to forgive someone.  Perhaps you’ve already forgiven them a thousand times, but for some reason, you can’t accept Jesus’ Words that it’s finished and let it go completely.  Who are you holding judgment and resentment against?  A friend, relative, spouse, child, parent?  Yourself?

In order to receive all that God has for you, you must first believe all that He’s said to you.  Jesus said, “It is finished.”  So nail that sin to His cross, allow His blood to cover over it, and let it go forever.  God’s Word says that He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20).  But in order to receive it, you must first believe it.  When you no longer withhold forgiveness from anyone, including yourself and believe the Word of God without question, you will have truly accepted the fullness of God without exception.

©2012 Heather Potts

He is my Shield

Who is this King of glory? ~ Psalm 24:8

Who is this King we are to revere?  What has He done for us?

In Genesis 15:1, God said, “Do not fear...I am your shield…”  What is a “shield”?  God said, “I am your defense, your defender, your protector.  I will cover over you and keep you safe.”  When a soldier goes into battle he needs to protect his body from attacks from his enemy.  God said that He will defend us.

So when we are facing financial battles, hardships, emotional struggles, painful physical toils, and trials of every kind, we will know who is this King of glory and we will say, “He’s everything to me.”  Thank you, Father God, for financial provision, for comfort, for peace, and for surrounding us with your love.  Thank you that to the right and to the left, behind and before, and everywhere I go, you are there.  Thank you that during these hard times, I can call out to you and know that I am not alone, because the King of glory is ever by my side.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle…Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory. ~ Psalm 24:8, 10