Where are you going? Why are you here?

Why are you reading this? Did you just happen to visit this place?

I don’t believe that we are here by coincidence. Actually, I don’t believe in coincidence – or luck. What I do believe is that God’s providence has ordered my steps (compare Ps 37:23 KJV) and brought us together.

Many times, we are totally unaware of the events that transpire in the process of getting us to a place where God wants us to be. After the events begin to happen, we are still not likely to understand them. However, God has a plan and He orders our steps to bring us to the “watershed” points in our lives.

You may ask, “What is God’s plan for my life?” Well, I can’t answer that directly. But, I do know some general things about God’s plan. I know that God’s plan is to bring us to a place of success and eventual good.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

First, God does not measure “prosperity” the same way the current crop of TV preachers often do. Prosperity in God’s view is equated with good success. It refers to our being successful in the things that He has designed for us to accomplish. More than that, God intends to develop hope in us and his plan is to provide us with a future of unimaginable joy and promotion. Read the rest of this entry »

James: God Has A Plan
Excerpt… If God’s plan for each of us is to give us hope, why do we have to endure such trials, hardships and pain. And why does He allow us to get into such despair? Well, the short answer is that God’s plan is that He wants us to experience a life of righteousness (James 1:20). This is the cornerstone of what the Book of James is all about.

Click on the title of this post to go directly to the original article or – click here to go to the “James” website.

James: What does God want from me?

Excerpt from an article on the “James On Trial” website… If God’s plan for each of us is to give us hope, why do we have to endure such trials, hardships and pain. And why does He allow us to get into such despair? Well, the short answer is that God’s plan is that He wants us to experience a life of righteousness (James 1:20). This is the cornerstone of what the Book of James is all about.

Click on the title of this post to go directly to read the rest of this article or – click here to go to the “James” website.

Snoopy Writing

For many years, I have had a burning desire to write a book – actually two books. Until I retired, I could never seem to find that much time to dedicate to writing. It is still a difficult discipline but I have determined that I am going to write the two books that I have been harboring in my head for such a long time!

The first book is titled, “James on Trial” and it deals with the hardships that we face here on earth. I have studied this extensively and I believe that one of the best resources to find God’s plan for our life is the Book of James in the Bible. You can follow along with the development of this book online at http://james.cdntoday.com where I will be publishing the book in installments.

The second book is titled, “Eye on the Future – Hand on the Salt” and will be a study of the prophetic events that we are starting to experience – viewed through a “reality check” filter. Follow the writing of this book at http://salt.cdntoday.com where it is also being published in installments.

I welcome your comments on either or both of these books. Just visit the respective site, sign in (or register) and tell me what you think.

Ray

Some people have lucky charms or lucky numbers that they play in the lottery. Others feel “lucky” so they head off to the casino or other “game.”

Seth Godin has written an article called “The Difficult Choice” considering the relative potential of luck and intentional actions. Godin was responding to a very negative comment to his book titled The Dip. (The book deals with the question of “when to quit and when to stick.”)

In a review of The Dip, a listener writes, “I would argue that luck and randomness play at least as big a role as all of this dip stuff. “

Godin responded,

Either you believe that luck is dominant, in which case, why bother with effort?
or
You believe that luck is random, in which case it can be eliminated from your thinking and you can focus on all the stuff you can control.

That is a good assessment of the options that most people see. Personally, I do not believe in luck at all.

I do believe in providence. The Encarta Dictionary of North America offers the following definitions:

• Luck is defined as (1) success that seems to happen by chance (2) the arbitrary distribution of events or outcomes
• Providence is defined as (1) The wisdom, care, and guidance believed to be provided by a loving and caring God (2) good judgment and foresight in the management of affairs or resources Read the rest of this entry »

We all get frustrated that – in our view – justice is perverted and things just aren’t “right.” Wicked people seem to thrive & “have it all” & the more wicked, the greater their “benefits.” While godly people suffer & it seems to never end. Habakkuk challenged God, “How long is this going to continue?” (Habakkuk 1:2-4)

The Psalmist asked the same question over a dozen times (along with other Bible writers). Job also asked the question in Job 7:19; 19:2 & in Job 24:1 he asked, “Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment?” Job wanted to know WHEN it was going to stop! He wondered if God has set any limits on the pain that we endure. Read the rest of this entry »