1Samuel 2:17, “Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.18 BUT Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, …”
It is interesting to note that the scripture takes time to address the behavior of Eli’s sons in bits then changes to addresses the young life of Samuel, then again Eli’s sons before it comes back to Samuel.
Continue reading “Commend All To God, Part 2of2, Evans Olang”
Matthew 17:5, “…This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”
Parents love to brag about their children especially when they are doing well. I have seen bumper stickers say “proud parent of …”. I know of no parent who would brag about their stubborn, rebellious, ungrateful, un loving, unforgiving child. They love them for sure, they just do not have something in their lives to brag about. Parents take pride in their children when they honor them by how they live their lives.
Genesis 30:1, “Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me a child, or else I die”
If at all I was to ask different people how they think of themselves, I will have a long list for sure. You may have something about that you don’t like. If God was to give you a chance to design who you would like to be, most likely you may have a completely different picture of the new you. Continue reading “Fearfully And Wonderfully Designed, Evans Olang”
Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever”
Anyone can start a journey, it matters a lot how you finish. I notice the way David begins strong and finishes strong. We see his hopes rise, and his faith is strengthened, by being exercised. Observe what he promises himself, “goodness and mercy”.
All the streams of mercy flowing from the fountain, pardoning mercy, protecting mercy, sustaining mercy, supplying mercy will follow him as he lives in obedience according to the One who has called him. He knows his total dependency is on God of host. There is nothing he can do of himself but trust and obey. Continue reading “Psalm 23: The Divine Shepherd, 6of6, Evans Olang”
Hebrews 11:8-12, Vs. 8, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going”
The journey of faith is simply taking God at His word even when it does not make sense. Its awaiting God’s timing without doubting His love. It’s pushing a rock you’ve been asked to push knowing you could never move it but taking comfort that a bigger hand will move it so you push anyway. And here we find the faith of Abraham, the friend of God, and father of the faithful with a series of events and times that required taking God at His word. Continue reading “Hebrews 11: Taking God At His Word, Evans Olang”
Genesis 32:24-26, “25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
There is a constant wrestle that takes place in our lives. I realize that the wrestling does not happen much with everyone around but when you are left alone in your quiet time. Many have sleepless nights due to wrestling with ideas, thoughts, opinions, decisions to make, or moves to make; weighing different options and trying to evaluate whether it is the right thing to do or not.
Job 29:12, “because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.”
Job 31:21, “if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court, Job 31:22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. Job 31:23 For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.” (Job 31:21 – 23)
Fatherlessness is area of deep concern for God. God’s heart is to be a father to the fatherless as the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 68:5 “A father to the fatherless… is God in his holy dwelling.” Continue reading “The Fatherless Factor, Pastor Phil Sessa”
Genesis 29:15-30, vs. 18 “Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve (labor) you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
For those who are in love or have been in love at some point will agree that there is a level of service you do for the one you love. It’s not out of obligation or guilt but out of the abundance of love flowing from within expressed. I call it the outworking of the internal. Continue reading “I Labored For Rachel, Evans Olang”
Ephesians 1:18, “that you may know …, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”
If a child was to appear in public hungry, sick and with rugged clothes, that child would not be bringing shame to himself but to his father primarily. Everyone will be asking, “whose child is this?” They may want to blame the father until they find out that the child may have neglected or even refused to receive everything the father has provided and in that he or she is bringing shame to his name. Continue reading “Our Resources In Christ, Part 4of5, Evans Olang”
He Has Magnified His Word 