Trinity Christian Union Church Blog http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/ Blogs from Trinitys Pastorial Staff.....Get close and personal with our pastors! en-us Nucleus CMS v3.32 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif Trinity Christian Union Church Blog http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/ Genesis 16 "The prayer of Hagar" http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=31 null angel of Jehovah, and grace received by the slave girl Hagar. God met her in her despair and extended blessing and comfort to a seemingly catastrophic situation.
Hagar was in despair. She was without a lively hood. She was alone. She was expecting a baby. She was the recipient of Sari's harshness, and Abram's neglect. A poor Egyptian slave lost in her confusion.
Quite a mess if you ask me. But these are just the situations where God shows up to minister grace. He extends a blessing that she did not deserve. Grace! This child, Ishmael, was not the child of promise. But never the less God saw fit to bless Hagar anyways. Perhaps because of her affiliation with the man of faith, Abram. But I'd like to think it was because God saw a hurting soul and in His divine power communicated unconditional grace to her. Not only that but He counseled her on how to get along with her mistress. Submission.
I believe Hagar learned a great lesson here beside this well where God sees me. She had quite the character transformation when in communication with God's grace. Fleeing from the face of Sari, Hagar ended up face to face with the Angel of Jehovah. (Most certainly the pre-incarnate Christ) Oh! that we may in our despair be confronted with the face of Jesus. Oh! that we may be so submerged in His grace that we could go back submissively to the very harsh situations that overwhelm us. There is awesome power in the communication of God's grace.
]]> General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=31 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:03:53 -0700 Prayer of confirming faith http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=30 This two way dialogue between God and Abram was initiated by God. It is a special communication in which God spoke through a vision. God gives Abram a confirming "fear not”. This must have been a very special chat...
that caused Abram to be a bit frightened. But God continues with affirming that He is Abram's shield and exceeding great reward.
It is here that Abram begins to ask questions. I consider this whole dialogue the prayer of confirming faith. It begins with a promise of sorts from God. That is based on a promise already made in chapter twelve. And it is the promise that has to do with Abram having children or an heir. Since Abram was getting older, and still had no children he questioned God. God simply confirms His promise that it would be Abram's own seed and then gives Him a visual illustration of the stars to show how many offspring Abram would have. This must have been the confirming answer that Abram was asking for, because he believed God. By this prayer of confirming faith it was counted unto Abram as righteousness.
I believe genuine question asking is appropriate in prayer. We should ask God not in doubt but in a real desire to know His plans. Then expect that God will give us a confirming answer. As we communicate with God it should lead us to a stronger faith, which in turn will grant righteousness. We can be connected to God through prayers of faith. However, we must believe God. Our prayers shouldn't stop with questions, but waiting upon the Lord until He answers and we may trust His answer. Thank you Lord for initiating such great communication with Your creation. ]]> General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=30 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:06:15 -0800 Prayers of Noah http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=29 obedience. No questioning, crying, or complaining; just obeying. What a difference it would make in the church today if Christians did less talking and more listening to God. Through His Word God has spoken the requirements that He desires to build not His ark, but His church. If we would just obey in the simple truths of the scripture, it would cause a revival. Oh God, help me to do less talking and more obeying! ]]> General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=29 Mon, 3 Dec 2007 13:04:07 -0800 Thank You! http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=28 For as many as may read this from time to time, thank you very much for your encouraging prayers. I'm on the road toward restoration :D My leg really is doing better, and I hope to be walking in a few weeks. Thanks again!]]> General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=28 Mon, 3 Dec 2007 13:01:39 -0800 Pray for Daniel http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=27 General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=27 Mon, 5 Nov 2007 05:47:44 -0800 The lying prayer... http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=26 This conversation between God and Cain begins with a question and ends with Cain leaving the presence of God. What a sad lot. I wonder if things would have turned out different if Cain had not lied to God about killing His brother able. Perhaps we could consider this a lying prayer.
But the prayer doesn't stop with a lie.
...God then communicates His judgment on Cain. I'm not sure how I would have responded to this voice from God. I'm certain this was a major eye opener for Cain. I wonder what even made him think that he could hide his sin from God in the first place? Then again he had some good models from his parents. It seems that we too have inherited this tendency to think we can manipulate God. Even in direct communication I have tried to ignore or gloss over my own sinful rebellion. The lying prayer.
Cain's tone has a sudden change upon receiving God's judgment. "I can't take it, this is too much punishment." The amazing thing to me is that God shows mercy at this point. Granted, God is a God of mercy, but this was a murder. Down right despicable jealous murder at that. The first murder. And that of a brother. Cain deserves the death penalty! But God brands him instead, and puts a judgment on anyone who would lay a hand on Cain. It is a grand thing to see how God responds to confession. We see Cain's lying prayer transition to a prayer of mercy. Cain did not continue with a prayer of innocence, but rather acknowledged his guilt.
The end of this prayer reveals the great catastrophe of sin; separation from the presence of God. Even upon God's great mercy Cain still was liable for the consequence of his actions. I pray that I would not wait for the questioning of God before I seek His mercy. I pray that the unbelieving souls of this world may be awakened to the realty of God's presence and power. That they would be confronted with their sin and allow the saving mercy of Jesus Christ to invade their spirit. As the rich man that Jesus spoke about realized, that someday the consequence will be sealed. It will be too late to cry out for mercy. Oh God, show us your mercy. ]]> General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=26 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:01:00 -0700 Prayer http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=25
I wonder what language they were speaking? Whatever, it was one clearly heard and understood. The words echoed in Adam's ears I 'm sure when God called out, "Where are you?" God was seeking this divine fellowship and Adam was hiding in shame.
Oddly enough Adam's response was that of fear. Rightly so. Then the Creator of the universe asks more questions. What an intense interigation this must have been. It is no wonder Adam tried to revert his shame to blame as he pointed to God and Eve as the culprits of his disobedience. Eve was no better, only shifting the blame to the serpent.
I consider this communication the prayer of guilt. I'm sure it was not an appropriate response to God, but none the less this prayer reveals the true heart of man. Hiding in shame. The repercussion was enormous. God placed judgment on all parties involved. And nearly in the same breath God also communicates His unfathomable grace and mercy, as he points to the day of redemption (15).
This first recorded communication between God and His creation was initiated by God Himself. I wonder if Adam would have tried to ignore God if he hadn't confronted Him. This is much like the nature of humanity today. We hide in our guilt in shame. Trying our best to avoid communication with a the Holy divine and ignoring any opportunity to seek Him. But He seeks us. The Hound of Heaven tracks down thos guilty persons and awakens their hearts to he need of redemption. Thank God that He has initiated the conversation of guilt. Thank God that He has provided the Way that we might seek Him as he has sought us.
]]> General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=25 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:44:21 -0700 Count the Cost... http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=24 Christianity is no place for sissies... As a matter of fact the bar is set high because following Christ is not some kind of fluffy go-lucky religion. We do not keep a bunch of traditional rules and regulations in order to be right before a Holy God. However, we do follow hard after Christ because He has saved us from our sin! We do live different kind of lives not to be accepted before a Holy God, but because we are accepted. Since I am a part of the family I live in total surrender to what Christ would have me do. This means every area of my life is affected: morality, financially, relationally, occupationally, physiologically, emotionally, and est.… What’s the point? Well, very simply “don’t follow Christ without considering what it is going to cost you.” And in doing that I believe you will find that as much as following Him may hurt, it is not nearly as bad as what it will cost to NOT follow Him. Trust in Jesus, He is the way to true life now and forever!]]> General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=24 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:28:47 -0700 Camp 2007 http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=23 campnaturalism and transcendentalism, and then compared them to Theism. I believe the campers left with a stronger biblical worldview, and answers as to why Biblical Christianity really is God's plan for the world! Many of the campers decided to follow Christ for the first time, and many more made strong covenants with Jesus unto death! All in all it was a great week! We even visited the newly opened Creation Museum! Along with great food, and fun activities I think we all came away from camp ready to engage our culture for Christ!]]> General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=23 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 09:12:25 -0700 I've Been Thinking... http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=22 corner of His Created universe... Just Look At these verses....
Acts 17:24-27 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; [25] Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; [26] And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; [27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Jesus said He was "the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father but through
Him." BUT... WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME!!! WOW!!!


]]> General http://trinitycu.org/TCUBlog/index.php?itemid=22 Fri, 6 Jul 2007 17:35:47 -0700