Pastor Brad’s Notebook

21 Mar

Posted at 12:13h in Devotionals
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"But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32:23 I would have expected the Lord to have given a stronger denunciation, to have issued a more horrible threat to those who would dare disobey His divine commands. Wouldn't it have been more in keeping with our common view of God for Him to say, "If you do not do so, then take note, you've sinned against the LORD; and I'm going to strike you with lightening bolts from heaven?" Doesn't it seem a bit soft, and not a little silly, to tell men that if they break His law that the result of their sin will soon overtake them, and that the seed they sow will one day bloom into bitterness?" Is this kind of language what we would have expected from the omnipotent, majestic, holy God of Heaven? No, because we have never before thought worthily of His might and majesty. We have considered Him to be One who would simply destroy us if we failed to obey Him. However, the scripture tells us that it is not He who will destroy us, but rather it is we who will destroy ourselves. That's why He wants to save us from, well, us.

19 Mar

Posted at 12:15h in Devotionals
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"While I was musing, the fire burned..." Psalm 39:3 Have you ever stopped to consider the fact that if you would spend more time musing, or meditating, the fire of your soul would burn brighter and hotter? You see, it is because we spend so little time in meditation and reflection that we often have so little exhilaration and enthusiasm in our walk with the Lord. Why then, don't you withdraw from the world to spend time with the Lord more often? If you were to do so you would soon discover that you would be better equipped to face the world because you would, in fact, be less worldly.

12 Mar

Posted at 12:07h in Devotionals
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"Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused." 1st Samuel 11:6 This seems to be a rather strange response of the Spirit. In fact, I would have expected any other effect than this. I have always understood that the presence of the Spirit means love. Yet here I am told that its purpose was to create anger in King Saul. Does that mean that there is a love that is compatible with anger? I believe that the answer is "yes." In the book of Revelation I read about "the wrath of the Lamb." Isn't that an odd statement? Does that mean that the Lamb lost the presence of the Spirit and suddenly burst into anger? Absolutely not. In fact, I believe that it is the Spirit's presence that gives Him His wrath.

09 Mar

Posted at 13:40h in Fridays Are For Family
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It's one of the most valuable lessons you can teach your children - how to properly handle money. You see, we live in a world where more lives - and even nations - are falling apart at the seams because of financial irresponsibility. It seems that almost every day I hear where some nation is in chaos over an oncoming collapse in their economy or some family is facing foreclosure (or even divorce) because they never learned the first rule of finances - you can't spend more than you take in. One of the first lessons I have determined to teach my children is how to properly view and use the money that the Lord gives to them. I want them to see themselves as stewards of God's money, not spenders of their money. I want them to see money for what it is - a way to be blessed and a means to be a blessing. I don't want them to fall into the financial traps that so many people fall into today. I don't want their self-worth to be tied to their net-worth. I don't want them to hold onto to their money, yet lose their family. I don't want them to get into so much debt that they can't obey and follow the Lord. In short, I want them to have a Biblical view of money.