Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The LORD is our Head

Micah 1 & 2

Inspired thots

The Lord works for His people; even though the people sinned, He comes through for them. How wonderful in 2:13 "Their KING will pass on before them, the Lord at their head."

Wow! The Lord goes before His people.... hence, only blessings flow though harm is intended by the enemy.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Cannot Run From God

Jonah

Inspired Thots

The Lord will choose His own for His will. No one can run away from God; He knows what is best. He always has the best in mind for His people. He sees the future and knows what His people need. It is better to obey God if one hears clearly from Him. There is no running away from Him. He will bless as we walk in His ways. God is So good! 

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Be Merciful & Compassionate

Obadiah

Inspired thots

Only 21 verses comprise the book of Obadiah. Though it speaks of Edom's judgment, it reveals a couple of contemporary lessons:

1) Be merciful to those who are under siege (physical or spiritual).
Don't glee over them or take advantage of them in their days of calamity.

2) The Lord will have each account for the callous deeds executed on others who are unfortunate. 
He always avenge for He is the Righteous Judge.


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Restoration After Judgment

Amos 9

Inspired thots

A good ending despite the terrible judgment of the Lord on those who refuse to come back to Him. However, He does restore blessings to His people; always compassionate and merciful. This is our God. When the Lord judges, there is no where to hide. He will seek out everyone who has wronged Him but will restore those whom He loves.

Which side are we on?

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Famine of God's Word

Amos 8

Inspired thots

The time will come when there would not be the opportunity to hear God's word. "A famine of God's Word" -  rarely heard. God and His prophets would not be available when people want them. How true God's words of "seek the Lord while He may be found". If we are not drawing close to God now, it would be difficult when the day of Judgment comes.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Interceding Against God's Wrath

Amos 6 & 7

Inspired thots

Impending judgments on Israel were thwarted by Amos' intercession. God is compassionate and merciful towards His people even though they are very stubborn. How important to INTERCEDE for the nation lest God's wrath and judgment are poured out on the land and more sufferings come to the people. The role of intercessors is very important to ensure that all is well with the people and God. A heart of compassion just like God to turn God's wrath away from His terrible judgments. But, when will the people learn?

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Simple Living Conditions

Amos 5

Inspired thots

It is very simple to live a fulfilling life... SEEK the Lord and live; seek good and not evil; love good and establish justice. So simple but difficult with man who is self-centered. 

The Day of the Lord is darkness when His judgment comes; fear and trembling for those who are not prepared for it. God is not looking for sacrifices and burnt offerings without a sincere and contrite heart. The former would be rejected without the latter.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Failure to Return to God

Amos 3 & 4

Inspired thots

God's people would be judged and punished when they do not return to Him even though He has been calling them again and again. There would be no more mercy and grace when God is taken for granted. There would be no more time for excuses when Jesus comes again to judge. If we have chosen Him, how should our living be today for tomorrow? (3:3)

Each would be accountable to God for failing to hear and repent. Do we see the end to choose the means today?

Friday, December 20, 2013

The Righteous LORD Judges

Amos 1 & 2

Inspired thots

The book of Amos starts off with the listing down of the wicked acts of each people; and God's impending judgment on them. God is watching and will hold every people accountable for their callous ways. Not even Judah or Israel is spared.

Let us be humble to keep in line with God's laws and commandments to enjoy His blessings and not invoke His anger and judgment.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Lord Saves & Restores

Joel 3

Inspired thots

The Lord will come for His people; He will cause war on His people's enemies. Those who are against His beloved shall suffer for the Lord is on THEIR side. He shall not let His beloved suffer too long. What a great and mighty God we serve!

The Day of the Lord is near (v14). Many people will be impacted. He will save and restore His own. Let us be on HIS side. War is coming.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Day & Way of the Lord

Joel 2

Inspired thots

The Bible records the great and terrible Day of the Lord; and it paints a fearsome picture that makes the heart faint. But GOD IS GOOD! He always follow up with His goodness and grace. He calls His people to return and repent to enjoy His blessings. What a great God!

v25 He will restore what the locusts have eaten

v26 There shall be plenty and His people shall be satisfied

v27 His people shall acknowledge Him in their midst 

v28 He shall pour forth His spirit upon all flesh

v32 THOSE WHO CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED!

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Signs of the End Times

Joel 1

Inspired thots

Joel started with bad news; calling all the old and young to hear what the Lord is revealing for the future.

The days are coming when there is great famine; v4 "What the CUTTING locust left, the SWARMING locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the HOPPING locust has eaten; what the hopping locust left, the DESTROYING locust has eaten." There would be really NOTHING left!

A call to AWAKE to the situation;
LAMENT on the condition;
Be CONFOUNDED on the problem!

The only SOLUTION is the Lord! CALL on Him with mourning and fasting for the DAY of the LORD IS NEAR!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Not EveryONE Understands to Walk in God's Ways

Hosea 14

Inspired thots

Even at the end (last chapter), God is still wooing His people back to Him. How He longs for them at His side although they sin and stray away. But it is not everyone who would hearken to the voice of God; only the discerning knows and understands to walk uprightly in them. Transgressors would stumble in God's righteous ways. Profound but logical!

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Adversity to Bring About Repentance

Hosea 13

Inspired thots

How often that God has to bring on Adversity to cause Repentance in His people. When life gets too good, people get complacent and stray away from God. They fall into sin with their pride and strange alliances that displease God. Adversity causes man to be humble and come back to God as they remember Him in good days.

How God loves His people to bring them back instead of letting them on their own destructive ways!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

God @ Work

Hosea 11 & 12

Inspired thots

What a faithful God who cares for His people despite their stubbornness and rebellion! He waits for them to return to Him patiently and blesses them even when they do not know it is Him at work in their lives. It is the mercy of God working in the people to preserve them and have them know Him in due time.

Thank you Lord for not giving up on us! Thank you for not executing your fierce anger to destroy though we disappoint you for You are God and not man; YOU have not come to destroy. You love. Hallelujah! 

Friday, December 13, 2013

Sowing to Reap

Hosea 10

Inspired thots

Out of the blue in the midst of chastisement, the Rhema word emerges;

v12  Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap the fruit of steadfast love; break up your fallow ground,
        for it is time to seek the Lord, that He may come and rain salvation upon you.

It is time for action upon action to prepare for the Lord. The Word is clear; IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD.

Sowing, Reaping and Breaking Up of FALLOW ground to be useful again. Now is the time to develop self for the Lord.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Stirring God to Anger

Hosea 8 & 9

Inspired thots

How terrible when the anger of the Lord is stirred up! This is caused by stubbornness of heart and the worship of idols than turning to God in daily living. People forget God and turn to others for provision, protection and pleasure. God is displeased with their callous attitude of forgetting Him after all that He has done for them.

Impending judgment when God is stirred up in anger to pursue His rebellious people. Have mercy O Lord!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Faults of Man

Hosea 7

Inspired thots

God's people perish when they remain stubborn and disobedient with an unwilling heart to turn back to the Lord. Is it shame? pride? despair? stubbornness? Why not return to the Lord quickly who blesses richly? He waits to restore His people's status but they need to make that personal decision else it would be pouring clean water into mud.

Only strife will come upon the people who do not trust and hope in the Lord but themselves.


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

God's Heart Desire

Hosea 5 & 6

Inspired thots

The gist of these 2 chapters is that God's people tends to seek after every other thing to be worshiped than God Himself. Hence, God is angry and hurt; He forsakes them until they come back to their senses and repent before Him. He is merciful and gracious to receive them again into His loving arms. How wonderful is the love of our Heavenly Father!

Yet, do we know the heart of God? He expresses it SO clearly in 6:6 "For I desire steadfast love rather than sacrifice; the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."


Let us be wise and humble to stay at God's side rather than live life on our own efforts and get into trouble to lose our eternal life.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Idolatry - a Stronghold

Hosea 4

Inspired thots

Do not belittle Idolatry; for it forms a stronghold over lives. From idolatry, hardness of heart (stubbornness) develops to ignore God's righteous decrees, adultery takes over and knowledge of God is thrown aside. It is like "hell is loosed." Lawlessness reigns instead of God, and the land mourns with the inhabitants.

One small step into sin sweeps lives into the depths of sin that turns God away from us. Have mercy O Lord for we are frail. Lead us into Your light everlasting.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Always a Victorious End with God

Hosea 2 & 3

Inspired thots

God is SO good! No matter how His people strayed away from Him, He always calls them back. There is always mercy and compassion by God to His people. God always gives good endings. Great shows with God.

God WILL Restore His own to Himself. Hallelujah!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Always Restoring & Blessing

Hosea 1

Inspired thots

No matter how much Israel had sinned, God is always merciful to them. He may be angry with them for a while but He always restores them to His side. That is the true nature of God; He loves His people. He chastises but forgives and envelops them with LOVE.

How great is our God of Love!

Thank you God for your loving mercy.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Hearing BUT Not Understanding

Daniel 12

Inspired thots

Finally! The last chapter of Daniel completed. And how amazing to read about the awesome truths and revelations.

God is SO majestic. There is SO much to know about Him and the times; yet, like Daniel, we would probably not know a whole lot of God's plans even if He chooses to reveal. v8 Daniel HEARD but DID NOT UNDERSTAND. He asked for more understanding but God chooses to reveal only a little.

Faith and patience are important qualities as God's people. However, the chapter ends well...
v10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Rise and Fall of Man (Kingdoms)

Daniel 11

Inspired thots

The explanation to Daniel's dream & vision unfolds what seems to be world war 1. There is constant fighting and killing of kings to snatch kingdoms. Pride comes before a fall; proud kings fall. They are just man. Only God prevails. He is in full control throughout history. He wills it. None can defy.

How fruitless that men fight among themselves to fall by the sword. The righteous stand up for their faith; they are also cast down but to God's glory.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Set In Heart to Seek GOD

Daniel 10

Inspired thots

Daniel was a favored prophet of God; he had the gift of dreams and visions to understand and interpret. He humbled himself in seeking God and he set his mind to understand the deep things of God. He did what was right before the Lord to enter into the Lord's presence; and God favored him as He answers to Daniel.

Heavenly visions can be alarming and sap the strength in us; it is not for everyone to be gifted with it. Even the ungodly may not see yet feel the presence of God to tremble before Him.

The presence of the Lord strengthens! 

Monday, December 2, 2013

God Hears & Answers to a Sincere Seeking Heart

Daniel 9

Inspired thots

How good and great is our God who hears the prayers of His people. He ANSWERS with revelations to those who seek Him diligently. It is only with HIS wisdom and understanding by grace and mercy that one can know the signs of the times; though a full understanding may be quite difficult.

Certainly there WILL be troubled times; even in the midst of development and restoration. How important to have a strong faith rooted in Christ alone when troubled times can shake our faith and all seem to go their own way.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Revelations Through Dreams and Visions

Daniel 8

Inspired thots

It is a GREAT privilege to be given the gift of dreams and visions; yet a GREATER privilege to have those dreams and visions revealed their meaning for understanding. But it is not easy to understand the revelations of God. They are so awesome and alarming at times; especially if they pertain to the end times. There is also responsibility along with this gift of dreams and visions with revelation; what is the next course of action with the knowledge?

May God be magnified to apportion us according to our talent to His glory. Better to live as king Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes; in essence, "live simply to enjoy life today" for God is our Portion.