Dry, Dry Bones

Dry, Dry Bones

            One of my favorite bible stories is the one about the Valley of Dry Bones. It is found in the book of Ezekiel 37: 1-10. In this biblical story, the prophet Ezekiel is taken to a valley filled with old bones. The bones are dry and without life. After showing Ezekiel the bones, God asks him if the bones can live. Ezekiel answers by saying, “You alone know.” Ezekiel is then instructed to prophesy to the bones. Ezekiel does as he is instructed and life enters the bones. In the end, a great army stands before him. Awesome!

            What does this story mean? What does this story say to me? It says that we serve an awesome God. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever ask or think. Although the situation may seem impossible… although the odds are stacked against us, our God is able. “Is there anything too hard for God?” The answer is no. There is nothing too hard for God. There is no situation too hard. There is no mountain that he cannot move. My God can do anything except fail.

As children of the Most High God, we cannot look at things the way the world looks at things. We must take the blinders off. We must allow God to wipe away the film of this world. We have to look at things the way God looks at things.

So, what your boss is acting crazy. Stay calm and pray. So, your spouse walked out. Yes, it is painful, but before you grab the phone and dial a friend. Dial Jesus. Speak to that situation. Don’t allow your situation to dictate to you. You dictate to your situation. Tell your circumstances what they are going to do. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Don’t be swayed by what things look like. Don’t even be led by your own emotions because even they are deceitful. Cry out to your God and see his awesome power.

Just because you are in the valley it doesn’t mean that you have to stay there. Just because it looks dry and dead it doesn’t mean that it can’t live again. Speak life. Allow God to breathe life into that situation.

So, as you face that judge don’t fear his sentence. Don’t go in afraid. Go in with power and life. As you are called in to your boss’s office, don’t fear. Cover yourself in the blood and go.

Declare unto your situation: “Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.” Amen.

Childlike Faith: Trusting God Inspite Of

Children are fascinating. They can believe something without having to see a whole lot of proof. Unlike us, they have not learned to be suspicious yet. They still see the world through rose-colored glasses. They believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth fairy. And, just as they believe in these mythical characters, they also take Christ at his word. They believe without seeing. They don’t have to see the nail prints in his hands. I have often wondered why I couldn’t be like them. Although I have faith and love God, sometimes it gets a little difficult to believe that God is going to do all of the things he promised. It is difficult to believe that he will open up the windows of Heaven and pour me out a blessing when the light bill is past due. It can be hard to believe the words of King David, who said he had never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread, when the cabinets are bare and there is nothing in the refrigerator. Thankfully, over the years, I have learned to look less at my situation and more to the promises of the father. God has not asked us to do the impossible. He asked us to simply believe-to have the faith of a grain of a mustard seed.When I stop worrying-stop trying to fix it myself-things change. So, my prayer is that I can adopt the faith of a little child.

Psalms 37: 25

John 20: 25

Malachi 3:10

Matthew 17: 20

Accepting Life's Disappointments

Jeremiah 29:11

"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 a hope and a future."

This is a scripture is that most of us have heard several times before. For some people, it offers them hope when life seems void and bleak. This scripture and I have had a long history, but it is not a good one. I can’t tell you how many times this scripture has been quoted to me by prophets and preachers alike. And, it was always at a time in my life when I was facing hurt and disappointment. It showed up at times when I was disillusioned and angry. At those times, this was not something I wanted to hear. Like any spoiled child, I wanted what I wanted at the time that I wanted it. So, hearing that God had a plan for my life that obviously wasn’t what I had planned didn’t set too well with me. Although this scripture is still not one of my favors, I have learned to accept that God knows best. Our times are not his times. And, our desires are not always his desires. Now, I don’t get as upset when disappointments come. I have learned to trust God and keep moving forward. All things work for my good.

Romans 8: 28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.