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Marji "Mike" Kruger

When Life Looks Impossible

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Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed. . . (NIV) Romans 4:18

Abraham is 100 years old. His wife, Sarah, is 90. God has told Abraham, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars– if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5). Not a big deal if Abraham is already a great grandfather. The problem with the scenario from a human perspective, is that Abraham and Sarah are childless.

If you were Abraham would you have given up hope decades ago? Not Abraham. . .”Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed. . .Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead– since he was about a hundred years old– and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:18-21). Did you catch that? Abraham was totally convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised!

Are you convinced of God’s power? Do you believe that God will be faithful to His promises found in the Bible? God will be faithful to His Word because God’s character is unchanging. So what’s your impossible situation? Do you believe that God has the power to turn it around? Or have you given up hope? Are you losing patience in the midst of your impossibility? Imitate Abraham’s faith. . . even though all logic said, no way would Sarah get pregnant. . . trust in God, allow Him to strengthen your faith. . . and in the end you will see He is faithful to His promises!

By the way, Abraham and Sarah were the oldest at the maternity ward, but were proud of their son, Isaac, who was the first of their countless offspring who became the Jewish people.

When has life looked impossible for you? How has God come through for you?

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

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Who are you listening to?

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Dont follow the crowd.
Don't follow the crowd.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. (NIV) Psalm 1:1

Blessed is the man who doesn’t follow, doesn’t live by, isn’t influenced, doesn’t listen to. . . the advice, the words, the guidance, the counsel of . . .the wicked or the ungodly or unbelievers or those contrary to God (my expanded paraphrase of Psalm 1:1). Who are you listening to?

But his delight. . . his joy, his desire. . . is in the law of the LORD. . . the instruction, teaching of God. . . and on his law he meditates day and night. . . he habitually meditates, ponders, studies. . . (my expanded paraphrase of Psalm 1:2)

Do you take delight in studying God’s Word? Is it a joy to read God’s thoughts? How deep is your desire to know the God of the Word through the Word of God lived out on a daily basis?

Do you believe that the Bible is God’s instructions for you today? that it is teaching you what’s on God’s heart for your life? How have you taken to heart what God is teaching you?

Do you meditate on God’s Word night and day? Do you ponder the deep thoughts of God? Do you habitually study and apply the Bible to your life? How can you become a better student of God’s Word?

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Where is God?

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You cant find God using a Search Engine.
You can't find God using a Search Engine.

. . . Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. (NIV) Exodus 1:12-14

The Scene: God has been fulfilling His plan during 3 centuries between the death of Joseph and the birth of Moses. The nation of Israel is in slavery in Egypt. Their numbers are increasing so much so, that they become so numerous that the land is filled with them (Exodus 1:7). The Pharaoh who is now in power deals shrewdly with Jews. . . after all, the slave labor is essential to keep the thriving Egyptian economy healthy. The Pharaoh eventually resorts to persecuting the Jews by ordering the midwives to kill all newborn boys.

Where is God? Is He asleep? Does He care when His people are persecuted? How can we make any sense out of other’s suffering? How can we make sense out of our suffering?

Begin by asking God to give you His perspective on the situation, instead of trying to look for His purposes in the midst of your circumstances. Remember, His thoughts and ways and purposes are so much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). And ultimately, His purposes prevail. Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned, is that although I may not understand my circumstances, God’s love for me is not in question. . . His love for me never changes. Are you being persecuted? suffering? Look to God. Ask the questions. . . you may or may not get the answers. . . but rest assured, whether the answers come or not, His love for you never changes and never ceases!

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I AM!

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God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” (NIV) Exodus 3:14

As I re-read the Exodus story I was more in awe as I saw. . .
God’s kindness in giving the obedient midwives families of their own (1:20)
God’s sovereignty in the preservation of the Jews and in the preservation of Moses’ life (2:6)
God’s patience as He molded Moses for 40 years in the desert
God’s faithfulness to His purposes in remembering His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. (2:24-25)
God’s listening ear that hears His people’s cries and is concerned about them (2:24-25)
God’s power over nature with the burning bush (3:2-8)
God’s holiness symbolized in the fire (3:2-8)
God’s presence turning an ordinary place into “holy ground” (2:5)
God’s personal touch as He communicated with Moses (2:6)
God’s redemption as He brings the people out of Egypt
God’s purposes and plans which prevail

My faith is increased when I remember that God has not changed! He is still kind and patient and personal with me. He is still sovereign and powerful with plans that prevail in my life. He is still holy and hates sin and yet, redeemed me. He is still faithful to His promises for me. He is still present and listening and active in my life and my world. How about you? When you take the time to reflect upon God, what do you see? And how is He increasing your faith today?

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Revive My Heart O God

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Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? (NIV) Psalm 85:6

  1. Evidence that supports the need for revival:
  2. Lack of love for others
  3. Worldliness in church
  4. Dissension
  5. Jealousy
  6. Evil rumors
  7. Conformity to world
  8. Church members falling into scandalous sins
  9. Sinners’ hearts grow more hardened despite preaching

(above is adapted from “How to Experience Revival” by Charles Finney)

It looks to me like our society not only needs revival. But, how about your life? Does your heart need to be revived? How does your life exhibit a lack of love for others? How do you look “different” from the world? Is there any dissension in your life? any jealousy? When was the last time you passed along a rumor or gossiped? What secret sins would you be embarrassed of if word got out? How soft is your heart to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word? and are you being changed by it?

Will you ask God to revive your heart today so that you may shine brightly for Him?

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Take Off the Mask!

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You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'” (NIV) Matthew 15:7-9

The Greek word that is translated hypocrite is “hupokrites,” which means “an actor under an assumed character”. In Greek dramas, an actor held an oversized mask over his face. These masks were painted to represent the character the actors were portraying. The same word used for these actors is the word which is translated hypocrite in our Bibles.

Jesus tells us that a hypocrite purposely does things to impress his observers (Matthew 6:1-16). . . a hypocrite ignores the central heart issues of love for God and love for others and replaces it with adherence to regulations and rules (Matthew 15:1-21). . . and a hypocrite uses spiritual talk to hide his selfish motives (Matthew 22:13-33). And Jesus gives hypocrites of all ages a strong warning of the consequences of their play acting (Matthew 23:13, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29).

How are you play acting in your Christianity? When have you done something or said something to impress your observers? How do you ignore God’s command to love Him first and to love others as yourself? How do you honor God with your lips, but your heart isn’t there? When has your worship been a performance rather than from the heart? What man-made regulations are you teaching to others rather than God’s Word? How do you hide your true motives with spiritual talk? When do you say one thing and turn around to do the exact opposite? When do you “mask” your real self and play out a part for your audience?

From time to time we are all hypocrites, play actors of our faith. . . but why not vow to make those times fewer and further between! Let’s take off our masks. . . stop acting for our audiences. . . and live transparent holy lives that honor God!

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Holy and Incomparable

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The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. (NIV) Psalm 77:13-19

O Lord,
Through this Psalm, we know that You are holy and incomparable. We know that You are the One who performs miracles and displays Your power among the people. You are the One who has the power and the desire, to redeem Your people. Your power is displayed as incredible power over nature. . the waters obey You. . .the skies resound with thunder. . .Your lightning lights up the world. . .the entire earth trembles and quakes in Your presence.

You were the One who lovingly cared for Your people by parting the waters of the Red Sea to provide deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians. Although You did not leave a visible mark through Your footprints, the people knew You were the only One with the power to deliver them!

O Lord, if You can do all that, why do I doubt Your power at work in me? or Your power at work in others? Help me to see Your power at work around me today. . .and may I continually acknowledge Your glory and dominion over all Your creation! Amen

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