Bible

Holy and Incomparable

March 28, 2009 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

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

The Applause

August 11, 2008 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (NIV) Luke 15:10

I love watching the Olympics. The games appeal to my competitive nature…and they bring out my national pride. But, what I enjoy the most are those come from behind, against all odds victories. Sometimes it’s the bigger than life favorites who are dethroned. Other times it’s little known winners in obscure sports. It is the moment when the crowd stands in unison and cheers the winner. Family, friends, fellow teammates, dignitaries and strangers stand to applaud.

What an incredible moment for those athletes! But, it pales compared to the celebration in Heaven when someone comes to Christ. “Count on it – that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God” (The Message). Count on it. It’s a done deal. Although athletes are never 100% assured victory, there is assured victory for every new Christian. What about you…will you be a part of the celebration in Heaven?

P.S. Yes, I stayed up until midnight to watch Michael Phelps win his second gold medal.

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

Excellence and Purpose

April 13, 2008 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. (NIV) Exodus 25:9

God instructed Moses to construct the tabernacle, a center for worship and a place where the Israelites could focus on the presence of the Lord. God gave Moses specifications down to the smallest detail. Nothing was left up to Moses’ discretion. God gave the people the opportunity to participate in its construction by giving an offering of the needed materials, including rare and beautiful fabrics as well as precious metals.

Moses told the people, “From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze (Exodus 35:5). . .and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments (Exodus 35:21). . .Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. (Exodus 36:2). . . The people brought more than enough for doing the work . . .Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work (Exodus 36:6-7)

Then the LORD said to Moses: “Set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the first month (Exodus 40:1-2). . .Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out– until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels. (Exodus 40:33-38)

“All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose.” –John Gardner in The Pursuit of Excellence

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

God's Purposes Prevail!

November 9, 2007 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 7 King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows. 8 Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring– for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.” (NIV) Esther 8:5, 7-8

Haman, an official in the Persian Empire, receives the authority from King Xerxes to destroy all the Jews in kingdom. When Mordecai hears of the plot, he sends word to Queen Esther. It seems that they are backed into a corner. But, never underestimate the significance of one trying to make a difference!

After 3 days of fasting and praying Esther approaches the king. “On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” (Esther 5:1-3). Esther requests that the king and Haman come to a banquet that night and the following evening.

The first evening the king is sleepless. He has the official court records read to him and realizes that Mordecai has never been honored for discovering an assassination plot against the king. And then the plot intensifies at Esther’s second banquet.

Esther 7:1 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther, 2 and as they were drinking wine on that second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life– this is my petition. And spare my people– this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”

5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?”
6 Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. . . .9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it!” 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided. (NIV)

Don’t ever question who is in control! Whether you see God’s hand visibly at work or not, His plans and purposes always prevail!

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

How have you seen God’s hand visibly at work in your life?

Behind the Scenes

November 5, 2007 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. (NIV) Proverbs 21:1

The book of Esther begins with King Xerxes throwing the party of parties to display his wealth and glory. For a full 6 months Xerxes and his guests revel in indulgent eating, excessive drinking, and admiring the vast wealth of the empire. At the end of the party King Xerxes decides to show off another of his prizes. . .the physical beauty of his queen. The brave queen refuses. She chose to not degrade herself before the king’s drunken guests.

The king consults his wise men to determine what should be done to her. After discussing the matter, one of the seven nobles, Memucan, advises the king that Queen Vashti has not only done “wrong” to the king, but also to all the nobles and all the people throughout all the provinces of the kingdom. Their fear? If left unpunished, Vashti’s rebellious attitude toward her husband would influence all the other women in the kingdom to rebel against their husbands’ authority. Uh oh!!!! The wise men anticipate that there could be no end to the disobedience, disrespect, and discord in their own homes. Wooooops!

Memucan advises the king to take immediate and drastic action to deal with the situation. He advises the king to issue a “royal decree” forbidding Vashti from ever again entering the presence of the king. Her position of queen would be given to someone more worthy.

Just another day in Persia? I think not! God is on the move in mysterious ways. He is sovereign. He is working behind the scenes. He is rearranging events and changing minds until His perfect plan is in place.

God is always at work. He is at work today in your life. You may not recognize His activity in the mundane aspects of life, but He is always at work. Even now, He is rearranging events and changing minds until His perfect plan for you is in place. Just watch.

How is God rearranging your life right now?