I Am a Child of God
by Sonny J. Dougherty
March 08, 2009 1:15 am
Down is not an option
Darkness is not my choice
Poor is not my decision
I am a child of God.
Beneath is not my cry
Defeat is not my flag
Death is not my end
I am a child of God.
Upset I will not discover
Sickness I will not battle
Lack I will never know
I am a child of God.
Depletion I will not descend
Deprivation will not know my name
Barrenness will be unaware of my address
I am a child of God.
Regret I will not pleasure
Worry I refuse to yield
Despair I will not inhabit
I am a child of God.
Faith I will declare
Hope I will clasp
Peace I will cherish
I am a child of God.
Prosperity I will enjoy
Victory I will maintain
Triumphant I will remain
I am a child of God.
Good I will personify
Righteousness I will be filled with
Contentment and Godliness I will gain
I am a child of God.
Power with God I will possess
A Prince of God I AM
Fellowship with Jesus I will continue
I am a child of God.
Royalty I will preserve
God's Word I will uphold
Heaven is my destiny
I am a child of God!
AMEN.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
God's Creativity In The Dark
God's Creativity in the Dark
Genesis 1 : 2 - 3
"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (3) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
Darkness does not puzzle, confuse, or intimidate God. When God sees darkness He considers it a challenge. He views darkness as an opportunity! Darkness whets God's creative appetite. While God does not prefer darkness, He does not feel threatened by it.
Darkness can be biblically considered as powers that are hostile to God or the work of God. There are times of darkness even in a Christian's life. Someone in the natural realm can be walking around at noon in the brilliance of the sunlight and then all at once a storm cloud can creep overhead bringing a world of darkness with it. That individual is now walking in darkness in the peak of the daylight. We've all been there, we've all experienced the sudden gripping and uncertainty of such moments. Just as sure as this occurs in the natural, it also occurs in the spiritual. Trials, turmoil, storms, and uncertainties are presented to many of us on nearly a daily basis. This does not mean you are no longer walking in the day! You are experiencing a power that is trying to cause you to doubt your calling, something uncontrollable trying to defeat your destiny. But the devil is a liar!
You've no need to fear. You've no need to question. As long as you're living RIGHT and doing exactly what Jesus has told you to do, you can have calm assurance that He will create some sort of means whereby He will rescue you! It's a promise, it's just His nature! The darkness you are in challenges your God to creative action!
When Jesus constrained His disciples to get into the boat and to go to the other side it was late afternoon. He knew that they would never make it to the other side before nightfall. He knew how treacherous it could be to travel by boat (especially in those days) after dark. He was the creator of meterology so He knew it was going to storm and that the storm would be bad but He sent them anyhow. Why? Because He could see the end result before the beginning ever took place. Notice in the Scripture in Mark 6:45-51 Jesus waited until it was DARK to see about the disciples. Then He just watches them toil a while. That, to me, is really quite amusing and insightful. Then when it was darkest, and when the storm was in full rage He used His CREATIVE ability to move in a way He had never physically moved before. He did the same thing He had done in the midst of darkness on that first day of Creation. He hovered over it! He walked on the water! How creative?! Hence, we have the rest of the discourse of Peter stepping out of the boat, Jesus calming the wind and sea, and the disciples' ultimate arrival on the other shore.
What's the point? You do not have to be afraid or intimidated by your darkness. You must only wait patiently for Jesus to create a miracle! He will do it for you just like He did it for the chaotic earth that was originally in existence and just like He did it for His Bible-Day disciples.
Genesis 1 : 2 - 3
"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (3) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
Darkness does not puzzle, confuse, or intimidate God. When God sees darkness He considers it a challenge. He views darkness as an opportunity! Darkness whets God's creative appetite. While God does not prefer darkness, He does not feel threatened by it.
Darkness can be biblically considered as powers that are hostile to God or the work of God. There are times of darkness even in a Christian's life. Someone in the natural realm can be walking around at noon in the brilliance of the sunlight and then all at once a storm cloud can creep overhead bringing a world of darkness with it. That individual is now walking in darkness in the peak of the daylight. We've all been there, we've all experienced the sudden gripping and uncertainty of such moments. Just as sure as this occurs in the natural, it also occurs in the spiritual. Trials, turmoil, storms, and uncertainties are presented to many of us on nearly a daily basis. This does not mean you are no longer walking in the day! You are experiencing a power that is trying to cause you to doubt your calling, something uncontrollable trying to defeat your destiny. But the devil is a liar!
You've no need to fear. You've no need to question. As long as you're living RIGHT and doing exactly what Jesus has told you to do, you can have calm assurance that He will create some sort of means whereby He will rescue you! It's a promise, it's just His nature! The darkness you are in challenges your God to creative action!
When Jesus constrained His disciples to get into the boat and to go to the other side it was late afternoon. He knew that they would never make it to the other side before nightfall. He knew how treacherous it could be to travel by boat (especially in those days) after dark. He was the creator of meterology so He knew it was going to storm and that the storm would be bad but He sent them anyhow. Why? Because He could see the end result before the beginning ever took place. Notice in the Scripture in Mark 6:45-51 Jesus waited until it was DARK to see about the disciples. Then He just watches them toil a while. That, to me, is really quite amusing and insightful. Then when it was darkest, and when the storm was in full rage He used His CREATIVE ability to move in a way He had never physically moved before. He did the same thing He had done in the midst of darkness on that first day of Creation. He hovered over it! He walked on the water! How creative?! Hence, we have the rest of the discourse of Peter stepping out of the boat, Jesus calming the wind and sea, and the disciples' ultimate arrival on the other shore.
What's the point? You do not have to be afraid or intimidated by your darkness. You must only wait patiently for Jesus to create a miracle! He will do it for you just like He did it for the chaotic earth that was originally in existence and just like He did it for His Bible-Day disciples.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Poem - Jesus In Me
Jesus In Me
While I lay in my casket what will they say?
Have I encouraged or pushed them away?
Will there be a great showing on that final day,
When it's put to rest, this body of clay?
Or will the crowd be slim,
When I go to Him,
To see the place where I lay?
Have I affected men's lives in a positive way?
Or have I left a bitterness that will never stray?
Will they be sad when they learn that I'm gone?
Or will they rejoice that I finally left them alone?
I really don't know,
When 'tis my time to go,
Really what, what they will say.
I can only pray that I will bless
Everyone I know and all the rest
I want the world to feel that a treasure is gone
When it comes my time to journey back home.
So for now I'll live
And strive to give
To all who'll be there on that day.
Lord, help me be a light to all who see
And let them always recognize the Jesus in me.
While I lay in my casket what will they say?
Have I encouraged or pushed them away?
Will there be a great showing on that final day,
When it's put to rest, this body of clay?
Or will the crowd be slim,
When I go to Him,
To see the place where I lay?
Have I affected men's lives in a positive way?
Or have I left a bitterness that will never stray?
Will they be sad when they learn that I'm gone?
Or will they rejoice that I finally left them alone?
I really don't know,
When 'tis my time to go,
Really what, what they will say.
I can only pray that I will bless
Everyone I know and all the rest
I want the world to feel that a treasure is gone
When it comes my time to journey back home.
So for now I'll live
And strive to give
To all who'll be there on that day.
Lord, help me be a light to all who see
And let them always recognize the Jesus in me.
Amen.
Wherever Shall Life Go?
It is amazing the beauty and majesty experienced at childbirth. Precious, sacred little fingers. Delicate little toes. Tiny sprouts of soft hair atop an angelic face. The cry that takes mommy's and daddy's breath away. The wrinkled, wide smile of grandparents. And to think all of this comes about after months and finally hours of laborious pain. This grandeur romance with parental love begins in the climactic moment of childbirth. While I'm not yet a parent I do understand completely this one thing from having been born and experienced 31 years of life thus far. When you look at that precious baby you have no idea where his or her life shall go. Shall he or she be a successful big-city lawyer? Shall he or she be a movie star? Shall he or she be a missionary? A teacher? A doctor? Wherever shall his or her little life go? While we dream and dreams are appropriate and necessary, we must also understand that God is the Giver of Life. While He has chosen to use human means by which He extends the opportunity, life and length of days are left solely up to Him. Life and Death are in the hands of God. We should choose to be thankful when considering ANY life, whether it be short lived or lengthy. EVERY LIFE IS A BLESSING FROM GOD!
Please understand, I'm not naive. I am well aware of the fact that every person once afforded the opportunity by God to live is faced with certain challenges and decisions he or she must (are even forced to) make. And based on the proper or improper decision made the path of life's journey can go one way or the other. The bottom line to it all is: God knows what's best for every breathing individual. There are two paths laid out in any given circumstance. The right and the "not-so-right", the good and the "not-so-good." Herein is understanding: God knows what will happen and what the final destiny will be either way. That's what makes Him omniscient, or all-knowing. While He will encourage each person, each child to go "in the way he should go", He lovingly has chosen not to force His will on anyone. He wants every person to choose right of his or her own volition, not because he or she is forced. Right decisions, good decisions of course will reap good benefits eventually, while not always at once. On the same hand, "not-so-right", "not-so-good" decisions will ultimately lead to a dead end road or even destruction.
So what am I saying? I'm saying this: The choice is ours as far as wherever our individual lives shall go. Just remember this: it's not always the "in-between" that matters (while it does have its importance in the decisions we make there) it's the outcome, where a life ends up that really counts. We all realize that every life shall end in death. Will your death be a noble one, leaving people with a memory of good and right or will it be opposite that? Will your death be the same as your birth - a welcomed reception with joy-bells ringing in heaven? Wherever shall your life go, have you thought about it? Why don't you take a moment to consider your life today? Knowing that God is the final Judge are you making your decisions to please and glorify Him so that your life will result in a noble, beautiful harvest?
I love you today with the love of Jesus....
Jesus loves you and wants you to be successful....
Just give Him a try....
Your friend,
Evangelist Sonny Dougherty
Please understand, I'm not naive. I am well aware of the fact that every person once afforded the opportunity by God to live is faced with certain challenges and decisions he or she must (are even forced to) make. And based on the proper or improper decision made the path of life's journey can go one way or the other. The bottom line to it all is: God knows what's best for every breathing individual. There are two paths laid out in any given circumstance. The right and the "not-so-right", the good and the "not-so-good." Herein is understanding: God knows what will happen and what the final destiny will be either way. That's what makes Him omniscient, or all-knowing. While He will encourage each person, each child to go "in the way he should go", He lovingly has chosen not to force His will on anyone. He wants every person to choose right of his or her own volition, not because he or she is forced. Right decisions, good decisions of course will reap good benefits eventually, while not always at once. On the same hand, "not-so-right", "not-so-good" decisions will ultimately lead to a dead end road or even destruction.
So what am I saying? I'm saying this: The choice is ours as far as wherever our individual lives shall go. Just remember this: it's not always the "in-between" that matters (while it does have its importance in the decisions we make there) it's the outcome, where a life ends up that really counts. We all realize that every life shall end in death. Will your death be a noble one, leaving people with a memory of good and right or will it be opposite that? Will your death be the same as your birth - a welcomed reception with joy-bells ringing in heaven? Wherever shall your life go, have you thought about it? Why don't you take a moment to consider your life today? Knowing that God is the final Judge are you making your decisions to please and glorify Him so that your life will result in a noble, beautiful harvest?
I love you today with the love of Jesus....
Jesus loves you and wants you to be successful....
Just give Him a try....
Your friend,
Evangelist Sonny Dougherty
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