a promise is a promise

"He (Abraham) was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises." Romans 4:21

Have we ever made promises in the rush of the moment, expecting to get what we want by making them? I know I have.

Have we follow through? I know I haven't.

Have we made deliberate promises with no intention to keep them? Are we in the habit to do that?

A promise raises people expectations, especially if it is made by someone we trust.

I think the ability to make promises is like our credit, the more promises we break or don't honor, the lower our trust score becomes.

But when God promises something, it is a certainty - and that is good!

His promises are true, they bring hope, they confirm out faith in Him, they give us the security we need.

Tomorrow it is the 12th anniversary of my dad's death. We were not in Peru when he died (in a fishing accident), his body has never been found, there is no tomb, no plaque, nothing that will give us the physical closure we need - as his family.

My dad received the Lord 6 months before his passing, and that moment, the promise that he would be always in the presence of the Lord kicked in; and boy did we need that...

It is difficult not to have closure in this circumstance, but the promise of the Lord is alive, and He reassure us over and over again that my dad is alive in Him and with Him, in His presence and with exceeding joy. God's promise holds out hearts and brings comfort.

Read HIS word, and take hold of His promises, rejoice in that assurance and rest in the comfort they bring - because God IS, we have the hope.

Let's be true to our promises as well. Broken expectations are not an easy thing to get over, and empty words are not worth a relationship.

Blessings!!!

slavery vs. freedom

¹⁹ And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.

²⁰ I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should. Ephesians 6: 19,20

As I read this passage, one word came flying off the page - CHAINS.

I understand the context, Paul was in prison, and boldly kept on sharing the saving gospel, yet still CHAINS came to my attention over and over again.

We are experts in putting chains on ourselves; chains that would "prevent" us from sharing the Good News to those in need of them; other chains that would make us prevent ourselves from an open communication with the Lord.

Even chains that keep us from living the live we are ought to live, that keep from better our relationships, from growing spiritually and in maturity - all kinds of chains.

is it easier to live in slavery than in perfect freedom?

Any person you would talk to yearns for freedom, this very country was based on the searching of freedom - why don't we attain the freedom that should come from the very core? 

Chains come is the most delightful disguise, they tend us to make us comfortable, in our own skin, our friends, our environment, even our anger, our own sense of justice, our sense of control - etc.

We know what the word of God says, what is required of us. We do feel the "tug" of the Spirit, and the Word of God promises us freedom, then what are we waiting for?

What are your chains, can you identify them, do you want to be released, or they bring you too much pleasure to break them off?

I love the end of verse 20 - that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

As we should, living as we should - we are meant to live without the chain - should we try?

Blessings!!