The Almighty God - Equipped for Battle

Is there anything too hard for God? Is there any task, any problem, any difficulty to which God Almighty folds His arms together and says, “Now that is just too big for me to manage”? For those who know Him, No, and a million times, No. The Bible give a few pictures to allow people with such finite minds to grasp the largeness of God, and for those who will seek Him, they shall find that He is indeed an Almighty God who is ready and able to meet their every need.

The Bible, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 40, and verse 12 speaking of the Almighty God, says:

“Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?”

In this verse are four examples of the hugeness of God. (1) The waters of the earth are like a small raindrop in His palm; (2) He measures the universe with the distance between His thumb and pinkie finger; (3) The sands or dusts of the earth are so simple to measure or count; (4( and the mountains and hills are easily placed in a scale and balance before Him.

The idea is attempt to show how huge God is compared to us. His vastness is shown throughout His creation, and the complexities of Him are beyond human comprehension. This is the marvel of Jesus coming to the Earth; That this massive, creative, All Powerful, All knowing and Mighty God would come to the Earth to be among His creation, His people. Why? To identify with them, relate to them, and allow them to know that He in all His greatness cares for them more than they will ever be able to comprehend.

Whatever situation you are going through, God understands, is equipped, knows best, and cares more than you will ever know. And should you need a reminder, take a look at the ocean, gaze at the stars, consider all the Earth's dust, and ponder the mountains and hills, and realize that if He handles all of those things so easily, most assuredly He can handle any problem in your life right now.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

When God Speaks - Equipped for Battle

There are very few people in the world who have truly heard the audible voice of God. Some of those who have been favored to hear the voice of God are recorded in the Bible, however, it still remains that most people do not hear audibly when God speaks. God has given to us His word by means of the Bible. The Bible is the inspired word of God, and it serves as a sort of love letter dictated from Him to mankind. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction of righteousness, “ according to 2 Timothy 3:16, and those who read, study and live according to the Bible hear when God speaks.

There are substitutes for the voice of God offered today. Counselors, psychologists, well-meaning friends, etc. will share their insights and feelings about a person's problems, difficulties or troubles, but there is no one who speaks like the voice of God. Oh how often a person would rather go to those who are temporal rather than the Eternal and Everlasting Father for advice. Although people may be able to help to some degree, by talking to God directly, through prayer, a person who knows God is often referred to something that was written long ago in the Bible, and they hear God speak.

God is speaking today, and He does so by the revelation of His Son Jesus. Hebrews 1:1,2 says, “God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in times past by the prophets unto the fathers hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; “ Those who desire to hear God speak have the opportunity to hear Him by coming to know His son Jesus. As a person begins to know Jesus, and as Jesus comes to know them, hearing God becomes more clear than any other voice in the world.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

When the Coat's too Hot - Equipped for Battle

It's freezing outside, and extra clothing is necessary for the person who is going to be outdoors. T-shirts, long johns, sweaters and two pair of socks is not only the norm but also essential for keeping warm. But then, the temperature begins to rise. The sun reaches the pinnacle of heat for the day, and soon the layers must come off unless a person loves to sweat. Although the coat is a welcomed and loved commodity, it does have its place and time, however, when the coat make a person too hot, it must come off.

Coats are like different events in life. Sometimes the events are necessary, and other times they are not. A person may enjoy a certain activity for a while, but then find the activity mundane, boring or redundant. It's probably time to drop it when it gets like this. Other times the coat maybe like medical equipment that is needed for healing. Breathing apparatuses, heart monitors, catheters, and bed pans may be important for a while, but as a person heals, these are put to the side. Perhaps it is time to evaluate whether a person is whole or not, bored or not, and decide if the coat needs to come off.

When speaking about a runner who is competing in a race an ancient book encourages, “Let us lay aside every weight...”. The idea is that there are some things that weigh a person down, impede, and keep him or her from performing at his or her peak level. Like ankle weights that are out of place in Olympic sprints, and like coats that are anomalous on a hot sunny day, sometimes the best action is just to lay them aside for a while, and be cool and run free.

Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

From Under the Piles - Equipped for Battle

941s, UTC-6s, 1099s, W-2, 1041s, compliance certificate here, compliance certificate there, this license, that license, sales tax forms, regulatory statues, and more and more and more the pile grows. Let's add this paper, and let's add that . “Let's legislate a new law which will have a new form to replace the old form so that when we get ready for another form the form we have now will be obsolete,” they say. “Let's rearrange this method so that the old method will have to be modified, and then we will have to hire compliance officers so that we can be sure that the new rules are being followed by each institution we force to use them,” they reason. Who can find the time to transact? Who can move and change as quickly as the new regiment requires? Amazingly there are still businesses who are able to manage to work after they emerge from under the piles.

One of the ways to ensure job security for those who are not in the business world is to legislate laws that have forms for required compliance. If there are laws to be kept and enforcement must be made, then employment is insured. For example, if a law is conceived and legislated that all red cars were to be registered as such with the Department of Transportation, then there would have to be some sort of form that was used to fill a database on all the red cars in that particular area. All red car owners would have to fill out this form, turn it in to the proper agency, probably pay a red car fee (not a tax, of course) and then a record of that red car could be kept in a database that would show all red cars. To perform this small new requirement would require the following people: The legislator, the attorneys to draw up the law, the clerks who would run errands and messages for the legislators and attorneys, the compilers of the paper printed, the communicators for the new law, the mail people to notify the public of the new law, the agents who would distribute the new form, the agent who would collect the new form, the worker who would input the data, the person who would analyze and report the data, the enforcers of the law, etc., etc., etc.

Therefore, if there really is to be a change in the unemployment level, perhaps what the legislature should do is make more laws that have more people involved in the process. Perhaps if they make enough laws, everyone in the United States will have a job in some form or another to keep business people and individuals within the ever changing bounds of acceptability. Just keep adding to the pile, and drown out creativity, desire, passion and ingenuity. Keep adding to the pile and watch skilled people in business smother under the regulations required. Just keep drowning motivated Americans with the mountains of legislation and squelch the spirit that has made this country great. Get everyone on the dole, and no one will be motivated to do anything beyond the level of a socialist or communist society. Oh, is that the direction this country has been headed for a long time now? Let's see, maybe the interested reader will just go to the government websites and take a brief look at all the laws passed within the last ten years.

Piles, piles and more piles...who would have ever knew?

Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

King of the Hill - Equipped for Battle

The battle for the top was intense. As the five boys and one girl pulled at one another, maneuvered and outraced one another, there was only one goal in mind – to get to the top. Yanking, screaming, calling one another names, and scratching was allowed and encouraged, and although advancement was made by one or the other from time to time, there seemed to be something within the hill that would make them slide down a slippery slop. But it was there. That pinnacle and precipice, that place of great status, that enviable and oh so precious title, “King of the Hill” was there for the taking. There was one goal and one goal only, to gain that title and rule that mound.

However, when those fortunate children make it to the top of the hill through their own efforts or maybe some of their opponents stumbles, they do not stay there long. There is one great problem with being the “King of the Hill” and that is that the “King”, or “Queen” for that matter, becomes the main target for dethroning. Of course there are always those children who only sit on the sideline to cheer, cajole, ridicule and mock the participants, and everyone who watches the straining of the active ones knows what an effect the “peanut gallery” can have upon the pursuits. Nonetheless, the person who reigns on the top of the mount immediately incurs another problem once they get there - they now have to maintain their position. Why is it again that someone wants to be this “ruler”?

“Oh to be “King” and oh to be “Queen”, so powerful, so well-known, so revered, so honored, if only there was the opportunity to be such royalty”...one might dream, but then again, “Oh to be meek, oh to have rest, oh to refrain from conflict, oh to not be a target, oh to quietly function, and oh to be seen in the smallest of efforts that become greatly esteemed by the King of Kings who holds the clandestine works in great regard.

Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Resolution Two - Equipped for Battle

Okay, so here it is, day two of the annual resolutions. How is everyone who dared to make one doing? Have they lost weight yet, not smoked yet, stopped all the drinking or eating of candy or whatever became the target? Usually by day two most people are managing their control issues very well, but as time marches on the true determination will come forth.

Maybe there should be another way of managing resolutions. Rather than make them once a year and try to keep that “pledge” all year long, perhaps making resolutions every day would be more manageable. For that matter, it might be better to make resolutions every hour or even for some, every minute or two.

For example, let's suppose a person's resolution is to “clean up their language” and instead of being a “potty mouth” they desire to make a clean break. If the resolution is for the year, there might be an inclination to excuse, blame or patronize a few “slips” of the tongue. Since the time slot is for the whole year, there is plenty of time to keep from talking with swear words, right? So why worry about one little slip? Failure at keeping the resolution is diluted because there is so much time for future correction. But if the resolution is for the day or an hour, then the “slip up” might be recognized more fully for what it is.

More examples might include, eating that extra portion, skipping those exercises, avoiding that drink, cleaning that room, paying those bills, etc., etc., etc.. There are a million reasons why someone has not kept what they vow when the time element has more length. Failure will sometimes motivate a person to find strength that is beyond their own, and that will help them keep the resolutions they make. Face it, the discipline that it takes to keep a resolution has already been absent from the person's life or else they would not be having to make the resolution in the first place.

Perhaps on resolution day two, the admission should come that this year's resolution should be broken down into an hour by hour vow and for some a minute by minute vow, and should there be a failure, it will be recognized, dealt with and a resolve made to call upon someone greater to give assistance to keeping what usually is broken by day six, seven or eight.

Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Unbridled Monsters - Equipped for Battle

He stood above seven feet high at his back level. His head towered over nine feet tall. He was ominous at his two thousand pound weight level, and the towering site of him was intimidating just to look into his eyes. He looked as though he could stomp a man to death with his massive hooves, and he was the largest animal in the Iowa State Fair. He is one of the world's largest horses, and he is on display for all who attend to see. Yet, he is held to his station with a small rope. He is a bridled monster.

Amazement comes to the mind when one considers the power of such a beast when it is controlled by such a small tether. Everyone who looks upon him knows that he possesses power that could easily break this small restraint, and still he remains in his pin. But in comparison, what about those individuals who unlike this powerful animal, have uncontrolled behaviors that are much like the beasts of the wild? What about these unbridled monsters?

There are among the human race those individuals who by pursuit of their own or by the advancement of another have been given power that is unrestrained. They do not wish to be tethered, and their antics not only provide damage to others but also to themselves. They stomp without regard to their steppings, and their passion for their own agenda supersedes all others. Compassion for casualties does not have place within their thinking, and though they pretend superior knowledge and equipment, they actually do more damage than progression. Perhaps the reader has encountered some of these unbridled monsters in their fair.

There is however a wonderful benefit to these unbridled beasts. Their massive size and enormous egos provide a wonderful supply for a glue factory whenever they fall from their pretentious positions that have not been earned but given by one in whom they rarely give attention.

Until tomorrow... Why Say More?

See the new devotional "Equipped for Battle - From Generation to Generation" by Lamar Creel and Ray Hanselman at www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; and locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore .