Let me begin by sharing this story with you, "School was just beginning. One morning I went out to start my car, to go to church. Flat tire. Lucky, I had a spare. I changed tire quickly and was on my way. I didn't think to drop the spare tire off to be fixed. "I'll get around to it." Within five days, I went out to the car to go to school. Another flat. Only this time no spare! I had to roll the tire to nearest station and wait while it was fixed. When something breaks, fix it now. Don't wait until you need it and then don't have it!"
When I read this I thought of the number five. Five means grace. Sometimes, we can run out of grace if we are not being obedient to do what God is telling us to do.
Many of us start out prepared, but somewhere in the middle we think we can just stop preparing. We think once and done. Life, whether we are talking natural or supernatural is not like that. We have to continually prepare.
It's the preparation that makes all the difference. Read this one:
Several centuries ago, a Japanese emperor commissioned an artist to paint a bird. A number of months passed, then several years, and still no painting was brought to the palace. Finally the emperor became so exasperated that he went to the artist's home to demand an explanation. Instead of making excuses, the artist placed a blank canvas on the easel. In less than an hour, he completed a painting that was to become a brilliant masterpiece. When the emperor asked the reason for the delay, the artist showed him armloads of drawings of feathers, wings, heads, and feet. Then he explained that all of this research and study had been necessary before he could complete the painting.
When I read this I thought of the number five. Five means grace. Sometimes, we can run out of grace if we are not being obedient to do what God is telling us to do.
Many of us start out prepared, but somewhere in the middle we think we can just stop preparing. We think once and done. Life, whether we are talking natural or supernatural is not like that. We have to continually prepare.
It's the preparation that makes all the difference. Read this one:
Several centuries ago, a Japanese emperor commissioned an artist to paint a bird. A number of months passed, then several years, and still no painting was brought to the palace. Finally the emperor became so exasperated that he went to the artist's home to demand an explanation. Instead of making excuses, the artist placed a blank canvas on the easel. In less than an hour, he completed a painting that was to become a brilliant masterpiece. When the emperor asked the reason for the delay, the artist showed him armloads of drawings of feathers, wings, heads, and feet. Then he explained that all of this research and study had been necessary before he could complete the painting.
Sometimes, I don't think we give the Bible enough weight in our lives? Do we take the Bible at its word and actually apply it to our life? Here are some scriptures that talk about "Prepare" in one form or another. Please take time to read through them and let the scriptures speak to you.
Leviticus 2:8
You shall bring to the Lord the grain offering that is prepared in any of these ways; and when it is presented to the priest, he shall take it to the altar.
Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Isaiah 40:3
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Malachi 3:1
[ The Coming Messenger ] See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
Matthew 3:3
This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
Mark 1:3
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
Luke 1:76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
Luke 3:4
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Leviticus 2:8
You shall bring to the Lord the grain offering that is prepared in any of these ways; and when it is presented to the priest, he shall take it to the altar.
Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Isaiah 40:3
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Malachi 3:1
[ The Coming Messenger ] See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
Matthew 3:3
This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
Mark 1:3
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
Luke 1:76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
Luke 3:4
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
ACTION STEP:
2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.”
King James Version (KJV)
2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.”
King James Version (KJV)
RSS Feed