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Sé Limpio

By Steve T. on July 24, 2018

Be_Clean

El termino lepra, de la manera que se usa en la Biblia, realmente se refiere a una gran variedad de condiciones de la piel que van desde inflamaciones, hasta llagas abiertas, y varias enfermedades infecciosas; e incluye la verdadera lepra como la que conocemos ahora.

De acuerdo a la ley de Dios dada a través de Moisés, una persona con lepra era ceremonialmente impura y no se le permitía tomar parte en ninguna forma de adoración. Ellos debían vivir en aislamiento o gritar “Impuro! Impuro!” mientras caminaba acercandose a la comunidad (Levítico 13). Los leprosos eran estrictamente evitados puesto que aún el contacto accidental podía causar que una persona se volviera impura. Por ello, imagine la agitación en la multitud cuando un leproso atrevidamente se aproximaba a Jesús.

Mateo 8:2-3
“Y he aquí vino un leproso y se postró ante él, diciendo: Señor, si quieres, puedes limpiarme. Jesús extendió la mano y le tocó, diciendo: Quiero; sé limpio. Y al instante su lepra desapareció.”

Si, imagine la agitación cuando muchos de la multitud se esparcían para alejarse del camino del leproso. Algunos deben haber hechos llamados de alerta, otros haciendo severos reproches. Pero aún más importante, considere la fe de ese leproso mientras daba un paso al frente. Sabía que se enfrentaría al ridículo o burla, pero él había oído de Jesús y su fe lo impulsaba a la acción.

Jesús miró más alla de la fealdad de la condición del hombre y vio directamente a su corazón. En el corazón Jesús vio un hermoso hombre de fe buscando ser limpio – El vio un corazón que reflejaba el corazón del Rey David; “Lávame más y más de mi maldad, Y límpiame de mi pecado” (Salmo 51:2).

Nuestros pecados crean una fealdad peor que cualquier enfermedad de la piel. El pecado causa que el hombre sea repulsivo ante Dios y lo separa totalmente de Su presencia. Pero cuando estábamos en este estado terminal, “Mas Dios muestra su amor para con nosotros, en que siendo aún pecadores, Cristo murió por nosotros” (Romanos 5:8).

No importa que tan mal creamos que nos “vemos” – No importa cuanto pecado nos esta cubriendo y haciendonos impuros – Jesús ve directo dentro de nuestro corazón. Ninguna cantidad de pecado puede limitarlo a El de rescatar aquellos con un corazón arrepentido y el deseo de ser limpios.

Si hay algo ahora causándonos estar separados de la presencia de nuestro Señor – cualquier pecado del pasado, cualquier tentación presente, o cualquier falta de obediencia – debemos arrodillarnos ante El y buscar Su perdón. Otros podrían dar la espalda y no comprender, pero Jesús permanece listo para tocarnos amorosamente con Sus manos extendidas y decir, “Sé Limpio!”

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Immeasurably More

By Steve T. on July 23, 2018

Immeasurably_More

Prayer is a vitally important part of our Christian walk, but it is often greatly misunderstood. Prayer is how we talk with our Heavenly Father. It can never be used to manipulate God or cause Him to do anything outside His perfect will. God is not ours to command; He is not obligated to grant our wishes!

Our attitude toward prayer reveals much about how we view God and the closeness of our relationship through faith in Jesus. If we continually wait for a crisis before we pray, we actually demonstrate a lack of love. A man may say he loves his wife, but if he only occasionally talks with her he reveals a shallow relationship. True love will always be reflected by a desire to spend time together. And if we lift our problems to God in prayer but also give Him our expected solutions, we demonstrate a lack of trust and reveal a misunderstanding of His sovereign nature and limitless ability.

Ephesians 3:20
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”

The consistent message through all of scripture is that God is calling us to a closer relationship – calling us to love Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). Therefore, our prayers MUST begin from a position of love. He wants us to continually know Him more and understand the true meaning of “My God will meet all your needs” (Philippians 4:19), and “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). He wants us to love Him and trust Him to provide!

It’s foolish for us to limit God to our own understanding. He created the Universe and knew the end of time before the beginning. He can, and will, “perfectly” solve our problems. He is working all things together for the good and using all situations to conform us to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:28-29).

Through a proper attitude of prayer, we acknowledge and submit to God’s sovereignty. We praise Him because we know He is able to do much more than anything we ask, and we submit because we know His understanding and purpose is perfect; “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Our prayer is not a matter of “working things out” with God – not of wrestling until we obtain OUR solution – rather, prayer simply becomes submission to His direction and trust in His plan.

We must present ourselves as empty vessels and allow God to work through us each and every day. Let’s love Him enough to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Let’s make our requests known, but then let’s submit and humbly acknowledge that He can do immeasurably more.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 23 2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19; Romans 8:9-23; Psalm 18:16-34; Proverbs 19:26

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Inmensurablemente Mas

By Steve T. on July 23, 2018

Immeasurably_More

La oración es de vital importancia en nuestro caminar Cristiano, pero con frecuencia es malentendido. La oración es como hablamos con nuestro Padre Celestial. Nunca puede ser usada para manipular a Dios u obligarlo a hacer cualquier cosa fuera de Su perfecta voluntad. ¡Dios no es nuestro genio mágico con la misión de cumplir nuestros deseos!

Nuestra actitud hacia la oración revela mucho acerca de la forma en que vemos a Dios y la cercanía de nuestra relación a través de la fe en Jesús. Si continuamente esperamos una crisis para orar, realmente lo que demostramos es un escaso amor. Un hombre puede decir que ama a su esposa pero si solo ocasionalmente habla con ella, él revela una relación superficial. El verdadero amor siempre será reflejado por un deseo de compartir tiempo juntos.

Y si nosotros elevamos nuestros problemas a Dios en oración pero también le damos las soluciones que esperamos, demostramos una escasa confianza y revelamos un mal entendimiento de su soberana naturaleza e ilimitada habilidad.

Efesios 3:20
“Y a Aquel que es poderoso para hacer todas las cosas mucho más abundantemente de lo que pedimos o entendemos, según el poder que actúa en nosotros.”

El mensaje consistente a través de todas las escrituras es que Dios está llamándonos a una relación más cercana con Él – llamándonos a AMARLO con TODO nuestro corazón, alma, mente y fuerza (Marcos 12:30). Por eso, nuestras oraciones DEBEN comenzar desde una posición de amor. Dios también quiere que continuamente lo conozcamos más y que comprendamos el verdadero significado de: “Mi Dios, pues, suplirá todo lo que os falta conforme a sus riquezas en gloria en Cristo Jesús” (Filipenses 4:19), y que “para Dios todo es posible” (Mateo 19:26). ¡Él quiere que lo amemos y que confiemos en él para proveernos!

Es tonto de nuestra parte limitar a Dios a nuestro propio entendimiento. Él creó el Universo y supo el final de los tiempos desde el principio. Él puede, y resolverá en forma “perfecta” nuestros problemas. El esta trabajando todas las cosas juntas para bien y usa todas las situaciones para hacernos conforme a la semejanza de su hijo (Romanos 8:28-29).

A través de una actitud correcta en oración, reconocemos y nos sometemos a la soberanía de Dios. Le alabamos porque sabemos que Él puede hacer mucho mas de lo que le pedimos, y nos sometemos a Su perfecto entendimiento y propósito: “Hágase tu voluntad, como en el cielo, así también en la tierra” (Mateo 6:10). Nuestra oración no es cuestión de “hacer funcionar las cosas” con Dios – no de luchar hasta que obtengamos NUESTRA solución – sino, simplemente someternos a su dirección y confiar en Su plan perfecto.

Debemos presentarnos como vasijas vacías y permitir que Dios trabaje a través de nosotros todos y cada día. Amémosle suficiente como para “orar continuamente” (1 Tesalonicenses 5:17). Hagámosle saber nuestra petición, pero sometámonos y humildemente reconozcamos que Él puede hacer inmensurablemente más.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Kenya School Update

By Steve T. on July 19, 2018

Mathare School 7-18 (1)

Except for a little painting which will be accomplished during school breaks, our school in Mathare, outside of Nairobi, Kenya, is complete. The facility is four floors, with classrooms for our 205 kids! This is such a praise report! And I confess the school was completed much faster than I thought possible – two and a half years! Thanks so much!!

Mathare School 7-18a (1)

In the last month, an opportunity has been brought to our attention that would be an incredible blessing to our kids. The plot right next to our school is for sale. This plot can be seen directly to the right of the school. There are currently a few partially finished structures on this plot but they are in bad condition and not used for anything. I would like to purchase this plot, clear it, fence it in, and use it as a safe recreational area for the kids. We currently utilize a very small courtyard and the street – not ideal!

I need to secure $25,000 in the next 30 days in order to purchase this plot and move forward with clearing. If the plot is sold to someone else, we are boxed in and will not have an opportunity like this again.

Please consider helping with this project! You can make a donation through the Donate Now button below or by mailing a check to:

God’s Daily Word Ministries
P.O. Box 12441
Jackson, TN 38308

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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Working All Things For Good

By Steve T. on July 19, 2018

Malawi2

In the message “Our Perfect Destiny” we saw that our perfect path is the one in which we obediently follow God one step after the other. There are oftentimes dramatic diversions in our journey, which I do not believe are necessarily caused by God. However, I still believe that God uses these diversions to direct us down our perfect path as we continue to trust and follow Him in obedience, even in the midst of pain.

Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

The following message was written by my daughter, two years ago when she was sixteen. It is a wonderful example of how God can use our trials to shape us into the image of His Son. To me, this is a testimony of how God is continually in the process of working all things for good.

*** Message By Kayee Troxel ***

Hello everyone! I’m sure most of you have heard parts of my story from my Dad’s messages, but I wanted to take some time to share my testimony, and how recent events have affected it.

As many of you know, nearly four years ago I was diagnosed and treated for stage three ovarian cancer. That was a horrible time. At that point, I didn’t have a true relationship with God. It was hard for me to see any moments of happiness when I was sick and there were many times when I felt like I couldn’t make it through one more day. I was weak and depressed for a long time, but eventually it passed, and I began recovering. The summer after I finished treatment was peaceful and full of joy, like taking a breath of fresh air. But as the summer came to an end, I knew I would have to go back to the hospital for follow up tests.

The day before returning to the hospital, I was so afraid. Thinking about going back and facing all those fears and memories was petrifying. It was in that moment that I finally broke and cried out to God for help. The thought of going through the rest of my life without God was and is terrifying to me. I realized that I needed God more than I needed anything else in the world. Without Him, I am still a weak, sickly child, but when He is with me, no matter how dark a situation I might be in, His love continues to break through. He walked by my side all that day, and the follow up tests showed that I was cancer free.

Soon after, I qualified for a trip through Make-A-Wish, which is an organization that works with kids with health problems to help “make their dreams come true.” Eventually, I decided I wanted to visit the pediatric cancer ward at Queen Elizabeth hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. We would hopefully interview some doctors and nurses and learn about any special challenges with treating cancer in Malawi. The goal would be to collect information and raise awareness about the needs of the hospital. I am incredibly thankful that I was given the opportunity to go on this trip because so much good has already come out of it.

Going into the trip, there were a lot of uncertainties. We didn’t know how we were going to travel around Blantyre. We didn’t know if we were going to be able to talk to people in the hospital. And, keep in mind, being in a country so far from home was an entirely new experience for my mom and me. I had all these plans and hopes going in. I wanted to make this trip worthwhile, but instead of being in control, I had to surrender it to God and trust that he would work things out.

But wow, God is good. He provided everything I could have hoped for. We had such a successful trip. We were able to collect a lot of information about the hospital, and there are so many opportunities for service. I met several young girls in the hospital who had the same type of ovarian cancer as me. They were in the middle of treatment, and God gave me the opportunity to show them that there is hope for recovery.

My experience with cancer might have been hard, but it is nothing compared to what the children in Malawi and under-resourced areas go through. I was extremely blessed to be treated at an excellent hospital with enough resources and equipment, but not everyone is as fortunate. My heart aches for the children that have the same disease that I did but will rarely survive because of lack of early diagnosis or testing equipment.

On the last day the main oncology doctor said to me one thing that has stuck in my mind. He said, “Now you see that your pain and suffering has been used to help other people.” This blows my mind, but I can see it so clearly. God has used me for His plans. This trip would never have happened if I hadn’t had cancer. God used the pain I went through and has given me the opportunity to bring good to other people. He is working in my life and using me for His glory. This terrible thing that happened to me four years ago is now being used to help others.

Now I know that He is telling me to be active in this plan. I need to spread the word about the hospital’s needs. Hopefully, I can eventually set up funding for a project to support things like cancer nurses, food for patients, and cancer education in many of the rural areas.

I know I’m still young and have a lot to learn, but I want to leave you all with this message. God has a plan for your life. He has a perfect, beautiful plan. You might not know your whole story, and you will see darkness at times. But no darkness lasts with God. The joy that He brings afterwards is more beautiful than you could possibly imagine.

*** End of Message by Kaylee Troxel ***

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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Serve Him in Obedience

By Steve T. on July 18, 2018

Serve_Him_in_Obedience

In the last few messages we have considered our need to walk with God in continued obedience in order to honor Him and allow us to experience His very best. God’s plan is that we learn to live in His presence and become “conformed to the likeness of His Son” (Romans 8:29). This means we must listen intently for God’s direction and follow where He leads, not just blindly walk down what appears to be His path.

David was crowned king of Judah soon after Saul died in about the year 1010 BC. About seven years later, all of Israel acknowledged David as their new king. One of David’s first actions as king was to move the Ark of God from the home of Abinadab to Jerusalem. David and all the officials believed that by making the Ark a more central focus for the nation, God would bless all of Israel.

This was a very exciting time. The Ark was being transported on a new cart pulled by oxen, and over thirty thousand people were “celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals” (2 Samuel 6:5). But even during this time of great excitement, God clearly demonstrated the need for obedience.

2 Samuel 6:6-7
“When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the Ark of God.”

Uzzah’s intentions were good, but God considered his actions “irreverent.” Uzzah desired to serve God by keeping the Ark from falling to the ground, but his enthusiastic and well intentioned actions were not directed by God. In fact, Uzzah’s actions were in direct conflict with God’s Word.

During the time of Moses, God had given instructions that the Ark should be moved with poles (Exodus 25:14-15) and that anyone who touched the Ark must be put to death (Numbers 4:15). Uzzah served where he thought there was a need, but he served at the expense of true obedience.

We must learn great sensitivity to God’s leading. Seemingly godly action, if done outside the will of God, is sin. We must never assume that what “looks” good and godly is truly of God. Our Heavenly Father will always be faithful to lead us in His perfect will. But we must be willing to spend time (often, lots of time!) worshiping at His feet, communing with Him in prayer, and waiting patiently for His direction. As we serve our Lord, let’s do so with great enthusiasm, but let’s always allow Him to lead and serve Him in obedience.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 18 1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34; Romans 4:14-5:2; Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 19:17

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Sirvámosle en Obediencia

By Steve T. on July 18, 2018

Serve_Him_in_Obedience

En los últimos dos mensajes hemos considerado nuestra necesidad de caminar con Dios en continua obediencia a fin de darle honor a El y permitirnos experimentar lo mejor de El. El plan de Dios es que aprendamos a vivir en Su presencia y seamos “hechos conformes a la imagen de su Hijo” (Romanos 8:29). Esto significa que debemos escuchar con mucho interés la dirección de Dios y seguirlo hacia donde el nos lleve, no solo caminar ciegamente por lo que parece ser Su camino.

David fue coronado rey de Judá luego después que Saúl murió cerca del año 1010 AC. Unos siete años más tarde, todo Israel reconocía a David como su nuevo rey. Una de las primeras acciones de David como rey fue intentar mover el Arca de Dios de la casa de Abinadab a Jerusalén. David y todos los oficiales creyeron que dando al Arca un enfoque más central en la nación, Dios bendeciría a Israel.

Este fue un tiempo muy emocionante. El Arca estaba siendo transportada por un carruaje nuevo halado por bueyes, y más de treinta mil personas “danzaban delante de Jehová con toda clase de instrumentos de madera de haya; con arpas, salterios, panderos, flautas y címbalos” (2 Samuel 6:5). Pero aún durante este tiempo de gran emoción, Dios claramente demostró la necesidad de obediencia.

2 Samuel 6:6-7
“Cuando llegaron a la era de Nacón, Uza extendió su mano al arca de Dios, y la sostuvo; porque los bueyes tropezaban. Y el furor de Jehová se encendió contra Uza, y lo hirió allí Dios por aquella temeridad, y cayó allí muerto junto al arca de Dios.”

Las intenciones de Uza eran buenas, pero Dios consideraba sus acciones “irreverentes.” Uza deseaba servir a Dios guardando el Arca de caer al piso, pero sus entusiastas y bien intencionadas acciones no eran dirigidas por Dios. De hecho, las acciones de Uza estaban en conflicto directo con la Palabra de Dios.

Durante el tiempo de Moisés, Dios dio instrucciones que el Arca debía ser movida con varas (Éxodo 25:14-15) y que cualquiera que tocara el Arca debía morir (Numero 4:15). Uza servia donde pensaba que había una necesidad, pero servia a costo de una verdadera obediencia.

Debemos aprender una gran sensibilidad al liderazgo de Dios. Aparentemente una acción guiada por Dios, si es hecha fuera de la voluntad de Dios, es pecado. Nunca debemos asumir que lo que “se ve” bien y parece de Dios, es verdaderamente de Dios. Nuestro Padre Celestial siempre será fiel para guiarnos a Su perfecta voluntad. Pero nosotros debemos estar dispuestos a invertir tiempo (a menudo, mucho tiempo!) adorándole a Sus pies, en comunión con El en oración, y esperando pacientemente su dirección. Si servimos al Señor hagámoslo con gran entusiasmo; pero siempre permitámosle guiarnos y sirvámosle en obediencia.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Our Perfect Destiny

By Steve T. on July 17, 2018

Our_Perfect_Destiny

In the message “Don’t Strike The Rock” we saw how Moses disobeyed God’s command with obtaining water from the rock. God called Moses’ disobedience a lack of trust and punished him quite harshly; “Because you did not trust Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Numbers 20:12). God did not destine Moses for failure; rather, He sovereignly allowed Moses to choose which path he would travel.

Nearly forty years earlier, God allowed the entire nation of Israel to make a similar choice. When God brought the people out of Egyptian slavery, His plan – His destiny for His chosen people – was to lead them into the promised land of Canaan. But when the twelve spies gave their report, the people chose the path of fear and disobedience.

God always attributes disobedience to a failure to believe and trust; “How long will they refuse to believe in Me?” (Numbers 14:11). God was about to “strike them down with a plague and destroy them” (Numbers 14:12), but Moses pleaded for mercy; “In accordance with Your great love, forgive the sin of these people” (Numbers 14:19). God heard Moses and was indeed merciful.

Numbers 14:20-23
“I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, not one of the men who saw My glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed Me and tested Me ten times – not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated Me with contempt will ever see it.”

Today, those who receive the gracious gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus are God’s chosen people. We have believed and promised to walk in obedience, and He has promised to forgive us when we disobey and even when we fail to trust Him with ALL our heart. But God also has a plan – a destiny – for His chosen people; “For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son” (Romans 8:29).

Our Heavenly Father knew us before the foundations of the world, and, in His perfect plan, has destined us to walk in faith and become more and more like Jesus. But He also gives us the freedom to choose. Every day we must choose to walk in faith – choose to trust and believe. Every day we either walk down a path of obedience or down the destructive path of sin. Yes, God will forgive, but He also will not withhold His discipline!

Let’s live each day in obedient faith and continue to believe His Word is true. Let’s submit our lives to His conforming Hands and trust Him to guide us down the path of our perfect destiny.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 17 1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11; Romans 4:1-13; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 19:15-16

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Nuestro Perfecto Destino

By Steve T. on July 17, 2018

Our_Perfect_Destiny

En el mensaje “No Golpees La Roca” vimos como Moisés desobedeció la orden de Dios al obtener agua de la roca. Dios llamó a la desobediencia de Moisés una falta de confianza y lo castigó con alguna severidad; “Y Jehová dijo a Moisés y a Aarón: Por cuanto no creísteis en mí, para santificarme delante de los hijos de Israel, por tanto, no meteréis esta congregación en la tierra que les he dado” (Números 20:12). Dios no destinó a Moisés al fracaso; en lugar de eso, El soberanamente permitió a Moisés elegir el camino por el cual viajaría.

Casi cuarenta años antes, Dios permitió a la nación completa de Israel hacer una decisión similar. Cuando Dios sacó a la gente de la esclavitud Egipcia, Su plan – Su destino para la gente escogida – fue conducirlos a la tierra prometida de Canaán. Pero cuando los doce espías regresaron con el reporte de la tierra prometida, la gente escogió el camino del temor y la desobediencia.

Dios siempre atribuye la desobediencia a una falta de confiar y creer; “¿Hasta cuándo no me creerán?” (Números 14:11). Dios estuvo a punto de “herirlos de mortandad y destruirlos” (Números 14:12), pero Moisés suplicó misericordia; “Perdona ahora la iniquidad de este pueblo según la grandeza de tu misericordia” (Números 14:19). Dios escuchó a Moisés y fue de verdad misericordioso.

Números 14:20-23
“Yo lo he perdonado conforme a tu dicho. Mas tan ciertamente como vivo yo, y mi gloria llena toda la tierra, todos los que vieron mi gloria y mis señales que he hecho en Egipto y en el desierto, y me han tentado ya diez veces, y no han oído mi voz, no verán la tierra de la cual juré a sus padres; no, ninguno de los que me han irritado la verá.”

Ahora, aquellos que reciben la gracia del regalo de la vida eterna a través de la fe en Jesús son gente escogida de Dios. Hemos creído y prometido caminar en obediencia; y El ha prometido perdonarnos cuando desobedecemos y aún cuando fallamos al creer con TODO nuestro corazón. Pero Dios también tiene un plan – un destino – para Su gente escogida; “Porque a los que antes conoció, también los predestinó para que fuesen hechos conformes a la imagen de su Hijo” (Romanos 8:29).

Nuestro Padre Celestial nos conocía desde antes de la fundación del mundo y, en Su plan perfecto, nos ha destinado a continuar caminando en fe y volvernos más y más como Jesús. Pero El también nos da la libertad para elegir. Cada día debemos elegir caminar en fe – elegir creer y confiar. Cada día caminamos por el camino de la obediencia o por el destructivo camino del pecado. Si, Dios va a perdonar; ¡pero también no podrá retener Su disciplina!

Vivamos cada día en obediencia y fe y continuemos creyendo que Su Palabra es verdad. Sometamos nuestra vida a Sus manos formadoras y confiemos en que El nos guié por el camino de nuestro perfecto destino.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Every Moment is a Gift

By Steve T. on July 16, 2018

Every_Moment_is_a_Gift

[Note: It’s been over five years since we began the cancer walk with our young daughter. All her yearly tests continue to show no signs of cancer – praise God! Her next test will be in August. I wrote the following message in April 2013 as we were in the middle of treatment, but it continues to shape much of my view of our daily life.]

I knew the question was coming. I guess I’m surprised she hasn’t asked before now. But this week, when her stomach pain was causing tears, she asked; “Why is this happening?” And there it was. After three months of tests, surgery, and three rounds of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, after three months of near constant pain, my thirteen year old daughter looked at me, trusting that I held the answer, and asked: “Why?”

Parenting has some difficult moments. Fortunately, I’ve had three months to process this same question before it was asked. I had worked out an answer which satisfied my thinking about God, His workings in the world, and His plan; but what should I tell a thirteen year old…child. I quickly realized that she needed to hear my thoughts, the same way as I would talk with any adult. She was the one living through this trial, and she was the one who would be required to live with the uncertainty which cancer brings for the rest of her life.

James 4:13-14
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

The answer to my daughter’s question called for a little perspective. I admit this perspective was not part of my thinking until recently, especially when I was pondering how James could tell us to, “Consider it pure joy” (James 1:2). You may recall that I was having great difficulty finding any joy in our situation. Cancer stinks, and I was hating seeing my daughter suffer. I had concluded that God does not cause cancer, and I was confident that His plan is simply that we love Him as He walks with us through our trials. But the perspective of some recent events helped to better answer her question of Why.

Early last week an eight year old boy was watching a race in Boston and, in an instant, was killed by a bomb. Much closer to home, here in Texas, a fertilizer plant exploded and, in an instant, at least 14 people lost their lives. In 2004 an earthquake in the Indian Ocean started a tsunami that killed over 200,000 people. Another 200,000 people were killed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The list is long and ugly. Every moment of every day, people die unexpectedly, with no warning. Many more die from starvation and disease. What message am I trying to convey? Life is very, very fragile.

When my daughter asked the question of Why, I answered the best I possibly could: “I don’t know!” I don’t know why she has cancer and I don’t know why any of these bad things happen. But as we talked through each of these tragedies listed above we came to the undeniable conclusion that life is fragile. We have no guarantee of the number of our days here on earth, nor even on the quality of those days. That may be a lot for a thirteen year old to process, but I believe it’s necessary for each of us to process down this same path. And the result of this processing, I told my daughter, ought to shape how you live the rest of your life; how you spend your time and energy; how you think about God and the values you hold.

“I don’t know” turns out to be a beautiful answer. It’s beautiful because in the implied uncertainty we are able to see not just the fragile nature of life, but the beauty of the moment we are living right now. This day is significant! The conversations you are having, the relationships you are developing, even the notes and smiles you freely give, are filled with meaning and value. Each moment counts!

We are not yet done with this journey through cancer. We have one more round of chemo next week and then some tests to see if the chemo has done what it was supposed to do. Kaylee is strong, and she is getting stronger every day. And through this difficult journey, at this very early age, I pray she truly learns the life-transforming lesson that every moment is a gift.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 16 1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32; Romans 3:9-31; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 19:13-14

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Don’t Strike The Rock

By Steve T. on July 12, 2018

Don't_Strike_The_Rock

Moses was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Through Moses, God demonstrated His awesome power and holiness. At the time, there was no one closer to God than Moses. However, even with this wonderfully close relationship, Moses still struggled at times with trusting God.

After being led out of Egypt, the people often brought their complaints to Moses. On one occasion, the people complained about their lack of drinking water; “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?” (Numbers 20:5). When Moses entered the presence of God with this concern, he was given clear direction for solving the problem: “Gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water” (Numbers 20:8).

Moses gathered the people as he was told. But rather than simply speaking to the rock, Moses tried to accomplish God’s work with a method of his own choosing.

Numbers 20:10-11
“‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.”

Moses had seen God’s power and knew how much He hated disobedience; yet, at this moment, Moses did not follow God’s command. Moses may have become prideful while leading the Israelites through the desert; “Must WE {Aaron and I} bring you water out of this rock?” Or, he may have thought God needed help from the same staff used to turn the Nile river into blood and part the Red Sea. Either way, his disobedience stemmed from a lack of trust in God – trust is always related to obedience!

God still loved Moses and will fellowship with him for all eternity, but his failure to obey was severely punished; “Because you did not trust in Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Numbers 20:12). God’s perfect plan for Moses clearly included a trip into the Promised land; but, even after 40 years of faithful leadership, Moses’ lack of trust caused him to miss out on God’s very best.

God knows our needs, and His plan is for us to trust Him and walk with Him as we are conformed to the image of His Son. Let’s listen intently for His direction and then fully obey. Let’s take the steps to ensure all we do in our ministry – all we do in our family and in every area of our life – is done to bring Him glory and honor. Let’s trust Him and His ways with ALL our heart, and always remember…don’t strike the rock!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 12 1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17; Romans 1:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 19:4-5
Jul 13 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36; Romans 1:18-32; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 19:6-7
Jul 14 1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17; Romans 2:1-23; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 19:8-9
Jul 15 1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30; Romans 2:24-3:8; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 19:10-12

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No Golpees la Roca

By Steve T. on July 12, 2018

Don't_Strike_The_Rock

Moisés fue escogido por Dios para sacar al pueblo de Israel de Egipto. A través de Moisés, Dios demostró Su asombroso poder y santidad magnífica. En aquel tiempo, no había nadie mas cerca a Dios que Moisés. Sin embargo, aún con esta relación tan cercana y maravillosa, a Moisés le costó confiar en Dios.

Después de salir de Egipto, la gente con frecuencia traían sus quejas a Moisés. En una ocasión, la gente se quejaban acerca de su falta de agua potable; “¿Para qué nos sacaste de Egipto y nos metiste en este horrible lugar?” (Números 20:5). Cuando Moisés entró a la presencia de Dios con este problema, a él se le fueron dadas claras instrucciones para resolverlo: “Toma la vara y reúne a la asamblea. En presencia de ésta, tú y tu hermano le ordenarán a la roca que dé agua. Así harán que de ella brote agua” (Números 20:8).

Moisés reunió a la gente tal como fue instruido. Pero en vez de simplemente hablar a la roca, Moisés intentó cumplir el trabajo de Dios con un método de su propia preferencia.

Números 20:10-11
“¡Escuchen, rebeldes! ¿Acaso tenemos que sacarles agua de esta roca? Dicho esto, levantó la mano y dos veces golpeó la roca con la vara, ¡y brotó agua en abundancia, de la cual bebieron la asamblea y su ganado!”

Moisés había visto el poder de Dios y sabía cuanto odiaba Dios la desobediencia; pero en este momento, Moisés no siguió el mandamiento de Dios. Es posible que Moisés se llenó de orgullo mientras dirigía a los Israelitas en el desierto; “¿Acaso tenemos {Aarón y Yo} que sacarles agua de esta roca?” O quizás estaba pensando que Dios necesitaba un poco de ayuda de la misma vara que usó para cambiar el río Nilo en sangre y partir el Mar Rojo. De todos modos, su desobediencia salió de una falta de confiar en Dios – confiar siempre está relacionado con la obediencia!

Dios todavía amaba a Moisés y pasará la eternidad en comunión con el, pero su falta de obedecer fue severamente castigada; “Por no haber confiado en mí, ni haber reconocido mi santidad en presencia de los israelitas, no serán ustedes los que lleven a esta comunidad a la tierra que les he dado” (Números 20:12). El perfecto plan de Dios para Moisés claramente incluía un viaje a la Tierra prometida; pero, aún después de 40 años de liderazgo fiel, la falta de Moisés de confiar le causó a perder el mejor de Dios.

Dios sabe de nuestras necesidades y tiene un plan detallado que está desarrollando según Su perfecto tiempo. Escuchemos atentamente por Su dirección y después obedezcamos completamente. Tomemos pasos para asegurar que todo lo que hacemos en nuestro ministerio – todo lo que hacemos en nuestra familia y en cada área de nuestra vida – lo hacemos para traer gloria y honra a El. Confiemos en El con TODO nuestro corazón y siempre recordemos: ¡no golpees a la roca!

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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