The Butterfly Effect?

 GodTracker 903

The e-devotional to help keep you on track with God’s plans for your life.
GodTracker is published at godtracker.co.uk
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The Butterfly Effect?

“God’s plan for your life is not an effect; God’s plan for your life is God’s explicitly designed purpose for you.”

Ephesians 1:11
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will

Have you ever wondered how your life might have panned out if you had made different choices in your past? What if I’d been born in a different city or what would my life have been like if I went to a different school and met different people in my youth or how would things have turned out if I had not taken that first job? There is a term to describe the results of sensitive dependence on initial conditions; it’s called the butterfly effect. This effect implies that small changes in initial conditions could have a massive effect on the future conditions of a changing system.

There once was a young Levite couple who had a child at a time when the Hebrews were being suppressed in Egypt. The king had issued a decree calling for the death of every newborn Hebrew male as a way of controlling the Jewish population. When this couple’s child was born it was a male. However, instead of killing him, they hid him in the reads of the Nile River. The child’s sister watched from afar as the baby was eventually discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter who took him in and raised him as her own. And so, Moses, one of the greatest Hebrew leaders of all time, was saved from certain death. Moses was to grow up and deliver the Jews from slavery, bring us the 10 Commandments and preserve the tribe of Judah, from which Jesus the Saviour of the world was born. The butterfly effect? I think not.

At his call to ministry, Jeremiah the prophet heard the Lord say to him: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” In the Psalms, we read, “Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” The Lord God Almighty knows all there is to know about space and time – he created it! Therefore, he knows your present, your past and your future. Every aspect of your life is wrapped up in his will for you. The only thing that could disturb God’s plan for you is if you choose to deliberately dishonour him by rejecting Christ as Lord.

If we acknowledge the Lord in all our ways (as Moses’ parents did) then he will direct our paths. Therefore, you, as a follower of the eternal God, are not subject to the butterfly effect. The outcome of your choices has nothing to do with fate but everything to do with faith if you continue to acknowledge God and walk rightly before him. You see, God’s plan for your life is not an effect; God’s plan for your life is God’s explicitly designed purpose for you. He works out everything according to his purpose and according to the counsel of his will.

God-tracking is believing God when he says, “I know the plans I have for you.”

IT’S ALL IN THE BIBLE. READ ALL ABOUT IT.
Get into the word of God and get the word of God into you!
Exodus 2
Jeremiah 1
Psalm 139:16
Proverbs 3:5

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SO, DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK UP & PRAY

“Today I commit myself to follow your destiny for me.”

“Father God, I admit my need of you. I repent of all sin and humbly acknowledge Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. I acknowledge you in all my ways – in my relationships, in my career, in my private life, in my recreation and in every aspect of who and what I am. You are my Lord and my guide. Today I commit myself to follow your destiny for me, according to your plans and purposes. I choose to not do things my way and rely on fate but to do things your way and walk by faith. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

VERY IMPORTANT: If you prayed that prayer today email me now at  dudley@godtracker.co.uk

HELP keep GodTracker free

----------------------------
What is GodTracker?
GodTracker is a weekly e-mail Christian motivational thought, written by Dudley Anderson, based on the premise that God has a plan for our lives. His Word calls us to seek his plan by acknowledging him in all our ways and by tracking his purposes, in faith.

Listen to GodTracker podcasts by Dudley Anderson at, godtracker.co.uk/godtracker-podcasts

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Today is a Gift

GodTracker 902

The e-devotional to help keep you on track with God’s plans for your life.
GodTracker is published at godtracker.co.uk
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No time to read? Listen to this week’s GodTracker podcast here,
https://soundcloud.com/godtracker/gtwd-240-god-tracking-is-making-your-dash-count

“Jesus promised us abundant life. If my life is but a fleeting mist then there must be more to it than just getting up in the morning.”

James 4:14(b)
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

I was listening to a message by the acclaimed preacher, Louie Giglio. He asked the question, “What have you done with your dash?” Giglio explained how he was walking through a graveyard one day, reading the gravestones. Suddenly he became aware of one small marking on every stone: the little dash between the birth date and the date of death.

In his book, Fan The Flame, Joseph Stowell writes, “The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch still lit for Him.”

By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Apostle Paul tells us that in a race, the runners run to receive a prize. Then he adds that the race we run in life – our little dash between birth and death – is run not to receive a temporal prize but an eternal prize: the words of our Lord and Saviour, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

I am not a morning person. Generally, when I wake up in the morning I dream of the minute, about 16 hours later, when I’ll be putting my head back down on my pillow again. I jest. However, the Lord burst through my morning blues one morning with the words, “Today is a gift to you. Make the most of it.”

So, let’s make the most of every day to please the Lord. Let us take every opportunity in our small dash to touch a life with the goodness of God, pray for the sick, share the Good News or help the needy. Make the most of every opportunity because the days we live in are deprived. Our finite 70, 80, 90 years are but a mist; here one minute, gone the next. But Jesus promised us abundant life. If my life is but a fleeting mist then there must be more to it than just getting up in the morning. Abundant life begins now and takes us to eternity.

Make your dash count. Run in a such a way as to keep your torch lit. Today is an abundant gift to you from an eternal God.

God-tracking is making your dash count

IT’S ALL IN THE BIBLE. READ ALL ABOUT IT.
Get into the word of God and get the word of God into you!
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Matthew 25:14-30
John 10:10
Ephesians 5:16

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SO, DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK UP & PRAY

“I give you my dash, O Lord. Help me make it count.”

“O Father, forgive me for apathy and procrastination. Forgive me for not making the most of every opportunity in this little dash of life. I decide now, by your grace, to make the most of every opportunity I’m presented with to share your love wherever I can. Help me to pray for the sick, share the gospel and help the needy. I give you my dash, O Lord. Help me make it count. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer today email me now at  dudley@godtracker.co.uk

HELP keep GodTracker free

----------------------------
What is GodTracker?
GodTracker is a weekly e-mail Christian motivational thought, written by Dudley Anderson, based on the premise that God has a plan for our lives. His Word calls us to seek his plan by acknowledging him in all our ways and by tracking his purposes, in faith.

Listen to GodTracker podcasts by Dudley Anderson at, godtracker.co.uk/godtracker-podcasts

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

He's Done it All

GodTracker 900

The e-devotional to help keep you on track with God’s plans for your life.
GodTracker is published at godtracker.co.uk
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No time to read? Listen to this week’s GodTracker podcast here,
https://soundcloud.com/godtracker/gtwd-238-god-tracking-is-resting-in-the-finished-work-of-christ

“Indeed, it is finished. God made him who had no sin to be a sin offering for you and me so that, in  him, we might receive the righteousness of God.”

John 19:30
So, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus had been severely beaten, flogged and crucified. He had been hanging on the cross for several hours while spikes through his hands and feet flooded his body with excruciating pain. Normally, it would take many hours, even days, for a victim of crucifixion to die. Yet Jesus was approaching the end. In all probability, he had lost a great deal of blood due to his injuries. Finally, he cries in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which is Aramaic for “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” a fulfilment of Messianic prophecy. And then, after taking a sip of wine vinegar, he calls out, “It… is… finished!” Bowing his head, Jesus, the Christ, dies.

The wages of sin is death and all have sinned and missed the perfect goodness of God Almighty. Yet, Jesus, the Son of God was born free of sin because he had no earthly father. We read that he was tempted, as we are, yet never succumbed. However, God, his Father, chose to impute the righteous Christ with our sin so that, in him, we might be imputed with God’s righteousness. The wages of sin is death so Jesus died. Yet, because he was guiltless death had no legal right to hold onto him. And so, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ rose from the dead, thus opening the way for you and me to be acquitted from the wages of sin. That’s the grace of God. We are saved through faith in his grace.

Indeed, it is finished. God made him who had no sin to be a sin offering for you and me so that, in  him, we might receive the righteousness of God. He has done it all. Nothing more can be added to that act of grace. There is nothing you or I could ever do to make us right before God except to admit that there is nothing you or I could ever do to make us right before God. And that’s faith, confidence in the complete work of Christ on the cross.

Now ain’t that the Good News?!

God-tracking is resting in the finished work of Christ

IT’S ALL IN THE BIBLE. READ ALL ABOUT IT.
Get into the word of God and get the word of God into you!
Psalm 22:1-18
Romans 6:23
Romans 3:23
Hebrews 4:14-15
2 Corinthians 5:21
Ephesians 2:4-10

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SO, DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK UP & PRAY

“I believe that Jesus died and rose again and now confess him to be lord of my life.”

”Dear God, I admit I’m a sinner. I have missed the mark of your goodness. I repent of all that I have done in my life that has displeased you and I repent of the fact that I was born into sin. Thank you for your righteous Son, Jesus Christ, who offered his life for mine. Thank you, Jesus, that you were obedient to the cross. And thank you Holy Spirit for raising Jesus from the dead. It is finished. My sin is atoned for. I believe that Jesus died and rose again and now confess him to be lord of my life. I accept my forgiveness by your grace and surrender my life to you. Amen.”

VERY IMPORTANT: If you prayed that prayer today email me now at  dudley@godtracker.co.uk

HELP keep GodTracker free

----------------------------
What is GodTracker?
GodTracker is a weekly e-mail Christian motivational thought, written by Dudley Anderson, based on the premise that God has a plan for our lives. His Word calls us to seek his plan by acknowledging him in all our ways and by tracking his purposes, in faith.

Listen to GodTracker podcasts by Dudley Anderson at, godtracker.co.uk/godtracker-podcasts

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

You Have Nothing to Defend

 GodTracker 899

The e-devotional to help keep you on track with God’s plans for your life.
GodTracker is published at godtracker.co.uk
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No time to read? Listen to this week’s GodTracker podcast here,
https://soundcloud.com/godtracker/gtwd-237-god-tracking-is-resting-in-gods-plan-for-your-life-no-matter-what-happens

“No matter what happens, you have nothing to defend. God is watching over his perfect plan for you to perform it in his time. After all, your work is not your own, but God’s.”

Jeremiah 1:12 (NIV)
The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.

Steve was stunned. His boss, Pete, sat with hands clasped across the desk from him, waiting for a response. “But I’ve given the best part of my working life to this job,” Steve finally replied. “I know, Steve,” said Pete, “But management has decided to close down your department. There’s nothing more I can do. You will receive a severance package. I know it’s difficult but I believe God is in control.”

For the past 10 years, Steve had been working behind the scenes for a Christian missionary agency in support of God’s people out in the field. Now, as he walked away from Pete’s office, a feeling of dejected and emptiness overcame him. Back at his workstation, Steve prayed, “Dear God, I have always acknowledged you in all my ways and trusted you to direct the outcome of all my endeavours. So, I know this can only be according to your plan for my life. I believe you called me to this work so I trust you to watch over your calling on my life, no matter what happens.”

Scripture tells us that God watches over his word to fulfil it. When God gives us his word and calls us to ministry, he will defend that calling. We read in Isaiah that God’s word will not return to him without producing the fruit that he intended. When something happens to jeopardise the work God has called us to, we can be assured that God will, nevertheless, guard that calling. It was not up to Steve to safeguard his work or defend his calling but rather to rest in the fact that God would open the next door for him in his time. Because Steve had continually acknowledged the Lord in all he did, God was watching over Steve’s calling. He had nothing to prove and nothing to defend. After all, Steve’s work was not his own, but God’s.

It could be that someone has stripped you of your life’s ambition or it could be that you’ve been abandoned by someone you once trusted and you’re feeling dejected and empty. Take a moment to acknowledge God; acknowledge his foreknowledge of this moment and surrender your fight to him. Acknowledging God results in him directing your life’s path. Therefore, come to Jesus and rest in his plan for you at this time. He will certainly open new and wonderful opportunities for you in ways you could never have imagined. No matter what happens, you have nothing to defend. God is watching over his perfect plan for you to perform it in his time. After all, your work is not your own, but God’s.

After a time of faithful waiting and seeking the face of Jesus, Steve went on to pastor a growing church that impacted his community in ways he would never have dreamed.

God-tracking is resting in God’s plan for your life, no matter what happens.

IT’S ALL IN THE BIBLE. READ ALL ABOUT IT.
Get into the word of God and get the word of God into you!
Isaiah 55:8-11
Proverbs 3:5-6
Matthew 11:28-30
1 Corinthians 15:57-58

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SO, DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK UP & PRAY

“I believe that you will watch over and defend your word to me I pray that we, your Body, will become lost in the magnificence of your majesty as we worship you in spirit and in truth.”

”Father God I am feeling miserable and alone today. I have been rejected and overlooked in my work and relationships. I believe that you have called me to serve you in all that I do. Therefore, I acknowledge your knowledge of my situation and I continue to acknowledge you in every aspect of my life. I surrender my effort of defending my work and relationships to you. I believe that you will watch over and defend your word to me. I come to you and lay down my burden, resting in your purposes for my life. I trust you to fulfil your calling on my life, in your time. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer today email me dudley@godtracker.co.uk

HELP keep GodTracker free

----------------------------
What is GodTracker?
GodTracker is a weekly e-mail Christian motivational thought, written by Dudley Anderson, based on the premise that God has a plan for our lives. His Word calls us to seek his plan by acknowledging him in all our ways and by tracking his purposes, in faith.

Listen to GodTracker podcasts by Dudley Anderson at, godtracker.co.uk/godtracker-podcasts

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Ministry of Encouragement

 GodTracker 897

The e-devotional to help keep you on track with God’s plans for your life.
GodTracker is published at godtracker.co.uk
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No time to read? Listen to this week’s GodTracker podcast here,
https://soundcloud.com/godtracker/gtwd-235-god-tracking-is-encouraging-others-to-flourish-in-faith

“Who knows the impact that one dear soul may have on the world because of your few words of encouragement.”

Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.

Shortly after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we read in Acts that the early believers sold property to help feed the poor. At this time, we read that a Levite called Joses sold land and brought the proceeds to the apostles to be distributed. This was a commendable act since that land would have been Joses’s security and providence for his old age, yet he chose to give it all up for the sake of helping the needy. What an encouraging act. In fact, Joses was so much of an encourager that his name was changed to Barnabas, which means son of encouragement. Later we read how Barnabas took Paul under his wing when he was rejected by the other disciples because Paul had been a persecutor of the Christians. Barnabas encouraged Paul to stay strong and encouraged the other believers to accept him. Barnabas went on to be a travel companion with Apostle Paul, preaching the gospel across Asia Minor.

Years back when I was studying for the ministry, I endured a spiritual burnout and had a crisis of faith. At the time I was attending a large church in Johannesburg, South Africa. The pastor was a gentle yet firm man. Because of my experience, I had been appointed to a position of leadership in the church, yet I was in rebellion. Without criticism or rejection, my pastor took me under his wing. He lavished me with counsel and prayer. Never did he condemn my folly or deny me opportunity. In fact, I was promoted to music director of the church. I can only believe that he had insight into God’s call on my life and faith that God would pull me through my rebellion. And he did.

Is there someone in your life who you know is called of God but is suffering a crisis of faith at this time? Do you believe that God has a plan to use him/her mightily for the Kingdom yet he/she can’t see the wood for the trees, so to speak? May I encourage you to be an encourager and encourage that person to not give up but look up and trust God’s plan for their lives. Who knows the impact that one dear soul may have on the world because of your few words of encouragement?

Encourage believers in their walk with Christ. Encourage nonbelievers to walk with Christ.

God-tracking is encouraging others to flourish in faith

IT’S ALL IN THE BIBLE. READ ALL ABOUT IT.
Get into the word of God and get the word of God into you!
Acts 4:32-37
Acts 9:26-30
Romans 12:6-8


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SO, DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK UP & PRAY

“Only you know the lives that will be changed for the good, for good by my words of encouragement.”

“Dear God, I see the potential in so many people, yet I lack the courage to encourage them to flow in their full potential. Help me to find the words and valour to speak into their lives with love, grace and humility. I take this moment to pray for them that you will open the door of opportunity to them and provide their every need to flourish in your purposes for their lives. Lord, I believe I have the ministry of encouragement. Help me to boldly serve you in this calling. Only you know the lives that will be changed for the good, for good by my few words of encouragement. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer today email me dudley@godtracker.co.uk

HELP keep GodTracker free

----------------------------
What is GodTracker?
GodTracker is a weekly e-mail Christian motivational thought, written by Dudley Anderson, based on the premise that God has a plan for our lives. His Word calls us to seek his plan by acknowledging him in all our ways and by tracking his purposes, in faith.

Listen to GodTracker podcasts by Dudley Anderson at, godtracker.co.uk/godtracker-podcasts

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.