He is Risen!

"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." Matthew 28:6  

This is the cornerstone to our faith.  

Jesus was crucified on a cross, buried in a tomb and rose on the third day. 

Jesus is the lead instrument in God's Orchestra, so to speak.   It is through His sacrifice that we are all afforded eternal life.  

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

There Are No Coincidences

The title of this entry, “There Are No Coincidences,” was selected after a conversation I had with a friend. He had been convinced after conversations with others and science journals on the inner workings of the brain, that what I deem as an ‘Orchestration of God’ is a coincidence. 

My position is if it is only a coincidence, and he believes in God (which he says he does) then refusing to see God at work in the situation is the same as not believing in God at all. It is written, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” 

What differentiates a person who says in his heart “There is a God” from one who says in his heart “There is no God?” This question, I believe, is the core of the difference in being able to see “God’s Orchestra” at work versus not and labeling unexplainable or random series of events as coincidences.

The differentiating factor is faith.  As it is written, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This has to be done with the heart, not the head/brain.  By trusting in the creator of the Universe. The God who is bigger than you. The God who made you, loved you and sent His son to die for you; Jesus.   

By trusting your own thoughts on a topic (like a coincidence), another person or scientific journal, you are putting faith and trust in your understanding or that of someone else; not God. 

Bottom Line: Your trust is not in God. If you are not trusting God: your faith is not in God.  

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.”  Proverbs 3:5-7 (NKJV)

Postscript: 

This article came about as a result of my having read Psalms 14(see below), four days ago.  

The next day, I met a young man at a restaurant.  During our conversation, a woman came in and made a remark on the exact topic we had been having before her entrance. 

After she left, the young man exclaimed, “How weird, we were just talking about that!”  

I told him, “That is not weird, God Orchestrated it.”   

Immediately, he uttered, “Let’s not go there.” I asked if he believed in God and he said he did not. He said he was a good person and did good works. 

For the next several days, articles on my social media news feed and national television news programs featured atheists. Coincidence, or God wanting to reveal Himself to men?  

 Psalms 14 

The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,

They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call on the Lord?

There they are in great fear,
For God is with the generation of the righteous.

You shame the counsel of the poor,
But the Lord is his refuge.

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

Signs

It began with a message about signs.  Everywhere there are signs.  I couldn’t get a popular song out of my head.  Signs, signs, everywhere there are signs.  But you have to look for them.  You have to recognize them.  You have to respond to them.

“Show them the signs,” rang loudly in my head.  I wasn’t sure what to do about it, so I waited and waited and waited.  I felt as though I was being moved towards something, but I wasn’t sure what that something was so I waited and listened for God to tell me what He wanted me to do.  

Slowly, He put people into my life who would help me show the signs.  Conversation after conversation, I heard the same word, orchestra.  Then it made sense.  The signs that are all around, the people in our lives; every conversation we have; the books we read; the songs we sing; every action we take; they are all individual notes within God’s Orchestra. 

You are God’s song.  As His people, we are called to be a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, by telling of all the good he has done unto us. 

“Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.” Jeremiah 33:9 

"It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak." 2 Corinthians 4:13

It is by our testimonies that we play music in God’s Orchestra.  It is my prayer that the testimonies shared here will remind you of (or perhaps introduce you for the first time to) our awesome God who is involved with every detail of your life.  He knew you in your mother’s womb.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 

  

The following is an example of God’s Orchestra in my own life.  

One morning several years ago during my prayer time, the Lord told me, "If you ask God 'Who, What, & Where?' he'll answer and GIVE you the 'When, Why, & How!'"

I thought, "Really God?" 

He knows I like to ask a LOT of questions, so He said, "Go ahead, and try it!"

Sure enough, I began to think of all the times I have asked God, "Who do you want me to minister to? What do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go?"

Next, I thought of specific incidences and quickly He brought to my remembrance the time He told me to, "Sell everything and move to Canada." 

At first, the "What" seemed scary, but was eventually replaced with excitement for a new adventure.  He told me "Where" but the "Who" wasn't for me to know, yet. He provided the "How,” and after I had been there a short time, the "Who" and "Why" emerged. 

A woman in an abusive relationship was put in my life.  She had vaguely heard about someone named Jesus, but had no clue who He was or what He had done for her.  Her parents died when she was young, and had raised her older brothers and sisters as atheists.  

After reading the Bible with her, we prayed and she asked Jesus to be her Savior.  She had a newborn and decided to leave the abusive relationship, and move across country.  She was so happy to know she could raise her daughter to know and love the Lord.  

Her life changed, dramatically; and I continue to be humbled by the experience of surrendering my will to His. 

As a postscript, I realize that it can be so easy to miss His leading for us.  For example, I am not supposed to only write and share this with others.  He's saying, "Deanna, don't miss it.  I have answers for you!" He is saying to you, too "Don't miss it!  I have answers for you.  Just ask me!"

Your body is your instrument; your life is your opus.

“for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’” Acts 17:28

Make music!  

Share your stories with us on how you play your instrument in God's Orchestra at info@godsorchestra.com

   

You Are God's Opus

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 - New King James Version (NKJV) 

The word "workmanship" used in this verse in the original Greek is: ποίημα. Phonetically it is read as poiéma (poy'-ay-mah) and means "a work" according to Strong's Concordance. The short definition is "a thing made"
and a longer definition is "a thing made, a work, workmanship."

Poiéma comes from a primitive root word ποιέω which is read as poieó (poy-eh'-o) and means "to make, do." The short definition is "I do, make" and a longer definition is "(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause."

This word is only used twice in the entire bible. The other instance is Romans 1:20
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."

We are "the things that are made." We are "...His workmanship created in Christ..." to walk in the "...good works, which God prepared beforehand..."

Like the conductor of an Orchestra, He will direct us. Our life is our instrument but we have to choose whether or not we will play it. Whether or not we will let Him direct us.