Thoughts from a Random Mind 

 

Do you understand that God wants ALL OF YOU? He doesn’t want the small portion of your life that you feel comfortable letting go of, He wants the whole megillah*.

            Comfort zones stunt your spiritual growth. We must venture outside our comfort zones to be as effective for Christ as He knows we can be. I say this understanding that it is a human reaction to seek to be comfortable in whatever setting we happen to be in, but we need to dare to branch out. You’ll never know what you’re capable of it you don’t. Actually, you’ll never know what God can make you capable of if you don’t. I say THAT because it is NOT about us. It never has been and it never should be. It is about God and His desire to lovingly use us to minister on His behalf. 

            St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the gospel at all times & if necessary, use words.” In other words, it is imperative that we strive to LIVE THE GOSPEL among the masses. The old adage “Actions speak louder than words”^[1] comes into play here.

            We must fully grasp with two hands the concept that we cannot walk with Christ without His assistance. We must accept the idea that we are a flawed, broken people with help for us readily available. Like salvation itself, living for Christ is very much like a gift that is offered, yet too many avoid taking it for themselves. 

            While determination is needed to follow thru with our faith, we must also be prepared to surrender to the will of the Lord once we are aware of just what it is. It’s different for everyone, for He has a path and plan for each one of us to be successful in the kingdom. Being successful in this world is optional when it comes to serving God. If God is our provider then why should we strive so hard to achieve wealth. There’s nothing wrong with having wealth. As I’ve said several times before; it’s not wrong to have wealth, it IS however important HOW we acquired it and WHAT we do with it. Having great wealth happens to be inconsequential when it comes to our walk with the Lord. 

            So give your time and efforts to the Lord freely and do not fret about the outcome. God WANTS you to succeed in His name, not for your benefit, but for the benefit of all those who interact with you. Then give God all the glory, praise and honor.

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*the whole megillah an informal expression for something in its entirety…The phrase, which is Yiddish & alludes to the length of the Megillah**

**Megillah can also refer to a complicated sequence of events, or it can be used as a synonym of “ball of wax” meaning “everything involved in what is under consideration.”.

^[1] The earliest known version of the saying comes from John Pym in 1628, emphasizing the value of actions over words. Thomas Manton’s 1693 sermon introduced the idea of actions "speaking louder" than words. The phrase in its current form first appeared in 1736 in The Melancholy State of Province.

The Attributes of God

Love & Goodness

            The following group of scriptures from both the Old & New Testaments shine a light on the love and goodness of Almighty God. All these verses speak loudly to His unchanging, unconditional love for His creation. Read each one and soak in the truth that is representative of our God.

 

1 John 4:16 - "God is love, and whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."

 

Psalm 145:9 - "The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made." 

 

Psalm 103:8–10 – “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”

This verse captures both God’s mercy and unfailing love, emphasizing His character as patient and gracious. 

 

Lamentations 3:22–23 – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

These verses highlight the unending, renewing nature of God’s goodness and love, offering fresh hope daily. 

 

Psalm 23:6 – “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

This verse affirms God’s goodness is persistent and personal, pursuing believers throughout life. 

 

Isaiah 54:10 – “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed.”

This verse emphasizes the eternal, unshakable nature of God’s love which is more enduring than creation itself. 

 

James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

This verse affirms that all goodness originates in God, who is unchanging and reliable. 

 

1 John 4:10 – “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

This final verse defines love as God’s initiative—not based on human merit, but on His grace. 

These verses collectively reveal a God whose love is eternal, sacrificial, and active, and whose goodness is steadfast, trustworthy, and life-giving. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.openthebible.org

The Attributes of God

Mercy & Grace 

            I believe mercy & grace go hand in hand. God’s mercy is an outcropping of His love for us. His grace is the undeserved favor He shows us all when we become “saved”. He offers us mercy because of His gracious nature. This is available to anyone who has chosen to enter into a personal relationship with the Lord. 

            “As sinners, we deserve punishment ^{(Romans 3:23)}. God’s righteousness requires punishment for sin—He wouldn’t be holy otherwise. Since God does love us and is merciful, He sent His Son ^{(John 3:16)}. The fullness of His mercy is seen in Matthew 27. Jesus is brutally beaten and murdered on our behalf; Jesus received our just condemnation, and we received God’s mercy.” ^[1]

Exodus 34:6 - "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." 

Ephesians 2:8 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." 

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1]  www.gotquestions.org

The Attributes of God

Unchanging

 

“Unchanging” is following the same principles or course of action over time. Almighty God never changes for to change could lead to wavering on decisions or just plain regretting them.  Since He doesn’t change, does God have any regrets?

“God does not have regrets in the way humans do. When the Bible says God "regretted" making humanity (Genesis 6:6) or appointing Saul as king (1 Samuel 15:11), it uses anthropomorphic* language—describing God in human terms to help us grasp His relational response.  This does not mean God made a mistake or changed His mind due to new information. 

God’s "regret" reflects His deep sorrow and grief over human sin and disobedience, not a failure in His perfect plan.  He knew humanity would fall and Saul would rebel, yet He allowed these events to fulfill His sovereign purposes, including the eventual coming of the Messiah. His actions are consistent with His unchanging nature—He does not lie, repent, or change His mind (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29). Thus, while God feels sorrow over sin, He does not regret His decisions because they were always part of His eternal plan. His grief is not weakness, but a reflection of His holiness and love.” ^[1]

 

Psalm 90:2 - "From everlasting to everlasting, you are God." 

 

Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

 

Malachi 3:6 – “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”

Psalm 102:27 – “But You are the same, and Your years shall have no end.”

Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.  Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?”

1 Samuel 15:29 – “The Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for He is not a man, that He should have regret.”

 

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries
* Describing non-human things as if they have human traits—such as thinking, speaking, feeling, or acting like people.

^[1]www.wearefaith.org

The Attributes of God

Omniscience

 

A simple definition of ‘omniscience’ that I like to use is that “God knows all that can be known”.  His omniscience is not restricted to any one person in the Godhead; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all by nature omniscient.
              God knows everything. He knows not only the minutest details of our lives, but those of everything around us, for He mentions even knowing when a sparrow falls or when we lose a single hair. Not only does God know everything that will occur until the end of history itself, but He also knows our very thoughts, even before we think them. He knows our hearts motivation; He even saw us in the womb. Solomon expresses this truth perfectly when he says, “For only you know the hearts of all the children of mankind”. 

 

Psalm 139:1-6 NIV

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

 

1 John 3:20 NIV

“If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”

 

1 Kings 8:39   NIV

“You deal with everyone according to all they do, for you alone know every human heart ...”

 

            Since God knows all that can be known, we cannot put anything past Him; in other words, we cannot fool Him. We cannot trick God or schmooze Him. All our greatest thoughts and lowliest endeavors are an open book to the Lord. Nothing escapes His watchful eye. What is not possible for man is possible for Almighty God. While the unsaved should quake in fear with regards to God’s omniscience, the believer can find relief in knowing that He knows all about the situation you’re in right now. He is mindful of it and will provide encouragement, support, and if a negative situation, a way of escape. Those who have a godly mindset have nothing to fear. Those who are without regard to the magnificence & glory of the King, have much to fear, for their ignorance and arrogance will not wear well in the long run. Beware the wrath of the Lord, for it is coming to all those who disregard or mock His mighty name.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Attributes of God

Omnipresence

 

The prefix ‘omni’- originates in Latin and means “all.” So, to say that God is omnipresent is to say that God is present everywhere. In many religions, God is regarded as omnipresent, whereas in both Judaism and Christianity, this view is further subdivided into the transcendence ^[1] and immanence ^[2] of God. Although God is not totally immersed in the fabric of creation (pantheism ^[3]), He is present everywhere at all times.

 

Jeremiah 23:24 - “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord?”

 

Psalm 139:7 - "Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?" 

 

Proverbs 15:3 - “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

 

Hebrews 4:13 - “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

 

            There is nowhere that God is not. Does that mean He is in hell? The way it has been explained in my research is that His spirit is there with regards to space, but not relationally.

In other words, His spirit is in that space, but there is no communication or relationship with those in hell. They have permanently forfeited their right to the favor of God and must suffer the consequences of their rejection of Him. Without Christ’s blood removing their sin, they are under the wrath of God. THAT is a major difference between those who are saved and those who are not. Christian’s are under His grace and forever shall reside in His presence. Non-believers are NOT under His grace and shall NEVER reside in His presence for all eternity. Eternal separation apart from Almighty God. That was the unsaved person’s choice, and hell was the consequences of that choice. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] Transcendence is the state of being free from the constraints of the material world, as in the case of a deity.

^[2] Immanence is the concept of the presence of deity in and throughout the real world; the idea that God is everywhere and in everything.

^[3] Pantheism is the idea that God and the universe are one and the same; there is no distinction between the divine and the material world. Adherence to Pantheism do not believe God to be a personal God, but impersonal, being interwoven into His creation as in the supposed fact that God is in a rock or tree or water, etc.

Resource: www.gotquestions.org

The Attributes of God

Omnipotence 

 

            To say Almighty God is Omnipotent is to say that He has UNLIMITED POWER. Nothing or no one is more powerful than He is. What that should mean to you is that He has more than enough power to accomplish whatever you may need to have done. It just needs to be within the parameters of His will for you. You see, HE knows you better than you know yourself AND HE knows exactly what you will need. We usually have NO IDEA what we need or want when it comes to life’s essentials, but our Heavenly Father knows.

 

Here are a few scripture verses that speak to God’s unlimited power.

 

Colossians 1:16-17

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." 

 

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

 

Genesis 1:1–3

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

 

Hebrews 1:3

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

 

Luke 1:37  

"For nothing will be impossible with God." 

 

            I feel it’s far more important to show you in scripture what it says about the power of God than have me simply regurgitate things I read or happen to know. So during this special look at God’s personal attributes, that is what I’ll be doing. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Note: The translation used for the above verses is the English Standard Version (ESV).

Resource: www.crossway.org