Tag Archives: God instances

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

Posted on May 3, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The lyrics of Should I Stay or Should I Go was written in 1981. However, this Clash hit song was released on a 45 record a year later with Should I Stay or Should I Go on Side A. Meanwhile, side B wasn’t as memorable: Straight to Hell. Co-founder of the Clash and co-writer of Should I Stay or Should I Go, Mick Jones was forced to leave this band in 1983. Subsequently, there is speculation that Mick may have been contemplating this for a while.

But [Rebekah’s] brother and mother said, Let the girl stay with us a few days—at least ten; then she may go. 56 But [the servant] said to them, Do not hinder and delay me, seeing that the Lord has caused me to go prosperously on my way. Send me away, that I may go to my master, Genesis 24:55-56.

From a spiritual perspective, one young woman of the Bible was forced to choose between her family or her future. Abraham is the first recorded father in the Bible to play an active role in selecting his son’s future wife. Abraham entrusted the manager of his estate, Eliezer, to fulfill this mission. After praying for God’s blessing on his search, Rebekah walks out toward him immediately following the conclusion of his prayer.

And they said, We will call the girl and ask her [what is] her desire. 58 So they called Rebekah and said to her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go, Genesis 24:57-58.

The context of today’s passage is just before a family feast. Eliezer shares his encounter with Rebekah as well as the events leading up to this God instance. After Rebekah’s family grants Eliezer’s requests for her to become Isaac’s husband, she must choose between her family and her future. Rather than deciding for her, Rebekah is asked to decide if she wants to stay a few days to be with her girlfriends or leave immediately. Rebekah chooses the future, eager to begin a new life with a man she’s never met of seen before. This is true faith.

by Jay Mankus

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Timing is Everything When It Comes to God’s Plan

Posted on January 13, 2023 by expressyourself4him

A coincidence is a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection. This is a term that adults use when things align, come together and occur as if there was a divine being working behind the scenes. My high school coach referred to coincidences as God instances where timing is everything when it comes to God’s plan for your life. As angels appeared to shepherds in a field, there was a purpose for this heavenly encounter.

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing ([f]saying) that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. 16 So they went with haste and [[g]by searching] found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known what had been told them concerning this Child, Luke 2:15-17.

When a famous or wealthy individual shares a story like the shepherds, there is usually some sort of impure motive like the release of a new book, movie or upcoming feature on a similar topic. However, when common people speak of an angelic experience, more people tend to believe their story. Common sense and logic suggest that this person is crazy or this actually happened? God’s plan for the shepherds is revealed in the passage below.

And all who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary was keeping [h]within herself all these things ([i]sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart, Luke 2:18-19.

The arrival of shepherds to this barn in Bethlehem isn’t a coincidence. Rather this God instance occurred so that this eyewitness account could be passed down for generations. Instead of becoming arrogant and proud, Mary pondered this encounter in her heart, wondering if everything that has happened to her is real or merely a dream that she’s going to wake up at any time. As King Solomon wrote hundreds of years earlier, God makes everything beautiful in His time, Ecclesiastes 3:11.

by Jay Mankus

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Recognize, Perceive and Understand

Posted on May 6, 2022 by expressyourself4him

A coincidence is a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection. Over several decades of attending church, I’ve heard pastors refer to God instances where the hand of God is perceived to perform a miracle. Prior to 1555, the Bible did not contain individual verses. These were added to the Vulgate Bible to help readers identity memorable portions of a book.

By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [[l]in Him], 1 John 3:16.

Everyone knows about John 3:16’s popularity as one of the most iconic verses in the Bible. However, do you recognize, perceive or understand a commonality between John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16? The latter is quoting the words of Jesus addressed to a first century Pharisee named Nicodemus. The passage above serves as a reminder so that you recognize, perceive, and understand God’s love for you.

 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life, John 3:16.

As I write blogs today, the Holy Spirit urges me to remind my readers of key biblical principles. I often question with a whisper, “are you sure you want me to address this again?” While you may be aware of certain biblical truths, using a new context or illustration often drives home this point in a more powerful way. This is the purpose of 1 John 3:16: serving as a clear reminder of John 3:16-17 so that another generation of Christians will understand the unconditional love of God.

by Jay Mankus

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Vain and Perilous Resistance

Posted on November 3, 2019 by expressyourself4him

If you have ever experienced what I call a God instance, recalling this account to others often unveils bizarre details. In the passage below, I stumbled upon the most detailed version of Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. While explaining his new allegiance to Jewish leaders and Pharisees, the apostle Paul reveals the words spoken to him from heaven. Instead of listening to conviction from the Holy Spirit, Saul was persistent to hold on to his religious upbringing. Instead of embracing Jesus’ teaching, Saul kept kicking against the goads through a vain and perilous resistance.

And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew tongue saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you continue to persecute Me [to harass and trouble and molest Me]? It is dangerous and turns out badly for you to keep kicking against the goads [to keep offering vain and perilous resistance], Acts 26:14.

When you are raised to adhere to, believe and follow a certain set of values, outside opinions usually fall upon deaf ears. Similar to Paul, I grew up Catholic, raised in a strict Roman Catholic church. While I did learn to fear God at an early age, the love of Jesus in the New Testament was rarely emphasized. Thus, as I began to be introduced to Christians who were actively participating in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Romans 10:9-10, I didn’t know how to respond. God used nightmares in the form of a reoccurring dream of dying over a two year period which finally brought me to my knees, giving up my own vain and perilous resistance.

Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me, Revelation 3:19-20.

Today, we live in an age of resistance. For the past three years, Democrats, Liberals and Progressives have failed to accept the outcome of the 2016 Presidential Election. Instead of learning from their failed attempt to elect the first female president, Hillary Clinton, a resistance campaign has been executed daily with impeachment as the latest plan to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, when individuals fail to embrace the reality of truth, no substitute will do. No matter how hard you may try fill the void in your heart with earthly hobbies, pastimes and treasures, peace won’t be found until vain and perilous efforts to resist God ends. In the passage above, John has a vision of a special door. Heaven’s side doesn’t have a door handle, only a knocker, trying to get our attention on earth. While God knocks, only you can let the Lord in. May this blog inspire you to end vain and perilous resistance by accepting God’s free gift, Romans 6:23.

by Jay Mankus

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How God Works Behind the Scenes

Posted on January 17, 2019 by expressyourself4him

One day a family emergency arose in the house of Kish.  Those of you who are pet owners understand the frustration when your dog gets out, roaming the neighborhood until you are able to get them back on a leash.  According to the passage below, donkeys escaped from a back field and did not return.  Similar to a household chore, Saul is requested to take a servant with him to corral these animals.

Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off and were lost. Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you and arise, go look for the donkeys.” 4 And they passed through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there and the land of the Benjamites, but they [still] did not find them, 1 Samuel 9:3-4.

From a human perspective, Saul was embarking on a minuscule task to help his family.  Based upon the details provided by Samuel, this unsuccessful search went on for a couple of days.  This quest just so happened to enable Saul to cross paths with a revered prophet.  While Saul and his servant look for a couple of donkey, Samuel was searching for Israel’s first king.  This unusual encounter illustrates how God works behind the scenes.

Now a day before Saul came, the Lord had informed Samuel [of this], saying, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him as leader over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon [the distress of] My people, because their cry [for help] has come to Me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “There is the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall rule over My people [as their king],” 1 Samuel 9:15-17.

Tonight you may have to work.  Others may be forced to go to school tomorrow morning.  Over the weekend, you will likely have to fix something, start a project or work on something around the house.  These mundane exercises often bring about boredom, a waste of time to many Americans and individuals throughout the world.  Yet, just as Samuel was secretly searching for a king, God is behind the scenes waiting for the next person who is willing to stand in the gap, by awakening their faith, Ezekiel 22:30.

by Jay Mankus

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