Author: Phil Rehberg

Garden of Eden

Focusing On The Restoration Of Eden

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The story of our destiny begins in the book of Genesis. There we learn that God originally placed humans in a garden in a land named Eden. In the Garden of Eden God told Adam and Eve “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals” (Gen. 1:28 NLT). He also “put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15, ESV). Then God gave Adam and Eve to each other so Adam (and obviously Eve) would not be alone (Gen. 2:18); Adam was to “hold fast” to Eve and they would be “one flesh” (2:24) and she was to be his “helper” (2:20). Thus, God gave Adam and Eve eight callings (we count reigning over the animals as one calling.) Adam and Eve were to fulfill these Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

God Listens To Our Prayers – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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If I had cherished sin in my heart,the Lord would not have listened;but God has surely listenedand has heard my prayer. Psalms 66:18-19 (NIV) God does listen to our prayers when we abide in him. This doesn’t just mean that he is aware of what we prayed but that he gives weight to what we pray. He is our Father who listens and responds, even if sometimes the response is “no” or “wait” because he has another plan for our lives. And we do not have to be especially mature or advanced in our understanding before God will listen to us. If we are following him then he will listen. He only asks that we do not cherish sin in our hearts. If we intentionally harbor destructive attitudes and ways then he may wait for our repentance before he listens. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” Continue Reading →

surrender

Raising The White Flag Of Surrender

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What life could be more blessed than one that fully submits to God’s will? The Christian life is a movement toward a complete penetration and flow of God’s will throughout the core of our being. We are like a log in the fire of God who burns away the impurities until his will permeates every part of us and we are glowing with the fire and light of God. Jesus used the violent image of the Roman executioner’s cross when he described our submission to God’s will: “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 10:38-39, NIV). There must be death to our ways and like Jesus’ death, this death is painful and sometimes dark and lonely. Johannes Tauler (c.1300-1361), taught that one should pray: Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Receiving Joy Through Nature – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;where morning dawns, where evening fades,you call forth songs of joy.You care for the land and water it;you enrich it abundantly.The streams of God are filled with waterto provide the people with grain,for so you have ordained it. Psalms 65:8-9 (NIV) One of the biggest encouragements that we observe every day is the blessing of nature. The beauty of the trees and rivers and mountains reveals God’s beauty and reminds us that he is good and loving. From the land we grow delicious food, find animals to be our pets and enjoy recreation. Nature is a constant reminder that God wants to do good for us and that he is powerful enough to accomplish the most astounding of feats. Consider the hundreds of thousands of animal and plant species. Consider how they all form a glorious harmony that endlessly fascinates us. Continue Reading →

self-examination

The Blessings Of Self-Examination

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Self-examination and self-knowledge have been considered essential to Christformation throughout church history. In the profound first chapter of his highly influential Institutes of the Christian Religion Calvin said: “It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God’s face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself.”[1] One way to make progress against sin is to practice daily self-examination, which is sometimes referred to as examen. You may not need to set aside a time at the end of the day for examen if your occupation allows you to assess your situation before God throughout the day. However, many people find this difficult and creating a set time at the end of the day works better for them. Following is a guide to daily self-examination: Guide to Daily Self-Examination At the end of the day (or during the day if Continue Reading →