5/1/16                                                           SATAN’S POISON                                       1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 19 “¹ The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ² Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. ³ They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. ⁴ Yet their voice^[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. ⁵ It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. ⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. ⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. ¹⁰ They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. ¹¹ By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. ¹² But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. ¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression ¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

COMMENTS :     Psalm 19 reminds us that all of creation shouts the existence of a creator that is still involved with His creation. It also reveals evidence of an evil force involved and conflicting with creation. We can see good and evil at work in His creation. We have the explanation of why both good and evil are evident, but a non-believer would think God is both good and evil – both working for our good but also to do us harm. I’ve heard it said, “it takes more faith to be a Athiest than to be a Christian”. I believe that to be true since the logic of believing the universe and everything in it happened by chance is impossible and does not carry scientific logic. Yet without the Biblical explanation, it also does not make sense that God would create such good and also create such evil bringing harm to it. Yet, to understand a separate evil influence in conflict both with God and with His creation matches the evidence far better than any other, doesn’t it? If that be true, which influence makes the most sense to follow? The influence of the creator – the designer, or the influence of the destroyer. Which is harder to do – create or destroy?   Which has greater abilities and skills? Which has greater powers and abilities?   Which would you rather follow? Truth is, few deliberately follow satan, but by default follow him because they neglect or refuse to follow God? We must be careful and deliberate if we are serious about following Christ. Christ is where our life and hope and joy resides. Satan is where regrets, pain, death, and destruction reside. Which is easier to do, build or destroy? Which is better? Which does movies and TV glamorize and focus on – destruction – doesn’t it? It isn’t by chance that our earth and everything in it was made and it isn’t by chance that we are being drawn to destruction by many influences and people all around us. There is a devil and he is working hard, but there is also a God who is also working but in a better way. You might notice I always capitalize any reference to God and do not capitalize any reference to satan. That is because God deserves that recognition and satan does not!! Well, today I preach at Rankin Chapel, Peter’s Chapel, and Clintonville Grace Methodist Churches. Message title is “Life’s Journey is just as Important to God as Life’s Destination, that is why He gave us His GPS – God’s Positioning System”   Scripture is Matthew 6:5-15 “The Lord’s Prayer – our guide on life’s journey” and Acts 1:4-8 “Life’s Journey’s Road Stops”. If you care to read it and other entries and resources, including access to all my devotional journals, I’d encourage you to go on you computer internet web browser to: https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com

5/2/16                              STOP AND NOTICE WHAT GOD HAS DONE                  2                             Acts 3:11-16     “While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: ‘Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”     COMMENTS :     Take some time today to reflect on what God has done in and around you. I bet you, like me, will come up with some amazing things God has done for you and me even comparable to the amazing things He did for the early church. We just need to stop and notice. A miracle is no less a miracle if it is done every day. We just get used to it and take it for granted. Don’t take God for granted – He doesn’t take you for granted.                                                                                                                                                                       5/3/16                                               Know Our Enemy                                                     3
II Corinthians 2:1-11 “¹ So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. ² For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? ³ I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. ⁴ For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. ⁵ If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. ⁶ The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. ⁷ Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. ¹⁰ Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, ¹¹ in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

COMMENTS :     We have an enemy we are no match for. He was the greatest – most gifted angel in heaven before he hardened his heart – turned against God and was rejected and removed from heaven by God, alone with 1/3 of heaven’s angels he deceived into following him. He has had thousands of years of experience tempting and defeating humans successfully. He is stronger and more resourceful than you or I and has destroyed far smarter and more educated then you and I. We are no match for him. BUT WE HAVE SOMEONE ON OUR SIDE THAT HE IS NO MATCH FOR EITHER, IF WE ONLY ASK FOR HIS HELP.   IF WE ONLY PUT OUR HAND IN HIS AND LET HIM FIGHT OUR BATTLES FOR US. He is none other than the Creator and King of the universe.   He loves and cares for us like none other and knows what satan is going to do, and us for that matter, long before we do it. He is not surprised – He is prepared. Well, even though we are no match for satan, he is predictable and uses the same deceptions and tricks all the time. If we understand his motives and tricks as well as what is goals are, we are better prepared and can actually plan a strategy with the Father against Him. No, we can’t fight him alone but shouldn’t expect God to fight our battles without our participation either. Our participation involves prayer, obedience in action and words and time. Our involvement includes saying no to temptation and being an example that would encourage and inspire others too. But our example must include daily – constant fellowship with Him. It is the only way we can be successful in defeating satan. It is the only way anyone else can either, so the way we battle him can also be a way of showing others how to as well.   Afterall, Christ Himself defeated satan by being in constant fellowship with the Father. Why would we think we must do any less? No, Christ taught by powerful words but He taught even more powerfully with actions and example.   Even thought He came as God, He became human with human needs and weaknesses so had to work to maintain constant fellowship with the Father in order to gain strength and will enough to win over satan’s tactics. Satan was determined to defeat Christ in His weaker human form, but he could not because Christ remained faithful to His Father and in constant fellowship with Him. He kept His hand in the Father’s hand. His secret is not secret and must be ours too. Being on the winning side means being on the same side as God, especially with a lot of forces trying to stop us…                                                                                                                                      5/4/16                                                REPENT BRINGS FORGIVESS                              4                       Acts 3:17-20   “ ‘Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.’”                                                                                             COMMENTS :   We always have a choice when confronted with foolish or sinful choices. Our natural tendency is to deny or hide our involvement in those choices or to deny our responsibility for those choices. We tend to try to justify our actions or explain wrong choices away. That is what King Saul did, resulting in loss of his throne and ultimately his life as well as his son Jonathan. God is eager to forgive, but we must repent. Yet Saul wouldn’t bring himself to be remorseful and humble enough to admit his sin and ask for forgiveness.   King David was guilty of, in our view, a worse sin but when confronted admitted his sin and asked for forgiveness. By doing so, he received mercy that Saul missed. The same was true for the religious leaders who judged Jesus. They died lost in their sins while Peter experienced God’s mercy and went on to make an eternal difference in millions of other’s lives as well as his own.     Christ doesn’t ask much of us but what He does ask is non-negotiable.                                                                                           5/5/16                                 GOD GIVES US ENOUGH LIGHT TO SAFELY FINISH EACH DAY                    5
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8

SCRIPTURE: II CORINTHIANS 4:1-6 “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

COMMENTS :   Today is the National Day of Prayer – a day to set aside some time to pray for revival, for repentance both personally and for our country – and world for that matter. I’m reflecting on significance of doing that and contemplating setting aside additional time today to do that, I’m also realizing the significance of how our society is already abandoning basic moral codes of behavior. When it becomes a hate crime to oppose allowing males in women’s bathrooms and vice versa, it become more evident how far we have already ventured into the dark room of rebellion, rejecting even basic moral standards that have guided society for centuries.   Current debates over women’s/men’s bathrooms is taking center stage and is quickly degrading into forcing everyone to comply – empowering preditors with opportunities to do harm to children and women in places they should be safe. I respect my grandaughter’s privacy when she uses our bathroom. Why shouldn’t I require men and boys she doesn’t know to stay out of a woman’s bathroom my granddaughter is using? Why would anyone require any different in a public bathroom? I have to say, if I saw a boy or man go into the same facility my granddaughter was in, I’d be compelled to go in to make sure she remained safe. The reasons and concerns and dangers are real and all too common in every corner of our society.   10 years ago even the most liberal would not have considered what is being done today as reasonable.   I have to believe the motives behind those forcing the policies like what Target has done have an agenda, an ulterior motive, that does not relate to rights of transgender people, but to deliberately defeat and remove any taste of Christian influence in our society or order that influence has or will have regardless of consequence or risk on others.   When we abandon God’s Law and the moral compass He established, we will quickly regress into anarchy without regard for harm or danger or peril that will come. I fear that anarchy will come now more quickly than we can imagine unless we repent and turn back to God. So let’s not just make today a day of prayer but let’s make it a life style change – a habit – a discipline that will be included each day.                                                                                                                                                             5/6/16                                                               UNSEEN BUT HEARD                                     6               Acts 3:21-26 “Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ ‘Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.’”   COMMENTS :     How do we explain how real a relationship with Christ can be without physically seeing Him or hearing His voice?   How do we know He is near without touching Him? How can prayer be as effective and real as hearing a voice on the other end of a phone or computer? How can a book of old stories and teaching be current and effective in today’s world and life each of us live in our modern world?   These are questions that may be hard to explain and impossible to explain to someone who has never accepted Christ’s saving Grace.   But for those of us who have – knowing our sins are forgiven and experiencing Christ’s love and sensing the Holy Spirit’s guiding Hand in our lives, and seeing how Scripture applies today as effectively as in ancient times. All this reassures us God is still alive and in full control today and still is working in the world and in our lives. Yet, it is the Holy Spirit that convinces and convicts us and motivates us to choose Him and follow Him. That means our job is to share, not to convince.   If we desire for our family and friends and neighbors to know Christ’s forgiveness and hope of heaven, how much more does God also desire such things?   Yet neither He will nor we can force them to let Christ into their hearts and turn from their sins. But if we reflect His love by example and make sure reason for our hope and example is a relationship with Him, than we open the door for Him to work in their lives and do what we can not do. What more can we do effectively, but we must do that….                                                                   5/7/16                                                             Closer Than a Brother                                        7
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

SCRIPTURE: I SAMUEL 18:1-4; 20:1-5 “After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. ² From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. ⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.” “Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?”   ² “Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!” ³ But David took an oath and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.” ⁴ Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.” ⁵ So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow.

COMMENTS : Jonathan and David were the best of friends in spite of Jonathan’s father (King Saul) attempting to kill David countless times.   Saul’s jealousy consumed him and destroyed both himself and his son Jonathan. Yet the friendship between Jonathan and David was an example for all of us. Yet the friendship God has with us through Christ is by far closer and truer.   We can trust Him because He loves and cares for us like none other and is infinitely more capable and powerful than any other, so we can trust Him like none other. Friends help each other, protect each other, strengthen each other, keep each other out of trouble and share with each other. Christ told us we are more than His creation or His servants, we are His friends. John 15:15 “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his mater’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” It is a mystery why Jesus had to receive input from the Father for direction and strength since He is God and one with the Father, but since He was also in a human body, He limited Himself enough to need the Father’s input and fellowship with Him, as do we. That is a mystery you and I can’t comprehend nor understand, but above verse is one of the places in scripture that gives us a hint that was so. Yet the relationship we have with Christ and enables us to have a relationship with the Father too. The significance of having a relationship with the Father and having Christ as our dearest and most trusted friend is far more significant than you or I can comprehend either.   Only God could come up with such an amazing plan and only God could follow through with such a plan. Satan will do all he can to distract us from that plan and try to convince us it is not important or real, but that plan is far more important than anything else we value or desire or pursue.                                                                                                                                                                                                            5/8/16                                         THE GOSPEL DEMANDS A CHOICE                                             8                   Acts 4:1-4 “The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”                                                                                                                          COMMENTS :   The number of believers grew to 5000 in a few weeks after Christ’s resurrection. The numbers then exploded to over a million by the end of that century. We might say in spite of great persecution, but truth is the persecution caused that explosive growth. People were in such great need of hope and something real and good to believe in. The Gospel gave them what they needed but so much more. It gave them the truth of God and realization of the life purpose they also longed for. Even more, the abiding Holy Spirit that first was showered onto the disciples was showed on every person who believed and accepted Christ’s mercy. That same Spirit is being offered to you and me today too. The Holy Spirit’s job is to abide with and transform those willing to be more like Christ. The Holy Spirit’s job is to bring honor to the Father but also to Christ. Even though the Holy Spirit is God as well, a mystery none of us are able to fully understand, the Holy Spirit abides inside each believe and guides each believer as Christ guides and mentored the disciples. The Holy Spirit even more abides inside the souls of each believer empowering and equipping each to be like and serve Christ. That abiding presence empowered and equipped the disciples to preach and do amazing things and gave them the courage and ability to transform the world. They could not be stopped even with death because the Gospel was spread even faster as each disciple was killed. They could not be stopped because they were commissioned and guided by God Himself. They could not have imagined the results their work would bring. Neither can we, if we welcome the Holy Spirit to come into our souls too. He is willing…                                                                                                                                   5/9/16                             Love Languages: Demonstrate Your Love                               9
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34

SCRIPTURE: I CORINTHIANS 13:1-10 “If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.”

 

COMMENTS :   I Corinthians 13:4-8 “⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” These verses briefly explain what Christian love is and what it is not. It is not lust or physical love nor is primarily emotional love. It is a choice of both thought and action. It is a response to God’s love and not a response to actions of another. That is a realization that is hard to accept and even harder to consistently follow day after day, especially when others do not respond in kind. So how do we follow this example – this definition – this command the Lord has given us? How do we follow His example of Love He has shown us? He perfectly demonstrated and lived this Love His whole earthly life. He continues to demonstrate this Love to us each 24X7.   It helps to be reminded often so we are refreshed and remotivated to continue to demonstrate this love. Scripture, examples from others, and direct fellowship with Him is the only way to do and sustain this level of love.   After all, be honest. We are not so easy to love either, right?                                                                                                         5/10/16                                           SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY                                              10           Acts 4:5-7 “The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’”             COMMENTS :     At what price will be required of us to be faithful to Christ and obedient to his command to spread the Gospel be true to His teachings? With Christianity and it’s moral teaching becoming less and less popular and even viewed as hostile to modern world views, those who follow Him are also judged as a dangerous threat to be neutralized. That has happened many times throughout history. We only need to see the warning signs and how they played out to realize those same signs are present and becoming more obvious today too. We, like the disciples, must decide who we will follow and weigh the costs. Pray you will be faithful and your family will be true and not fall prey to the enemy’s attacks. Today the General Conference of the United Methodist Church begins in Portland. Representatives from all over the world will be conferencing and deciding what the UMC will deal with today’s controversial issues. I, as many, will be in prayer today seeking God’s wisdom for them and for us.                                                                                               5/11/16                                                 Spittin’ Image                                                     11
For in [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9

SCRIPTURE: HEBREWS 1:1-4 “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”

COMMENTS :   Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. I, like you, struggle with understanding and comprehending the concept of Trinity related to God. We are told the Son is equal with and part of God and was involved in creation. We are also told He is begotten of the Father and not created. I believe that relates to His coming to earth and way Mary conceived Jesus, but it might well go further than that. In scripture, all the “begets” relate to children of the father – who submit to authority of their father and are not above their father but equal to him. Yet for humans, the father is older so pre-lived his children. In God’s case, God has always been eternal, so doesn’t have a beginning. That also relates to Christ even though He has a human beginning. If that confuses you, join the club. To speculate or say more simply reflects our human prejudice and limited thinking so will need to wait for God to give us the true explanation when we can comprehend it in heaven. It will make sense then but I’m sure we will be even more in awe of Him when we do comprehend that explanation, so best not to spoil it trying to explain it now. We’ll be wrong or at least fall short of being right anyway, that I’m sure of.                                                                                                                               5/12/16                      REJECTED BUT ALL POWERFUL                            12                  Acts 4:8-11 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone’ “”                                                                                             COMMENTS :   Jesus was rejected the first Easter and every Easter since. He is still rejected today and hostility to His followers is increasing in number and in intensity. Yet without the offenders noticing how much worse the world is becoming as they continue to mock and persecute Christ’s followers. They ignore the evidence of God in the world and good that historically came from His followers. He will let evil play havoc for a time but within limits and only for a time. He promised from history and His word that evil will not win nor ultimately defeat Christ’s followers. We are on the winning side, so don’t give up or let discouragement prevail.                                                                                                                                   5/13/16                           GOD’S PLAN FULFILLED IN EDEN                                           13                           But from the beginning of the creation, God “made them male and female.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
Mark 10:6-8

SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 2:20-24 “But for Adam^[f] no suitable helper was found. ²¹ So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs^[g] and then closed up the place with flesh. ²² Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib^[h] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. ²³ The man said,“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” ²⁴ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

COMMENTS :   We’ve totally missed the boat of what God intended our relationship with each other and with Him to be.   Yet He came to show us how He intends for us to treat each other but also how He wants us to treat Himself. By lowering Himself to be human and so requiring even Him to have relationship with God the Father the same way we do, He gave us the perfect example of what He desires of us and what we need to strive to achieve. As imperfect as we humans are in our relationships with each other, with our spouses, and with Him; those relationships are key in how well we are transformed into Christ like Christians.   Marriage is often a source of pain and suffering and misery. Same is all too often true of other human relationships too – because of both our sins as well as the sins of others. We have a knack for spoiling relationships God intended to be a source of joy and strength and help for us. We even spoil our relationship with Him by neglect and by hurting Him as well as those who follow Him. Then we blame Him for leaving us or not being true to us. Yet He is still willing to forgive and restore those relationships. Some are easier to restore than others. Mostly because He is more willing to forgive than we humans are. In the Lord’s Prayer, Christ prayed “forgive us our sins and we forgive those who sin against us”. I believe He is saying we will continue to fall short of His perfect mark all our lives and need His mercy and forgiveness each day even though we can and should make great progress towards that goal each day. The other side is we should realize others will continue to sin against us each day, so we need to forgive them each day too. Such a realization should humble us and draw us to His Grace each day but also to show compassion and understanding to others who offend us over and over again. Well, tough love is required at times if motivated by a desire to help others grow and mature too. But how and when we administer “tough love” is the difference between doing what is needed vs. getting even and revengeful or judgmental. If our responses were from an eternal perspective, I dare say they would be a lot different, wouldn’t they?   Yes, but when we fail to act as we should either due to our sins or in response to sins of others, we are required to stop – change direction – seek His forgiveness – and also exercise forgiveness towards those who have offended or harmed us. That is a real hard one depending on harm done, but is still a requirement Christ has shown us. Is harboring resentment worth sacrificing our own salvation? Well, no if I put it that way. We don’t believe we are harming ourselves by doing so, but we really are. Good news is He knows how hard it is and is willing to help us even to forgive. His forgiveness comes with offer to helps us step by step…                                                                                                           5/14/16                                                 The Fast That I Choose                                           14      Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-7 “⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness^[a] will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”

COMMENTS: Isaiah 58:6-7:  ⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?  Fasting was a common practice in the old testament and in the early Christian church. Yet they lived in perilous times when provision for next day was uncertain and even living to see tomorrow was uncertain at times. Fasting was an importance practice. I helped them learn to trust and focus on their relationship with God, which gave them needed direction and courage to face tomorrow. Fasting gave them the motivation and desire to focus in prayer and to put God as their top priority and source. We are quickly moving into more perilous times too when being a Christian brings ridicule and even persecution or worse in more and more areas of the world – including even in our country.   We need to again turn to God for help and guidance and courage and help. Fasting needs to become a priority and tool to prepare us for those times as well as opportunities to minister to and help others.   Above verses also remind us fasting frees up resources for better uses – including ministering to others. For the early Christians it was freeing up precious little resources available. With the abundance we enjoy, we don’t feel the need as great to fast in order to free up resource. Maybe poverty will need to be our future if we are to grow as the early church did.   That isn’t a very pleasant prospect, but may indeed be a necessary one if we are to become what Christ dreams for us and we desperately need to become.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5/15/16                                       God’s Design for Marriage                                           15     
Galatians 5:13-26 “¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[b] 15} If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. ¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[c] you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

COMMENTS :   What is the secret of a happy marriage and what leads to broken marriages?   All marriages and people are different but this is what we’ve learned after 38 years of marriage and from observing other couples, including our own parents over the years. Couples with long happy marriages love and respect each other. Wifes express love and support and respect for their husband especially in public and restrain temptation to criticize or belittle their husbands in public. Husbands often show affection and respect for their wives. They spent quality time with them regularly and seek their council and support. They complement and help their wives each day. They also engage with their wives in conversation.   Neglect is a huge flaw especially men are guilty of in broken marriages. Forgiveness is a key ingredient, but the desire for both husband and wife to make marriage work is key too.   But the biggest help needed and available is having Christ in center of marriage.   Christ is the perfect councellor and guide because He made us and knows us like none other. He designed both as well as marriage itself. Who is the best marriage partner? It is the one we have. It is his desire to change both partners to make a better marriage. Where there is abuse or unfaithfulness, God’s first choice is to bring change that will enable both to have a healthy – trustworthy relationship.   When that is not possible, other options may become necessary.   Matthew 19:8 “Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” Divorce is not God’s desire nor is God’s design. Conflict and times of anger are common of all marriages – good and bad, but there is always a choice to seek and give forgiveness or to harbor bitterness and unforgiveness, which if unchecked, will lead to deep regrets, divorce, a variety of other ills and damage.   We always have choices of actions but we never can choose the consequences. It may be true the longer we go down a wrong path, the worse the consequences and harder it is to turn around and start over. But turning around and going back to a critical crossroad is still an option and necessary to bring healing and restoration. That is always God’s way and Will and requirement in order to restore relationships but with Him and with others.   The Lord’s Prayer says “….Forgive us our sins ad we forgive the sins of those who sinned against us”.   Christ included that because we continue to sin against God and others continue to sin against us, so forgiveness is a necessary and ongoing requirement each and every day if we are going to effectively be a Christian and be in a good place with God and with each other. This is not a easy thing to due but a necessary thing to do and sustain.   Pray for me and I’ll pray for you as we journey this road, like Christian in “Pilgrim’s Progress” that John Bunyan wrote so long ago.  5/16/16                                    CHRIST’S WAY OR THE HIGHWAY                              16                Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”                                                                                     COMMENTS :   We live in a world that refused to believe or accept that Christ is the only way to God. They can accept Christ as one way of many ways, but prefer to believe He does not exist. We are used to more than one road to a destination. If we take a wrong turn or a more scenic route, we simply put destination into our GPS and let it guide us from our present location.   Yet if we deliberately go in the opposite direction, a voice will say turn around as soon as possible with an arrow pointing you back. How often does our conscience prompt us to turn back and we ignore it. How often does God tell us to turn back and we ignore Him. If we ignore or don’t believe what our GPS tells us and follow our own ideas, how well will that work getting to our destination.   Following someone’s instruction when GPS gives a different route likely will bring disappointment. Yet GPS does have flaws and errors, as am sure you have discovered too. Yet the Bible has enough proof over the generations to convince us it is our ultimate source of truth and best guide to take us to the eternal destination we are hoping for. The above verses should remove any doubt of who Jesus is. He said He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Acts 4:12 also confirms the only way to salvation is through Christ. That means following any other religion, even sincerely, will not provide a path to salvation. How do we convince others of that truth and follow that truth? How do we convince them the Bible is the only true GPS to guide us through life to our destination?   Well, if our example is not good, then we probably can’t.   Yes, we are accountable for our actions and our words. It is important we start and journey through each day prepared for those opportunities God puts on our path. He is the only one who can prepare me and you.                                                                                                                                                            5/17/16                         JESUS’ ANOINTED IS JESUS EMPOWERED                                              17                                  Acts 4:13-15   “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.”                                                                                                       COMMENTS : Since last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, today’s devotion is timely inspite of Feb 11 date. The early Christians faced unbelievable persecution and hardship, but demonstrated amazing joy, courage, and boldness in their witness and lives. Just a few are recorded in scripture, but growth of the gospel, proven by the number of believers growing from a few hundred to over a million from first Easter to end of first century shows how effective the Holy Spirit transformed a lot more than just the disciples. God has a way of making impossible situations transform His followers and empower them to do amazing things. The Roman Empire at it’s strongest could not stop that growth. Can you imagine what it will be like to talk to the disciples and the countless millions from the first few centuries of Christianity? We have no idea what miracles God did during those years and how God’s plan unfolded in those years and still impacts us today. Their journey was indeed just as important to God as their destination. Our life journey is just as important to Him too. They couldn’t see how powerfully God would use their journey, so we shouldn’t be disappointed if we can see how He will use our journey either. Being faithful and trusting Him was key to their journey and Is key to ours too. You and I need to remember that and never forget that, so we won’t get discouraged either. The Holy Spirit inspired and empowered them but also sustained them. That same Holy Spirit is available to do the same for us. Yet frequent reminders of how the Holy Spirit sustained them in their life journey helps and encourages us too.   We start one more day on that journey today. What we say and do and where we go and who we talk to and encourage will have eternal impact, we simply don’t know how. BUT GOD KNOWS AND IS WORKING ON THAT!!                                                                                                                                  5/18/16   OBEYING THE COMMANDS YOU KNOW OR THE GOD WHO KNOWS YOU    18
Matthew 15:1-20 “Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ² “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”   ³ Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’^[a] and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’^{[b] 5} But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ ⁶ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. ⁷ You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ⁸ “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. ⁹ They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’^[c]” ¹⁰ Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. ¹¹ What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” ¹² Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” ¹³ He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. ¹⁴ Leave them; they are blind guides.^[d] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” ¹⁵ Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” ¹⁶ “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. ¹⁷ “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.””

COMMENTS : A tiny amount of contamination can ruin a huge amount of water. A tiny amount of poison can kill. The bit of a tiny scorpion can kill the largest and strongest human.   The smallest of sins can destroy a life long career or family. Yes, satan is very skillful at enticing us to sin, without revealing the consequences – the destruction such actions or even thoughts will do. He doesn’t care what consequences will be for us. He only cares about hurting and hindering God’s Will, God’s Plan.   Why? Because He hates God and despised His plan and will do anything to hinder or stop it. But God is greater than satan and stronger than him. He not only can but will stop satan in His time and way. Yet God allows us to choose. Yet even when we fail, He has a plan to clean us up and give us a start over. That is the good news of the Gospel. Yet satan still continues to deceive and tempt and do his mischief and evil in the world and even in our lives. Yet even though we are slow to learn, God is gracious to forgive over and over again. In the Lord’s Prayer, Christ instructed us to forgive others that sin against us as the Father forgives us. He meant daily. That means we are to forgive others daily as He forgives us daily. That is significant because God does continue to forgive us daily, but we are to do so too.   Times when those we love hurt us, we should remind ourselves God forgives our offenses too each day. Likewise, when those we don’t care so much for continue to hurt or offend us, we need to remind ourselves even more that our actions continue to offend God too, yet He continues to forgive us. No matter how much good we do or positive change we have achieved, we all still fall far short of Christ’s example and standard, so we continue to need His mercy and forgiveness daily. So that means the mercy we are ato show others needs to continue too. You and I don’t have that much mercy stored up, but He does and is so willing to share it and fill our cups with His mercy so we can share it too.   So simple but so profound, but also SO HARD TO IMPLEMENT, RIGHT?   There is nothing God asked us to do that He is not willing to do with us by our side.   Maybe the reason forgivenss is so hard is we try to do it ourselves instead of asking for His help.   Let’s ask for His help first before we are required to forgive…                                                                                                            5/19/16                                               Loyal to Christ at all Cost                       19                           Acts 4:16-20   “‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.’ Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’”                                                                                                        COMMENTS :     Don’t confuse me with the facts. How many times have you been forced to change your mind from evidence you were wrong. Being wrong is inevitable, but willingly admitting we are wrong is key to positive change. Without that, we continue down a wrong road that makes things worse and impossible to correct.   The Roman and Jewish leaders had plenty of evidence that Jesus was who He said He was – The Messiah the Jews had been looking for centuries. They missed what they had dreamed of because they refused to admit they were wrong and unwilling to accept God’s plan of forgiveness.   How often do you discover God chooses a much different way of answering your prayers and meeting your expectations than you expected. To refuse to receive His answers and blessings, because they come in a different way or time, is folly and only brings disappointment or worse. We can do no better than to follow His lead and respond in obedience.   His ways are always best but seldom matching our expectations. Maybe that is so our faith will mature and we learn to rely less on ourselves. We still have much to learn and change to be more like Him.                                                                                                                                                                                           5/20/16                       I was Lost but am Now Found                                        20                         Scripture: Luke 15:17-21“¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”

COMMENTS: Take a few minutes and reflect on an experience when God came through with an answer to a need from an unexpected source.   It is good to do that often in order to express the gratitude to God, which He so deserves, for His help. Even more, in order to strengthen our faith to trust and seek Him for current and future help. Why is it so hard to trust Him after receiving so much from Him? Well, He continues to respond in different ways and often a later time than we like.   He often still guides us closer to the edge of a cliff than we like because we still don’t fully trust Him, do we?   It is so much easier to trust when the consequences of failure are small, but trusting Him is critical to our relationship with Him and effectiveness in growing  to be more like Him.   I still struggle with that, as am sure you do too. How wonderful it is that He still loves and understands – showing us Grace and mercy and compassionate patience as we continue to struggle with trusting Him. He experienced what we do without sinning and still understands our failings and sins.    I’m am so glad He continues to do so. I desperately depend on His willingness to do so. How about you? Today is another sunny beautiful morning. Sunrise was breathtaking and beauty of spring is in full display and everywhere. God’s mercy is all around us shouting HE IS RISEN! HE IS STILL ON HIS THRONE AND IN CONTROL!   HE IS ALIVE AND IS GOD!!

5/21/16                                         Lost but not without Hope                                        21              Scripture: Romans 5:8-11 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

COMMENTS:   Romans 5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. The Gospel is the same we learned as children and same as has been preached and taught to our parents and grandparents and ancestors from the first Church. The reason is the foundation that Gospel has in Scipture and direction input God had in writing that Gospel in the hearts of those who wrote scripture and those who taught and preached it over the centuries. Yet, as familiar as that Gospel is, how can we ever grow tired of hearing it or the impact it still has in changing the lives of those who receive it’s truth by faith.   Today we celebrated the birthday of a dear woman celebrating her 100^th birthday. Helen Kellerman, my mother’s younger sister, was honored by 70+ her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and nieces and nephews and friends at Orchard Manor. God enabled her to gain enough strength after her heart attacked last week to attend for most of the celebration. Long enough for those attending to greet her and for her to enjoy being with her family for a couple of hours. I cherish, at my mom’s funeral, her approaching me asking how she could have the same confidence of her salvation that my mom had. A couple of days later I had the privilege of leading her to Christ and gaining that confidence, which she has demonstrated since. Yet the impact of her life up to that point was positive and noteworthy. The Gospel gives us that confidence not because of how well we live but by accepting the gift of forgiveness Christ paid dearly for.   She wasn’t sure until she accepted that forgiveness. None of us can be. But after we know we are forgiven, heaven becomes our inheritance and death no longer commands fear and dread.   Today’s experience underscores how precious family is and how precious it will be to have our family in heaven with us someday. As a grandfather, that goal is more precious to me and my utmost priority beyond anything else. How about you? Is that your highest priority too?   What we do and say and show will reflect how great a priority it is even if evidence of our impact appears to be unnoticed or effective.   Only God can make our weak efforts effective to that goal. Afterall, that is even more his goal than ours!!!

5/22/16                   ARMED WITH GOD’S WEAPONS                                            22
The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. 2 Samuel 23:2                     Rs SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 6:10-20 “¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

COMMENTS : Ephesians 6:   ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.   Today’s scripture reminds us how vital it is to use all the weapons and armor God has put at our disposal. Prayer is the source of communication and connection to source of our strength vital to our survival but also vital to success in battle. God is sufficient but without His help, we have no hope of success or survival. Satan knows we are no match for him and he is betting we will not seek God’s help. Most don’t. Our armor is the “belt of truth”, the “breastplate of righteousness”, the “shoes of Gospel”, the “shield of faith”, the “helmet of salvation”, and the “sword of the Spirit – God’s Word”. The above verses go on to include prayer as the covering or protective force around us. As I reflect on the events of yesterday, realizing how God has shielded and helped and protected Aunt Helen and her family over the years from tragedy and sickness and loss, I am reminded how he protects and shields and helps me and my family too. Today I will be playing at the 3 worship services on our charge and leading worship at our local community apartments. Usually only 2 attend but have had 7. What lacking in number is filled with worship by those there. Christ promised where 2-3 are gathered in His name, He will be there too.   Why did He use so small a number to illustrate? Because even 2 are important to Him. Even two should be important to us too . That is why we continue having worship there. Ed and Rose at least are ministered to, and so am I by being obedient, as are Ken and Rick who share leadership with me. Today also proves to be noteworthy because this afternoon we will be honoring Pastor Melody Kimmel, who will be going from our churches to the New Covenant churches as pastor on July 1^st.   We are having a reception and farwell party for her since between Annual Conference and vacation will be in our pulpits for last on June 5^th. Sad but looking forward to new opportunity for her and greeting our new pastor, Denise Mains. God’s plan is continuing and work He has for us is continuing.   It continues for me as it is for you too…                  

5/23/16                                                           GOD HAS OUR BACK                           23                              Acts 4:21-26 “After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.””                                                                                   COMMENTS :   Faith is key to being in relationship with God and being obedience to Him. Why is He so close to us while being invisible to our senses. Why does He make Himself known to us through His creation and His Word and through nudgings of the Holy Spirit, but silent to our eyes and ears? We judge reality by our eyes and ears and nose and touch instead of by the ways He does reveal Himself to us. Why is that?   That is where faith carries us from what we see and hear to the spiritual place where we can see and hear and feel His presence. How can we describe or explain this to one who has never experienced His presence? How can we experience it on a daily basis? When we are afraid or in pain or uncertain of what to do or where to go, we then tend to be more open to seek and listen for His guidance and presence. He tells us in Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  We need to open our hearts and minds and souls and have a heart seeking Him before He will make Himself known to us. If we can’t see and feel Him near us with the morning sunrise or even sunset or with a rainbow or spring flowers, than we are not really seeking Him because He is already here.   All we have to do is be quiet and listen in order to begin fellowship and communion with Him. Today is a great day to do that!!

5/24/16                                           God’s Everlasting Love                                         24                         Scripture: Jeremiah 31:1-3 ““At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” ² This is what the Lord says: “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” ³ The Lord appeared to us in the past,^[a] saying “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

COMMENTS:      Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”   I am reminded, as I read the above testimony, just how faithful God is to all of us. He blesses and honors the meager attempts we make to obey and honor Him, and is merciful when we don’t.   Yet we still live in a fallen world in which satan is still doing all he can to hurt us and hinder God’s plan.   Yet we have promise that satan is limited in what he can do and will ultimately fail in his work to unthrone God and destroy everything and everyone He cares about. We don’t have to look far, and even inside us, to see just how hard satan is working. But we don’t need to look any further to see God working too. What would the world be like without God’s restraints? I can’t image how horrible it would be. But what would the world be like without satan’s evil mischief?   More wonderful that I can imagine. So who is the better?   Aren’t you glad the best is also the strongest?   We are on the winning side if we follow Christ. Let’s not forget or loose sight of that truth. He will do what He has promised, which includes caring for you and me.   So let’s renew our commitment to be and stay true to Him too.   The alternative to weaker and sinisterly evil.   We have plenty of evidence to proof that. We live in a time when heros use their power to destroy, not build and create. So which is harder. Well try stepping on an ant and then try to fix it. God made the ant. Neither satan nor you or I can create an ant. Same goes for everything we see and hear and touch. I know I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but it is good to be reminded. We serve an awesome God who will not take second place or compete with another. There is none other worth our devotion and worship and obedience. Unfortunately, only a few realize that enough to follow through with surrendering and obeying Him.   But by doing so, He provides eternal life and sustaining help and guidance on the journey to a eternal home with Him, a home he promised He is preparing for you and me, John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.”   What a tremendous promise and confident hope we have.   A hope that made a profound difference in the lives of Christians in every generation since Christ’s resurrection.                                                                                                                                    5/25/16                          How to be a Soul-Winner                                           25
2 Timothy 1:1-7 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, ² To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ³ I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ⁴ Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. ⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.”

COMMENTS :   Today’s devotion is a good reminder of how we can be effective in reaching our family and friends. Of course we care about them, but there is a special kind of love only Christ can put in us – a special love that only He can give us the capability of expressing.   1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. This description of love is so hard to express and sustain, but is our goal and our calling. Wonderful thing is God knows we are not capable of expressing such love and never intended for us to without His help. That is why it is so important we allow Him to dwell in our hearts – to allow His Holy Spirit to dwell in us. That only happens when we ask Him, invite Him, into our hearts. I believe the “Lord’s Prayer” Matthew 6:9-15 gives us additional insight. Vs 12 “And forgive us our debts,  as we also have forgiven our debtors” also reminds us to forgive each other as God has forgiven us. I believe this something we need to do daily. God forgives us each day but we must also forgive each other each day. That means others will continue to hurt and offend and disappoint us, just like we disappoint God. Just as He forgives us each day, we are to forgive each other each day and show the love described above each day. That is an impossible goal, but I believe we can only make progress towards that goal as we allow Him into the deeper parts of our souls and thoughts and daily choices.   Can we demonstrate that love and live as Christ lived? We can only hope to make progress and improve over yesterday’s success, but we will always requirement a lot of improvement to be Chris-like. Yet every day we yield and become more Christ-like, the greater impact we will have on others. As we look at those who had or have great impact, we realize they are further down the “Christ-like” road than we are but even they are a long ways from being Christ-like.   The goal isn’t easy, but the rewards are great – winning our family and friends.   They won’t be convinced by witty words or great speeches. They will be won by sincere lives showing Christ’s love for them. They will be won by living lives they want to live. They will be won by showing them how to receive Christ’s forgiveness and letting Him guide their lives. You and I are likely not good preachers, but we all can be spirit filled “showers”. Let go show Christ’s love today….                                                                                               

5/26/16                                                Never Lost from God                                         26       Scripture: Romans 8:28-35 “²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. ³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

COMMENTS: Isaiah 40:31 “ ³¹ But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Romans 8:28 assures us that all things (good and evil) are used by God to bring us good, especially when there is no evidence of any good.   Isaiah 40:31 also gives us the assurance that He will save and protect us and give us renewed strength if we wait for Him and submit to Him. Waiting can be such a hard thing to do. Time goes slowly in a waiting line or waiting room. Time also goes slowly when we are becoming impatient waiting for God’s timing too. Doesn’t it seem more often God responds later than we want Him to most of the time?   Well, could it be He is waiting on us because we are not ready to receive His help yet? I’ve found that to be true for me, and believe upon reflection you will too. But remember, God is working to draw not just us but everyone closer to Himself. That is His goal and passion. He is not only preparing us but all affected before He responds, so no wonder He often responds later than we want. Is it any harder for Him to raise one man, Lazarus, from the dead or to raise all His saints from all generations at one time from the dead when He raptures the Church some day. Well then, He is able to do far more than we can comprehend. But He has chosen to work within the free will He has given us. BUT WORK HE HAS DONE AND CONTINUES TO DO!! So the next time we are “waiting on the Lord”, how about we use that time praying and working for Him so we will be ready. I don’t want to be the hold-up for Him acting. I’m sure you don’t either. But we probably are all too often while we are wondering what is taking God so long to respond to our prayers.   If we only knew….

5/27/16                                     EVIL USED BY GOD                                                     27                 Acts 4:23-31 “²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? ²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up  and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.^[b]’^{[c] 27} Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

COMMENTS :   It is very hard for you and me to understand how God uses evil for our good (Romans 8:28), especially during great tragedy like tornados or war or sickness or death. We see deliberate evil being thrust on others and wonder why God allows it. Yet history shows us God only allows such for a time before He says “enough is enough” and reigns judgment on the perpetrators.   But He delays a lot longer than we would likely, right?   Well, we can’t see how God is preparing and working. We also don’t realize just how merciful and long suffering He is, delaying in order to give every opportunity for repentance.   He also uses such to draw many to a deeper faith and level of reliance on Him. Times of tragedy and persecution are also times of historic great growth in the Church.   Many more come to Him for salvation and help during times of great presecution than during times of prosperity and ease. Yet we do not seek nor look forward to hardship. We dread and avoid hardship even though God can and does use hardship to make us stronger and deeper in our faith. Stop and reflect how such times made you stronger and deep in your love and faith. But it is still our fault He has to resort to hardship to get our attention. If we would grow during prosperous times, those times could and would be extended and sustained. He doesn’t desire for us to experience hardship. If He did, than Heaven would not be a place free of such. But here on this world, satan’s influence has and will continue to entrap us, forcing God to use suffering satan puts on us.   Satan’s mischief then becomes the instrument God works in us to our good and His Glory. God’s Will will be come either with our help or in spite of our rebellion.                                                                                                          5/28/16                                       The Unsinkable Church                                     28
Acts 17:1-9 “When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. ⁴ Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. ⁵ But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.^{[a] 6} But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, ⁷ and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” ⁸ When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. ⁹ Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.”

COMMENTS :     Yesterday and today we were at our cabin in Pleasantville Free Methodist Family Campground. Got our cabin opened up and water and electric turned on. We made ice cream and celebrated Arlene’s birthday with our daughter and granddaughter and one of Arlene’s sisters who came up to campground. Many churches and campgrounds are struggling with reduced giving and attendance, making many wonder if they will survive. Yet, even though satan’s attacks seem to succeed and many churches have closed, Christ lives on in the hearts of those in every generation who believe in Him and accept His redeeming grace and forgiveness. Christ offers us life but it is up to us to accept it or face judgment for our sins. Yet revival is continuing mostly in 3^rd world countries and areas suffering persecution. Adversity awakens in people the need and desire to seek out Christ. They, as we, find He has been near all time with open arms waiting for us to invite Him into our lives. Yet we have examples where He finds a way to spread His Good News even in areas where it is impossible – even to point of giving visions to Muslims who never heard of Christ. Even though He leaves the choice to us and may allow us to die in our willful ignorance, there is plenty of evidence to believe He will move mountains to make Himself know to those seeking who do not know Him nor have heard His Gospel of salvation. We desires for us to share His passion and be willing to share that passion with others. Churches may not survive our generation, but The Church – His faithful Believers will survive into eternity. The choice to be amount them is our choice. Our choice to share the Gospel by example and by word and action is also ours and will result in us supporting His plan or cause Him to sidestep us and leave us behind as He accomplishes His plan. How sad to be left behind. That is my fear and concern because some days I simply do not have that passion, while other days I do. Our emotions betray us but our wills can keep us on course to hear and obey His voice each day.   That is my quest, as am sure is yours too. Some days we will show Christ better than others, but His mercy will showing us both in strong and in weak days.   That too is part of the Good News of His Gospel we need to share, because no one will be strong every day no matter how genuine their faith and obedience.   Let’s face it, if churches close, it is because it’s people have failed in their calling from Christ. They are in need of His forgiveness as much as those they should have been reaching. As Daniel prayed for his countrymen while in captivity, so must we and receive our portion of that judgment and repentance as well, but we are not without sin either.   God’s mercy brings fresh beginnings for all of us, what we need most in order to bring healing and new life.

5/29/16                                      In a Dark Place                                                         29                   SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:16-20   “¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””                                                                                                                  COMMENTS: It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the need all around us . So overwhelming it becomes easy to hide or ignore the need. I have to say, if I had encountered that man, I would have been overwhelmed at trying to meet His need and would feel guilty at just satisfying his immediate need for gas and a listening hear. But this devotion reminds me it is not my responsibility to meet every need, but to simply obey God by doing what He has asked me to do. I have experienced similar opportunities where I addressed a financial need and gave council and encouragement to others in need and found out later I was not alone in providing help with a sustaining positive result. I have also found those who continued to make poor choices that caused their need to grow in spite of help of others.   By helping in a local food pantry, I have opportunity to see both examples and consequences of continuing to make poor choices in behavior and spending and in seeking employment. I am also reminded God’s grace bridges where good choices are insufficient. I am also reminded that situations and events beyond our control have wiped out benefits of a lifetime of wise choices too, so we are all at God’s mercies and graces, aren’t we?   That should keep us from judging those less fortunate than us even if they are suffering from consequences of poor choices. We’ve made our share of poor choices too, sinful choices. So we too deserve judgment, not blessings. We are in need of God’s mercies as much as those suffering do. GOD LOVES THEM AS MUCH AS US!!   WE NEED TO LOVE THEM TOO!!   This is Memorial Day weekend. A time we remember those who died in present and past wars – who sacrificed so much for our freedoms and rights but also our privileges. A time when we also remember those before us who impacted our lives and imparted in us God’s moral compass and His Gospel and guided us to His saving Grace. This weekend I am reflecting on the lives of those who so impacted me over the years. Most are in heaven now. Many are still alive and still impacting me. If you are reading this and know me, you likely are one of them.   I am also taking time to seek ways I can do better at being that kind of person for others. I encourage you to do so too.   As long as we have breathe, God still has work for us to do.   I still have work to do and so do you. We still have time left but less than we had yesterday and less than we likely think we have…

5/30/16                       PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS                                                   30                        Acts 4:29-31   “²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? ²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.^[b]’^{[c] 27} Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

COMMENTS : We are living in a world where Islam extremists are brutally reigning terror across the Islam world and penetrating the free world too. Yet Christians are increasingly judged guilty of speech “hate crimes” when they speak out against inhuman or immoral behavior. By immoral behavior, I am referring to behavior that has been judged by civilized society as immoral for thousands of years and until recent decades in the free world, and yes, immoral by Christ’s teachings. Being a Christian was considered a death sentence in first Century, but Christians were still bold in their witness and outreach and ministry. Result was an explosive growth of the Christian church. When the Holy Spirit came into the souls of young believers, they were transformed and gained a passion to share and show Christ’s love and spread His Gospel. Why did God tolerate this brutal treatment of His followers? Only He knows. But results are clear. Those who suffered and died showed transformed Christ-like lives that showed love to those who abused them, not revenge. Their confident hope was eternity with Christ in heaven. Their example inspired others. The Holy Spirit gave them the strength and passion and power to continue that legacy as well. Their persistence and passion and faithfulness resulted in the Christian movement expanding to include multi-millions of believers within first 300 years after Christ’s resurrection. Truth has a way of prevailing in spite of powerful influences trying to stop it. That is because God is infinitely more powerful than evil and will have His way and in His time. Good news is He will win and wants us all to be in His willing team…   Who’s team are you on? Does anyone else know you are on His team? Shouldn’t they?? So let’s get started and resolve to be like those before us. What a legacy to follow!                                                                                                                                                              

5/31/16                                                           The God Who Made Us                                     31
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 8:1-9 “¹ Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. ² Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. ³ When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, ⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?^{[c] 5} You have made them^[d] a little lower than the angels^[e] and crowned them^[f] with glory and honor. ⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their^[g] feet: ⁷ all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, ⁸ the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. ⁹ Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

COMMENTS : May has quickly come and gone. Winter is now a memory and spring is in full swing. Gardens are being planted and already starting to show new life. Trees are fully leaved and flowers are evident everywhere. God has done an amazing miracle once again. God isn’t done doing what He loves doing – CREATING!! Take note of how quickly and how widespread He has been creating the last few weeks with little or no help from humans. Yet He partners with us in a variety of ways in creating. How foolish it is for us to think we are creating when we are simply using some basic rules He has given us. He does the hard work. If you think you can create, next time you step on an ant, try to fix it.   OK, you get the point… God is God and we’re not.. Yet our nature is to resist or ignore or delay doing what God calls us to do. We distort and turn what He has called us to do into evil. That is what satan has become so skillful in tricking us into doing – even the best of us. God has always provided a choice to us starting with Adam and Eve, so we should be prepared to encounter temptations satan will continue to put in our path to trip us. God has promised us to not encounter any temptation we cannot overcome WITH HIS HELP! I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” No, God never intends for you and I to go a minute against satan’s mischief without His help and His presence right by our side and with our hand in His. How do we accomplish and sustain that?   Well, I’m a very long way from being there. But what I have learned is I can make progress by being faithful to spend time with Him each morning and setting reminders through each day. Reminders including stopping during day to pray, reminders including take time to notice God’s creation during day and thank Him. Reminders including asking God’s council even with simple decisions.   Reminders including making time to stop to visit and give a warm greeting to those I encounter.   Well, days I neglect and become preoccupied with the days tasks, I tend to miss or overlook opportunities He gives me – making choices less than what I know God desires. OK, no need to beat myself up when I know I can never live a perfect life or live a perfect day by His standards. I will continue to fall short and so will you while in human flesh. But each day we must seek His mercy and be forgiving to others who hurt or disappoint us too. The Lord’s prayer instructs us to do that each day just as we are to trust Him each day for nourishment for our bodies.

Well, so concludes this month’s devotional journal. I hope and pray it will bring encouragement and help in our journey with Christ. By writing and keeping this journal, it helps me keep the discipline of daily time with Him in prayer and in His word. I look forward to continuing this journey with Him and with you in June.    

In His Service,

Don McDaniel

Email:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                dmcdaniel12@verizon.net

Blog:

“donsdevotions.wordpress.com”