6/1/17                                 Supernatural Love                                                 1  
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

SCRIPTURE:  GALATIANS 5:22-23  “²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

COMMENTS:  Have you ever said or been said to you “you can accomplish anything you want if you only work at it and never give up.”   Well it is true setting goals and working to them using every opportunity will achieve far more than we can imagine.  But there are limits based on our own abilities and talents and opportunities.  Try as we might, being a concert pianist or a professional football player are not realistic goals for those without those talents and physical attributes necessary.  Yet, goals we do have passion for are more commonly goals related to talents we do have. 

God’s supernatural love for us is who gives us talents and abilities and passions to achieve goals of His choosing. Goals that bring us joy and blessing to those around us.  Goals that bring life, not death.  A deep sense of fulfillment and not disappointment and emptiness.  But achieving goals of God’s choosing and reflecting His perfect love are goals we can not achieve ourselves even with our best efforts and determination.  But with His help and abiding presence, we can not fail.  We have not because we ask not or we ask with wrong or evil motives (James 4:3).  Asking opens us to see and tap into His council and strength.  Asking opens ourselves to His timing and way.  Asking pushes our plans and wills to submit to His.  Asking admits to Him and to ourselves we don’t know best and need  help.  Such makes us humble and open to receive from Him.
“It is no use to anybody for a tree to bud and blossom if the blossom does not develop into fruit.”   Martin Luther                      

6/2/17                                  Broken Pottery                                                  2  

But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:10

SCRIPTURE:  II CORINTHIANS 5:17-21  “¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  COMMENTS:  We live in a throw away society.  Things are easily replaced, so motivation to rebuild or repair broken or worn out items is little.  Much easier just to buy new and throw old away.   God easily could replace you and me with identical people better and more like Him and more obedient.  But He chose to rebuild us, much more difficult and costly for Him but infinitely better for us.  He is always working to our best interest no matter cost to Himself.  We work to fulfill our interests without regard of cost to God or others.  What a contrast.  As we become more like   Him, we will have less regard for our own selfish desires and more regard for the needs of others but most of all more regard for desires and goals and will of God.  We will realize more and more the folly and evil motives behind our own desires and perfect and better design of God’s plan. Why not follow God’s plan.  How well has following our own plan worked?  Not well I dare say.  How do we know gold is purified?  One expert has said “when I see my face in the liquid refined gold in the crucible.  Then I know it is pure.”  How true that is in us as God refines us to be more like Him.  When He sees His character and love in us,  He knows we are pure.    

You and I are a long ways from being pure and always be so until we get to heaven.  But we can make progress and become more like Him each day than we were the day before.   We cannot help but become more like Him as we grow closer to Him.  We grow closer to Him being diligent to spend time in prayer and devotion and study of scripture and simply quietly listening to His “still small voice” speaking to our souls each day.  We grow closer to Him by seeking His council and keeping our minds on Him as we go about our daily lives.   We grow closer to Him by listening to and obeying the nudgings He gives us during day. 

Life on earth is limited and passes so quickly, so opportunities to do God’s Will are precious and important. Why God chooses to limit and make His Will dependent on our obedience is a mystery but does so in order to benefit us and empower us to receive blessing from His Will being implemented.  How much blessing we miss when we refuse to obey His Will, which is going to be done with our help or in spite of our disobedience.

Consider the cost to fix us and realize God wants our  help to restore  others too.  He doesn’t need our help but wants our help.  He wants us to work along side Him because He enjoys our company and wants a close relationship with us and knows how much we need that relationship with Him too.  So much for us to gain and so little to loose.  AMEN!!

6/3/17                                                 Full Hands                                                 3       
Matthew 6:5-15  “⁵ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.⁷ But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.⁸ Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.¹⁴ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:¹⁵ But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  COMMENTS:  Forgiveness doesn’t let the offender off without making restitution bu does free the offended of consequences of bitterness that eats like a cancer.  Christ reminds us our duty is to forgive but also reminded us we are just as guilty and have offended God even worse than we are offended.  To forgive releasing the greater shower of forgiveness God so wants to rain on us.  He always responds with greater blessing than we are asked to give.  God is s relational God.  He so longs for a close relationship with each of us but also longs for us to be in close relationship with each other  as well as together in close relationship with Him.  When we complain we don’t like someone nor care to even be around them, we need to realize just how much unlike God we are and how much our actions and sinful selfish thought offend Him.  Yet that doesn’t deter Him from pursuing us.  Well, the closest example we have is the love and devotion we have for our own children and grandchildren.  How many times do they disappoint and offend us but we still love and forgive and seek them.  Yet God’s love for us is infinitely greater and more perfect than our love for our children and grandchildren. 

So what should we do?  Well, how about starting with a bit of self-examination and soul searching.  Is there anyone who you are holding a grudge against or avoiding due to past offences.  I dare say the offender has forgotten or never realized his offence.  He has moved on while we stall in our misery and bitterness.  Stop and reflect on emotional energy and time waisted by such folly and seek God’s forgiveness but also His help in implementing active forgiveness.  Stop and think about an example when  you discovered the offence was not worthy of the bitterness and even may have been a simple misunderstanding on your part that should have been dealt with right away.

How about an example where you were the offender and caused bitterness in the heart of another.  To go to them and seek forgiveness and make it right is pretty scary – taking a lot of courage because there is no guarantee what the reaction will be. Even if he will not show forgiveness right away, putting situation in God’s hands frees Him to work and restore.  By seeking forgiveness, we release God’s forgiveness to us but also open doors for God’s forgiveness to work in other’s lives too.  There is no better way of showing God’s love and caring for others than demonstrating God’s forgiveness.  Feeding the hungry and caring for the poor area vital ministry but demonstrating forgiveness is just as vital if not even more so.  No other command is conditional for  God’s forgiveness so it is of vital importance to God too. “Nothing of spiritual significance comes without sacrifice. Your spirituality will always be measured by the size of your sacrifice.” Jerry Falwell                                                                 

  6/4/17                                          Toward Revival                                                 4       
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.
Psalm 26:2

SCRIPTURE:  PSALM 139  “O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.⁷ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.¹³ For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.¹⁷ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!¹⁸ If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.¹⁹ Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.²⁰ For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.²¹ Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?²² I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  COMMENTS:  David knew it was folly to try to hide anything from God but also knew God’s mercies were available only when sin was openly confessed and forgiveness was seeked.  David longed to be closer to and more like the God he loved and served.  God had helped and protected and strengthened him from his childhood.  God’s faithfulness was evident in David’s life consistently but David was only in real danger when he would neglect and turn from God’s council and protection.  David allowed distractions and temptations to turn his eyes and mind from his passion to follow and obey God.  Soon he would forget that passion and allow other passions and interests not in harmony with God’s will to enter and corrupt him.  But the wonderful news of David’s story is when David’s sin was revealed to him, he would admit and repent and seek God’s mercy.  Every time God was there ready to shower him with His mercy.  God is there to shower us with His mercies too if we, like David, confess and repent from our sin and come back to Him.  Then we will be strong and ready for hardship and crisis and dangers that will come our way.
“Pure gold shows its purity chiefly in the furnace.”  Jonathan Edwards 

6/5/17                                          Tipping Point                               5                                                

But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.                          Joshua 24:15b

SCRIPTURE:  I KINGS 18:21  “²¹ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

COMMENTS:  Have you ever been on a seasaw or “teeter totter”?  A long plank on a center pivot point where one seated at one end goes up while one seated at other end goes down.  A light push down on the ground send one up while dropping the other down and then he pushes off the ground sending himself up and other down.  Little effort is needed to do this because both are closely balanced in weight and distance from pivot.  When  one is much heavier, more effort is needed or heavier one must move closer to pivot to offset weight difference. 

Impact of what we say and do can make a significant difference in both our life and in the lives of those around us not unlike the impact of a push up from one on a seasaw.  Why?  God holds satan within limits and will use our modest efforts of obedience to do significant good.   Christ is looking for us to commit to Him.  To say, like Joshua when challenging his people, when ready to enter their promised land to choose if going to follow the pagan gods of the land they were about to conquer or to follow God.  That challenge was a covenant between them and God.  A covenant that would bond God to help and protect them and bless them but also them to pledge their obedience and faithfulness to God above all others.  Somewhat like a marriage pledging faithfulness and love and obedience.  A covenant that would be hugely positive for Israel and a joy to God, but one that would bring consequence to Israel for disobedience.

If we are going to enjoy God’s protection and blessing, we must also make such a covenant with God.  We, like Jacob must pledge and commit our own obedience.  We can’t speak for others but can speak for ourselves.  We can make Jacob’s pledge to God our own “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  That is what God desires from us.  Nothing more but nothing less.  

Such a commitment can and will have a ripple affect on those around us who know us and notice the difference it makes in our life and in the lives of our families.  Joshua’s pledge was not to worship or serve the idols the pagans around them served nor the idols the Israelites had served in the past.  He drew a line in the sand and asked the Israelites he now led to make the same pledge and commitment.  

It can be discouraging to be the only one making a commitment to faithfulness and purity and obedience to God.  We are quickly becoming an unpopular minority.  We are moving quickly to being viewed not with respect but as dangerous for being Christian.  When that happens, persecution of Christians will explode in free countries, including the USA so we need to brace ourselves for that.  More Christians are being killed and emprisoned and beaten for their faith worldwide then ever and is increasing.  In the west we have enjoyed respect and freedom like no other people in history, but that is changing.  We need to draw a line in the sand and choose who we will be faithful to and weigh the cost.  To serve God will bring eternal reward but likely short term suffering.  To serve satan may bring short term comfort and pleasure but will surely bring eternal suffering and terror. The choice and consequence is clear, but the choice is one we must each make individually and be committed to. 

Elijah also challenged the Israelites centuries after Joshua to choose God.  They had fallen prey to the gods of Baal and had allowed paganism to corrupt them and their nation.  Elijah gave them an opportunity to repent and turn back to God.  God did a great miracle through Elijah that day that drew them back to God, but also judgment on the evil king and the prophets of Baal who had corrupted the nation and it’s people.  Cleansing was needed in the land.  We either must be cleansed or removed if revival is to happen.  But as for me and my house, we will choose to be cleansed instead of being removed.  How about you?
“We are not taking any risks when we step out on the Word of God.”   Vance Havner     

6/6/17                                          Mrs. Colville                                        6                                                  
Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness.
Isaiah 1:27 (NLT)

SCRIPTURE:  PSALM 119:25-32  “²⁵ My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.²⁶ I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.²⁷ Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.²⁸ My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.²⁹ Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.³⁰ I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.³¹ I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.³² I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.” COMMENTS:  During the 1858 revival at Ulster, Ireland, the local newspaper reported it impossible to get near the church entrance during worship services due to huge crowd of no less than 2000 attending.  People were packed at each window struggling to get a glimpse and listen to worship not only going on inside the church but carrying out into crowd not able to get into the church.  Worship would go on past midnight.  People were repented and experiencing forgiveness and Christ’s salvation in droves, kneeling and praying where they stood both inside the church and outside.

What would it be like to be a part of such an experience.  I live in the United States which also experienced such revivals, including one in same time period as the one noted above.  But unfortunately it has been 2 generations since such a revival was experienced in my community.  Such a revival in my local community and church was experienced in my great grandparent’s generation, resulted in much Christian growth in the community and building the stone church structure currently in use by our congregation.  Crowds were so large during that revival that the church floors would not support the weight of the people worshipping in the church and began to sage.  That church located on the southern end of town was disassembled and the current church was built in the center of town.  That was 1894.  My grandparents enjoyed and my parents enjoyed the afterglow of that revival and many continued to be saved and church body grew during those years.  But each generation must choose Christ for themselves and cannot be sustained by the experiences of their parents and grandparents.  It has been said God has no grandchildren, only children.  He is our Father, not our grandfather.  Our relationship with Him must be that of a loving Father and Dearest Friend but so much more.  Past revivals show us God does come when invited and will transform people and whole communities for the better if invited and follow.  We are praying that time will again return and inviting Him both into us as well as into our community churches and people.  God’s timing and ways under His perfect timing but He has chosen to work through those who follow Him and even in spite of or through those who don’t.  That is a mystery but history demonstrates we can either be with and enjoy blessings of  His Will or His Will will be accomplished in spite of and we will miss the blessings of that Will being accomplished.

Christ is returning to receive His Church and set up His Kingdom on earth.  You and I can only be part of that Kingdom if we invite Him into our hearts and follow His guiding Holy Spirit.  Fighting and resisting Him is folly, but most do just that.  Will we be among them or part of the minority who follow Him.  I pray we will be faithful as will our families and friends and communities.  Join me in praying and seeking His help to choose and follow His Way and not our own or anothers.
“Things have been this bad before, and God has sent revivals that shifted the tides… May He do it again!”    David Jeremiah                                                                                                                     

         6/7/17                                          Morning Dew                                       7                                        
Psalm 119:153-160  “¹⁵³ Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.¹⁵⁶ Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments.¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.¹⁵⁸ I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.¹⁶⁰ Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

COMMENTS:  Do you know anyone who seems to brighten a room when they enter.  Their attitude and conversation and face seem to brighten the darkest of rooms and circumstances.  Stop and think about those who brighten or have brightened your life that way.  Those who have passed leave a big hole in us, right?  Well over time we may think about them less and miss their encouragement less but if something or someone doesn’t fill that hole, damage may happened as a result.  Granted we each are unique in our personalities and words of encouragement, but God gives us precious opportunities to be that encourager and responsibility of brightening other’s day and lives.  Granted, we probably don’t think of ourselves as a encourager, but I dare say we are none the less.  The news is full of stories of destruction and hatred and acts of terror and evil.  The news is full of tragedy and suffering and disaster. But what about those who bring hope and joy and healing every day.  Why aren’t their stories told and published?  What would our lives be and our world be like without them.

Well, there are those who do not want those stories told because they know who is the author of those stories.  They know God is behind those stories and has designed both they and those blessed by them to come together to help and heal.  They know God is honored by those stories instead of the pagan evil gods or satan who is behind the evil and destruction and pain and death that is so rampant in the world.

When the evil and destruction we see on the news comes close to home and where we live, it becomes personal because the affect on our lives and on our families is real and personal.  It is then we realize how much we need God’s help and we need those who are following His Will.  

We often may wonder what God wants of us or what our gifts are, but truth is God seldom reveals gifts first.  He equips and showers gifts on those who are already serving and meeting needs.  When we see a need in a friend or neighbor and we reach out to them with listening hears and a caring heart and with hands taking the initiative in help, then we are beginning to do God’s Will and are opening the door for Him to equip and reveal a hidden gift or talent we either have ignored or forgotten or denied.  That gift may just be what is needed and it was our attitude or mind that needed changed to desire or realize value and purpose of that gift.

I learned to play the piano as a child and enjoyed playing in privacy of my own home but neglected piano for 40 years as an adult.  Mostly due to life distractions I forgot about playing and even allowed our church to endure listening to recorded hymns from CD’s during worship and congregational singing because of fear of playing in public.   But when another church member offered to play, I was compelled to practice and do so too to help Him.  Faithful piano and organ players in church over the years had passed and on one was left to pick up their mantle.

Well, because of our willingness to meet that need, blessings have come not so much because of our talent but because of our willingness to serve and interact in lives of two congregations we played at instead of just our own.  Well, that other player has also passed.  A few years ago I was not prepared to take up that mantle but is now a light load and a source of ministry and encouragement and blessing to me as much as my playing is to those in those congregations.  That, I believe, is how God most commonly works and how He enjoys working the most – preparing the willing and obedient.  Equipping them as they take steps of faith instead of preparing them fully first.  How is God preparing you for service and ministry?  How much we miss when are not obedient. 

6/8/17                                          Remember!                                      8                                            
And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place.”
Exodus 13:3a

SCRIPTURE:  DEUTERONOMY 7:17-18  “¹⁷ If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?¹⁸ Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;”  COMMENTS:  I kept a diary for a number of years while in early teen years.  Not long ago I came across those diaries and looked through them.  Most of the daily events were pretty typical and normal and not noteworthy but some of the insecurities and fears I remember of those years were expressed but also still fresh in my memory.  But I also remember God’s loving hand on me as I prayed and read the Bible. 

As I look back I can see clearly God’s hand on my life from childhood years protecting and instructing and loving and fellowshipping with me.  Things that were so important and written in those diaries seem so unimportant now.  If I could go back and speak to myself, there are many words of advice I would give my younger self.  But the big decisions I made God did guide me through and I would not change.  That is the big revelation I would reinforce to my younger self and to you and still remind myself.   GOD IS FAITHFUL AND WILL GUIDE US TO BEST CHOICES IN LIFE EVERY DAY IF WE LET HIM AND LISTEN AND FOLLOW HIS COUNCIL.   As I look back that council was not as appealing to me as other choices, but something inside me would make me realize God’s ways were best.  Some things I wasted my time doing I would do different and some choice like some investments I made in young adults years I would do different but the important choices like marrying Arlene and career choice and most of all accepting Christ at age 10 are all choices I much more than don’t regret.  I am so glad for those choices because they blessed me so and still do! 

Keeping this devotional journal is another of those choices God nudged me to make and do and has so blessed me.   The greater blessing is how they have been received and shared and spread to others.  It amazes me how eager Christians in foreign countries are ready and sharing my journal entries in their ministry and lives.  For God to give me a ministry from my own  home is far more than I ever could have hoped but none the less is a ministry He has been preparing me to do without my knowledge or awareness that would be the case.  Yet by obeying and trusting Him each step, He could prepare me for a work I would be best suited for and enjoy doing, a work that would bless and fulfill me as well as be a blessing to many others.  That is exactly what God wants to do for every Christian and will if they follow His nudgings and council faithfully.  When we don’t, we waste precious time and energy that could have gone into ministering to others.  Yet God even uses our failings and sins to accomplish His Will.  No, sinning is not in His Will but He will not allow our sins to prevent or slow His Will and Work.                                      

6/9/17                 As The Smoke Goeth Upward                           9 
1 Corinthians 16:5-14   “⁴ For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.⁵ Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.⁶ Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:⁷ (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)⁸ We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.⁹ Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.¹¹ Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.¹² For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.¹³ For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.¹⁴ For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:¹⁵ And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.¹⁶ Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”  COMMENTS:  You and I have grown to be quite comfortable and accustomed to being in our bodies and are not ready to be absent from our body.  To be otherwise would not be normal or healthy.  But in one respect we should not.  To be present in body does limit our relationship with God because our weakness toward satan’s temptations and physical limits.  This scripture acknowledges that fact, which has been true with every generation.  As we get older and our bodies grow weakers, if we have a relationship with God was grow more longing and look forward to the day when He calls us home and to a new body we has for us.  But as death approaches, our faith and trust in Him becomes more vital and impactful on how we face that time.  I’m sure you have, as do I know personally many who have face death.  Those who know Christ as their redeemer and Lord and as Friend faced that day in a much different and joyful way than did those who didn’t.  Knowing Christ makes all the difference while living but especially when dying.  How will we be remembered while living but how will we be remembered when we die?  Those chapters haven’t been fully written yet, so we have time to write those chapters.  But time is growing short.  We need only look back and realize how quickly the years pass and how brief time remaining on earth is.  Using that time wisely is a goal I am focusing on and pray  you  are too.   

This week I am enjoying and participating in our Western Pa United Methodist Annual Confernece.  We are having a good conference and am witnessing the preaching and administration abilities of our new Bishop Cynthia Koikoi.  She is a powerful preacher and am encouraged by what I  have witnessed w.r.t. administrative abilities.  She has a simple and humble way about her but when  leading, she has a focused and passionate determination and anointed that is quite evident.  I am encouraged.  Yesterday was the first day of conference which will last throught Sunday AM worship and ordination service.

6/10/17                                                The “I” in Child                              10   

Matthew 18:1-4  “ At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?² And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,³ And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”                                                                                                                      COMMENTS: There is something about coming to Christ as a little child that opens the door wider than any other attitude.  Maybe it is because children aren’t so handicapped and blinded by pride.  Pride is what prevents God from doing His good work in us more than any other sin.  Pride prevents us from seeking and asking for help and forgiveness.   Pride prevents us from changing directions and blinds us from realizing dangerous paths we travel.  Pride deceives us into thinking our ways are right when they are wrong and to think we are better than others when we are not.  A humble spirit has no room for pride but a prideful spirit has no room for humility or for those who are humble.  Humble people are more compassionate and forgiving.  Prideful people are more judgmental and harber grudges and unforgiveness.   Which are  you?   What reflects Christ’s character and example to us especially on the cross?  You know the answer as well as I.  Well if we are to be Christlike, then which do we need to pursue?   I know, sometimes being humble is easier than others.  Sometimes and with some people it is more difficult to be humble and forgiving than with others.  But  Christ is calling us to love the unloveable and forgive the unforgiven.  Ours is not to judge who is worthy or who qualifies to be forgiven but simply to forgive.  The condition of their hearts is a matter for God to judge but ours is simple to forgive.  Discernment is still warranted to avoid dangerous and harmful situations, but harboring hatred and grudges are not justified in our instruction from Christ. 

I have been taken advantage of by others on occasion and had to be more cautious and discerning later but to forgive and move on is where healing and forgiveness lies. It is as much for our benefit or mostly for our benefit Christ commanded us to forgive.  But forgiveness also leaves an open door for those who have offended us for repentence and healing in their relationship with Christ as well as with their relationship with us.  Healing relationships is what God loves doing and does best.  That is where His most common miracles lie and where His healing miracles can spread most significantly.  How many wars and deaths and suffering could have been avoided or stopped if pride was replaced with humility and forgiveness replaced hatred?   How we must break God’s heart when we refuse His loving and healing crucified hand. 
“There’s an “I” in the center of revival, and there’s an “I” in the center of child. Let’s all be in the center of God’s power and presence.
For all this we do praise God…We have seen just enough to make us very hungry to see more.”   Amy Carmichael  

6/11/17                                   Flocks and Fellowship                             11       
Acts 2:40-47  “⁴⁰ And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.⁴¹ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.⁴² And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.⁴³ And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.⁴⁴ And all that believed were together, and had all things common;⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.⁴⁶ And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,⁴⁷ Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”                                                                    COMMENTS:  We were never intended nor designed to be self sufficient.  Our creator wants us to be in relationship and have fellowship with each other but especially with Himself.  Fellowship with other believers is as essential with other Christians as it is with to be in fellowship with Himself daily.  Together we are wiser and stronger and more effective and happier.  We will not be alone in heaven but have opportunity to fellowship and connect with saints from all generations but especially with Himself without the limits and distractions this world burdens us with.  We will be able to worship Christ together without out the limits and weariness and distractions we endure now.  We will be able to hear their stories first hand and discover how God used those stories to impact us.  The realization of God’s full plan and involvement through history and that histories impact on  us and the impact of our lives on others will be fully revealed.  That realization will brings us to our knees in awe of Him.  What a time that will be.  We will be with our loved ones with new bodies that will not grow old or wiery.  But even more we will be with Christ and will be able to fellowship with Him without our current limits and weaknesses and distractions from sin.  HEAVEN WILL NOT BE BORING.  WE WILL NOT BE BORING.  WE WILL NOT BE SITTING AROUND WITH NOTHING TO DO, GOD WILL KEEP US BUSY AND FULFILLED. 
“Some Christians try to go to heaven alone, in solitude. But believers are not compared to bears or lions or other animals that wander alone. Those who belong to Christ are sheep… they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people.”   Charles H. Spurgeon         

6/12/17                      One Tablespoon of Olive Oil                                   12                
Isaiah 61:1-3  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;² To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;³ To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

COMMENTS: The devotional used when writing today’s journal entry speaks of a Harvard physics professor who did an experiment from a boat in the middle of a large lake.  He poured one tablespoon full of olive oil onto the surface of the lake.  It quickly spread over the water’s surface and eventually spread over about a half acre surface of the lake and calmed the water in that area.  He said olive oil will spread until thickness of it’s film is one molecule but still has the ability to adhere to itself strongly enough to quiet the water underneath it.  I doubt it could do so in the midst of a storm but in the midst of normal mild weather and wind water movement, it was able to do so.

When we consider the significance of olive oil when anointing for healing or service, it’s qualities give credibility to the power the Holy Spirit’s “anointing oil” has on us when we allow that Spirit to cover us.  As olive oil quiets the lake’s waters, so does the Holy Spirit quiets our spirit and influences us to be a peace.  When we are in turmoil and anxious because of storms in our lives that are overwhelming, instead of letting those storms control us and throwing us against the walls of life, need to let the  Holy Spirit come in us and cover us with His calming power and guide us instead of letting ourselves be bullied by the power of the storm.  The storm is stronger than us but NOT STRONGER THAN GOD.   God’s Holy Spirit is God dwelling in us and God’s power and wisdom as well.   Nothing is greater or wise or stronger!  AMEN!  So, the next time you and I see an approaching storm or if a storm comes upon us unannounced and suddenly, instead of allowing panic to fill us or reacting on our own strength and wisdom, take a moment on our knees ignoring the storm for a moment and pray for help seeking the Holy Spirit’s indwelling and council and help.  Don’t get up until confident God has heard and is responding.  Sure we have confidence God always  hears our prayers but we need to abide until we have the confidence we have “prayed through”.  It is then we are more open to receive God’s response and more open to hear and see that response.  It is then we are more ready for that response too.
“When you know that everything matters—that every move counts as much as any other—you will begin living a life of permanent purpose.”  Andy Andrews

6/13/17                                         A Law to Live By                                          13                
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  2 Corinthians 9:6

SCRIPTURE:  GALATIANS 6:1-10  “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.² Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.³ For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.⁴ But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.⁵ For every man shall bear his own burden.⁶ Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  COMMENTS: We are living in a society and world where the norm is hatred and intolerance and selfish self seeking behavior.   Inconsiderate conduct quickly brings responses of rage and violence.   Acts of kindness bring a response of suspicion and self seeking.  Evil is becoming the norm and good is no longer strived for or even desired.  Well, that at least is what most news broadcasts present to us and want us to believe.   But when we look at our communities we still see good people doing good deeds.  The firefighters and police and pastors and Christian workers do great work and good they do still far outweighs the few who fall short.   But truth is we all fall short of Christ’s standards and example.  But the Good News is Christ died and rose so we can be forgiven and have the Holy Spirit available to help and guide us to a higher plane of living closer to that standard than we are capable on our own of achieving. That standard included helping and guiding and forgiving our brothers and sisters as well so they too will experience God’s mercy and empowering and also rise to a higher level of living and conduct as well.

That is God’s plan and God’s way – not to live as the world does and accepts but the way God desires and exampled to us with Christ’s life on earth.  Transformed lives – lives far better than before are what Christ offers.  Life instead of death.  Eternal life instead of eternal judgment.  We may resist or object to God’s plan and requirements and commands, but God is still God and has the right and authority and power to enforce His will and law.  Like it or not, God’s Will will prevail.  Most will fight as hard as they can to resist God’s Will and seek their own.  But God’s Will is always best and brings life, not death while our will and ways, which are influenced by satan whether we know it or not, brings death and needless suffering. Scripture reveals countless examples of those who followed God’s Plan and gained life while those who didn’t lost life and blessing.  God has not changed and human nature hasn’t changed either.  We are just as rebellious and prone to sin as the Isrealites of the old testament time.  But God is just as willing to forgive and give second and third and … chances today as then.  Even more so because the redemptive work of Christ’s sacrifice is now in force.   The price for our sins has been paid in full, but only needs to be claimed to be in effect personally.   
“Not how much we give, but how much we do not give, is the test of our Christianity.”     Oswald Chambers  

6/14/17                                              Better Together                                    14                
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  “⁹ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?¹² And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”                              COMMENTS:  Have you even faced a either a dangerous situation or a situation where failure would have brought shame or considerable loss.  It may have been giving a speech in front of a large group of people or completing a difficult task.   Usually in such situations more preparation and research is done to reduce risk of failure.  Soliciting the help of others, especially those with experience in same or similar situations is also wise.  Added strength and wisdom and additional labor when we seek the help of others is important.  We all know that but still tend to try to do tasks ourselves even when we know additional help is needed. We would rather not ask for help until we have tried alone first.  Men are especially guilty of such.  The exception is in work environment where teams are used to complete tasks commonly.

Farmers and Amish families are accustomed to doing tasks as families and sons learning and completing tasks with their fathers and brothers.  Likewise, girls complete tasks with their mothers and sisters.  Doing so bring many benefits.  Doing so more naturally passes skills from parent to child and enables parent to complete far more work than possible otherwise.  Likewise, doing so draws children closer to parents and makes families stronger and also aids in developing children into responsible and productive adults.

God intended us to work while in fellowship with others but He also expect and has designed us to work and live in fellowship with Him.  How many times do we miss out on His experience and wisdom and power and skills simply because we haven’t asked for His help.  He waits for us to invite and ask for His help with benefits beyond the taks offering help with.  How much better if we open ourselves and seek His help early in the morning before we begin the day’s tasks.  How much better when we reflect on work completed at the end of the day realizing His help and praising Him and thanking Him for day’s work.  Such draws us closer to Him and builds our faith and trust in Him for greater things.  Such also opens us for His guidance in direction and work He has for us beyond or instead of the work we have planned to do.  Who is our boss?  We have earthly bosses direction the tasks and priorities we must complete each day.  Well, why are we so willing to listen to our bosses’ instructions but don’t think to give God that same attention and courtesy?   Afterall, He did make us and has work planned for us too.  Well, maybe we are afraid His work will conflict with our own or with our bosses.  But truth is His input will most likely help us complete our bosses’ tasks quickly and better while opening opportunities to do additional work of God’s own design.  Kingdom work that will impact and change lives.  When I have opened myself to Him, I have noticed the days go better but also more apt to notice and take time with those He puts in my path during day’s work.    Days when I fail to do so, I am more apt to ignore or walk past those opportunities thinking I can’t take the time and at end of day being disappointed at work secessfully completed.  Well, not all days are like that but have noticed that commonly to be true.  How about you?  Well, whether we see the benefit immediately or not, seeking fellowship with God each morning and opening ourselves to His input is the right and best thing to do.  God deserves our attention and worship.  He doesn’t deserve our neglect….

6/15/17                           A Model of Encouragement                          15                

Therefore comfort one another with these words.                           1 Thessalonians 4:18

SCRIPTURE:  I THESSALONIANS 5:11  “¹¹ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

COMMENTS:  Everyone needs encouragement now and again.  Life has a way of wearing us down along with life’s disappointments.  Those who love and and who we trust and love are vital in that role of encouraging and strengthing and counciling us when we are weak or confused or  uncertain or simply discouraged.

When we feel alone and lost, that is satan trying to isolate us from those who love us, including our families and friends and church family but also from God’s Holy Spirit.  If he can isolate us, then we are the most vulnerable to his evil influence and traps.  

But the Holy Spirit is God available to every Christians offering that same opportunity to receive God’s words of encouragement and council and help. We need not sin and make poor choices.  So often we do so because we simply want to.  We want to make our own choices alone.  But often we think we can’t take the time to seek help.  But truth is time spend seeking council and help of others is time well spent and receiving their help only makes tasks go smoother and faster.  Doing so also builds a deeper relationship of trust and love with others and with God as well.

By keeping our eyes and heart open to God’s Holy Spirit while also looking for satan’s tricks and traps makes all the difference and, if becomes a daily habit, make each day something to look forward to instead of dreading.
“The church should be a community of encouragement.” Fred Catherwood                

6/16/17                           Skin and Stomach Issues                          16                
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25

SCRIPTURE:  PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9  “⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”  COMMENTS:  Studies show a link of chronic anxiety on the skin and chronic anxiety on the stomach.  Stress and resulting anxiety and depression does have a negative impact on our health and causing those experiencing it to age more quickly than their years.  Even teenagers experience such problems. But today’s scripture tells us to dwell on good things instead of bad and draw nearer to Christ and fellowship with Him instead on sinful things and satan influenced things.  Also impactful is influence of those we are friends with and spend time with. Those who keep pulling us into sinful behavior and weaken our faith in God can become a trap for us too.

We are called to share Christ’s message of salvation and redemption to and in the world but we are not called to participate in the world’s lifestyle and behaviors.  We can be friends and have caring relationships with others but must not participate in their sinful behavior.   When such proximity brings temptations too strong for us to withstand,  we have a choice to make.  We may need to break from those relationships in order.  Keeping those relationships and falling prey to sin ourselves does not honor God or spread His message. We may need to grow deeper in our relationship with Christ first before we can be strong enough to minister in sinful environments. 

Being in and doing God’s Will is no better place to be and thing to do.  Doing so requires being in constant fellowship with Christ and allowing  His Holy Spirit to dwell in us and guiding us constantly.  That is the goal and the task we need to work hard at doing and improving.  When we fail, we need to seek forgiveness and let Him pick us up and start again.  When we succeed, we need to be aware of our weakness and see His help even more so.  Fleeing temptation is part of being successful, as scripture also warns us of (II TIMOTHY 2:22).   So how do we minister to sinful people without falling prey to those sinful behaviors.  Well, that is a question and balance only God can give us the answer, but the Holy Spirit is available to guide and strengthen us.  We all too often fall prey simply because we didn’t keep our eyes on Christ and did no ask for God’s  help and protection.  Don’t work alone if folly and is doomed for failure.  We are no match for satan’s schemes and powers.  But satan is not match for our God and will be no match for us if we have our hand in God’s too.  The Holy Spirit is God having a hold of our hand but even more, dwelling inside us closer than the air we breathe.  AMEN!

6/17/17                           Let Me Leave You With a Verse                   17                
1 Chronicles 28:20-21  “²⁰ And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.²¹ And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy command..”   COMMENTS:  God makes a covenant with each one of us.  History proves God keeps His covenants, allowing judgments only when the covenant is repeatedly broken by those He covenanted with.   But even then, He is quick to forgive and renew that covenant when individual or nation repents. Christ’s sacrifice resulted in He paying the price of judgment for our sins but even more, authorizing Him to be our mediator with the Father.  Christ does pray to the Father for us and pleads our case with His onw blood and scars.

When David was dying, he gave his son Solomon council and instruction to be faithful to God and follow God’s instruction.  David knew Solomon would be allowed to build God’s temple for he and the people to worship.  David wanted to build that temple but God instructed him not to.  God was faithful to David and showed mercy to him when he repented of his sin especially with Bathsheba and murder of her husband.  David knew God’s mercy and wanted so for Solomon to avoid his failures while remaining faithful to God, who David so loved and served.  But David could not make that choice for Solomon.  We can’t make such a choice for our children either.  They must choose for themselves and face God’s blessings or God’s judgments for their own sins.   We each are accountable to God for our own choices and conduct and sins.   Our impact on our children and grandchildren is huge, which will either give them every advantage to make wise choices or encouragement to make poor choices.   Satan will do all he can to do the latter, but God wants our children and grandchildren to follow Him even more than we do.  He will do His part if we do ours in encouraging them by example but requires both our love and our time to effectively do so.                                                                   Cliff Barrows lived to be in his 90’s and enjoyed a long full life of faithful service with Billy Graham and Beverly Shea.   They were a team than partnered in ministry resulting in the conversion of many millions over several generations.  Their impact is eternal and imagine the millions in heaven who will be thanking them for their faithfullneess.  Is that not worth any sacrifice we may be asked to make while on earth…  IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL WHEN WE SEE JESUS…  That song does say it all.  AMEN.
“I have never known a despondent day… It’s because the joy of the Lord is the strength of my life.”  Cliff Barrows        

 

 6/18/17                           Speaking With Your Hands                          18                  
Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:3

SCRIPTURE:  LUKE 15:17-21  “¹⁷ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!^\18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,¹⁹ And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.²⁰ And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.²¹ And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”

COMMENTS:  Like the prodigal, we too often think we are missing out of opportunities or fun or experiences by coming to Christ for salvation at a young age.  I came to Christ at age 10.  Sin and regrets and coming back to God for forgiveness has a repeated cycle fo me over the years many times, as am sure has been for you.  As humans we all fall short of Christ’s example.  But being in communion with Christ with the Holy Spirit has helped me countless times avoiding sin and it’s consequences.  Many vital life choices where made wisely because of that influence and have to say God doesn’t deprive us of having fun but gives us greater joy and a lot of wholesome fun along the way too.  The fun He gives us is far more enjoyable and lasting than the fun satan offers and compels us to do.   Scripture, examples from every generation and country including our own gives overwhelming evidence that is true.  

How good it is to discover that and return from the pit sin has guided us into.  How much better for us to let God turn on His lights so we will avoid that pit in the first place.   God will help us out of our pits but wants so to guide us before we fall into those pits, doing damage to ourselves and others when we fail to follow Him.
“The father hugging his prodigal son must at once have dissipated every doubt of the son about the willingness of his father to forgive and receive him.”  Albert Barnes       

6/19/17                           The Key to Calmness                          19                  
Matthew 6:25-34  “²⁵ Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?²⁶ Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?²⁷ Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?²⁸ And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the fiel²⁹ And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.³⁰ Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?³¹ Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?³² (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.³⁴ Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”  COMMENTS:  During World War II, missionary Alice Taylor was serving in China while her children were attending a boarding school.  During that terrible time she learned her children were taken to an internment camp.  She was filled with panic and fear for her children but didn’t know what to do.  Her home pastor wrote and included Matthew 6:33 and said “Alice, if you take care of the things that are dear to God, He will take care of the things dear to you!”   Such powerful wisdom and truth we so often forget or fail to realize.  We are partnering with God both in ministry but also in caring for our own families.  We all too often try to do God’s job and end up failing at both His and ours instead of having sufficient faith to let go of His job and letting Him do it in His way and in His time.

“For our family that advice from Pa Ferguson long years ago will always hold special meaning. I pass it along to you, for it is truly so.”  Alice Taylor

Alice Taylor testifies that advice gave her peace and ability to let go and do the work God called her to.  She also testifies God was faithful to do His part when she was powerless to do anything to help or free her children.  Memory and past history should give us confidence and strength and faith to trust God in new situations and ways each day, but when in critical times and when risks are greater, having such faith is still difficult.  I have said if I am being held up by a rope 20 ft off the ground, a ¼” rope is sufficient, but if I am being held off the ground 2000 ft below, I want a 1” rope.  Well, that is my humanity talking and reflects difficulty I still have trusting God even after the countless times He has faithfully brought me through dangerous and life threatening situations.  The most recent is protection from harm during a garage fire a month ago.  No one was hurt and damage was limited on apartment building where two renter families live and only the garage was destroyed with it’s contents were destroyed.  The items not insured where easily replaced.   The car owned by a friend housed in that garage was insured so consequences were much less painful.  But again, no one was hurt.   But things could have turned out much different and came very close to being much more disasterous and, I believe, would have been without God’s intervention and help that day. 

Seeing God’s hand at work during situations beyond our control or even causes by foolish choices we’ve made only proof again how close God is and involved in our lives and in helping and protecting us from both outside dangers but also from consequences of our own foolishness.  Both reflect God’s love and compassion for each of us. 

   6/20/17                                                 A.B.I.D.E.                           20                              
John 15:1-8  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.² Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.³ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  COMMENTS:  To abide with Christ means being in daily fellowship with Him.  In order to accomplish that and sustain that abiding relationship with Christ, we need to pray to  Him but doing so as though He was next to us talking to us.  He really is but believing He is and opening our faith and mind to respond to Him in that manner is key to making that kind of relationship a sustained reality.  Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” means Christ wants to have that personal relationship with you and me daily but the Holy  Spirit is the revelation of God who comes into and dwells and empowers us to have that daily ongoing relationship with Christ.  Someone wrote the following:

• “A” stands for absolute surrender. We must surrender our wills and selfishness to Him.  We must confess and turn from known sin in our lives and sincerely tell Him “You are the potter and I am your clay to shape and change in any way you desire.”
• “B” stands for believe. We need to trust Him completely and to point  making ourselves vulnerable in surrender to Him. God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are identical in character and in mission and in perfect Good and Love.  They are identical in thought and motive and in action even though they have different tasks.  The Holy Spirit’s mission and task is to bring honor to Christ and not Himself but also to enable and empower us to have that daily personal relationship with Christ and become more like Him.  The Holy Spirit also prays for us with words we can’t express but wish we could.
• “I” stands for insight. As we spend more time in His Word and follow it’s teachings, the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us in a more real and personal way. As we become more open and surrendered to Him, He starts revealing and empowering and guiding us further away from sin and closer to a more Christ like and perfect life style.  He also reveals deeper insights which draw us more deeply in love with Him.
• “D” stands for dedication. As we get closer to Him and further away from sinful habits and places and circumstances that tempt us and closer to places and circumstances that draw us closer to Him, we find ourselves becoming more like Him.  But no matter how long we live and journey this road to being Christ like, we still will fall short while living on this earth.  Yet each day will draw us closer to that goal and further from the satan like way we used to be.   Becoming more like Christ is becoming more like the Father and more like the Holy Spirit because they all are God and perfectly alike.  Even identical twins have personality differences even though they look alike and have many common characteristics, but they are uniquely different in many ways.  The Trinity are much more alike and identical, but I must caution myself as well as you not to try to understand or explain this too deeply because God is so far above and greater than we can comprehend we simply  are not able to understand or explain His Triune nature.  We will have to wait til heaven to understand that but in meantime simply  be in awe and marvel that God is so worthy of our praise and worship and devotion and obedience.
• “E” stands for enthusiasm. We serve a awesome God perfect in Holiness and Goodness and in Love for us. HE is AWESOME.  We use that word a lot but only God is worthy of the word AWESOME.  The enthusiasm and love He has for us is reflected in what He has done and what the Holy Spirit is devoted to doing each day in order to accomplish His work in and through us. We can go about the work He calls us to do with enthusiasm and energy and vision sustained by His continual abiding presence strengthening and directing us each step.  When we don’t feel His presence, He is still there.  We just need to turn our eyes and minds back to Him.  We are so easily distracted but if we know that, we are better able to turn back when we see ourselves being distracted.  Well, that is a goal you and I still need to work on because being distracted often is still where we are living, including me…   But there is a lot of improvement we can do as we grow in years and maturity in our walk with Christ with the indwelling Holy Spirit enabling us.

“Nothing takes the place of abiding in Christ, for everything depends on Him.
Let the Word create around you, create within you a holy atmosphere, a holy heavenly light, in which your soul will be refreshed and strengthened for the work of daily life.”Andrew Murray, author of Abide in Christ           

6/21/17                                         The Great I AM                                       21                  
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Exodus 3:14

SCRIPTURE:  JOHN 11:25-27  “²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?²⁷ She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”  COMMENTS:  God identified Himself to Moses as “I AM”.  God also called Himself “I AM” in the New Testament.  John 8:58 “Before Abraham, I AM”, John 6:35 “I AM the Bread of Life”, John 8:12 “I AM the Light of the World”, John 10:9  “I AM the Door”,  John 10:11 “I AM the Good Shepherd”, and John 11:25 “I AM the Resurrection and the Life”.  As a boy when I first encountered the verses where God identified Himself as “I AM”,  my reaction was I AM what?   It seemed to me God stopped before completing His thought or quit too soon.  I also thought it odd for Him to call Himself such a name.  Yet such a name tells us so much.  God always was and always will be and is not bound by time. Such a name reveals God consistent and unchanging character and Will and Plan.  As we see, many descriptive names are given to identify character qualities God reveals and demonstrates.  Truth is, we would need eternity to list all God’s characteristics but we only know a few.  But the few we do know from scripture, reflects an awesome good – perfect – powerful – loving God beyond our comprehension.  To know Him is to love and trust Him completely.  To know Him is to surrender our wills to His and turn from our sins and strive to be like Him.  The old hymn  “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” written by Helen Lemmel in 1922  gives us a wonderful  insight.  Here are the words of that wonderful hymn.  I encourage you to mediate on it’s words and let them draw you into worship of the “GREAT I AM”:                                                                                    ·  O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

• Refrain:
  Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
  Look full in His wonderful face,
  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace.

• Through death into life everlasting
  He passed, and we follow Him there;
  O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
  For more than conqu’rors we are!
• His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
  Believe Him, and all will be well:
  Then go to a world that is dying,
  His perfect salvation to tell!

6/22/17                           Heart Surgery                          22    
Ephesians 4:25-32 “²⁵ Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.²⁶ Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:²⁷ Neither give place to the devil.²⁸ Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.²⁹ Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.³⁰ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”                                                                                                                                           COMMENTS:  In 1896 a man was stabbed in a park in Germany and was rushed to the hospital.  A skilled doctor decided to do heart surgery to save his life and repaired the left ventricle.  At that time heart surgery was considered off limits since most believed the soul resided in the heart.  Now such heart surgery is common and not controversial as was then.  The world is changing and not for the better. The news is filled with actions of people intolerant and filled with rage striking out violently at others.   Fifty years ago we wouldn’t have known what road rage was.         Terrorist acts were not in the news every day as now.  Even domestic violence was not as common nor as violent as today or at the least the more violent examples are much more common.  Society moral compass was still based on a Christian world view and based on God’s  10 Commandments.     It was not controversial nor a point of legal debate to display the 10 Commandments in public places or in court houses.   Scripture tells us in the last days there will be a turning away from God and people will think good is evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20 and II Timothy 3).  But these scriptures warn us that such evil behavior and world views are destructive.  Destructive by promotive behavior and choices that are destructive in nature and destructive because they require God’s judgment.  Scripture tells us in the last days God will need to intervene to prevent man from exterminating every living creature including himself (Matthew 24:22)

But God has a different and better way.   The way of forgiveness,  God’s way.  God offers to each of us a new heart,  a heart designed by Him and like His Own.  Our heart and way of living is like living in a broken down shack or in a cardboard box.  God’s way of living is like living in a beautiful mansion by comparison.  So then, why do we resist living as God intended or designed for us and prefer or choose the miserable dangerous way that leads to death.  Because satan deceives and distracts us effectively.  But that need not continue if we make following Christ our daily choice and path.     The path to live instead of death.  The path to God instead of to satan. The path to heaven instead of  hell.  A no brainer if we really think about it.                                                                                                                 

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”                  Mark Twain                                                                                                           

         6/23/17                                               Look Here                                          23    
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

SCRIPTURE:  LUKE  10:38-42  “³⁸ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.⁴⁰ But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:⁴² But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  COMMENTS:   The story of Mary and Martha is a example we all need to meditate on now and again.  It is an easy trap to focus on completing tasks and solving problems and fix things and build thing and meet goals, letting our relationship and fellowship with Christ daily fall to the wayside.  All too common is packing too much into our working day, all of which is important work and needing done.  But by neglecting our time with Christ, we set ourselves up for failure.  We end up going ahead of God and making mistakes and hindering even more urgent and important tasks of our working day.  By taking time at the beginning of each day with Christ, as Mary demonstrated, we avoid missing out on his fellowship as Martha did.  Christ wanted that fellowship with Martha as well as Mary and saw her missing out of that fellowship, so responded to her but is also responding to us since too.  We too are easily distracted and run past Him thinking we just don’t have the time and can miss a day.  Well, exercise is like that too.  We convince ourselves we don’t have time or energy or don’t feel well enough so put it off.  Then before we know it, months have passed we wonder why we aren’t in shape or why Christ seems distant.  Well, Christ didn’t leave us, we left Him.  He is still waiting for us to return.

Truth is, when we take the time to fellowship with Him, then we become energized and inspired and, yes, equipped to do the day’s tasks.  We are better equipped to notice opportunities to minister during our day and let the Holy Spirit guide us during the day in ways we would likely miss without that preparation in morning. 

Truth is if Martha would have first fellowshipped with Christ, as Mary did, then after a time likely both Mary and Martha would have prepared the evening meal for Christ and enjoyed that meal with Him.   Truth is also likely, Christ would have followed them to help and fellowship while they prepared meal.  Well, that would not have been a common practice  in that time but is today.   Yet Christ commonly did things demonstrating how much He cared for women and men as  His children. 
“The Son of God Himself was a guest in her home. Listening to Him and worshiping Him were at that moment the very best use of Mary’s energies and the one right place for her to focus her attention.” John MacArthur                                                                                                                         6/24/17                           Can You Hear Me Now?                      24       
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

SCRIPTURE:  MATTHEW 7:7-12  “⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.⁹ Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?¹⁰ Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?¹¹ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?¹² Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  COMMENTS:   If left unchecked, our human nature is to reverse to a more selfish nature.  For some that nature is stronger and more dominant than for others but every one of us are not willing or able to resist that nature.  It is almost like the “wild nature” dominant in animals like wolves or lions.   Some dogs species have similar dominant natures and can not be fully trusted unless “good behavior” is reinforced often.

Well, you and I are a lot like that.  We need daily reinforcing by a close daily relatioasnship with Christ in order to grow and maintain Christ like behavior.  Sure, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is vital.  God understood that and has provided a way we can abide with Him constantly and grow to be more like  Him by having regular and continual fellowship with Him.  God may have been able to find another way but chose this way because He too wanted and desired frequent and regular fellowship with you and me.  Consider the significance and precious blessing we have for God, the creator of all to desire and strive to have communion and fellowship with each of us, His creation.  For Him to love and care for us so is amazing but so vital to our survival.  But He wants is to more than to just survive.  He wants us to know the joy and fulfillment of following His perfect plan and fellowship.

Yet we still tend to resist and turn from Him.  Every generation has done so and the Bible is full of examples from ancient times to confirm this.  But God even knows and understands this and provides a way of mercy and forgiveness and new starts we can have over and over again.  But far better it is to turn to Him young and remain faithful to Him all our lives.  Daniel is a wonderful example of one who did just that and was spared regrets and wasted time and work from sinful regressions. Jesus’ mother, Mary is another good example.   There are many others and dare say you and I can find similar examples close to us too.  But we can also find examples of those who turned from God and experiences regrets and consequences that were quite costly.  They look back and wish they had made better choices.  Maybe you and I have too.  But God’s mercy gives us opportunities to start over and go a better path.   God may have to get our attention and soften us with hardship so we are more willing to stop and listen to Him and be more open to follow His Will.  Far better if we do so early but better late than never.  Better the regrets and repentence are while we are alive and not in eternity where eternal judgment is the only future.  To be lost and found is better than eternally lost.  That is Christ’s warning to us so we will turn back to Him and change the path to a infinitely better one.  One that will not only be better for us but better for those who we influence and impact as well.

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.”  Brother Lawrence                                    

6/25/17                           Patterns for Prayer                      25   
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

SCRIPTURE:  JEREMIAH 29:12-13  “¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

COMMENTS:  The disciples noticed Jesus’s prayers to the Father and hungered to be able to pray like that.  That is why they asked Jesus to show them how to pray with Jesus giving the “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:9-13.  He could have responded with a long complicated prayer than neither they nor we could remember or use but kept it short and simple so they and we could both remember and use it.  Yet the volumes of truth and instruction in those few words have bee discussed and debated and analyzed in every generation since.  Scholars have tried to do exhaustive studies on that one pray but God has such a wonderful way of revealing profound truths in a few simple words but also revealing new fresh insights every time we journey into those words.  Such a privilege of having God’s full word, the Bible, full of such profound revelations and insights from God as   His Love Letter to you and me.  We need to stive to avoid the temptation of taking His Word for granted simply because it is so accessible to us.  In countries where persecution of Christians is strongest God’s Word is not so available and Christians there hold His Word as precious and treat the verses they acquire as gold.  We would do well to do the same.

Likewise, prayer is such a precious gift and opportunity to commune with our creator and the God of the entire universe.  Access to our God is, like His Word, so available we can easily take Him for granted, but the magnitude of such a privilege and gift has an eternal impact on us and on those who we influence. To take Him for granted is such a tragedy  A tragedy for us and a unfair and undeserved treatment of Him.  He deserves our love and devotion and attention.  We desperately need His.  It isn’t He is deprives us but we who deprive  Him.  Since He loves us so,  He feels that neglect and grieves when we neglect Him.  We tend to forget Him and not notice that neglect but impact on us is far worse.  Doesn’t that seem opposite as it should.  Wouldn’t you think God wouldn’t miss or be impacted by our neglect and we would quicly grow anxious and run back to  Him when separated from Him.  Well, we can feel that separation and be drawn back to Him if we discipline ourselves to spend sufficient time with  Him each day and are accountable to other faithful Christian friends to keep us true.  Those who confide in us and in who we confide and will confront us when they see we are neglecting our time with Christ.  The only way to become Christ like is to be with Christ.  There is not short cut or easier way.  But there is not fulfilling way either.  But just like exercise, work and discipline is required.  It must take priority sufficient to rise early before other duties and life’s demands take over.  If we do, then God has a connection established for the day to guide us and help us with life’s demands and duties too.

“First, pray! Second, develop a pattern of prayer that incorporates themes of praise, thanksgiving, confession, meditation, intercession, petition, and more. Such patterns can serve as a guide for the time you spend alone with God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The traditional “Jesus Prayer”    

 

6/26/17                                                   God the Father                       26       
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16                                                                                                              ROMANS 8:15-17  “¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

COMMENTS:  In the Old Testament the term father refers mostly to earthly fathers.  However, Christ referred to  God as Father and gave us permission to do so too.   The Lord’s Prayer He gave us to pattern and guide our prayers refers to God as “Our Father” in Matthew 5:16.  Romans 8:16 tells us the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirits that we are God’s children and He is our Father.   The level of intimacy God the Father had with Jesus while on earth and now has with Him in heaven is also the level of intimacy He desires to  have with us and payed dearly for so we can.  We simply need to allow Him to dwell in us and fellowship with us.  That is the work of the Holy Spirit.  God abiding in and with us. 
“What is a Christian?… The richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as his Father. “  J. I. Packer

6/27/17                                        Children of the Father                       27           
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. … You do the deeds of your father.” John 8:39b, 41

SCRIPTURE:  GALATIANS 5:22-23  “²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  COMMENTS:  Children are impacted by their parents.  A common saying is for children to be “a chip off the old block”.  This common statement dating back to the 17^th century and refers to children having similar talents and characteristic or personality traits or even flaws their parents demonstrated.  I find myself looking and walking and acting more and more like my father as I age, which I consider a good thing.   However, some of my parents physical weaknesses are also becoming evident.  Things like arthritis and knees requiring replacement have showed up in me.  However, my mother’s compassionate personality and my father’s sense of humor.  I also find myself using many of my father’s one line wise sayings too.  The impact for good or bad from our parents is huge.  So the importance and impact we have on our children and grandchildren is huge too. 

Today’s scripture identifies the importance of seeking the characteristics of our heavenly Father.  The job of the Holy Spirit includes giving us His characteristics.  Jesus told us that He is identical in personality and in all ways to the Father.  So knowing Christ is also knowing the Father.  The same is true of the Holy Spirit who dwells within each Christian.  The Holy Spirit enables us to be close to and abide and fellowship with God the Father and God the Son and love Him in a personal and fulfilling way.  His abiding spirit also enables us to become more like Him and act like Him each day.  That is  His goal and needs to be ours too.  As long as we are living here we will not perfectly achieve that goal but each day should find  us closer to that goal.
Ask the Father to reveal the family likeness in you by the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians 5:22-23).
Behold, what wondrous grace the Father hath bestowed on sinners of a mortal race, to call them sons of God.  Isaac Watts     

6/28/17                                        Our Father in Heaven                       28           
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Matthew 6:9

SCRIPTURE:  LEVITICUS 22:32  “³² Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you,”

COMMENTS:  The prayer Jesus taught us “The Lord’s Prayer” recorded in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 begins with “Our Father which art in Heaven”.  We are to address God as our Father.  The prayer states and reminds us God’s will is done perfectly and completely in  heaven but will also be done as perfectly on earth too.  The prayer guides us to desire and work to that goal as we know God already is working towards.  Those of us who have or had a wonderful earthly father give us a visible example of the type of father God is and the type of father He desires for us to be to our children and grandchildren.  But unfortunately most children do not have good examples to imitate.  Yet God has put something inside us seeking such an example but even more drawing us to Himself, the perfect example but also the source of our being and what we need to sustain life.

Jesus told us that knowing Christ is also knowing the Father and knowing the Holy Spirit.  Yet the main work of the  Holy Spirit is to honor Christ and guide us each personally and consistently one on one to a closer relationship with Christ.  Christ knew the disciples would not be able to sustain the close relationship with the Father without help.  The Holy Spirit came to abide inside each  believer and help each believer so they not only could but would sustain such a personal relationship that the first century believers demonstrated and  is recorded in our New Testament.  Yet even the Holy Spirit will not abide with or within a believer without being invited and welcomed.  When we neglect or entertain temptations or even sin in our lives, we are pushing the Holy Spirit out of the place He desires to have and needs to have in our hearts – our souls.  A place necessary if we are going to live a victorious Christian life and gain victory over sin and temptation but also necessary to make the impact in the lives of others God so wants us to have.
“Humble prayer to our heavenly Father, in deep faith in Jesus Christ, is essential to qualify us for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.”   Henry B. Eyring             

6/29/17                                      Love Through the Ages                          29             
Jesus replied, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Matthew 22:37, NLT

SCRIPTURE:  I JOHN 3:16-18  “¹⁶ Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.¹⁷ But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”  COMMENTS: Israel’s history recorded in the Old Testament is a repeated cycle of God making a covenant followed by God fulfilling His promises and blessing Israel.  Then Israel would break that covenant by turning from God and to sin followed by God finally bringing judgment on Israel until Israel would repent and turn back to God.  God would then forgive and restore them.  Individual like David followed similar cycles.  But recorded are those like Daniel and Joseph who were faithful all their lives avoiding the consequences of their sins and God’s judgment on them.  But they both did suffer indirectly from the consequences of other’s sins.  Joseph suffered slavery from the sins of  his brothers.  Daniel endured captivity along with his fellow  Jews.  God’s judgment was on the entire nature, which included Daniel.   Yet God did protect and use Daniel to lead the nation and even showed his pagan captives the way to God too.  He lead by example first and then by instruction and teaching.  I’m sure he would have chosen a different way to live his faith and example but His love and trust in God enabled him to serve faithfully where he was even though was for many long years.  Even though that path took him into a lion’s den.  But God was faithful especially in that lion’s den.  There would have been no need for  his lion’s den if his people had remained faithful. 

Sometimes God calls us to times of trial for no fault of our own but in order to strengthen us and use us to witness and draw others to Him.  Others who are lost or confused but needing Christ in their lives and the Holy Spirit’s direction and abiding presence.   When we all get to heaven, we will be certain the price, the cost of such suffering or hardship will be well worth the reward to us but also the reward of   knowing and seeing the impact Christ  had through us on others. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus and when we see others impacted by our lives seeing Jesus there too.  God’ds love for us is infinite and unconditional.  But we must accept his love if we are going to enjoy the benefits of that love.  He does not force  Himself on us but does give us a choice.  The consequences of rejecting Him is our choice alone and is also rejecting His protection and accepting all the evil and harm satan puts on us without being shielded by God’s protection. 
God’s love for his people is infinite and unconditional. John Blanchard                  

 

 

  6/30/17                                                 Hallowed…                          30                 
Luke 11:1-4  “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.² And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.³ Give us day by day our daily bread.⁴ And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.⁵ And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;⁶ For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?⁷ And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.⁸ I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.⁹ And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”   COMMENTS:  Can you imagine witnessing Jesus praying to the Father?  Granted we can comprehend the need or why He wanted to or needed to pray to the Father since He is God.  But we need to remember while on earth Christ was in human form and limited by human limitations by choice so He gained strength and insight and inspiration from the Father through prayer as do we.  He chose that way for many reasons, probably most we can’t comprehend if did know.  But consider what Jesus’s prayers must have been like.  Well, all we know is the disciples response was to ask Jesus to teach them how to pray as He pray.  Whatever it was like, they wanted to pray as He prayed.  Amazing was Jesus’s response.  The Lord’s pray was so simple and short but so profound.  The words of this prayer must have reflected the spirit of His prayers.  But one thing we have the disciples didn’t have before Pentecost was the Holy Spirit guiding their prayers and praying to the Father for them.  Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered..And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  We don’t have to worry about how to pray or how we express ourselves to God.  He knows because He knows our hearts but also because He can fill in the words we can’t express but want to.  When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, they changed dramatically.  They didn’t need to ask these types of questions any longer because the Holy Spirit was there revealing and guiding them.  When we read the Book of Acts and Paul’s letters recorded in our New Testament we get a clearer picture of this transformation and the wise way Paul and the Disciples dealt with false doctrine and teachers who tried to infiltrate the early church. 

How sad when we take Christ for granted and the work of the Holy Spirit instead of giving God all our praise and love for all He has done and continues to do for us.  We need to take notice of what He does for us and thank He for that but also seek to know what He desires of us.

The Lord’s Prayer guides us on what to say and best order in saying it.  To begin our prayer in prayer and awe of God’s majesty and Holiness and Goodness is simply giving Him the love and respect He desires and reminding us who we are addressing.  To recognize God’s will is done now in heaven and desire that will be done on earth recognizes who our source is and instill in us a desire for live where God lives and experience and live within God’s Will.  When we ask for God’s Will, we are reminding ourselves to desire His Will over our own and His timing over ours.    We also need to remind ourselves He is our source and provider, and without His provision we would starve and die no matter  how long and how hard we work or try to provide for ourselves.    But then comes the biggest part.  Asking God to forgives us to degree we forgive those who harm or mistreat us.  Then to finish prayer again in praise and honor of God who we are addressing. 

Well, hard to believe we have finished another month of devotions and  June 2017 is about to become history.  Time is moving pass so quickly.  Even though time passing so quickly, God is still in control and time is pointing towards the fulfilliment of His promises including His return to redeem His church and set up His kingdom and rule. What a day, what a time that will be. 

I hope and pray this journal continues to be a blessing to you and Christ is growing closer and personal to you.  If you wish to access my blog or contact me, below is my contact information:

BLOG:   https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Don1951

EMAIL:  dmcdaniel12@verizon.net