10/1/17                              Not in Heaven Yet                                                     1 
Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding.
Job 12:12

SCRIPTURE:  PSALM 90:10-12 “¹⁰ The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.¹¹ Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.¹² So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

COMMENTS: Retirement is a time most look forward to all their working lives, especially on those days work or co-workers are difficult or day when we can’t seem to accomplish anything or finish tasks satisfactorily.  Those days are frustrating and, if common, tend to tempt us to feel like a failure or even believe it.  Well, I dreamed of retirement too and can remember reaching the ½ way point in my career at age 42.  Don’t get me wrong.  I loved what t I did and felt I was where God wanted me.  I met and become friends with and shared my faith with many I would not have met except from my work environment.  But I still would become overwhelmed at difficulty of problems and tasks at times.  But I learned to realize the importance of approaching those problems and tasks with the help of others.  The partnerships and friendships those problems and tasks developed were far more precious and valuable and remembered and lasting than the solutions those relationships solved.  A couple of days ago I crossed paths with a good friend, Joe Sporer, a retired mechanic from the same company I worked as a design engineer.  Joe had been an immense help during those years.  I hadn’t seen him for many years, so appreciated having the opportunity to reconnect.  During our visit we talked about our current thing in common, Parkinson’s disease.  I shared the therapy our daughter is involved with at her work and how much it has helped me.  I am hoping he too will join the therapy group and see improvement too and continue our connection that way too. 

Well, retirement is not the end of working or building relationships but is a shift and refocus.  The freedom to do God’s bidding is still our full-time work whether retired or still working for a paycheck.  God is still our employer and provider.  But He is also still our mentor and best friend.  The devotional journal I write and blog I continue to build and correspondence I continue to write with pastors and laymen in various parts of USA and countries are all a part of God’s employment He has called me to.  But work locally in my own community volunteering at church and food pantry and even local cemetery trustee are part of His work too.  But husband-father-grandfather are the jobs I treasure and love doing the most for these jobs are with my family and with those so precious to me.  They also help me realize how precious all are as God’s family and how much He wants to be in relationship with them as with me and with everyone in my family.                                                              Charles McKoy retired at age 71 uncertain of what he would do until a friend invited him to preach in Asia.  His friends discouraged him, but he decided to go.  The years that followed were far more fruitful and his circle of friends and influence expanded like he did not experience up to that time.  He lived to be 88.  If he would have sit back and relaxed and played during those 17 years of retirement, he would have missed out on a time of great joy and fulfillment and those blessed by those years of ministry would still be lost. Well, God likely would have given that ministry to someone else if he had refused.  You and I may not get such opportunities but God gives us opportunities to make a different in the lives of others if we are willing and take the leap of faith of putting our hand in His and say yes and take that first step.  Charles McKoy found that to be true and we will too.  Well, I struggle doing that as am sure you do to, but by encouraging you, I am also encouraging myself.  The evidence is clear.  What is it God is calling me to do?  What is He calling you to do?  How about we ask Him with a willing heart?                                                                                                                                                     “A fire kept burning on the hearthstone of my heart, and I took up the burden of the day with fresh courage and hope.”   Charles F. McKoy

10/2/17                              Lonely Places                                                       2   
Luke 5:12-16  “¹² And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.¹³ And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.¹⁴ And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them¹⁵ But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirm¹⁶ And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”  COMMENTS: Feeling alone is quite different than being alone.  There are times when we just want to be alone to rest and meditate and spend time with our Lord.  Christ often would go off alone to fellowship with the Father.  Being alone out of choice and for a defined time is normal and healthy.  But when we become isolated and feel truly alone and unloved by others, it is then loneliness begins gripping and sucking life from our souls.  Loneliness can shorten our life as well as robbing us of joy and opportunity to bring joy and blessings to others.  We are not designed to be alone but to be in community.  Community with each other but especially in community with God.  The abiding indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit enables us to be in fellowship with God all the time in a personal and meaningful way. 

As I write this, breaking news of a snipper shooting in Las Vegas last evening killing over 50 people and wounding 200 at an outdoor concert on the strip.  What brings people to the point of doing such a thing?  Yet news is filled with reports of extreme unrestrained anger being expressed in homes and neighborhoods everywhere.  Road rage and family conflicts and violence in schools and even churches are becoming all too common even in communities unheard of a few years ago.  Peace seems to becoming rare and at risk of extinction.   We wonder what is causing all this violent behavior and why is it getting worse?                                                                                                          

Well, scripture holds those answers.  History and God’s word tell us when we turn from God to follow our own desires; we open ourselves to satan’s influences and temptations.  The longer and further we wonder away from God, the closer to satan we go and more evil our actions become.  During the time of Noah, during time of Abraham and Lot at Sodom and Gomorra, scripture tells us their thoughts and actions were evil continuous without exception.  Scripture also tells us in the latter days it will be as in the days of Noah.  We don’t need to look far to discover evil is rampant and getting worse each day.                       

In times like this, it will be vital we remain faithful to our Lord and be faithful to do His bidding.  This will include being in community with other Christians in our church and community.  We may think what can we do but God has a wonderful way of using simple acts of kindness to those we cross paths with each day to further His loving redemptive plan.  If we hide and avoid people, we will miss those opportunities that will both bless others but also bless ourselves.  Dangerous times but times of great opportunity depending on who we are close to.  Let’s resolve to draw closer to Christ and be more open to follow the Holy Spirit’s council and nudging.  If we do, we will avoid the deep loneliness that could follow us into our senior years.
“Whenever I feel lonely, it helps me to know that a man as great as King David—a man after God’s own heart—could feel just as I do.”   David Jeremiah

10/3/17                              God in Our Troubles                                                    3      
And [Job] took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. Job 2:8

SCRIPTURE:  II Corinthians 4:7-11  “⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;⁹ Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;¹⁰ Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.¹¹ For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”

COMMENTS: The depth and strength of our faith in Christ is not defined during prosperous times but in times of great trial and times of great tribulation and grief.  It is then God’s love and comfort shined in the believer and radiates to affect those who know that grieving individual most.   Job’s friends should have seen that and encouraged and let him minister to them too, but instead they were blinded by a judgmental spirit.  Their theology was in error and blinded them to God’s council during a time of trial for Job.  God used Job’s trial to work on them too.

You and I will likely never experience trials and tragedies as severe as Job’s, or at least at the same time, but Job’s story reveals to us a much greater perspective, God’s perspective, as well as Job’s struggles to understand God’s ways even while facing false council from trusted friends.   Everyone was against Job during his most trying and vulnerable time.  BUT JOB REMAINED FAITHFUL!  I dare say most of us would likely cave under much milder trials.   But God wants us to draw closer to him during trials we do face so He can help us remain strong and use such times to both strengthen us and to point His redemptive light to many others too.  We probably won’t see the value of trials in our witness at the time, but we can be confident He will not waste hardships in our lives.  He will use them for our benefit and for benefit of others who need to draw closer to Him too.                                    

Can you look back and see previous times where good did result from past trials?   They should help encourage us while we go through current trials.  That is why scripture shares trials of those before us; to encourage and sustain us too.                                                                    

Well, an even greater time of danger for us is during peaceful prosperous times.  It is then we are tempted to believe we don’t need Him and can manage just fine on our own.  But it is then we are at greatest risk of turning away from Him and falling into sin.  It is then we are most vulnerable.  But it is then we should grip His hand and dig deeper into His word so we will not let satan’s temptations drown out His voice warning and guiding us.  It is then He wants us to use unused resources for His purposes to help and bless others.   It is then we are most able to do great good if we only will.  It is then we are able to focus on ministry without being preoccupied with our own problems.  But we seem to always have problems even when minor problems.  We just elevate them to seem to us to be major when they could, with God’s helps, be solved easily and permanently.  I love John Favel’s quote below:
“Shall light troubles make you forget weighty mercies?”   John Favel

10/4/17                                       Fruitful Seniors                                                           4

And now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.   Joshua 14:10b-11

SCRIPTURE:  LUKE 2:36-38  “³⁶ And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;³⁷ And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.³⁸ And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked-for redemption in Jerusalem.”

COMMENTS: As I read of Moses and Joshua and Caleb all maintaining physical strength and endurance of their youth at the age of 85 or Moses at age of 120 when God took him, I am amazed.  I believe God had a hand in that to enable them to do work He called them to do.  I also believe they were all physical active all their lives and maybe living off God’s manna had something to do with it too, but believe God’s miraculous work was involved too.  As I get older, I find myself weaker and less able to do and sustain physical and even mental work of my younger years. Exception seems to be writing this journal and writing messages when called to share sermons in local congregations or for other pastors to give and share.  Maybe that is a clue that God still enables who He calls.   That is encouraging.   God does not ask us to do what we are not able to do either due.  But He does stretch our faith and abilities often so we both learn to trust Him at a deeper level but also empowers growth to a deeper relationship with Him and with each other.  God always come from doing His work.  Good both for giver as well as for those who benefit and receive results of that work.  Well, the bad news is God doesn’t call us to retire to comfortable lives of ease and no responsibilities or duties.  Instead He calls us from careers that provided income to a new freedom to do work He calls us to.  He has always been our primary employer and income source, but in retirement new freedom to do what God calls us to without restraints of needing an income can make a big difference.  God providing manna to sustain those of us retired so we can be free to do and share more generously can and is a calling for us who are now seniors. 

What would you dream to do if were not limited by an employer or job you are committed to?  If you are already retired, what might God be calling you to do?  Are you open to discover that work or are you deaf from fear of what that work might be?
“Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”     Anonymous                              

10/5/17                                                    Finish the Race!                                  5         
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24

SCRIPTURE:  PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14  “¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

COMMENTS: I often wonder just how long Paul believed he would live.  He preached and lived with such passion in such a dangerous environment that I can’ help but believe he was convinced he would be executed or murdered as a young man and maybe before that year was over.  But God helped and protected him for many years so he would have time to establish many churches and write the letters preserved in our New Testament and go back to help and encourage and correct those churches.  What we need to remember is God could have placed that work on another if Paul would have been martyred early, but God’s grace allowed Paul to complete the work he had begun.  But during those terrible years many faithful Christians did die, even whole families for their faith.

Truth is we all are running the same race Paul did.  His race is over and he is enjoying the fruit of his labors, which by the way is still growing.  It grows as new believers read his letters and come to Christ.  They grow as those new believers then win their friends and family to Christ.  The compounding effect of Christ’s impact on Paul’s life who then impacted others and they impacted others has been going on since Christ paid the price for our sins on that cross some 2000 years ago. 

Satan’s evil influence too can compound from one generation to another if goes on unchecked.  The foolishness of work so many is doing to take God out of our schools and communities and countries have already been done and consequences recorded in our bible and in history books of those who lived before us.  BUT BENEFITS AND BLESSINGS OF IMPACT OF THOSE WHO WERE FAITHFUL TO GOD AND POSITIVE AND COMPOUNDING AFFECT THEY HAD ON THOSE AFTER THEM IS ALSO RECORDED IN OUR BIBLE AND IN THE HISTORY BOOKS TOO.  Those who would keep our children from reading those books or rewrite those books damn themselves and bring great harm to our children when they are allowed to do so.  Our job is to, like Paul, show and share God’s message whether we feel like it or not, whether see fruit of our labors or don’t.  Doing so is a work of love.  Love for our brothers and sisters and their children and our children who haven’t heard or have forgotten.  Love for those who we know but love for those who we don’t know nor have ever met.  BUT MOST OF ALL FOR THE ONE WHO LOVED US FIRST AND CONTINUES TO LOVE US MORE THAN ANY OTHER AND EVEN MORE THAN WE LOVE OURSELVES, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!  Faithfulness to the message and work God has called us to do will have eternal reward for ourselves and for those before us who impacted us and those after us who we will impact for Christ.  NO OTHER INVESTMENT OR LABOR WILL BRING SUCH INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS AND REWARD.  After all, God is the employer and Investment Company we are trusting in and He always keeps His promises and honors His commitments.  AMEN!
“Our motto must continue to be perseverance. And ultimately I trust the Almighty will crown our efforts with success.”  William Wilberforce

10/6/17                              What a Friend                                                               6        
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends. John 15:15

SCRIPTURE:  PROVERBS 18:24  “²⁴ A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”                                                        COMMENTS:  Pets have a wonderful way of providing companionship and love and sense of worth and joy in our lives.   We have a cat that is both affectionate and neat and clean.  She also loves to play and draw our attention, but does want to be left alone at times during the day.  Our granddaughter, Lily loves to play with her but before long our cat has had enough but Lily keeps on wanting to play resulting in cat running away and hiding.  Her affections have limits and avoid conflict or anger by running away.  A lesson maybe we or some we know should follow at times before they or we say or do something we regret later. Dog’s however, are the pet traditionally deemed “man’s best friend”.  Why is that?  Reasons are characteristics we commonly see in most dogs like “unconditional love and affection”, “loving going places with us”, “always glad to see us”, “ready to forgive”, “protecting us from danger” to mention a few characteristics commonly noteworthy.  How many human friends have we had that have come close to that description? We have one who demonstrates all these and so much more.  He is our best friend but so much more.  He is Christ our Lord and Savior and Creator but also our Best Friend faithful for eternity.  Human friends will disappoint us.  Even canine friends will disappoint us a times too but Christ is eternally faithful to us.
Human friends may disappoint us, but Jesus never will. He is a friend that “sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!   Joseph Scriven

10/7/17                              A Little Human Kindness                                            7      
James 1:21-27 “²¹ Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.²³ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.²⁵ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.²⁶ If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.²⁷ Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”                                        COMMENTS: Have you even been nudged by the Holy Spirit to call or visit or send a card to someone you haven’t communicated with for a long time?  A neighbor relative either living nearby or a distance away?  Maybe someone in the hospital or in a retirement or convalescent or nursing home.  As we get older more and more of our friends are gone or unable to visit us so our field of friends grows smaller and smaller.  I man I used to work with said one time “you know you are getting older when you know more people dead than alive”.  Well I have to say I have likely crossed the 50% mark, or know as many people dead as alive.  Haven’t exactly taken count but may be higher than 50% now.  If you are over 65, you are likely in this category too.  Well, we don’t need to look far to realize there are many in their late 70’s or 80’s or even 90’s no longer able to drive a car or get around on their own outside their own homes or apartments so are limited to visits from those who come to them.  They are the ones who get neglected and forgotten. 

So, when you or I feel that nudge, it is wise not to put it off.  There have been many times I responded in short order to that nudge and was so glad I did.  Opportunity was urgent and short lived.  But there have been a few times I ignored or put off response due to distraction of what I was doing and regretted putting it off.   God, however, will find someone else to respond when the need is urgent enough.  The need is met but we miss the blessing and they miss opportunity to express love and encouragement to us and receive from us.   I pray I will not miss any more and trust you are praying that same prayer.

“By making someone happy as we pass along life’s way, we bring a bit of heaven to the longest, darkest day. “  Frona Scott

10/8/17                              When in Trouble…                                                  8         
I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. Psalm 142:2-3a

SCRIPTURE:  PSALM 57:1-11 “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.² I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.³ He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.⁴ My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.⁵ Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.⁶ They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.⁷ My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.⁸ Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.⁹ I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.¹⁰ For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.¹¹ Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.”

COMMENTS:   I am reflecting on the tragedies of last few weeks.  Multiple hurricanes devastating large areas, especially in Puerto Rico.  Earthquakes, most recent one in Mexico.  Mass shootings or bombing, most recent in Las Vegas all continue to fill the news.  Now another hurricane is looming in Gulf of Mexico.  Scripture warns of of devastation increasing in intensity as the time of Christ’s return draws closer.  We are also warned that if Christ’s return to stop the evil insanity of man’s war against himself, man will completely destroy himself.  So, in the later times, natural disasters will come more frequently and with increasing strength.  At the same time wars and devastation man reigns on himself will become more frequent and worse as well.  Regard for human life will grow less and love and respect for each other will become rarer and hatred and intolerance of each other, especially non-Christians toward Christians will grow worse.  Sounds exactly like what is going on today.  Comparing today’s news with 30 or 20 or even 5 years ago is pretty convincing these prophecies are unfolding before us.  The response scripture instructs us is to draw closer to Christ and put our trust in Him.  He has promised to return and save us.  He has promised to stop this insanity.  But He is waiting but still working drawing those who do not know nor received His redeeming gift of salvation yet.  He waited for you and me but we both have loved ones and friends and neighbors who still don’t know Him.  He is waiting for them.  Be glad He is waiting and He can wait only so long.   Unless a wave of revival comes.  Unless our country and other countries seek and experience revival, the path to destruction and Christ’s return draws closer.  Scripture (II Chron. 7:14) is still true.  It is still instructing Christians first but all people to come to Him repenting of their sins and seeking His forgiveness and letting His Holy Spirit into their lives.  Christians are called to do this first and be the example and beacon leading others to do the same.   Those of us who have known Christ many years still have more to repent and seek His forgives and help to forsake.   Let’s covenant to God together to repent of our sins and seek His forgiveness and help and indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us and make us the example and ministers He is calling us to be. But most of all the prayer warriors we need to be.  AMEN!
“Days of trouble must be days of prayer.” Matthew Henry

10/9/17                                                Never Forsaken                                           9         
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama Sabastian?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”   Matthew 27:46

SCRIPTURE:  PSALM 22:1 “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”

COMMENTS: It is a mystery how God can be one but still 3 and how Jesus could be God and still experience limited of being in a human body relying on the Father to help and strengthening Him instead of relying on His own divine strength and power.  But scripture does reveal to us He did become physically week and prayed to and received strength and reassurance from His Father as He prayed.  But Jesus also said is see know Jesus was to see and know the Father.  That tells me Jesus and the Father think and respond identically.  But we must keep in mind since God is infinitely more powerful and wiser and greater in all ways than us, we simply are not capable of comprehending Him nor understanding what He has revealed to us about Himself.  We must simply take what He tells us at face value by faith.            But what scripture has revealed is Christ’s sacrifice enables us to be spared the punishment for our sins and for the Father to see us as sinless through the blood of Jesus.   The Holy Spirit comes to reside in our souls and provide constant council and help and empowering so we need not sin and be freed from the power of sin.  Sure, temptations still come and possibility of sinning is still real, but we are no longer powerless to resist temptation because we are not alone.  Only when we ignore or refuse the Holy Spirit’s help do we become vulnerable to satan’s powerful tempting deceptions and skills.  The Father judges sin and will judge those who refuse Christ’s gift and the Holy Spirit’s help.  But only when we get to heaven will we be freed from the presence of sin because satan will no longer be free to tempt us or roam the earth.  In heaven God alone reigns.  On earth then only Christ will reign.  In meantime, satan can do his mischief and evil but within limits and restraints God allows.                                                                                                       

Well, God continues to use satan’s evil work, as bad as it is, to strengthen those faithful to God and to draw all closer to Christ’s side if they only pay attention to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and nudging.  Even Christ experienced the desperation and loneliness of separation from the Father when He enduring the guilt and burden of all our sins on the cross.  The Father turned His face from His Son because of the evil of our sins covering Him.  That is a great mystery but that separation between the Son and Father lasted until the physical life was completely drained from Christ’s body and laid dead for 3 days until Christ was resurrected.  We don’t understand the remaining scars Christ still endures as our resurrected Savior but the relationship between the Father and Son was restored upon Christ’s resurrection.                                                                                                                        

 When Christ returns, He will come with full authority to reign over creation and restore the earth as was originally intended and without satan’s destructive influence.  We will have new bodies without death and decay that came with satan’s influence.  All will be restored God’s perfect design and satan with those who chose to follow him and reject Christ will endure eternal separation from God and face God’s judgment. 
“None can find out a single person whom God has forsaken after having revealed Himself savingly to him.” Charles H. Spurgeon

10/10/17                              Why Are We All So Lonely?                                    10  
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26   “²² For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?²³ For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.²⁴ There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.²⁵ For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?²⁶ For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”

COMMENTS: Historically men gain their sense of worth by level of success in work they do.  That definition is judged by wealth and power earned or gained possession of.  Historically women gained their sense of worth from their children and husband.  However, with more women pursuing professional careers, their sense of worth based on their jobs has become more dominant.   Yet even the most successful people commonly discover their careers are empty without a close family to share their success with.  But loneliness is common even in the best of families.

God is who gives us real sense of worth and a cure for loneliness.  Truth is He created a place in our souls that only He can satisfy.  His indwelling Holy Spirit satisfies that longing in our souls.  But God offers us a lot more than a cure for loneliness.  He offers us forgiveness and a purpose and a life of Joy and Peace and a life that will make an eternal difference in the lives of others, but also the promise of an eternal home in heaven with Him.  And then there is eternal life in a body that will never grow old or weak or diseased or sick. 

Loneliness comes when we are deficient in being loved and expressing love.  God defines and demonstrates perfect love and His Holy Spirit’s greatest work is transforming you and me into loving creatures.   True love is expressing compassion towards another without regard for or seeking a reward or even a thank you in payment.  Love seeks helping others and seeking self-satisfaction.  God fulfills us through unselfish sacrificially giving ourselves to others.   The fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE (LONGSUFFERING), KINDNESS (GENTLENESS), GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS (MEEKNESS), AND SELF-CONTROL (TEMPERANCE).  God demonstrates all this fruit and characteristics to us and transforms us to demonstrate all of them as we yield to His Holy Spirit to do His perfect work in us.  The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is designed to be Who We Are, not what we just do. When we get to heaven, our transformation will be complete but in the meantime there is plenty of work the Holy Spirit wants to and will do if we let Him.  As we do, Christ-like love becomes more evident in how we act and what we do.  What a wonderful hope and journey God offers every Christian.  We are called to love and forgive our neighbor, but the greatest focus of our love needs directed to our Lord and Savior, our God and Creator.  AMEN?  AMEN!!

“God doesn’t only come and sit with us; He also enables us to enjoy the pleasures of His presence.”
Paul Matthies

10/11/17                              Stay Connected                                                      11   
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.   Ephesians 2:10

SCRIPTURE:  PSALM 1  “ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.² But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.³ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.⁴ The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.⁶ For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

COMMENTS: Scripture tells us we are not saved by good works but saved to do good works (Eph. 2:8-10).  Christ bought our salvation on Calvary’s cross so we could receive forgiveness and salvation.  Christ’s sacrifice was the only option for our redemption acceptable to the Father because no other sacrifice or work could be sufficient payment.  Scripture is clear salvation is a gift to be received, not a reward for work. So what value is good works then.  Why not sit back and enjoy our forgiveness and let the world pass by and accept or reject Christ on their own without our help or input?  Why not just look out for ourselves and mind our own business? Well, all too many churches and Christians feel and act that way because of fear of rejection or ridicule or because of criticism or rejection experienced in the past.  We need not look any further than Jesus’s command to his disciples and to us given just before His assention, “The Great Commission” given in Matthew 28:16-20.  We do good works, including sharing Christ’s redemptive message, because others desperately need to know Him too, but also because He commanded us to.  Christ not only sacrificed greatly to buy our salvation by accepting the punishment for our sins, but His Holy Spirit came to abide in us continually to enable us to resist temptation and live as He calls us to live and to be like Him in character and conduct and thought.  To have power over temptation and sin.  To do good works is a fulfilling and purposeful response but also a loving response of gratitude we do because we want to please the One who loves us and sacrificed so much for us.  We do not limit what we do for those we love to only the minimum required but freely do all we can to meet their needs and bring joy and happiness to them out of a motive of love.  We find joy in doing so.  Doing good works is also a love response to our God for all He has and continues to do.  To refuse or resist doing so reveals a flaw in our souls and lack of love for, and a lack of a relationship with our God.  But doing good works with a motive and belief they will earn our salvation also reveals a lack of love and, yes, a lack of relationship with God too.  What a waste to work hard for something God offers as a free gift to us when that same hard work can be a joy to do if we do so with that gift of salvation received and His loving hand then guiding and helping us do that work.  Truth is greater work and accomplishments are achieved out of a motive of love than out of a motive of personal gain.

Sad thing is one day those who thought they could earn their way to heaven will miss out when they only needed to accept Christ’s redemption first.  Matthew 25 reveals parables Christ gave to show us this to be true.    
“The greatest barrier to knowing God’s will is simply that we want to run our own lives. Our problem is that a battle is going on in our hearts—a battle between our wills and God’s will.”   Billy Graham

10/12/17                              Love Like God Loves                                                  12         He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8

SCRIPTURE:  JOHN 13:34-35 “³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

COMMENTS:  What does it mean to love as God loves?  How would our lives look if we indeed focused on doing just that?  Is it possible to love as God loves?                                                                                                    

We are given much instruction and council to help in on the journey to love as God loves.   The above scripture gives us God’s commandment to love as He loves, so it really a lot more than an option for us, but it is also a logical progression in a growing relationship with Christ that a Christian experience if he spends more time in prayer and study and meditation on His Word and as he allows the Holy Spirit work in his soul.                                      

Becoming like Christ also means developing and demonstrating the fruits of the spirit defined in 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.” 

Jesus told us in John 14:6-13 “⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.⁷ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?¹⁰ Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”                         

Well, truth is as we draw closer to Christ, we will love Him more and will desire to be more like Him.  His Holy Spirit will help and empowers as well as inspires us to do just that.  The more like Him we become, the more we discover there is about Him we do not know nor are like.   That is the journey of discovery and journey of striving to be like Him we are called to walk on.  A journey that equips us to witness to and be a blessing to those we encounter during our day and a journey that equips us to battle temptations and deceptions satan puts in our path to trip us and pull us away from Him.  We are able to resist satan as long as we keep our eyes on Him and our hand in His.  When we look away or grab hold on distractions, it is then we are vulnerable to sin. Sustaining a consistent walk with Christ takes discipline and work and will.   Ephesians 5:18 also tells us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  So, this in much more than a suggestion, it is a command.   We miss so much when we resist or refuse His Spirit but we also set ourselves up for sin and consequences of those sins and regrets that follow as well.  All this is needless if we simply listen and obey.  That is the only sure path to true fulfilling Joy and sense of purpose and blessing.  For it is following the purpose our Creator has made us for.  Only then will we begin make progress toward being like Christ and loving as He loves. “Love is the outgoing of the entire nature in self-sacrificing service.” W. H. Griffith Thomas

10/13/17                              From Infancy to Adulthood                                     13       
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7

SCRIPTURE:  HEBREWS 12:1  “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

COMMENTS:  Seeking and receiving Christ’s forgiveness is the only way of gaining a secure place in heaven and meeting Father’s requirement for that place.  Christ tells us He is preparing a place there for us and will provide safe passage for us to heaven. (John 14:1-7).   But accepting Christ’s redemption is not the end but beginning of a journey of growth and change to become more like Him.  A journey Christians have taken since cavalry.   As we explore the lives of Christians in the first century in scripture as well as famous Christians and possibly family who we know, we learn some common failures and successes.  We learn that humans are no match satan’s schemes and temptations.  Many Christians have slipped or chose sin unaware of consequences that would follow. Neglect of their relationship with Christ rendered them deaf to the nudging of the Holy Spirit within them warning of the danger and warning them of the consequences.  But those who daily spent time in prayer and devotion and bible study kept themselves alert and receptive of the Holy Spirit’s nudging and warnings.   Granted no one living as a human on this earth, except for Christ Himself, ever lived  a sinless life.  However, Christians in each generation have learned and grown in their faith, but the transforming influence of the Holy Spirit over time is dramatic on those who are and remain faithful.  Consider how the disciples and Paul changed after Pentecost or when they received the Holy Spirit.  They all went from hiding and denying Christ when at risk, to boldly proclaiming Christ even at risk of losing their lives.  That transformation is the work of the abiding Holy Spirit who has the unique task of teaching and encouraging and comforting and guiding us in quest of becoming more Christlike.  Christ and the Holy Spirit and the Father are identical in character and mission and in response, but have different tasks.  Christ made the sacrifice that the Father required for our redemption. Salvation or Justification is the result of Christ’s work.  Sanctification or ongoing growth and sustaining relationship with God is work of the Holy Spirit.   But the standard of perfection was set by the Father knowing that standard would not be achieved by any human without His help.  By providing Himself as Christ and as the Holy Spirit, He provided the way and ability to achieve an impossible goal of being acceptable to the Father. Christ tells us to know Him is to know the Father (John 14:7). So, we can judge each day if we are becoming more like Christ or not.  Take note of Oswald Chambers comment below.  A sensitive conscience warning us when are too close to temptation or that feeling of guilt when do something wrong, even “minor sins” is an indicator we are in close relationship with Christ and we are open to listening to the Holy Spirit.  The good news is Christ’s redemption is not only available to redeem us once but every time we fail during our journey as a Christian.  How many times will the Father forgive us because of Christ’s sacrifice?   EVERY TIME WE ASK.  Admitting our sin and repenting is necessary for us to turn back to keep pride from blinding us from sustaining an attitude of surrender and gratitude and submission to the Holy Spirit’s guiding hand.   Measure your growth in grace by your sensitiveness to sin.  Oswald Chambers

10/14/17                              The True Love Story                                          14                          
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. Proverbs 10:12

SCRIPTURE:  I PETER  4:1-19  “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;² That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.³ For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:⁴ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:⁵ Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.⁶ For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.⁷ But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.⁸ And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.⁹ Use hospitality one to another without grudging.¹⁰ As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.¹¹ If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.¹⁴ If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.¹⁶ Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.¹⁷ For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?¹⁸ And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?¹⁹ Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

COMMENTS:  The day we accepted Christ’s redemptive grace and forgiveness was the day we admitted our sins and inability to redeem ourselves and inability to defeat sin ourselves.  If our redemption ended there, we would be doomed to fall back into sin without hope of ever gaining victory over satan’s temptations and resulting sins. Unfortunately, such is the life of too many believers.  They seek and receive Christ’s forgiveness only to fall back into sin the next day or even on the same day much like a drug addict or alcoholic.  The temptation and habit of sin is so strong even with the best of intentions or resolution.  New Year’s resolutions are made sincerely and every year but are doomed to failure before February 1^st sun rises.   Why are we as humans so weak?  Is Christ’s redemption insufficient?  Well, the truth is that fault lies with us as humans and not with God.  God has provided all we need to gain victory over sin but leaves one last choice to us.  Will we be in relationship with Him or only receive His gifts?  Will we let Him into our souls and submit to His desire to clean and organize our dirty disorganized corrupt souls?  Until we let His Holy Spirit come into our souls and submit to the work He desires to do there.  Until we submit our wills to His Will.  Until we seek and maintain a personal relationship with Him daily by prayer and bible study and fellowship with other believers.  Until we recognized and seek and follow the Holy Spirit’s council and encouragement.  Until we walk the daily journey with our hand in His, we have no hope of victory over sin.  BUT IF WE DO, SIN NOT ONLY IS DEFEATABLE BUT WILL BE DEFEATED.  That is why God gave us His Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  The transformation that happened with the disciples and countless Christians beginning at Pentecost, demonstrates what God does to and with those who enter into relationship with Christ and His Holy Spirit.  Notice Albert Martin’s powerful statement below.  Are you and I sorry enough to quick doing the same sin over and over again.  Until we want to quite bad enough to pray when temptation comes and start using our wills to say not to satan and yes to God, we are only giving lip service to God.  Which will we be, God’s servant or satan’s pawn?
“Repentance is being sorry enough to quit your sin.”  Albert Martin

10/15/17                              Filled to Overflowing                                                15       
^“3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.⁴ But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7     

 COMMENTS: Credit Cards are a dangerous and harmful tool in the hands of many people.  They fall prey to temptation to treat them as real money to spend and forget the obligation to pay back the consuming high interest debt such spending creates.  Wisdom in choosing and limiting spending is essential for financial health and ability to acquire more important and more needed things later. Setting priorities and saying no to tempting purchases is necessary to avoid greater debt than our income can pay off.  For many the temptation is too great and destroying that credit card is the only sure way of stopping overspending and gaining control of our finances.

However, when it comes to spirituals finances, the love that defines God’s character and the transformation His Holy Spirit does in the soul of the believer, a different rule applies.   God’s promise tells us to love and give freely because He will return back to us or refill us with extra when we do so. Give and it will be given back to you (Luke 6:38).  Pouring out ourselves sacrificially for others is the example Christ gave us and the example He asks us to follow. But motive is important.  Christ’s motive was love for the Father and love for others.  Love for the unlovable.  Love for the lost. Even love for those who hated Him.   Returning good for good was a start but until we return love for hate, we are not exercising and following God’s commandment and Christ’s example.   Well, you and I may do so now and again, but consistently loving as Christ loved will take a lot more discipline and work by the Holy Spirit in our souls before that becomes our common practice.  But until we do, our cup will not be full.  The cup of our souls will not be filled with Christ’s love.  The full joy of our salvation will still be beyond us.  What we give up by withholding our love is far more than what we keep.  But what we keep can only be held for a short while anyway.  The love we give away will be returned to us fresh and permanently because it is given back to us by God Himself.  James Elliott said “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”    Jim Elliott did just that, giving his own life while sharing Christ’s redemptive love with the Auca natives in South America.  He not only gained eternal life and home in heaven, but redemption of that tribe of Indians and countless others who have been impacted by his story.

Another thought provoking quote of Jim Elliott’s is “When it comes time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die.”   This quote is a reminder that God takes care of everything else, the trip and destination and provision for eternity on.
“He that is in love with the world will be out of love with the cross.” Thomas Watson

 

10/16/17                              Make a Joyful Noise                                                      16        
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.   Psalm 100:1-2

COMMENTS:  A joyful successful life is not a lucky break or just available for a privileged few.  A joyful successful life with assurance of a even more joyful blessed eternal life is available to everyone but requires making wise choices.  First choice is to accept Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.  Second choice is to accept His Holy Spirit in our souls as our counselor and comforter and helpmate.  But daily wise choices sustain and strengthens that joy and success.   Scripture (Galatians 5:22-23) gives us the fruit of that journey if we choose to accept it.  For that journey is offered and taken with our creator and redeemer. The only God.  As we read about the lives of those before us recorded in scripture, we discover God is faithful to His promises and outcome for those who trust in Him still has dangers and trying times but outcome is confidence God is there helping and strengthening us hand in hand but also there to take us to our eternal home with a eternal body at life’s end.   Satan’s promises are empty and will not last and his promises are empty.  He can only promise death but will hide that even though history proves that to be all he gives.  However, God promises eternal life and sustainable joy and peace and eternal purpose.  He gives life that will last eternally with him but also our loved ones who also choose Him.  So, luck has nothing to do with a joyful successful life.   It is a matter of making wise choices.  The wisest choice is to choose Christ and follow His Holy Spirit as guide for our lives.  When we choose Him, we will see His character in our lives.  We will see “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23).  As we pray and study God’s Word and fellowship with other believers and follow His Guiding Spirit, we will begin seeing a transformation away from selfishness and pride and evil immoral thoughts and lying and anger and harsh words and hurtful actions and towards goodness and compassion even for those not very loveable, as Christ demonstrated.  When we begin living more like Christ, we may even see a softening in those hurtful to us but at least we will know we are following a much better Boss.  AMEN?  AMEN!                              

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.”    C. S. Lewis

A young couple in Nepal we have become close to through my blog and this devotional journal, are ministering to needy families in their country collecting and providing clothes and school supplies but also gospel and Christian love and witness.  Evangelina, is the young daughter of this young couple who is learning to play the electronic keyboard.  Lomas, her father, asked me to record playing “How Great Thou Art” to help Evangelina learn to play this hymn.  Below is that recording I shared with them.   They also requested I record playing some Christmas hymns too, which I am in the process of doing for them.  We think our talents are modest and not worthy of sharing but God has a wonderful way of using the most modest and uncelebrated talents to touch lives far beyond our scope of influence if we only submit to walking the path His Holy Spirit guides us on.  I am discovering this anew over the past 1-1/2 years and still have no idea what new discoveries and opportunities God is planning and directing me to as I continue down that path.  My journey is likely different than yours but no less or more important nor significant in God’s plan and economy.  He already has that plan in place and is guiding us on a path to fulfill that plan if we only walk it.  The wonderful opportunity we have is the Holy Spirit is within us and promises to go with us guiding and encouraging and strengthening us each step of the way.  That is how the early Christians, and Christians since, have been able to sustain such a courageous and faithful walk through terrible trials and persecutions and even torture and death.  They were not strong enough on their own but once the Holy Spirit came on them, they definitely were and did so but with the confident Joy and Peace of knowing God was with them and wouldn’t leave as they moved through trying times that would end towards an eternal future that was more wonderful than they could imagine.

Below is link to the video I made for Evangelina of me playing and singing “How Great Thou Art” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZBnZZ5eOx0

10/17/17                                                         Time-Out                                          17            
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

SCRIPTURE:  JOHN 14:15-18  “¹⁵ If ye love me, keep my commandments.¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

COMMENTS: A time of rest and recharging is essential for every one of us.  Even Christ, while on earth, required regular times of rest and recharging.   He would go off alone to fellowship with His Father.  In His human body even Christ needed rest and recharging, so how much more do we need rest?  A lot more!!  Well, we also have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us in order to recharge and strengthen us as we go about our daily walk.  I think we, as Christians, have forgotten and are missing out of ongoing blessing from fellowship with God because we miss having fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  There is a reason why God gave the early Christians the Holy Spirit after Christ’s ascension.  Christ said to know Him is to know the Father (John 14:6-7).  Truth is, to know Christ is to know the Holy Spirit as well as knowing the Father.  They are one in purpose and thought and response and in action.  Yet the Holy Spirit is focused on guiding us to become more Christ like and to bring praise and  worship not to Himself but to Christ.   This is not slighting the Holy Spirit because He is also part of the Triune God we worship, but His current focus is on preparing us for faithful service and ultimately for heaven.   God’s focus is one and that is saving as many people as willing and helping them sustain their relationship and faithfulness and obedience as they are capable of until satan’s influence is finally removed.  I believe God delays His return because there are still people who are willing to accept Him once they are given opportunity or once they are ready to accept Him but are not ready yet.  Remember, He waited for you and me!  There are more He is waiting for!  It should be no surprise to us to realize He is calling us too to share His saving message with family and friends and co-workers and neighbors and whoever we cross paths with.  But truth is if we take that task on without waiting for and following the Holy Spirit’s lead, we will fail miserably and turn more people off to His message than lead to Him because we really don’t know what others think nor what satan’s influence has been on them.  We barely know and understand what satan’s influence has been and is on ourselves ..  BUT CHRIST DOES AND WORKS TO COUNTER THAT INFLUENCE.

“You may have no joy in your situation, but you can rejoice in your Savior. You may be encased in shadows, but you can still walk in the light as He is in the light. To rejoice in the Lord means that we rejoice in our unassailable, unchanging relationship with the Sovereign Lord and in His qualities, gifts, promises, and attributes.” Charles Spurgeon

 

10/18/17                              The Peace Maker                                                       18       
John 14:25-31  “²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.²⁸ Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.²⁹ And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.³⁰ Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.³¹ But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”

COMMENTS: The journey if becoming more Christ-like each day is a journey of becoming more aware of the Holy Spirit abiding in us.  I believe we not only need to be aware of His presence but talk to and listen to Him throughout our day.  God is One so when we focus on and talk to one of the God Head, we are talking to and fellowshipping with all.  God’s Holy Spirit has the focus of guiding-counseling us and comforting us but also strengthening us.  His purpose is also to point us to Christ and guiding us in worshipping Him as well as the Father.   So, the Holy Spirit is not jealous when we ignore Him and focus on praying to Christ or directly to the Father, because all 3 are joined together in thought and will and in being.  I dare not speak further because I would be speculating in order to explain God in a way no man can comprehend.  That is how God can be one but still 3, God the Father – God the Son – God the Holy Spirit. I, as you, must take this on faith without fully understanding.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the benefits of God being Trinity.  The Holy Spirit is a real part of God doing real work and providing real personal fellowship with God.  We are not settling for a substitute or second best by fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit instead of Christ.  The first century church Christians were able to grow and accomplish more after Christ left and the Holy Spirit came.  God’s timing and necessary growth in the disciples and early Christians required both time and continuing to make wise choices as God encouraged and guiding.   That same Holy Spirit that guided and transformed the weak disciples into brave bold preachers is the same Holy Spirit who abides in and guides you and me.  If we are not bold in our witness, it is because we have not recognized and fellowshipped with the Holy Spirit in a way we can.  Have you ever experienced being ignored or avoided?  Not very pleasant and is hurtful.  It is hurtful both for the one ignoring and for the one being ignored.  Ignoring the Holy Spirit can be understandable because we can’t physically hear or see Him.  If we could, it would be impossible to ignore Him.  But God chose to limit our ability to experience fellowship with the Holy Spirit to how earnestly and sincerely we seek that fellowship.   This is a lifelong quest and goal.  If we look at the lives of the disciples and early Christians revealed in the New Testament, we discover that quest along with the results in their lives.  Their struggles, including failures and successes are revealed.  By studying scripture, we discover they were like us but also reveal to us what is also possible for us if we fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  After all, the Holy Spirit is God abiding in us.  Yet we must also realize the Holy Spirit points us back to Christ to honor and worship Him.                                                                                                 

The Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity and as such is a person. The Spirit has attributes that only a person could have. He has intelligence (1 Cor 2:10-13), feelings (Eph 4:30), and a will (1 Cor 12:11; Acts 16:6-12). He prays (Rom 8:26). He does miracles (Acts 8:39). He can be lied to (Acts 5:3). He can be insulted (Heb 10:29). He teaches and directs (John 14:26; Acts 8:29; Rom 8:14). Let’s look at two of these examples. In 1 Cor 12:11 Paul describes the Holy’s Spirit’s role in distributing spiritual gifts: “It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things” (1 Cor 12:11).

• Trinity is not three Gods, or three modes of one God, or three essences.
• God is also not three separate physical beings.
• The Trinity is not the Father, Mary and Jesus.

So, as God, the Holy Spirit is worthy of our worship and our devotion and fellowship.  By fellowshipping and getting closer to the Holy Spirit, we are also fellowshipping with and getting closer to Christ and the Father.  That is what the early Christians discovered and did.  That is what Christians in every generations have discovered and what we need to discover too.  Christ came so we can have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). “Christ is the Peace-maker, and we are, by our faith, the peace-takers.”   F. E. Marsh

10/19/17                              The Subway Graduate                                                 19     
Romans 5:1-11  “ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.⁶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

COMMENTS:  The above scripture from Romans 5 reminds us what a precious gift God gives us at little cost to us but at great cost to Him.  His gift of salvation and abiding presence of His Holy Spirit provides peace and hope beyond what is otherwise possible especially in the midst of persecution and hardship and tragedy and loss.  We are not promised a peaceful life free of conflict or tragedy but we are promised peace in our own souls and minds in the midst of those times.  He also promised to go through them with us providing guidance and strength and hope and assurance of victory, a very good outcome.  That outcome will most certainly be an eternity in heaven with Him but mostly often will come sooner too with a positive outcome while living here on earth.  But satan will hide that outcome from us and tempt us to accept worthless desperation and distractions towards a destructive non-productive approach so draw us away from the Holy Spirit’s council and help and encouragement.  When God promised to abide with us, He fulfilled this promise by abiding with His Holy Spirit in the souls of every believer.  Once we recognize and begin fellowshipping with His Spirit, we discover a closeness to Christ and awareness of His presence that transforms our thinking and sense of purpose.  That is exactly what the first century Christians discovered, which enabled them to face great persecution boldly and for Paul to do and write what is recorded in his letters preserved in our New Testament. 
“Lead on, O King eternal, the day of march has come; / Henceforth in fields of conquest, Thy tents shall be our home.”   Ernest Shurtleff   

10/20/17                                                Net Neutrality                                                20       
Mark 9:38-41   “ ³⁸ And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.³⁹ But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.⁴⁰ For he that is not against us is on our part.⁴¹ For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”

COMMENTS:  Have you ever heard the old saying “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”?  We are living in a society in which moral and Biblical teachings are opposite and in direct conflict with society teaching and practice.  Public schools and higher education schools are becoming less “tolerance” of Christians values and teachings which were commonly accepted and believed by our parent’s generation and universally embraced by our grandparent’s generation.  Reject of such is labels as tolerance by officials in those schools and those who even acknowledge biblical teaching and its moral code are judged intolerance and even supporting “hate speech”.  The moral compass which has guided the USA, from time its founding fathers were pilgrims colonizing and showing those Christian values to their Indian neighbors, is no longer the guide to judge acceptable behavior and resulting restraint.  Showing tolerance involved letting opposing views to be shared but not allowing such to prevent accepted views and teaching to be shared as well.

Well, scripture reveals to us the covering of protection God placed over Israel as long as they were obedience and faithful to God’s commands and to Him.  But that protection was removed each time they were rebellious and disobedient.  Consequence was not noticeable at first but increased in intensity and consequences become more and more severe until disaster would strike.  Yet God continued to send prophets to urge and warn with increasing boldness in an attempt to sway them back.  Yet each time an invasion by a brutal invader and resulting slavery and death and destruction was the only consequence that would get their attention and persuade them to come back to God with sorry and repentant hearts.  But when they did, God would forgive and take them back and restore their land to them.  Yet they would soon forget again and follow the age-old cycle back into sin and slavery again.  I wonder if God would say “not again”, when will they learn.  But He would already know the answer.  Only when He returns and binds satan.  That day is approaching.   Christ sacrifice redeemed man from the “punishment of sin”.   The indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost empowered and enabled man from the “power of sin” but only by removing the tempter, satan, will man be freed from the “presence of sin”. 

I am so looking forward to that day.  As long as we have the choice and as long as satan is free to give us the option of following him, we will fail to consistently follow Christ without exception.  We all fail Christ all too often.  Maybe not all the time nor in the most destructive and obvious ways, but nonetheless fail we do.  We only need to look at Christ’s example to realize just how short of His example we still are living.

But God still has our back and Christ’s sacrifice is still at work redeeming us.  But His Holy Spirit is still at work strengthening and guiding and encouraging and warning us so we continue to improve in our walk and example.   Sanctification is a process, not a onetime event.   The indwelling of His Holy Spirit begins at our salvation and takes root when we acknowledge that indwelling and begin following His lead, the beginning of our sanctification process.  But that process continues until our death when satan’s influence is finally removed at our “glorification” in heaven.  Life involves daily choices to draw closer or pull away from God.  His leading is generally a soft voice and nudge but once in a while a dramatic event or confronting conviction.  How about you?   Either way discerning God’s voice involves looking at scripture, seeking council of other trusted Christians, but also seeking God’s Holy Spirit council are all tools and helpmates so we don’t become deceived by satan.

Well, we shouldn’t be surprised nor think our battles are abnormal.  We are in a spiritual war.  Satan has declared all-out war against God and against His creation.  We are in battle like it or not.  God is fighting for our souls, the souls of our family and neighbors and even our enemies.   Satan is fighting for them too.  God is limited by our choices but satan is limited by God.  One-day God will say enough and satan will not be able to tempt us anymore.   Then we will truly see how good and wonderful life is without him and how good life could have been and finally is when God is followed.  AMEN?  AMEN!!                          

 “It is the unseen and the spiritual in people that determines the outward and actual.”   Oswald Chambers

10/21/17                                              Destroyed by Hate                                           21    
1 John 4:16-21  “ ¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.¹⁷ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us.²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?²¹ And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

COMMENTS:  Louis Zamperini was a WWII veteran who enduring tremendous hardship and suffering first on a raft surviving a plane crash in the Pacific Ocean and then brutality by his captors, Japanese.  His endurance and will to live empowered him to survive what most would have been able to, especially since he at that time was not a Christian.  But in 1948 he did receive Christ’s redemption in a Billy Graham Crusade in Los Angeles and then began a journey to forgive his captors.  That journey was necessary for his own healing.  The above scripture reminds us we must forgive those who do us harm or even try to.                                                                        

 Louis’s life is an amazing one.  If you have a chance to read about him or see the movie made about his experiences, I encourage you to do so.  It is an amazing story and one that will encourage and inspire you.                                                                                                

Hate and grudges carry those emotions that consume and destroy us.  The paradox is hatred, intended to bring judgment on offenders only brings misery and judgment ultimately on ourselves.   The offender often is not aware of the hatred towards him or, even if he is, doesn’t suffer at all as a result.   He is free to move on while the offended is chained and suffers held by his own bitterness.  Yet by forgiving, the offended becomes free to receive Christ’s healing and then sees clearly his offender.   He may not want his offender to be redeemed, but God see him differently as he sees you.  Redeeming him, like you, requires being sorry for past offenses and turning away from continuing that path of sin and offending others.   If nothing else, by forgiving others, we open opportunities for God to change him so he will not hurt others in addition to you.  That alone is sufficient reason to forgive him and seek ways for God to bring redemption to him. After all, are we any more worthy of receiving Christ’s redemption than he.  CERTAINLY NOT!  NO ONE DESERVES IT, BUT IS OPEN TO RECEIVE IT IF WILL..                                               

 “When I’ve counseled troubled kids, I found that they have lots of serious hate: for their situations, sometimes their families, society, the rules, and often themselves…. Hate destroys…. It destroys you.” Louis Zamperini

10/22/17                              Compassion for Your Neighbor                         22     
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.           Luke 10:33

SCRIPTURE:  ZECHARIAH 7:9  “⁹ Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:”

COMMENTS:  Consider that Christ is our Good Samaritan and you and I are the traveler left dying along the side of the world.  What if we had been passed by left to die and Christ had not come and stopped to help us?   What if he had returned before we decided to repent and receive His redemption?  A sobering thought but is needed to remind us both how blessed we are to have His redemption and Holy Spirit working in us, but also how important it is to share that forgiveness and His gift with others, especially those we don’t like or who have mistreated us or maybe still do.  Discernment is important so we act in God’s way and timing.   To go ahead of God can be just as destructive as refusing to follow His lead.  But I have to admit, I am more apt to delay following than to go ahead of Him.  Well, maybe exception is when it comes to my family but even then, I tend to be a reluctant follower fearful of rejection.  I am also fearful that rejection may worsen judgment against them.  Well, I know, we needn’t worry about that because God wants to redeem them even more than we want them to be redeemed so He will continue to work hard trying to convince them to repent.  He is coming back soon, so time is growing short so we need to pray more and commit to acting more aggressively but still as His Holy Spirit guides and instructs us.  He will if we are open and listening.   Well, if we still can’t hear Him, then ask Him to remove the plugs from our ears and turn down the noise the world is making so we can hear.  

Evidence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us (Gal 5:22-23) is our lives bearing the fruit of His presence, which is AMEN?  AMEN!!
“My neighbor is anyone whose need I see, whose need God puts me in a position to meet.”
Haddon Robinson

 

10/23/17                              Freely Given, Freely Give                                           23           
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.   Matthew 10:8

SCRIPTURE:  JAMES 1:17  “¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”   I Timothy6: 5-12 “⁵ Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.⁹ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.¹¹ But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

COMMENTS:  Sometimes we just need to back up and look at the “big picture” and make course correction to get back on the marked path.   When we accept Christ, we join Christ’s team, Christ’s Army, and have access to Christ’s resources.  Some would teach that means we have access to prosperity and health and long life and success in all our endeavors if we have sufficient faith.  We don’t fail due to lack of faith, but because of going our own way.  However, “Name it – Claim it” theology takes us down a road we create in an attempt to understand and follow God’s Will without seeking and asking and waiting until God reveals His Will, His Timing, and His Way.   Truth is God’s Ways are so far above ours that we dare not assume we know and proceed on our own.  The Holy Spirit is given to believers so they don’t need to guess or use trial and error to know God’s Will, but must seek and wait to hear His response.  Likewise, we need not continue down wrong paths ignorant.  WE NEED TO BE IN CONTINUAL FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE IN AND STAY IN GOD’S WILL AND GOD’S TIMING.    That is a goal and a struggle for us humans because we are so impatient and so easily distracted.  Me too… 

Good news is God knows that and is simply waiting until we realize that and ask for His help.  Life is daily making choices, some good and some foolishly poor.  The temptation to seek security and comfort are powerful distractions.  The desire to walk a comfortable path, instead of the path of faith trusting our God, who loves us above all others, is felt by every human still breathing.  But our God desires for us a better path, the path of walking in faith with our hand in His and our eyes on Him.  How do we do that?  How do we turn our eyes away from our wants and even needs, letting go of what we have or don’t have and start putting our trust in Him? 

That doesn’t mean taking reckless risks calling it “acting on faith”.  But it does mean stopping and taking as much time that we need to clear our mind and focus on finding out God’s Will.  Then and only then walk in faith of the path and choice God directs.  Stop and reflect past mistakes you now wish you had avoided by stopping and praying nad seeking God’s council first. 

A wise man once told me “we don’t go down a wrong path so far that it is still better to turn around and go back and start over”.  So, let’s stop assuming we know God’s Will or even knowing we knew God’s Will some time ago when we asked but haven’t checked in for a while to see if God has updates to give us.  God might just be wanting you to turn at a crossroads and take a different path.  The journey must continue with Him if we are ever going to reach the destination we long for, the destination He designed us to reach. 

God has not called you and me to acquire and consume things, thereby consuming His provision to satisfy our own wants and desires.   He provided more than we need when we only consume what we need, but when we consume what our selfish desires want, we find ourselves in debt and want.  But when we follow God’s plan, He provides what we need and empowers us to give generously toward other’s needs and to ministry.  Tithing is a starting point but only a lofty goal when we follow our own wants.  What blessing is waiting for us when we follow God’s Will?  There is only one way to find out! 
“God is never less than generous, even when we are less than grateful.”   John Blanchard

AMEN?   AMEN!!

10/24/17                                                         Better to Give                                          24         
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”   Matthew 8:20

SCRIPTURE: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8  “⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

COMMENTS: Today I read a statistic that stated in 2016 Americans spent $33 billion on self-storage and new self-storage construction was completed at a cost of $240 million each month.  Accumulating stuff not needed requiring storage costing money that is then not available for other needs.  Walmart parking lots are crowded most of the day with customers still buying stuff, much of which is not needed and quickly forgotten.  So many people go to Walmart to get milk or other needed items and come out with something want and at a bargain price but not needed or at least not needed right now.  I find myself guilty of that, especially when comes to tools.  Yet most of those items are seldom if ever used and just take up space and consume money not available for more needed things or charity.  What makes matters worse is when they are large enough to needing renting or building space costing even more money. Stuff is a burden that demands our attention and money that drains from God’s work and attention.  Those who have the most freedom to serve Christ are those we would judge poorest and least to show materially for their efforts.  But God judges differently than we do and guides us to set priorities and go a path less appealing to us at times but filled with more joy and blessing that we realize. Having things is not necessarily sinful but excess hinders our witness and ability to do His work.  Let’s do some house cleaning and donate or throw out some of the things we likely will not need or use and see what freedom and blessing God will reward with. We will never find out if we don’t just start doing that.

“Our goodness, if we have any, springs out of His goodness.”     William Tyndale

10/25/17                                            Persevere                                          25               
James 1:2-8  “² My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;³ Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.⁵ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.⁶ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.⁷ For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.⁸ A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

COMMENTS: Romans 5:3-4 tells us that suffering is needed to produce perseverance which then produces character with then produces hope. God has promised to never leave or forsake us.  But when suffering comes, we become anxious and impatient desperate for help and relief.  But we are told not to give up hope and instead grab ahold of our faith and focus our attention and conversation in prayer with the Holy Spirit who is already residing and working inside us.  Christ came to free us from the punishment of sin but the Holy Spirit came to free us from the power of sin and from the many skillful ways satan draw us from God’s influence.   But by abiding within us, the Holy Spirit is only a prayer away.  If He seems far away, it is because we haven’t quieted enough to hear Him. 

There is no shortcut to become Christ-like in character and action and thought.  Discipline is needed but hardship and suffering are necessary to force us to exercise our faith muscles and to learn how to focus on Him and learn to trust and follow Him through the fire of trial and temptation.  The more we do so, the stronger we become just like work and exercise strengthen physical muscles enables them to do greater things.
Endurance is steady determination to keep going. It means continuing even when everything in you wants to slow down or give up.  John MacArthur

10/26/17                                                 Be Faithful                                     26                                        Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

SCRIPTURE:  I CORINTHIANS 10:30-33  “³⁰ For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?³¹ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:³³ Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

COMMENTS: Integrity is an old term and characteristic.  A characteristic past generations held important above all else.  A characteristic included in the fruits of the Holy Spirit and characteristic of God that He wants to impart and develop in every believer.  Integrity binds us to keep our promises even when circumstances and benefits of doing so change.  Integrity leaves a reputation that draws others to trust and depend on us and want to do the same.  But we live in a society where integrity is becoming extremely rare.  Integrity is like a bring light shining and revealing dangers along path of life, especially in a world as dark and lacking integrity as we lived in.  The darker the night, the brighter the light.  I’m told a candle can be seen 10 miles away on a dark clear night.  But in the daylight, it goes almost totally unnoticed. Therefore, it is more important than ever we live a life of integrity so Christ’s light of hope and redemption will shine bright in us and out of us.   “Integrity of heart is indispensable” John Calvin

10/27/17                              Meekness: Not Weakness                                       27        
(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
Numbers 12:3

SCRIPTURE:  MATTHEW 5:5 “⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”  COMMENTS: Arrogance and pride are common traits in leaders because they think demonstrating such is evidence of strength and being in control.  But truth is such is more often evidence of weakness and insecurity in an attempt to hide those weaknesses.  A common side effect of such is an unwillingness to solicit help and support of others.  Team thinking.  Likewise, leading others to work together and supporting each other becomes much more difficult.                                                                                                                             

Well, stop and think what characteristics the better leaders or bosses or managers have had.  A willingness to recognize their own weaknesses and recognize and respect the strengths and weaknesses of others and seek ways of partnering both with those who have strengths to offset leader’s weaknesses but also to support weaknesses of others.   Team leadership means working together to achieve a greater goal while building up individuals in team as well as team as a whole.  The end result is both leader and team grow stronger as a team and as individuals.  Humility ends up being an asset because it gives both each team member and leader an open mind and ears and eyes to see beyond selfish motives and self-interests.    But truth is working hard to accomplish goals on our own or trying to take credit for successes of others or only for our own accomplishments at sacrifice of others never brings good results that last.                                                                                                  

Christ is our perfect example of humility and meekness.  Meekness is not weakness but “power under control”.  Humility is also the opposite of pride.  Stop and think of examples of others and from your own life of ways pride makes us blind and deaf to God’s nudging and, therefore, more vulnerable to satan’s temptations – deceptions. Such a path ultimately leads to a disastrous end because of the destructive nature of choices made to relationships and to achieving goals set.  But even worse, such a path leads away from God’s goals and plan for us and towards God’s judgment on us.  Yet most even run down that path believing they are in a good place or will overcome obvious obstacles just fine on their own but not realizing the dangers up ahead satan has planted.                                                    

Foolishness is continuing down the same path believing same choices will give different results.  Foolishness is believing we know better than God and can live and sustain a successful – fulfilling – happy – long life without God’s influence and without obedience to His commands.   Even if it were possible, would trading 60-70-even 100 years of success be worth giving up eternity in heaven to achieve?  I know it isn’t worth that great a price.  Yet, God so wants to give us a fulfilling life of eternal purpose and success we were designed by Him to live.  So why does such a life seem so unappealing to most and maybe even us at times?  Well, because satan is so good at influencing us, and he isn’t interested in our happiness and fulfillment.  He is only interested in hurting God and hurting us is the only way he has to hurt God so uses that strategy all the time. 

So why does God let him?   That is a big question, but God only allows what our choices determine.  Free will is a gift and a curse God has granted us.  We get to choose wisely or foolishly.  He offers to us all He can to encourage us to choose wisely, but when we still refuse and choose foolishly, the consequences are not His fault, but satan’s and ours too for making them.  We are free to choose, but the consequences of those choices are out of our control and are limited by God mercies.  Aren’t you glad His forgiveness also brings the opportunity to go a different path to a better conclusion and benefits instead of consequences.  Yet the scars of past poor choices can and do linger.  That is when we need to seek His help and follow His council to heal those wounds and erase those scars.  Where scars remain may be His reminder to be and stay true to Him.

His Holy Spirit is God abiding in us to empower and guide us continuously so we can sustain a meaningful relationship with Himself and sustain the Christian walk He has planned and prepared for us. But even doing that requires daily choices to put and keep our hand in His and our eyes on Him.  When we do that, temptation and distraction and poor choices satan will keep trying to pull us away with will have less power and appeal.  Satan will become weaker to us and God will become stronger in our lives.  Likewise, we will find ourselves not only becoming more humble and meeker and a better leader and friend and parent and spouse and example for others, but also find it easier to achieve the goals we set and find more support to achieve them from others.  Relationships with others will also blossom and deep friendships that will become precious to us too.  

Galatians 5:17-26 “¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.²⁴ And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”    Do you want to be remembered for the works of the flesh underlined above in verse 19-21 or the fruit of the spirit underlined above in verse 22-23?  Sounds like a “no-brainer”.  Would you rather associate with and work with and work for someone who does the “works of the flesh” or someone who examples the “fruits of the spirit”?  Ok, let’s resolve and seek God’s Holy Spirit to help us follow through and become people of integrity and love and meekness and self-control.  To become people God will say, as He did about Daniel and David – “people after God’s own heart”.  There is not short cut to becoming Christ-like.  It is a lifelong endeavor and journey taken one step and one day at a time.  But the journey is just as important as the destination because the journey is taken with our Lord and Savior with us.  When we walk with the Holy Spirit, we are also walking with Christ and with the Father.  We don’t have One with us without the Other.  AMEN?  AMEN!
“The surest mark of true conversion is humility. “        J. C. Ryle

10/28/17                              An Easy Yoke                                                          28     
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

SCRIPTURE:  MATTHEW 23:1-5  “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,² Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:³ All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.⁴ For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.⁵ But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,”

COMMENTS: Have you held by from surrendering to God or know of others because they feared what God would ask of  them.  They might have to go to a foreign country as a missionary and face dangerous or unwelcoming people.  The news is full of those bent on killing Americans and especially Christians.  Others may fear speaking in public or witnessing to others / sharing their faith.  Some may be fearful they will fail in being the example they should be.                                                                                                                 

Well, Christ tells us He will lighten our burdens if we surrender to Him.  Yet, when we look at the first century Christians, we discover those who faced great persecution and hardship and even martyrdom for sharing their faith.  More Christians are facing severe persecution today than then.  That doesn’t sound like a light burden.  So how do we reconcile Christ’s promise with reality of how Christians are treated in the world today.  Those of us living in the USA have been sheltered from such persecution and have enjoyed safety and respect but that is beginning to change.   Christians are becoming less respected and popular by society and is conceivable hostility toward Christians could become a global problem within our lifetime.  What will our children face?  What will our grandchildren face?               The answers are found in scripture and in the lives of Christians themselves and impact they have on those who know them.   The joy and hope and peace in their lives in the midst of persecution draws others to want to know what gives them such joy and hope and peace and fulfillment.  Then desiring the same themselves. Christ enabled them, and us, to know our sins are forgiven with promise of an eternal home in heaven with new immortal bodies with family and friends and all the saints of old but most of all with our creator and savior.  To know suffering on heart is temporary and our reward is eternal makes a huge different.      But even more, God’s Holy Spirit abiding in us guiding and strengthening us gives us ability to be Christ-like and sustain such even in desperate situations.  Christ’s sacrifice freed us from the PENALTY OF SIN.   God’s indwelling Holy Spirit frees us from the POWER OF SIN.   When we get to heaven, God will bind satan and remove his influence over us.  We will then be freed from the PRESENCE OF SIN.  That realization and confidence generated such faith to face the worst satan could muster up then and still does for us now.  Those who follow satan will be deceived to think they are doing good to destroy Christians but they, and we, are called to love and stay true to Christ no matter what.  The legacy our commitment will be will build from the legacy those before us left, which inspired and strengthen us now.  GOD LIGHTENS OUR BURDENS BY STRENGTHENING US!!  HIS DESIRE IS TO GIVE US ETERAL LIFE AND ABUNDANT LIFE!  TO TRANSFORM US TO BE LIKE HIM!   There is no shortcut to being Christ-like, but the result will be so worth it.  We will know that 100 years from now even if we have doubts now.  Staying focused on the long term, which is God’s perspective, is key.  AMEN?  AMEN!  “Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee.”   Augustine   

10/29/17                              The Importance of Walls                                 29  
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.
Proverbs 25:28

SCRIPTURE:  NEHEMIAH 1:1-4  “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,² That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.³ And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.⁴ And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,”

COMMENTS: Israel did well when they isolated themselves from pagan religions and cultures and poorly when they mingled and socialized and intermarried with pagan people.  God commanded them not to but they did anyway.  Yet the folly of doing so was repeated over and over again in their history.  Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.  Walls are design to keep some in and others out.  Walls for the Israelites was designed to keep evil out and good in.   When Nehemiah lead some of the Israelites from captivity in Babylon back to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem and its walls, they were threatened with hostile pagans there while facing a monumental task of rebuilding their destroyed city.  The first task was to rebuild its walls.  They all circles the inside of the wall and kept their weapons next to them while rebuilding the portion of the wall in front of them. That is how they rebuilt their city’s wall while facing hostile forces.  After they achieved that, they began rebuilding the temple and rest of their city. 

But they were not able to do so until God’s timing concluded their time of judgment for their sins was over and He was ready to support their dream, and His, to rebuild to their promised land.  They needed to repent and turn from their sins first but also needed to relearn and allow God to prepare them in soul and body and in mind to follow Him.  A wall needed to be built inside them to shield them from satan before they could inhabit their promised land and rebuild walls around their temple and resident city.

Satan is skillful at destroying walls protecting us from temptation.  Satan also is skillful and convincing us walls imprison us instead of protect us.  But walls protect a city from harm just like self-control protect people, and you and me, from harm.  When the Israelites indulged in pagan influences and sin, they torn down the wall of protection God had built in their souls, allowing satan free reign to draw them down the destructive path that resulted in Babylonian captivity for 70 years and destruction of Jerusalem and countless death of their friends and loved ones.  Such a tragedy that was repeated many times before and many times since.  It is also still being repeated in every culture and country and city and community and, yes, even in every family.  Everyone of us knows from experience the destructive consequence of allowing satan’s influence to draw us into sin.  Everyone of us knows the blessing of following God’s path instead.  Yet the temptation to turn away from God’s plan and follow satan’s plan still is strong and appealing at times. When will we learn and when will we see satan for who he is?   Well, only when we put and keep our hand in God’s hand by listening and following His instruction in scripture and follow the examples in scripture and from our own families and communities of those who have followed Him.  The Holy Spirit is offering to abide in us and guide and help and protect and encourage us.  The Holy Spirit is offering to be that wall of protection for us if we invite and welcome Him into our souls.    The choice is our and is a daily choice to welcome or ignore Him even after we invite Him in.   But when we keep our welcome sign out we are empowered to walk God’s path with Him each day, rendering our soul stronger in resisting temptation and following God and weaker in resistance to God’s will.  That is because we will see satan more clearly as well as see God more clearly.  Truth casts out fear and lies, satan’s most effective weapons.

Self-control is one of the fruits the Holy Spirit instills in us as He abides with us.  Galatians 5:22-23 identifies them for us.  “ ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
“It is impossible to be a follower of Jesus without giving diligent attention in our lives to the grace of self-control.”   Jerry Bridges   

10/30/17                                   “One Habit to Make You Happier”                  30    
Colossians 3:10-17 “¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

COMMENTS: You and I were designed to reflect the character of God.  Christ perfectly reflected and showed that character to us.  A tool or machine works long and most effectively when used for the purpose it was designed and maintained the way the manufacture intended and specified.  God designed and built us with the intended purpose of worship and praising Him and reflecting His Character.  We are not able to do so on our own because of satan’s continual influence but God’s abiding Holy Spirit not only makes that possible but a reality when we submit ourselves and permit Him to do so.  He will not force Himself on us.  

We will never by happy and fulfilled until we fulfill our purpose.  God’s blessing on us and those He desires us are missing until we do.  What are we missing or giving up because we choose to go our own way and try to solve problems on our own without waiting for or seeking God’s input and direction and help.  But impatience and pride bind us to trusting God enough to wait on His timing and direction.   He is preparing us and likely many others for an eternal blessing we likely can’t see at the time but far greater than meeting a current need is worth.  Take some time to reflect on examples from your past and past of those before us.  The scripture is full of such examples.  He asks us to trust Him before He shows us the way out.  We would do well to follow those examples and see what God will do.  He is faithful to His Word.  About time we are too, but to words

“The Bible contains all the information needed for life’s challenges. Its words provide strategies for every situation we face. They are life-changing and life-giving. God’s promises are never-failing, and His truths are infallibly reliable.”
David Jeremiah

10/31/17                                                  Secret Hero                                          31  
Romans 8:26-39  “ ²⁶ 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.²⁷ 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.²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?³³ Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.³⁴ Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

COMMENTS:  We all like to be self-sufficient.  We don’t want to be dependent on anyone or anything because we know dependence makes us vulnerable.  Some save money and work hard to get out of debt thinking such makes us self-sufficient.  Doing this is certainly a good thing to do.  Debt is a source of great bandage and saving gives us resources to provide during times of loss and need.  We have a choice when have resources, but after those resources are spent, we no longer have them to provide when greater need or more urgent needs come. But truth is no matter how much money we have and resources we own, we are still vulnerable because we are dependent.   We are dependent on the electric company and gas company to provide heat and light during dark and cold seasons.  To get to work or doctor and other appointments we need gasoline for our cars.  When gas shortages come, we become more isolated due to lack of fuel.

The hurricanes in Texas and Florida and especially Puerto Rico, as examples, remind us how vulnerable we are to severe weather.  Weather impacts us every day in a good or bad way.  So, issue is not if we are vulnerable, but what we are putting our faith in to help and keep us safe or take us to safety when danger or disaster comes?   Scripture teaches and shows us what and Who is worthy of our faith and trust.  Christ paid for our redemption and bought our ticket for Heaven.  A ticket we must accept in order to gain passage.  The Holy Spirit came to abide in and with us to guide us on journey and provide help and protection and strength and encouragement and council and wisdom so we can be assured safe passage.  So, we are prepared for that passage but also prepared for the life journey we are on while on earth.  We are still vulnerable but the Holy Spirit is our guide so we are prepared when storms and dangers and even disasters come.  He guides us because He knows what is coming and knows what we need to do to prepare.  Besides, He has effectively guided countless generations of followers before us so He is ultimately experienced.  Why would we want to depend on ourselves when we can depend on One with infinitely more wisdom and power and understanding than us and loves us like none other. 

Besides, God not only will safely guide us to heaven, but will use us to help guide others there safely too. 
“The first thing that accounts for God’s using D. L. Moody so mightily was that he was a fully surrendered man. Every ounce of that two-hundred-and-eighty-pound body of his belonged to God; everything he was and everything he had, belonged wholly to God.”
R. A. Torrey

Today completes another month of devotions together.  Fall is here in full force and winter is nearing our doorstep.  Preparations for winter are the focus of most in northern climates, but all climates have seasonal changes that drive us to prepare for those changes.  If we don’t, we face problems and lack of needed resources.  Such is needless if we simply prepare.  Preparing for our eternal destination and following Christ is our ultimate preparation.

I hope this month’s devotional journal has been a blessing to you.  God willing, I pray we will continue this journey next month.  If you wish to contact me or follow my blog or Facebook page, I invite you to do so at link below:

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EMAIL:  dmcdaniel12@verizon.net