11/1/18                            God and His Angels are Watching Over Us                           1 

For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

RECOMMENDED READING: PSALM 91 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.² I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.³ Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.⁴ He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.⁵ Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;⁶ Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.⁷ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.⁸ Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.⁹ Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;¹⁰ There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.¹¹ For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.¹² They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.¹³ Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.¹⁴ Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.¹⁵ He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”

COMMENTS: Have you ever had the feeling someone was watching you, but when looking around couldn’t see anyone.  Maybe you were in a crowd or maybe no one was nearby or around, but that feeling still persisted.   Granted, most of the time no one was but once in awhile that feeling is confirmed by discovering someone was.  Well, there are countless verses that support the promise God gives that He is watching over us and has countless angels ready to come to our aid instantly. Angels typically work unnoticed and unseen.   Why?   Well, their mission and purpose are to do God’s will and exclusively give Him praise and honor, not themselves.  They refuse to accept our praise or even our thanks.  Instances of those in scripture times who encountered an angel confirm this.

Consider examples from you own life when you were lost or in trouble and someone came along at the right time.   Consider those times when you prayed for help and that help came in an unexpected but effective way.  God’s messengers are busy in His world.  They can be seen when God has a good reason for them to be seen but mostly unseen doing God’s bidding unseen and unnoticed.  It is up to us to notice the result and give Him praise and worship.  Well, if angels are agents of God and not beings to be praised or worship, why should we see them, right? 

When we think we are alone and unsupported, it is then we especially need to stop and take notice of what He has done, take notice of the majesty of His creation on display all around us.  As I write this in the quiet of the early morning, all I see outside is darkness.  I know the sun will soon come up revealing what is already all around me but unseen.  Consider God’s handiwork all around you and me, some seen but most unseen but equally majestic and beautiful.  Such reflection strengthens our faith and gives us courage and will to continue following and obeying but also continue loving and worshiping Him.

He gives us one day at a time. He gives us a new morning each day with fresh opportunities to correct errors of previous day but also a fresh start to do better.  He gives us an end of each day to rest and reflect and find an end of good and also unpleasant experiences and circumstances.  Darkness and rest serve a valuable purpose as does light and work. 

As I get older, the blessing of being able to do physical work and accomplish that work successfully is becoming more difficult.  I find myself asking for help to complete tasks I would never have needed a few years ago.  Such realization is humbling and unsettling but know that is the order and nature of life.  But such realization is serving a good work of further humbling me and deepening my relationship with family and friends and most of all with my Lord.

Such lessons need learned by young and old.  The longer we resist or refuse to be taught these lessons, the harder they are on us to accept and learn from.  Under the mighty hand of God, even the strongest are weak.   But satan also sees us as physically weak and vulnerable.  But satan is no match for God’s power and might and we aren’t either.  But difference is God has put his angels to watch over us and His Holy Spirit to abide in and guide us all the time.  We need to remember this especially when we seem to be so alone with no hope or safety line.  God wants us to win.  The story of the prodigal Jesus told reveals this truth especially clearly. The prodigal was not only lost physically and materially but lost spiritually and relationally.  He created a self-imposed barrier to his family, which resulted in squandering much of their resources and his inheritance from them. The prodigal was a selfish opportunist who caused his father and brother hardship and pain.  He became a liability to them instead of the asset he should have been. But his father’s love was unfailing and his father’s forgiveness was sure and demonstrated itself when the prodigal humbled himself, admitted his sins, and returned to his father.  Trust was broken and relationships took time to heal, but the father’s joy was restored with his return and his connection to family and life instead of death was restored.

By the way, while I was writing this the sun has raised revealing a cloudy day but still reveals great beauty and order to God’s creation again.  God is still on His throne and in charge.  He always has been and always will be.  Satan will not win, God won’t allow that.   So, choose this day who you will serve, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!  AMEN?  AMEN! 

“Believers, look up—take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.” Billy Graham

 

11/2/18                                    Messengers of God                                     2

Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.
Psalm 103:20

RECOMMENDED  READING:  Philippians 2:19-30 “¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.²² But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³ I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.²⁴ And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.²⁵ But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶ For he longs for all of youand is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹ So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, ³⁰ because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.”

COMMENTS: Take some times to reflect on those who have made the largest positive impact on your life.  Start with family but then include those in your circle of friends and church family who have positively impacted you.  Then reflect on circumstances that brought them into your life and gave them opportunity to do so.  I would imagine most of those circumstances were not pleasant and likely even serious problems or even personal crisis in the midst of that opportunity.  The crisis likely has passed and been resolved but the impact of the relationships formed during that crisis remain and continue to strengthen and draw you closer to God and possibly that person.  Crisis may have come and gone since and the wisdom gained and council and help of those who impacted us continue to provide help and wisdom guiding us to a true and positive path.  Is that your experience?

Well, it is mine.  The relationships and council of godly parents, other family, many pastors over the years, Christian friends, professional work relationships with co-workers and with contacts at  work are a few of the many connections God provided who have positively impacted and guiding me over the years.  Guided me towards God and not away from Him.   Instructed me and showed me by example as well as by council how to draw closer to God, understand who God is –  how He was involved in the lives of those before us – what He is like – how to have such a relationship with Him too. 

But even more, simply studying scripture and seeking Him directly has opened for me a real – meaningful – life changing relationship directly with Christ.  In recent years I have discovered so much more about the Holy Spirit and His mission and work in the lives of believers but also in my life.  The mission and work angels have in our lives is less understood and noticed, but is equally impactful and real.  But like the Holy Spirit, they are physically invisible but make a huge positive impact.  For so long I have enjoyed their influence and work without realizing or giving praise to God for their work and for God’s faithfulness providing them to do fulfill their mission in my life and in the lives of so many I care about and pray for.  But also in the lives far beyond my influence or awareness. 

I invite you to take the deep dive in reflection to consider and notice and realize the impact His Holy Spirit and His angels have had in your life too.  Such realization is faith strengthening and encouraging but also motives to praise and worship Christ with more passion than before.  The Holy Spirit draws us to worship and praise for Christ. Angels also are so focused too but their focus is on specific tasks they are dispatched to do.  The Holy Spirit is not a creation, as are angels, but an eternal part of God’s Deity with a mission that transcend specific people and generations.  Yet, because the Holy Spirit is God, He can and does work in individual lives all at the same time and concurrently coordinating that work so as to fulfill God’s overall Will and Plan.

I am overwhelmed just in reflection and realization.  I pray you will be too.  As we approach Thanksgiving Day, a very appropriate time to do such reflections and associated worship and praise to Him such reflections motivate.  The Christmas season is quickly approached when we remember and honor our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.  He is worthy of our worship and praise, but receives too little.  We need to put some focus on Him to correct that deficiency.  After all, where would we be without His grace and mercy?  How much darker would our world be?  I shudder at the thought.  BUT HE DID COME AND REDEEM US AND HE IS ON HIS THRONE AND IS RETURNING TO BIND SATAN AND ESTABLISH HIS RULE ON EARTH.   SUCH A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THOSE WHO PUT THEIR FAITH IN HIM. AMEN?  AMEN!                                                 “[Angels’] function is to execute the plan of divine providence, even in earthly things.”                          Thomas Aquinas

11/3/18                                                 Chaos                                                    3

The Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos.  Isaiah 45:18, NLT

RECOMMENDED READING:  Isaiah 45:18-21  “For this is what the Lord says—
he who created the heavens, he is God he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty,  but formed it to be inhabited— he says: “I am the Lord,  and there is no other.  ¹⁹ I have not spoken in secret,  from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,   ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the Lord, speak the truth;  I declare what is right. ²⁰ “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations.Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood,   who pray to gods that cannot save.  ²¹ Declare what is to be, present it—   let them take counsel together.  Who foretold this long ago,  who declared it from the distant past?  Was it not I, the Lord?  And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior;  there is none but me.”

.”

COMMENTS: I continue to be amazed just how headstrong science and the organized education system in most countries are embracing the theory of evolution and rejecting creationist’s explanation and evidence supporting a creator.  Even the law of physics called entropy states that all things, without outside influence, will deteriorate from order to disorder.  This law is accepted by all scientific circles while embracing evolution which states that life continues to evolve to a higher level of order and complexity.  Science knows an intelligent being is required to create functioning tools and equipment and structures but denies a intelligent being was necessary to create the order and complexity and beauty evident in all the vastness of our universe, in the complexity and order and beauty of our native earth, in the order and complexity and beauty of our own bodies and in all life all around us.  It is easier for them to believe such evolved without out a creator or intelligent influence than to accept the influence of a great creator.  It takes greater faith to believe in evolution than to believe in a God who created the universe and all in it.  Yet the evidence is overwhelming supporting a Creator.    Evidence supporting one Creator and not many creators.   But not all scientists believe in evolution and all its unproven beliefs.  An increasing number of scientists have and do examine all the evidence of our world and universe and have concluded all have a common beginning from one creator.

God may be unseen physically but all His creation shouts His existence and reveals His character and personality and Love.  We saw satan’s influence rampant but not exclusively.   We see powerful evidence of God’s goodness and Love in life He continues to create and in the lives of those who serve and obey Him. Those who deny Him or follow false gods or human distortions of God have always and continue to show evil as their fruit instead of love and forgiveness and life that Jesus showed and taught and His faithful followers over the generations since have lived and demonstrated.   Islam radicals sacrifice their  lives in order to kill those they view as their enemies.  Christ followers have historically sacrificed their lives in order to show Christ’s redemptive love to others.

The world is quick to point out the abuse of the crusades and professing Christians who have done evil to others.  That even was true during the first Century church and false teachers were  admonished by Paul who warned against following them.  Paul continued to point the church and it’s followers to focus on Jesus, on His teachings, and His life example as the compass and standard to follow and also to judge abuse and evil.

Without the Bible, there is no perfect or even good standard to judge evil from good.  To judge truth from lies.  To judge life giving conduct from death inflicting conduct.  History is evidence of validity of Bible and genuineness of Christ’s message and life and Identity.  To deny Him and believe a lie doesn’t make the lie truth even though we believe the lie to be true. 

For those who do not believe the Bible is God’s Word, I invite to simply read it with an open mind and even with a critical mind.  Let Christ show you what He said and did.  Let Him defend Himself.  We need not defend Him.  He is more than able to defend Himself.  We do better when we follow His example instead of trying to defend or argue His case.  He doesn’t need defenders.  He needs surrendered servants. 

History proves the positive transforming power of the gospel.  It also proves that anything less, either in the name of Christ or in the name of a pagan god or religion or no religion only brings disappointment and disorder and death.  God is the God of order and life and love.  Satan is the author of disorder and death and hate.  So take a look around and let the evidence show you who are agents of satan and who are agents of satan even in the Christian church.  Then follow the evidence to the source and follow the source.  The source worthy of our devotion  will always be God for He alone is worthy.  AMEN?  AMEN!!

“Statesmanship and diplomacy have failed. The only remedy is Jesus Christ. It is either Christ or Chaos”.”David Lloyd George, former British Prime Minister

11/4/18                                Singing Our Praises and Thank Yous              4

And Miriam answered them: “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously!”
Exodus 15:21

RECOMMENDED READING: Exodus 15:1-21  “ Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:“I will sing to the Lord,  for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver  he has hurled into the sea. ² “The Lord is my strength and my defense^[a];  he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him,  my father’s God, and I will exalt him. ³ The Lord is a warrior;  the Lord is his name. ⁴ Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers  are drowned in the Red Sea.^{[b]  5} The deep waters have covered them;   they sank to the depths like a stone. ⁶ Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord,  shattered the enemy. ⁷ “In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger  it consumed them like stubble. ⁸ By the blast of your nostrils   the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall;  the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. ⁹ The enemy boasted,  ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword  and my hand will destroy them.’  ¹⁰ But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. ¹¹ Who among the gods  is like you, Lord? Who is like you—  majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory, working wonders?  ¹² “You stretch out your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies. ¹³ In your unfailing love you will lead  the people you have redeemed.  In your strength you will guide them  to your holy dwelling.  ¹⁴ The nations will hear and tremble;  anguish will grip the people of Philistia. ¹⁵ The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,  the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people^[c] of Canaan will melt away; ¹⁶     terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of your arm  they will be as still as a stone—until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought^[d] pass by.  ¹⁷ You will bring them in and plant them   on the mountain of your inheritance—the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,  the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established. ¹⁸ “The Lord reigns  for ever and ever.”  ¹⁹ When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen^[e] went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. ²⁰ Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. ²¹ Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”

COMMENTS:  I grew up in a church with joy in worship but such joy was subdued and restrained, so when I experienced worship in my wife’s home church, she started taking me there shortly after we started dating, where there was open praising and singing with tears and shouts of joy, I longed for that in my worship.  Shouts of AMENS and PRAISE GOD during the sermon and tears of joy when singing the hymns were common in her church and especially at Family Camp meeting at Pleasantville Family Camp held for 10 days each year in July.  Pleasantville Family Camp became an annual pilgrimage every year after our marriage and still is.  I especially remember the 3 “Johnson sisters” as they would sing and shout worship at those services.  They inspired and so welcomed the Holy Spirit to come and fill the services, which He did regularly. 

Today’s scripture describes Miriam’s praise and worship. I can imagine how her praise inspired her family and friends and people.  Aaron was the priest responsible for leading the huge group of Israelites migrating from Egypt to the Promised Land but it was Miriam who inspired them with her praise and worship. 

I can’t imagine why Aaron made the fatal mistake of yielding to the crowd’s demands for a golden calf to worship while Moses lingered on Mt. Sinai.  Truth likely is that congregations can hinder and discouraged the most godly pastors and worship leaders.  That must have been the case for Aaron and even for Miriam.  To hear Miriam leading worship after the parting of the Red Sea must have been inspiring but then to see the retreat to paganism at Mt. Sinai must have broken her heart and Aaron too.

Miriam was first mentioned in Exodus 2 as baby Moses’s young sister watching as Moses floated in the basket to shore on the Nile River where he was taken and raised by the pharaoh’s daughter.  Miriam’s first report of singing praise is recorded in the above scripture just after her people, the Israelites, were permanently freed from their Egyptian captures and the drowning of the great army of Pharaoh in the Red Sea.

But where were Miriam and Aaron when the 12 spies returned to report and Joshua and Caleb’s recommendation was outvoted by the other 10? Where were they when the Israelites complained about no water or food or when they grew tired of the manna and God gave them quail?  Well, I suspect discouragement overcame their joy and praise for a time.  At a time when the people need to see and hear her joy in praise and worship the most to encourage them.  I am not certain of this but do know no mention of her praise and worship is mentioned during times of disobedience by the Israelites.

Discouragement can have a ripple affect spreading beyond its influence on one.  But joy in worship and praise can and does too. Satan has a sinister way of dampening the joy and influence of God’s key encouragers. But God has a wonderful way of overcoming discouragement and temptation if those encouragers only resist that discouragement and use their gift of joyful praise to encourage themselves as it does those around them. 

Obedience to God is a wonderful thing with long lasting positive and powerful affects but still requires making a choice or its opportunity is missed or delayed.  In this case the Israelites did still enter the Promised Land but 40 years late and Aaron and Miriam and Moses and their entire generation missed that opportunity.  All because they chose not to trust God when it counted most and   follows their own doubts and fears.  Follow satan’s temptations instead of God’s leading.   Maybe if Miriam would have shouted in praise and worship at Caleb’s and Joshua’s report, just maybe the people could have been persuaded to choose more wisely?  We don’t know, but need to take that possibility to teach us how important it are to be good encouragers and obedient to God’s nudging to obedience.  We don’t know where He leads nor the Good following Him brings, but we do have assurance doing so will be very good for us and for all we influence in process.  SO LET’S COVENANT WITH GOD TO BE HIS ENCOUAGERS AND DISCOURAGERS NO LONGER…  AMEN?  AMEN!

True thanksgiving is not a selfish emotion gratified by prosperity, but a vital grace in the soul, existing independent of circumstances.
Charles Wadsworth

 

 

11/5/18                                      Faithful Messengers                                                  5                  Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 1:9

Recommended Reading: Luke 1:26-28 “²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”

COMMENTS:  The two named angels in scripture are Michael and Gabriel, Archangels or the head or lead angels.  Gabriel visited Daniel twice and Zacharias (Elizabeth’s husband and parents of John the Baptist) and Mary, mother of Christ.  From scripture the power and authority of the Archangels is second only to God and even one angel is capable of overpowering great armies effortlessly. We are also told angels watch over us faithfully and tirelessly (Psalm 91:11-12).

So if that is true, why do we still endure hardship or even tragedy without seeing those angels or seeing evidence of their protection? 

Things angel do for us:

1. Ward off demons
2. Protect us from harm
3. Strengthen us against temptation
4. Embolden us in the face of persecution
5. Intervene miraculously when in danger
6. Guard us from infancy to death
7. Guarding us even before we become believers
8. Remind us of dignity and value of people to God
9. Remind of us God’s care and faithfulness
10. Bring help for our needs and presents our needs to God
11. Brings us closer to God
12. Moves us to the good
13. Reinforces God’s commands and supports God’s word
14. Illuminates the truth
15. Strengthens our minds
16. Communicates through our minds and even through our imagination
17. Influences our wills to submit to God’s Will
18. Aid in our salvation
19. Reminds us and supports our ultimate goal of heaven
20. Never leave or forsake us and fully supports God’s Will for us

 

So if our guardian angels have all these responsibilities and the Holy Spirit is on the job 24×7 too even abiding in and all around us, how can Satan get to us and influence us?  How can we suffer with all this divine support and encouragement?

 

Well, the answer is “free will”.  We all are free to choose wisely or foolishly. Choose Satan’s temptations and options and path or God’s.  God’s protection will linger even when we make bad choices and reject Him, we expose ourselves to the consequences of those choices and even consequences from other’s poor choices too.  We live in a sin filled broken world, so those consequences affect us all, faithful and unfaithful.  But even when faithful, some consequences continue to build our faith and endurance.  Muscles do not strengthen and gain endurance without work and resistance. God uses trials and hardships to build our spiritual muscles and faith instead of to punish us but limits what Satan is allowed to do and length of time he wants to do it.   Read Job and discover insights into how God does this.  Satan is our enemy, not God.  God only has our best interest and ultimate success in mind and as His goal.

We may never see an angel or hear God’s voice while in our human bodies but we won’t go a day without seeing evidence of His angels and Holy Spirit at work and protection and help they provide each and every day.  We need to stop and notice.  I’m sure if you do that, you will make some significant discoveries.  I certainly have, especially in common ways like noticing a deer or a young child just before it runs out in front of your car.  Or a friend that stopped by and helped you pick up a heavy box just at the right time or a check that showed up in the mail   when you needed it most.   I invite you to stop and reflect and make a list of similar examples from your day and week.

“Faithfulness knows no difference between small and great duties.” John Ruskin

 

11/6/18                                    The Comfort of Care                                   6                   

Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 18:10

Recommended Reading: Psalm 91 “ ¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^{[a]  2} I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ³ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare  and from the deadly pestilence. ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,  and under his wings you will find refuge;  his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. ⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,  nor the arrow that flies by day, ⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,  nor the plague that destroys at midday. ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,  ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes   and see the punishment of the wicked.⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,¹⁰ no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you  to guard you in all your ways; ¹² they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;  you will trample the great lion and the serpent. ¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. ¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble,  I will deliver him and honor him.¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

COMMENTS: There are a few verses identifying God as posting angels as our guardians and defenders in scripture, but none clearer in identifying them purpose and abilities than Psalm 91.   References to their presence and mission always points back to worship and praise to God and never to them nor success in their mission.  Yet their majesty and power draws a common reaction and reflex to give them worship and praise.  How much more will we be motivated to praise and worship Christ when we see Him than to do so to His creation?   But consider how you feel at the sight of a beautiful sunrise or sunset or view and sound of the ocean or a picturesque country view of a lake or majestic mountain or even the desert.   What about a cloudless sky full of stars?  The lights of city lights drown out such a view but in the country away from those lights we gain full view of all the stars and even the “milky way” with stars so numerous they appear like a cloud.

Forgive me for taking a slight detour, but our God is so majestic and powerful and all encompassing that we can see His character and personality and handiwork everywhere and in every direction if we take the time and let it soak into our thoughts and mind and  soul.  God wants us to know Him and be in relationship with Him and His creation all around us should that passion and desire from Him. 

I invite you to take   some time to do just that and commune with God giving Him the worship and praise He desires from you and so deserves to receive from you.  Doing so gives us joy and fulfillment and even purpose while giving Him great joy BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU AND ENJOYS BEING WITH YOU IN FELLOWSHIP.  When we ignore or neglect Him, He is saddened and we are so vulnerable to evil satan is inflicting to God’s creation.   Consider a picture of a beautiful home that it’s o owner spent a great deal of time cleaning and making sure everything  is in the right place and clean.    Then a brat comes in tracking in dirt and deliberately knocking over and destroying everything in his path and able to destroy.  That is exactly what satan has been doing since Eden.  God does limit his mischief but allows him to tempt and rein havoc on God’s beautiful creation and creatures.  BUT ONE DAY SOON HE WILL SAY “ENOUGH” AND PUT AN END TO THAT HAVIC AND BIND REMOVE AND BIND SATAN SO HE CAN NO LONGER DO HIS EVIL WORK.   What a day of rejoicing that will be!  But in the meantime, we have a formidable enemy but and even more formidable God with has sufficiently equipped His angels to keep Him and bay and His Holy Spirit to council and encourage and sustain and defend us and instruct us each and every moment of each and every day.  We have more than enough resources available to us to defeat satan.  We simply need to use them instead of trying to fight him ourselves.   We will never defeat him alone but will never lose if we put our hand first in His hand.  Starting each day doing first things first – communing with Him, going through each day  in proper order – hand in hand  walking with Him, and finishing each day giving Him proper credit and allowing Him to prepare us for tomorrow’s journey and work.  AMEN?  AMEN!

11/7/18                                       Angelic Encouragers                                           7   

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. Luke 22:43

Recommended Reading Luke 22:39-46: ” ³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt downand prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^[b]45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

COMMENTS: When Jesus was in deep prayer and anguish with the anticipated weight of our sins He knew He was about to bear, the humanity He was dwelling in was overwhelmed and spoke out to His Father.  His Father knew there was no other option than for Jesus to bear the full weight and guilt and punishment for our sins, but did send an angel to encourage and assure Him.   The way He then displayed courage and resolve and compassion for His disciples even during betrayal reveal the strength and courage that angel provided to Him.  We don’t know what that angel said to Him, but do know the results.  Why did Jesus ask for another way?  Didn’t He already know there was no other way?  Wasn’t that already decided long before Jesus came to this earth?  Well, we can only speculate, but remember Jesus was fully human as well as divine when living on earth.  His humanity needed the Father’s reassurance and encouragement.  He knew but needed to hear it once more fresh and unaffected by events and circumstances that transpired since He previously heard reassurances from the Father.

Can you relate to that?   Have you ever worked so hard to achieve a goal and when going got really hard you needed a bit more reassuring to give you focus and strength to continue?  I imagine Jesus needed that in today’s scripture and the Father gave it to Him through an angel.  Why didn’t the Father do so directly?   We can only speculate, but I believe Jesus was already feeling the Father removing His presence from Him in preparation for Jesus to receive our sin and all its guilt.  As Jesus withdrew from the Father’s presence and picked up the weight and filth of our sins, He felt alone and lost.  The Father could no longer encourage Him directly so an angel was dispatched to do so.  This conclusion, I believe is supported by scripture even though not telling us directly.   Do you agree?  I don’t think debate is needed because this conclusion is mine and admit a more accurate interpretation may be more correct and reveal greater wonder of what Jesus did for us on that cross.

David Jeremiah gave an example of a 51 year old truck driver who decided to take up bicycling.  His first attempt resulted in exhaustion after 12 miles.  At that point he tweeted his feelings and discouragement.  In response he received 2000 likes and 900 comments of understanding and encouragement.  Those words gave him energy and focus to continue.  Today’s scripture tell us the angel came to Him during this prayer to encourage him.  Jesus still sweat drops of blood while praying that night but the angel’s encouragement made a great difference.  He no longer prayed for another way but instead began receiving the burden He had to carry.  I’m so glad He did!  For me!  For you!

Because He sweat those drops of blood that night and shed all His blood on the cross the following day, we don’t need to!  We only need to receive the gift of forgiveness and redemption those drops bought.   Why do so many refuse to receive His gift? Why do so many settle for far less or for empty hope in their own deeds?   Well, how long did you and I do so before we finally yielded to Him?  Satan has deceived us all and still does.  But time is running out and Christ is soon returning to rapture those who have received His gift and judge those who haven’t.  There is no other valid option.  Anyone who says so is not saying truth because they are not supported by scripture.  The Bible is the one and only source of eternal truth, unchanging truth, and God’s truth.  The only road map to eternal life and God’s redemption.  Any other map is not accurate and will take those who follow down a dead end path to death.  

We are not to judge people but we can judge their religion based on the Bible.  Jesus is our example of how to judge their belief system but also how to treat and love and respect them.   Jesus didn’t get angry with those who were lost or deceived or even possessed.  He had compassion on them and offered redemption.  But He did get angry with those who deliberately kept truth and redemption from the lost.  But He went to the cross even for them. 

Let’s get back to basics.  Back to following Jesus’ example and teaching instead of other flawed people.  He is the standard to judge right from wrong.  Good from evil.  Wise from foolish.  When choices seem unclear, WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) is a worthy question to ask, but instead of guessing, how about asking Him and then ask the Holy Spirit for council and strength and guidance to do just that, What Jesus Would Do.  AMEN?  AMEN!

“An angel is a spiritual creature created by God without a body for the service of Christendom.”  Martin Luther

 

 

     
11/8/18                                      Landmines                                                     8                   

The pride of your heart has deceived you. Obadiah 1:3

Recommended Reading: Isaiah 14:12-15  “¹² How you have fallen from heaven,  morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! ¹³ You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.^{[b] 14} I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” ¹⁵ But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.”

COMMENTS: Today’s scripture is describing satan going  from being the greatest angel and most gifted servant of God, Lucifer, to  the arch enemy of God and His creation,  satan.  How then was he tempted and what motivated him to sin?  Today’s scripture  tells us.  Satan was tempted by his own gifts and abilities.  His abilities were second only to God.  No other angel possesses gifts equal to His.  But with great gifts comes great responsibilities and great temptations.  Satan tempted  himself by allowing pride in himself to fill his heart and push out love and devotion and worship of God.  He began worshipping himself instead of God.  He began  thinking he knew better than God and kindled a desire to battle God for authority over His creation.  Such thoughts tempted him to desire God’s throne and rule.  He wanted to have authority over the other angels and even over God. 

God did not tolerate his rebellion in heaven but allowed him to choice of allegiance.  Lucifer was able to deceive and win the allegiance of 1/3 of heaven’s angels.  But God ejected him and his angelic followers from heaven and away from God’s glory and condemned to their own pride and evil motives and thoughts and deeds and desires.  Evil was born in their hearts out of the seed of pride.  God removed His sprit from them and condemned them to the consequences of the loss of His spirit dwelling in and abiding in and guiding and directing them.  They thought such was freedom and thought they were free to enjoy and experience forbidden fruit God didn’t want them to have.   They quickly desired to corrupt the rest of God’s creation, including God’s most recent human creations.    It is said “misery loves company” Well, satan even yet hasn’t admitted he is miserable, but all the evidence from those he successfully deceives is that his mission and focus is spreading misery and death.  Over the millennia since then, satan and his demons have deceived and destroy the lives of countless millions.   They have deceived them to believe his lies and choosing a life and death separated from God’s love and protection and goodness and blessings to an eternity of damnation. God gave them and gives us freedom to choose but reserves the right to exercise the consequences of those choices.  Consequences are still and completely in His control and not in ours.  Satan knows and fully supports those consequences for us and has no pity or remorse for those who will be so condemned.  He also knows his fate but is so deceived himself to believe it better to rule over his condemned subjects in hell than to serve the God of the universe in heaven.

But for those who follow and serve God, He offers the privilege of reigning with Him in heaven soon and over a recreated world without satan’s corruptive influence.  Those condemned to hell won’t be ruling with satan but will be enduring constant and eternal  torment  with him in hell.  He is warning us and trying to persuade us to  choose wisely while we still have time to do so.  When we share Christ ‘s message of redemption with others, we are not judging but loving them.  But we also need to respect their freedom to choose as well.  Even our most loved family members have that freedom to choose.  Christ’s parable of the prodigal  reveals His heartache when we reject Him and the consequences both short and long term resulting.  The parable gives us hope of redemption but with the realization the choice to repent is required to receive  redemption.  Praying for our loved ones is a powerful too, and opens opportunities for both God to work in them but in us too.  Opportunities that come with openness for circumstances and others to equip and initiate changes that can and often do change hearts and attitudes and perspectives.  Consider what changed to persuade you to accept His redemption?   Such remembrance helps us understand and gain insights in how to influence and encourage others to   as well.  Heaven wouldn’t be heaven without Christ, but will be so much richer if we can enjoy it not only with Christ but will all our family and friends – all  those we love and care for.  IT WILL ALSO BE SO MUCH RICHER IF WE ALSO SHARE IT WITH THOSE WE DIDN’T ESPECIALLY CARE FOR WHILE HERE – THOSE CHRIST CARED FOR TOO!!  Consider we might just had been one of   those another Christian especially care for either when we were in sin and rebellion.    Love is a choice first before it is a feeling.    Let’s choose to love as Christ loves but also choose to love who Christ loves.  AMEN?  AMEN!

“Pride always overemphasizes self. Our hearts need to be God-focused and not self-focused.”  Charles Stanley

 

 

 

11/9/18                                              Old Serpent                                                9   

“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.  Ephesians 4:26-27

Recommended Reading  Ephesians 4:17-32 “¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”^[d]:Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

COMMENTS: I read a story that gives me a cold chill just repeating it. A man killed a diamondback rattlesnake in his back yard by cutting its head off with his shovel.  Ten minutes later the snake’s mouth snapped and its fangs penetrated that man’s hand.  A helicopter rushed him to the nearest hospital where it took 26 doses of antivenom medicine to save his life.  That man was later told a decapitated snake’s head is able to bit for up to an hour. 

Snakes may get a “bad rap” in view of those who know and understand them and value they bring at limiting rodent population and disease.  But especially the poisonous and largest ones poses dangers to humans we can’t deny or ignore.  Even scripture tells us after Adam and Eve’s fall, God put enmity between Eve and her decedents with snakes. 

It is, however, to note that a snake can bit up to an hour and convey it’s venom after being killed.   We can draw comparison that a man’s evil can continue long after his death.  BUT THANK GOD A MAN’S GOOD CAN AND DOES TOO!!

Satan is our most formidable and worst foe.  A foe who outsmarts and out maneuvers and overpowers those who face and fight him alone.  He has more experience, abilities, strength, determination, and knowledge than any one of us.  He is a spirit and has an army of 1/3 of the angels who followed him out of heaven.  His venom continues to infect and corrupt and kill.  Death entered the world due to his mischief and influence and his deeds.  We have him to thank for all our suffering and death.  He is not remorseful but would only smile and say “your welcome” thinking that as a complement and not an insult or condemnation.

But God is not done and gives us assurance satan’s defeat is sure and near.  Christ doesn’t keep us guessing or wondering if satan will win or gain permanent control of earth and it’s inhabitants.  No, Christ assures us satan’s defeat is certain and He’ll see it that personally with His return.  We will be there not to help but to witness His defeat and to celebrate that defeat with Him and with our loved ones and the saints of old who have been waiting too. Then we will see what a world He designed and intended for us to live in looks like.  How a world without sin and temptation looks like.  How a world without death and sickness and aging looks like. And, yes, how a world without poisonous snakes looks like, or at least a world without harmful snakes.  Snakes as harmless as an earthworm. 

Well, in the meantime we are in a war and it is up to us to decide which side we will fight on and pledge allegiance to.  Our enemy is formidable to us but NOT TO OUR GOD.  Jesus defeated him on that cross but his trial and judgment is yet to be executed.  But it will along with all, both angels and humans who followed him, will be judged and sentence executed when He returns to do so.  He gives us the tools to fight and win and His mercy to be forgiven when we fail to do so.  We have no excuse or explanation to fail in following Him and being faithful to Him and without taking advantage of His offers of forgiveness and redemption, we will be lost too.  No one is worthy nor can earn his salvation but all must accept that redemption personally in order to enjoy and benefit from it.  Free will is still the restraint God places on His relationship with us and redemption.   It is available to all, but only given to those who will accept it.  AMEN?  AMEN!

Lord, crush the serpent in the dust, and all his plots destroy; / While those that in thy mercy, trust forever shout for joy.

Isaac Watts

 

11/10/18                              Being Grateful like Hannah                                  10   

My heart rejoices in the Lord.   1 Samuel 2:1

Recommended Reading: I Samuel 2:1-11 “Then Hannah prayed and said:“My heart rejoices in the Lord;in the Lord my horn^[a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,for I delight in your deliverance.² “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God. ³ “Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance,for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.⁴ “The bows of the warriors are broken,but those who stumbled are armed with strength.⁵ Those who were full hire themselves out for food,  but those who were hungry are hungry no more.She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.⁶ “The Lord brings death and makes alive;  he brings down to the grave and raises up.⁷ The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.⁸ He raises the poor from the dust  and lifts the needy from the ash heap;he seats them with princes  and has them inherit a throne of honor.“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world.⁹ He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,  but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.“It is not by strength that one prevails;¹⁰  those who oppose the Lord will be broken.The Most High will thunder from heaven;  the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.“He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”¹¹ Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest..”

COMMENTS:   Hannah’s prayer was sincere and passionate, desperate in urgency of her need but deep set in your love for and trust in her God.  For her to give up the one and only son God gave her as an act of gratitude and submission to her Lord’s nudging is impressive.  You may say she had nothing to lose since she didn’t have a son before, but once she had a baby and held him in her arms, we can only imagine how hard it was for her to give up her son.  I am reminded of what emotions and thoughts went through Abraham’s mind as he prepared to raise the knife to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Paul shared in Philippians the importance of worship and praise for God.  3:1 “Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord”.  4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I say rejoice”.

Truth is, we are more motivated to focused prayer when in crisis.  When all is going well, we are not so motivated and tend to neglect our time in prayer and devotion with Him.   But it is then we have so much to thank Him for.  We forget and take our blessings for granted.  It would have been easy for Hannah to hold her son close and enjoy being his mother, but if she had, we likely would never had Samuel to ordain Saul and David as kings of Israel nor his history and walk of faithfulness to instruct and enlighten us.  She gave up raising him for a few years, but her name and her example has inspired and guided parents and faithful followers in every generation since.

Today she continues to enjoy fellowship not only with her Lord and family but with her precious son Samuel in heaven.  Hannah’s devotion and relationship with her Lord enabled her to see long term beyond her wants and openness to trust God enough to let Him show her His long term vision and plan for her and her son and their nation and people.  A plan for eternity and a perfect plan.

Well, He has a plan for you and me.  A plan that looks to eternity.  A plan so far beyond our hopes and imagination that He can’t show us it’s full scope while we serve Him on this earth.  So how much do you and I  trust Him?  How willing are we to submit and follow Him without seeing His full plan?  Praise and worship are tools that build and strengthen us – prepare us to discover and follow His plan.  They also serve to strengthen and encourage us on the journey to fulfill that plan, especially during trials and even crisis and tragedy. 

Eric Little was such a gifted runner, resulting in  world records and gold metals during Olympics.   He gave that up to become a missionary and died in China doing his calling after only a few years of service.  To us seems like such a waste and tragedy.  Jim Elliott was killed at age 28 along with his co-workers while trying  to reach the Anca Indians with the gospel.  Their  willingness to risk and sacrifice their lives planted the only seed that would later grow and result in possibility of his wife and others to lead that tribe to Christ and transform them so completely that they then went to other tribes to win them  to Christ instead of to fight and kill them as they done in the past.  Instead of a tribe that brought fear and death, a tribe that brought love and life.

That is the plan and miracle He does in the lives of those willing to worship and praise and follow Him.   They do so with Christ and His Holy Spirit at their side but also going ahead and behind them to empower and strengthen and keep our path straight and our message true.  Free will is still our freedom but blessings or consequences are fully in His hands.  Choose wisely like Hannah and Eric Little and Jim Elliott and countless millions have in Bible times til present.  We have their testimony to encourage us, but we have the same God they followed to  do  so too.  AMEN?  AMEN!   

Joy is the serious business of Heaven.  C. S. Lewis

11/11/18                                               Preparations Are Made                         11

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Matthew 25:41

RECOMMENDED READING: Revelation 20:4-10“⁴ I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheadedbecause of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God.They^[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reignedwith Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.⁷ When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. ⁹ They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophethad been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever..”

COMMENTS:  Revelation is the prophetic book, God’s revelation to John, with the answer to the most important question.  GOD WINS!!  SATAN LOSES!!  So if satan knows he is going to lose and God knows that too, why let His creation go through all the tragedy and bloodshed getting there?  Why is God putting off His judgment and letting satan continue to play havoc on the world?  Why does God let satan loose for a time after he will be bound 1000 years and the world enjoying peace and blessings of no aging or death or pain or evil with all it’s consequences?  

I’m sure the answer is deeper and more complex than the answer scripture reveals, but the scripture answer is “FREE WILL”   Satan, as Lucifer, was given great gifts but also with great responsibility.  But he was also allowed to have free will to submit to God’s Will or imagine and develop and follow his own will.  Satan tempted himself by isolating himself from God and from a loving relationship with Him.   God then allowed Lucifer to tempt all the angels of heaven, giving them free will to follow satan or remain faithful to Him (Isaiah 14:12-17 and Revelation  12)   We are told that 1/3 of the angels in heaven followed Lucifer and were forced out of heaven with him.  They became satan’s demons who have been spreading his mischief ever since.

We too are exposed to satan’s deceptions and lies and given opportunity of free will to choose to follow him or follow Christ.   God makes sure we have opportunity to choose wisely but permits satan  within defined limits to expose us to his temptations too.

FREE WILL is important to God even at risk of administering judgment on each of us who He created and dearly loves.  Let’s face it, He created and still loves satan and his demons but His justice requires judgment for their rebellion and evil deeds. 

Christ’s redemption sacrifice provides the opportunity of FREE WILL to include choosing Him and life eternal instead, but still by FREE WILL and not by forced submission.    We are told that during those 1000 years of peace sin will be absent, so those born during those years will live never knowing sin nor given the opportunities of FREE WILL.  By releasing satan for a brief time, they too are given opportunities of FREE WILL with its risks and dangers and consequences.   But they will know history but some will still decide to follow satan.  Then God’s final judgment will reign on satan and his demons and all their followers through the centuries and  also those from the millennium who also followed them.

Free will includes freedom of choice but does not include freedom to choose results or consequences.  God holds the reigns and control of consequences.  He may delay or remove or diminish those consequences in His Mercy or rein them on the guilty in full force.   Some of those consequences impact and are suffered by a time by the innocent.  But their redemption and justice are includes in the prophecies and promises John and other prophets reveal.  Revelation 6:9-11 “9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, ^e were killed just as they had been.”

These verses are reassuring but also revealing.  God permits the innocent to suffer and die at the hands of evil people and even chooses who he allows and calls to endure such suffering.  Why?  Well Romans 8:28 reveals God uses both good and evil to fulfill His purpose and bring good to His followers.  FREE WILL includes making good results come from evil actions.  Not allowing results of evil on His followers to be permanent.  So this is not God’s judgment but part of God’s redemption.  Suffering is intended to build faith and trust in Him – to build endurance and obedience – to build faithfulness in all situations – to build a testimony by example to inspire and persuade new believers and encourage old ones.

The confident hope of heaven and even rest of death are the light at the end of life’s darkness God provides to help guide us through life.  But far more, He abides with and in each believer in His Holy Spirit and even in His Word.  He sets us up to win, not fail.  But fail we do because of human weakness and vulnerability to temptation and sin.   Again, because we still have FREE WILL.

Being a parent and grandparent gives me firsthand experience to remind me rebellion and poor – foolish choices continue no matter how young or how old we are in years or in our walk of faith with Him.  But even though we are the prodigal who leaves, rebels, and returns over and over again, He continues to be the loving Father who runs to and embraces us each time we return.  The prodigal parable Jesus told does not continue with story after the prodigal returned.  Nor    how his brother did or didn’t eventually forgive and accept him. Story doesn’t reveal if that younger son remained faithful or left again.    But we have left and returned time after time, haven’t we?  If you deny that, stop and reflect on Christ’s life and compare His faithfulness to yours even after accepting His forgiveness. No, we all have and continue to leave and return.  Even daily. 

That sounds depressing and hopeless, but it is honest and also encouraging.  His faithfulness and redemption is designed and equipped to manage and guide us till we finally are freed from satan’s temptations in heaven. The more often we choose wisely and closer we draw to Him in frequent and regular prayer and devotions.  The more we saturate our minds with His word and our actions guiding by Him.  The further we go from temptation and less often we entertain satan’s temptations and allow ourselves to be exposed to Him, then the more like Him in thought and conduct we slowly reflect.  That is maturing in Grace and growing.  That is process of sanctification and preparation for Glorification in heaven.   When we think we have arrived, we need to take a closer look at Christ to realize we still have a long ways to do.  When we look at others we are tempted to think the goal is closer than it really is. 

The Goal is perfection, but the journey included a daily step by step relationship with our Creator, Our Lord, Our Savior, Our Wisest Counselor, Our Best Friend, but most of all The Mighty Eternal God.  AMEN?  AMEN! 

11/12/18                  A Liar From the Beginning                                         12      

atan] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.  John 8:44

Recommended Reading: Revelation 12:7-17 “⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:“Now have come the salvation and the powerand the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.¹¹ They triumphed over him  by the blood of the Lamb  and by the word of their testimony;they did not love their lives so much  as to shrink from death.¹² Therefore rejoice, you heavens  and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,  because he knows that his time is short.”¹³ When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. ¹⁴ The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. ¹⁵ Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. ¹⁷ Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus..”

COMMENTS:  I’ve always admired and been impressed with those who are proficient in more than one language.  I have a good friend from college from Japan.  I was amazed how well he did in difficult math and engineering classes which were all in English.  I clearly remember his excitement in our sophomore year in college when he said he no longer needed to translate from English to his native language in order to understand.  He naturally understood the words as spoke and read.  He also said he was dreaming in English too. For him that was a milestone and made his studies much easier for him.  I had 2 years of French in high school so understood what he was saying but hadn’t became proficient enough in French to discover that milestone.  Today I can only remember a few words and phrases in French.  I have neglected that knowledge.   

This journal goes to many in the US and many in other distant countries.  One thing I’ve discovered is most countries teach English in their schools so most students who graduate from high school are reasonably proficient in speaking and reading English. That is such an amazing thing and such a gift for me since I am not educated in all their languages.  God brought countless numbers of faithful Christians to the American Colonies many years ago to establish a country founded and governed by God’s own commandments and world view.   Freedom of religion has been a key foundation corner.  But it’s leaders are in need to remember the founders established “freedom of religion” and not “freedom from religion” as the cornerstone.   Freedom to worship and evangelize.  God called the USA to be evangelists of Christ’s Gospel to the world and to be the beacon of His love and hope.  The US has done much through many channels and means but it’s most important work was sending missionaries overseas to China and Russia and Africa and India and Europe and …. That influence and the way God blessed the US and made it a hub of enterprise in the world facilitated English becoming the language of commerce.  I am enjoying the fruit of that by following God’s call to write and share this journal to countries I am not able to translate to reach.  Those who receive do the translating for their people.  Granted, God’s plan involves a lot more with far broader reaching ministries than mine, but none the less He has allowed me to play a small part in that plan without the demand of learning other languages or even making the exhaustive journey going there.

As I get older and find the battle of Parkinson’s disease getting more difficult, I so appreciate how the journey  with Parkinson’s has drawn me closer and helped equip and prepare me for this work.  I am convinced if I had to pick a chronic disease I  would have to  endure  in my senior years, I don’t think I could have picked a better one.   Its symptoms slowly progress allowing quality life to continue for many years while forcing me to depend more on others and forcing me to appreciate and praise Him for abilities and experiences I can still enjoy.  Learning to lean on others also helps teach me to lean more on Christ too.

Consider how amazing it is that God knows every language and person better than they do and responds to each at the same time as though they were the only one. 

Satan in contrast only knows how to lie and is very skillful to make his lies sound like truth and evil to appear good.  But the results are always death and misery.  Satan is so predictable and his long history from Adam but even before that when he was expelled from heaven with angels who followed him is misery and death and hell.  Yet his deception is equally effective with each new generation.  So how much dumber can we be than to think our future would be any better following him. 

Likewise, God’s history is equally predictable and consistent but in giving truth and life and blessing.  So why would each generation not want to follow God and not be deceived by satan’s lies.   

Well, God continues to allow FREE WILL prevail and continues to provide amazing ways of spreading His Gospel – His Good News to lost  people.   He even has revealed Himself directly to Muslim people seeking truth.  He already has shown us satan’s end and destination and the destination of any and all who follow him.  God has also shown us the end and destination of any and all who follow Christ.  Death or Life.  Misery beyond imagination or Joy beyond imagination.  Torment or peace.   Shouldn’t be a hard choice and won’t unless we let satan distract us from realizing what is at stake and where our choices lead.  Oh yea, that is because he is our enemy and the master of lies…

 

“Lies and false reports are among Satan’s choicest weapons.” J. C. Ryle

 

11/13/18                           Thanksgiving as a Sacrifice                      13                    

“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:15-16 

COMMENTS:                                                                                                                                    What are you thankful for?  How do you show and express your gratitude?  Who do you express that gratitude and how often?

We live in a time of “entitlement” A time of record numbers well beyond past history.  More people alive, more people enjoying prosperity and possession beyond what royalty would have imagined, more people enduring deep poverty and starvation, more people enjoying freedom to live and worship while more people enduring persecution and slavery than ever in history.  Granted, more people alive would naturally mean more in each of these situations.  But the mentality of entitlement in prosperous countries is unparalleled.  Such   was common among the privileged and royalty but now is among the populous.

But such was true for the Israelites while prospering from God’s blessings.  They would forget the source of their blessings and take for granted His provision until it was removed.

History tells us with blessing comes responsibility.  God expected the Israelites to express gratitude and use their possessions to teach and example and minister to the world, especially the pagan world.   If they had done so, their prosperity and blessing and possession of their land would have remained uninterrupted and many times of terrible hardship and judgment could have been avoided.  The discipline of Thanksgiving would have tempered their wonderings and numbness they experienced toward possessions.  They too learned to expect God’s blessings instead of appreciating them.

We, like they, must learn the discipline and sacrifice of Thanksgiving in order to keep possessions in perspective and to exercise proper use and stewardship and accountability for our possessions.  We are not blessed to consume but blessed to give.  When we learn to use less and give me,    we truly learn and discover the art of gratitude.  November is a time for Thanksgiving.

We do a disservice to our children when we give them all their heart desires and we truly bless them by teaching them by example and by direction to sacrifice in order to give and bless others less fortunate.  November and December are wonderful times to focus on this because of celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas during these months. 

Join me in taking additional time each day during November and December to stop, reflect, and count our blessings and see what God has done and then express our gratitude and marvel at His faithfulness.  Then just wait and listen.  I am certain, if we do that, what He will then reveal will be more precious than even the blessings we express gratitude for.

11/14/18                               The Other Side of Self-Pity                                               14           “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

COMMENTS:  Self-pity is a self inflicted mountain that can be harder to climb over than a real physical mountain.  Barriers are fear of failure and lack of   vision.  Self-pity has been compared to “quicksand” pulling it’s victim deeper downward with a sense of helplessness to find a way out.  To fight seems useless and exhausting. 

But it not only is possible to overcome but a bright future is waiting on the other side.

The best and surest way out of the self-destructive pit of self-pity is leaning on God and embracing God’s Word as truth. But it is really hard to lean on someone we can’t see or hear, but that is when faith and knowledge of God’s faithfulness in past empower us to trust Him again.  Some battles are mind over matter but spiritual battles need to be God over satan.  Spiritual battles are best fought by surrender – surrender to our Lord and Savior. Fighting them alone is not a good option.  But if we let Christ guide us through the battle, through the mine field of battle, to the other side, we will discover something amazing. Yes, a way out of the pit of self-pity and failure but also a life God designed us to live and a purpose that includes using our failures and battles to encourage and council others to trust and have faith in Him too.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

What’s on the other side of self-pity? The life Christ died on the cross and was raised from the dead for us to live. A life of faith in Jesus as Lord devoted to Him above all else and to loving and serving others in His name.

If anyone ever had a right to feel sorry for Himself, it would have been Jesus for all He endured on earth and for all He endured on the cross. But instead of feeling sorry for Himself, He looked to His Father in heaven and sacrificed Himself by literally dying to self so He could live for the Father and for others including you and me.

When we find ourselves caught up in self-pity, let’s do what Jesus told us to do. Let’s deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him. In His love. For His glory. Living for Him, living for others. Not self-pitying, but God- and others-loving! That is what God wants to guide us too on the journey from self-pity and to life and joy.

 

11/15/18                                       Should You Stay?                                             15     

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”   Romans 8:31
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13
COMMENTS:   How do we know when we are in God’s Will, doing what He wants and where He wants and ministering to who He wants?  How do we know when we aren’t?                                                                                                                                   Can we trust our feelings?  Does discomfort, insecurity, worry, restlessness, wondering, uncertainty, doubts, unanswered questions mean we need to change or move?                                                                                                                                   When things are going well, does that confirm all is well and when then things are going wrong does that mean we need to move?                                                                       Teens and young adults have big decisions to make – choice of friends, school and career to train for, who to date and marry, place to live and work, church to support and get involved in, … 

Take some time with me reflecting on your journey of faith over the years.  As I reflect of the years since I first accepted Christ’s mercy and repented of my sins at age 10, the journey through the teen years, the years in college, selecting a career and employer.  Letting Him show me the best choice of a life partner.   The journey of being a son, husband, father, grandfather, engineer, supervisor, servant, leader, writer.  The journey of following His council and listening to wise council of family and Christian friends and influence of church family. I recall the many years of leading a Sunday school class and children’s Adventure Club with my wife not knowing if that investment made a different in those young lives, but later seeing the adults of character most of them became.  I also recall foolish choices God, in His mercy, alerted me of and enabled me to change directions and avoid consequences. Being a flawed human is an unavoidable condition but being a forgiven child of Christ destined for eternal life is His gift to me and to you. 

One hard decision Arlene and I had to make and struggled with from time to time is to stay and continue allegiance to a church family with struggles and failures at  times, but also filled with genuine Christ followers.  At times we seriously considered moving to a stronger and growing church with a more dynamic pastor, but God did not release us to leave.  Looking back, I can see His wisdom and hand even though the congregation has shrunk instead of grown in last few years.

I don’t know what would have happened if we had left and joined another church like some others have over the years.  Some of them did so more than once after leaving our church. All I know is that God denied me permission or His blessing to do so for me and my family.  I am at peace with that choice and would not say others who left made a mistake.  But this I have noticed.   When disagreements and disputes happen in families or in churches, one party leaving causes family or church to weaken as well as all involved including the party that leaves.  But when everyone stayed and works through disputes and differences together seeking God’s input, then the family, church, individuals all grow closer to each other and to God.  The church and each individual family grow stronger and closer to each other and to God.  The issue of dispute will be forgotten but the consequence or healing that comes will not.  The result will be lasting and will impact many beyond those involved for a long time.

Being where God wants us is of critical importance.  Staying where God calls us to, especially when discouraged or disappointed with others, is just as critical and maybe even more so.  We live in a throw away culture but relationships should not be throw away.  Consider where we would be if God saw us as throwing away because of how we treated Him.   Well, then how dare we treat relationships with those we don’t like or treat us well as throw away either.  Putting and keeping our eyes and minds on   Him enables us to value and work at healing and building relationships with others.  I don’t know but believe if some of those who left our church during disputes would have stayed and worked through the process of healing and forgiveness, they and the church and, yes, those who stayed would have been far better off.  So would the community.  Consider the ministry such an outcome would have had in the community.  In the lives of those outside the church who witness all the bickering and conclude they didn’t want to be involved.  Forgiveness is Christ’s gift.  When we forgive, we share that gift.  When we judge and give up, we share a different message that doesn’t build or strengthen the church or the community or its families.  So let’s start being a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. AMEN?  AMEN!

11/16/18                              Angelic Escort                                         16                                          Suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire… and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.    2 Kings 2:11

Recommended Reading: Matthew 24:21-37 “ ²¹ For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.²² “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. ²³ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time.²⁶ “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.²⁹ “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;the stars will fall from the sky,and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’^[a]30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth^[b] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.^[c]31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.³² “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it^[d] is near, right at the door. ³⁴ Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[e] but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

COMMENTS: Jesus gave much support to belief that God dispatches angels to escort His people to heaven.  Luke 16:22 (²² “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.) is the story of Lazarus.  2 Kings 2:11 – Elijah was escorted in a chariot of fire. Matthew 24:31 ³¹ And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Do you recall experiences of a loved one as they died?  My sister was not conscious but a glow was seen on her face.  My mother saw my father and some others who had passed years before on her last day.  I have read about numerous experiences of those who were greeting by angels to escort them to heaven.                  

David Jeremiah today spoke on this subject.  He said we all rather experience beautiful scenery with loved ones.  To see a beautiful sunrise or sunset or a beautiful place like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite alone is not nearly as appealing as to witness with loved ones.  To enter the beauty of heaven with angels and be greeting by loved ones and by Jesus personally will make the glory of heaven so much more personal and wonderful.  You see, He has thought of everything and is making every preparation to greet you and me. 

My mother’s last day was physically painful and she was in and out of consciousness.  After my dad died, she put away recent pictures of them and brought out pictures of them as newlyweds.   Her last day I wanted to encourage her so told her I was glad she brought out those pictures so I could recognize her and dad when my time would come.  She smiled and said “Don’t worry, I’ll recognize you!!”   She faced death with excitement and anticipation.  She knew who would be waiting to greet her.  SO DO I!!  SO DO YOU IF YOU KNOW CHRIST.   AMEN?  AMEN!!

The very moment earth’s door closes and heaven’s door opens—at that very moment—there will be an excited, joyful, and exuberant reunion.  Paul P. Enns

11/17/18                                           The Angel of the Lord                        17    

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to [Moses] in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush.
Exodus 3:2

RECOMMENDED READING: Exodus 3:1-4  “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. ³ Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”⁴ So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”And he said, “Here I am.””

COMMENTS:  “The Angel of the Lord” appears in the Old Testament 52 times but not once in the New Testament.  However, the phrase “an angel of the Lord” appears 11 times in the New Testament.  Why is that?  Well, the occasion when “The Angel of the Lord” is used is also an occasion when that Angel would accept worship.  The reason is pretty obvious.  It is because that appearance is by Christ Himself.  God’s appearance in the burning bush is one of those occasions.

There is also a noteworthy increase in reports of Christ revealing Himself directly to devout Muslims, which transforms them from devout Muslims to devout Christians – Christ followers. It appears, from the examples I’ve read about, opportunities to hear about Christ was so suppressed and Christ followers were so persecuted and prevented from spreading His Gospel that God intervened to do that work Himself.  Also, from examples I’ve read about, Christ has revealed Himself to sincere seekers who knew no other than Allah to seek. 

Christ has commanded His followers to spread His Good News everywhere they journey and to all they encounter.  He also instructed His followers to live and act in such a way that others would see the difference Christ makes in their lives and long for that in their own lives and inquire about Him.  We may not be called to preach from the streets but our example should.  Then when have opportunity, to be bold in explaining the hope and joy and peace  that comes not by earning salvation  by good works but doing good works as an expression of joy and gratitude for the undeserved gift of forgiveness and salvation Christ gives to any and all who admit  their sins and ask for His forgiveness.

Angels never would accept praise or worship from those they visited but “The Angel of the Lord” did.  For Jesus to be God revealed in human form while on earth, His existence would be eternal not only future going forward, but also eternal past going back even to creation and before.

“The Angel of the Lord” also revealed Himself to Hagar after Sarai made her leave Abraham’s family with her son Ishmael.  Christ came to her and provided for her water and food to sustain them on their journey then and going forward.  God had not rejected Hagar but planned another path of obedience for them separate from the path He had revealed to Abraham thru Isaac.

I believe, if Hagar and her decedents had remained faithful to Jehovah, history would have revealed a promise land for them that would not conflict with the Promised Land given to Isaac and Jacob.  I believe the current battle for Israel and plight of the Palestinians is a consequence of both the Jews and Arabs rejecting the Messiah who revealed Himself to them too, Jesus Christ.  Bible prophecy reveals Christ will return to bind satan and set up His kingdom. But prophecy tells us that in the days leading up to His return, Jews will return to their Promised Land and establish a strong and prosperous nation once again.  That is what we are seeing today. 

The promise God gave Abraham was not only that he would prosper and be the father of a large multitude and great nation but that the nations who bless him would be blessed and nations who curse him would be cursed.

The sins of even devout faithful people have had a destructive ripple from one generation to another.  Only God’s mercy can stop those destructive (sinful) ripples.  Abram and Sarah’s lack of faith to believe God’s promise of a son even as age withered their hopes persuaded them to force God’s hand by allowing Hagar to produce an heir.  If they had only remained faithful enough to wait for the Isaac a few years more, the wars between Jews and Muslims for dominance and for land God promised to Abraham would have been avoided.  I do believe God’s promise made to Abraham was intended to be through Isaac based on Genesis 21, 29-30 and 49.  The Promised Land was distributed to the 12 tribes, decedents of Jacob’s 12 sons as identified in Old Testament scripture.  

So why is the battle for Israel between the decendents of Isaac and Ishmael and not between Jacob and Esau’s decendents since Jacob deceived his blind father to get his older brother’s (Esau’s) birthright?  I don’t know but have some thoughts. I think the peace made between Jacob and Esau when Jacob face and sought forgiveness from Esau calmed the ripple of sin affecting them both.  I believe that one act of repentance preventing a ripple that could have further devastated both.  

What would today’s news be like if Ishmael’s decendents had followed Abraham’s God?  What if Isaac’s decendents had followed Jesus instead of the priests responsible for crucifying Him?  What if  those priest had repented like Saul who became Paul?  The ripple effect of past sins grows in intensity as satan’s influence continues to be embraced.  The ripple effect is softened and quieted when Christ’s influence is embraced.  The ripple effect of rejecting Christ, whether during the years between Abraham and the Cross or  the years between the Cross and present, have causes devastating  consequences to Jews and Muslims and Christians globally in every generation.  Even though consequences have been inflicted by humans, they were not motivated by humans but by   satan himself.  Scripture gives us both the problem’s cause and it’s solution.  The solution will ultimately be implemented when Christ returns.

The plight of the Palestinians who are forced to give up land they bought or inherited or endure emposed hardship to stay.  But they are victims of past sinful ripples planted in a land deeded by God to a different people.  It is hard to accept when land we own no longer is ours when we sell or give it, deeding it over to another.  But it is different with God’s gifts, especially when that gift was taken by invaders.  Consider how many times the Jews  were removed from their land, due to sin and rebellion, by pagan invaders and later returned to and  God’ judgment  then fell on those invaders.  Babylon is such an example.  

The other issue is bible prophecies predicting the return of Jews to their promised land in the latter days.  There are a  good number of prophecies from old testament prophets saying Israel will  return an d rebuild her homeland in last days before His return.  Some of those prophecies are: Amos 9:14-15, Ezekiel 37:10-14 & 21-22, Ez. 4:3-6, Ez. 34:13, Isaiah 66:7-8, Jeremiah 16:14-15, Jer. 31:10, Leviticus 26:3, Deuteronomy 30:3-5, Isaiah 43:3-7, Zechariah 12:2-3, … 

My conclusions based on scripture:
1.  God loves the Palestinians just as much as the Jews and has a different location in mind for them than land He already gave the decendents of Jacob. IF only all parties would stop following satan’s ripple magnifying influence and start listening to and following God’s ripple calming influence. “WWJD”?  Maybe we should ask Him?  Well, we are all going to find out, liking it or not, when He returns.  I believe that is very soon, but only He knows  when.

2.  What matters the second after each and everyone takes their last breath?  Is it who owns the promised land or who did we follow and serve?  John 14:6 – Jesus tells us He is the only way to the Father.  His life, His example, His sacrifice all confirm He is God and worthy of our love and worship and obedience.  He alone is God and has authority and power over death as well as over satan. He alone can bring peace when war and injustice seem the only option. So instead of trying to figure out solutions to the world’s problems or even our own, we need to seek and follow the One with  the solutions.
3. From a political viewpoint, the plight of the Palestinians and legacy of Jews in Israel-Palestine is not resolvable,  Some would make Israel’s occupying force the villian while others the Palestinians.  Yet there are some in both camps following a path to increase the ripples of war but there is also others following a path to calming those ripples in an effort to bring peace.
4. I believe Jesus is the answer to the big problems, personal and global.  He is also the solution to the smaller problems, even the ones we think are too small for Him, even the ones we think we can handle.  But the only way that can happen is if we take our eyes off ourselves and off our problems and on Him.  The more who do that, the closer to implementing His solution we will follow and see.  But prophecy is telling us that won’t happen until Christ returns and enforced His Will.
5.  As I reflect on impact those of long ago had on the lives of those after them, i understand my actions and my relationship with Christ have a huge impact on others too.  I too  have a responsibility God has put on my shoulders to either cause sinful ripples or calm them as i follow and disobey or obey God’s will.

Well, my opinions and conclusions are mine and should be treated as such. Instead , the only solution and path to peace worthy of following.  The only path supported by scripture, is to look to and follow Jesus Christ as the only way to God and the only source of Truth and Peace.   History shouts the dead end of destruction of any other path.  Christ is the only way to peace and will return soon do implement just that.  Will we be on His winning side or on the side of destruction. We each have that choice to make of our  own free will.  Will we follow the way to life or death?  The evidence is overwhelming and clear.   Who will we believe?  Who will we follow?                                                                       “You are never left alone when you are alone with God.”   Woodrow Kroll

11/18/18                                David’s style of Gratitude                                           18                   

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30

RECOMMENDED READING: Psalm 69:29-36 ^“29 But I am poor and sorrowful; Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.³⁰ I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.³¹ This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull,Which has horns and hooves.³² The humble shall see this and be glad;And you who seek God, your hearts shall live.³³ For the Lord hears the poor,And does not despise His prisoners.³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise Him,The seas and everything that moves in them.³⁵ For God will save Zion And build the cities of Judah,That they may dwell there and possess it.³⁶ Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it,And those who love His name shall dwell in it.”

COMMENTS:  Scripture gives us many examples, like David and job and Daniel and even Joseph to teach us the importance and value of expressing our sincere praise and worship and gratitude to God, especially during times of trial and hardship and even tragedy.  It is in times of trial we more easily become discouraged and anxious and loose site of His nearness and blessings He has and continues to bestow.  But it is in times of peace and prosperity and plenty that we are in even greater risk of neglecting Him because then we are more easily fooled into thinking we can do life alone without Him. When we do that, we are so much more vulnerable to make tragic foolish mistakes and fall into damaging sin.  It is then satan with glee sinks his fangs of death into our souls because we let him. 

But that is not God’s plan nor desire.  He guides and helps and protects us as we give Him permission and open ourselves to receive.  By prayer and praise and worship and, yes, gratitude we give Him permission and open ourselves to receive.  We also open ourselves to opportunities He gives us to influence and bless others we cross path with and need a word of wisdom and insight, a word from God. A word we might not hear if we are too busy doing our own  thing instead of His Will.

David would even dance when worshipping and expressing his praise and gratitude. I see dance in worship by Christians in overseas churches.  We, in USA, I believe should learn from them and from David.  We indeed may be missing an important element of worship God desires for us to enjoy and express to Him.

“See what happens when you open your heart afresh to the Lord…where you truly begin to “magnify him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30)”
Nancy DeMoss in Choosing Gratitude

 

11/19/18                                          Friend to Friend                                 19            

Thanksgiving is nearly here, and so I’ve been thinking about gratitude a lot lately. What is it? When should we show it? What does God say about it?

Paul wrote the Thessalonians, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Most read that verse and think it rather nice. So we slap a sloppy coat of thanksgiving on life and go about our day. In reality, most of us are thankful for very little.

Notice the Bible doesn’t command us to feel thankful in all circumstances. Instead it commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” When I begin to praise God in a difficult situation, even if I don’t feel like it, many times the scales fall from my eyes and I begin to see glimpses of His glory sprinkled on the black backdrop of the situation like diamonds on black velvet.

Sometimes I don’t see glory in tragedy, but I still can praise God because I know He is there.

Gratitude changes the lens through which we see the circumstances in our little slice of time. Thanksgiving changes our perspective despite broken dreams, broken relationships, tumultuous circumstances, and unfulfilled longings.

11/20/18                                      7 Attributes of Grateful People                     20

RECOMMENDED  READING PSALM 105:1-10 “  Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;make known among the nations what he has done.² Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.³ Glory in his holy name;  let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.⁴ Look to the Lord and his strength;seek his face always.⁵ Remember the wonders he has done,  his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,⁶ you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,  his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.⁷ He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.⁸ He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations,⁹ the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.¹⁰ He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,  to Israel as an everlasting covenant:¹¹ “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”

COMMENTS:  Grateful people are joyful people, loving people, productive people.  People who appreciate what have and what others do for and with them.  They have learned to seek help and offer help as well.  They do well in team projects and are more willing to give credit for success to others than accept credit themselves. 

But most of all, grateful people are obedient people when they express their gratitude to God.                                                                                                    Below are some attributes of grateful people.                                                                   1.  Express their joy.

 

2.  Celebrate all of God’s blessings.
3.  Remember who and what helped their lives turned for the best.
4.  Endure hardships with grateful hearts.
5.  Serve others with their talent, time and money.
6.  Value the small things in life.
7.  Spend time with loved ones and friends.

These attributes are evident in people who are Christian or not, but the difference in Christians is a recognition and appreaciation for and awareness of God’s provision and abiding presence each day.  Appreciation of God’s provision and involvement makes such individuals far more appreciative of others too. They also recognize Jesus’ example and maintain focus patterning their lives after his.

So, this Thanksgiving  what are you grateful for?  Why are you grateful for?  “Count your many blessings and see what God has done!”  “It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy.”

11/21/18                                         Angels Among Us                                             21          

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Hebrews 13:2

RECOMMENDED READING:  Daniel 9:20-23 “²⁰ While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill—²¹ while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. ²² He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. ²³ As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision: ²⁴ “Seventy ‘sevens’^[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish^[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.^{[e] 25} “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,^[f] the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. ²⁶ After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.^[g] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. ²⁷ He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’^[h] In the middle of the ‘seven’^[i] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple^[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.^[k]”

COMMENTS:   My favorite person in the entire Old Testament is Daniel.  His courage and faithfulness and humble submission are second to none in the Old Testament and reflect the person I aspire to become.  Christ, of course, is our perfect example.  Yet, for me Daniel is a more reachable and still solid example to aspire to follow and become.  Daniel was faithful to pray in the face of peace and comfort and prosperity and success but also in times of trial and hardship and severe prejudice and persecution.  Prayer was where he communicated daily with God and where God revealed His heart to Daniel.  Daniel is one of the very few God said “is highly esteemed”.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the only other person Gabriel conveyed this honor and complement to.

For God to entrust powerful visions and revelation of things to come was a considerable honor for Daniel and great responsibility too.  I’m certain Daniel didn’t understand all or even much of what God was revealing to Him, but wrote it down exactly as presented, trusting  God would reveal its meaning in His time and way.  After all, the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream came to Daniel in just that a way.  Daniel had to wait 21 days before the response came to him in Daniel 10.  For Daniel, prayer was a means of fellowship with His Lord and dearest Friend.  He enjoyed and needed that daily fellowship whether God responded right away or not.

Have you ever had a friend or relative you loved to be with even when didn’t say anything?  Some people are great talkers and are able to carry on communication constantly. But others are naturally much quieter and only speak when think of something to say.  My wife and I are like that and sometimes will go for hours sitting next to each other without saying anything while still enjoying each other’s company.  Of course, we do communication and share.  We are best friends as well as soul mates. 

I have to admit that sometimes when I’m on the phone or visiting a friend who is a gifted talker, after awhile my mind goes into overload and my head begins to hurt for all the talk and communication.  But both quiet time with quiet friends and talking time with talkative friends have helped make me a better listener.  To listen more than talk and weigh my words more instead of saying the first thing my mind thinks.

I take great comfort in knowing God is my very best friend, even more so than Arlene, my wife.  He is available 24×7 without appointment or exception.  He has sent His Holy Spirit to abide with and abide in me to guide and council and encourage and strengthen me.   He has sent His angels unseen and unnoticed most of the time but as I need to live rightly and do His will.  The same God who prepared and  enabled Daniel to be faithful as a child taken from his family by an invading tyrant stripped of his friends  and culture and even language and indoctrinated with a strange pagan culture and religion.  But the invaders could not pull him from his faith and Lord.  They could not keep him from praying nor separate him from 3 dear faithful friends to help and strengthen him. He not only survived and remained faithful but thrives and even prospered in that culture and became a consistent respected powerful influence that even so impacted the most powerful ruler at time to acknowledge and even believe in and worship the true and only God.  The God of Daniel.

If God did that for Daniel and Daniel was able to be and  remain faithful to Him in his circumstances, how much more will God enable and help us to do so in our  time and in our circumstances!

Do we have guardian angels?  Oh yes, and much more!  Well, you and I may believe that but we need reminded often because those angels and God’s abiding Holy Spirit are not physically seen and sometimes not felt.  Well, if Job had to endure trials and tragedy without feeling or seeing evidence of God’s presence for a time or even getting encouragement from his friends for a time, we should realize we may need to endure feeling alone for a time.  Even Daniel endured this for a time.  God revealed later to Job that his trials where a test but also to build his faith and make him stronger and his witness stronger.  Such was certainly the case for Daniel. The lion’s den for him and the fiery furnace for his 3 friends were certainly that. But Daniel didn’t go in the lion’s den alone.  God personally entered and shut the lion’s mouths first.  God personally insulated the heat of the flames from Daniel’s friends.  Did they see God doing that?  Scripture doesn’t indicate that.  They all knew there was a possibility they would die a painful violent death.  But that didn’t matter nor change their mind.  T hey all knew an eternity with God was worth even a painful death.  Their love and faith in God was solid and enable them to be courageous in the midst of such danger and persecution.  Over the centuries God has given such courage to persecuted and martyred Christians and still does. 

Scripture warns us that in the latter times, which I believe we are living in, there will many will be deceived into believing satan’s lies and believe evil is good and good evil.  But many will believe and turn to God and embrace faith in Him.  There will be increasingly widespread and intense persecution of Christians but to each will be given sufficient courage and strength to endure.  God will either spare them the storm or take them hand in hand through the storm. 

What storms will God ask us to go through?  Only He knows but if we remain faithful, we need not fear tomorrow but keep our eyes on Him and our hand in His and our mind in His Word. 

ETERNITY WITH HIM IS WELL WORTH ANY SACRIFICE OR HARDSHIP!  PERSUADING OR GUIDING FRIENDS AND FAMILY (AND EVEN ENEMY) TO DO SO WILL BE EQUALLY WORTH IT!

Hebrews 13:2  “² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

How many times have real angels interacted you and you didn’t even know  it?  I dare say more  than we realize.  A s I look back and remember “close calls” or “brushes with death or harm” or words of wisdom that come just in time or words of encouragement, I realize God’s angels were on the job just for me.  How about you?

So, will we cross paths with one today?  Maybe….  Let’s be open and ready so we don’t ignore or miss those opportunities.

 “Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep.”
John Milton

 

 

 

 

11/22/18                                              Assigned to Help                                                22     

Then the devil left [Jesus], and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Matthew 4:11

RECOMMENDED  READING:  Hebrews 2:1-9  “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. ² For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, ⁴ God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

           THE SON MADE LOWER THAN ANGELS                                                                                        ⁵ For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. ⁶ But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him,Or the son of man that You take care of him?⁷ You have made him a little lower than the angels;You have crowned him with glory and honor,And set him over the works of Your hands.⁸ You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. ⁹ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

. COMMENTS:  Our bible is a living book.  It was written by 40 people inspired by God over a 1600 year period but reveals history from creation to a distant future yet to come.  But even more, it describes and reveals personal experiences of people from Adam with God as well as reveals the personality and character and power and eternal nature of God.  Man cannot comprehend God, so there is so much about God unrevealed in scripture, but what is revealed brings wonder and praise and adoration into the souls of those who have encountered and had a relationship with Him. 

The Bible is full of miraculous experiences and encountered with God that enabled and empowered them to then do amazing things.  David’s defeat of the giant Goliath, parting of  the Red Sea and way God provided for and protected Moses and those he lead out of Egypt, Daniel in the Lion’s Den and dreams and visions he saw, Joseph’s miraculous path from slavery to prison to authority second only to pharaoh.  These and many many more fill the pages of our Bible.  Then the miraculous birth and live and death and resurrection of Jesus overshadow all the stories of old.  These stories and so many more reveal the sinfulness and failures of everyone of the men and women and even children revealed as well as the overwhelming redemptive life giving nature and provision God has always and continues to give.  The stories are just as applicable and valuable today as they were long centuries ago.

Hebrews 1:14 tells us that angels are sent to do for us what they did for Jesus: strengthen us in our hour of need.  That is to strengthen and encourage Him.  To give Him encouragement from the Father.  A message of hope and help.  A message needed most. 

An amazing mystery is God the Son separating Himself from the Father and becoming human in order:

1. Show us how to have a wonderful meaningful loving relationship with the Father
2. What living a God centered life looked like and living in submission to His Will.
3. Shows us what God is really like and give us an perfect example to both see what God’s love is like and a perfect example to follow and pattern our life after.
4. Then most of all to demonstrate His love by sacrificing Himself as our Sacrificial Lamb that pays for our redemption and forgiveness from the Father.
5. But then to impart His Holy Spirit in His believers to enable them to do His Will, yet with all this, still be free to choose foolishly or wisely – righteously or sinfully.

Well, such a concept and discovery never failed to amaze me and make a chill of joy and wonder go up my back.  How about you?   

Who could have ever imagined or invented such a religion or faith or god like our God?  What religion worships such a god?  Well, Jesus tells us (John 14:6) that He is the one and only way to the Father.   His redemption is the only way to forgiveness and heaven.  Many roads and ways may say they lead to heaven,   Have you ever trusted your sense of direction and discovered you were lost?  You were going in the opposite direction?   Well, noticing the sun gave a clue something was wrong.  But a road map gave the true path to your destination.  GPS has nearly replaced the need or use of road maps, 

So, when Jesus said He was the only way, was that being closed minded or egocentric or an attempt to keep us from other ways to heaven? Or was it because every other way was an is dead end literally?   What way do you want to trust and put you’re your eternal destiny in?  Who will you trust your future to?   Christ doesn’t expect or ask for blind faith.  But He does ask us to follow when He proves to us His credibility.  His scripture, His life, His provision and help for countless numbers before us, family and friends all provide that proof.  But then again, taking time to see His faithfulness in our own life all prove He is real and His Gospel and Word are all true.  The forces of evil are formidable but His forces are overwhelming.  He will win and we will too if we partner and make our allegiance with Him.   AMEN?  AMEN!!

“Mercifully grant that, as Your holy angels always serve and worship You in heaven, so by Your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth. “    Book of Common Prayer

 

11/23/18                              Angels Watching Over Me                       23    

In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.   Isaiah 63:9

Recommended Reading:  Isaiah 63:7-9  “⁷ I will mention the loving kindnesses of the Lord and the praises of the Lord, According to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.⁸ For He said, “Surely they are My people,Children who will not lie.”So He became their Savior.⁹ In all their affliction He was afflicted,And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them all the days of old.”

COMMENTS: Christian history is filled with accounts of God’s abiding presence empowering and protecting faithful Christians enduring persecution and even martyrdom.  Protecting  them in some instances from death and from pain and despair in other instances.  We are told precious to God is the death of His children.  There is scriptural support to believe God dispatches angels to carry His followers to heaven.  He is there to greet them.  He will be there to greet you?  Will we kneel at His feet or embrace Him or shout for Joy.  Well, I can’t imagine not falling at His feet first.

An early book of church history, The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus, shares the story of a believer named Theodore who enduring torture ordered by Emperor Julian the Apostate.  He survived torture and was later asked which was more painful – scourging or the rack.  His response was that he did not know because during his torture a young man appeared out of nowhere and comforted him with a cool wet soft cloth and encouraged his mind and eased his pain.

As I reflect also on Daniel’s experience in the lion’s den and his 3 friends in the fiery furnace or Stephen’s stoning, I am reminded Jesus didn’t promise to spare us suffering pain or even death.  But He did promise to go through any times of suffering with us.  When we try to go it alone or focus on suffering instead of on Him, we miss seeing and experiencing His blessed presence and comfort.  He is still there but we miss the confidence and comfort of certainty of knowing He is there and has things in control.

We have a responsibility to those we impact and to Christ to keep Him in our lives both in good times and in bad. When we do that, we have a far better opportunity and ability to be a good witness and share a good testimony of God’s faithfulness.

As I write this, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a day of worship and praise and expression of Gratitude to our God.  It is also a day of celebration with family sharing a meal and conversation.  My family are gathering today instead because of work schedules and need for some to share in this meal with other family.  So my family will be gathering in our home this afternoon for a meal and then go to worship at our church with our church family.   WE pray you will enjoy such too.

All night, all day, angels watching over me, my Lord.  African-American Spiritual

 

 

11/24/18              A Thankful Life = A Wonderful Life         24      

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:25-33 “²⁵ Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?²⁶ Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?²⁷ Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?²⁸ And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:²⁹ And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.³⁰ Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?³¹ Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?³² (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

COMMENTS:  Luke 17:11-19 gives us the account of the encounter of Jesus with 10 lepers He healed permanently.    They all were healed but only one returned to Him to say thank you.  They were healed.  Nine went back to the life they once had before leprosy drove them away to a life of isolation and suffering with no hope. But one returned to show gratitude.  He opened his soul to receive the blessing of a relationship with his healer but also his creator and savior. We are not told in scripture, but I imagine he followed Jesus’ ministry and grieved when Jesus was cruxified and believed when He was resurrected and received His Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

 What has God done for you?  For me?  As dramatic as healing a incurable disease like leprosy?    Is it any less a miracle to make the sunrise, hold the earth at just the right distance from the sun to sustain life.  Hold us by gravity just tight enough to secure we won’t fly off into space but weak enough to allow us to walk and live a productive life. 

What about the miracle of redemption Jesus bought and paid for with His own blood. The miracle of new life overshadows all the miracles Jesus did but the miracle of salvation He provides over shadows even new life.   

So, God has given you and me all this and far more.  A family, a church family, a country   and land and health and life and provision and shelter and …  

So,  take some  time to reflect and list of the ways God has blessed and miracles He has done for you.  I am doing so as well.  Isn’t it so much better to do so before asking God for more?  What do we need that we don’t already have?  What else could  we desire of greater value than what He has already given us.                                           

 

11/25/18                                    Kick the Bad Out                                  25 
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Colossians 3:15
RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING COLOSSIANS 3:12-17 “¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be 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 whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
COMMENTS:   Oswald Chambers wrote a famous devotional book “Utmost for His Highest” is 100 years old but still in print and among the most popular devotional books used today.  Oswald wrote, “There are certain things we must not pray for – moods, for instance.  Moods never go by praying, moods go by kicking .”  Emotions may be changed and anger subsides by calmer and more pleasant circumstances, but come back with a vengeance when those circumstances change.

Learning to control our emotions and feelings and attitudes is critical to living a healthy and joyous life successfully in all circumstances.   Oswald is revealing his discovery of exercising a will and determination to control emotions and attitudes and not let uncontrolled emotions and attitudes control actions and conduct.

So how do we gain control of our emotions and attitudes?  Gratitude is the key to doing so.   Gratitude is not an emotion we feel initially but a conscious choice we make.  Even scripture reveals this and is even a command God gives us.   Scripture repeats often the command to “Be Thankful”.  To remember and reflect on God’s goodness and blessings He provides and be thankful.  Even reflection on circumstances that cause distress, which stir up feelings of fear and anxiety and even anger, but even among these negative emotions we will discover something to be thankful for.  Looking back in our memories of past distresses, toward remembering and discovering positive results and wisdom gained from the experience.  Even discovering dangerous or harmful things and even places and people to avoid can be a positive result.   But even more, discovering the wisdom in seeking and leaning on God’s faithful abiding Holy Spirit and wisdom that Spirit and His  Word provide to council and strengthen during crisis is  a vital life discovery.  Once we learn and practice that wisdom, we soon learn God is indeed involved deeply and continually in our lives and is a powerful effective influence in our lives. 

Gratitude is indeed a choice we make and is especially   effective when we do so in response and in submission to God’s  Command in scripture to do so, to “Be Thankful.”  Gratitude while remembering God’s goodness and recognizing  God’s influence and involvement in our lives and circumstances not only change our attitudes and  emotions positively , but also increase and strengthen our Faith and confident trust in Christ.   Even in the midst of the most trying and miserable and even disastrous circumstances, we have the confidence and promise these circumstances will not last and He will prevail and we with Him soon.  Life is short and even if misery were to last til our death, on the other side of the grave is our Savior waiting to greet us with our eternal home ready for us and a host of angels and loved ones gone on before us waiting to greet us.  Then there is a new eternal body for us that will not grow weary or age or weaken.  

Thanksgiving Day and Christmas season is a wonderful time to focus on the art of gratitude and especially expressing our gratitude to Go d and to our families and to so many who serve us throughout the year.   Doing so will make this special time of year more joyous and richer, better equip us for business and activity and many events that can be overwhelming this time of year, but also prepare us to set new goals and plans for  the coming year.    Christ could still return in 2018 but then comes the question, if not will He return in 2019?  Circumstances are indicating in increasing intensity that His return is very soon.  Will we be ready when He does return or will we be left behind?  That need not be a worry but needs to be important enough to us to make sure we are ready.  Christ wants us to know and have confidence that we are ready.   We need not be in doubt.  

No matter if you are reading this  on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day or any other day of the year remaining in 2018 or 2019 or beyond, God’s  helping hand and His abiding truth and the effectiveness of a grateful will and determined attitude are still vital and effective on the road to heaven.  The road starts at the cross but has a lot of side roads and detours with potential of distracting and derailing us for that path.  That is satan’s attempt to pull and keep us away from our God and Savior.  Don’t let him.   Choose not to let him.  Choose instead life.  Life that God intended for us, eternal life.  AMEN?  AMEN!

 

“We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said we could not…. The Christian life is one of incarnate spiritual pluck.”
Oswald Chambers

 

 

 

 

 

11/26/18                                        Fellow Workers                                   26            

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels.
Colossians 2:18

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING  REVELATION 19:6-10 “⁶ And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! ⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” ⁸ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.⁹ Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” ¹⁰ And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

COMMENTS:   We have a number of occurrences of angels appearing recorded in our Bible.  Instances of “The Angel of the Lord” are instances of Christ Himself appearing.  Instances of “An Angel of the Lord” are instances of an angel God created, an angel He instructed and dispatched to earth with a specific message or instruction.

Revelation is a God given vision God gave John while on Patmos which he wrote down and recorded for us.  A vision preserved as the final book of our Bible.

Twice in Revelation John was overwhelmed with the appearance of an angel, so he fell to his face to worship thinking the angel was Jesus.  But in both instances (Rev. 19:10 and Rev. 22:8-9) the angel’s response was not to worship him but only reserve worship for God Himself.  Angels are our partners in God’s service.  Sometimes they come in all their beauty and majesty, which is overwhelming.  When the angels announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds that was such a time.  But there have also been times when angels were disguised as humble humans and were easily unnoticed. Such a time was when the angels met  Abraham and told him Sarah would have a child, even though they both were well beyond child bearing age.  There are even instances when angels are involved but invisible and unnoticed at the time.   We don’t need to understand how and when angels are involved in our lives, but can be assured whee God deems it important enough to dispatch an angel to assist us, that angel will make his help or council clear enough that we will won’t miss opportunity to receive it.  Only way we could would be deliberate disobedience or pride or other sin influencing our ability to think and reason clearly.   I can’t say I ever saw angel or ever heard God’s voice audibly.  But I have felt God’s presence and received inspiration and insight and thoughts  I now believe were provided by the Holy Spirit but may have come at the hand of an angel.  Maybe someday  I’ll discover the hidden details of those encounters.  If I do, I’m sure I  will be overwhelmed in awe and praise with that realization.  I have no doubt you will too.  AMEN?  AMEN!

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, / Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Reginald Heber, in the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy”

11/27/18                    Solomon’s Way of Being Grateful                       27   

Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise.  1 Kings 8:56

RECOMMENDED READING:  I KINGS 8:54-61 “⁵⁴ And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. ⁵⁵ Then he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying: ⁵⁶ “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. ⁵⁷ May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us, ⁵⁸ that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. ⁵⁹ And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require, ⁶⁰ that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. ⁶¹ Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.”.”

COMMENTS:  When Solomon assumed the responsibilities as King of Israel at his father’s death, he felt unworthy and unprepared. But God had already given him enough wisdom to realize he was unprepared but also enough wisdom to know what he needed.  God came to him and gave him a wish not unlike the genie from the bottle fable.  God asked him to make a wish.  Solomon chose wisdom over wealth and power.  That pleased God so much that He gave him both greater wisdom and discernment than anyone before him or after, except for Christ Himself, and also greater wealth and possessions than anyone else.  His father had great love for God and it rubbed off on Solomon. David was greatly loved and admired by all including Solomon.  Solomon also knew the consequences of sin and had the knowledge of his father’s sins and consequences of those sins.  When Solomon prayed this prayer at the dedication of the first temple he had built for God in Jerusalem, reflected is his love and relationship for and with God but also understanding of his and Israel’s vulnerability to sin and rebellion against God.  There had already been a history of sin and disobedience and God’s judgment as well as God’s forgiveness and redemption.

I am puzzled and amazed why great men of faith like David and Solomon allow themselves to indulge in practice of acquiring many wives and concubines and why God tolerated that practice and still maintain fellowship with them.  I am reminded of the story of Nabal and Abigail and David told in I Samuel 25.  What if David would not have married until God’s chosen wife for him was revealed.  The story of I Samuel 25 would have meant Abigail would have become the mother of Solomon and all the sad stories like the death of Uriah or Absalom would have been avoided.    What if Solomon had followed the same path of choice?  We don’t know for a certainty if Solomon died faithful.  He strayed because of the influence of pagan wives.

Solomon’s story is also unsettling because a man with his wisdom and fellowship with God falling sinking into sin does not give us any hope we will be able to do better. He had the benefit of past history, God’s imparted wisdom and fellowship to set and keep his path straight and true.  Yet, opportunity provided temptation and privilege and power deceived him into thinking he was above sin’s consequences and his position allowed him a free pass and right to indulge his lusts and passions to sin.  Entitlement is a term common today but I’m sure he, as David before him, succumbed to believing he was entitled to have more than one wife and after that there was no restraint left to hinder having 100 wives or 1000 wives.  David and Solomon had the resources to enable them to support hundreds of wives.  They used resources given them by hard working people and by God Himself.

Being good stewards of resources God puts in our hands is vital to obedience to God’s call and God’s commands.  Indulging self with them only opens the door to deeper and more devastating sinful behavior and consequences.   Our Bible gives us proof over and over again, including Solomon’s example.  There are not exceptions so you and I must be careful not to squander God’s provisions like they. We must use them wisely and sparingly so we retain modesty and humility and sense of dependence on Him but also gain a sense of generosity that enables those resources to be used to serve Him and to honor Him and do His work of eternal value.

Such realization spurs me to deeper reflection and pray it does you too.  With prosperity and wealth comes great responsibility and accountability.  You and I will be held accountable for how we use resources God places in our hands.  The parable Jesus told of the talents applied to all God’s blessings – talents and abilities but also to physical attributes and discernments but also to money and position and influence He entrusts to us as well. Tools for service, not toys for play…

Let God’s promises shine on your problems.  Corrie ten Boom

11/28/18                                       Prophesied Promises                                 28

Then [Jesus] said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”  Luke 24:44

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  MICAH 5:2  ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,Yet out of you shall come forth to MeThe One to be Ruler in Israel,Whose goings forth are from of old,From everlasting.”

COMMENTS:  Our Adult Sunday school teacher gave us a wonderful Christmas insight.  Christ came not as an adult empowered and armed with all God’s power and might to force His Will and Plan, but as a baby defenseless and submitted to the care of a faithful but flawed and sinful couple ill equipped to protect and provide for Him.  They did not know the dangers and obstacles they would face.  They didn’t even know or understand His mission.  They only had the distorted and biased concept of the Messiah’s mission as described by the Old Testament prophets.  But they listened and obeyed the instruction of the Angel Gabriel and council God  would give them as they grew in their faith as they witnessed Jesus grow.  They marveled  as God revealed Jesus’ mission.  JOSEPH didn’t live to see The Crucifixion of Christ.  He didn’t live to see His Resurrection nor the Birth of the Church at Pentecost.  But Mary did.  She could look back and see God’s hand at work through the 30 years of Jesus’ growing and the 3 years of His ministry.  She saw the agony and loss of His death and the miracle of His Resurrection.  She didn’t understand nor know all this when she prayed her great prayer of praise and worship recorded in Luke 1:46-55.  But she could look back and realize God’s abiding presence and wonderful Plan from then on.  She could see the privilege and key part she played in that plan and realize Jesus came to forgive her sins as well as the sins of all people in all times. Then she didn’t realize just how favored she was but still realized just how weak and vulnerable she still was.

Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years are all packed into such a short period of time that we quickly discovered there is too little time to prepare. Life preoccupies the long months between Easter and Thanksgiving and we face the yearend Holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years Day not ready or prepared.  But those Holidays come and go every year ready or not.  We’ve lived for 35 years in the same house my parents lived in the previous 48 years and my great-grandparents for 49 years before them.  My great-grandparents bought this house from and elderly couple who built in lived in this house for 25 years before them.   That tradition and legacy speaks a great deal to me.  I don’t know if the original owners were devout Christians but are likely so.  I don’t know anything about the Kernics but do know Ruben and Nanny Irwin, my great-grandparents were very devout in their faith and did important work in their community and local church.  My parents I can testify were very devout as well and equally involved in community and same church.  Arlene I have tried to build off their legacy and example as well. 

All this said to  remind me and you of God’s faithfulness to His promises and wonderful Plan.  A Plan for our good and good of all generations. 

Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Exodus 20:4-6 “⁴ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

⁵ Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

⁶ And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

These verses were told to the Israelites but apply to everyone who puts their trust in Him.  Jesus was not revealed as God Immanuel but Israel did know Him personally.  God’s faithfulness was evident through the generations from Adam and Eve to Joseph and Mary.  God’s faithfulness has been evident from then to present.   The prophecies of Daniel and Ezekiel and Jeremiah and …. John all assure us His faithfulness will continue for eternity.  He is in control and will not let evil prevail for long.  He will not allow satan to destroy for much longer.   HE IS COMING SOON!  WHAT A DAY OF REJOICING THAT WILL BE!!

Why did Jesus come as a man? To keep God’s prophesied promises to send a Savior into the world (Isaiah 9:6-7).

“No Bible subject holds more practical implications than the matter of prophecy. “Vance Havner

11/29/18               He Came as a Baby, But didn’t Remain a Baby             29

For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2:18

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  Hebrews 4:14-16  “¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast  our  confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

COMMENTS:  We are entering a wonderful time of the year, Advent.  The Holiday season when we remember the birth of our Savior.   I was surprised; a few years ago to discover the early church did not observe Christmas but certainly did Easter.  Apparently observing birthdays was a pagan practice and not a Jewish practice.  Pagans believed such an observance enabled the “spirits” to guard and guide as followers honored and celebrated their gods in celebrations.

The early Christian Jews were not accustomed to observing personal birthdays, so observing Christ’s birthday was not something they were inclined to do especially since they believed Jesus had an eternal existence prior to His birth.  They did not want any possibility of pagan practices infiltrating their faith. 

It was not until 300AD that the idea of celebrating Christ’s birth was embraced.  Church leadership then decided to pick December 25 to celebrate Christ in order to provide opportunity to change an existing pagan Roman holiday into a Christ-centered observance.  That happened during the reign of the first Roman Christian emperor, Constantine.  He stopped Roman persecution of Christians and converted himself on his deathbed.

I was a bit unsettled at first discovering this and especially unsettled to discover no record or recorded date of Christ’s birth.  The date is not recorded in scripture but is some implication in prophecy to indicate likely was in fall season.

Well, I still can’t quite get my mind and heart around the idea that early Christians and even His disciples, who were passionate about celebrating His death and Resurrection didn’t even record the date of His birth.  Even His mother Mary didn’t relay to them a need or knowledge of that date.  I’m sure she knew clearly the month and date of His birth.

So if they didn’t observe Christmas, why should we?  Especially since Christmas has become such a secular holiday focusing on parties and presents and just pretty lights.  Nativity sets are becoming less popular or even allowed in many public settings.

But Christmas and the Advent Season is a wonderful opportunity to shout and show the    world Jesus is real and did come and live and die and Rose again so we can be forgiven –  we can know and fellowship with our Creator – we can have confidence of  a eternal home with Him at life’s end.  If we decide not to celebrate Christmas, we miss a wonderful opportunity to praise and honor our Savior and an opportunity when our friends and neighbors and even enemies are the most open to hear His Good News of Redemption.

December 25 is no longer remembered as a pagan Roman holiday but as the birthday of Christ our Lord and Savior.  That may not be Christ’s actual human birthday, but that date proves His eternal power and eternal authority over the most powerful forces on earth.  There was no earthly power greater than Rome so for this date to be lost to Roman influence and given to Christ’s honor is significant and reassuring for us.  That realization helps me embrace that date as His.  Only He would want to take a meaningless evil date and transforming it into a precious date.  For that date reminds me that He took an evil meaningless human like me and you and transforms us into a creation precious and even priceless to Himself.

Other pagan religions may deny Jesus is God but they can’t deny He did live and did great good and even did God’s will.  Most admit Jesus was a great prophet or even the greatest but fail to accept Him as God. 

But Jesus made it clear that He was and still is the only way to God the Father (JOHN 14:6).  THERE IS NO OTHER WAY OF REDEMPTION.   WE ARE NOT BEING PREDJUSTICED OR UNACCEPTING OR INTOLERANT, AS THE WORLD WOULD VIEW SUCH A STATEMENT.   If only one road led to our home, would we allow others to try to come visit us using an inaccurate road map?  Wouldn’t we try to persuade them to follow an accurate road map or follow our instructions?  WE HAVE THE GOOD NEWS AND NEED TO SHARE THAT NEWS BY LIVING AS HE CALLS US TO AND LOVING AS HIS GIVES US CAPABILITY TO AND BE READY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE WHEN ASKED AND INVITED.  OUR LIVES ARE OUR INVITATION AND HIS MESSAGE IS THE INSTSRUCTION OF HOW.

So, the next question is why did Jesus come as a baby to humble parents in a humble setting and lifestyle?  Why not as an adult powerful king escorted triumphantly from heaven escorted by thousands or millions of angels? One day He will, but not the first time.  He chose to come and live another way, a much more humble way.

Coming as a defenseless child to humble parents was prophesied because that is the way He chose to come and planned for.  He was vulnerable and at risk of abuse and persecution and even death by coming and living and growing in this matter.  Was it foolish or give unnecessary risk of failure for Christ to come and live this way? 

The wisdom and power and effectiveness of way God chose to come and live and redeem us show us:
1. God’s way did work!

2. God’s way satisfied His requirement of a perfect sacrifice being the only way to redeem His unredeemable creation.
3. God’s way not only redeemed Jesus’ generation but every generation from all times.
4. God’s way has not diminished or weakened or worn out. It works as well today as it did on Easter morning.
5. God’s way cost Him the most and us the least.
6. Other religions give other ways of redemption but history reveals deficiencies of those ways. But ultimately the second after our death will confirm the true way from the false ways. 

God is more than able to defend Himself.  Defending Him is not our job.  Our job is to show the better life He offers and gives.  To show the love and hope He offers and gives.  To live and love as He did and still does.   To do so sincerely and not pretended.  If you are pretending, come to Him sincerely and humbly and seek and ask to be changed.  Surrender what even it is that has been holding you back.

At times, we all battle and resist surrender.  Surrender is an ongoing choice and commitment and battle because He continues to search us and show us areas we need to surrender.  He asks of us what we are able to do, not what we are not able to.  His love is patient and His loving guiding hand will lead us toward the Goal of becoming Christ-like over the rest of our days on earth if we walk with Him.

I’m on that journey but still not Christ-like yet.   As I look back, I can see improvement but realize I, like you, still have a long ways to go.  We can’t comprehend perfection let alone example it, so should not be discouraged at our failing or in the failings of others.  We may exhibit different weaknesses but we are all equally falling short of our perfect example, Christ.

Scripture tells us Jesus was tempted in every way as we but sinned not.  To be tempted and choose not to sin implies He was capable of sinning.   He had that choice and ability.  Such a concept and possibility is unsettling for me so am sure it is for you.  Jesus, as a full human, was not aware of the future other than what the Father revealed to Him to prepare and equip Him.  This is another difficult concept to understand.    How Jesus and God the Father were one and all God together while still being separate while Jesus was human living on earth.  I don’t understand that other than accept scriptures explanation and understand God can do anything and I can’t comprehend Him

But I also know that even though Jesus didn’t know details of dangers and temptations satan would bombard Him with.  Satan didn’t know how Jesus would react nor the impact His mission would have.  BUT GOD THE  F ATHER DID!!  He brought help and encouragement when needed.   He guided and protected Jesus and His parents from Herod’s edict to kill all new born males as He did Moses.  He protected Jesus from stoning and from death and prepared Him for temptation so His humanity would withstand it.  He only allowed Jesus to be beaten and crucified.  Satan thought he finally won, but God the Father had and still has the upper hand and still is in full control. 

Christ will return soon triumphantly and satan will finally be beaten.  We serve a WONDERFUL GOD.  THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD.   A God no one could have imagined or invented.  No one could.  AMEN?  AMEN!

So, our hope and prayer is Christ will be real and a part of your Advent Time and Christmas celebration.  As spend time with family and in worship at church, take some time to reflect and honor the one whose birth we celebrate and whose life we remember.  Whose death and resurrection we embrace for our own salvation.  MERRY CHRISTMAS>
AMEN!

“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me. “  Robert Murray M’Cheyne

 

11/30/18                                        God’s  Mysteries                                            30           But while [Joseph] thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”  Matthew 1:20

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Corinthians 5:7 “⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

COMMENTS:  Mary was visited by Gabriel with to announce she would be the mother of the Messiah.  She had to know and submit to God’s plan and choice (Luke 2).   Her response in praise and worship later welled up when she then went to visit her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist.  Their greeting of each other and response of praise and worship is recorded in Luke 2:46-55.

Joseph was Mary’s betrothed, her fiancée.  For him to discover Mary was pregnant and how that came to be would require more faith than he was prepared to demonstrate.   But while Mary was with Elizabeth an angel came to visit and prepare Joseph as well. 

Mary left to visit Elizabeth with a lot of unanswered questions.  We can only imagine those questions and the conversation between Mary and Joseph when she told him.  Joseph was a devout man and knew Mary but imagine the flood of doubts that went through his mind as he then pondered and his options and consequences of each one.  He knew Mary but could he accept her “unbelievable” story?  If what she said were true, how could he save her reputation while saving his own reputation?  He needed God’s direction to make the right choice.  He too needed divine instruction and guidance.  Mary would have honored and followed Joseph’s choice but God knew what Joseph would do based on his own wisdom so instructed a angel to visit and instruct him too.

Joseph was devout but the only option that made sense to him while protecting Mary was to divorce her and put her away to protect her from public stoning – to save her life. Betrothal was more binding than modern engagement is today.  Matthew 1:19-25 gives us a window into his reaction and angelic visit that gave him God’s instruction.

Joseph not only needed God’s council, but also needed and got God’s        reassurance that he and Mary would be ok in doing so.

A common reaction by all who experience a heavenly visit is fear.  Fear because of the power and authority and majesty of the visit.  Fear because of the sinless nature of the heavenly being amid our unclean sinful condition.  Fear because of uncertainly of the visit.  Fear maybe because of uncertainty of reason for the visit and anticipation of what visit will require. 

Have you ever been frightened accidently or even deliberately by someone jumping out in front of you especially in the dark.  Quick actions or a loud sound often has that same reaction.  But fear implies a conscious choice to doubt and be intimidated by an overwhelming force or situation or person.  But the response from angelic visitors is commonly “do not be afraid”.  Genuine awe and respect and reverent worship is not the fear identified here.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).  Love and reverence for God is identified as fear that draws us from God out of a sense of self preservation of fear of harm.  A sense of danger causes us to run from danger.  But the fear of the Lord draws us to Him out of obedience and worship.  Fear that includes love and reverence and trust.

By contrast, human fear reveals lack of trust and faith.  Every angelic visit required a clear head and focused attention but also an open receptive heart – soul.    Human fear clouds our thinking and reasoning abilities.  To let human fear overcome us is to keep us from receiving God’s instruction. 

Mary and Joseph chose to block their fears and listen with an open heart to the angel’s news and instruction.  They obeyed and the impact of their obedience transformed their generation and every generation since and every generation from all times past and yet to come.  AMEN?  AMEN!

To bring our minds under Christ’s yoke is not to deny our rationality but to submit to His revelation. 
John R. W. Stott

 

Today completes our devotional journal for November.  This weekend we begin the Advent Season when we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior,  Jesus Christ.  God willing,  we will take this journey together  if you follow my daily journal entries on facebook.  But no matter  when you read this journal,  my prayer is you will be blessed and Christ will be honored.

My prayer is that your  Christmas will be truly Joyous and Blessed with family and friends but most of all with a deep and meaningful time of fellowship with Him.  AMEN!!

Below is the “Gideon Bible Reference Scriptures in case one of them may be needed to encourage and council you:

GIDEON BIBLE REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

HELP IN TIME OF NEED:

• The way of salvation:                                     John 14:6, Acts 16.32, Romans 10:9
• Comfort in time of loneliness :                   Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 13:5-6
• Comfort in time of sorrow                           2 Cor. 1:3-5, Romans 8:26-28
• Relief in time of suffering                             2 Cor. 12:8-10, Hebrews 12:3-13
• Guidance in time of decision                       James  1:5-6, Proverbs 3:5-6
• Protection in time of danger                       Psalm 91, Psalm 121
• Courage in time of fear                                 Hebrews 13:5-6, Ephesians 6:10-18
• Peace in time of turmoil                                                Isaiah 26:3-4, Philippians 4:6-7
• Rest in time of weariness                             Matthew 11:28-29, Psalm 23
• Strength in time of temptation                  James 1:12-16, 1Cor. 10:6-13
• Warning in time of indifference                 Gal. 5:19-21, Hebrews 10:26-31
• Forgiveness in time of conviction              Isaiah 1:18, 1Jn, 1:7-8

 

SUGGESTED READINGS (HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS):

• The creation Genesis 1-2
• The fall of man Gen 3
• The flood of noah Gen 6-9
• The call of Abraham Gen 12:1-9
• Deliverance of Israel from Egypt Exodus 11-14
• Dedication of the temple 2 Chronicles 5-7
• The Babylonian Captivity of Israel 2 Chr. 36
• Revival of Israel after captivity Nehemiah 8-9
• Promises of the coming Messiah Isaiah 9:2-7, Ps22, Is.53
• The Birth of Christ Mtt1:18-2:23, Lk1:26-2:40
• The Triumphal Entry Lk19:28-44
• The last supper Mk14:2-26
• The Garden of Gathsemane 26:36-46
• The Betreyal of Jesus 26-47-56
• The arrest and trial of Jesus Jn 18:12-19:16
• The death of Christ Lk 23:26-56, Jn19:16-42
• The resurrection of Christ Lk24, Jn20
• The ascension of Christ Acts 1:1-12
• The coming of the Holy Spirit Acts2:1-21
• The conversion of Paul Acts 9:1-31
• The heroes of Faith Hebrews 11

 

SUGGESTED READINGS (SPIRITUAL STANDARDS)

• The 10 commandments Exodus 20:1-17
• The sermon on the mount Mtt 5-7
• The golden rule Mtt7:12
• The greatest commandment Mtt 22:36-40
• The righteousness of Faith Romans 3:19-28
• The Royal Law James 2:8, Romans 13:8-10
• Christ’s New Commandment John 13:34-35
• Christian love               1 Cor. 13

 

DYNAMIC DOCTRINES

• God’s greatness and man’s weakness                                                    Isaiah 40
• The two fold Revelation of God                                                                 Psalm 19
• Man’s universal guilt                                                                                      Rom 1:18-2:16
• Atonement                                                                                                        Leviticus 16, Romans 5
• The new birth                                                                                                    John 3
• Justification by Faith                                                                                       Eph 2:1-10, Gal 2:16-21
• Christ, the Good Shepherd                                                                          Ps 23, John 10:1-18
• Christ’s intercession for His Own                                                               Jn 17, Heb 7:25
• The High Priestly Work of Christ                                                                                Heb. 7:25, Heb. 4:14-16
• Christ’s Humiliation and Exhaltation                                                         Philippians 2:5-11
• Resurrection of the Christian Dead                                                          1 Cor. 16, 1Thess. 4:13-18
• The second coming of Christ                                                                       Mtt 24, 2 Thess. 1:7-2:12
• The Last Judgment                                                                                          Rev. 20:10-15
• The New Heaven and New Earth                                                              Rev. 21-22

 

PRACTICAL PRECEPTS:

• Christian Home relationships                      Eph. 5:22-6:4
• A model wife and mother                            Prov. 31:10-31
• Marriage and divorce                                     Mtt 19:3-9, Malachi 2:14-16
• The sin of adultery                                          Prov. 6:23-33
• The prodigal son                                               Luke 15:11-32
• Employer-employee relationships           Col 3:22-4:1
• Business and prof. principles                      Ps15, Prov. 3:1-12
• Seperation of worldliness                            2 Cor. 6:14-7:1, 1 Jn 2:15-17
• Decisions of doubtful things                        Rom.14
• Christian fruitfulness                                      Jn15
• Heavenly wisdom                                            James 3:14-18
• Christian responsibilities                               Rom. 12-13
• Christian stewardship                                    2 Cor. 8-9
• Christian witnessing                                        Mtt 28:18-20, Jm17:18-20
• Prevailing prayer                                              Mtt 6:5-15, Philippians 4:6-7
• Heavenly priorities                                          Mtt 6:25-33
• Brevity of man’s days                                     Ps 90
• The causes of war                                            James 4:1-4
• The value of the soul                                      Mk. 8:36-37

 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ITSELF:

• ITSELF:                                                                  2 Tim. 3:15-16   , Psalm 19:7
• GOD:                                                                     Psalm 99:9, 1 Tim.1:17, Isaiah 45:21-22
• MAN:                                                                    Gen. 1:27, Gen 2:7, Isaiah 43:7
• HEAVEN:                                                              Rev.21:3-4, 21:27
• SIN:                                                                        Romans 5:12, Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23
• HELL:                                                                     2 Thess 1:8-9, Rev. 20:15
• CHRIST –HIS ADVENT                                     Micah 5:2, Mtt.1:21-23, Lk 2:10-11
• CHRIST – HIS PERSON                                     John 10:30, 14:6
• CHRIST –HIS WORK                                         Lk. 22:19-20, 1 Peter 2:24, Col.1:14, Isaiah 53:5-6
• CHRIST-HIS RESURRECTION                         Lk. 24:36,39, 1 Cor. 15:3-4
• FAITH                                                                    Acts 20:20-21, Heb. 11:6, Eph. 2:8-9
• LIFE                                                                        John 3:3, 1:12-13, 3:36, 2 Cor.5:17

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