September 2020    

WHEN YOUR LOVED ONES DON’T FOLLOW YOUR ADVICE

9/1/20       IS YOUR ADVICE SOUND?  IS IT GOD’S 1                     
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  2 Peter 3:10 

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 34:25     “³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

COMMENTS:   Have you ever given what you felt was wise advice to a child or co-worker or spouse or friend only to be ignored or rejected or forgotten?  We all have! Well then, stop and think about the many times you received such advice and you rejected or ignored or forgot that advice too.  We all have!   So, how many times have you regretted not taking their advice and how many times were you glad you didn’t take their advice?

It is good to do such a reflection now and again so we can and will be able to discern properly God’s wise council from worldly foolish council.  My experience has been the advice of good friends and family who know and are faithful to Christ rarely good poor advice while my judgment is wrong much of the time.  Following good advice is harder when it conflicts with my wants and desires and dreams.

Well, our job is to be an available friend to listen and give wise council.  To enable wise behavior and choices and not foolish behavior and choices.  To equip ourselves and have accessible God’s Word and council to guide us as well as those we would council.  To admit it when don’t know God’s council and be ready to explore with seekers that council together.

We also need to realize and not be discouraged when others are not ready to accept our advice.  However, even then to be available and seek God’s abiding presents to be ready when needed and when help is sought. 

Never forget how many times and how often we made and continue to make poor choices because we were not ready to submit to God’s Will over our own.   Yet, God was and continues to be faithful to us when we obey Him but even when we don’t.  God’s correction is necessary now and again to awaken and alert us to make a course correction to avoid greater consequences and God’s judgment.   

Well, let’s make sure our choices and council we would give is in line with God’s Will and biblical council and not following a contemporary world view that conflicts with God’s council and biblical teaching.   God’s Word never becomes obsolete but often is “out of style” or “unpopular” because of changing society thinking and values.  History is an effective teacher reminding us that God’s Word always gives wise and best council because it is God’s Word expressing God’s mind and soul.   God’s Word includes God’s insight and knowledge from eternity past to eternity future.  Why would we not make it our primary source and resource for wise council?   

9/2/20         WHY IS SOUND ADVICE REJECTED?                                2             
For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.  Isaiah 11:9

SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 11:1-16     “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.² The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,The Spirit of counsel and might,The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

³ His delight is in the fear of the Lord,And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;⁴ But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,And faithfulness the belt of His waist.

⁶ “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;And a little child shall lead them.⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze;Their young ones shall lie down together;And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.⁸ The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.⁹ They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LordAs the waters cover the sea.

¹⁰ “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,Who shall stand as a banner to the people;For the Gentiles shall seek Him,And His resting place shall be glorious.”. It shall come to pass in that dayThat the Lord shall set His hand again the second timeTo recover the remnant of His people who are left,From Assyria and Egypt,From Pathros and Cush,From Elam and Shinar,From Hamath and the islands of the sea.¹² He will set up a banner for the nations,And will assemble the outcasts of Israel,And gather together the dispersed of JudahFrom the four corners of the earth.¹³ Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart,And the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off;Ephraim shall not envy Judah,And Judah shall not harass Ephraim.¹⁴ But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west;Together they shall plunder the people of the East;They shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab;And the people of Ammon shall obey them.¹⁵ The Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt;With His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River,And strike it in the seven streams,And make men cross over dry-shod.¹⁶ There will be a highway for the remnant of His peopleWho will be left from Assyria,As it was for IsraelIn the day that he came up from the land of Egypt..”

COMMENTS: Why do we reject sound advice?    Why do others reject our wise council and why do they and we continue to reject God’s advice shown us in scripture and conveyed to us through wise faithful Christians?  Well, let’s face it: human nature is to seek confirmation that supports our wants and desires and plans and reject those that conflict to them.  But don’t forget, wise council is wise council even when and especially when that advice conflicts with our desires and wants.  Seeking God’s help and direction on how to present His Word may be the most important preparation work we are responsible to do.   Failing to do so may end up hardening others minds and hearts so they are less open to accept God’s council – thereby doing more harm than good.  

9/3/20   REFLECTIONS ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE – FOLLOWING AND REJECTING SOUND ADVICE – FOLLOWING AND REJECTING GOD’S ADVICE                                                   3                          

The Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

SCRIPTURE: JAMES 5:7-11    “ ⁷ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. ⁸ You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. ¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

COMMENTS: As a parent and grandparent, I am part of an army of seniors      with a lifetime of experience and memories gathered directly and also gleaned from those before us I knew but are no longer alive to influence young generations.   Passing their memories and influence is now my responsibility.   Overlap of generations is essential so God’s Word and Truth and Values and Influence continues.  Failure to do so puts future generations at risk.   It also causes us to miss the wonderful blessing of sharing our personal journey with God and wisdom He has taught us along this journey.  There is not greater act of love we can do than sharing God’s love including our experiences with God’s word.   To become and remain available and accessible.

9/4/20          MAKING SURE HAVE AND KNOW GOD’S COUNCIL BEFORE SHARING OR FOLLOING THAT COUNCIL   4

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”1 Corinthians 15:54

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING JOHN 20:19-28– “¹⁹ Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

²¹ So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ²² And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”²⁴ Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” ²⁶ And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷ Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” ²⁸ And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!””
COMMENTS: Having doubts and fears is human and not sin.  But sin they can become depending on how we deal with those doubts and fears.  Confessing them to God in prayer and to each other is helpful so we discover we are not alone nor alone in experiencing those doubts and fears.  But they become sin when we refuse to step out in faith accepting the tools and resources Jesus offers to overcome those fears and doubts and begin walking in obedience to what He is calling us.  The first century Christians and Disciples had to learn that and learn they did.  They still had to face real dangers and even martyrdom of self and family, but they were able to do so with confident joy and assurance Christ was with them and would meet them as they entered heaven’s gates.  They didn’t want to suffer and die but when they faced it, they did so without fear.  They boldly declared the Gospel and the consequences Romans and even fellow Jews put on them.  As a result, the courageous way they lived and died compelled many more to accept their faith and do so too.  In spite of or because of their suffering, Christianity spread explosively across the Roman Empire.

We are told in scripture that in heaven we will have perfect bodies youthful in appearance and abilities without the ravages and limits of age and disease and sickness.  Bodies stronger and better in every way that will not age or die.  Bodies new but will be recognized by loved ones and theirs by us.

 “The human body is formed for immortality…by sinking into death, it does not utterly perish.”               John Calvin

9/5/20             RESHAPING OUR WILL TO MATCH GOD’S WILL                5     

He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.  Mark 14:35

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING MARK 14:32-42 – “³² Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. ³⁴ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

³⁵ He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. ³⁶ And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

³⁷ Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹ Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. ⁴⁰ And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

⁴¹ Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

COMMENTS: Even Jesus needed quiet time in prayer to empower and prepare Him to fulfill His mission and final task on earth.  Within a human body with all the human limits and weaknesses, He faced His most difficult and most important task – the task of crucifixion but even more, taking on all the world’s sin through the ages and facing the rejection of the Father that burden carried.  He had to face the judgment for sin in order for the Father to declare forgiven those who accept Christ’s sacrifice as payment for their own sins.  As a human, Jesus saw even a brief separation from the Father as unbearable especially when carrying all the guilt and regret and judgment and torment carrying our sins entailed.  So that night He sought the Father’s help and encouragement and strength.  He also sought the support of His followers and faithful disciples.  Even then He was disappointed to find His disciples napping when He longed for their supporting prayers.  Was He angry? No, but He was disappointed.  People disappointed Him often during His life, so much so that He specially appreciate people like the Roman Centurion who believed enough that Jesus could heal his dying servant to ask Jesus to heal Him from the distance instead of bothering Him to go with Him to his servant.

Faith is rare in people and that level of faith is rare among Christians.  Yet, we have a clue from Jesus’ reaction to the disciples napping in Gethsemane just how disappointed Jesus is when we fail Him today.  Granted, He is restored to His Glory and Power and Divinity and Attributes, but I can envision He still is disappointed when we fail Him and excited when we leap out in faith trusting Him.

Matthews account of Gethsemane is recorded in Matthew 26:37 and Luke 22:44

Jesus prayed seeking God provide another way and spare Him.  It was Jesus’ humanity being overwhelmed with the task at hand.  But JESUS DID NOT SIN! HE DID NOT DISOBEY THE FATHER!  HE FULFILLED HIS MISSION!  His resolve was “Father, not my will but Thine be done.”  It wasn’t that He didn’t want to do the Father’s Will nor that He had changed His mind about wanted to save the world.  It just had become too hard for His humanity to   endure.  But endure He did because the Father did grant His request for additional strength to endure before separating Himself from Christ while Christ was bearing all our sins.

Jesus knew at Gethsemane that He was about to do His greatest battle against satan and that He must do it with all His human weakness and limits.   He must do that enduring the weight of all our sins weighing on Him.   BUT HE DID AND HE WON!!   SATAN IS DEFEATED AND HIS DOOM IS SEALED!  HIS SENTENCE IS SURE AND WILL BE IMPLEMENTED SOON – VERY SOON!  AMEN?  AMEN!

“Thy way is always best, O let that way be mine! In this my soul shall rest, not my will, Lord, but Thine!”  From an old Methodist hymn

 9/6/20         SHAPING OTHER’S WILL INTO GOD’S WILL                             6

We shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.1 Corinthians 15:51-52

RECOMMENDED READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-58 – “⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”⁵⁵ “O Death, where is your sting?O Hades, where is your victory?”⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

COMMENTS: When we are young, old age and death are the farthest thing on our minds.  Then seeing elderly grandparents and neighbors struggle walking or doing simple tasks stirred up compassion but it was difficult then to imagine them as young teenagers running and jumping and climbing like us.  We then think we have a long time before reaching that point in life.

But guess what?  Those days seem like yesterday and I’m finding myself almost there now. I see my granddaughter and step grandsons and others their ages able to do work and play like I used to but am no longer able.  But I also find myself very grateful for being able to do what I still can, even though I know the day is quickly approaching when I won’t be able to.  How do people who don’t know Christ nor believe in Him cope with such a prospect?  The only answer I can come up with is they convince themselves they are good enough for heaven and they just learn to live with and accept their weaknesses.

Well, scripture makes it perfectly clear that Christ is the only way to heaven.  That way is accepting Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins and accept His gift of forgiveness and redemption in that way.

Well, now I can say from personal experience that life is very brief and passes very quickly.  I can also so the confident hope of eternal life because of Christ’s sacrifice is sure and makes all the difference.  A few years dealing with an aging body and any other difficulty or dark times God may allow satan to touch me for a time will be short lived and followed by an eternity with a brand new better body and a home to live in forever with loved ones and with Him forever.

The above scriptures tell us those who died will instantly receive new bodies and awaken when He returns.  Those still alive when He comes will also instantly be in their new bodies without pain and as quickly as the blink of an eye.  Those who reject Christ will only have God’s judgment to look forward to, and that will be something to dread – an eternity of regrets and suffering beyond imagination.

Doesn’t that punish seem too severe or beyond what we would judge fair for the crime?  Maybe, but then again, we don’t know the degree of our crime and we don’t see sin as God does.  How can we judge or have an opinion on God’s fairness and judgment, when we don’t have a clue?  Well, just be glad God has provided a way for forgiveness and redemption and eternal life in heaven with Him with full forgiveness.  It isn’t offered to a few or some chosen, but to all.   Not one will He turn away who seeks Him for mercy and forgiveness.  There is room at the cross for everyone.  Room at the cross for you and me.  Room at the cross for millions more alive today and tomorrow until death or His return removes that option.   That is why it is vital not to delay.  Scripture is very clear on urgency and importance of not delaying salvation acceptance.  

I know, I’m probably preaching to the choir and you’ve heard this so many times.  Me too but appreciating just how wonderful salvation is has become so much greater for me in recent years and I pray for you too.

“How can we be sure that we shall one day have new bodies like the glorified body of our Savior? We can be sure because the Spirit lives within us.”  Warren W. Wiersbe

WE CAN BE SURE BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS SO!  BECAUSE JESUS SAYS SO!  That’s good enough for me!  How about you?

9/7/20                 WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL?                 7

For the love of Christ compels us… He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
 RECOMMENDED READING:  2 CORINTHIANS 5:12-15 ¹² For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

COMMENTS: How much gratitude is enough? What does God expect of us in response to His gift of salvation?  When have I satisfied sufficient payment in praise and thanksgiving to Him?  Have you ever asked such questions or wondered?  Do you know anyone who has?

To do so is asking a wrong question but can be useful in helping us discover the purpose of praise and worship and gratitude and benefit for the giver even more than for the receiver.    Well, the better question(s) and real answer may be best discovered in realizing that God made us in His image and try to discover what that means.  

So many unanswered questions but salted with just enough of a clue to allow us to wonder and let our imagination wonder a bit.  However, God gives us clear answers to questions we need answered while on earth dealing with life’s problems and temptations and struggles, most of which are not caused by God but by satan.  

We do have the capacity to communicate with each other but we also have a unique capacity to communicate with our creator and Lord, what is the most wonderful and amazing capability God has given us. To communicate and express love and thanksgiving and worship. To communicate seeking help and council and wisdom and encouragement.  To know God and not just read about Him and talk about Him.

When we loved and care about someone:

The list is much longer but basically a human love relationship, which is different between spouses and with siblings and with friends and with co-workers and between parents and their children and grandchildren, but there are also some common characteristics too. 

The same is true in our loving relationship with God.  He has the capacity to love and communicate with each and all of us equally and all at the same time.

So God not only loves and cares for us and enjoys our company, but gives us capacity to loves others and Him far more deeply than we can imagine.  He has designed us to be in relationship with Him and gain joy and life and wisdom and understanding and peace and capacity to love and be like Him … through worship and praise and thanksgiving… through prayer.

So, prayer is much more than communicating with our God.  Prayer is as much a life giving act we do as breathing and eating.  Love is the fuel and motivator and spark that make the engine of our soul come to life and live.   Why?  Well, it is because we are praying to the Creator and giver of life!  AMEN?  AMEN!

“The love of Christ influences every decision we make and everything we do; His love becomes our way of life and not mere emotion.”  Ed Stetzer

9/8/20    PEACE AT HOME – PEACE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN             8                           

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.  Zechariah 14:9 

SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 20:1-10    “ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ² He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³ and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.⁷ Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. ⁹ They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

COMMENTS:  Is God’s Word true?  Yes!!  That means we can take it literally but not out of context.  Applying scripture to current life is best done when more scripture is used.   This applies to both promises of blessings for obedience and warnings of judgment for disobedience given in scripture.   Following our own sinful – selfish desires and plans without regard for God’s Word is popular today but warning of coming judgment for such conduct is clear in Scripture.  Countless examples recorded in Old Testament and New Testament are clear.  

Likewise, enough of a view of what it is like in heaven gives us some idea of how much better life is and will be in heaven than currently is on earth.   Humanism teaches us that education and hard work will result in progressive improvement on earth toward being like heaven, but scripture tells us the only way for earth to progress to become more like heaven is by God’s intervention and involvement and human submission and obedience to doing God’s Word consistently and persistently and exclusively.  Also, doing so is not possible without each of us have and maintaining a personal relationship with God and being accountable to each other.

We are also told in scripture that no one is good enough nor can become good enough to earn or get to heaven by good works or conduct.  Good works are our response for the free gift of God’s forgiveness and abiding presence bought with Jesus’ human blood and sacrifice.   That puts us all at the same level with the same accountability and same need for the Holy Spirit’s influence to grow more like Christ in character and conduct and example.

9/9/20                                     THE LOST PLANET                            9                  

He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.  Psalm 147:4

 Recommended Reading: Psalm 147

PRAISE TO GOD FOR HIS WORD AND PROVIDENCE

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.

² The Lord builds up Jerusalem;He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.³ He heals the brokenhearted  And binds up their wounds.⁴ He counts the number of the stars;He calls them all by name.⁵ Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;His understanding is infinite.⁶ The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.⁷ Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God,⁸ Who covers the heavens with clouds,Who prepares rain for the earth,Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.⁹ He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens that cry.

¹⁰ He does not delight in the strength of the horse;He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

¹¹ The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.

¹² Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!¹³ For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;He has blessed your children within you.¹⁴ He makes peace in your borders, And fills you with the finest wheat.¹⁵ He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.¹⁶ He gives snow like wool;He scatters the frost like ashes;¹⁷ He casts out His hail like morsels;Who can stand before His cold?¹⁸ He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

¹⁹ He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel.²⁰ He has not dealt thus with any nation;And as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise the Lord!

COMMENTS:

We are living in living on uncertain and even dangerous times but wonderful times?  Not wonderful w.r.t. what satan is doing but wonderful w.r.t. what God is doing and fulfilling.  News does not  report the wonders God is doing in and through the lives of His followers and even at times in spite of or even from the evil satan is orchestrating too.  Covid 19 is not God’s doing but, I believe, was allowed because our sinfulness has caused God to remove His protective hand from our land and people. Such is recorded many times through the generations in scripture. God’s mercy and forgiveness is unchanging but God’s judgment is also sure and unwavering when we chose to reject a living – life giving  relationship with Him and disobey His commands and instruction.

Today we are seeing moral and God centered teaching and living as becoming less popular – less accepted – less followed – less respected.   We are seeing immoral behavior and anti-Christian teaching and living becoming more popular and accepted and even admired by some and more people too. 

But God is still on His throne and scripture gives us countless examples across generation after generation of God’s longsuffering continuing so long until He finally says “enough” and implements His just judgment and cleansing.   He is warning us that  time is approaching and gives us much detail not on when but how that judgment will be implemented.   He also gives us assurance that accepting His gift of forgiveness and being faithful to Him guarantee us escape from His judgment and an eternal home free from satan’s torement and allures and resulting consequences.  Free from sickness and death.  Free from aging and sorrow and regrets.  Free from hatred and hurt and all evil.   Free to love and know and serve Christ, who loves and cares for us like none other.   Free to discover all the ways He has and does protect and guide and help us all day and every day.  He always has and always will!!

Take some time to reflect on examples from your own memories and let the words of today’s Psalm remind and reassure you God is still in control and responding to His Plan and Time Table.  We still have free will  to choose wisely or foolishly, but He is still implementing His Plan and Will either because of or in spite of the choices we make.  Let’s work with more focus on making sure we are supporting and encouraging God’s Will and not trying to fight that Will.  AMEN?  AMEN!!   Then give Him the praise and worship He so deserves, praise we have neglected and withheld from Him.

“The universe in its immensity was especially created for us humans so that we could see and appreciate the glory and the power of God.”  Werner Gitt

9/10/20                                 TIME AND ETERNITY                                             10

For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.Psalm 90:4

Recommended Reading: 2 Peter 3:8    ⁸ But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

COMMENTS: 

What would it be like to live and work and retain youthful strength and abilities for 1000 years while retaining all experience and wisdom learned over that time?  How could anyone compete with you? What bad could happen?  How about pride and feeling of self-worth exceeding value of others?  How about thinking you’re always right and opinions of others don’t count?   Truth is most would feel that way after a few successful years.

So what if, as we age we experience weakening bodies and minds and greater dependence of others?   How about if youth come to you to learn from your experience and wisdom and discernment – coming to you for advice? 

The world tells us success is gaged by the amount of power and money and influence and healthy years we gained.   From the amount and value of the possessions we acquire.  From how well we are admired and liked and respected.  From how much we enjoy our possessions and accomplishments.  

But what does God teach us – Christ teach us in scripture and by example?  Christ didn’t gain wealth nor travel far from home.  He didn’t go to accomplished schools nor gain advanced degrees.   His education and skills in labor did not likely exceed most diligent poor laborers of His day.  He did gain a respectable following and was a great orator and had a wonder love and compassion for others.  But He died at 33 years penniless.  Paul gave us a bright future in Jewish and Roman society to follow Christ.

Scripture tells us following Christ brings true worth and joy and fulfillment and success.  The reason is tapping into the wisdom and experience that only God possesses and makes available.  To mentor from the One who not only has lived and retained all His powers through the ages but from eternity past long before creation or life began.

A life of 100 years will be dwarfed when in heaven 1000 years.  Anything we gained on earth will be judged worthless.  The only gain that can be carried to heaven and be precious there is the souls of those we lead to Christ or positively impacted and contributed to their decision to follow Christ.  Bonds of love and friendship with others are also precious.  But the most precious is the relationship and fellowship and faithfulness to Christ while on earth.

Those will be precious memories we will carry to heaven and those who also know Christ will join us there to praise and worship and follow Him and His instruction there with us and without the temptations and distractions and discouragement and weakness that satan torments us with while on earth.   Think about what it will be like to live there and enjoy a sin free environment and relationships with other free of satan’s influence, including evil and death and aging and sickness.  Then to realize, after 1000 years, our time there has only begun. 

So what will we do that for eternity?  I’m sure worship and praise will be a regular practice.  If heaven is more beautiful and bigger than we can imagine.  If we will be able to get to know and share and talk with all the saints of old and discover how God’s plan and guiding hand has across generations and centuries and even millennia.   To see how His used His followers to impact and influence positively generations beyond their own.   That will take a long time of discovery that will be a joy to discovery.   But I’m certain there is far more we will be asked and will love to do as service of love for Christ too.   Life in heaven will not be boring or worthless.  Far from that.  We will have stronger and better bodies and minds that we have on earth even at our prime.   Bodies that will not fatigue or age or weaken.  So don’t you think God has a plan for us to use those abilities to do the work He has in mind for you and for me – for each of us. 

What will it be like?  I can’t wait to find out!   How about you?

AMEN?  AMEN!

The great weight of eternity hangs upon the small wire of time. 

Thomas Brooks

9/11/20                             GOD IS SHINING ON YOU   11

 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”   2 Corinthians 13:14

 Recommended Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

THE PRIESTLY BLESSING ²² And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ²³ “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:  ²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you;²⁵ The Lord make His face shine upon you,And be gracious to you;²⁶ The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,And give you peace.”’ ²⁷ “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

COMMENT:   When we feel close to god and sense his presence with our minds and spirits, it is easy to pray and praise him.  it is easy to obey his commandments and reject temptations, but when we feel alone and overwhelmed and discouraged and far from god, it is hard to continue being faithful to pray and worship and praise and obey his commands.  our feelings and emotions are significant in encouraging or discouraging us. 

but can we trust our EMOTIONS AND CONTROL THEM when they are hindering our faith?  Scripture gives us God’s promise and assurance that god is always closer than the air we breath AND WILL never leave us, so our emotions are not a good guide to follow. 

When we follow our emotions, they will guide us to be kind to those who are kind to us and mean to those who aren’t, which conflicts WITH MATTHEW 7:12.  Our emotions will cause us to make relat ionships with those who need us most and god wants us to minister to be missed or lost.  Blessings that god wants us to enjoy and share will be lost and missed if we let our emotions control our choices.

but when we let the holy spirit become the councellor we listen to and follow.  if we let the bible instruct us and guide us.  if we choose to follow christ when our emotions agree but especially when they DON’T, then we soon discover positive change in our emotions and fulfillment in our lives.  God’s perspective is eternal and is working toward goals that are eternal.   he works to fulfill good for us.  not immediate but eternal good.  good that lasts and good THAT HEALS and restored and is best.  good that brings good and not bad or death.   good with not bad “side effects”.   many medicines we take are designed to treat a medical problem but often the side effects are more severe than problem they are treating.

 with god, his medicine and intervention has no bad side effects.  only positive results.  scripture gives countless examples of those who followed god’s instruction consistently with eternal blessing results. scripture also gives examples of those who followed their emotions with disaster resulting.  we don’t have to look far to confirm this is still true today.

well, i know sometimes right and wrong are not clear choices.    sometimes the choices are between good and best or two choices that seem equally good.  sometimes a bad or poor choice seems BETTER AT the time.  that is why it is vital to have and keep god’s holy spirit your constant CONNECTION AND our bible’s open all the time so god’s best is always clear to us.

satan is very skillful at MAKING GOOD seem bad and bad SEEM GOOD.   he is the master of deception and lies but never delivers what he promises.

i believe we are living in the time prophecied when christ’s return is near.  a time of great deception but also a time of GREAT REVIVAL. which will we follow.  we have plenty of examples and we have the holy spirit near ready to councel and guide us and even lead us but only if we take the time TO SEEK and ask.  take the time to discover god’s will and answer.   take the time to make our minds follow god’s will and make our emotions follow our minds insteads of the other way around.

i know, waiting on god can be difficult and make us impatient, but we must not forget god’s timing is perfect because it takes into account not only our requests and impact on our lives, but also on the lives of others as well as their requests on us.  only he can and will inter-connect the best for us and others into formulating and implementing answers to our prayers and other’s prayers.  anything else will likely result in consequences to someone and most likely to someone we love or care about if NOT OURSELVES directly.

“Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace. “Robert Robinson

9/12/20                          COMPLETE COVERAGE                                            12

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

 Recommended Reading: Ephesians 2:14-18

¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

COMMENTS:   Scripture gives a complete picture of who Christ is and what He came to do and how He lived, but only gives us a short glimpse of what He did and who He impacted by His live and daily ministry.  We know very little of His life interaction until His ministry began at age 30.  We do have a brief encounter at the temple in Jerusalem at age 12.  But His life growing up and interaction with other children and adults and his brothers and piers is not given, so can only be speculated based on what we do know.

We are told Jesus never sinned but was tempted.  We are told He grew and learned and gained wisdom and knowledge.  That is a hard thing to understand.  How could Jesus be God and still become human and have to learn and grow like any other human? 

Well, if Jesus has the ability to do anything, then it is logical to conclude He also has the ability to lay aside those abilities and even memories of past so He would experience and learn like any other human.  The influence of Mary and Joseph would have been significant on Him.   Their fellowship with the Father that guided and taught them was the same Father who guided and taught Jesus as a human.

This is hard to understand but the fact that Jesus lived and grew and learned and was tempted and experienced pain and fatigue and discouragement and happiness like each of us, helps us to relate to Him and gives His message and sacrifice more meaning to us.

We depend on many others, especially when crisis or tragedy or difficulty capture us.  Joseph Oldendorf was running in the wilderness of Washington when he slipped on the ice and broke his leg.  He had to crawl for many hours until he got to an area where he had cell phone service.  By the time rescuers got to him and treated him, he was in serious condition and almost died but his rescuers did come in time and treated him.  He did survive.

Our God provides 24x7x365 prayer reception without any break in service. His timing and methods may be puzzling at times to us, but His faithfulness and motives and ways are best for us and those we care about.  However, when He responds, it also is best for others we may not   know nor are aware of.  That is why it is so important we learn to trust Him and learn to depend on and rely on and plan on His help when need it most but always even during normal routine days.

Ephesians 2:18 says, “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”                                                                                                                                Ephesians 3:12 says, “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”

Wherever we go, God is immediately accessible to us. Never let yourself feel stranded in a crisis. You have instant communication with heaven. You have uninterrupted access with your Heavenly Father.

“Prayer is the gate of heaven.”  Thomas Brooks 

9/13/20                                HIM TIME                                            13

This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.  Psalm 119:50

Recommended Reading: Psalm 119:49-56

⁴⁹ Remember the word to Your servant,upon which You have caused me to hope.⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction,For Your word has given me life.⁵¹ The proud have me in great derision,Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.⁵² I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord,And have comforted myself.⁵³ Indignation has taken hold of meBecause of the wicked, who forsake Your law.⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songsIn the house of my pilgrimage.⁵⁵ I remember Your name in the night, O Lord,And I keep Your law.⁵⁶ This has become mine,Because I kept Your precepts.”

COMMENTS:  History books are good at showing us the good and bad choices of those before us.   They give us examples good to follow or good to avoid.  Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it.  However, more is needed than just to read history.  Learning from and using it to avoid error and poor choices is the true value of history.

There are those today who would have us erase history or at least erase history related to Christian influence and impact of Christ on those before us.  They would have us forget that influence and remember only their sins and poor choices in order to invalidate positive influence.  But history records the conduct and legacy – good and bad – of imperfect people.

But the big difference of history recorded in scripture and history recorded in good secular history books is not their accuracy but in including the impact God has had in that history.   Granted, that influence may not be recognized by everyone, but is still there.  I am not saying we should discount or omit secular history, but there is value to looking for God’s influence revealed in secular history.   How was a young weak disorganized untrained band of settlers able to defeat the British army and win independence for the young country to become the United States?  How was the formidable army of Nazi Germany and Imperialistic Japan able to be defeated when attacking at the same time?  

Take some time to reflect on miracles you have witnessed in your lifetime.  Some in your own family and some in your own life.  The story of how I met my wife is a miracle of God’s grace and input.    The way God spared our daughter at age 5 riding her bike with us on a bike trail is an example of God’s intervention.   Countless times I had important decisions and sought God’s council.  His council always put me on the best path but often required waiting time.  For me that was the hardest and required the most determination so didn’t get ahead of God’s timing.   I don’t know about your experience, but suspect you agree God’s timing seems so slow and late until His answer and involvement is implemented and seen.   But then in hindsight so apparent to be perfectly timed.  Why?   Well, only God knows all, but I’ve seen a common thread of that perfect timing to include influences on others impacted by our requests for council and help.   Conversely, I also recall problems and issues when got impatient and decided ahead of God.   But God’s grace includes forgiveness and help when we do go ahead of God, but still regret doing so.

Heaven is a glorious place Christ is building and preparing for us.  A place far more beautiful than we can imagine but a place we will be welcome and feel at home living in.  A place where loved ones and all the great saints of old live and most of all the place where Christ reigns and lives.  No more satan evil influence.  No more war and sickness and pain and aging and no more regrets.  

Not only is G it is the only waylect and disobey and ignore His way and council.  I don’t fully understand in spite of still feeling tm all so foreign and opposite my prnces and natural tendencies so still have to fight the flesh to obey.  I presume you feel the same way.  But still worth the determination required to be and stay faithful to Him.  AMEN?  AMEN!

We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power, and

9/14/20 DEEP BREATHING 14

But blessed is th who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  Jeremiah 17:7-8

RECOMMENDED READING:  Jeremiah 17:5-8 ⁵  roots by the river,And will not fear when heat comes;But its leaf will be green,And will not be anxious in the year of drought,Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

So did Peter make a mistake climbing out of the boat?  No.  We beat up Peter because he took his eyes off Jesus, but at least he got out of the boat.  The other disciples stayed in the boat and only were spectators witnessing Christ’s power and teaching moment.

So what are the steps of faith you and I face or will face?  How do we prepare and what should we do when they come?   We do well to be consistent in prayer and study of scripture and putting our eyes and heart on Christ NOW, before crisis come instead of waiting until it is pounding on our heart and mind’s door.

Well, if we put it off or take our eyes off Him to address distractions, Christ’s message is also that His mercy includes enabling us to reach out to His extended Hand to pull us back up and move on with Him.  The tragedy is that so many of us refuse to reach out to Him when we do fall.  To try to pick ourselves up ourselves to reach out to anyone else or anything else instead of to Christ.

Scripture and past history and experience always tells us that never works.  Only Christ is our reliable and able and ready way of escape and help.  He is the only One wise and experienced and powerful enough.  No one is above Him in authority or power either and is accessible – only a prayer away.  AMEN?  AMEN!                     

Whether Jesus calms the storm or calms us in the storm, His love is the same, and His grace is enough.  Sheila Walsh

9/15/20                           WORD OF WISDOM                                             15      

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.2 Timothy 3:16

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 2:6 ⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

COMMENTS:   When you face big life changing decisions, who do you go to for council?  Is it one who has more experience based wisdom  than you or is  it someone more popular and more successful in things the world values?   Well, wisdom in finances does make sense to go to someone who has manages their finances well and has gain increase.  It does make sense to go to someone who is physically fit for council on how to become fit.  It does make sense to go to a couple who have a good strong marriage that has lasted many decades when contemplating marriage.  

We are quick to go to such people for advice but miss opportunity to seek advice from One who has created all things and wisely counciled people in every generation with timeless wisdom and truth.  That, of course, is Christ Himself.

The only problem most have is Christ’s advice makes no human sense and goes against what our minds and bodies and friends would advice so much of the time.  But when we look around at the mess the world is in and mess so many we know are in, it doesn’t take a “brain surgeon” to realize most are caused by poor or bad choices made without seeking God’s council.

God’s council is found abundantly in  the Bible with plenty of examples.  God’s Holy Spirit is near and ready to help us interpret and relate scripture to our situation and help guide us in implementing good choices.  He also will bring other faithful followers near to us to help  to if we let Him.

Do you have a question or need direction or wisdom for a decision? Start with God’s Word—it was given to make us wise (Psalm 111:10).

“The truly wise man is he who always believes the Bible against the opinion of any man.”  R. A. Torrey

9/16/20                               JOY IN THE WORD                                                16

I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.  Psalm 119:162

Recommended Reading: Psalm 119:127

¹²⁷ Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!

COMMENTS:  Our attitudes and state of mind are a big influence on what we are interested in and eager to pursue.  Letters from those we love who are away for an extended time are precious to us.  They become more precious as a way of preserving memories after our loved ones have pasted or away for an extended time.

I now have a box of love letters from my father during the summer he spent helping his grandfather on their farm as a young man.   Those letters record that time in history to help us know them more and the times of their youth.

Have you ever considered our Bible in that way?  Scripture reveals God to us and the relationship He had (and has) with individuals during their lifetime.  God’s love and faithfulness is without fail while those He loves consistently betrays God’s love time after time after time.  Yet, God’s forgiveness is just as faithful and consistent as His Love and implemented to all who simply accepts it.

Scripture reveals God’s nature and character and also His Law but also the tremendous sacrifice He made to redeem you and me from the judgment for our sins.  Judgment we so deserved.    He bought us by paying a debt we could never pay.  Such love and passion for us should compel and inspire us to respond to such love.

Well, the Bible is intended to be God’s love letter to each of us so we can learn and understand and love Him better. To understand His goals and dreams for us and also the plans and future He is preparing for each of us.  The Bible is also the perfect source of information and instruction about our enemy – satan.   Satan’s history and character and destructive ambition and history.        

There is a treasure of joy waiting to be discovered between the pages of Scripture—the treasure of God’s Word. Could anything be more valuable than a Book that answers mankind’s most important questions: Where did I come from? What is my purpose? What is right and wrong? What is my destiny? These questions, and more, have been the most important ever asked. In good times and bad, we can rejoice in knowing the answers to all of life’s biggest questions are ours for the reading.

The more we read and study God’s Word, the more we can rejoice and give thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

“The more reverence we have for the word of God, the more joy we shall find in it.” Matthew Henry

9/17/20  WHEN THE EARTH QUAKES – PRAISE!                                       17

Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”  Revelation 19:5

Recommended Reading: Revelation 19:1-16

19 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! ² For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” ³ Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” ⁴ And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” ⁵ Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

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.”

 CHRIST ON A WHITE HORSE

¹¹ Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

COMMENTS:  I have never personally experience a destructive earthquake or a hurricane or wildfire.   I have experience the destruction and power of an uncontrolled fire.  I’ve witnessed the destruction of a powerful tornado but not to my own property.  The feeling of helplessness against such power compels us to seek help.   A fire can reign death or purify and cleanse away evil. A fire forces those affected to reappraise what is most important, life and family and God.  So does tornado or hurricane or earthquake or disease or any evil satan inspires and God permits to touch us, including the evil deeds of other.

So, how do we face and endure such danger and who do we seek help and guidance from?  How do we manage and what choices do we make while enduring such danger?   Who do we blame and what bitterness do we harbor?  

Scripture tells us what satan intends to harm and destroy God uses to bring great good to His children.   Genesis 50:18-21 “¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” 

Joseph definitely endured much suffering due to evil actions of his brothers initially and his master’s wife later but his faithfulness and patience and determination to remain faithful to God resulted in an openness to obey and trust God like rarely seen in the world of his day and certainly today too.  But because he remained faithful, he was open to God’s influence and council and insights that enabled him to gain a place of influence and power in a pagan land and late to his own family.   An influence that changed his world, his own life, and countless generations since his story is recorded in scripture.  

We have no idea of the influence and good God is planning for us if we only endure a time of trial and even suffering.

Floods and fires and earthquakes and hurricanes and tornados and epidemics and vandalism and wars and acts of terror.  The list of disasters is endless and some locations are sights of more than one disaster.  Yet, how God’s people respond individually and as a church is a powerful witness of God’s existence and abiding presence and influence and will.

So, instead of feeling sorry or complaining or even blaming or being angry either with God or with others or even yourself, why not focusing on God and giving Him praise and worship while seeking His wisdom and council and insights.   If we must put blame and angry on someone, put it on who is responsible – on satan instead of on those acting out of satan’s influence.

We are told in scriptures of a coming time when terrible earthquakes will happen all over the world even in placed never before.  Entire cities will collapse.  Evil will reign on earth even more than in the past.   It will be vital to praise and worship God during that time too.

Revelation 17 and 18 reveal the time when Antichrist will rule the world for 7 years, but his rule will come to an abrupt end along with those who follow him just as he attempts to destroy Israel.

Scripture gives us the promise and assurance that God will win and has a wonderful plan in place knowing the future, so He has the ability and knowledge and power / ability to defeat satan and stop any attack satan will wage against Him and His people.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The world will literally be at the point of Armageddon. And at that terrible moment, a loud voice will call from the throne of heaven, saying: “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” The choirs of heaven will burst into loud shouts of “Alleluia!” And Christ will return to resolve all the issues of earth, judge evil, and establish His kingdom.

Praising God brings perspective to our problems. In the middle of whatever earthquake is rocking your life today, praise your God. He’s on His way to help.

“When we know that Christ is coming again to this earth, we cannot go on being the same people.”

David Jeremiah

9/18/20                                         GOOD GIFTS                                  18

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Matthew 7:11

 Recommended Reading: Colossians 3:18-25

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

COMMENTS: There is an eternal benefit to following God’s instruction in our relationships with our family as a husband – wife – parent – child.  In our relationships with our co-workers, church, boss, friends, relatives, …  

Jesus recognizes the universal sinfulness within each and every human.  We are all evil.  Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”  Jesus knew this verse and knew this to be true too.  However, He also knew good resides in every human and every human is worth being redeemed, even redemption at great cost to Him.  Instilled in each parent is the capacity to want to care for each of our children and to meet their needs. 

So too is God’s perfect passion for us and parental desire to care for our needs  too.  He is our perfect parent – our sinless eternal Father.

Yet, as followers of Christ , we should realize the urgency of meeting our children’s needs and giving them the best, but not necessarily everything we want or desire. In fact, more what we need and less what we desire or want.

“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.”  Chuck Swindoll

9/19/20                                                 KEEP GOING!                                         19

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.  2 Timothy 4:1

Recommended Reading: 2 Timothy 4:9-18

⁹ Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹² And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

COMMENTS:  Do ever grow weiry or discouraged in good works or in ministry work.  Discouraged because others lack your passion and desire to help out. It is hard to understand why God often lets His faithful followers endure persecution and suffering and hardship and a state of great need while also allowing obviously sinful – Godless people enjoy prosperity.   Scripture tells us their time of prosperity is finite and their future is grim unless  they repent and accept God’s mercy, which Christ paid for.  God uses good and bad circumstance for good for those who are faithful to Him and receive His forgiveness, but those who don’t know His mercy nor accept His forgiveness only have judgment in their eternal future.  So  we must not envy their prosperity, but instead try to warn them and live I in a way to show them a better life that offers a much brighter future – a future of heaven and eternity with Christ instead of a future without Him – a future of  torment and regrets.

We often become tired in the service of the Lord, but not of the service of the Lord. The apostle Paul, also near death, spoke of how the Lord stood with him and strengthened him. Our Lord will do the same with us. Let’s get up and keep going—in His strength!

“God’s strength can only work in weakness.”  Andrew Murray

9/20/20                  WALKING THE TALK AT HOME           20                                                     

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4

 Recommended Reading: Psalm 128:1-4

² When you eat the labor of your hands,you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.³ Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house,Your children like olive plants all around your table.⁴ Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

COMMENTS:  Young children learn from their parents and quickly learn to imitate their actions and words. Unfortunately, they learn to imitate poor or sinful actions and words maybe more quickly than good actions and words.  Children become copies of their parents and correcting or changing them become difficult and nearly impossible by the time they reach teen or young adult years.

Spending excessive time at work or on the phone or computer instead of prioritizing time with family and with each child does have consequences and leaves lasting scars on each child and family member.  Conversely, setting firm boundaries that leaves precious time for family has lasting benefits maybe not noticed right away but eternal especially when God is included in those choices and our time too.

God has a wonderful way of redeeming our time so we can accomplish work and other demands with less time.  Likewise, even regular – consistent quality time with family, even brief time, can and does make a huge difference too.

It’s not hard to notice what peoples’ priorities are. It matters less what we say and more what we do. Saying is important at the right times, but we need to spend more time doing in the home than talking; our actions speak louder than our words. If someone interviewed our children and asked them, “What’s the most important thing to your dad and mom?”—their answers might be revealing. When we manifest the fruit of the Spirit in our home (Galatians 5:22-23) on a consistent basis, and lead our family in the things of the Lord…our children will notice.

As we imitate Christ and our children imitate us, they will have godly models to follow.

“Fathers have one of the greatest privileges—to imprint young lives, who will carry on into future generations.”  Dennis Rainey

9/21/20                           INCREASING CONFIDENCE                                21

But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.  Psalm 73:28

Recommended Reading: John 6:66-68

⁶⁶ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ⁶⁷ Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

⁶⁸ But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

COMMENTS: None of the disciples could comprehend Jesus’ message and mission.  None could comprehend the magnitude of the impact what Jesus was about to do on the cross would have on them and their generation and all future generations.  It would take the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach them that and indwell in them, thereby imparting confidence and courage in sharing Christ’s message boldly.  Before Pentecost, they all hid in fear but after Pentecost, they preached boldly without the fear of imprisonment and beatings and martyrdom they would face in coming years.   But all served to both cause Gospel to be spread across known world but reinforced truth of that Gospel.

Jesus had self-imposed physical limitations which caused him to be tempted and endure hunger and physical weakness and fatigue and even fear and discouragement.  But His will and determination and passion for the Father and the mission He came to complete all served to drive Him to live and     die in perfect obedience to live as the Father planned and fulfill the mission at the cross to complete the task of purchasing the redemption humanity.

Well, the longer we walk with God, the more our confidence in Him grows. We stop being attracted by the things and circumstances of this world and find ourselves turning to Him in quietness and strength. He is there when we need Him and never fails to meet our needs. This reality began to dawn on the disciples when some of those following Him were offended by His teaching. He asked the disciples, “Do you also want to go away?” And Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:66-68).

The more we embrace God’s perspective and spend time with Him, the more our confidence in Him grows.

“The ultimate ground of faith and knowledge is confidence in God.”  Charles Hodge

9/22/20          SO MANY EMOTIONS PULLING US FROM GOD                  22                                         

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6

 Recommended Reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-8

JOSHUA THE NEW LEADER OF ISRAEL

31 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. ² And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ ³ The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said. ⁴ And the Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. ⁵ The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. ⁶ Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

⁷ Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. ⁸ And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

COMMENTS: Fear and discouragement comes when we are weak and tired. When we strive and work hard to complete a task or project, it is good and pleasing to sit back and look at and evaluate what has been accomplished.  God even did that at the end of each day of creation and on the 7^th day of rest.

However, when the completed work falls short of expectations or needs redone because of unforeseen obstacles or short cuts taken during day, discouragement and impatience can take over and close and hinder labor going forward.  Giving up or taking additional short cuts make matters worse but become a great temptation.

God knows and understands the emotions and temptations we battle with each day and offer to walk with us and provide insight and encouragement and strength to continue.   Satan would have us give up especially when goal is within sight because he wants only what displeases God and harms God’s creation, which He loves dearly.

Satan will not be allowed to win but he can and does do much harm and damage mostly allowed by our own disobedience and rejection of God’s help.

What emotions do you and I deal with each day?  Psychologists taught there were 6 major emotions that mix together to create a variety or range of emotions or feeling, but modern psychologist claim there are 27 different emotions.  Emotions like amusement, anxiety, awe, boredom, calmness, disgust, envy, excitement, fear, horror, sadness, sympathy, …

Well, no matter how many there are, they can overwhelm us at time and drive us to regrettable actions.  But we choose whether to yield to their temptations or chose to control them instead, seeking God’s help and council instead.  To dive into the Word of God and let its council guide and instruct and strengthen us.  Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1 give us a repeated assurance “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  That is God’s promise to the Israelites long ago and is the promise He makes to you and me now and forever.   God gives us overwhelming proof from history that He keeps His promises and ample examples in the lives of those we know in our families, in our churches, in our communities.  He gives us ample examples from our past if we only take the time to reflect and re-discover them.  Emotions can energize and encourage us if God influences them.  God intends for us to manage and control our emotions, not they us.

“You should not believe your feelings more than the Word which the Lord preaches to you.”            Martin Luther

9/23/20                                 FALL COLORS                                                23   

And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city. Revelation 21:15

Recommended Reading: Revelation 21:14-21

¹⁴ Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶ The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. ¹⁷ Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. ¹⁸ The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

COMMENTS:  I’ve lived in Pennsylvania all my life but still marvel at the beauty, power, majesty, and differences of each season.  Spring brings life and warmth while summer brings even more life and beauty and color.  But the colors and coolness of fall has a special place in my memories and enjoyment.  Tree leaves change to beautiful colors and frost creates a blanket of while on the ground as the sun comes up.  The air is cold and crisp reminding us to prepare for winter.  The snow and ice and bitter cold of winter has its beauty too, but each season is brief and soon replaced with another.  Each requires preparation and each is announced in a unique way before unfolding before us.

The evidence of a divine creator is everywhere in nature – in His creation and in the seasons that unfold each and every year.  

Scripture also reveals much to us about our God and Creator – Who He is and what He is like.  To ignore or take lightly every place and record of His existence and handiwork is foolish and even dangerous, for God will not be ignored forever.

The details today’s scripture teaches us of His heavenly creation and what He has planned for bringing it into His earthly creation and integrating us, His forgiven followers then means we need to prepare for that time too.

We can’t change the seasons nor His plans but we can prepare to be a part of it.    If we don’t prepare for winter, we won’t survive it’s bitter cold.   If we don’t prepare for Christ’s return nor for eternity, our future will also be tragic.

Truth is, God’s handiwork is always good and even the preparation may not be pleasant and has purpose not always understood, but is always good and necessary.  Let’s face it, trees are forced by the frosty nights to draw life giving sap from small limbs with leaves into the roots of the tree, causing the leaves to change into beautiful colors and then fall off.  We would never experience the colors of fall without the frosty days and nights.

You and I would not display the beautiful colors of God’s presents without hardships and trials to exercise and strengthen our faith and obedience too.

Autumn trees are never more beautiful than when they burst into gold. It seems incredible that the leaves of summer should change into colors that remind us of God’s riches and beauty which He desires to share with us to enjoy with Him too.

            Few things are more valuable than gold. It’s the only metal on earth that is yellow or golden in color, and it is extremely pliable but will not corrode or decay or deteriorate.

God created gold to delight us, and the Architect of New Jerusalem is using it as a primary building material as He prepares a place for us. Revelation 21:18 says, “The city was pure gold, like clear glass.”

If you have a gold ring (or if you simply see a golden tree this fall), let it always remind you of the City of Gold—the City of God—the eternal inheritance for His children.

‘We are all going to emigrate in a very little while to a country that is very far away…. A grand and glorious world where God reigns.”  D. L. Moody

9/24/20                                  AS WHITE AS SNOW                   24

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Psalm 51:7

Recommended Reading: Daniel 7:9

“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire;” COMMENTS:  I still enjoy and love the seasonal differences that are enhanced in the state and area I live in. It is now fall and early signs of tree leaves changing color.  Mornings are getting colder and today is second day we were greeting by a blanket of frost covering roofs and grass lawns.  Morning of frost are still replaced with warm sunshine that melts the frost and evaporates the moisture.   I love the cold crisp air that seem so clean and fresh on these frosty mornings.

Of course, winter is not far away when mornings will be much colder and frost will be replaced by beautiful sparkling blankets of fresh snow.  Snow and ice covering tree limbs is a beautiful sight, especially on sunny days shining through and reflecting off these limbs and fields.

But the ice is dangerous and can add enough weight to break limbs and power lines.  But each season has its own weather storms that cause damage to nature and property.

Well, God is responsible for creating life but satan’s influence is evident everywhere too.  Satan cannot create life, only death.  Satan cannot heal or save, but is responsible for death and deception and lies that harm and kill.

God does permit satan’s destructive involvement within limits but has a wondrous way of changing satan’s mischief into good to strengthen and encourage and bless those faithful to God.  Bless those who have accepted Christ’s redemptive sacrifice on the cross.    Let’s face it, satan was responsible for putting Christ on the cross.  He thought he had the upper hand and thought he was in control and succeeding in hurting and destroying God.  However, satan didn’t have a clue what God was planning and what would be accomplished by yielding to death on the cross.   Satan should have known what God was up to.  He knew God and had lived long enough and had been close enough to God so he should have known and understood.  BUT SATAN DIDN’T KNOW AND HIS PRIDE AND EVIL SCHEMING BLINDED HIM TO REASLIZING WHAT GOD WAS DOING!

But God accomplished His mission and we now have a wonderful path to redemption.   So satan is now trying to persuade us to ignore or delay receiving God’s gift of salvation.  He is trying to convince us that sin is more enjoyable and better than what God offers.  Unfortunately, most fall prey to satan’s deception and lies, BUT NOT ALL!  GOD GIVES EACH OF US THE FREE WILL CHOICE TO BELIEVE AND FOLLOW GOD OR THE LIES OF SATAN!  

Most people love a “white Christmas”—a blanket of fresh snow that has gently fallen like a silent white shroud. But why is snow white when it’s actually just made of crystals of ice? The reason is, when light waves of different frequencies (colors) hit the ice crystals, they are reflected off the snow so all the colors blend to create “white”—the color that results when all color frequencies are combined.

While the writers of the Bible may not have understood the science of white snow, they understood this: Snow was the whitest, or purest, thing they knew. Pure white snow doesn’t have any marks or stains or blemishes, and thus they equated the image with sinlessness and holiness. Daniel saw the Ancient of Days wearing a garment “white as snow” (Daniel 7:9). John saw Jesus with hair “as white as snow” (Revelation 1:14). When we see our sin, we know we need to be made as “white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).

The more we see the holiness of God, the more we become aware of our need to be made pure as well (Psalm 51:7).

“The purer your habits, the closer to God you will come.”  Ravi Zacharias

9/25/20                           NO LIMIT TO FORGIVENESS                    25      

I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.  Psalm 32:5

Recommended Reading: 1 John 1:8-9

^“8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

COMMENTS:  God’s forgiveness is complete and permanent, but we also need to discover just how widespread it’s influence becomes.  The ripple effect of God’s forgiveness.  When God forgives, lives change.  The life of the one forgiven. The positive impact on others that life has.   The doors God then opens to ministry and encourage.   Why does God choose to work thru us and even limit or delay His work waiting on us?  That is a great mystery but we have a clue.   We have plenty of evidence of God’s love and passion to be in relationship with each one of us.  So, that also means He is passionate to do His work in and through us and even with us.

Scripture gives us countless examples of His love and influence and forgiveness showered on His chosen people, Israel, but also on others.  But His justice is shown as well.  He must judge and stop evil but makes judgment as last resort to prevent evil’s destruction from being too devastating.   Yet, God also wants us to know and understand just how destructive evil is as well as understand just how good and blessed His Will and Good He does is.

God allowed King David to sin with Bathsheba and let a year pass before confronting him of his sin through the profit Nathan.  God’s grace resulted in waiting until David was ready to receive Nathan’s words but also withholding judgment until David had every opportunity to repent.  Well, David did listen and did heed Nathan’s words and did repent.   David’s repentance was genuine and caused him to humble himself before God and before his people – his subjects.  Instead of hiding or denying his sin, as King Saul did, David openly confessed his sin and asked God for mercy and forgiveness.  King David, by doing so, was the example to his people of what a king should be. Not in his sin but in his repentance. 

In our eyes King David’s sin was worse than King Saul’s but not in God’s eyes.  Both were equally bad and worthy of judgment.  The difference was David repented and Saul refused.   The price King Saul paid for his pride and refusal to humble repent was eternal and worse than we could imagine.  The same judgment would have been on David too if he had refused to repent.  But David remembered Saul’s end and decided that would be far worse than any reaction from his subjects would be.

So why did David blindly continue in his sin without repentance for a year?  Well, we should realize just how deceptive sin is.  If David, who had enjoyed fellowship with God since a boy, could be so deceived and embrace sin’s enticement, how much more vulnerable are we?

David’s story is recorded in 2 Samuel 11-12 for us to learn from.  God prepared David to receive, but God also prepared Nathan to present God’s message to David.  Nathan presented in a way David’s defenses would not be able to keep him deaf to God’s warning.   So David did hear and David did repent.  That changed everything for David.  It changed David’s and Israel’s future and future of countless millions influence by David and influenced by David’s story recorded in scripture.

Your story may never be written down for future generations to read about, but God’s influence prevails and continues from one generation to another.  One day in heaven we will discover how God’s influence from one generation to another is all tied together and how He marvelously used each follower in each generation to do great lasting positive good.   Satan may seem to be winning but God is still on His throne and has more to do, but in His time and in His way.  We must be and remain faithful and obedient if we are going to enjoy and be a part of work God is about to do and fruition to the fulfillment of God’s plan yet to come.

“Don’t wait to confess your sins to God. He is ready and willing to forgive all who come to Him” (1 John 1:9).

“The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession.”  Richard Sibbes

9/26/20                                    REMEMBER HIS WORKS   26  

For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.  Psalm 92:4-5

 Recommended Reading: Psalm 143

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord,Give ear to my supplications!In Your faithfulness answer me,And in Your righteousness.² Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul;He has crushed my life to the ground;He has made me dwell in darkness,Like those who have long been dead.⁴ Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;My heart within me is distressed.

⁵ I remember the days of old;I meditate on all Your works;I muse on the work of Your hands.⁶ I spread out my hands to You;My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

⁷ Answer me speedily, O Lord;My spirit fails!Do not hide Your face from me,Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.⁸ Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,For in You do I trust;Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,For I lift up my soul to You.

⁹ Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;In You I take shelter.¹⁰ Teach me to do Your will,For You are my God;Your Spirit is good.Lead me in the land of uprightness. Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.¹² In Your mercy cut off my enemies,And destroy all those who afflict my soul;For I am Your servant.

COMMENTS:  Personal journals and diaries are not intended by author to be published and widely read.  Original intent is usually for author to refer to later and not others, even family.

However, as decades and especially centuries pass, their value to recorded history is important and valuable. David’s writings were not intended to become scripture for us.  David couldn’t have imagined the impact of his life and writings on later generations – even thousands of years later.

But much of Psalms is David’s personal journals.

Psalm 143 records David’s reflections at a time of trouble in his life. In the midst of explaining his needs to God, he says this: “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands” (verse 5). He is strengthened in his current trial by remembering what God had done for him in the past. And thus the power of a written record of God’s works is demonstrated—it gives a reason to praise Him for the past and trust Him for the future.

So, how about you considering keeping a journal to record the journey of fellowship and discovery and growth God is taking with you.    Who knows, it just might become a valuable tool God will use generations later to guide someone to a closer fellowship with Him or to trust Him for their salvation.  Besides, there is something about writing that ministers to the writer too.  I know it does for me.

“[The] revealed will of God is either manifested to us in his word or in his works.” John Flavel

9/27/20                                       WORSHIP ALL THE MORE    27  

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.  Psalm 27:5

Recommended Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

COMMENTS:  There is a common theme in scripture from Genesis to Revelation.  That theme is to follow and obey God’s commands and keep in close communion and fellowship with God no matter what the situation or circumstances.  During good – prosperous – peaceful times, the temptation is to forget God and trust and follow our own selfish desires and choices.  During dangerous or difficult or tragic times of loss or pain or suffering, it is easy to doubt God or to become impatient.  When we doubt, we begin complaining and acting ahead of God following our own mind and emotions and foolishness instead of waiting until God’s wisdom and timing becomes evident.   Recorded history reveal to us to wait on the Lord makes all the difference.  The difference is between failure and success.

Trusting God does become more difficult during crisis, but truth is that it is never easy to sustain consistent faithfulness to God’s commands.  Scripture includes examples like David and Peter who passionately followed God but did not sustain that commitment.  Yet, they repented and returned and were able to complete their life calling and course.  The course God called them to complete. 

But, there are examples like Noah and Daniel and Joseph that did remain faithful and in fellowship with God all their long lives.  Well, we are flawed – imperfect – sinful creatures all prone to sin and in constant need of Christ’s help and forgiveness every moment of every day this side of the grave.  Satan’s attacks and lures bombard us every day.  He is relentless and very skillful with his deceptions and temptations.

The story of David and Peter is to not give up when fail but run back to Christ as our Savior.  The story of Daniel and Noah and Mary – Joseph is to use their life and example to guide and teach us how to resist and flee satan’s lures. 

Truth is, there is also plenty of examples of those we know to teach us too.  Examples of  those who made poor choices and suffered and caused others to suffer.  Examples of those who consistently choose wisely and enjoyed God’s help and blessing and positive impact in the lives of those they influence. 

So, which are you?   Which are you going to be in the days and years remaining in your life this side of the grave or Christ’s return?  No matter your past, we all have opportunity to write our future. Will we be a Saul or a David?  Will we be a Daniel or one of the king’s pagan advisors?  Will we be a Peter or a Judas?  Faith and courage increase as we praise and worship.   So stopping and waiting on the Lord but use that time to pray and worship Him is a common practice all the faithful practiced.  

So, if you are in a trial right now, read Psalm 27 and let David’s words of praise be your words as well.

“The best rubrics of worship are those which are written on broken hearts.”  Charles H. Spurgeon

  9/28/20                              FORCED PERSPECTIVE                                             28

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.Nahum 1:7

Recommended Reading: Acts 27:21-26

²¹ But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. ²² And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. ²³ For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, ²⁴ saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ ²⁵ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. ²⁶ However, we must run aground on a certain island.”

COMMENTS:  What does it take to receive a revelation from God?  What does it take to receive an answer to our prayers?   Why does God sometimes wait before giving a response while other times His response is immediate?  I’m sure you’ve asked and wondering about this questions as well as many others too.   Well, truth is the answers to these questions become more evident much later after the need was met or left.

So take some time and reflect on personal examples when answers to your prayers were delayed or different than envisioned at the time.   Can you now see and understands some of the reasons why God delayed or changed the response you were looking for?   What circumstances did God need to deal with first?  Circumstances you might not have been aware of at the time.

In today’s bible story, the need for God’s help was urgent since the storm was about to sink their ship and cause all to drown.  While others were panicing or trying to pray, Paul was already praying and fasting.

God came to him with an answer immediately so Paul could calm and guide the ship’s crew and passengers (prisoners) to do wisely but also so they would learn who God is and listen to Paul’s preaching and teaching to them.

Most of life’s storm are either caused by our own poor choices, by poor choices of others, or by satan’s direct influence and mischief.   God does permit but limit magnitude of satan’s influence and evil deeds and even limit destructive nature of poor choices of others and ourselves, but it sure seems like He permits much worse than we would?

Well, that may be but we are warned in bible prophecy that He will permit worse in the latter days to warn us of coming judgment if we do not repent. The level and frequency of disasters and wars and destruction is getting worse and signs bible prophecy gives us are becoming more and more evident in the news. All are pointing to likelihood that Christ’s predicted return is very soon and maybe at the door of present time.

So what are we to do?  If we look at what God required and asked in past situations and examples.  He requires that we put our eyes on Him and keep our eyes and focus on Him.

Putting our eyes on Him forcing us to trust Him above all else and convince us He is still here and in ultimate control.  Convinces us that we are in His hands and satan’s deeds and influence will not prevail. 

 “More of Thee, less of me”.  Helen Steiner Rice

9/29/20                                          WHY DO WE SING?                                           29                        Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.  Ephesians 5:18-19

 Recommended Reading: Colossians 3:16-17

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: There are many instances of faithful followers singing in the midst of crisis.  Paul gives the Colossian Christians, and us, encouragement and a reminder.  God’s Word has a wonderful way of providing and guiding us with God’s perfect wisdom but so often we forget or are distracted by more foolish, but more appealing, options or choices.  Satan doesn’t want us to follow God’s Wisdom because it opposes and is opposite satan’s wisdom and will.  Also, satan knows following God’s Will includes rejecting and attacking satan’s schemes and plans, so he will use any means he can to distract or deceive us away from God’s wisdom and Word.

But Paul tells us a key tool in keeping us on the right track is to sing songs that praise and worship God and also songs that have scripture imbedded in the songs.  Have you ever had a hymn or chorus that you couldn’t get out of your mind?  A number of years ago, our pastor would spend much time during worship and bible study teaching us bible chorus’ – songs with scripture.   Some of those songs I still remember and sing in my mind now and again even though many years have passed.   Music has a wonderful way of imbedding scripture in our minds more permanently and more accessibly.

Singing uplifts our soul and spirits and mindset and causes discouragement to evaporate like darkness when a light is turned on.

God gives us a new day each morning as the sun comes up in the east.   As I write this, it is 5AM and is still quite dark outside.  Since is early autumn, the days are growing shorter (daylight covers less and less time each day and darkness covers more and more time each day).   Some days seem to bring more discouragement and trouble than other days and less peaceful – restful – joyful time while other days the opposite is true.  

Well, I can write in the day if I turn on a lamp connected to an electrical power outlet.   Same is true spiritually.  If we connect our minds and soul into God’s power source – His Word, we can also enjoy spiritual light and encouragement.  Singing and praise and worship is the wire that connects God’s power source to us and lights us and energizes us so we can avoid the dangers and pitfalls and traps darkness hides.

Have you ever noticed that darkness causes fear?  Fear of unseen dangers.  Fear of being lost.   Fear of the unknown.  Fear of  ???  I’ll let you fill in the blank.  But when even a small source of light is turned on, those fears quickly evaporate because the light not only pushes out the darkness but exposes dangers so can be easily avoided.

Music can be a source of light to bridge the gap between our emotions and God’s helping hand.  A faucet of life!  A means of communication to God and with each other. 

Singing in the church was a deep part of the Jewish culture and church long before new testament times.  Scripture is full of such examples, so Paul’s words in Colossians noted above as well as in Ephesians 5:19 are not a new revelation to the Jewish Christians of Paul’s day or even among the pagan Christians.  After all, even though they worshipped a false-pagan god, they had a natural inclination and imbedded desire and need to create and sing music too.   God provides and gives us a real and wonderful reason to sing, for He has forgiven and saved us and abides with us.  We only need to ask and He is there ready and willing to abide with us.   He only need our invitation.

Do you invest your whole heart in corporate worship in church? Worship is our “sacrifice of praise” to the Lord (Hebrews 13:15).

We are told singing and music will be a big part of what we do in heaven, so practicing here is a good thing to do.  It also brings a little bit of heaven down to us.  AMEN?   AMEN!

“My ready tongue makes haste to sing the glories of my heavenly King.” Charles Wesley

9/30/20                                      THE MORE THE BETTER                          30                         

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul.        Psalm 19:7

 Recommended Reading: Psalm 19:7-11

⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,Yea, than much fine gold;Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.¹¹ Moreover by them Your servant is warned,And in keeping them there is great reward.

COMMENTS:  Some believe only the New Testament is valid scripture today because the Old Testament was written before Christ came and paid for our redemption with His life.   However, to forget or ignore or shelve the Old Testament is like trying to live with a heart but without a pair of lungs.  Both are valid scripture and give life and knowledge and discernment and wisdom to living the Christian life as God intends.  Even the law and 10 Commandments still have a valid and valuable purpose for humanity but also for the Christian.  The stories of faithfulness and disobedience given in the old testament shower us with examples and instruction of what God offers and requires in order to bless and give us a fulfilled life – a joyful and meaningful live – A LIFE THAT WILL ENDURE FOREVER.

A life like Daniel and Joseph chose that served them well in midst of tragedy and great hardship and the path of faithfulness to God each chose that led them to accomplishments neither could have dreamed or hoped for and to eternal life ultimately.

God did for them what they could not do themselves and were willing to trust God enough to endure unfair treatment and injustice and hardship without explanation of why but remain faithful to God for as long as God choses and as long as it takes.

They did not know why God’s intervention was delayed or why they had to suffer because of other’s sins.  But all was revealed later.  Job didn’t know why God was allowing such suffering and tragedy in his life but the reason was revealed in scripture for us to discover and learn from.    

A prolonged time of trouble tends to bring discouragement and spiritual weakness, but the Word of God can restore the soul.  The psalmist David, who, given his life’s up-and-down path, wrote about his experiences and God’s restoring hand in his life.  Yet, restoring the soul is not all the Word of God can and does do. It can make the simple wise, it can bring joy to the heart, and it can enlighten the eyes (Psalm 19:7-8). And who wouldn’t want more of those benefits? It is more valuable than gold and sweeter than honey (verse 10). Well, to get all those benefits, we must embrace the Word. The more we do, the more of those benefits we will desire—and we will dig deeper and deeper. The more you do, the more you will be blessed!

“The Bible is the book of my life. It’s the book I live with, the book I live by, the book I want to die by.” N. T. Wright

As previously, below is the Gideon Bible Reference I have been included in monthly devotions for some time.  I decided to continue including this for benefit of new readers and to continue to make it accessible to any and all who read and share this journal.  I encourage you to use and share as God directs.  If you wish to contact me or access more devotions, below is link to access.   

In His Service,

Don McDaniel

Email: dmcdaniel12@zoominternet.net

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

If you wish, you can access my blog at “https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com“. There you will find 600+ blog posts I have made plus a link to my devotional journal material archives from 2013 to present (https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/link-to-dons-devotional-journal-entries-2013/ )

You may also access my Facebook page and request to be my friend and automatically receive my daily journal publications daily.  My Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/Dondevotionals/ Many thanks to a pastor and dear brother in Christ in Nepal who set up the above Facebook page to help and encourage and give opportunity for more to   explore and use my devotional blog materials.

My hope and prayer are, my blog and devotional materials will become a source of encouragement

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                                Mtt. 26:36-46
• The Betreyal of Jesus                                              Mtt. 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:                                                                  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