5/1/21                                    Our Refuge in Midst of Bad News                                               1         

He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  Psalm 112:7

Recommended Reading: Psalm 112

112 Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,Who delights greatly in His commandments.

² His descendants will be mighty on earth;The generation of the upright will be blessed.³ Wealth and riches will be in his house,And his righteousness endures forever.⁴ Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.⁵ A good man deals graciously and lends;He will guide his affairs with discretion.⁶ Surely he will never be shaken;The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.⁷ He will not be afraid of evil tidings;His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.⁸ His heart is established;He will not be afraid,Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

⁹ He has dispersed abroad,He has given to the poor;His righteousness endures forever;His horn will be exalted with honor. ¹⁰ The wicked will see it and be grieved;He will gnash his teeth and melt away;The desire of the wicked shall perish.

COMMENTS:  This morning I was listening to an interview on Christian radio with a man who endured a difficult time caring for his wife dying of cancer.   He stated a comment that looking back he hated the disease but love how it brought his family closer together and closer to Christ.  During the program, the announcer referred in Genesis the mistakes and lack of faith Abraham yielded to by going to Egypt during a time of drought but later learned to trust God while going through the times of testing.  Abraham let Lot choose best land and later even put his own son on the altar of sacrifice in obedience to God’s instruction.

It is a great mystery but a common practice for God to test our faith by making wise choices seem so foolish or wrong initially.  But this method of testing historically brought a transforming result in the lives of the one tested and the lives of his or her family.  Passing the test would open God’s door for blessing and greater opportunity for ministry and responsibility. Of course, the test always included an alternate and more attractive or appealing or even more logical choice.  This alternate choice was typically one offered deceptively by satan but sometimes by well-meaning friends or relatives trying to help but ultimately only tempting.

God’s ways are always far above ours and His logic and plans far beyond our capability to know or understand them.  Yet, God always makes the choices He desires for us to make clear if we sincerely seek and willingly follow His subtle yet quiet ways of showing us.  Some people like using “fleeces” to determine God’s will.  Others think opportunities are God’s way of revealing His Will.

I heard a story of a man with a weakness for doughnuts and had a favorite store he habitually frequented.  His doctor and diet demanded he give up his habit but after a month of success, he prayed God would allow him a reward just once to celebrate his success.  His fleece was if an open parking space in front of that store would be a sign of approval from God.  After 14 times driving around the block, that space became available. 

Well, we laugh but it isn’t good to “test God” or deliberately try to force God’s hand by setting our own opportunities to get our own way.   God will still allow us to make our own choices, good or bad, but we should not think that means that He approved or condones bad choices.

When temptation is strong, James tells us to flee temptation and not keep “driving around the block” trying to discover justification or opportunity “one last time”.  Satan is a masterful deceiver.  He has had a lot of practice to refine his skills, so alone we are no match for him.   God, however, is a Gentleman and will provide aid uninvited.  Sometimes that invitation coming not from individual being tempted but from a friend or mother or … praying for them.  Our obedience makes a huge difference but so does our prayers for others too.   God wants our redemption and victory over temptations even more than a loving mother or father.   Even more than our best friend or spouse or saintly grandparent.  As a grandparent now in that role, I sense and feel that longing and sense of urgency for my family that my parents and grandparents felt for me during my childhood and formative years. 

God’s blessings aren’t just here today and gone tomorrow. His eternal presence spans time, and He knows the events of the coming days. He comprehends all contingencies, and nothing will touch us apart from His fatherly will. Our worries disappear when we remember that God is in control of the future. 

Fear God, study His commands, and claim His blessings—starting today!

“Jehovah is so great that He is to be feared and held in reverence of all them that are round Him, and He is… so infinitely good that…the fear is sweetened into filial love and becomes a delightful emotion…. There is a slavish fear which is accursed; but that godly fear which leads to delight in the service of God is infinitely blessed.”

Charles Spurgeon

5/2/21                             A WOMAN’S WISDOM & DUSCERNMENT: EUNICE                                 2         

From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  2 Timothy 3:15

 Recommended Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-7

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

² To Timothy, a beloved son:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, ⁴ greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, ⁵ when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. ⁶ Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my

COMMENTS:  We build off the work and experience of those before us.  The roads we travel may have fresh pavement but under that new pavement is the foundation laid by previous generations. Winston Churchill, in 1948, said “Those who don’t learn from history are destined to repeat it.”  He was paraphrasing the words of a Spanish philosopher, George Santayana.  

We are living in dangerous times when history is being hidden or rewritten to suit the world views of a few.  But God cannot be silenced for long.  He is long-suffering allowing free will while setting limits and boundaries for sin.  Learning the consequences and boundaries and impact of God’s judgment.  He delays judgment as long as possible to give every opportunity to repent.  But the parable of Lazarus tells us God is also just and will not allow any unforgiven sin to go unpunished.  Christ’s sacrifice is the only way to avoid God’s judgment and be restored to the relationship God initially had with Adam.   But God has designed our redemption to enable us to have an even closer and richer relationship with Him than Adam enjoyed.  Adam did not comprehend the consequences of sin and the sacrifice Christ would have to pay for man’s redemption, but also for the redemption of each one of us.  All that is required is for us to admit our sin and accept His offer of forgiveness.  To open our heart and invite Him in to clean up and throw out all the filth and decay sin has accumulated in our minds and soul.  Then to replace all that filth with good and wholesome thought and conduct and motive – WITH HIS ABIDING LOVE AND PRESENCE!

Sponges can hold far more weight and volume of water than sponge occupies, and continue to do so until the water is squeezed out of that sponge.

The water of life God has designed you and me to soak up is scripture, God’s Word?  A sponge is used to clean and purify.  2 Timothy 1:5 reveals Paul’s observation to Timothy of the influence of his grandmother’s, Lois; and mother’s, Eunice faith impacted on him.  Their powerful example and influence on Timothy was obvious to all who knew them, including Paul. Paul also was encouraged how well Timothy learned and embraced their faith and example too.

We would do well to so absorb the faith and character and conduct of those of great faith in our lives too.  To spend time with them more and less time with those of poor influence.   Granted, we need to evangelize the lost but we also need to be careful to be the example to them and not them to us.  There are two wolves battling in our soul, one evil and one good.  The one who wins is the one we feed.  Which do you and I feed?

Bible saturation is very different from the thin dribble of Bible that satisfies most of us.  Amos R. Wells

5/3/21                           DAY OF PRAYER – A GATEWAY TO GOD                                         3

Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.  Luke 6:12

Recommended Reading: Matthew 14:22-23

²² Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. ²³ And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

COMMENTS:  Jesus felt a need to retreat to a quiet and private place to pray often.  That was difficult since the crowds would not leave Him alone.  They longed to be with Him.  Some wanted healing, some forgiveness, some to learn and listen to His Words of wisdom and life, but some just to be with Him and enjoy His company.   Jesus enjoyed their company too but in His humanity needed recharged and energized by God the Father too.

As the cross approached the need for fellowship with the Father grew more urgent for Him but He had to endure separation from the Father without any fellowship while enduring and carrying the guilt from all our sins.   At that point He had to rely only on His own human discipline and Will power and strength.   It became enough to reach the Goal of His life and sacrifice, but only because Jesus’ passionate love for each of us was enough.

Comparing our challenges to Jesus’ seems insignificant but not to us. Some are very specific and others are broad and general. For example, we might be faced with a decision, a problem, a need, or a burden urgent at the moment. Generally, we are often faced with the challenge of keeping life’s priorities in order amidst the busyness of life. Either case is a good reason to plan a spiritual getaway to pray so we can take advantage of the help and council and resource God has available to us.

Jesus made time to pray for both reasons. In Luke 6:12, we read that Jesus spent an entire night in prayer. We aren’t told why, but the next morning He chose His twelve disciples (verse 13). Did He set aside time to pray specifically about whom to choose? Generally, we read of another prayer getaway—again, no reason given (Matthew 14:23). But His night in prayer followed the day of “feeding the five thousand”—an exhaustive day of teaching and ministry. Perhaps that night in prayer was simply to rest and refresh, alone in fellowship with God.

When was the last time you planned a spiritual getaway to pray? Whether for an hour, a night, or a day—it will be time well invested.

“If you are too busy to pray, then you are too busy.”  W. E. Sangster

5/4/21                          A GLIMPSE OF GLORY                                                            4                                            

Such a one was caught up to the third heaven…. He was caught up into Paradise. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

Recommended Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

THE VISION OF PARADISE

12 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: ² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. ⁶ For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

COMMENTS:  Heaven is a wonderful place Christ is preparing for us.  Christ describes the place He is preparing for us as our mansion in the Father’s House.  Is this mansion like an apartment in the New Jerusalem which is 1500mi x 1500mi x 1500mi (Revelation 21:1-16) or is heaven our “outside” surroundings?  Well, we are told enough to know it is beautiful and we will enjoy it along with loved ones and most of all His abiding presence.   We will have work to do, which we will be well prepared and suited for.

Well, God doesn’t intend for us to know exactly what heaven is like.  After all, I believe HE is looking forward to seeing our excitement, like a Father and Mother watching their children open their Christmas presents.  So, He isn’t telling us everything He is preparing for us in heaven.  We only need to know it is good and beautiful and perfectly suited for each of us.  To also know we will be with loved ones and with Him in perfect immortal bodies.

Hope of heaven is to encourage us and give us something to look forward to at life’s end and during times of difficulty or tragedy.

John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” is an amazing insightful book from the time of Pilgrims and that gives us a unique perspective on life’s journey – tragedies – experiences – dangers – choices. Bunyan keeps in focus the fact that life’s journey is brief and transient while our celestial home, heaven, is eternal.  He also reminds us to follow the distractions and temptations along the path will lead to eternity in a terrible place.  The main character, Christian, encountered people who guided him and helped him as well as those who hurt – discouraged – tempted him to take an appealing but a deadly path to destruction.  Christian, who represents you and me and each day of life and choices we make are what book describe of Christian’s journey.

A glimpse of the “celestial city” gave Christian strength and motivation to continue.  2 Corinthians 12 records vision God gave Paul of heaven. We have so many wonderful experiences of those before us recorded in scripture to help and encourage us and give us wisdom too. They are enjoying that “celestial city” and continual fellowship with Christ.  Likewise, as we get older, we discover more and more close friends and relatives joining them too, making heave more real and more like home to us too.

If you have some mountains ahead of you, take a moment to peer through the telescope of Scripture and get a glimpse of the glory to speed you on your way.

“Heaven is there, not far from our sight, beautiful city of light.” Charles E. Pollock

5/5/21                                                       BE SURE!                            5  

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.  John 20:31

 Recommended Reading: 1 John 5:13

¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

COMMENTS: How can we be sure of our salvation?   Scripture is clear on the answer, but still many are not sure.  How can we be sure?   We will be looking at some scripture to answer this question.

The Bible gives us God’s message.   The most significant revelations are repeated in scripture but yet are not believed or just doubted by many.  Faith in Christ is one of those revelations.  John 3:16, John 20:31, and 1 John 5:13 are 3 of those verses:

John 3:16-17 “¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 20:31 “³¹ But these are written that you may believe^[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

1 John 5:13 “¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Can a Christian be assured of his or her salvation? Yes!  Together we will explore more of those scriptures and address some of the reasons that cause doubt of our salvation.  We need not suffer with doubt, for God not only provides assurance of salvation, but hand in hand help to grow in evidence of transformation He also provides to believers to become more like Him.

Let us not seek any other ground of assurance than God’s own testimony.  John Calvin

5/6/21                                               WORDS AND WORKS                                                               6

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
1 John 1:6

Recommended Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

COMMENTS:  Children don’t have to be trained to deny or defer blame if confronted with their deeds.   Adults are just as guilty in denying or taking responsibility for their actions when confronted.  Well, no one likes being accountable but everyone benefits if held accountable.  Likewise, everyone wants to be liked and respected.

Words are important and have lasting results.  However, actions are just as important too.  Actions verify or deny the sincerity of our words, “Walking the Talk”. 

Romans 10:9 “If we confess we believer in Jesus, we will be saved.”

1 John 1:6 “But if our actions don’t reflect the righteousness of Christ, we reveal our words to have been untrue”

This does not mean our lives or our thoughts and actions will be sinless and perfect or perfectly reflect Christ’s example.  When we become a Christian, Christ dwells in us.  We become a new person (2 Corinthians 5:17) and Christ’s is reflected through us (Galatians 2:20).  There is evidence of a change for the good in our lives, even though growth and maturing and perfecting becomes a process from then on until we shed our human bodies.   A rebuilt car looks and performs as originally designed and built but still gets dirty and requires professional repairs.  So do we because we too live and work and interact in this world still being influence by satan and his temptations.   But without Him in our life guiding and influencing our thoughts and actions, we will continue to slide deeper into sin or at least fail to show progress to become more like Christ each day and week and year.

Faith is the engine driving all our actions. John Blanchard

5/7/21                                        THE WAY OF ESCAPE                                                          7

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.  1 Corinthians 10:13

 Recommended Reading: 1 Peter 5:8

COMMENTS:   Have you ever flown on a commercial airplane?  We have, as has millions of others at least once.  As the plane is preparing to take off, a stewardess or steward will show you how to fasten and release your seatbelt and also how to access your seat cushion as a floatation device and oxygen when deployed if an emergency were to happen.  Those who fly fairly often tend to ignore the instruction since they have heard it so many times before and have concluded it is unlikely they will need to remember such instruction.  Yet location of emergency exits and orderly exiting the plane. Following instruction on use of oxygen and assisting other passengers, especially young and elderly passengers does make a difference and saves lives during a crisis.

The Bible gives Christians instructions on how to escape spiritual dangers and reach eternal life.   The Bible gives examples from past times of those who followed that instruction and blessings that followed as well as consequences suffered by those who didn’t (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). Israel repeatedly failed to follow that instruction and suffered dire results.  Paul writes that, in every tempting situation, God provides a way of escape if we will see it and take it.  “Take it” calls for a choice on our part, a decision of obedience.

Don’t wait for temptation to look for the way of escape. Learn the paths of obedience beforehand and be prepared.

Escape the temptation, escape the sin.   Anonymous

•                                     SUBMIT AND RESIST                                                     8       

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  James 4:7-8

Recommended Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:8-10

⁸ For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰ who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

COMMENTS:  It is not possible to occupy two places at one time physically or for two different object to physically occupy the same space at the same time. God placed that limit on His creation at creation.  That is noteworthy since He is not limited but can be everywhere at all times at the same time, and He has done and continues to do that from eternity past through eternity future.

Well, God and satan can not occupy the same place at the same time either.  James 4:7-8 instruct us to submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee from us.  God will not  abide in and with us without invitation and leaves when we turn from Him and entertain satan’s temptations and follow his path.   Jesus gives us ample warning through His Word and directly from influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives to flee temptation and not to give satan a foothold in our minds and soul.

God’s power and ways and wisdom and love infinitely exceed satan’s even though we alone are no match for satan.  That means with Jesus beside us and with our obedience to Him, satan will not defeat us. John 4:4 “[God] who is in you is greater than [Satan] who is in the world.”    Romans 8:31  “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Satan cannot stand against us. All of this is to say, God is greater than the tempter. When we submit to God, He is able to deliver us from the evil one who seeks our allegiance through temptation.

When you are tempted, stop and affirm your submission to God. When you do so, the tempter must flee. And you are delivered.

To realize God’s presence is the one sovereign remedy against temptation. François Fénelon

5/9/21                                          EMERGENCY POWER                                                         9         

• They all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.  Nehemiah 6:9

Recommended Reading: Psalm 27:11-14

¹¹ Teach me Your way, O Lord,And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.¹² Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;For false witnesses have risen against me,And such as breathe out violence.¹³ I would have lost heart, unless I had believedThat I would see the goodness of the LordIn the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on the Lord;Be of good courage,And He shall strengthen your heart;Wait, I say, on the Lord!

COMMENTS:  

All over the world, people are adding portable generators to the emergency items stashed away in their basements or closets because power interruptions can occur at any time.

In life, we often need extra strength. As Nehemiah led the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, his enemies taunted and threatened him. Local authorities tried to frighten the wall builders and make them afraid. But Nehemiah kept working, and as he worked, he uttered a prayer: “Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”

The relationship we have with God and our ability to pray to Him at any time or place is like an emergency generator that provides us with power in our inner being. We can stay strong in the Lord even when our physical strength is reduced. Even when our burdens increase. His strength isn’t diminished, and it’s always available for His children. From the Lord we have the strength needed to face each day.

Lord and Saviour, true and kind, be the Master of my mind; bless, and guide, and strengthen still all my powers of thought and will.

Handley Moule

•                          DAILY BIBLE READING – SPIRITUAL GETAWAYS                             10

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  Psalm 1:2

 Recommended Reading: Joshua 1:7-8

⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

COMMENTS:  There is much in scripture we don’t understand and probably won’t until such is revealed to us in heaven.   But there is so much we do understand, for God has made clear to us all we need to receive His redemptive salvation and daily guidance through His Abiding Holy Spirit and His Word directly.  By exposing ourselves daily to His Word, by opening our minds and soul to the Holy Spirit’s council and instruction, by praying and seeking His council and discernment and wisdom, but judging such council by Christ’s life example and words, and by seeking council and encouragement and accountability to trusted fellow believers who have a history of obedience to God’s council all provide each of us opportunity to live and follow the straight path to eternal life. 

There are many wonderful commentaries and life examples available to help believers learn and grow, but there are many that deviate from God’s instruction and sound doctrine.  So how do we discern and avoid satan’s deception.   Well, Paul gives us council directly from our bible in His letters, 2 Corinthians 11 as one such example.

It is dangerous to substitute books and sermons of even well-meaning pastors and evangelists for bible reading and study directly.  Why?   Because “second hand” study is not as good and is at risk of misinterpretation or missing insights God intends for us to receive.  The Bible, being a living document, has a wonderful way of instructing each believer directly with His written word.  Commentaries and written and audio messages of pastor and evangelists play a good source of added insights and instructed and council if judged by God’s Word and especially by Christ’s own life and words recorded in scripture.  The “red letter” edition is especially helpful since Christ’s own words are highlighted in red so carry added weight for us.

So daily bible reading and study is necessary and profitable because the need for God’s council and guidance daily is vital especially since everyone is exposed and affected by Satan’s influence and temptations every day.  A daily spiritual “getaway” to refresh and re-direct and give fresh clarity is essential and life giving.  I don’t know about you but sustaining such a discipline is hard because distractions always compete with daily commitment even though benefit consistently shines through.

So, how about a spiritual getaway devoted to a deeper dive into Scripture? The Bible speaks of meditating on God’s Word “day and night,” which doesn’t mean 24 hours straight. (It means often or continually.) But what about a day, a night, or a weekend retreat to immerse one’s heart and soul in Scripture?

Plan a spiritual getaway to enjoy the “delights” that come from reading and meditating on God’s Word (Psalm 119:16, 35).

“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection.”                    A. W. Tozer

•                             Mothers Know Best                                                          11

He came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.  Acts 12:12

Recommended Reading: Acts 12:11-17

¹¹ And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

¹² So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. ¹³ And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. ¹⁵ But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”

¹⁶ Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

COMMENTS:  Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in bible times or specially to know and spend time with patriarchs and matriarchs like Abraham or Jacob or Joseph or Daniel or Moses or Mary and Joseph or especially with Jesus?  Well, they were not safe or comfortable times or places.  Even the poor of us live more comfortable than kings of those times because of modern technology and conveniences.

In Jerusalem today there is an ancient home that visitors can visit that was the home of a wealthy family.  It was burnt and completely destroyed in 70AD by Romans but it was excavated and can give some idea of what life was like then.

One of those ancient homes belonged to Mary, mother of John Mark who wrote the gospel of John.  Mary was a woman of prayer who opened her large home to the early Christians for refuge and gathering.  In Acts 12 the story is recorded of believers gathering there to pray for Peter who was arrested and condemned.  God answered their prayers and Peter showed up at their door while they were still praying.

When our homes are filled with prayer, there is great power.  Praying together may seem awkward for a while for couples and their families but soon the clumsiness fades.  As in those days, practice and discipline soon results in prayer becoming as natural as breathing and just as essential.

God doesn’t limit his answer to prayer to just families who pray together, which is His ideal but to anyone man or woman, dad or mom, boy or girl who will simply pray and be open to listen to and seek God’s response.  The impact of families who pray together is powerful.  The impact of individuals praying consistently is profound.  The impact of believers gathering together and praying is also profound.   Prayer is profound!  God’s perfect timing and response / answers is also profound and perfect…                                                                                      Praying together foreshadows our heavenly future when we will join that “great multitude that no one could number.” Megan Hill

5/12/21                                                DO NOT WORRY                                                   12

 

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?   Matthew 6:25

Recommended Reading: Philippians 4:19

¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

COMMENTS:  Worry is a common frailty of all humans.   There is so much that impacts our lives that we cannot control or protect ourselves from.   Natural disasters like floods and tornados and hurricanes and forest fires are and even volcanoes are among them.   We can’t stop or prevent them by worry.   We can’t extend our lives by worry or accomplish our goals by worry.

Worry hinders our ability to think and act logically and responsibly and does adversely affect our health.  Worriers typically reduce their lives by as much as 15 years without improving quality of life.

Being aware of dangers and then managing our exposure to those dangers like avoiding living in earthquake and hurricane and tornado prone places is basic common sense life management.  But the even bigger choice we can make is to seek and listen to and then obey God’s instruction and council.  Jesus gave such instruction in Matthew 6:25-34.  Jesus was not saying that God will provide everything we need in our timeframe but He will in His timeframe.  The instruction is “NOT TO WORRY” (vs 25,31,34).  Worry is identified as sinful and not just a weakness.   That means that worry can be resisted and overcome.   It does not need to be endured.   Its influence will become weaker as we resist and refuse to feed it without attention and thoughts and time.

God, in old testament times, made this promise of provision to Israel (Deuteronomy 15:4-6).  He promised to sustain the poor in their land (vs.11).  The insight God gave Joseph to store grain for a coming drought was an example of God’s faithfulness to Israel if they would be faithful. In this case God blessed Israel through Joseph’s faithfulness and even Egypt was blessed and spared because Pharaoh was willing to trust and follow Joseph’s council.  The outcome would have been much different if Joseph had not resisted temptations during the time in prison and slavery he endured.   God’s timing is best and is dependent on our response of obedience.

Since we live in a fallen world still being corrupted by satan’s mischief and deceptions, crops still fail and disease and natural disasters still happen.  Wars and evil people still persecute and destroy, but God’s promise and provision (Acts 4:32-37) is still in force and available. 

Matthew 6:33-34 “Don’t worry.  Trust in God.  Seek Him and He will care for you.”  Do you and do I really believe that?  Does history render that promise true and dependable? Will we enjoy God’s provision and protection if we heed and follow that promise today and tomorrow?   The right answer is YES to all!

Jesus said, in essence, “Don’t worry. Trust in God. Seek Him and He will care for you” (Matthew 6:33-34).

Our behavior in times of need, difficulty and of crisis really proclaims what we are.  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

5/13/21                                    THE CHALLENGE OF FORGIVENESS   13                         

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

Recommended Reading: Psalm 32:5

⁵ 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. Selah

COMMENTS:  Have you ever thought about the plan of redemption God devised and he marvel of it? Forgiveness is as simple as going to Jesus and confessing our sins.  When we do that, Jesus becomes our advocate with the Father.  Jesus presents His life blood to the Father to meet the Father’s price for forgiveness.  Jesus becomes our sacrificed Lamb that satisfies the price of forgiveness and redemption.

The cost and sacrifice for Jesus and for the Father and for the Holy Spirit was great.  Only Jesus was qualified and only Jesus could pay the price and only Jesus was strong and perfect enough to endure the load of sin He would carry.  Yet, He made His plan of redemption super hard for Himself but super simple for us.   Why? Well, He knew it had to be really easy for us or we would have no hope of doing our part.  Confessing and asking for forgiveness and then accepting His forgiveness is our part.  Bearing our sins and accepting the punishment God requires for sin is part,

People who have a joyful temperament find it easy to understand the joy of the Lord when they become a Christian. Naturally generous people willingly express generosity as a Christian. People who enjoy helping others find it easy to serve as a Christian. But one dimension of the Christian experience seems to be a challenge for every temperament type: forgiveness!

Whether receiving forgiveness from God or extending forgiveness to others, the whole idea of forgiveness seems hard to grasp. Forgive once, twice, several times? Okay. But forgive unconditionally and without limit? Who would do that? That’s what separates us from God. God forgives unconditionally and without limit because His Son paid the price for all sins by His death on the cross. Still, we find ourselves ashamed and embarrassed to have to ask God for forgiveness . . . again and again. We simply have to believe God’s Word: When we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us—unconditionally and forever.

If you have sinned, confess it immediately to God and restore your fellowship with Him. He promises to forgive when we do.

Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins.   G. Campbell Morgan

5/14/21                            PRAISE FOR FORGIVENESS                                  14

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 32:11

Recommended Reading: Psalm 64:10

¹⁰ The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him.  And all the upright in heart shall glory.

COMMENTS:   Have you ever taken the time to imagine what your life and the world would be like if Jesus had not come and had not died on the cross and had not risen on Easter morning.   What would life be like if we were still living under the Old Testament covenant.   Take it one step further and imagine what it would be like if our atheistic friends were right and God is Dead or doesn’t exist.   What would it be like if there was no standard to judge right from wrong or good from bad, which is what humanistic teaching if feeding our children today in many schools.

I don’t know about you, but just attempting to imagine this causes a cold chill to go up my back.  That is worse than the worst – scariest terror movie depicts.  I have never been a fan of scary films but find Parkinson’s has made them even less appealing to me.

God’s plan for salvation is powerful enough and perfect and sufficient to purchase and implement redemption and forgiveness complete enough to redeem and transform anyone and everyone in all generation who is willing to admit their sins and ask forgiveness and invite Jesus into their soul.  The process demands much of Christ and little by comparison from us.  Yet being a Christ follower has cost faithful Christians in hostile countries and times much.   Persecution and even martyrdom has been the price of believing in Christ and sharing His Gospel message. 

God permits, within limits, satan to bring suffering on Christians.  Job and Joseph and Daniel are a few examples from biblical history which are recorded in scripture.  Countless examples are included in each generation, including our contemporaries.  But then comes God’s intervention and judgment and reward then comes to those who endured suffering and remained faithful.

So, let’s study history and God’s promised that God honored for them.  Promises still available and applicable to us too. But that shouldn’t surprise us.  What God does is lasting and perfect in result and purpose.

How grateful should we be when Almighty God forgives our sins and sends us on our way? After a brutally honest retelling of his pre-confession suffering from sin, David praised the Lord for being forgiven (Psalm 32:11). Why should forgiveness result in praise? Because God removes our sin far from us (Psalm 103:12). He buries our sin out of our sight (Micah 7:19). He puts our sins behind His back (Isaiah 38:17). He blots out our sin (Isaiah 44:22). He treats our sins as if they never happened (Jeremiah 31:34). That’s why forgiveness should bring forth praise.

The next time you receive God’s forgiveness, give Him the praise He deserves from those delivered from unrighteousness and restored to fellowship.

What we win by prayer, we must wear with praise.  Matthew Henry

5/15/21                                      DON’T BE SHORT-CIRCUITED                                                                              15

 

And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  1 John 1:3

Recommended Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:19

¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 COMMENTS:  Sustaining a close fellowship with family members or especially with Christ is an impossible expectation.   Why is that?   Well, our emotions are fickled and unreliable – affected by our attitude and by our circumstances and by our health and feelings.  We allow our emotions to control our thoughts and attitudes and even feelings of love and compassion toward each other.   Children are especially vulnerable to this because they do not have the experience or wisdom to do otherwise.  However, all too many adults also like that wisdom.    But God has given us a mind and memory and ability to think and reason.  We can logically think through the consequences and benefits of our actions and choices.   We have the ability to remember those consequences and benefits from past experiences and choices too.   We have the ability to read about those experiences of those before us.   We have an especially valuable ability to read about the experiences of those in bible times selected by God’s inspiration to be included in scriptures so we can learn and grow and gain wisdom from them.

Our relationship with God is what has the greatest positive impact on our relationship with each other, especially sustainable positive impact.   By neglecting prayer and bible study and interaction with other believers, we put ourselves at great disadvantage to achieving success in sustaining meaningful relationships with each other but also with our creator and redeemer and life giving God.  John 14:6 reminds us, with Jesus’ own words, that Christ is the only way to be forgiven and have a relationship with the Father for Christ is our Redeemer and our Advocate with the Father.  

Every married couple has experienced the temporary loss of fellowship. When a word or action offends a spouse, there is a loss of closeness in the relationship. The root meaning of fellowship is “oneness”: two become one in marriage. But sin can break that oneness until the offense is dealt with through confession and forgiveness. The marriage doesn’t end because of the offense, but intimacy is short-circuited.

It’s the same with us and God. Our sin separates us from God until it is dealt with. God sent Jesus into the world to deal with our sin so we might be reconciled to God and have our oneness with Him restored (2 Corinthians 5:19). What happens if we sin as believers? We are not lost; our relationship with God is not set aside. But our fellowship with Him is interrupted until we say about our sin what God says about it (that is what confess literally means— “to say the same thing”). Because of Christ’s sacrifice for our sin, we can be forgiven and our fellowship with God restored (1 John 1:9).

Don’t let sin short-circuit your fellowship with God. Confess and be reconciled to Him.

The fellowship of God is delightful beyond all telling.  A. W. Tozer

5/16/21                THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF JOURNALING      16

 

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.
Psalm 143:5

Recommended Reading: Psalm 77:10-11

¹⁰ And I said, “This is my anguish;But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”¹¹ I will remember the works of the Lord;Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

COMMENTS:  A familiar hymn seldom sung today is “Count your many blessings, see what God has done.  This hymn was written by Johnson Oatman Jr. in 1897.  He wrote over 5000 hymns and never charged more than $1 each, but this hymn is the most familiar over the years and is most effective in reminding its singer or hearer just how important an attitude of gratitude and realization of all God consistently does for us.   Such realization builds faith and confidence to trust and obey Him going forward. 

Journaling is a formal way of documenting all God does, preserving for future reading and recollection while establishing solid memories in our mind to sustain us each day.   The habit of journaling enables God’s “quiet voice” to speak to us and remind us of His faithfulness especially when He tests our faith with difficulties and even tragedies.  How we respond and strength we demonstrate during those times gives us strength and courage and gives credibility to our witness and message.

In the publishing world, memoirs are selling better than ever. People love to read about a slice of another’s life. And that’s what separates a memoir from an autobiography. An autobiography covers a person’s entire life; a memoir focuses on a theme from that life: a struggle, a dream, a quest, an adventure, or other event.

Books of such memories from centuries past give us a glimpse of what it was like to live in those long gone times and imagine how we would respond to their situations and circumstances.

From that point of view, every Christian has the ability to write a memoir of his or her own. Granted, it may never be published, but writing it will help you focus on the most important theme in your life: your relationship with God. And it will leave a legacy of spiritual growth and victory for your family and others. How do you write a memoir of your spiritual life? Take up the practice of journaling—the discipline of creating a written record of your relationship with God. “Remembering” is a consistent theme in Scripture—remembering God’s faithfulness and His works.

Consider a spiritual getaway to begin (or continue) your practice of journaling. Not only will it bless you, it will bless those who inherit your memoir.

A Christian should always remember that his mercies are greater than his miseries.   John Blanchard

5/17/21                           MORE THAN IS NEEDED                                              17

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.  Isaiah 55:2

Recommended Reading: Isaiah 55:1-5

55 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters;And you who have no money,Come, buy and eat.Yes, come, buy wine and milkWithout money and without price.² Why do you spend money for what is not bread,And your wages for what does not satisfy?Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,And let your soul delight itself in abundance.³ Incline your ear, and come to Me.Hear, and your soul shall live;And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—The sure mercies of David.⁴ Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,A leader and commander for the people.⁵ Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,And nations who do not know you shall run to you,Because of the Lord your God,And the Holy One of Israel;For He has glorified you.”

COMMENTS:   John 14:5-21  ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know^[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[c] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

John 14 has become a very controversial chapter in scripture but was controversial for the early church too.  Jesus made it clear that He was and is the only way to be forgiven by the Father.  His sacrifice on the cross is the only way to be forgiven and redeemed.  This means that the Bible is the only Scripture and authority of God’s truth.  It means other religions and faiths that deny Jesus is “The Only Way” are not a way to heaven.

That sounds closed minded and exclusive but the Christian faith is inclusive, not denying or rejecting any sincere seeker and repentant sinner.

Human nature is to want or at least expect heaven to be a reward earned by hard work and not a gift to be accepted.   But that gift does only come by accepting it and accepting the sacrifice Christ made and paid for.

So why do so many refuse to believe in Christ or refuse to repent.  Well, admitting we have sinned and were wrong is not easy if pride gets in the way.   But another reason is wanting to put off such a commitment because of reluctance to give up old life and habits.   But the sad thing is surrender to Christ means giving up what causes us pain and hardship and misery while giving us what brings joy and fulfillment and life – life eternal.  Also is an intimate relationship with the Creator of everything – God almighty.

In Christ, we have abundant life, as He promised in John 10:10. Abundant life that is lavish and overflowing and bountiful and plenteous and even far more than needed.

Think of it! God is abundant in mercy (Numbers 14:18). That is, His mercy is lavish, overflowing, bountiful, plenteous, teeming, and more than enough to forgive any guilt we’ve been feeling. He gives abundant joy (Philippians 1:26), more than is needed for any trial. We can delight ourselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:11), and He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). When we get to heaven and look back on our earthly days, we’ll find that He answered our prayers with lavishing, overflowing, bountiful, plenteous, teeming generosity.

He gives so much more than is needed!

And think of the eternal abundance of our inheritance in heaven! Jesus is not insolvent. The abundant life is ours through Him. We should delight in the abundance of Christ, who is our life.

What is more abundant life? It is the Lord Jesus Himself…. Life more abundant is glorious life… victorious life… fruitful life… strong life… praising life.  Vadakunnu David, evangelist in Ceylon 

5/18/21                              MOTHERS KNOW BEST:JOCHEBED                           18            

But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. Exodus 2:3

Recommended Reading: Hebrews 11:23-29

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were dro

COMMENTS:  Jochebed demonstrated great courage and faith in God. As a slave, she had no rights and Egyptians held the power to decide who of the Hebrews would live or die.  Pharoah ordered the male infants killed because males among Hebrews were stronger and more in number to Egyptian males.  Jochebed tried to hide her son but knew that would be impossible without getting caught.   She had to find another way to protect him.  So she hid him in river growth near where pharaoh’s daughter would bathe.  She had Moses’ older sister hid and watch and report results.  Well, Jochebed’s plan worked.  Pharoah’s daughter saw Moses and fell in love with him and took him in and raised him as her own son.

She didn’t know God’s great plan that would include her son but had faith that God would care for her son.

Mothering isn’t for cowards, nor is being a parent, grandparent, guardian, uncle, aunt, mentor, teacher, or coach. The world is lined up against our children. Satan is pulling out all the stops to mess up their lives, confuse their morals, endanger their spirituality, hurt their hearts, and damn their souls. 

But wait! Before you grow discouraged, remember this. Satan has always attacked children. In the days of the Israelites, Pharaoh commanded all the baby boys among them to be killed—to be thrown into the Nile for the crocodiles. But Jochebed (we know her name from Exodus 6:20) had the courage of the Lord. She put her child in the Nile all right, but she did it courageously and creatively. God gave her insight that thwarted the government and saved her son.

Don’t allow the culture to push you into its mold. Trust the Lord to give you the courage and creativity to raise a new generation for Christ!

Jochebed…. lived her life as unto Him, and her sons and daughter lit their torches at her flame.

Herbert Lockyer

 

5/19/21                                  WHY?                                                             19

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.  Genesis 50:20

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:28-29

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

COMMENTS:  Why does God allow His faithful followers to endure sickness and unfair persecution and hardship and evil tragedy? The answer to those questions is usually unclear or uncertain or a mystery at the time, but time has a way of revealing the answer to such questions.

Why did God allow Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery?  Why did God allow Joseph to be unfairly accused and treated and imprisoned and then left suffering for so long without any hope of being freed or restored to his family?

Consider how God used that time to grow in Joseph a mature and strong faith trust in God.  Joseph trusted God completely even though his experience didn’t reinforce that trust yet.   Consider Daniel’s 3 friend when they face the fiery furnace as punishment for refusing to worshipping the idol image of the King of Babylon.  Their response when confronted was obedience to God and resolve to only worship and bow to God, not the King or his image or statue.  They said to the King that God is faithful and able to spare them certain death but if God didn’t, they said be it known that they remained faithful to God as the flames would engulf them.  To be burnt alive or eaten alive are two of the most dreaded ways to die, but was what Daniel and his 3 friends faced.  Joseph endured the uncertainty of not knowing if he would live or die from age 17 until 30.  But instead of being bitter toward God or his captures, he used that time to pray and deepen his relationship with His creator.    When pharaoh’s baker and butler were thrown in prison with Joseph, God had already prepared Joseph to hear and interpret the dreams of these two fellow prisoners.   Time was also necessary for God to prepare Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dream and fulfil God’s calling to lead Egypt during the coming drought.

Joseph remained in the dark not knowing God’s reasons or plan, but was ready when that plan was revealed to him.    

When something bad happens in the life of a new Christian, they will often say, “Lord, why is this happening to me?” When something bad happens in the life of a mature Christian, they will often say, “Lord, why is this happening to me?” Same question, but different motivations. The new Christian may think it unreasonable that a bad thing happened. But the mature Christian knows problems are part of life in a fallen world. His “Why?” question is to discern from God what he can learn from the difficult situation—how he might grow in faith.

When the teenage Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery, he no doubt asked the “Why?” question. At first, he may have thought, “What did I do to deserve this?” But later, his “Why?” likely turned into, “Oh, now I see why!” He realized God had sent him to Egypt to prepare a place for Jacob’s family to escape the famine in Canaan.

When you experience difficulties in life, it’s not wrong to ask “Why?” Just make sure you’re asking for the right reason.

There are no accidents in the life of a Christian.   Rowland Bingham

5/20/21                  WHAT TROUBLES REVEAL                            20

And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Genesis 41:38

 Recommended Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ⁸ We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then death is working in us, but life in you.

COMMENTS:  In times of personal crisis or crisis of a loved one, we all have asked the question “WHY?”.   Believing God is all powerful and in control is one thing, but it is something else to believe He has purpose in hardship so we need to believe and trust Him.  As we look at scripture, we see many examples of tragedy and hardship and crisis endured by faithful followers without an explanation or even warning.  No foreknowledge of reason or length of time to endure or good as an outcome.   Job, Joseph, and Daniel are three such examples. Job was wealthy, well respected, and a model of righteous living.  Joseph was obedient to God and to his parents and his only crime was enjoying the favor of his father and maybe rubbing his brother’s noses in it.   Daniel didn’t even show  that fault, but even as a young boy had a personal relationship with God.  In each case circumstances outside their control covered them with tragedy and suffering.  Job lost everything including his family and  health.   Joseph lost his freedom and home and family.  Daniel also was taken  from his family and home and became a slave or captive in a foreign pagan land.  Each faced a time of crisis and testing but all 3 remained faithful to God  without complaint or rebellion or bitterness.  But all 3 were puzzled with the intensity of their suffering but didn’t question God’s privilege and right  to do what He pleased to them even when it didn’t make sense.

It has been said that difficulties don’t determine who we are. Rather, they reveal who we are. Said another way, the same heat that softens butter can make mud hard as a brick. It all depends on how the thing being heated responds. The same with the human heart. Difficulties can soften one heart and harden another.

Joseph, in Egypt, and Daniel, in Babylon, both revealed their character to their pagan masters. Their difficulties caused the presence of God to be manifested through them. In the New Testament, no one endured more difficulties over a longer time than the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 11:23-29). He described his difficulties as being “hard-pressed,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” and “struck down.” But never “crushed,” “in despair,” “forsaken,” or “destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). He called his troubles “the dying of the Lord Jesus” so that “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in [his] body” (verse 10). His troubles revealed the “treasure” of Christ within (verse 7).

Troubles in life are normal (Job 5:7). Our response will manifest Christ to the world—or not.

To become Christlike is the only thing in the whole world worth caring for.  Henry Drummond

5/21/21                           PRAYERS FOR OUR FAMILIES                                     21

This week, we shared resources for your family that we hope encouraged and inspired you. But this is only the beginning. As you continue to faithfully show up and show love, God will do infinitely more in your family than all that you can ask, hope, or imagine.

To help encourage you as you continue to lead your family, we’ve created four prayers for families. Pick a prayer that relates to your situation, pray it over your relationships, and save it to your Prayer List.

A Prayer for Families with Young Children

God, children are a gift from You, but raising them is still hard. So when I feel exhausted and weary, please remind me that You are with me. And when I feel overwhelmed, please give me the strength to endure every situation I face. You have called me to parenthood, so please protect my family, and help me to raise my children well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Save to Prayer List

A Prayer for Families with Teenagers

God, show me how to love my teenagers the way You do. As they start to become more independent, give me discernment. And as they navigate big emotions, help me to be sensitive to their feelings and wise with my responses. Shape them into the people You’ve created them to be and, as You do that, please guard their hearts. Let their identity remain rooted and grounded in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Save to Prayer List

A Prayer for Families with Adult Children

God, give me wisdom when navigating relationships with my adult children. Before I speak, let me first pause and listen to them. And when I want to fix their problems, let me first call out to You. Protect, establish, and help these adults become the people You’ve called them to be. And as You do that, show me how to meet them where they are. I trust You, and I entrust my children to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Save to Prayer List

A Prayer for Blended Families

God, You know exactly what our family needs in order to thrive. You understand how hard it is to combine two families, but You also know how rewarding it can be. As we figure out how to lead this family together, please protect our marriage, and help us create meaningful bonds with all our children. Guide us and protect us, and draw us closer to You—and to each other. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Save to Prayer List

COMMENTS:  We all know it is important to pray for our families daily, but there are many obstacles hindering doing so. What are some of the reasons our prayers go unanswered?   The biggest reason is we simply don’t ask.   Another reason is we pray with a wrong – selfish – alterior motive or purpose.  Another is not seeking and listen to God’s Will.  Going to God not for a plan but, instead going to God with our work plan first.   One is not including our spouse as the partner God intends.

Also, God’s answers include “YES” and “NO” and “LATER”.    God’s timing and interactive influence on others and other times means we simply can’t see the ripple affect of our prayer requests have on lives of others.

5/22/21                                              TIRED OF WAITING?                                            22                                                     

Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed. Psalm 25:3

Recommended Reading: Psalm 37:34-40

³⁴ Wait on the Lord,And keep His way,And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.³⁵ I have seen the wicked in great power,And spreading himself like a native green tree.³⁶ Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

³⁷ Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;For the future of that man is peace.³⁸ But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;He is their strength in the time of trouble.⁴⁰ And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;He shall deliver them from the wicked,And save them,Because they trust in Him.

COMMENTS:

God’s response to our prayers is infinitely wise and perfect.

God’s response to our prayers reflects perfect compassion and timing.

God is always just in time, not early nor late.

So, as we pray faithfully, God answers in His time. So let us learn in prayer to practice Psalm 27:14: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” Don’t be discouraged. Never stop praying. Keep your eyes on the Timekeeper, not on the timepiece. The Lord will turn delay into deliverance.

Delay does not forget God’s servants nor cause His faithfulness to fail; rather, it fortifies their souls and vindicates His name.

V. Raymond Edman

5/23/21                                 THE REIGN OF GRACE                                                       23

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:17

Recommended Reading: Romans 5:18-21

¹⁸ Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

²⁰ Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, ²¹ so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

COMMENTS:  Kingship or one man (or woman) rule over a defined land or country full of people has been dominant since Adam.  Some have been compassionate toward those governed and some greatly abused and persecuted.  Death is way satan rules and impacts the life of every human.  But his reign is coming to a close.  He knows it but has resolved to fight to continue his reign as long as he can.  God has chose to allow satan’s influence to continue within limits, but soon even those limits will be replaced with removing satan and binding him. 

Scripture gives us a glimpse of what is coming and clues as to when.   We are not to know when but the “signs of the time” area provided and known so everyone has opportunity to prepare and get right with God.   That means repenting and learning / following  God’s plan.

Satan knows God’s plan and knows scripture and prophecies to, but he isn’t willing to accept that Will or submit to it.  Instead, he has chosen to fight that Will and has convinced himself that God is                 weak or undecided, so a well planned evil plan can be successful.   He thinks God’s delay and longsuffering is a sign of indecision BUT INSTEAD, THEY ARE EVIDENCE OF GOD’S ABIDING LOVE FOR EACH ONE OF US!  We are living under the  reign of Grace. Satan may be exercising his  evil over the world’s people but God still has ownership and authority to  reign,   His power is still infinitely greater than satan’s.  We are still on  the WINNING SIDE when we choose to be on God’s side.

The Lord wants us to grow in the magnificent blessing of living victoriously through Him.  Bob Hoekstra

5/24/21                  RUTH – BECOMING A WOMAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART                          24                                         

Ruth grew up in a pagan land, one condemned by God—Moab, just across the Jordan from Israel. She fell in love with a Jewish boy whose family had moved into the area during a famine. When he died, she was a young widow. Because of the influence of her mother-in-law, Naomi, Ruth longed for a relationship with God. She returned with Naomi to Bethlehem, where she met and married Boaz. Their child, Obed, became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of King David. Amazingly, this widow from a pagan land became a link in the Messianic genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Aren’t you glad that God gives us the option to walk away from our past so it no longer impacts our future adversely?  Well, satan tempts us with old temptations attempting to keep that from happening.  He wants us to continue the course he has led us onto – a path to suffering and death and to judgment.  By contrast, God doesn’t want to judge us but instead guide us to the road of redemption and forgiveness – the path to life eternal.

Ruth saw the impact of living in a relationship with God by witnessing the life of Naomi, her mother-in-law.  Ruth not only desired that relationship too, but implemented choices that place her on that path of life too.  She chose to leave her pagan life and follow the path Naomi was on.  Because she made that choice, she discovered the faith and relationship with God she desired and built a life and legacy worthy of being included in scripture.   God so honored her faith and obedience by allowing her to become the great grandmother of King David and to be an ancestor of Jesus.

Leaving her family was just as hard as it was for Abraham leaving his father, but the reward of obedience was eternal.   Did Ruth’s family find and follow a different path to God?  We don’t know but I believe Ruth’s prayers for them continued and resulted in opportunities for them too.  Scripture doesn’t tell us so we can’t be certain.

What is keeping you and me from a deeper relationship with God?  Is it things we have or want?  Is it relationships with others who are less interested in such a relationship too?  Is it a job or house or income pulling us in another direction?  No matter what it is, we are not the first to be so tempted by exactly the same things or issues.  Satan has a large bag of tricks and deceptions and promises.   They are the same ones he has been using for thousands of years effectively.  BUT THEY ARE ALL DECEPTIONS AND LIES THAT OFFER MUCH AND DELIVER NOTHING GOOD NOR LASTING.

By contrast, God always delivers on His promises, but does require our faith be tested and His promises fulfilled once testing is complete.

Opportunities don’t present themselves in ideal circumstances. If you wait for all the lights to turn green, you will never leave your driveway.  John Maxwell

5/25/21                              LOOKING FORWARD                                                    25    

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8

Recommended Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8

5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. ⁴ For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶ So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

COMMENTS:  Paul refers to our human body as a “tent” that is destroy on our death.  It requires repairs and maintenance and cannot weather outside forces without protection and repairs.  Paul also refers to the permanent body God gives us in heaven as a permanent “building” that will weather and endure eternity without aging or decaying or weakening.

Death is a mystery, but scripture gives us more than an enough information and encouragement to have confidence death is not to be feared but a door or gate we must go through.   Jesus will be there to greet us if we have accepted His forgiveness and salvation.

Philippians 1:23, Paul identified heaven as a far better place than earth.

2 Corinthians 5:8, Paul used words like “confident” and “well pleased” when pondering heaven and all Jesus has in store for us there.

. Billy Graham lived nearly 100 years and preached about salvation and heaven for over 6 decades, but he too faced death.  Today he is enjoying heaven – the company of his wife and family and Christians before him and even after him.  But most of all He is enjoying fellowship from and worship to Christ.

Heaven awaits us, and that will be far, far more glorious than anything we can ever imagine…. I know that soon my life will be over. I thank God for it, and for all He has given me in this life. But I look forward to Heaven. I look forward to the reunion with friends and loved ones who have gone on before.… I also look forward to serving God in ways we can’t begin to imagine.  Billy Graham

5/26/21                           DEVOTED TO STUDYING THE WORD                                         26

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord.  Ezra 7:10

Recommended Reading: Ezra 7:1-10

7 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, ² the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, ³ the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, ⁴ the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, ⁵ the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. ⁷ Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

COMMENTS:  We are living in troubling times. Violence and hatred toward each other is becoming epidemic in frequency and intensity.  Road rage was not in our vocabulary 30 years ago but is evident more and more.   Frustration is not restrained and expressing violence toward another without justifiable response, resulting in tragedy of death or permanent injury, making victims or both guilty and innocent alike.

These are times when rights of evil doers are championed while right to life of infants and newborns and especially those soon to be born are denied or ignored.  Ignorance of basic bible stories and basic understanding of scripture are lost in most countries, especially in free democratic countries    where God’s Word is accessible and affordable.

Sound bible teaching and music is becoming more accessible almost anywhere and almost any time in spite of this lack of knowledge.  But God is preparing for Christ’s return to take His followers home and to do battle with satan and his followers while satan is preparing for battle too.

Our faith is strengthened as we read and study God’s Word, and if you’re determined to begin that habit—you can do it!

“Ultimately, the goal of personal Bible study is a transformed life and a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.”  Kay Arthur

5/27/21                  NOURISHING FAITH                                    27

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

Recommended Reading: Romans 15:13

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

COMMENTS:  Hebrews is a key faith chapter describing what faith is and what it is not.  God has put a great deal of important to the degree and quality of faith His followers have in Him.  Trusting He will do what He has promised is a big part of it. David Jeremiah said it this way:  “Is it better to have a lot of faith in ability of 4” of ice to support our weight or a little faith in 4 ft. of ice to hold us?”   He said a majority of those asked chose a lot of faith even in 4” of ice.

But Jesus said faith in Him even the size of a mustard seed is sufficient to do miracles.  The difference is not the level of faith but who or what faith is in.   

Everything is powered by something, even the Christian life. First and foremost, the Christian is empowered by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). But from our human perspective, what empowers our life? We could say that faith is the fuel that keeps us moving forward. The New English Translation of Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.” Can you see God? Heaven? Rewards? Eternal life? Why would you keep pressing on for what you cannot see? Because of faith and hope which anchor our soul (Hebrews 6:19).

Since faith comes by the “word of God” (Romans 10:17), build your faith daily by studying and meditating upon the Scriptures. Let your “faith-power” deliver you through this life to the next.

Assurance is a fruit that grows out of the root of faith. 

Stephen Charnock

5/28/21                                                  LOVING LIKE GOD LOVES                                                  28      

And the second [commandment] is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:39

Recommended Reading: 1 John 4:7-12

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

COMMENTS:   The Christian faith is difficult to understand for outsiders.   They find it difficult or even impossible to understand doctrine or theology or scripture, but they find it much easier to learn from example of believers, so it is critical believers live the faith they profess.   But then the next question is how do we do that? How do we live a Christ like life worthy of being the example or witness we are call to be?  How do we resist temptations and show the love and compassion that Christ exampled consistently and without fail.

The honest answer is we can’t and truth is we won’t either. But part of the example we need to show is what we do when we don’t and the change Christ makes when we go to Him seeking help and forgiveness not just the first time but daily.  If we can’t sustain living the “perfect life”, don’t you think the world knows that already and needs to see when imperfect but faithful people do to sustain a viable relationship with their Creator and Savior too?   Hiding our faults and weaknesses is how we humanly tend to manage our witness to others, but we each need to ask ourselves how does God want us to.

I don’t mean showing off our faults as well as our virtues, but I do mean being genuine.   Truth is, if we grasp who God is and what He has done and continues to do.  If we fill our minds and thoughts with His Word, the stories of those who were faithful and “men and women after God’s heart”.  If we seek and abide in and with His Holy Spirit.  If we obey His commands and follow His council.  If we do all these things not in order to gain favor with God but in response of gratitude to the favor He has already shown.   Then living the Christian life becomes the “work in progress” as are we and as is our witness too.  

Every organization has a way of identifying itself. Political parties, sports teams, fraternal organizations, religious groups, corporations—all develop ways of identifying themselves.

Jesus gave His disciples a “brand,” or identifying mark too: love. In John 13:35, we have His words: “By this [sign] all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” But can’t love be found as a trait in many different groups in society? Yes, but perhaps not the kind of love Jesus’ disciples are to be marked by. In verse 34, Jesus made the love of which He spoke specific: “As I have loved you, that you also love one another.” In other words, it’s not just generic love—it’s a God kind of love: sacrificial, enduring, generous, and unconditional. When we love those around us as Christ instructed, we are manifesting God’s love in the world. As God has loved us, so we are to love one another (John 15:12).

Being a witness for Christ ultimately involves a retelling of the Gospel. But even before that opportunity, demonstrating God’s love can be a first step.

The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and sympathy.  D. L. Moody

5/29/21                                 YOU’RE A TRILLIONAIRE!                                  29

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.   Romans 12:1

Recommended Reading: Romans 12:1-8

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

COMMENTS:  God gives each of us an amazing body.   It is made up of 30 trillion individual cells of 200 different types and makes 2-3 million new red blood cells every second.  Our body is just one example of God’s incredible creative power and Love.  So instead of being angry or impatient or jealous or even prideful,  we need to stop and reflect on all God’s provisions and blessings.  Comparing ourselves to  other’s abilities or beauty or talents or possessions,  we need to reflect on what has given us and be grateful and obedient to His commands and instructions. He more than deserves our praise and obedience, but we need to do so for our wellbeing as well.

We are more than the chemicals that form our body. We are a special creation of God. Man is God’s masterpiece—His workmanship, the crown of creation.  Werner Gitt

5/30/21                                 MOTHERS KNOW BEST                                              30                        

Show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.
Psalm 86:16

Recommended Reading: Psalm 86

 Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me;For I am poor and needy.² Preserve my life, for I am holy;You are my God;Save Your servant who trusts in You!³ Be merciful to me, O Lord,For I cry to You all day long.⁴ Rejoice the soul of Your servant,For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.⁵ For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

⁶ Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;And attend to the voice of my supplications.⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,For You will answer me.

⁸ Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;Nor are there any works like Your works.⁹ All nations whom You have madeShall come and worship before You, O Lord,And shall glorify Your name.¹⁰ For You are great, and do wondrous things;You alone are God. 11 Teach me Your way, O Lord;I will walk in Your truth;Unite my heart to fear Your name.¹² I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,And I will glorify Your name forevermore.¹³ For great is Your mercy toward me,And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

¹⁴ O God, the proud have risen against me,And a mob of violent men have sought my life,And have not set You before them.¹⁵ But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

¹⁶ Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!Give Your strength to Your servant,And save the son of Your maidservant.¹⁷ Show me a sign for good,That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

COMMENTS: Psalm 86 is David’s prayer.  He faced many real dangers during his childhood – youth – young adulthood and even as king of Israel.  He learned from experience that God is faithful but he also learned how vital it was for him to be faithful to God as well.

David endured relentless pursuit by King Saul, bent on killing David.   God not only protected David, but David also sought refuge for his family, his mother and father specifically (1 Samuel 22:1-4).  David knew Saul may attempt to hold his parents ransom if given opportunity.   David remained faithful to God during those years, refusing to kill Saul when had opportunity even though Saul took every opportunity to attempt to kill David. 

David respected the office of “King” and considered it treason to kill the reigning King because the King was always chosen by God through a prophet, who was Samuel at this time.

Our children are always watching us, from the first moment they open their eyes at birth to the last day we close our eyes in death. It’s never too late to pray, to influence, and to set an example. Let’s start today, serving Him in full view of all those we’re allowed to influence.

There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.  Jill Churchill

5/31/21                                      CRISIS TIME COMPASSION                               31                            

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:

Imagine that you have saved for years for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure vacation. You’ve researched your destination and talked with a travel agent about the best places to stay. You know where you are going, what to expect, and can’t wait to get the most out of your dream adventure trip.

Now compare that pre-trip strategy to this one: do no research or reading and talk with no one about your destination. Just pack a bag and go. Which trip is likely to be the most fulfilling—before, during, and after? The trip for which you prepare diligently, of course! And the same is true for our ultimate and final trip as Christians: our trip to our eternal home with Christ in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21). But even after reading everything the Bible says about heaven, 1 Corinthians 2:9 says we can’t imagine all that God has prepared for us!

Learn all you can now about heaven, but don’t be surprised if it turns out to be beyond your wildest expectations!

“The more spiritual we are, the more we shall think about heaven”.   D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Today’s devotion completes another month of studying God’s Word and sharing.  Covid 19 has been causing sickness and death in every country.  In USA, over 600,000 have died, and is causing tragedies in India today.  Yet, some countries have been spared while others have enduring great loss.  Families have been ordered to stay home and loss of income and employment have resulted.  Gathering in groups, including churches for worship, have been outlawed even in democratic countries, but  with majority of population being vaccinated, travel and connection with others in large groups is beginning to open and be permitted.

Now as freedom to work and gather and worship begins to be restored, what have we learned?  Has it drawn us closer to family and to God or further away?  I pray the first. God uses disaster and trials to draw us closer to Him if we let them.  I pray that will be the case in every community and country and in every family and in every church.

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 590 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.