7/1/22 Thought Therapy 1
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

RECOMMENDED READING: PHILIPPIANS 4 “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.² I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.³ And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.¹⁴ Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.¹⁵ Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.¹⁷ Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.¹⁸ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.¹⁹ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.²⁰ Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.²¹ Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.²² All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.²³ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

COMMENTS: Anxiety comes from doubt or lack of trust but doubt starts with a thought. A voice or idea that begins in our mind. Peter thought “I could drown” and looked down on the water he was walking on and out to the storm coming towards him. He had to look away from Jesus in order to look at the water and storm. When he did that, the thought of drowning stirred fear and doubt in his soul and he began to sink. Like Peter, our actions are preceded with thoughts. The thoughts may be automatic and reactionary, but the choice of how to deal with them is under our control. Peter could have ignored those thoughts and kept his eyes on Jesus. Even better, he could have asked Jesus to help him dismissed those thoughts before they took hold while keeping his eyes on Jesus. Either way, he would have completed his walk on water to Jesus instead of sinking and needing rescued. But by sinking, God uses Peter’s example to teach us so we learn from Peter’s failings as well as from his faith. Peter did get out of the boat and walk to Jesus and away from the safety of the boat. He just wasn’t prepared for the reality of facing the storm outside the boat. We aren’t either and also find it difficult to consistently keep our eyes on Jesus too. But Peter’s experience also encourages us to know when we do venture out in faith and become weak, Jesus is there to help us as well. Peter had to ask for help and we need to be ready to as well.

Peter went on to become the faithful rock Jesus envisioned him to be and die by crucifixion as did Jesus. What changed in Peter, and countless multitudes of Christ followers since, is the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit makes our prayers and scripture and our faith real and strong, but daily prayer and scripture study is our lifeline with God and how He speaks most often and consistently to us and us to Him.

I have Parkinson’s Disease, which is caused by a lack of Dopamine, a chemical the brain produces to improved conductivity of brain signals to body parts. Movement and balance diminishes because those signals can not fully pass to those parts. The Holy Spirit acts like dopamine to carry our prayers to the Father and His response back but even more, to act as our comforter and dearest friend.

Lack of confidence due to less reliability with balance and motor skills and fatigue makes limitations worse and risk of falling greater. Likewise, exercise that increasing heart beat improves production of Dopamine and enables patient to function much better.

Likewise, exercising our faith by trusting and obeying opens the door for the Holy Spirit to connect and become stronger in our lives and provide a much more meaningful and stronger connection between the Father and us and our prayers and bible study as well. Communication and fellowship between us and our Heavenly Father becomes more real and stronger as well. Christ also becomes more real and closer to us too.

So, salvation only begins our journey of faith. That journey takes us through times of peace as well as through times of storm and even tragedy. But that journey is with the Holy Spirit at our side with Christ and the Father with Him walking and talking with us making us wiser and stronger and more like Him as we are willing. I’ve heard it said the Christian life is getting up and falling down, getting up and falling down all the way to heaven. That is reality but need not be. The falling down, like with Peter, is our fault. The getting up involves our surrender and God’s help. As we get closer to Him and keep our eyes on Him more consistently, the frequency and severity of falling down diminishes and periods of growth and effective obedience grows longer and more effective. I am striving to do so and pray you are too. I know the Holy Spirit is eager and willing and committed to follow through with us as we allow Him to with our submission and obedience and ask Him to. AMEN? AMEN!

“Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.” Elisabeth Elliot

COMMENTS:

7/2/22 Promises Like Precious Gems 2

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise. 2 Peter 3:9 

SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 32:16-22 “¹⁶ Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the Lord, saying,¹⁷ Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:¹⁸ Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name,¹⁹ Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:²⁰ Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;²¹ And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;²² And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;”

COMMENTS: There is reported to be 5467 promises from God recorded in scripture. I haven’t tried to count them but am confident this number is accurate.

These promises reveal God’s character and eternal purpose He has for us. History and those promises reveal His unchanging commitment to His faithful believers. His promises are impossible by our abilities and abilities but within His abilities. But the condition is our obedience to His commandments in order to receive and enjoy fulfillment of His promises.

So, do these promises include and reveal to us of God’s character and capability and how have they been fulfilled to those before us and even to us?

God’s promises are irrevocable:

1. He is absolutely trustworthy Nu 23:19 See also Tit 1:2; Heb 6:13-18
2. He is unchanging Ps 110:4; Mal 3:6-7; Jas 1:17-18
3. He has the power and will to fulfil his promises Isa 55:11 See also Ro 4:21
4. He is faithful in keeping all his promises Jos 21:45; Jos 23:14-15; 1Ki 8:56; Ps 145:13; Heb 10:23
5. His promises stem from his goodness and glory 2Pe 1:3-4
6. God may confirm his promises with an oath Ge 22:15-18 See also Ge 26:3; Isa 45:23; Am 6:8; Am 8:7

Examples of God’s promises through covenant relationship

1. Ge 9:8-17 with Noah With Abraham: Ge 15:9-21; Ge 17:1-22; Heb 11:8-9,17-19
   
   
2. Ge 26:3-4 with Isaac With Jacob: Ge 28:13-15; Ge 46:2-4 With Moses and the Israelites: Ex 19:1-6; Ex 24:1-8
   
   
3. Nu 25:10-12 with Phinehas With David: 2Sa 7:5-16 pp 1Ch 17:4-14; 1Ki 8:15,24
   
   
4. Jer 31:31-34 with Jeremiah

The grounding of God’s promises in Christ

1. God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ 2Co 1:18-20 See also Mt 5:17; Lk 4:16-21; Ac 2:29-31; Ac 3:21-26; Ac 7:37; Dt 18:15-18; Ac 13:23,32-34; Ac 26:6-7; Ro 1:2-3; Ro 15:8; Heb 9:15
2. Jesus Christ brings superior promises through the new covenant Heb 8:6-8 Jesus Christ mediates a covenant of inner transformation, willing obedience, intimate relationship with God and forgiveness of sins forever. See also Eph 1:13-14; Heb 7:22; Heb 11:13,39-40; 2Pe 1:1-4
3. Jesus Christ has the right to make promises on God’s behalf Jn 3:34-35 See also Jn 1:1-2,14; Jn 8:25-29; Heb 1:1-3

God’s promises must be received by believers

1. They are received by faith Gal 3:22 See also Jn 1:12; Ro 4:13-16
2. They are received by perseverance and obedience Heb 10:36 See also Ro 4:19-24; 2Co 7:1; Heb 6:12
3. God’s promises unite believing Jews and Gentiles Eph 3:6 See also Ac 2:38-39; Ro 9:8; Gal 3:29; Gal 4:28; Eph 2:11-18; Heb 11:39-40
4. Disaster awaits those who reject God’s promises Jos 23:12-16; Jn 3:18-20,36; 2Ti 2:11-13; Heb 6:4-12; 2Pe 3:3-10

Particular promises of God in Christ

“Thank you, Lord, for the miracle of medical missions and for the miracle of the peace which only You can give. Thank you, Lord, for your presence.” Bula Dell Blanchard

As we study His promises to patriarchs like Noah and Abraham, to prophets like Daniel and Jeremiah and Isaiah, to kings like David, to women like Esther and Jesus’ mother Mary, to Christ’s disciples like Peter and John, to followers like Paul, we discover what they all had in common. It was not beauty or strength or intelligence or popularity or even youth. What they all had in common was a close relationship with God and commitment to follow His commands and instructions both in times of tragedy and poverty as well as in times of peace and prosperity. The all were firm in their obedience even when doing so was unpopular or even life threatening. Many faced risks of certain death like Daniel’s lion den or Esther’s hangman’s rope or David’s Goliath, or Peter’s crucifixion or Paul’s beatings, or … The list goes on.

His promises give us hope of eternal life with an eternal body and home He is preparing for us. His promises give us hope of a light of relief at the end of the tunnel of life. His promises give us encouragement that He is with us guiding and strengthening and encouraging and instructing us all the time. His promises tell us He will return and bind satan and his demons and administer justice on them and all who followed him. His promises give us confidence He will never leave or forsake us. His promises are His love for us will never fail or grow weak or weary. His promises encourage us to pray and that He answers our prayers. The list of benefits of His promises goes on……

What God asks in return for His redemption and forgiveness and fulfillment of all His promises is obedience. Our obedience begins when we accept Christ as our Savior and Redeemer and Lord. Obedience continues when we connect with Him regularly in prayer and bible study and connecting with other believers, when we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives and follow His council. Obedience continues when we turn from sinful past and from satan’s temptations. Obedience continues when we seek His help when temptation begins to be felt.

Obedience is not easy and has not been 100% achieved by any human other than Christ. God knows that and tells us to strive for perfection but also to seek His forgiveness when we fail to obey and sin. He tells us to be perfect as He is perfect. But perfect is how He sees us when we allow His redemptive blood to cover us. No, I am not talking about physical covering us with blood, but spiritual covering of our sins and imperfect souls with His blood. By doing so, we become perfect in His eyes and the actual transformation of our souls to become more like Him each day begins to progress. His Holy Spirit is constantly with us to facilitate that progress and alert us when we begin to go off course due to satan’s temptations and distractions.

Each day we should ask ourselves, “Am I more like Christ’s example today than I was yesterday?” “Is that progress even more noticeable when I compare myself a year ago to today?” “Are you closer to Christ this year than last year?” There have been many years I could not say that, but I believe I am closer to Christ this year than last year. So, what is different for me? Simply spending more time with Him in prayer and devotion and spending time in open meditation to the Holy Spirit. This journal also helps maintain this discipline. I pray you are drawing closer to Him too. He so desires and deserves our attention and obedience and OUR LOVE. We so don’t deserve His.

“Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17).

God never made a promise that was too good to be true. D. L. Moody

7/3/22 Completely Saved 3

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

Recommended Reading: JOHN 10:27-30 “²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:²⁸ And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.²⁹ My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.³⁰ I and my Father are one.”

COMMENTS: Christ continues to have vital role as our intercessor and champion with the Father. The Father only sees us through His Son and His redemptive blood sacrifice. There is no other way to heaven or forgiveness (John 14:6). But through Christ, we have continual fellowship with God and access to His Throne. Just as a leader’s child has access to his father even more than great leaders of other countries, so do we have priority as His children. We are His creation but also His first love. He loves us each one more than we can comprehend or love in response. But we need to love Him deeply and faithfully and obediently too. We need to love Him and He passionately desires our love in response to His love. The Trinity is impossible for us mortals to comprehend, but each reveals a different aspect of God to us. The Father shows ultimate authority and involvement and mandates order and judgment. The Son shows mercy and intercedes to the Father for us. But He will ultimately return to rule on earth with the Father’s authority. The Holy Spirit came to provide personal and continual relationship and help to each of us. The Holy Spirit makes scripture real and fresh and current and applicable to daily life. The Holy Spirit enables us to live a Christ-like life and sustain such a life. We only fail or fall short when we neglect our side of the relationship with Him and allow satan to gain a foothold in our mind. But even then, forgiveness and restoration of neglected relationships is the commitment of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Some Christian denominations hold to a doctrine of “once saved – always saved”, believing in eternal security. Others believe “backsliding” is possible or slipping back into sin and into an unsaved state from neglect of their relationship with God and going back into sinful behavior and conduct.

I believe we come to Christ freely by our own choice and by His encouragement. When we do, we gain eternal life and an eternal relationship with God that no one can take from us, except ourselves. We still have “freewill” to continue to choose or reject Christ. I believe, once we know Christ, it is easier to build and sustain that relationship. However, I also believe neglect of any relationship, whether with children or spouse or close friend or with God over time will result in the death of that relationship.

I reflect on how far David fell from his relationship with God after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and murdering her husband Uriah. He didn’t even seem to miss that relationship until Nathan, God’s prophet, came and woke him up with the story of the king with a large herd of sheep and the owner of one sheep. David then had to choose whether to humbly repent or dig his heels in and refuse. If David would have refused, God judgment would have reigned on him just like it did for his predecessor Saul. BUT DAVID DID REPENT AND EXPERIENCED GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND RESTORED RELATIONSHIP. Was he saved before? YES. Did he then become lost again? Well, we can debate that somewhat, but I believe God would not judge David until He had given him every opportunity to repent first. He even used a method to persuade him to repent that He knew David would respond to.

What method worked for you? Be glad He used that method to soften our hard heart.

He doesn’t want us to be in fear of falling from Grace (backsliding) but does want us to be alert to the danger and work on improving our relationship with Him. Fact is the Holy Spirit wants us to be in relationship with Christ as much as Christ does and far more than even we do. So, He will not give up on us. AMEN!!

Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”

“Unless we are saved by grace, we cannot be saved at all.” Charles Hodge

7/4/22 Permanent High Priest 4

[Christ] does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews 7:27

Recommended Reading: JOHN 16:5-7 “⁵ But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?⁶ But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

COMMENTS: Christ’s sacrifice and work was so complete and powerful and eternal that it is easy to take His work for granted. We tend to take predictable events every day like the sunrise and gravity and time and air and warmth and light and …. The list goes on. But the incredible miracle each gift is and how desperately we all depend on each is overwhelming when reflect on magnitude of each gift. The balance of life and position of earth in relation to other planets and to the sun is critical to sustain life as we know it.

We tend to discount or neglect noticing God’s miracles that are common and experienced often. We also tend to take special people in our lives too, don’t we? But common miracles should not make them any less a miracle any more than having special people in our lives faithfully blessing us being any less a miracle of God to us either. Would it be better if a spouse or child spent one day a year with you than every day? Of course not. So why do we treat them as though it was? Same on us and those who tend to take them for granted. Same is true of God and His faithfulness in providing His miracles for us each and every day.

But the greatest miracle of all is Christ’s miracle of salvation and eternal life He paid dearly for. Then there is the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit to help and comfort and empower us continually to sustain a real relationship with Him. We can’t understand the concept of God as a Triune God but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a relationship with Him and enjoy His choice to reveal Himself to us as the Father and as the Son and as the Holy Spirit. By recognizing and having fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we open ourselves to accessing God in a personal way and enjoy the constant benefits of having such a relationship with His Holy Spirit. We also need to realize that by having relationship with the Holy Spirit, we are connecting with Christ and the Father as well. As a man, I find it difficult to communicate with more than one person at a time. Women tend to be more capable and skillful at carrying on conversation with more than one person at a time in a group. As a man, I tend to shut out one conversation so can concentrate on one at a time. God is not limited in such a way so He can communicate personally on all who seek Him at the same time. His Holy Spirit is His way of helping us communicate effectively with Him and was provided after Christ returned to heaven, as the above scripture reveals.

Christ became our High Priest and advocate with the Father as well as our sacrifice to justify us to the Father. That means we can boldly approach His Throne without condemnation. We are unworthy but Christ makes us worthy.

Our God is too wonderful to take for granted. We miss out of too much when we do. There is so much more we can discover of Him when we open ourselves to discover more blessing from Him when we do. That is a lifetime journey of discovery, as Christ followers, you and I are journeying with His Holy Spirit.

As the permanent High Priest, Jesus is an Advocate in heaven for all who He represents (1 John 2:1), always there to make intercession for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). No earthly priest could, or can, do that for us.When you pray today, imagine Jesus as your Advocate, interceding for you before the Father.

“Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth.” Oswald Chambers

7/5/22 The Bully Pulpit 5

And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Zechariah 3:2

Recommended Reading: ZECHARIAH 3:1-10 “And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.² And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?³ Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.⁴ And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.⁵ And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by.⁶ And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying,⁷ Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.⁸ Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.⁹ For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.¹⁰ In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.”

COMMENTS: Have you ever been bullied by anyone? I have and believe most have sometime. Bullying is intended to force the bully’s will on others, but also to make himself feel and appear stronger by making others feel inferior, ashamed, humiliated, and alone without defense. Bullies hide vulnerability with arrogant behavior. Bullies appear everywhere, even in family members and even in churches.

Cyber bullying is a very common. Bullies can do their evil work without accountability and restraint, but damage they do too often is devastating and irreversible.

Satan is the ultimate bully strutting around working hard to make himself appear invincible and everyone who resists him as weak and defenseless. He wants us to feel alone and weak. He wants to isolate us from God and influence of His Holy Spirit.

Contrast Christ’s example and character to satan’s. Satan leaves a trail of broken lives and death. Christ leaves a trail of restored lives and not just life but eternal life. Christ tells us the satan’s path is wide and most follow it while Christ’s path is narrow and few follow it. It is not because Christ only wants a few followers, but because most refuse to accept Christ’s redemptive offer. Those lost in their sins continue so because they have refused Christ, not because He has refused them. But the season of Grace will not last forever. A time of judgment is approaching when Christ will return to bind satan and bring judgment on him and his followers. Then it will be too late to accept Him. That is why He is urging and even pleading for all to repent of their sins and receive His redemption. Repentance is simple but requires turning from pride and surrendering our wills to His Will. Christ is the only door to eternal life, the only door to forgiveness (John 14:6). We can’t earn or work our way there. The price is too high and the magnitude and depth of our sin is too great. But there is no need to seek another door because Christ’s door is more than sufficient to provide access to the full payment for our redemption and to eternal life. Why would we seek or want another way unless it is satan tempting us to seek another door in order to distract and keep us from the right door.

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:9-10

“The Lord Jesus pleads for us in Heaven, and so advocates our cause before the throne of God against him who is “the accuser of the brethren.” Herbert Lockyer

7/6/22 A New Covenant 6

And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15

Recommended Reading: JEREMIAH 31;31-34 “³¹ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

COMMENTS: I live in a wonderful part of the world, where all 4 seasons unfold each in a much different way. Winter is a cold lifeless time with water freezes solid, trees and plants seem lifeless and dead, animals must dig through snow and frozen soil to find hidden nuggets of food, and people must dress in warm cloths to venture out. But snow is a beautiful sight to behold. Spring is a favorite time. Trees and plants and flowers all come back to life and transform a barren landscape into a beautiful blanket of life. Sounds of spring include chirping birds and other animals. The aroma of flowers fills the air too. Summer brings warm temperatures and opportunity of enjoying outside work and play. Children playing also is evident. Fall brings crisp temperatures and the beauty of tree leaves changing color. Harvest of crops come to a climax too, but the warning of coming winter starts to be prophesied in the air and landscape.

This cycle of seasons reflects God’s hand at work and predictable and faithful involvement in His creation. Every spring the fresh creation of new life reminds me just how much God enjoys creating. He continues to create not only every spring but with every birth of a child and even every birth of animals. God so enjoys creating new life but also enjoys reviving new life in old things. I believe He especially enjoys creating new life in our old sinful lives too. Scripture tells us heaven rejoices when one sinner is saved. “⁷ I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Luke 15:7

I wrote a sermon some time ago “Spring Shouts CHRIST IS RISEN!” To experience Spring is a perfect time to celebrate Easter as well. I am convinced from eternity past, God had Spring in mind as the time when Christ would be crucified and raise again. Just as a rainbow reminds us of God’s promise to never destroy the earth again by floods, Spring reminds us God’s promise that Christ’s death is sufficient sacrifice for our forgiveness and His resurrection is God’s promise to give us eternal life when we accept His gift of forgiveness.

God is not surprised nor unprepared for the future. He has already been there. We, however, are unprepared and unaware of what the future holds. Wise planning helps us prepare and have sufficient reserves help us deal with difficulties, but our best and only true way of preparing is to put our trust in Christ. As I reflect on the above scripture from Jeremiah 31, I am encouraged and reassured at the realization God is in control and has a plan in place. A wonderful plan for you and me God not only has a wonderful plan in place but is working faithfully to implement that plan and has been doing so from eternity past.

I think one of the wonderful discoveries we will make in heaven will be learning how God planned and implemented His plan. I think it will also be wonderful to talk to ancestors and those mentioned in scripture and discover how God’s plan was fulfilled in their lives and rippled down through the generations and impacted our lives too. Then how our lives rippled to those after us.

God is so worthy of our love and praise and so faithful to us. It is easy to neglect or take Him for granted, but we need to work hard not to. Season changes can be our reminder not to take Him for granted. I encourage you to discover reminders to help you remember Him too.

God’s New Covenant is the covenant of Christ’s sacrifice and redemption. A covenant requires agreement by both parties. Christ gives the terms and we accept those terms. The terms we agree to is to admit our sins and surrender our wills to His will. His gives us forgiveness and eternal life. We give Him our broken sin corrupted lives. We get the best of that deal, but He gets what He longs for, us! Do you ever wonder why He loves us so much? That is a mystery, but we can only marvel and be grateful He does!! Where would we be and what would be our future if He didn’t? I hate to even imagine.

Christ is the Mediator of the Father’s New Covenant with greater and more detailed promises (Hebrews 8:6). Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Christ sacrifice was once for all. No sacrifice under the Old Covenant could do that.

Be glad we are now living under the New Covenant. We are forgiven not because we deserve or earned it, but because Christ paid for it and we asked for it. AMEN? AMEN!

“There is no death of sin without the death of Christ. “ John Owen

7/7/22 Waiting 7

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10 

Recommended Reading: HEBREWS 10:10-14 “¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.¹¹ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:¹² But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;¹³ From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

COMMENTS: Christ’s example prayer (The Lord’s Prayer) includes request for God’s will to be done on earth as well as it is done in heaven. There is no doubt Heaven is perfect and sinless because satan’s influence and corruption is not allowed there. Lucifer was expelled along with 1/3 of heaven’s angels who followed him because they chose to follow a “Godless” path and lifestyle. That came from refusing to follow God’s Will and commands. By doing so, pride filled their soul. The absence of God’s spirit in them was evil. Evil is the absence of good just as darkness is the absence of light.

Few experience total absence of light. Once I was deep in an underground coal mine when my miner’s light went out. I was a distance from fellow mine workers and employees of the company I worked for who accompanied me in the trip underground. What I experienced was total darkness that gave the sensation of penetrating my very skin into my body. It was an unsettling experience but helped me appreciate those who suffer complete blindness. Fortunately, others soon came to share their light with me so I could join them and function and return to safety of light.

Christ offers us His light and opportunity to follow and obey His perfect Will instead of satan’s evil prideful will. He offers us redemption and forgiveness and a guiding hand. He offers us eternal life in heaven free of satan’s influence and judgment reserved for him and his followers. He offers us citizenship in a place where He resided and rules and where His perfect Will always is done. One day Christ will return and implement the other side of His example prayer when He binds satan and sets up rule on earth where the Father’s Will then will be perfectly done. I am so looking forward to that day. There is nothing satan offers that comes close even though most of what he offers, he can’t deliver anyway. But Christ offers far better and He always delivers what He offers. He always has and He always will. AMEN!! 

Are you planning to enter God’s kingdom when it comes to earth, when Jesus returns? Only through embracing His once-for-all death and Resurrection is that possible.

Before we can pray, “Lord, Thy kingdom come,” we must be willing to pray, “My kingdom go.”Alan Redpath

7/8/22 Sprinkled and Cleansed 8

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

Recommended Reading: EZEKIEL 36:25-27“²⁵ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.²⁶ A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.²⁷ And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

COMMENTS: Some think the Old Testament became obsolete because of Easter and Pentecost, since the old sacrificial covenant was replaced with Christ’s new covenant. Also, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost replaced Old Testament revelation through the prophets and patriarchs and judges, and priests and scribes of the Old Testament.

But nothing could be further from the truth. God involved in and revealing Himself in Old Testament times is unchanged and the same God revealed in New Testament times and through the ages to the present. He is also the same God in future times.

What has changed is new revelation and covenant we enjoy today because of Christ’s sacrifice. The animal sacrifice practice of the Old Testament was a mandate God required to provide a substitute payment for sins during that time. The sacrifice cost the repentant sinner in many ways. Admission of sin with remorse and a repentant attitude. Giving up an animal innocent of that sin and giving up cost of possession of that animal was also a way of public ally revealing the sinner was serious about seeking forgiveness and desired to turn from sin and to God. The priest’s job was to implement the sacrifice but also to guide the sinner into a relationship with God.

There is plenty of evidence in Old Testament scripture that there were many individuals who had personal daily fellowship with and a meaningful relationship with God. Daniel especially had such a relationship and was told he was highly regarded by God by an angel. The only other individual so regarded was Mary, mother of Christ by the angel Gabriel.

The New Testament did not obsolete the Old Testament but fulfill it’s promises. The Old Testament commandments and sacrifices and revelations paved the way for Christ’s New Covenant. To ignore or neglect study of the Old Testament would be like neglecting teaching and lessons our parents and grandparents would pass on to us. Doing so deprives us wisdom from their experience and failures as well as successes. But even more, neglecting the Old Testament deprives us God’s wisdom from the Psalms and Proverbs and life experiences of those who followed and didn’t follow that wisdom. God never intended the New Testament scripture to replace the Old Testament but to build off it’s foundation. Both were inspired by the same God and authored to be together as one scripture and one “Love Letter” from God to us. As you reflect on the above scriptures from Ezekiel and Hebrews, notice similar wording and realize how well Ezekiel’s words apply today even though written in Old Testament times.

“I hear the words of love, I gaze upon the blood, I see the mighty sacrifice, and I have peace with God.” Horatius Bonar

7/9/22 Stirring and Being Stirred 9

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

  Recommended Reading: HEBREWS 3:12-18 “¹² Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.¹³ But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.¹⁴ For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;¹⁵ While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.¹⁶ For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.¹⁷ But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?¹⁸ And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?¹⁹ So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

COMMENTS: In most of the world’s countries, those who confess they are Christian comes at a cost. For some it is criticism and rejection from group activities or by family for friends. But in most Islam dominated countries the cost is much higher. Christians are tolerated in many Hindu and Buddhist dominated countries but in some of them Christians also face discrimination and persecution. Christians are increasing in number and in faith in the midst of that persecution or even because of that persecution. This is due in part to depth of faith and hope those who commit to living and sharing their faith in Christ. Genuine faith is impactful on others. Faith without cost or commitment is not impactful because it is not genuine.

In America, where to be Christian is acceptable, little or no persecution or cost is required. There are exceptions and evidence of some increase in criticism or even legal consequences to individuals who take a moral stand based on their Christian world view and moral values. But compared with cost of being a Christian in Pakistan or North Korea, cost in America is negligible.

However, that also means there are lukewarm Christians only in name and not in commitment either to live out their faith or even regularly attend church. That lack of commitment or conviction to Christ has done great harm corrupting the church body and discouraging potential new believers. Misguided religions draw more followers just by having committed followers. But then again, Christ offers redemption but still honors each person to make his own choices, while satan does all he can to persuade or deceive or wear down those he tempts until their resistance is gone.

The big difference is, he is committed to defeat God and destroy us. Look at the conduct and goals of Islam, destroying anyone young and old in order to gain control and power in the name of religion. Christ gave His life to save people, His creation. He calls us His beloved and has inspired His followers to care for widows and orphans. The world doesn’t want it known how many hospitals and orphanages and universities are Christ centered in origin. Yet so many can’t be recognized because of divorcing themselves from that origin and world view, a Christ centered world view.

Luke 6:43-45 “⁴³ For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.⁴⁴ For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.⁴⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

7/10/22 Invisible Trajectory 10

  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13, NIV

 Recommended Reading: PHILIPPIANS 3 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.² Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.³ For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.⁴ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:⁵ Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;⁶ Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.⁷ But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.¹⁶ Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.¹⁷ Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.¹⁸ (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:¹⁹ Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)²⁰ For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

COMMENTS: Have you ever wished you could be at two places at the same time or be instantly transported great distances in a split second? Science Fiction books and films spur our imagination to dream of such things. Well, we serve a God who is not bound by our limits. He not only can be two places at the same time but is already everywhere at the same time and in all times past – present – future. He not only knows the future but is already living in it as well as in the past. We commonly wonder why God allows evil to flourish knowing the consequences. Truth is history tells us He grieves over our sins and the consequences they bring but is committed to permitted us to make our own choices good and bad. But not without plenty of warning and encouragement to make good choices. I think, if we reflected honestly, we would have to admit when we made poor choices, we knew better or had opportunity to stop and discern before deciding. He not only forgives our sin when seek Him but offers His Holy Spirit to guide and council and strengthen to help us avoid poor choices and consistently make good choices going forward. We can’t change the past but He can heal the past and gives us a new path to a brighter future. Ultimately, He prepares an eternal bright future and home. We will be able to move at will in heaven without the limits of an aging human body we have on earth, but only HE can be everywhere having a personal ongoing relationship with all willing to fellowship with Him and at the same time.

While on earth, we will have to endure limits of an aging body and cost in time and comfort when traveling large distances from place to place to visit family and explore places. But earth is not our final home. The 70-80 more or less years we live here are brief by comparison to eternity and earth is not our final home. Heaven is where God is preparing our eternal home to be with Him and all who love and follow Him, who receive His mercy.

“My home is in heaven. I’m just traveling through this world”. Billy Graham

7/11/22 An Eternal Vocation 11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 

Recommended Reading: 1 John 2:15-17 “¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

COMMENTS: I am blessed to have been able to enjoy employment and work in a career without interruption for 39-1/2 years for one employer. I was hired right out of college June 1973 at the tender age of 22 and continued working for the same employer until October 2012 when I retired. Working that long for the same employer was more common in my father’s generation and somewhat common in my generation but became less common in my children’s generation and will become almost unheard of in my grandchildren’s generation. In fact, the life of employers is becoming less secure and uncertain as well. Retiring from employment with a retirement income has not always been possible and is becoming less likely for young generations than for mine.

Well, there was a number of times during those years when employment became very uncertain as business conditions became weak. There were also a few times when I was uncertain of God’s calling and considered a career change. Truth was I felt unfulfilled in my work for a time and didn’t think I was accomplishing anything of lasting value.

Scripture tells us to not let our roots grow too deep in this world. When we define our worth by our social status or by the job we work at or by the wealth and possessions we acquire or by the power we control, we allow ourselves to grow deeper roots into this world where we only will live a brief time.

When we are young, 70-80 years of life seems like an eternity, but at 40 we begin to discover life is brief. Then when we reach our 60’s and 70’s we realize what we have spent the most time doing is quickly evaporating. If read Ecclesiastes, you will discover Solomon’s realization in his elderly years that everything this world offers is worthless and will not last or satisfy our soul’s longing for something more.

But the eternal good news is Christ offers much more. He offers eternal life but also meaningful life while living on earth. The worth He gives us is based on His love for us and not on what we accomplish or successes achieved. He becomes our employer and our boss. We work and are motivated to please Him over pleasing our boss or employer.

Truth is, working for Christ makes us better employees and more valuable to our employer because we are motivated to work to a higher standard and quality.

I recall being at a crossroad midway in my working career and contemplated leaving my career and becoming a pastor. After much soul searching and prayer, I heard God’s voice in my soul saying “If you fail to serve Me where you are, you won’t be able to serve Me as a pastor. You have an opportunity to reach many through your employment that you could never be able to reach from the pulpit of a church. Go serve me where you are.”

That answer gave me the direction I needed and changed my outlook. I discovered new opportunities to share Christ’s love but also new opportunities. Truth was, the reason I was really considering a career change was mostly because of a design weakness I was not able to figure out. The answer was not in giving up but in building relationships with others and soliciting their help too. Relationships based on trust and respect became a biproduct, which became more important and enduring than the assigned work.

Writing this journal is fulfilling work God has called me to in this season of my life, but the work He called me to in past can and will be used by God in amazing ways if we simply begin and live each day with our hand and eyes and mind in His.

Well, whether we live each day in our homes or at a job or going to school or traveling great distances, when we do so with an attitude of love for Christ and desire to share His love and message of redemption to any and all we encounter, we will find the meaning for life we long for. That does not mean preaching but does mean showing compassion and living at a higher level of moral and ethical integrity. It means being willing and able to share the reason for our joy and hope when asked but make our lives evidence of that hope.

That is something I’m still working on and striving to do. God’s Holy Spirit is near ready to help us succeed if we only asked. Let’s ask today. AMEN!

Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. E. H. Chapin

 7/12/22 Hoops Hero 12

Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.

Colossians 3:23, HCSB

 Recommended Reading: COLOSSIANS 3:18-25“¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.²¹ Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.²² Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.²⁵ But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”

COMMENTS: What motivates you to work? Who do you work for and are accountable to? Most people would say their boss or employer. Obviously, their employer pays them to work at the job they are assigned to do. Their immediate supervisor oversees their work and evaluates that work.

I had that perspective too but found just trying to please an immediate supervisor or please an employer above all else only left me unfulfilled and always coming short of the goal. There always was a higher goal set when reached the last goal, but the only incentive was a higher position or a larger paycheck. The incentive was as temporary as the goal I worked hard at achieving.

However, I eventually realized the work I was doing was needed to help many hard-working miners do their jobs more effectively and make their work easier. You see, I was responsible for designing equipment and improvements to that equipment used to mine and convey underground materials, mostly coal but also trona and gypsum and even salt.

I struggled sometimes coming short of being able to make that equipment meet the durability and performance expectations customers wanted and needed. There was more than one crossroads I came to considering leaving my career and job to pursue a new career as a pastor. Motivation was a desire to make more of a difference for Christ and to be free of work I felt was never good enough or would last long enough. That struggle would climate when problems and challenges were the strongest.

Then about half way trough my working career God showed me a new perspective. He asked me “Why do you think you could serve Me any better in a pulpit than right where you are? You are meeting and interacting with people you would not meet in another career or job! Remember, you are working for Me and I want you where you are.”

That realization gave me new energy and passion and fulfillment but also new insights on what to do. I began listening more and spending more time interacting with customers and with shop workers in our plant as well as end users. I asked more questions and involved them more in helping solve equipment problems. I even asked some of my Christian co-workers to join me praying together before work for a time.

Result in the years that followed was closer friendships and a higher level of respect and trust and cooperation but also new insights into problem solutions mostly coming from them instead of from me.

The real goal Christ was giving me was to build personal relationships with others so they would see Christ. His goal was for me to realize “it was all about Him and not about me”. What I discovered was the work became more enjoyable, I became more effective and fulfilled in doing it. Some work-related goals were met more easily than others, but the friendships created during those years are what I cherish far more than any of those work goals.

There was another lesson God wanted me to learn too. I recently read the story of Merg Fei, a gym cleaner in China who worked passionately on his knees cleaning up after races and even between races. Spectators and athletes both marveled as they would watch him work.

There was more than once I was disappointed with delayed promotions. In facts, most promotions came years late when I would compare my progress with many of my peers. But God was giving me more opportunities to build solid relationships with others that many of my piers were able or willing to. That realization gave me much peace and helped me become content with position God was using me in.

I am now retired from that phase of employment but God continues to give me work to do. Work of writing and sharing, work of serving at church and at food pantry and various other places in community. As I look back, I am glad I didn’t get some of those promotions. Especially two of them I actually applied for. Instead, God prepared me for work He is now calling me to do, which includes writing and sharing this devotional journal. I pray it, as well as my experiences, help and encourage you as you journey on the path of obedience God is guiding you to. It is not an easy path but the best one with a wonderful destination. AMEN? AMEN!

 “If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.”Tim Keller

7/13/22 A Joyful Life 13  

Without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:25, NIV

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

COMMENTS: Solomon is displayed as the wisest man who ever lived until Christ. God did bless him with great wisdom and discernment, which is reflected in scripture. Well, Solomon may have been wise but he was not consistently faithful. I have greater respect for Daniel’s wisdom because he was faithful to point of death all his life from his youth even in the face of the most feared pagan dictator king of that time and even in the depth of a den of hungry lions. Solomon never faced such dangers but yielded to temptations of many pagan wives and the pleasures of wealth and luxury. Solomon laments of the vanity of wealth and pleasure and hard work that decays. He reflects on his life and realizes what he spent the most time acquiring and enjoying does not last nor prepares us for what does last and is more important to seek.

Solomon didn’t know what Daniel knew from his youth. THAT SEEKING AND FOLLOWING GOD’S WILL DOES SATISFY AND FULFILL AND LAST!! Working for Christ gives eternal lasting rewards but also gives us work to accomplish which does last eternally. Work of showing love and compassion and sharing God’s good news of redemption with family and friends and even strangers that transforms us by sharing and them by hearing and seeing. Daniel knew that and was able to see the evil tyrant Nebuchadnezzar transformed to a God fearing and God loving and God believing king. The man who took him from his family and killed thousands of his dear countrymen and family was impacted by Daniel’s obedience and faithfulness and character but also by his faithfulness to God. Daniel didn’t hat Nebuchadnezzar but firmly and boldly but wisely showing him the God, who Daniel loved and followed.

What if Solomon would have followed as faithfully as Daniel? What a legacy he could have left and what a difference that path could have made for him. Well, they may be extremes both directions, but which path are we following? What will be our legacy and what will be the fruit of our life? Will we ponder regrets like Solomon or enjoy the joy of eternal fruit of our labors like Daniel? Daniel served where he was but was forced to go where he did not want to. So, may we but how we respond and life on either path makes all the difference, whether that path is sickness and being shut-in or traveling great distances for a job or other obligation. As the children’s hymn says “Brighten the Corner Where You are!”

“Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience.”Richard J. Foster

7/14/22 Spin of Grace 14

Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you. Deuteronomy 23:5

Recommended Reading: PSALM 109:26-31 ^“26 Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy:²⁷ That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, Lord, hast done it.²⁸ Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.²⁹ Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.³⁰ I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.³¹ For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul..”

COMMENTS: God specializes turning evil situations satan put us in into opportunities to shine and opportunities to be blessed and be a blessing to others. Daniel faced a lion’s den and his 3 friends a fiery furnace but result was a powerful witness of God’s power and protection and faithfulness to the most powerful leader and people in the then world. Esther risked death but her faithfulness saved her people from extermination. Christ’s death was motivated by satan but He planned and used it to redeem all who accept His gift of redemption. How many times have you endured a time of testing or sickness or trial or even tragedy and loss and later realized God enabled that hardship to give you greater strength and faith and opportunities to share you story of faith with others. Likewise, hardship draws us closer to Him because of our need and to seek help of others. A deeper relationship with Him and each other is His desire and goal and should be for us too.

Doing God’s will should be a no brainer for us, but so often doing so is so unappealing for us. I’m thinking about Jonah who despised the Ninevites because of their brutality and evil they did to his people and probably his family. They preceded the Babylonians who enslaved and killed Daniel’s people. In Daniel’s case, he embraced and followed God’s instruction and was faithful all his life. In Jonah’s case, he finally obeyed and brought salvation to the Ninevites but not before refusing and enduring being frightened nearly to death from drowning and from being in the belly of a whale. Well, how often does God need to get our attention and give us an attitude adjustment before we will listen to Him.

But His ways and will is always best even when it doesn’t seem so at the time. Especially when it doesn’t seem best.

Well, God always has our best in mind. Lasting life and joy and peace. Satan always has the worst in mind for us – death and misery and harm. Satan knows his onlyi option to hurt God is to hurt His beloved creation, us.

7/15/22 The Burden Bearer 15  

 “God is His own interpreter / and He will make it plain.” William Cowper

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 

Recommended Reading: LUKE 11:1-8 “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.² And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.³ Give us day by day our daily bread.⁴ And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.⁵And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;⁶ For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?⁷ And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.⁸ I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”

COMMENTS: Do you wonder why God performs miracles sometimes, enables and allows skilled doctors and other professional to perform healing instead, and why sometimes God allows God’s faithful followers to die of sickness or from evil actions of others? So, do I, but scripture confirms God’s Will has been fulfilled in all these ways over history. I’m sure your own experience will confirm He still does even today. He still heals some from terminal cancers and provides new medicines and technology that enables doctors to cure diseases previously considered uncurable. Then again, good people as well as every evil people also die at young ages from sickness and accidents and even murder. Likewise, some evil people live long lives but some Godly people do too. Case in point is Billy Graham who lived 99 years and enjoyed many effective decades of ministry that brought salvation to countless millions.

Some would conclude it then does not matter if we are faithful to Christ or not. THAT IS NOT THE CONCLUSION SCRIPTURE REVEALS, NO THE CONCLUSION CHRIST WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE TODAY.

Christ did not example a life or world view based on accumulated wealth or power or a long life. His life was cut short at 33 years. He died in poverty with his disciples filled with doubt and fear. Most of his disciples died a painful death young and poor too. A contemporary would think their lives were wasted and failures. That God abandoned them or their message was lost.

However, their deaths were only the beginning, as was Christ’s death. The Holy Spirit transformed the disciples from fearful traitors to Christ to courageous witnesses who preached in plain view and faced sure death without backing off or running.

Truth is persecution and sickness and life’s trials God intends to draw us closer and more dependent on Him. To seek and rely on His Holy Spirit for help and guidance and comfort and rest and strength instead of relying on our own strength and wisdom and discernment. When we do, we experience God’s presence and help. However, such trials do not come from God but from satan intended by him to destroy us and cause God grief.

So, difficult times are enduring by good and bad alike, but God’s abiding presence and promise of eternal life is available to those who receive His redemptive salvation paid by His sacrifice. That is His promise to us and the reason why we have everything to look forward to and nothing worth putting our trust in on this earth. That is easier said than done, but that is the truth and goal He gives us and provides personal 24x7x365 help to achieve. When we fail or are weak, He is ready to forgive and pick us up. Once day He will judge those who refuse Him, but until that day, redemption if on the table and available to any and all who will accept it. We need to share and embrace that message because there is no more precious or valuable treasure. 100 years from now it will make all the difference between facing eternity in torment and regret or an eternity in paradise with joy. Let’s pray we will live accordingly and be open to share as He gives us opportunity. AMEN.  

“Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).

Ecclesiastes 3:1

7/16/22 Times and Seasons 16

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

COMMENTS:Romans 12:19 “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, as it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

RECOMMENDED READING: ACTS 16:6-10 “⁶ Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,⁷ After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.⁸ And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.⁹ And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.¹⁰ And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”

COMMENTS:It is good sometimes to take some time and reflect on consequences or benefits that come from choices we’ve made or choices others have made. Most choices we make each day have minimal or little significance but some have life changes results. Choices like what to wear but some choices have clear results. Choices like career or job seek after or accept. Choices like who to date and marry. Choices like how many children to have. Of course, God has very significant influence and control but He still allows us to be involved in those choices. Some choices are less clear of impact when we make them like where to go during day and sequences or order of when we do plan daily tasks. Also, whether we listen and obey when Holy Spirit nudges us to stop and listen to those we cross paths with during day or even to go out of our way at times when feel a nudge to call or visit someone we have neglected for a while.

Some of those choices have clear results or consequences but some may be less clear. As I read the above scripture, I am amazed how clearly the early followers of Christ received direction and fellowship from the Holy Spirit and how willingly and quickly they responded in obedience. I’m sure their confidence and faith increase with each example. They could not know what could have happened if they had followed another path or choice or decided to make a choice before the Holy Spirit gave confirmation or direction. King Saul became impatient and gave sacrifice himself before going into battle because Samuel was late in coming. Saul paid dearly for not waiting. He lost his throne and eventually his life and his son Jonathan lost his life in battle as a result too. We can only imagine the result if he had been faithful and obedient.

We have plenty of evidence of experiences of others to convince us it is far better to seek and obey God’s Will than not to. We simply need to obey and let God sort out benefits and timing to reveal those benefits. Faith is trusting enough to act when clear on God’s Will and waiting when lack clarity.

It is human nature to act on choices that allow us to do what we desire to do and delay or wait when we don’t like the resulting work or path. But God Will is not for us to do what we want but what He wants. When we learn to stop doing what we want and start disciplining ourselves to wait a do what He wants instead, we discover life becoming more fulfilling and less regrets and less time needed to fix mistakes and coming back from “dead ends”.

Getting up early for devotions and reflecting on daily tasks and waiting and seeking God’ direction is a good habit to create and reinforce so each day will have less dead ends and do overs and regrets and more success in accomplishments and impactful influence on others and them on us. Then in evening reflecting on day and evaluate what was discovered and accomplished. Then when we go to bed we can pray He prepare us to receive new orders and insight tomorrow morning to give tomorrows direction.

Learning to keep long term planning in God’s hands and staying focused on each day’s tasks as God reveals them is a good way to live. Sure, long term planning is important and needed, but moving forward even on good plans without God’s input each morning is like going on an important trip without a map or GPS. We will be unprepared to make choices and adjustments during day to stay on path.

I am also amazed how many faithful Christians, especially in countries where Christian persecution is great, walk boldly in the face of great danger. As Paul and most faithful Christians faced during the first century, they risk prison and even death along with their families for preaching the gospel. They let the Holy Spirit guide them where to go and not go. I am also amazed how God helps and protects them. Because of their faithfulness scores or even hundreds eagerly hear Christ’s Good News and embrace His forgiveness. God is honoring and empowering his faithful followers as He did in New Testament times, and Old Testament times. You and I need encouraged He will honor and empower us as well. AMEN? AMEN!

“All the care in the world will not make us continue a minute beyond the time God has appointed.” J. C. Ryle

7/17/22 Leave Room for God 17

Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay” says the Lord. Romans 12:19 

RECOMMENDED READING: ROMANS 12:6-21 “⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;⁷ Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;⁸ Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.⁹ Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.¹⁰ Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;¹¹ Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;¹² Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;¹³ Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.¹⁴ Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.¹⁵ Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.¹⁶ Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.¹⁷ Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.²⁰ Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good..”

“I’d rather have Jesus than anything / this world affords today.” Oscar C. A. Bernadotte

Do you recall a time you were treated unfairly or someone hurt you or someone you love either deliberately or accidently? Have you forgiven them or do you harbor hatred for them. Are you reluctant to forgive because you still want guilty person to feel at least some of the pain they inflicted? Consider Jonah. God called him to preach redemption to the Ninevites, who were guilty of murder and enslavement of his countrymen and probably his own family.

We all have been hurt by others. Often by thoughtless words or careless acts that inflicted unintended harm. But what about deliberate actions or malicious words that inflicted harm. What about instances when results caused permanent damage or even death? How can we forgive such actions? How is it possible to forgive such actions?

Forgiveness is what we are commanded to do. The Lord’s Prayer even states for God to forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us.

So, the question is not should we forgive but how can we forgive? In order to do so, we need to think about just how perfect and sinless God the Father is, God the Son is, and God the Holy Spirit is. A perfect God sees the best of us as sinful as the worst of us. On our best day we are infinitely short of God perfect standard and example. Christ’s life was perfectly sinless and pure, but He took on our sins and God judgment on those sins as though they were His own. When He forgives us, we are just as guilty as the worst person we can imagine. We may seem good compared to them, but from Christ’s perspective, we are hopelessly sinful and unworthy. When we finally sin our sins like He does and His love for us like He does, then we begin to experience the motivation to likewise forgive those who sin against us. Consider Christ’s Lord’s Prayer and the condition of His forgiveness toward us. His sacrifice on the cross paid for our sins and His forgiveness but we must do two things. We must accept His forgiveness and repent of our sins. We must also forgive those who hurt and sin against us. When we are unforgiving, we think we are administering justice to offender but in reality, we are inflicting more harm on ourselves than we are to the intended culprit. When we forgive and leave responsibility of justice to God, we free ourselves and allow God to forgive us too. When we forgive, we are allowing ourselves to be forgiven and enable God heal. Remember, He loves others as much as He loves us and desires they be know His mercy as much as He desires us to. His love isn’t diminished to others because we don’t like them or even hate them. Nor is His love for us diminished when we refuse to forgive. But His Grace can not be given to us unless we receive it, which requires us to forgive too. So, it is really up to us. God is willing but we must too. It is a partnership with God towards life instead of death. Towards joy and peace instead of misery and war. Towards eternal life instead of eternal punishment and separation from God.

We can forgive, but not alone. God’s help is needed and He is eager to give that help. He has provided His Holy Spirit 24x7x365 to provide personal one to one help and strength. He is not setting us up to fail but to to be succeed. Remember, Christ did the hard part. He so deserves our faithfulness and obedience. He also deserves our forgiveness to others. They don’t deserve our forgiveness but WE DON’T DESERVE HIS FORGIVENESS EITHER. NO ONE DOES, BUT HIS FORGIVENESS IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO SIMPLY ACCEPTS IT AND LETS HIM INTO THEIR SOUL AND LIVES. THAT IS THE WONDERFUL HEALING GOOD NEWS HE WANTS US TO SHARE AND GOOD NEWS WE NEED TO SHARE. AMEN? AMEN!

“We can leave justice to God. He will take care of it for us, as He did for Christ, who refused to retaliate.” Erwin W. Lutzer

7/18/22 The Midnight Ride 18

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10

Recommended Reading: JOHN 21:20-25 “²⁰ Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?²¹ Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?²² Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.²³ Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?²⁴ This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.²⁵ And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”

COMMENTS: 

Learning to seek fellowship with God on His terms and not on our is a lifelong struggle. Yes, once we repent and accept His forgiveness, we open the door to fellowship and an ongoing relationship with Christ by the Holy Spirit’s presences in us. But we soon discover we still don’t nor will have a clue to figuring out God’s ways and the way He thinks and works. Christ knew Peter would deny and Judas would betray him but gave both the freedom to do so. Both had option of remaining faithful and both would have had opportunity for forgiveness and redemption. Peter enjoyed that redemption but Judas took his own life before could discover and receive that redemption. However, Christ’s loving hand and lifesaving teaching and instruction was taught to both during His 3 years of ministry. Both experienced 3 years of fellowship and instruction and both betrayed Christ but took very different paths after their betrayal. Both thought they understood Christ but discovered they didn’t understand Him or His ways at all. Judas thought he could expedite and force Christ’s hand but soon discovered he didn’t.

Jesus understood their lack of understanding. Verse 22, above, reminds us that we need to be and remain faithful especially when we don’t understand His ways. His ways and timing are so far above and better than our ways and timing. He also reminds us we need to trust Him and simply focus on obedience instead of trying to figure out His ways. I know, we feel the need to know and understand why. We don’t like to blindly follow without seeing goal or conclusion in sight. Sometimes He allows us good understanding but sometimes He withholds that knowledge. In those situations, our faith needs to dominate until we do understand. It is then our faith and level of trust in Him is tested and proved. That is when the Holy Spirit provides the help and focus we need to truly trust and have consistent faith in Him.

Receiving recognition and praise for faithfulness isn’t the goal. It is giving all the praise and worship and credit to Him.

Sybil Ludington was a 16-year-old British girl in 1777 in the American colonies. Her father, Colonel Henry Ludington, was the leader of a militia of 400 men on furlough on April 26^th. When she learned the British were about to attack Danbury, she jumped on her horse and traveled 40 miles at night in pouring rain telling the soldiers to gather and prepare for battle. She traveled twice as far as Paul Revere but history says little of her ride and much about Revere’s ride.

Both made a history changing sacrifice of similar magnitude. That difference was used by God to help form a new country founded on a Christ centered world view. Such history and evidence of God’s influence and intervention have much to show and teach us. We miss out on much when they history is forgotten and untold to young generations, just as much is lost when scripture is forgotten and untold too. When the stories of those before us both in scripture and in more recent history are left untold and unshared. Those stories encourage us and strengthen our faith to trust God during uncertain times and to seek His Will and give praise to Him instead of seeking our own will and our own praise. When we are faithful to Him, we are ok not taking the credit for wiswing Him so He really need to take any credit due, not us.

Today in heaven, it doesn’t matter to Sybil or Paul Revere if history books do or don’t include their names. What does matter is if their faithfulness is recorded in God’s book of life. One day that will be what matters about us and our families and friends. Will our names be written in God’s book of life too? Choice is ours. God wants everyone’s name in His book. Do we? That is the real question. It is really up to us but on God’s terms.

Fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, but the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

God even used division between believers to do His Will but that division is not motivated by Him. Division is always satan’s handiwork. In this case both Williams and the Puritans were right in theology. Free Will and predestination are attributes of God’s nature. He knows what we will do and does all His Will permits to persuade and guide and encourage us to take right paths but still allows us to make wrong choice and face consequences of those choices. The Bible is full of stories confirming this to be true.

7/19/22 The Bla 19

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. James 1:13

RECOMMENDED READING: ECCLESIASTES 5:1-3 “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.² Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.³ For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.”

COMMENTS: You and I make a common error in presuming to know and understand God’s Will when at best we only have a partial understanding. But during times of trial and tragedy, we are forced to throw out that understanding and either choose to either question God with grief and even anger and bitterness or completely surrender to Him in faith and say “Thy Will be done” without knowing why or how long we must endure such suffering. Job reveals how long and why Job enduring such suffering but his example does not necessarily give us the reason for our suffering.

Scripture reveals that God does not tempt us to do evil nor is responsible for tragedy and hardship in our lives. Responsibility, like with Job, falls on satan’s sinister hands and mind. Satan orchestrates evil in our lives by temptations to us and to other. God allows satan to do his mischief but within limits of intensity and length of time. He does not allow satan to tempt us beyond our strength and ability to resist nor longer than we have endurance to sustain. Job remained faithful enduring more tragedy than we could likely endure but God limited satan’s freedom to what he could endure. Of course, satan stretched that limit and took advantage of those limits.

Romans 8:28-29 reassures us God uses even satan’s handiwork for our good and even to fulfill His purpose and plan for our lives. Satan intends evil to harm us but God uses even his evil put on us to make us stronger in faith and obedience and even in blessing if we are and remain faithful to Him, like Job did.

That doesn’t mean we should seek hardship or ask we endure it longer to make our faith stronger. Seeking an end of hardship but seeking His help to endure it are appropriate prayers.

The sources of our hardships and suffering and grief and tragedy is satan. God may permit such with set limits but God is not at fault, satan is. God may permit it, but will work hard to use what satan intends to harm us to become an experience that will make us strong.

“God doesn’t want to keep changing your circumstances; he wants to change you.”

J. Sidlow Baxter

7/20/22 How Much Is Enough? 20

He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 5:10

RECOMMENDED READING: MATTHEW 19:20-24 “ ²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.²³ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.²⁴ And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

COMMENTS: God has put in our souls the need to be productive. To leave our location a better place than when we came. To leave a positive legacy. But satan distorts that need as far as he can. He distorts the need to bless others and honor God’s calling and will to satisfying our own selfish passions satan motivates. Every passion satan gives does not last or satisfy or nor fulfills God’s calling and will, but does the opposite. Scripture, past history, and countless modern examples proof the temptation of material wealth is a greater appetite for more and an increased selfish desire to horde or spend that wealth foolishly on selfish wants. God intends for us to share material possessions with others in need and on His work. Wealth enables owner the power to do greater good, but too often only tempts owner to do less or nothing. As the widow, who gave her last coin, gave more than the larger donation of the wealthy man; so those who give sacrificially give far more than the millions of dollars donated by those of great wealth. Those who are the happiest and most satisfied with their possessions are those who have put their faith in Christ and are generous with all He blessed them with. Generous in tithe of income and generous in time and talents too. God does not require more than we can give or do. Even in the Lord’s Prayer Christ teaches us to ask for each day’s bread and provision but let tomorrows need be left in His hands until tomorrow. Living on faith doesn’t mean being irresponsible or to avoid proper planning for tomorrow. Living on faith does mean to hold onto our possessions loosely and remember we only have them a brief time while on earth.

John Rockefeller was the first American billionaire. He reached that goal in the early 1900s. At age 74 he was accumulated a wealth of $300 billion in modern value. Even today the richest person is worth $100 billion. At that time Rockefeller was asked how much wealth was enough. His response was “a little more”.

King Solomon’s wealth was even greater. His possessions were worth an equivalent of $2 trillion. But he wasn’t satisfied by his great we alth either.

Rockefeller then began giving his money away and lived to be 98 years old.

Only heavenly treasures can bring the peace and contentment which we seek.

“Everlasting life is a jewel of too great a value to be purchased by the wealth of this world.”Matthew Henry

7/21/22 Father Figures: Abraham 21

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:23 

RECOMMENDED READING: II CHRONICLES 20:7 “⁷ Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?”

COMMENTS: Friendships are an important relationship. Friendship requires mutual trust and respect, a desire to help and encourage each other. Friendship expects each to have best interest of other even if correction or constructive criticism is needed. Facebook, however, has diminished the definition and commitment of “friend” to only be a connection for communication with little or no commitment emotionally or personally. Facebook has limited number of friends per user to 5000, far above number possible personally. I am approaching that number on my Facebook page, intending Facebook to be a distribution and connection point to share my devotional blog with more broadly. My desire and intent are to share the Gospel and help equip and encourage other Christians thru my blog devotional. It has reached seekers and Christians in a good number of countries overseas as well as many in USA regularly.

The Bible, however, gives a much stronger and defined definition and commitment to friendships. Christ identifies Himself as our Friend, laying down His life for us. He also identified Abraham as His friend (2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23). God identifies “Friend” to be a term for covenant identifying the trust and commitment and loyalty between God and his created human beings. Likewise, fruitfulness and blessing enjoyed from that covenant. God benefits by enjoying being loving and being loved by His creation. We enjoy eternal life in fellowship with Him and with each other and in our eternal home and in our eternal bodies. We get a far better deal from covenant than God does, but He isn’t complaining or disappointed because He gets what He desires the most, us… “They are rich who have true friends.” Thomas Fuller

7/22/22 Jesus Loves the Little Children 22

Mark 9:36-42 “³⁶ And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,³⁷ Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.³⁸ And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.³⁹ But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.⁴⁰ For he that is not against us is on our part.⁴¹ For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.⁴² And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.”

COMMENTS: Christ made it very clear by example and by teaching just how precious children are to God. They are precious because of their trusting loving nature and vulnerable nature. Most who come to Christ come as children. I came to Christ at age 10 at a revival service in our church. I can still remember hearing the plan of salvation and even at age 10 knew I was a sinner in need of a Savior. I remember coming home and reading a small King James Rainbow Bible my parents had given me the previous Christmas and began reading it. Up to that time I would look at the pictures in that Bible and read verses but not understanding them. From that night I began comprehending the verses I was reading. Even at age 10. I am now 67 and the impact of that encounter with Christ that night is still strong. I have many encounters with His Holy Spirit over the years. He has always been faithful comforting and guiding and strengthening me without fail. But sometimes He seems distant especially when I neglect my daily time with Him and when world obligations and distractions are strong or over whelming.

There is a reason He tells us to come to Him as a little child. There is a reason we need to abide with Him. We can not sustain the level of faith it takes to be faithful and obedient. But he doesn’t expect us to. He provides the Holy Spirit to fight our battles and/or jump in when we are at our weakest. When I fail, He is there to forgive. When I am weak and seek His help, He is there giving strength to resist. 1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”

7/23/22 How to Dream 23

Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

James 4:15

RECOMMENDED READING: ECCLESIASTES 6:1-6 “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:² A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.³ If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.⁴ For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.⁵ Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.⁶ Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?”

COMMENTS: Do you have goals and dreams? Are you planning and working to reach those goals and make those dreams a reality? Such pursuits are good. Worthwhile goals do require planning and work to achieve. No one plans or has a goal to be an addict or homeless. But such happen often because of choices made either by the victim or someone close to them.

Proverbs 16:1-9 “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.² All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.³ Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.⁴ The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.⁵ Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.⁷ When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.⁸ Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.⁹ A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”

God’s plans take precedence to ours. God allows us to pursue our plans and goals, good or bad, but will put obstacles and people in our path to warn us in an attempt to persuade us to take a better path. We are free to choose wisely or foolishly but sooner or later God’s plans will prevail, and we will either benefit from supporting and making His plans our plans; or we suffer the consequences from resisting and not being in those plans.   We are not on earth to pursue our own glory or satisfaction, but God’s. Pursuing God’s best is what turns out best for us.

“God has plans for this world, not problems. There is never a panic in heaven. “

W. Ian Thomas

7/24/22 Talk, Don’t Argue 24

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

Romans 9:20

RECOMMENDED READING: ECCLESIATES 6:10-12 “¹⁰ That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.¹¹ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?¹² For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?”

COMMENTS: Have you ever tried to have a rational conversation when emotions and opinion run strong? The conversation starts out ok but unchecked digresses to shouting, each trying to convince the other they are right and other is wrong. How about doing so with a toddler or, well, how about with a teenager or even a mate?

No one likes to be told they are wrong, especially in public or related to something they have done for many years. No one likes to be told what they do or relationships they may have with certain people is wrong or destructive or even dangerous.

So, is it better to avoid conflict and ignore concerns and dangers those we care about or concerned about? Is there a better way to express those concerns with hope of persuading them to change?

Well, as I reflect in a few times I was the one needing convinced and times I was the one trying to convince, I also realize God’s Holy Spirit continues to work hard trying to convince you and me to change and draw closer to Him and further from satan and his mischief. Further from the world’s lures and empty promises and closer to living and following Christ’s example and the Holy Spirit’s lead.

No one except Christ lived on this earth without sinning. You and I are infinitely far from living His perfect example. So that means none of us are qualified or worthy to judge each other. Sometimes we may come across as judging others when we are only trying to guide them down a better path. So, when does sharing concerns stop and judging start? Maybe reflecting on how God has dealt with us over the years and how we have responded to Him. There is a time to express concerns, there is a time to instruct by example, there is a time to seek help from others. There is also a time to back off and simply pray and let God do His work without our help. THAT IS THE HARDEST FOR A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT, BUT NECESSARY. Otherwise, the likely result is to alienate those we care about from us and further entrench them in behavior and choices that may be destructive or just harmful.

Well, Solomon also has something to say about arguing with God. “Ecc 6:10-11”. Have you ever tried to convince God you were right when you knew in your heart He was right and you were wrong? How futile is that? Well, maybe it was futile but might have been necessary to convince yourself to shut-up and listen. Consider just how patient He was then and still is to endure our rebellion and hard hearts and stubbornness when He could destroy us in a heart beat or let us end up in the belly of a whale like Jonah. But also consider ways He did get our attention when we were headstrong.

God won’t be ignored or refused or disobeyed forever. Sooner or later we will face the consequences of our actions unless we repent, seek His mercy and forgiveness, and start down the path of obedience and away from the path of disobedience. Down a path to eternal life and joy and love and away from the path to death and misery and bitterness and hate.

Pour out your thoughts and concerns to God. But do so ready to trust in His will (Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 4:16). AMEN? AMEN!

“To obey God’s will is to find the fulfillment of our lives.” David Watson

7/25/22 Past, Present, Future 25

And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:16

RECOMMENDED READING: ECCLESIASTES 7:1-14“ A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.² It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.³ Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.⁵ It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.⁶ For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.⁷ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.⁸ Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.⁹ Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.¹⁰ Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.¹¹ Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.¹² For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.¹³ Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?¹⁴ In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.”

COMMENTS: Have you ever found yourself fondly remembering “the good old days” and wishing you could go back to them? Well, what was different then? Was it a simpler time when family eat meals together and worked and played together? Was it a day when most of the community were in church with you on Sundays and Wednesday evenings and churches were full? Was it a time when neighbors not only knew each other’s names but were personal friends who conversed and helped each other regularly? Maybe because it was a time when our younger bodies were able to work and play and travel without fatigue and limited mobility restricting us so much?

Solomon shows us such remembering’s were common then too. When war or consequences of a society or community or family turning away from God settles in, then days when community and family were faithful to God and involved deeply in a “Spirit filled Church” will be viewed as much better than today even if poverty was much worse. Families sacrifice and work to accumulate possessions, including a nice house and nice car and a nice bank account. Goals and dreams focus on security of a large bank account and many possessions and a secure retirement income. But none of these things are permanent nor secure because our life on earth is neither permanent nor secure. When we are old, we would willingly give up our possessions and wealth in order to regain health and youthful strength.

Christ offers a permanent and better way. The way of the Cross. The way of Redemption. The way of Eternal Life through Christ. We are designed to live forever but we are also designed to hunger after a relationship with God. Adam and Even enjoyed that relationship until satan tried them by temptation to give up that relationship with a worthless piece of fruit and the sinful prideful idea they could be like God and make better choices than He does. That was the sin that separated him from God. The sin that satan uses to separate us from God too. The Cross is what bridges that separation and provides safe passage back to that relationship with God we were designed to have and back to the Eternal Life God intended and still intends for us to have. The closer relationship we are in with Him, the looser we hold on to possessions or strive to acquire.

We are living in time that are not as good as in previous generations. Not because of wars because terrible wars were fought in previous generations. Not because people are poorer now, but much of the world is in deep poverty. What makes today worse is the great turning away from God, resulting in immorality and abandonment of family and marriage and commandments God instituted and established as the foundation of society. Evil is judged as good and good as evil is becoming more a reality each day. Yet access to God’s Word is better than any time in history.

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

Yes, we are living in a time when being a Christ follower is becoming less and less popular and persecution is getting worse. We are also living in exciting times as Christ’s return approaches. We also need to prepare for that persecution realizing we will not face such alone. The Holy Spirit that gave first century Christians joy and peace and confident hope in the midst of horrible persecution is also available to help us the same way. Spending time in prayer and devotion daily privately with God and with other believers is how our faith gets stronger and our relationship with God becomes stronger. The closer to Christ we get, the more like Him we become. The work of the Holy Spirit is God coming as our companion and friend and even parent to enable us to achieve that relationship God desires and we need. We can only get there if we want to and if we set aside time and focus on prayer and devotions. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and draw you to Christ and to the throne of Grace. He is there waiting and glad to do so. When we pray for salvation for ourselves and for family members, we can be confident that is God’s Will and know He will move mountains to answer “YES” to that prayer. Reflect on those prayers God answered your prayers but not immediately. We need to realize the ripple affect of our prayers and the connection and impact answering our prayers has on others impacted both directly and indirectly by those answers. He not only will change others as we pray, He is changing us too. Then when we go about our day, we are more alerts to His ways of guiding and nudging us to stop and shine His light along the day’s journey. Sometimes will be more significant than others, but all working to fulfill His Will. If it means praying 50 years before those answers are realized fully, is it not still worth being diligent? 100 years from now in heaven, which will you regret? Praying for 50 years or giving up too soon? Maybe we should remember this perspective when get discouraged or when temptation to give up or get distracted is strong.

What we do or don’t do does matter. It matters to us and it matters to those we care about and it matters to those we know and who know us. BUT IT ALSO MATTERS TO MANY WE DON’T KNOW BECAUSE GOD HAS A WONDERFUL WAY OF SPREADING OUR INFLUENCE FURTHER THAN WE KNOW WHEN WE FOLLOW AND OBEY HIM. We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. “There are no days when God’s fountain does not flow.” Richard Owen Roberts

7/26/22 “This Turn of Events” 26

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word. Psalm 119:67

RECOMMENDED READING: PHILIPPIANS 1:12-14“ ¹² But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;¹³ So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;¹⁴ And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

COMMENTS: When left to our own preferences, we will always choose prosperity to poverty, health to sickness, freedom to persecution, friends to enemies, leisure to work, relaxation to exercise, dessert to vegetables. The list goes on. But Solomon in previous lessons from Ecclesiastes tells us the opposite is better because hardship and suffering forces us into a deeper relationship with God and more dependent on His Holy Spirit. Romans 8:28-29 remind us He uses both pleasant and unpleasant experiences to our good and for His Will. He doesn’t will hardship for us but permits satan to put hardships on us within limits (as He did to Job) but uses those hardships not to harm us as satan intends but to make us stronger and a blessing to others. Job didn’t understand why he was being pounded with one tragedy after another, but trusted God and knew God was allowing it for an important purpose. He knew God had promised to bless and provide for him and continued to trust God without knowing why or how long.

Will you and I be as faithful during hardships we face. I pray those hardships will not be as severe as they were for Job, but hardships are inevitable as long as we live on this earth in these mortal bodies. As long as satan is allowed limited freedom to do his mischief on earth. That time is approaching an end as Christ’s return approaches. He delays for reasons we don’t know or understand. But one reason He has shared is to make us stronger and closer to Himself. Another is to give us a credible witness to others in need. A third is to give us a better appreciation for and a better steward when prosperity returns.

Are we prepared for satan’s mischief? Are we prepared for God’s blessings? They may not feel the same but they both require preparation from God and both willing be used by God for our good if we, like Job, remain faithful in all circumstances, enjoyable or not so enjoyable.

 “God sometimes answers our prayers by giving us what we would have asked for had we known what He knows.” J. D. Greear

7/27/22 The Wise Doctor 27 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10

.RECOMMENDED READING: PROVERBS 1:1-7 “The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;² To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding.³ To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;⁴ To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.⁵ A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:⁶ To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

COMMENTS: A recent devotion from David Jeremiah gave story of Alexander Grigolia, an emigrant to USA from Soviet Georgia. He earned 3 doctorate degrees and began a successful career as a professor at the University of Pittsburgh. He had achieved and acquired everything he ever dreamed but still felt empty and lacking. Then he noticed a “shoe shine” who always was so happy. He asked the man why he was always so happy. He then shared his witness and Jesus’ love and sacrifice for his sins. That day Alexander accepted Christ and found the same joy and forgiveness that “shoe shine” knew. Alexander later became one of Billy Graham’s professors at Wheaton College impacting the lives of young men and women preparing for full time Christ centered work. Consider the eternal impact of this one man. Think again if you believe you are making little difference. When we open our lives to Christ’s redemption and allow the Holy Spirit in to guide and influence and strengthen us, we also open opportunities to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. A difference we may not see in our lifetime but a difference none the less. We are not saved to do nothing even or especially if we don’t think we have any special skills or talents or abilities. God specializes in using such people for His greatest work because such people are best prepared to surrender and listen and obey Him. People with great talents and abilities and skills tend to rely on themselves and become blind and deaf to others, and even to God.

Well, Professor Grigolia may have been highly qualified to teach at the University of Pittsburgh but he was not qualified to teach at Wheaton College as one of Billy Graham’s professors until He met the “Great Teacher” Jesus. Not until he was mentored by the Holy Spirit and guiding by Him. But truth was, he likely would have felt teaching at Wheaton College would be beneath him after teaching at the University of Pittsburgh.

Humility is a qualification essential to be teachable by God. Pride is the sin that alienated Lucifer from God and caused him to be cast out of heaven along with those (1/3 of heaven’s angels) satan infected with that disease. You and I are never too young or too old to learn at the feet of Jesus. Are we teachable? Do we qualify to be teachable? Are we humble or has pride infected our spirit?

I don’t know Alexander Grigolia nor have an update of his years at Wheaton College, but I suspect he has learned more and grown more in his faith and love for Christ because of interacting with young Christian students eager to learn and prepare for their life’s work. God has a wonderful way of recharging our spiritual batteries as we serve Him. So, let’s spend some time in His Word and in prayer preparing for day’s work so we too will be and do His Will today in small or big ways. AMEN? AMEN!

“Wisdom is always associated with righteousness and humility and is never found apart from godliness and true holiness of life.”A. W. Tozer

7/28/22 Father Figures: Job 28

So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify [his children], and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly. Job 1:5 

RECOMMENDED READING: JOB 42:7-17 “⁷ And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.⁸ Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.⁹ So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.¹⁰ And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.¹¹ Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.¹² So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.¹³ He had also seven sons and three daughters.¹⁴ And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.¹⁵ And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.¹⁶ After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.¹⁷ So Job died, being old and full of days.”

COMMENTS:

There is no end of worrying by parents on behalf of their children—especially after they have left home and are living their own adult lives. Parenting never ends. In spite of the many ways to communicate electronically, parents no longer see their children daily. Parents want to know how their children are doing, especially how they are doing spiritually.The best way for parents to safeguard their children’s lives no matter where they are is by intercessory prayer. The father and patriarch, Job, maintained a steady practice of intercession on behalf of his seven sons and three daughters. He offered sacrifices and prayers for them in case they had stumbled and sinned against God (Job 1:1-5). Just as Jesus Christ intercedes for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25), fathers and mothers can intercede for their children.If you have children and grandchildren, let intercessory prayer be your lifeline to heaven on their behalf.

We are never more like Christ than in prayers of intercession. Austin Phelps

7/29/22 Tending to Our Future 29

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him. Ecclesiastes 7:14

RECOMMENDED READING: PROVERBS 16:1-9 “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.² All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.³ Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.⁴ The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.⁵ Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.⁷ When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.⁸ Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.⁹ A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”

COMMENTS: Differences in theology with sincere Christians has always been a source of division. In the American colonies in 1636 Roger Williams, a devout Baptist Christian was forced to leave the Massachusetts Bay Colony because of his views in contrast to the Puritans. His focus was on God’s merciful providence while the Puritans focused on man’s free will to accept or reject God. Williams was a Calvinist while the Puritans were Armenian in theology. Williams resettled in the Colony of Rhode Island and named the plantations built there as the Providence Plantations. Providence eventually became the capital of Rhode Island. Providence means “God foresees” and describes God’s knowledge of the future as He implements His Will ministering to the needs of His people in the present.

Well, we all have a little different understanding and interpretation of scripture. The Bible is a “Living Book” because it contains God’s Word revealed to over 40 men over a 1600-year period of time. Since it is God’s living Word, even the writer’s understanding was not full since they were writing what God revealed to them. The book more evident of that truth is Revelation written by John. He was told to write down the vision God revealed but without understanding it’s meaning or what He was seeing and experiencing. He was even told it’s understanding would be clearer as the world approached the time of it’s fulfillment, much as a mountain becomes clearer as a traveler gets closer to it.

And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future. Daniel 8:26

Well, does that mean if Williams hadn’t been exiled, Rhode Island wouldn’t have a capital called Providence or the rich history it has? Maybe, but God would still have been involved in that history and very well could have been even better if the Puritans and Williams would have bonded and united in outreach together.

Even devout faithful Christians are vulnerable to disobedience and sin. We all are only strong when we have our hand in His and our eyes on Him. When we are aware of and seeking His Holy Spirit’s guidance and help. That strength and guidance must also be in present. Past faithfulness is wonderful to build off of but neglect quickly results in weakness and vulnerability. The sooner we realize that and respond accordingly, the sooner we can sustain a faithful relationship with God like Daniel and Joseph did. Jesus’ example seems and is so far above ours that His life is hard to relate too. But Christ’s life is the ultimate example to follow and strive for. Our salvation depends on accepting His forgiveness, but our spiritual heal depends on how close we live and follow Christ’s example. He knew we were not capable of doing so but does know we can if He abide with us continuous. The Holy Spirit came so that option would be available and possible. His mercy and forgiveness is still available when we repeat past sins. When we take our eyes off Him and our hand out of His hand. Yes, He knows when we are going to do that too. But He has made provision and is waiting with open arms for our return. He is always eager for us to hear His warning and respond before we let go and wonder back into sin. That is part of the “growing in Christ” maturing process our journey with Him is intended to bring. Reflect on the words of Augustine below and take comfort God has always been and always be faithful to us. AMEN? AMEN!

“Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to God’s love, and the future to God’s providence.” Augustine

7/30/22 History and Prophecy 30

7/30/22 History and Prophecy 30

And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future. Daniel 8:26

SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 12:27 “ 27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.”

COMMENTS: There have been a lot of self proclaimed prophets in last several hundred years who have written books predicting end times. Nostradamus was one of those self proclaimed prophets. He is getting a quite a bit of modern attention. Yet, Daniel’s prophecies have been so accurate critics can only accuse writer of Daniel to be someone that wrote it under Daniel’s name at a time after events happened. Yet the final proof of Daniel’s authentic work will be when the 70th week of Daniel unfolds in coming time of Great Tribulation. I grant that faith is essential to receiving and accepting truths of scripture and especially the Good News of the Gospel of Salvation thru Christ’s sacrifice. Yet, there is plenty of evident that the Bible is trust worthy and, if we can accept the author is God, then it become easier to embrace the entire book including the prophecies that have not been fulfilled yet. I guess that is a process we each need to work thru at our own pace and in our own way. Would you reflect on how that process is unfolding in your walk with Him? I can believe we all are still on that path or process and will not be fully complete until we are in the other side of the grave.

SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 12:27 “ 27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.”

7/31/22 Lord, You Know 31

Lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 2

RECOMMENDED READING: PROVERBS 3:1-6 “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:⁴ So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

COMMENTS: There are some things we know that others don’t know. In knowing that, do we demonstrate pride by showing off or do we encourage and mentor those who desire to learn from us. But then again, do we honor them by looking for and seeking their mentoring in response as well?

If we’re honest, we need to admit there are times we are not very open to God to mentor us. But then again, there are times we are not open to be mentored by those we have much to learn from too. God has much to teach us. Life changing and life-giving instruction and wisdom. Often those lessons come from others, but ultimately, they come from God through His Word and His abiding Holy Spirit.

God’s Law is not meant to make us miserable or defeated or even a failure. God’s law is meant to show us a life giving joyful way to live and show us what God is like and wants us to be like. God’s Law reveals to us how far show of being like Christ we still are so we will realize how much closer we need to get to Him and strive to do that. So many stories like the parable of the prodigal son reveal God’s willingness to not only forgive and restore but His passion to run to us when we start walking towards Him.

Let’s work harder and spend more time at building our relationship with God by studying His Word, praying, being open to and seeking and asking for the Holy Spirit’s help and following God’s response and instruction. Only He has the answers to life and answers to those questions our children and grandchildren ask us that we simply don’t know.

Faith is confidently trusting God without knowing those answers and follow His instruction not knowing how He will bring us to His promised destination for us. He is our best friend and our wising mentor and teacher. BUT HE IS ALSO OUR CREATOR, OUR LORD, OUR SAVIOR, OUR REDEEMER, AND OUR ETERNAL FATHER. We should not forget how great a precious privilege we have to be in relationship with the Creator and sustainer of all.

“The answers we need will be found, not in explaining our circumstances, but in understanding God’s character.”Bryan Chapell

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