The Devotional - A Look at the Book #596

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #596

by Jesse Abel

What Papa “J” has to say! #17

It was said by someone that revisions to the wisdom of the world rolled over every thirty eight years before the World Wide Web! Now this worldly wisdom rolls over every year! I’m not impressed… this wisdom is dead and needs revival… often! Take five and read Matthew 5:17-20 and 1 Corinthians 1:18-24. The real picture!

The Devotional

Ever listen to road noise while driving or riding in a car? Most likely you have… flip, flip, flop; flip, flip, flop! Or maybe the sound is… flop, flip, flip; or even… flip, flop, flip… depending on how you tune into the noise. As children in the back seat we often made tunes to road noise; how about you, have you ever done that? Add a little bit of flipity… flopity or hippity… hoppity with rhythm and you’ll have a major hit. It is good for the heart to be occupied with laughter, but this can only be for a season; otherwise the crying that often comes with extended laughter can be very bitter and heart breaking. This brings us to the current conditions of life on this earth under the sun. There is an over abundance of sensual pleasures in the world; there is no need to list them since each of us have problems in the flesh with the list and we do not need a reminder. Here is the rub! When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man: I DID NOT CHANGE! The change that this country needs is for men and women to GROW UP and finish the work that God has given us to do. I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11.

Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 – Well I never like pulling away from one context of scripture to another because I always feed that I have left some important issue out. This would be true anyway simply because the Word of God is Living and like meeting a close friend each day. Now if the friend said the same things over and over it would be annoying and some friends do just that; do they not? But not so with the Word of God, read a verse over and over and God will not repeat Himself, but He will share with you something new each time.

Our world is full of justice and wickedness, righteousness and sin. True these characteristics of mankind do not mix well, but because of the presence of being in the same room together there will be confusion and failure. This makes every decision of man relative and not absolute. Also when we walk away from these encounters of social differences we feel empty, even in victory. This is the vanity of living in a fallen world.

The one consolation of the heart is that God who is absolute Justice and Righteousness will one day call into account the unrighteousnesses and injustices of the entire world at the Great White Throne spoken of in Revelation 20:11-15 and there will be a time of desired judgment for every purpose and every work. We can see from these verses of scripture in Ecclesiastes something from the top down, rather than the bottom up (under the sun). Mankind cannot work his or her way into the kingdom of God because justice and wickedness live together in the same room. So mankind by choice is working his or her way into the kingdom of hell.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #595

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #595

by Jesse Abel

What Papa “J” has to say! #16

I am surrounded by books, most all of these books are commentaries on the Holy Bible. I use them from time to time as these help me confirm a thought or give a discussion deeper understanding. But I notice this too… God the Holy Spirit is my best guide; He never fails. John 16:13-15

The Devotional

No one likes to make errors when presenting truth from the Living Word of God but that did happen yesterday when I was referring to the Eternal Kingdom of God. I said; “In the fall of Adam that boundary was broken and as a result God established a Law of discipline and of moral and social conduct”. A better, but not perfect statement would have looked like this. “By the fall of Adam that Eternal boundary was sealed by God who established the Laws of Moral Discipline and Social Conduct”. (Angels who guard the Gates; Genesis 3:24; Acts 7:53 and Galatians 3:19) What we see of Creation today is the broken kingdom which resulted from the fall of Adam in the Garden. Sin has darkened our vision of everything that God has done for mankind and even with Jesus Christ as our Savior we can only see mirror images of Eternity; and that only through the Living Word of God which sets us free to see. One of the most misunderstood chapters of the New Testament provides some of these images; notice 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and especially verse 12. Now you might be saying; so what are these images? Tis not the clanging cymbal or the outward manifestations of any gift that the apostle Paul refers too; but these that abide after all the others fail; Faith, Hope and Love and Love being the greatest.

Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3:8-15 – So our God has made everything beautiful in its own timing, a very small and somewhat insignificant word to most of us, however the word is the key to seeing God purpose in everything under the sun. If we are going to be occupied with rejoicing and doing good all of our lives as God intends then we must be good stewards of the time allotted to the events of life. This is the gift of God to have purpose for living.

Vanity comes to everyone of us when we apply selfish motives, like mentioned earlier in Solomon’s opening statements. What God does is forever; can you get hold of that? This means simply that there is a time for everything and nothing you or I do in our selfish life is going to alter the Law of living in time and if we do anything to abuse that law; all becomes vanity, or zero beauty, zero happiness, zero purpose and there are more zeros… I just don’t want my list to run off the page.

I find it so exciting that God has placed Eternity in my heart even before I was saved, the thought brings emotional responses to my soul and my eyes fill up with tears. Even through all of the sin and despair of living life without Christ I was conscious of Eternity in my soul. I also know that if you are living that ZERO life that you also have that anchor of Eternity keeping you near to the harbor of life. You may not understand or find the WORK of God just yet, but do not give up. Jesus is just a thought change away. Romans 10:8, then read the rest of the story… Romans 10:9-11.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #594

What Papa “J” has to say! #15

Discipline is no longer a top shelf word in the United States. This does not mean that discipline has lost the intended flavor or intoxicating potential. It simply means that men have lost their integrity to consume it. Proverbs 11:1-3

The Devotional

In the early nineteen fifties when my father bought us our first television. There were very few programs to watch. Mostly as I recall we watched a round circle that identified the one or two stations that were available. It took several minutes for the TV to warm up so there was this excitement for all of us when the round emblem of identification popped up. Here the punch; my father was mentally disabled from World War II and ever so often he would go to the Veteran’s hospital for several days, so within a week of getting our first TV my dad left for one of his treatments. Mom determined that if dad was not at home, we would not watch any television until he came home. This was applied discipline that showed up in other areas of our young life too; one that often controls my way of life today. But I know that in today’s world it would be considered cruel and abusive. Times have not changed… people have. One of the pillars of growing is a pillar of discipline. I do not mean to say that my parents were super disciplinarians; the fact is they were really lousy at it, but they were superior disciplinarians compared to today’s secular parenting techniques. If you know me personally you know that I am slow to pull the ripcord. Sometimes I know that I aggravate people by waiting so long, while in my mind I am simply waiting for my dad to return. (No, not literally) but I am waiting for the right moment. I have also learned that our God is waiting for the fullness of time and that He is not slack as some count slackness. There is time for you to be saved because He is not willing that you should perish in hell. Be saved from this undisciplined, selfish and sinful world. 2 Peter 3:9.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 3:8-15 –I would like to spend some time looking at the things this king says about the skill of living life under the sun. Men work for profit; some are satisfied with enough to get by, but some strive for; not just a little more but all they can get. So this question of living a life of “what profit is there” is very large in our minds eye whether we strive for just enough or too much. If we would just turn to God, as Jeremiah 33:3 says we would see great and mighty blessings.

The task of living then is intense. Living requires knowledge of God and in our current world there is a world wide web to remove God from every facet of the gem of Creation. God not only created every cut in this gem; He also set in place every Law of Creation which includes the boundary of eternal life. In the fall of Adam that boundary was broken and as a result God established a Law of discipline and of moral and social conduct. The Books of Moses called Leviticus and Deuteronomy describe the God given task of labor under the sun.

If you’ve not read these books or even the New Testament then your striving is for nothing and your enjoyment to live life has dissipated like the lifting air in a crashing hot air balloon. God’s desire for you is to eat, drink and be merry within the disciplines of His Creation; He is waiting for you to come home. We will be spending several days in these few verses in Ecclesiastes since these words are packed with God’s purpose for you and for me.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #593

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #593

What Papa “J” has to say! #14

I remember my dad worked as a butcher and was paid seventy cents per hour. His take home pay was twenty one dollars per week. Today many people earn twenty one dollars per hour and still expect a hand out from the government! This too is blight on Freedom and Liberty.

The Devotional

When I went aboard my first submarine I was very excited, it was nearing winter in Holy Lock, Scotland and the November wind was making the water around the sub dance. The ship seemed to be a little restless as strained on the mooring lines; as if it wanted to go back to sea. I had already met the crew since I came on board during the Gold Crews training and off time back in Groton, Connecticut. My first sub was a “boomer” short for ballistic missile subs. I went below decks to meet the Blue Crew person who would turn over his job to me. Like me, he was a Storekeeper First Class; there was this one difference… he was a qualified submarine sailor and I was non-qualified. It would be nearly a year before I became qualified and this too was an exciting moment in time. In four days our turn over was complete and the Blue Crew was leaving to return to Groton. In less than a month we would take the sub out to sea just as the Blue Crew did and if all went well we would return in ninety days, ready to give the ship back to the Blue Crew. One thing I found funny about these two crews is that I noticed that both the Blue and the Gold crews believed in a third crew. When something went wrong and may caused a shame of face moment to the crew (Blue or Gold) as a whole… we would blame the error on the “other crew” I am not sure what color that crew was; but they sure made a lot of mistakes. Come to think of it… shame of face is normally red.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – About ten years ago there was a book written called the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. He references the book of Ecclesiastes chapter three; twice. Now I am not being critical since most everything he says about the purpose of living is backed by scripture and the book is relevant to our day in the United States. The backbone of our nation is nearly crushed because the identity of the American way has lost its purpose for living. The two verses of chapter three are verse one and eleven.

Under heaven there is only time; for heaven there is only eternity, now stand easy you may not like what I have to say! There is a time to be born; a child born out of wedlock is the wrong time and purpose. All humans die; the good the bad and those in between. Murder and suicide are the wrong times and purposes for death. Just as there is a time to kill, to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up. There are times and purposes for everything under the sun and when we take them away from the appointment of living. Purpose dissipates!

We read these verses of scripture over the course of life many times and every time I do, I am struck with awe. God reminds me that I lack purpose for living as does my family because we have pushed our lives outside the safety net of purpose for living and is it too late? No! With the LORD there is nothing impossible. Talk to the LORD about living in time with purpose and He will direct your path. Psalm 119:1-150 (See verse 105)

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #592

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #592

by Jesse Abel

What Papa “J” has to say! #13

“English” on a ping pong ball and “spin” on a golf ball; in this thought are two synonyms, the action is controlled by the professionals of these sports. Life in the U.S. in general is full of people with bad “English” and no “spin.” These are not synonyms; but are blights on our national freedom!

The Devotional

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary, Praise Him in His expanse of heaven. Praise Him for His mighty actions, Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with high sounding cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150:1-6 THANKSGIVING and PRAISE go together; hand in hand to the throne of God in heaven. There is an emerald rainbow around the Throne. Revelation 4:1-4. The brightness of this green rainbow is not stagnant or static. The rainbow is radiant in Living brilliance like nothing we have ever seen with the human eye. However the heart of the saint who’s mind is on the LORD, who is giving THANKGIVING and PRAISE to Him, sees the brightness of the this rainbow by the excellent power given to them as described in 2 Corinthians 4:7. In this special day tomorrow; Give Thanksgiving from a heart of humbleness before God; but do not limited your thanksgiving to just this one day. Give Thanks to God… DAILY!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 2:16 – People laugh at the commercial of the big lug who carries a gallon milk jug as he walks through the exercise room in anticipation of becoming a member. At every opportunity, he explains to the attendant. “I PICK THINGS UP AND PUT THEM DOWN! At the end of the commercial the attendant shows him the door that leads outside and says basically. There is no room for this lug on the planet. I do think the commercial is funny, however most people are nothing more than this poor man who PICKS THINGS UP AND PUTS THEM DOWN!

Many of us hate to get up, hate to work, hate to live, hate to die and hate our neighbor and the reason is simple. Under the sun I can do nothing better… I PICK THINGS UP AND PUT THEM DOWN without any consideration other than gaining a little income so that Friday will come, so that the pay check will be spent by Monday. Then in time, we must turn our career over to another; even they, if wise or foolish in taking over it matters little since even all that they do will be full of. “I PICK THINGS UP AND PUT THEM DOWN”.

So eat, drink and enjoy as best you can and keep on PICKING THINGS UP AND PUTTING THEM DOWN. Or try this: God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man or woman who is GOOD in His sight. As we have seen before; we are to seek the LORD and He is not far from anyone of us; can you not see that God is our Creator… He alone knows how to fill us with the attributes of wisdom, knowledge and joy. Acts 17:26-27. (John 11:25-27).

The Devotonal - A Look at the Book #591

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #591

Papa J's rules for Livin #12

One of the hardest things to overcome in life is selfishness. The fact is that even the unselfish are selfish about their behavior; all are disobedient. God calls all selfish behavior SIN. Romans 3:23

The Devotional

The temporal conditions of elderly life can often seem permanent. It is depressing to have the feeling that nothing will change, that there is nothing to look forward too and that nothing in life matters anymore. Some of the elderly people I have worked with have these thoughts going on in their minds, it is a continual, maddening oppression that keeps pushing forward. Thus, driving them deeper into a mentally depressed condition; the condition is a grave digger. However, if you have a heart of thanksgiving; you just may be the one God sends to help them overcome their loneliness. Even bitter people like a word of thanks; so this is Thanksgiving when most of their friends and relatives will avoid them and the downward spiral of depression deepens. Seek that opportunity that God will provide to be thankful in their presence; if they could only know that Christ has regarded that helpless condition and that He shed His own blood for their soul, they may find peace and purpose for being elderly. Being elderly; I get the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them, but not often. Unsaved elderly people who have nothing much to do, often seem to busy to hear the gospel. Their mind is full of distraction caused by worldly fear and there is no fear of the LORD in them at all. Their mind races against the sound wisdom of the Word of God and there is no peace in a hardened aggressive heart. Ecclesiastes 8:10-17. Don’t make the elderly envious of your youth when in truth; it should be the other way around.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 2:12 – I am sure you have experience in the progression of seeking pleasure, no doubt like most of us you have tried a thing or two in your past, but God has shown you the emptiness of pursuing a life-style of sin. As Solomon faces the truth that drugs, alcohol and madness is empty. His self will to turn away leads him in another direction. For many people who abuse their life and conscience they are weakened and cannot overcome; but those who are strong willed like Solomon do. In simple terms he says; no one can exceed this folly with the same experience so… why repeat it if it is empty?

Ecclesiastes 2:13 – When we are pleasure seekers we normally do not use wisdom to determine the outcome of our actions. However that does not mean that wisdom is not available to the pleasure seeker, since he or she simply takes what they know and sticks this wisdom in their “back pocket” where darkness dwells; do you get the picture.

Ecclesiastes 2:14-16 – Solomon says that the wise man will leave his wisdom in his eyes where observation dwells and that the fool loves to walk in darkness where sensuality dwells. But he also adds that both the fool and the wise have the same outcome. Life and death happen to both, so why then be humanly wise or foolish since both are vanity? His observation then is that there must be some other purpose for living life. And there is because God has place eternity in our hearts and the purpose of man is to seek first the kingdom of God. Ecclesiastes 3:11 and Matthew 6:33.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #590

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #590

Papa J's rules for Livin #11

What we put off today will not be done tomorrow or the next day; since by the fourth day the mind knows it will be forgotten altogether. Proverbs 26:13-16

The Devotional

Biblical Preachers of this current generation are becoming alarmed. Ecumenical Christianity seems to be making large advances in many churches in the United States of America. Isms and cults are heavily seeking to cover their true identity by including the name of Jesus in their documents or statements of faith. Secular humanism tolerates this activity and these churches grow in large numbers. I have heard that in some churches in Europe there are cafes where a person or family can sit and have coffee and pastry, while the preacher feeds them spiritually. I also hear that there are churches in the United States of America that do not teach about the devil or the end times; yet the Holy Bible explains clearly that we are to teach the whole counsel of God. (Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 20:27), you may say to yourself, I do not believe certain things about the Holy Bible therefore I do not teach them. “I follow the sacred writings of other men of the past”. There is nothing sacred about these writings; but I do believe that all of the letters in the word are there… these are nothing more than SCARED WRITINGS of unsaved men. Well that is a little off track from my intended message, but I will leave it since it may alarm some teachers of a false gospel who wear the cloak of a shepherd; but in fact are raving wolves. The half brother of Jesus Christ deals directly with this in his epistle – Jude 1:1-24. I might and do add that if we do not begin to cast out the filth that has crept into our churches the remnant of saints will suffer; however the nation of the United States will suffer greater and is beginning to show signs of this suffering even today.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 – You know that by the standards of life in the Old Testament; we citizens of the United States have it very well. Even in our current economical crumble, we are still living better than most people in Solomon’s day. King Solomon searched the world to gratify his heart. This means that he had to hire thousands of people to bring him pleasures to see what was good for man to do under heaven. Take this employment away and Israel’s economy is quite poor.

Can you not see the larger scale here in this United States of America? All of our technology, health care and pursuits are directed at gratifying mankind with the pleasures of the flesh. Nothing we do as a whole gives glory too our Creator, we give Him no concern until the bottom falls out and He may hear this plea! “LORD… Rescue me out of this mess and I will follow you and never do it again!” But mostly He hears His Name taken in vain when men and women fail and curse Him for their failures.

In the work place you hear; (do you not)… I am planting a vineyard, an orchard, I built a house, I bought a pellet stove, I can afford a nanny… so I got one! I have a saving account full of silver and gold, since I don’t trust banks, I have it all hidden away in the compost pile out back. I, I, I, we are no different in living the gusto as Solomon. I want it I buy it; even in this terrible economy. We say; well the LORD provides… does He? God provides for us to understand that Eternity is in our heart, only when we learn this, will He provide the peace, the love and the joy to utilize what He has given us. Otherwise our grasp of life is nothing more than trying to capture a handful of air.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #589

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #589

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #12

Devotion – An act of religious prayer for private use; Merriam-Webster Dictionary! Devotion – The joyful expression of those who Love and Trust the LORD; Psalm 34:1-22

The Devotional

In this thought… a submarine is much like a small civilization. At one place on the sub men are sleeping, in another place men are working and finally in another place men are just relaxing after work. In the sleeping area; I was about three hours into my six hours of sleep when I heard this scream that caused me to come unglued. I stuck my head out to the curtain that provides privacy from the outside world to see what I could see. Right across from my bunk was the head of another chief. With our heads staring at one another we both simultaneously said; “who screamed?” We got out of bed and searched the immediate area. No one was around and after a few minutes of confusion we went back to bed. Sometime later in the trip at sea, I was getting ready to bunk down for a few hours, since I had been up longer studying for the upcoming Sunday Service. As I was climbing into bed… there was that scream again. No, I did not step on someone’s face climbing into the top bunk, but it was the chief who slept across from me. That same chief who stuck his head out as I did and said… who screamed! His nightmares continued until he could no longer be a submariner and whether he could remember or just did not know what the cause was, he never shared his dream, or dreams. Troubled dreamers erupt in screams when their dream is not fulfilled and when this nation of dreamers turn their backs to Israel as we are, there will be much gnashing of teeth and screams that will be heard around the world… are you a sleeper or a screaming dreamer? Isaiah 29:5-8.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3 – Would you think that people today have anything new in the way of pleasure and sensual activities? Solomon explains that there is nothing new under the sun, either you are willing to believe this or not. But the truth is; he is not lying. Drugs and alcohol were consumed in his day, even like today. It is the rich and famous who first experience all that man can gather together in one life time, then when they are through with their trash, the world around them, picks through the trash.

As chapter two starts, Solomon comes right out and says: Yes, my heart wanted to try drugs so I did and found it to be nothing more than a zero on the scale of worldly enjoyment. Mirth is a drug, it is the same drug offered to Jesus Christ our LORD on the day He was paying for our sins at Calvary. Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23. Jesus did not allow His senses to be altered, nor did He allow His love for you to fail. Whatever vanity of trash you have fallen into… let Jesus who never fails touch your lips and humble you to come to Him with a contrite heart. Psalm 34:17-18.

I don’t know about you, but I do understand me! I like a good laugh; the fact is that I enjoy making people laugh too! But I also know that laughter is but for a moment and if you try to force the laugh beyond the given time allotted to it, even what was laugh worthy loses worthiness. So drugs and laughter, after the use of it, has a limited folly of no gain. Yet for who know Jesus there is the reward of the kingdom of God called “Joy”. Have you not noticed that those who wait on the LORD, even in the midst of pain and suffering have “Hope”, they have hope because the Joy of the LORD, never leaves them. Joy, just like Jesus… never fails; love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control are not temporal gifts. Galatians 5:22-26. Notice the vanity of the earlier verses… Galatians 5:16-21

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #588

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #588

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #11

When your favorite coat shrinks… it is not because it is old or washed too many times. Also, it is not because the color is faded and the collar is frayed or for the holes in the pockets. The answer is simple; and your waist line knows the truth. Proverbs 23:1-8

The Devotional

Once while on ambulance duty we responded to a call for help, it was nearing midnight and the emergency was that someone was screaming. The noise as the farmer explained was coming from his field where a few cows would normally be during the day. By the time we arrived the screaming had stopped but there was an auditable sound of someone crying deep in the field. We called out and immediately the young girl began begging for help. I thought I was walking in mud, later I found out what it was. The girl was in her late teens or early twenties and she was literally covered with cow manure and so too were our shoes and medical gear. It is humorous; but it is also sad… since Proverbs 23 captures in context the reason she was in the field. She had met two men at the local bar. They promised to drive her and her car home, but first, they took her to the cow field with the thought of taking advantage of her drunken condition. She ran into the field to escape her pursuers. However; being drunk and full of panic, her temporary mental condition was that of a little girl not yet in her teens. In the ambulance the girl identified two men on the roadway as the two men who brought her to the field. They had stayed on the roadway next to her car watching the whole thing. When the state police arrived, the men were questioned and arrested; their response was… we were just having some fun with her, we wouldn’t have done anything! Neither of the men had any cow manure on their shoes or clothing; the fact is that one must have showered in his after shave. After catching a whiff of him, I felt better smelling like a cow!

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 – If you are a student of the Holy Bible (the only source of truth and wisdom) you will identify with the statements of Solomon here. But this is not to say that we should avoid the wisdoms of the world as some monks and other religious sects seek to do. However the more wisdom one has the more grievous the task and if you do not see the task at this moment, then you do not have to worry, just keep studying.

The works of man are piled high and the depths of human wisdom is exposed by the application of what man knows. When something is claimed as truth from a secular view, those who have Wisdom from God are able to see that the Laws of Creation; clearly oppose. Of course the wisdom of the world does not see this since this wisdom is simply, applied darkness. Thus Solomon is correct. The task of straightening out the crooked path of darkness is grievous to the preacher; God’s man.

Many young men and women leave home and are faced with the decision. Do I follow tradition or the faith in God of my parents? This communion within their heart of hearts often leads them to the threshing floor to sort out the wheat from the tares. The journey may seem as a top of the world experience and carry them away for long periods of time. They learn madness and folly and consume worldly isms. In this is grief, simply because this knowledge is filled with the sorrows the world faces each day; without answers. This too, is vanity and tossing to the wind.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #587

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #587

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #10

The bandage can cover and protect a wound, but it cannot remove the pain or heal. One of the bandages we use the most is laughter! I call it “crying out loud… behind a mask!”

 

The Devotional

Ever go hunting for treasure? As a young person this was one of my most favorite things to do and I think that this is because of one winter. I must have been nine or ten and a bunch (ten) of us were sliding down a local hill, we had sleds and inner-tubes. We were having a really good time, sometimes swapping a sled for a tube or vice-versa. Some were neighbors and some were my cousins so the bonding of the event was good too. I was on was my cousin’s sled headed down the hill. At the bottom of the hill was a cement walkway a stripe of lawn, the curb and then the road. The sled hit a muddy spot in the little section of lawn before the street and dumped me into the street just over the curb. My nose began to bleed and the pain on my face began to get my attention. But just as I was about to lament with tears, I saw the five dollar bill that my nose had pushed into view from under the snow. Wow! I’m rich I shouted! Someone handed me their handkerchief and we stopped the bleeding. We all went off to the Walgreen drug store where the soda fountain had just enough seats for each of us to spin on. Didn’t take long for that five dollar bill to dwindle into one dollar and fifty cents in change, (we each spent thirty five cents and there was no state tax) we had a nice day! I miss soda fountains; but I still like hunting for treasure.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 – The technological advances of today has caused change in the way we do things, but the redundancy of what has been done in the past is still what will be done in the future. This makes the statement of Solomon in this verse still applicable today. There is nothing of intrinsic value under the sun for man to accomplish since it has already been done. I am sure that Solomon does not refer to the new chariot he purchases every two years with the latest gadgets; even this is redundant and empty in time.

As we will see (if the LORD tarries), Solomon is referring to the times and seasons of the generations of man on earth in that man has a time and the time he or she spends have seasons, like the seasons of creation. Man is limited in that while technology advances; mankind cannot go beyond his time to be born and his time to die and the events that go on in between those two events.

So life without the Spirit of God is dead and limited to the redundancy applied by the curse when mankind fell in the garden. “For in that day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.” Please take a look at the whole context of this statement of God to Adam, in Genesis 2:8-17. Mankind lost his purpose for living. These are important thoughts for those of us who are biblically born again through the death and resurrection of our Savior and LORD. Those loved ones who are lost are lost because they are alive in the redundancy of life with no eternal purpose. There is HOPE and if you are saved, you know it!

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #586

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #586

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #9

A smile can change the moment; while a moment can change a smile. One has a heart of compassionate selflessness, while the other has a heart of indifferent selfishness. What then will be the result of your day?

The Devotional

Only submarine sailors can identify with the term, “halfway night”! This event is a few hours long on the sub when Satan comes out to play. I will not be able to explain the intensity of this social gathering of exposed evil because I avoided the area where all of this activity would take place. The crew’s mess (the ship’s enlisted dining hall) is literally turned into exposed darknesses of all kinds. I do not believe the original intent of halfway night was to be a time of this sort of debauchery, but what do I know? Now here is the rub! We work along side men and women all day long and things seem to get done. While working, we talk of children, family, community and country. We also bring up religion, politics, death and taxes. In all of this conversation we gain a glimpse or two inside the heart of mankind. Most stay in control but as an evil heart comes to periscope depth in the more disturbing waters of conversation the evil heart broaches the surface and is revealed. What would it be like folks; if the world was given a halfway night once in a while to express what is really going in the heart of man? Such a day is on the horizon, the LORD calls such a day; the time of Jacob’s Trouble… a seven year period of time when all of what evil can do will be focused on one spot of land – Israel. Jeremiah 30:4-17! If you do not want to see this day and by the way, (I knew many unbelievers who did not want to participate in halfway night on the submarine) then to escape this day you must be able to answer this following question from Jesus Christ with a YES, otherwise you may just see the great and terrible Tribulation. John 11:25-26 is the question and your reply should be the same as Martha’s in verse 27. “Yes LORD, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is come into the world.”

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 1:1 – A preacher’s words are words that many people respond too. For example; Faiths… good and bad are built by the words of the preacher. The preacher can be charismatic, dogmatic, liberal or conservative; he can be any combination of these characteristics. He can be right or wrong. He may be biblically saved or biblically unsaved, he can be the son of a preacher, and he can even run for president. He can be a person who has experienced the fullness of life. Solomon qualifies, in all variations.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 – As if with the next breath Solomon gives insight to what he is about to preach, sort of a title of his message. Most everything he is about to say falls into the category of absurdity, frustration, futility and nonsense. The book is filled with vanities. I am sure you have heard the term; “zero tolerance” Solomon turns this thought around and says. Tolerate what I am about to say… life under heaven is a zero!

Ecclesiastes 1:4-8 – The history of life is that one generation appears for a while then passes into absurdity; this is frustrating, even futile. As the new generation comes and thrives it is found doing the same nonessential things as the one before it, yet the earth accepts this and keeps on keeping on. Creation in the same way continues it circuit of existence. The wind, the rivers and the sea labor a routine task. Man is not satisfied with seeing and hearing all of this labor under heaven so he can never fully express or preach a full message. Stay tuned, this will turn out to be GOOD NEWS!

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #585

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #585

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #8

Psalm 119:54 Our homes tell a lot about who we are; yet, it is this house of flesh that tells me who I am. When the statutes of the LORD are joyfully abiding, my soul is sweet, and songs of praise caress my lips, such joy is too wonderful to comprehend or express.

The Devotional

One Christmas just after being saved I pulled duty on Christmas Day at the local Navy base. The two of us Storekeepers were to issue material and supplies that would be needed that day. All was very quiet except for an emergency issue of medicine. During the course of the day the other Storekeeper and I were talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was recently saved and I was excited about Jesus. (Are you excited about Jesus?) It was now evening and the issue of medicine interrupted our evening meal. I traveled over to the building that housed the refrigeration products for the base and where the meds were located. As I walked too the smaller refrigerator where the meds were stored I noticed a pallet of egg nog (my favorite). I said to my self; “this will finish off our evening meal in a typical Christmas fashion.” Back at the supply office, we issued the meds and resumed our meal and I presented the egg nog. After eating and having some egg nog I said to the man opposite me. “Sow what do you think about all I have said regarding Jesus and accepting Him as your Savior?” He said; “no I do not think so since it did not bother you to steal the egg nog, that must be a sin right? My testimony was destroyed and so was faith in this man’s heart. There is absolutely no excuse for this sort of conduct in a believers life, this was a lesson learned early for me, but all to often many who give testimony of being saved walk in this sort of darkness and think nothing of it. Ephesians 5:8-14

Ecclesiastes

A few years ago we looked at the Book of Ecclesiastes and it is time to look again. I hope you will enjoy the Wisdom of Solomon with me as we tour his time of seeking the pleasures of life without the guidance of God. Most people today live in the pleasures of life; but they do so without wisdom. Therefore they suffer because everything they do is locked in time and when the time runs out; they step into eternity with nothing to show for life, so what is done; is for naught.

This little book of twelve chapters is not very popular; preachers bash it, unbelievers make songs and fortunes from it and most of the world’s population has never fingered through the pages. This of course is too our shame… the book is rich with insights that many of us are afraid of, or have been destroyed by. So as we begin; as in any adventure it would be good to pray and ask God for blessing and purpose. Here is my reasoning!

This little book covers every imaginable thing that can happen to humanity while living in time. Solomon experienced it all; he did this intentionally because of purpose in his heart, but in turn God took what the man did and revealed the depth of his sin. There is much to learn from this man’s observations and experience in life and the pursuit of happiness apart from God. I hope you are as excited as I am about the journey ahead. And remember…”Vanity of vanities.” Says the preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” In much wisdom is much grief! With God’s permission we will see vanity and wisdom fight the battle of life under the sun.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #584

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #584

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #7

I heard someone say recently; “There should be a handbook on raising children!” Obviously these people like many billions of others do not read the Holy Bible. LOOK! Children are a gift from God and the Bible is the instruction Book to raise them. Psalm 127:1-5

The Devotional

Happy Veterans Day to all men and women who have served and now are serving the United States of America in a military uniform. We hope your day will be filled with the joy of the LORD! We also hope that there is someone nearby who will give you a hug and kiss for your labor of service. Men and women have been defending their countries since time began and will continue to do so until time ends. There is a national hymn titled; God of our Fathers and in this hymn we are reminded that when our cause is just and right we are lead not only by the brave hearts of our fathers past, but also by the True Heart of our Ruler, Guardian and Guide… Jehovah! He is the LORD of Hosts (the LORD of armies) in the Old Testament and Jesus Christ the LORD of heaven and earth in the New Testament. Here too is a thought from the song. “Lead us from night to never ending day” would you know what the writer is saying? Another song writer says it this way! In the night season and all the day long; God leads His dear children along. The earth is saturated by the blood of men and women by the battles of good and evil. Because of fallen man, sin has placed over the earth a blanket of darkness called time or the curse. Genesis 3:14-19. There will be a future moment in history when the fulfillment of time will come and there will be no more darkness and all wars will cease. The LORD shall strike the earth with the power of His mouth and He shall slay the wicked and His peace will be so effective that the wolf, the lamb, the leopard and the goat shall graze in harmony together and the small child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:1-16. This will be the never ending day or better known as the millennial reign of the LORD of heaven and earth… who is Jesus! So come LORD Jesus!

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 13:7-14 – A challenge of my past was to write out the epistles in order to study the word of God. This was a good idea, but all ideas should be molded or fitted to shape the character of the individual who puts ideas to work. None of us start out to be disqualified and one of the easiest ways to end up that way is to mold oneself into something he or she is not. Therefore in order to remain true to God, we must abide by His standard of Righteousness rather than the righteous standard of some religious ism. We can do nothing against the Truth!

I believe that God reveals the weaknesses in us to many in order to challenge the many to become strong, therefore we should not be critical when some weak trait is revealed, but we should pray that God will allow that weakness to cause another to grow spiritually strong. Whether we are absent or present and whether we speak or write; our purpose is not to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, but to strengthen all of us in the grace and knowledge of Christ our LORD.

The benediction of this epistle is one of Paul’s best. God’s desire for us is to be spiritually complete and this takes me right back to 2 Corinthians 4:7 and these few ending verses capture the excellent power of God. Be complete; be of good comfort; be of one mind… live in peace and the love and peace of God will be with us. Have communion with God in the Holy Spirit each day and live in the joy of the LORD, Amen!

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #583

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #583

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #6

Luck and fate should be banned from daily usage. Neither of these words serves any purpose under the sun since both are words of ignorance to satisfy the most ignorant of peoples. Psalm 85:1-13

The Devotional

I knew a little girl who had a life goal at the age of five to graduate from high school. As she approached this age she began to talk about that big day in the future. As the months marched toward her sixth birthday she saw the only two dogs she ever knew die and said; “why does every thing I love have to die?” I thought… “How do I answer her?” As the winter approached and the snow fell, she would asked to play in the snow to make “snow angels” her little red snow suit and red and yellow scarf were always soaked when she finally decided to come in and hot chocolate would be her next request. Christmas came, then New Years of 1982, then she graduated from the local high school in the town where we lived. She was five and one half years old then and by February 21 during the early morning hours she went home to be Jesus and I found my self asking the question that she already had the answer too. Why does everything we love have to die?” If you suffer as many do by the loss of a child, then of course you have asked that question, but this I know… I will see my daughter again. We think that this time on earth is all there is, but; OH how wrong we are! The Holy Bible clearly states that our life is but a vapor, appearing for a short time; in time. Far better it will be to be with Jesus Christ; my daughter and all those who love Jesus at His appearing. This will not be a temporary comfort like the vapor of life that appears then vanishes before all is said and done. This appearing of Jesus and the saints will be eternal. What does that mean; it means that we will never be separated again since eternity is not a past or future partiality locked in time; eternity it is always present and will never fade away. I shout… Praise the LORD! The man who really understood this was Moses… Read Psalm 90:1-17.

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 13:1-6 –The apostle’s authority has been questioned by the Corinthians and there are a few reasons why. I sort of look at this in simple terms, certainly others who have studied the ministry of Paul and his traveling can zero in on a more historical foundation. In simple terms; if you have sent a child on to college or had one or two move out from under your authority? Then you know the problem. Or maybe you are a young adult who has move out!

Now you are subjected to the views of the world around you and parental authority is on the back burner of your thinking… you need to watch the stove; parental authority could be boiling away! So in the simpler way when “the” authority is absent the mind absorbs the “sub” authorities of other entities. Doubt, fear and other emotional responses flourish and many young people lose the flavor of their upbringing.

When one loses the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ… this is no small thing; hardest of heart is critical. Verses 5 is not questioning the fact of salvation justification; but that of salvation sanctification. Moving from ones steadfastness in the sanctifying work of God the Holy Spirit will disqualify your walk since you no longer walk in the Word. This is because anything that distracts from the authority of Scripture is darkness; darkness well equipped to harden the heart of those occupied with it. So then who is disqualified… those who have not moved from a firm foundation or those who have? Now I know you know the answer to that question. 2 Corinthians 13:6

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #582

A Devotional Look at the Book #582

Papa J's rules for Livin #5

On the surface a painted portrait resembles the good life; but beneath the stokes of the brush and the paint is simply a stretched out canvas rag that holds the inner thoughts of the earthbound artist. Isaiah 64:6-7

The Devotional

The power of a man in authority can be intimidating. I know such a man and he demands from those who work for him absolute obedience. He is not nice as he curses and rages with a face so red he always looks as if he is about to “pop”! His employees are afraid to talk with him on any subject as they have a real fear of losing their employment. I have not known this man for a long time; less than a year, but he has always been pleasant around me; in fact the man likes me and he does not curse or get visibly mad around me. Less than a month ago he had a mild stoke and was diagnosed with a severely clogged artery disease. He will be having an operation very soon! The man and his personality changed and his once unpleasant demeanor has been pushed aside for a face of fear. There is major expansion going on in his place of business and these events in his life clearly remind me of the following passage of scripture. Luke 12:16-21. I pray that I will have an opportunity to talk with him a length about the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ; I have told the man that I will be praying for him; my reporting of this to you the reader is that you will pray for me that the LORD will open the door for me to communicate the good news of our LORD and Savior, in that Jesus loves him and desires a relationship with him.

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:14-21 – The apostle states that this is the third time that he is preparing to come to the Corinth church. Do you ever find yourself traveling back to a place because you love the fellowship of the believers in that location? We have a far greater ability to do that today then in the day of the apostle Paul, but in most cases; if we leave a church fellowship we never go back. If you have left a church or fellowship then return after a season of time you will see as the apostle Paul did some very interesting and parallel events.

It is the war of the two natures within. Men and women under the power of the Holy Spirit are the most pleasant people to be around. Love constrains us and love also abounds in us and there is no better fellowship to experience. However; men and women under the influence of the flesh are the most unpleasant people to be around and it seems that after the initial glad moment of arrival, conflict begins.

What is this conflict? Contention, jealousy, selfish ambition, backbiting, whispering and left unchecked all the rest mentioned here in 2 Corinthians 12:20. These things found in the church at Corinth are found in all churches across this country, also this corruption does not stop at those sins found in verse 20, but lead to further corruption listed in verse 21. If you go back to a church of your past… you will see just as Paul sees; that is if you look!

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #581

A Devotional Look at the Book #581

Papa J's rules for Livin #4

The average American does not drink enough water, but does spend billions each year at the pharmacy. Now that makes sense!

The Devotional

The submarine is a closed environment, in other words it is designed to keep natural elements outside while manufacturing those same elements inside to ensure human survival. Water and chemicals from the outside are hazardous materials and must be isolated from within. However; the submarine needs these same elements inside to maintain the health of the men on board and the safe operation of the submarine. I am intrigued by the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. God has placed in TIME for all things to happen at the right time. So the question of intrigue that dominates my mind is; is the birth of a child by an unwed mom, right or wrong timing? Or; is the death of an aborted infant; right or wrong timing? Can we go on and say that any time is a time of war; or is any time a time of peace by our own national determination and not be abusive of the works that God has given mankind to do while he or she is here. We need the elements of time to survive in time and I am sure that at the Great White Throne God will judge the nations and each individual on their works found in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Why? Because God has made everything beautiful in its TIME as He has also placed ETERNITY in the hearts of all of us and it is my thought that many of us have abused time and destroyed our eternal perspective. Well… it is appointed that each of us shall die and after that the judgment; Hebrews 9:27. If you know Jesus Christ personally, your judgment will be MERCY, Hebrews 9:28 and 2 Corinthians 5:9-11. If you do not know Jesus Christ there will be no mercy at the Great White Throne, Revelation 20:11-15.

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:11-13 – Boasting is something most of us do and we are very good at it… even those who seek to cover up their boasting by exposing the boasting of another more obvious person. These folks are readily identifiable because they appear to have eye problems as they look down just over their nose to talk. I am sure the apostle Paul knew many such people.

What we are before people as they view us is hardly worth the breath to expound on. It is however what we are before the Living God who will be the judge. If we say we are something and we are not… God Himself will take care of the matter. In the meantime if there is opposition that does not lead or lend itself to exposing false or foolish behavior, then this opposition is false and foolish rather than the ministry of the minister.

We truly need to be careful that our evaluation of those who preach and teach the Word of God is not judgmental. I believe this is a major problem in today’s church of Jesus Christ. Some will say; “Well Jesse… there is no perfect church” and I will say true… but that makes you part of the problem and not a part of the solution.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #580

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #580

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #4

If you really want to live by my rules; then you are too be a person most pitied. I know nothing about life, yet do not fear there is God who knows life as He created us in His image; HEAR HIM! Our failure is in our own image that we seek to live. Genesis 5:1-5

The Devotional

Over the years I have considered this section of the devotional as informational to life and the effects that God has on us as we live it out. I have used examples of my life (since I know it best) to describe events that only God could put together. The stories are real events and I have sought to be as correct as my memory would allow. If these devotionals are to have a future, it will be because God continues to keep the door open. I would like to use some stories from you the reader. God works in our lives daily and not just once every so often, so I know you have an event or story to share. If you send your story to me I will consider that you approve of me sharing it and I will write about it in these devotionals. Send you story by email to: abelj-r@yahoo.com. Our God is awesome and He is glorified when we share His work in our lives with others as a testimony of His faithfulness to us as He encourages our faith to grow. Hebrews 12:1-2

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – Have you ever gotten so focused on the worm that your day of fishing came up empty? I think that many times in our study of scripture we focus on the wrong object. In this passage we see the words, “thorn in the flesh” and we lose the intended message by trying to figure out what the thorn was. It is sort of mysterious since the thorn is further described as a messenger of Satan. And to add to this confusion is the thought that this was given to Paul because he had a revelation and that God did not what him to be exalted beyond his ability to handle the event spiritually.

While all of the above has some relevance, even paralleling the event in Job’s life with the affliction of boils all over his body. Job 2:5-9, this passage teaches us that God is interested in the lives of His Saints to sanctify them in sufficient grace. If you involve your self with God and His Word; if you seek to walk as close to the LORD as possible as many of us do. You will find that you are physically, spiritually and mentally challenged daily; even being buffeted about by the world which is controlled by the devil. Ephesians 6:10-20.

The grace provided to us by Jesus Christ is sufficient; Jesus is the Master Spiritual Builder. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Too many times we react to (the battle is the LORD’s) with physical and mental efforts of the flesh rather than relying on the sufficiency of the grace that God supplies. We should not take sinful pleasure in our infirmities as some might conclude here; but we should look at our infirmities of the flesh, the mind and the spirit as those weaknesses that bring about needs, persecutions and distresses that Jesus provides strength to overcome by His excellent power at work in these weak earthen vessels.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #579

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #579

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #3

Traveling the information highway has a lazy drawback! The more time you spend touring on this unrestricted avenue; the less time you will spend traveling the upright supernatural highway. Proverbs 15:19

The Devotional

When “Hospice” comes for a visit it is not long before someone within the household dies physically! This program is very good since families do not experience the loss of family members on a regular basis and seldom know how to deal with the various events leading up to the death. As an EMT there has been an opportunity or two to visit a home where people are dying without hospice involvement. Most often in these cases a person will be in a physical condition called; “agonal respiration,” aka dying respirations which is a few breaths per minute that cannot support life. When people are in this condition, medical professionals can do all of the right things but lose the battle, the person is just to sick to stay alive. Now place this condition on a nation! This is my take on the United States of America, my home, your home and supposedly the home of future generations. Does this mean anything to us? Are we doing all of the right things, but losing the battle? Is it too late? If we cannot answer these questions, then guess what! Our respiration rate is insufficient to support life. Our government was formed: Of the people, by the people and for the people. Yet in this day of our lives; if you are nine months from being borne; the twenty year old soldier is in a safer zone of life. And of course if you are sixty five or older you might be forced to give your medical rights to some foreigner who socially steals from the pockets of working people because he or she is an illegal resident. All of this is accomplished by the unsupportive respirations of “freedom of choice” and “pro life” sounds of cancerous political disorder and terminal political corruption.

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:2-6 – How good it is to return each morning to the Living Word of God by which we are cleansed daily by the Power of God. John 4:10-14 individually and as a church family we are daily being made to drink in and bathed in the Water of Life by the Word of God. Ephesians 5:26. Also many other passages that are statements from God that it is His will to sanctify His saints in truth.

The apostle Paul does not identify himself as the person who was spiritually caught up into the third heaven, but based on the event we know that Paul is talking of his own experience. If you are a student of the Word of God, no doubt you have been taken on a spiritual journey or two in your time spent in the Word. The joys of these events are truly inexpressible and full of glory. And really these events are for you and God and have little to do with sharing with another since these cannot be explained with any success. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

More explainable then are the infirmities that we deal with; why…? 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13 explains that our infirmities are common to all of mankind and spiritual revelation is not. So the apostle desires to display his weaknesses in order that the power of God, which is excellent will glorify God and not the apostle as He relies on the Spirit of God to work through him.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #578

A Devotional Look at the Book #578

Papa J's rules for Livin #2

Make no bones about it! Bitterness in the heart is like a knife that whittles away at those nearby. Left unchecked; one will have only skeletons for friends. Proverbs 18:24

On one of the subs I was on… I forget which one; we were on the surface preparing to submerge. The process for taking a perfectly good bubble and making it sink is to cause the bubble to have a negative reaction to buoyancy. In this process it is also necessary to keep water out of the main bubble where the people are and fill up those outer bubbles that keep the submarine on the surface. Leaving the forward hatch open is a very dangerous mistake that should never happen. After receiving a report from the Chief of the Watch that the ship was ready to dive (a straight board) for you sub sailors, the Officer of the Deck ordered the Diving Officer to submerge the ship who ordered the Chief to open the ballast tanks and submerge the ship. Something had tripped the switch to the forward hatch as being shut; it even looked shut but it was open to the tune of twenty three thousand gallons of water per minute coming into the people tank. Immediately was the sound to emergency blow the ballast tanks and the boat grudgingly came back to the surface. This is a true event and I am here to explain it; some would say that this was a mechanical error. Okay, but that does not take the human being out of the lime light. Cables and other objects are in these hatches while the ship is in port and before going to sea these hatches (all of them) must be inspected for obstacles that would prevent the hatch from shutting completely, this simple task was not done properly and the result was dangerous, even the mission was delayed. This same sort of thing goes on daily in religion; religion looks right, but dangerously deceptive and religion delays the mission. The people who follow religion will gladly swallow the camel while gagging on the gnat. Matthew 23:1-36.

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:1 – Sometimes it is necessary to boast about our life in Christ; while it may not be spiritually profitable and should never be materially profitable… boasting about what the LORD has done and is doing in our lives is important. If it were not then we would never know the power of God that is often dismissed as nothing more than human reasoning.

I believe in boasting in the LORD, but I also believe that we can get carried away like many charismatic churches do over things that are not spiritual in a godly environment but demonic. This could take us on a rabbit trail since all the gifts that people of these faiths believe they have belong to the church of Jesus Christ and not to the private interpretations of the individual. So boasting is not to be of who and what I am, but who the LORD IS and what He is doing through the Holy Spirit within.

God does all things in an orderly and perfect way, if; and He does reveal some attribute of truth to you and me, He will do it by way of revelation. So in using this method… does He do it in order for you to keep it secret or to share it with others? Hmmm! We should think about this, it is food for thought as the rest of the chapter speaks specifically to this subject and those results of revelation in the weaknesses of our flesh.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #577

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #577

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #1

Success follows people who do things that others refuse to do. If we refuse to take out the trash, we will also refuse to listen to sound judgment. If we listen to sound judgment, we will take out the trash. Profoundly simple; Yup! Luke 14:34-35

The Devotional

Each of us has that processing center in our heart where we sort out the things to share and the things to keep secret. I call this unseen place our “heart of hearts.” This reminds me of the surfaced submarine, in that; five percent is exposed above the water while ninety-five percent remains hidden under the water. We know each other by what we reveal, but you know you by what you do not reveal. As believers in Jesus Christ we have come to the Light to be the light of Christ to the world, or to be fully clothed in His Righteousness. (John 3:19 and Colossians 1:13-15) In these verses we can learn that we have been given light and while some darkness will always remain in our heart of hearts we are encouraged to become more like Christ because we have been redeemed by His Blood. We must therefore live as those whose sins are forgiven (LIGHT) and not as those who live and love the darkness. The joy and light of the LORD is available to each of us who are increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:9-12.

2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:5-15 – Again as said yesterday… we live in a deceptive world. What looks normal is so normal looking that it is extremely hard to know what is false. Our technology is able to detect counterfeit money and watch abnormal activity, but where the rubber meets the road; we fail and fall daily as victims to the false lead of many and varied activities of darkness. You know the score in all of this so I will not labor the point, but will set my sights on the apostle’s effort in these verses to point us to truth.

In our current church stewardship we do not have apostles, although there are some who would like to be identified as such. This identity does not make them false apostles it simply shows that they lack understanding in certain truths in scripture. Or even more visible; the untrained person in speech or writing does not make that person a false teacher when that person is gifted by God since God is not a respecter persons as we might be. So what is it then that makes a person a false apostle or false teacher of the Living Word of God? The apostle answers the question in verse 11. God’s Love for people; those saved and those who are unsaved. God knows!

So in order to expose false apostles and teachers we must continue to do what God has commanded us. John 13:31-35, we are to have His love for one another. Those who commend themselves to be something other than what they are; are false. Just as the secular world is full of counterfeit operations, so is the spiritual world. False teachers and deceitful workers promote fear; but perfect love casts out all fear because there is no fear in the love of God. Satan will torment those of us who practice righteousness by promoting fear. But true teachers of the Word of God promote love, because we are being perfected by love. 1 John 4:12-19

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #576

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #576

by Jesse Abel

Papa J's rules for Livin #112

There once was a lady from St. Helen who was a noted felon. She spoke often with cursing and needed no rehearsing. Her tombstone; the evidence of a life path... Her epitaph; the evidence of wrath. Proverbs 10:25

Looking at Life through the Holy Bible

On one of my earlier trips to Italy I was stationed on a destroyer that spent two weeks in Naples. As a good well project, some of us volunteered to go to an orphanage for some home improvement. The orphanage, during World War Two had been overtaken by the Germans who used it as a headquarters. Many of the “off limit” rooms were bombed out, lockers and German uniforms were scattered about and large bullet holes were everywhere. I remember that there were many children in this place, dirty, skinny and lonely looking. Today, they would be in their late fifties or early sixties. Many of the sailors, who came with me, came for one reason. The promise of free vino (wine), all the wine you could drink while mending the bullet holes, patching cracks in the walls and fixing the roof. Our hearts changed though when we saw the children. The water they were allowed to drink was wine too, because the water was not fit to drink; used only to wash clothes and then to bathe in. Water came once a day by truck and if one tried to drink it they would be scolded. The fact is that today's world has not changed as many believe; there are many parts of the world around us that lack the waters of life. Fresh living water to drink and be physically satisfied and spiritual living water satisfies our need for Jesus. John 4:1-26.

2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:1-4 – We live in a world of diversity… just think of the number of automobile makers. Ford, General Motors, Chrysler; just naming the three major ones of our country. All automobiles do the same thing traveling from point A to point B successfully. Televisions, cell phones, the I-pod and monkey pod (checking to see if you are paying attention). All these function as designed but all have many and diverse manufactures. Is this folly or fact?

In a very like manner we have many religions, cults and isms and believe that; like the automobile, the television and telephone that all lead too and share one purpose. The purpose of satisfying man’s appetite for comfort and ability to please God on man’s terms will eventually be perfect and that God will be pleased. This sphere of wisdom was demonic. It was demonic when the serpent deceived Eve nearly seven thousand years ago and it has not changed even today.

In your heart of hearts you know the answer to this folly and fact; but even the saints of our day are refusing to face the truth. Well here is the TRUTH! There are many preachers in the world around us… some are in churches, some are behind podiums in the secular world of business and education. Some are even in our very homes and communities all around this great land. Those who preach another Jesus are causing many to receive a different spirit, by substituting the simplicity that is in Christ for a different gospel, having corrupted the minds of future generations with the devil’s craftiness.