The Devotional - A Look at the Book #846

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

 

Under the sun, this is where man lives thus it is natural to plan for profit in this kingdom. God’s plan is better. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Matthew 6:25-34.

 

Good Morning

 

Speaking of kingdoms we are not yet finished with the kingdom of heaven. I have a question that often pops up in my mind and that is; is the kingdom of heaven on earth today? Most people would say no; these would be the secular unbelieving men and women who do everything within their power to disprove the existence of God. Religion does not believe that the kingdom of heaven is at hand because it is always seeking to work its way there.

 

So for me to be satisfied in my mind that the kingdom of heaven is at hand I cling to verses of scripture that prove this to me; such as 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 2 Corinthians 3:16-17 and sandwiched in between these two portions of scripture are chapters 12, 13 and 14 of 1 Corinthians which for me is the Church who makes up the spiritual body of Christ on earth.

 

Well we could say more; but let’s move on. While I was going over the kingdom of heaven I was reminded of another kingdom. The kingdom of the devil and his fallen angels who battles the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven daily, we should take a look at this kingdom to, but not right now.

 

Looking into the kingdom of God, I am reminded of C.S. Lewis and the tales of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician's Nephew and The Last Battle. These works of fiction about all four kingdoms where mankind can be; place the reader’s mind at times within these kingdoms. The books are still very popular today and worth the read.

 

The hub of action is the kingdom of God, nothing happens in this entire universe without the approving wisdom coming from the Throne of God. Isaiah seeks to come to grips with this wisdom in the year that king Uzziah died. He saw the LORD, can you imagine his thoughts. It is a good thing he tells us what he was thinking. “Woe is me, for I am a dead man (destroyed), he knows that no one sees God and lives and yet in the vision he is present with God. Isaiah 6:1-8.

 

Here again we could spend a lifetime searching out the kingdom of God, the throne room, the ministering angels, the colors within the kingdom and a host of other valuable bits of wisdom. This throne room is once again described in Revelation 4:1-11 and even the apostle Paul was taken up to the ‘third heaven’ as he puts it. The kingdom of God exists and one day and for the rest of eternity those of us who have believed in Jesus, we will observe this wisdom and realm forever. For me; the thought of this cause my brain to shake in awe.

 

There is plenty of proof of the kingdom of God and there is promise after promise that we who are seeking the city whose builder and maker is God, we will be there. I don’t know about you, but I get all goose-bumpy and the joy of this thought is so overwhelming. The Jerusalem of today is tormented with sin, Satan and death, but the New Jerusalem of tomorrow, which is a construction project of God in eternity is coming; Revelation 21 and 22. Be there, or the other option; be a flare.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #845

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

There is a song of many years ago that contained these words, “His Banner over us is Love” and the question that keeps surfacing in my mind is; “Have those who are called by His Name all but forgotten this?” Revelation 2:1-7

Good Morning

Now you would not notice this as I do, but it is evident that when I stick to the Love of God and the Cross and the Risen LORD, I get many responses from folks and to these men and women I say. Thank you!

As you know there is no greater place to be on this planet then to be near to the LORD’s will and plan for life; our life personally and life both in heaven and on earth. Matthew 6:9-10, some would have us believe that Jesus did not come in the flesh. The disciple who is the apostle John says this teaching is from one who is antichrist. 2 John 1:7-11

I notice that the LORD Jesus in His life was always interested in the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of earth it is in these three kingdoms where life is found. We can take a look at the gospels to see this, so let’s see where this word search will lead us. I am excited and I hope you are too!

Matthew records the words of John the Baptizer: Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2 and then he quotes from the book of Isaiah in Isaiah 40:3.

Do we think about the intensity of this thought in the hearts of these men? John who was the messenger heralding the news that Jesus who is the Representative of heaven is coming to earth. Or that of Matthew and all of the disciples of Jesus who are the eye witnesses of knowing God’s Son who came to earth.

Notice too, the LORD’s method of teaching His disciples to pray was not singular in His opening expression, He said; “In this manner, therefore pray” “Our Father” “Our” speaks of knowing and communicating with these kingdoms and that I should not be selfish, certainly the needs of me are very much the same as yours and those around us.

I also notice that in this instruction on prayer that God is God, THERE IS NONE ELSE our Father has the only kingdom where RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS dwell. His kingdom is called the Kingdom of God and its location is IN HEAVEN. Now this is not uncommon knowledge us, but it is uncommon for the people of earth to believe or communicate this truth.
This first kingdom we briefly observed is; the kingdom of heaven. It is the Person of Jesus Christ who is God in human flesh. He is not an angel notice that the scripture says that; He Jesus created all of the angels. I say then; look at Colossians 1:16 and notice the words of this verse along with verses in the context – Colossians 1:9-17.

So there is then this common thread of evidence in the gospels that whenever the LORD’s disciples or Jesus Himself says that the “kingdom of heaven is at hand” they are talking to you and me about repenting from the false doctrines of religion. And to know that Jesus began His ministry with those very words of the kingdom of heaven being at hand, Mathew 4:17 and 23. Jesus is then, the visible kingdom of heaven on earth.

I took a moment to look in the concordance at the word kingdom, it is found 55 times in the gospel of Matthew alone. I reckon we will be looking at this word search for a while. I feel as though we are taking a trip on a voyage, after all we are, notice Hebrews 11:13-16. Wow!

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #844

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

 

When you open a vanity there is an immediate odor of revelation with the contents inside. Yet as the investigation proceeds the evidence that demands a verdict is one of vanity; cosmetics of false beauty and of little eternal value. Ecclesiastes 1:2

 

Good Morning

 

Jesus is alive, do we think about this truth as we ought? Probably NOT! At the moment I am listening to our past Cantata that celebrates the Risen LORD Jesus. I know that for the most part the people who read this are those who have truly experienced the LOVE of our Living God, but I also know that there is that ONE, maybe even YOU who has never known God’s personal love for you.

 

My words and this short message cannot make you know the love of God as you should, all this little note can do is point you to HIM. So take this moment and look in your mind’s eye.

 

Where do you see JESUS? Do you see Him being scourge by Roman soldiers? Do you see the crown they placed on His head? Do you see the wooden cross where He willing gave His life for you?

 

Let me ask you another question; this information is not good news unless you are like the Roman Soldiers, Pilate and the Pharisees who hated HIM; is it? In fact; it is not good at all. If you live in the United States of America you no doubt have heard this news before, if you’ve not heard it then you must live in a closet.

 

Of course; it you live in another country, like where some of our missionaries minister the words they preach help you understand that Jesus Christ died for your sins is NEWS, but it is not good news and more information is needed.

 

I heard of two Russian Soldiers who experienced the Love of God and went to an underground church for the first time only to hear the message of the LORD’s Crucifixion. Hearing that Jesus died on the cross caused one of them to stand up and scream. “I knew it, I just knew it; they have killed my Savior!”

 

The service was temporarily stopped as the pastor came to the side of the soldier and explained that Jesus who was crucified and sacrificed for the SINS of the world and for this soldier too, was not dead, that death and the grave could not keep HIM.

Leaping for joy, the soldier understood that just as Jesus died according to the scriptures, He also is alive again according to the scriptures. All of the Law of Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets do not speak of a dead Savior, but reveal to you and me that the Risen LORD is truly alive. Luke 24:44-53.

 

Now that is GOOD NEWS, yes it is true; we must see Jesus, we must behold Jesus who is the LAMB of God, slaughtered for the SINS of you and me and all the rest of the world. Yet, we do not need to behold Him in this slaughtered state of being all the time. The scriptures also reveal to us the LOVE of our God who LIVES. 1 Peter 1:5-12 .

 

Because if you have experienced the LOVE of God, His passion, death and resurrection will always be fixed in your mind’s eye while you walk about on this planet that He created for you. Yet again, we see Him this way no longer we see HIM Risen, this then is Good News (joy) made full or complete. 1 John 1:1-4

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #843

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

 

Everything in life has two stories behind it; one story of good that gains a small remnant and the second of evil that gains a large following. Matthew 7:13-14

 

Good Morning

 

Last evening my wife and I were watching Ravi Zacharias. The broadcast was one of his “Let my people think” events in 2005. The context of his message was riveting and his audience was from what we could understand a mixture of the saved the unsaved men and women that you and me bump into daily.

Now I have nothing to say verbatim about his message since my retention of things has become somewhat like the rubber band that has lost elasticity. So with that said, I will launch out with a personal observation or two of his message, rather than trying to quote something he said.

 

He covered many topics and people of the past that have influenced the world around us over the last few hundred years. For example: He spoke of Dr. Billy Graham and his family and he spoke of a onetime companion and friend of Dr. Graham; Charles Templeton. Both of these men began ministries of evangelism and one turned away from God, no need to guess who!

 

Okay, herein is the Rub: in an interview with Charles Templeton a few years ago someone asked him about his decision to turn away from Jesus. As the interview ended, Mr. Templeton was asked if he was content with his decision to turn away from God and his answer was and with tears. “No, no I am not content at all; I miss Jesus”.

Now as I said earlier, this is not a quote, I have heard about Charles Templeton from other sources and both stories agree. Yet, below is a quote from Wikipedia about another wanderer from the faith.

 

Prone to wander Robert was. He left the Methodists and became a Baptist. Later on, having become a close friend of Joseph Priestly, he was accused of becoming a Unitarian. Priestly and other Unitarians denied the full divinity of Christ. However, in a sermon he preached after he supposedly became a Unitarian, Robinson clearly declared that Jesus was God, and added, "Christ in Himself is a person infinitely lovely as both God and man."

 

Robert died on this day, June 9, 1790. Had he left the God he loved? A widely-told, but unverifiable, story says that one day as he was riding in a stagecoach a lady asked him what he thought of the hymn she was humming. He responded, "Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then."

 

Robert Robinson wrote the Hymn; “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and today this is a very popular hymn in many churches across this land. In churches that are “falling away” falling into religion and falling away from Jesus. The land is saturated with failed churches and the majority of never return to God whom they once loved.

 

In our churches today we need to take inventory. How many rules and regulation do we have in place instead of HIS LOVE? Count up the programs, policies and promises and see if these fulfill the Commandment to LOVE ONE ANOTER! Jesus who is rich in Righteousness and pure in Holiness is standing outside the door in many churches that are fallen. Revelation 3:14-22

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #842

by Jesse Abel

 

A Word from Papa “J”

 

The commercial: The guy and the girl are setting at the bus stop playing a game on their “smart” phones. The guy loses and complains, the girl laughs. The little old lady also sitting and waiting for the bus calls him a whiner. My perception: One third of the world will brag, one third will whine and the other third will criticize. Romans 2:1

Good Morning

 

Some people claim that they prefer to be alone, to work alone and to do things solo. We call them loners; some folks are so much of a loner that you cannot borrow anything from them. So I asked myself this question: Why is it that someone can be branded with the title of loner, yet another cannot even borrow a moment of the loner’s time?

 

All answers to mankind’s emotional makeup are found in the Word of God and most if not all answers are found in the first book of the Holy Bible called Genesis. Did you know that the very first emotional obstacle in our human makeup that God determine to be a problem for us was, yes you guessed it! LONELINESS

 

Genesis 2:18 – God provides for mankind so his every need is fulfilled in Christ and for Christ. If I chose to reject any of the needs that God provides it is not God who dropped the ball, it is me. Colossians 1:19-20 gives us insight to the fullness of God through Jesus.

 

So here is the rub, if there is one! Until one comes to faith in Christ, we are needy people, when Christ is believed on the empty void in our heart is satisfied with His presents via the Holy Spirit. Until then the soul is lonely and needy, Ecclesiastes 3:11 and 2 Corinthians 3:17.

 

Neediness is like a spilt bag of marbles on a slightly tilted surface, we cannot seem to catch up with all the needs of life as these roll away gaining speed. This is a weakness and this is where loneliness has its most dangerous moments.

 

Without help our scurry to grab the needs of life (and believers do this too) without giving thanks to God who meets all our needs, that person becomes abusive and cynical. So when God observed that it was not good for mankind to be alone, He was not just looking at loneliness, He was also looking at all of the “one another’s” that He teaches us throughout His Holy Word.

 

The apostle Paul puts it this way: For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you – 2 Corinthians 13:4 in this many of us fail the test. 2 Corinthians 13:5 since we rely on the flesh to meet our expectations and not on the power of God to meet our needs.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #841

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

To the one who does not understand the love of God; the fear of the LORD and delighting in His commandments must seem like… “Heads He wins and tails we lose” but for those who understand His love; luck does not exist, but grace does. Psalm 112:1-10

Good Morning

Zvi is a man in Israel who ministers the love of God to the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem. Every other month I receive a magazine published by the Friends of Israel Ministries called Israel My Glory. I wait patiently for the stories in this publication, but I especially wait for the stories from Zvi.

True, if you read him like I do you find that each time the events in the story are pretty much the same as the one previously and one might say… so what’s the point, or more bluntly; so what? The point is simple really; there is only one message to share with the religious and the lost souls that God loves.

Zvi goes to the market place, to the synagogues and the neighborhoods and ministers; he is well known and often persecuted for his love for God. That is, out in the public he is attacked but in the privacy of his home, this is where the rubber meets the road as J. Vernon McGee would often say.

Like Nicodemus, the Orthodox Jews show up at Zvi’s home and privately seek to know the truth.
Religious people have no rest, no peace and no hope and are often confused with scripture. For example religious people may be able to quote John 3:16, or know that God is love, they may also repeatedly pray the LORD’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 or they may be such as these Jews who believe the writings of the Rabbi in their sect who follow the dead.

Religion is the plans of man, plans that can never fulfill the promises of God to its followers who may never find rest for their soul. Proverbs 19:21 and other scripture will stir up the religious persons mind and cause them to seek counsel and then with the power of the Holy Spirit, you or me; like Zvi can lead them to the whole counsel of God. We then, like the apostle Paul should not shun the sharing of the gospel with counsel from the Word, Act 20:27.

Confusion with God comes from a lack of faith in God and the promise of His rest for the soul is lost, Hebrews 4:1-9. Have a Godly Thanksgiving… everyday!

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #840

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

What ever happened to “Hot Apple Pie and a Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream?” Many of us would say nothing at all! It is not really the pie or the ice cream is it? It is the THANKSGIVING given to our Creator and God that should come first; this is the missing component!

Good Morning

Just the other day I saw a commercial on the television where a duck was handing out money to some guy in a boat, then the boat developed holes and the duck used all of its extremities to stop the leaks, finally the motor on the boat, if it had one conked out and the duck stuck its head into the last remaining hole and use its beak and lungs to propel the boat to shore. AMAZING!

We live in a world of fantasy and deception. We applaud the impossible and ignore the practical. Instead of being satisfied in life, we have become like a well-known rich man who once was asked. “How much more money do you need to feel satisfied that you have enough?” His answer: “Just a little more!” We upsize everything and then complain when the waist-line expands, or is that “the waste-line”? That is most of the things we stand in line for, is a waste!

I am not a prophet, or the son of a prophet. I am simply reading in Isaiah 6:1-13, and I will break in at verse 9.

And He said, “Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and the ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest the see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return and be healed.”

Then I said, “”LORD, how long? And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate, The LORD has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down, so the holy seed shall be its stump.”

If there is to be a future for the United States of America, it will not be like the one of our past. We are changing, but there will be a remnant… so the holy seed is the remaining stump. Are you found in the stump, or will you be like the chaff which the wind will drive away?

Isaiah 6:13 – The LORD says that the remnant will be for consuming and you say will then maybe I do not want to be a remnant and be consumed. All of our forefathers who stood up to the British and fought to gain our independence were persecuted and consumed for the freedoms that we have so corpulently abused. THE STUMP, if you chose to be a part of; will in a like manner be consumed. Yet, I cannot think of a better diet for our future.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #839

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

Well yes; of course, our nation needs our prayer to God for His peace and restoration. But what good is our prayer if we have not been justified in God’s Love. From man’s view we may look good, but God’s view is our heart. Matthew 23:25-26

Good Morning

Many of us receive periodicals in the course of a month; news and current event noise from the secular world around us. Medical myths about drugs that do more harm to our bodies then the symptom or condition causes and entertainment or sports articles that are corrupting the minds of our young and old.

The articles found in these magazines are like a faucet that can no longer feel the rush of fresh water from the local well running through it, or like the clogged artery of someone who has abused their body with drugs and alcohol for half a century. Yes I chose to use the magazine as the catalyst for this little thought of mind, but truly our information highway is littered with death and National destruction.

Dead is the honorable character of our elderly; dead is our heritage of traditional life, liberty and happiness, dead are our schools that now teach lifestyles that are anti-God; dead are our governing statutes and constitutional values and lastly… dead are many of the churches across this land.

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, these things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are READY TO DIE, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:1-6

Folks as blunt as I can be… it is time to BURN our informational IDOLS and it is time to destroy the liberal gods and their theologies that have turned our paved highway of FAITH in GOD, into an overgrown path of thorns and in the lack of having the ear to hear the Spiritual moisture we have allowed our direction of faith to become one of difficulty.

Our national road is full of the thorns of religion and cultish perversions. The road now is stony soil that refuses to accept the SEED that will restore FAITH in the LOVE of GOD. Luke 8:4-15.

The Devotional - A look at the Book #838

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

These are the sweetest words that could ever be spoken and it is quite normal that these wonderful words came from the lips of Jesus Christ, the God-man, the LORD. Matthew 6:9-13. If you decide to pray within the context of scripture and not in a rote manner, your peace will surpass all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7 or Colossians 1:9

Good Morning

Many of us are distracted by the electronic gadgets we have. Just the other day I was having someone follow me to a ladder manufacturer. We were dropping off a truck to be fitted with a roof rack for ladders. Now go ahead and hoot! Who would have guessed that this trip had anything to do with ladders?

Suddenly I saw the truck dart off to the edge of the road, then came the quick correction jerk and back safely in the lane. Now if this had happened once all would have been fine in my mind, but I watched as this young man who was following me did this at least six more times.

I rang him up on the phone. “All is well, I am just texting one of my clients and I have an appointment with them as soon as we get back, so we need to hurry”. I said; “only if you make it, you need to stop texting” and I hung up. We are a distracted people these days.

You may not agree, but we are instructed in the Holy Word of the Living God to not be distracted and that would include all that mankind is confronted with when it comes to be distracted. You know like the rat running through the barn when you go out to slop the pigs, or the newest electronic gadgetry in your pocket or purse.

I believe it is Ephesians 6:10-20 where the apostle Paul instructs us to put on the armor that protects us from the distractions within and those all around us. These should be very familiar passages to all of us.

I hope you will take time to study these or other passages today that speak to us about keeping ourselves pure from the distraction of life. Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:26-28; (I like this: John 1:11-13) and here is the clincher.

Daily we allow walls to come between us and our relationship with our Savor, yet He alone is our peace. Notice: Ephesians 2:14. Yes there was a distraction of division between God and man, but Jesus’ sacrificial death took it away. Ephesians 2:14-18. Seek to live in this CONFIDENCE.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #837

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

Cops and robbers is a child’s game of the past played by many of us old folks. Some of us even grew up as law breakers. Now that is a “HOOT” and here is why! It is impossible to “break a law”. It is you and me who are broken, not the law; it is our name that is shattered and our lives that are broken! The LAW still stands solid and unmovable.
Good Morning

If there is one thing in life that I mind doing, but willing to do if there is purpose in it; is to weep. In my lifetime as in yours we have choked back tears that should have had the front row seat. As children we learn that by crying those giant alligator tears we could gain another cookie from the old cookie jar, only to find out later in life that those alligators could take a bite out of life since alligators do not like cookies.

I think that this is one of those…” I am going to pick on religion and cult days” and if you choose to get mad at me over it, that is perfectly okay since I would care more for your anger then some complacent reaction that may have caused us as a nation to drift from the One True God.
Now you may be saying… so who is God? That is a good question and I am glad you asked. First let me tell you who He is not.

(1) He is not a liberal Jesus who can double as a male or female, or who according to some misguided soul claims that his or her Jesus was married and had children, who died and is in a grave. Liberal theology does not teach that Jesus rose from the dead, therefore their God is DEAD. Revelation 1:18

(2) The cult called Jehovah Witness has a Jesus also, who according to their doctrines is Michael the Archangel, who is a created being of God. Why would the Creator, create a god? Would this not be idolatry? God clearly hates idolatry. “You shall have no other god before ME” Exodus 20:2-3

(3) Lastly, the Mormon Church; sort of in-between a cult and Christianity. Their Jesus is believed to be the spirit brother of Lucifer. This belief stems from the published thoughts of the past leaders of that church that seek to over-ride the Holy Bible. The Living Word of God (The Bible) is just that: “ALIVE” and the thoughts of these past leaders of the Mormon church are “DEAD” along with their rotting bones. Matthew 23:27

Now for the BEST part: “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk in HIM, rooted and built up in HIM and established in the FAITH as you have been taught, abounding in HIM (within) with thanksgiving.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in HIM dwells all the fullness of the GODHEAD bodily (in HIS human body or form); and you are complete in HIM, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:6-10

There is someone of the past whom you know who understood this and who was bold to present this faith in JESUS. Take the four to five minutes and watch as he explains this truth from various parts of the United States, even from the Oval Office.

And Gary… thanks for sending me this wonderful film:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/OvN1jTkzXbY?rel=0

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #836

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

Proverbs 5:1-23 – Leadership once had the opportunity to listen to a father’s instruction! Today his sons are in the middle of destruction; seems that the matches they play with today are large enough to burn down a nation! James 3:5-10

Good Morning

For sailors only! Yes that’s right… if you are a sailor, were a sailor or thinking of being a sailor, this one’s for you. It is nearly impossible to steal a ship’s anchor and its attached chain.

Once while in drydock our anchors and chains were removed from the ship and placed in the bottom of the drydock in order to remove the rust from the anchor chain stowage compartment and from the anchors and chains as well.

One young lieutenant who had the duty of command duty officer was briefed before he took duty that the anchors and chains were being stowed inside the drydock for the time being and that on his rounds to observe them and other items that belonged to the ship.

It so happened that the shipyard personnel removed the anchors and chains to refurbish them at another location. To the surprise of the young lieutenant on his rounds in the drydock, he found no anchors and no chain. Instead of using logic or asking a question or two, he panicked.

Back on the ship, he tracked down the Chief of the Boat and reported to him that someone had stolen the ship’s anchors and chains. We all had a good laugh at the young man who was just trying to do his job.

Because we laughed he became the object of every event that went south and he never fully recovered. By nationality he was Japanese and he did not share in our American sense of humor. We Americans seem to run it aground this sort of nonsense. We overload with fun and games to the point of being obnoxious and cynical.

Today we as a nation are treating our Creator with a similar cynicism. This has made us hardened toward God. All of our media, commercials and public venues seek to degrade Him and make Him out to be a myth, a joke or a curse.

We can be confident that our anchor to Him is not stolen and we can also be confident that our Creator has the chain too. He is in the process of refurbishing both and when completed – He will pull it and shake the nation awake! Leviticus 26:1-46 and Proverbs 1:1-33.

The below outline is taken from the ministry of R.B. Thieme, Jr. The doctrine of the Five Cycles of National Discipline.

a. The first cycle of discipline, Lev 26:14-17.
b. The second cycle of discipline, Lev 26:18-20.
c. The third cycle of discipline, Lev 26:21-22.
d. The fourth cycle of discipline, Lev 26:23-26.
e. The fifth cycle of discipline, Lev 26:27-38, amplified in Deuteronomy 28:49-67.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #835

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

If you are a person of longevity then you know Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, and Brer Wolf of the forest created by Uncle Ramus. Of course the rabbit was a trickster who seems to outsmart all the rest of his companions. Today the highways and byways are full – Brer Rabbits!

Good Morning

Last evening I was sharing the gospel with our local rescue mission in Providence, Rhode Island. Being Veterans Day I decided to ask for a show of hands before I prayed for those who had served in the military. In my mind I had envisioned many hands rising up, but to my surprise; out of one hundred people only four men raised their hands.

While driving home I thought about this. What I expected was not so and I began thanking God that I was wrong. The homeless were not ex-military and it was comforting to know that God’s watch care over patriots is very well as solid as His promises to all who serve the nations in armor. Proverbs 21:31

This morning too, as I look at Proverbs 21:1-31 I see more comfort and a future worth praying for, like if you and I hope for a leader with an upright heart, then we should be praying to our Father in heaven for Him to move that leader in the direction that produces good results. (Verse One)
Shall we ignore the judgments of God and let men in leadership believe that whatever comes into their minds is right? I mean just think about this; how many times a day do you say to God, “O LORD, these thoughts of mine are evil; help me put this wicked imagination down. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Yes we need to be praying for those who are in positions of authority in this nation. Most of them will not be praying for God to prepare them for the days ahead. We need to take a section of scripture daily; such as this one here in Proverbs and pray through the promises and challenges, meeting the needs of our Country by God’s Will for the earth we tread on.

For example; if we are a person who reject this thought, Proverbs 21:17 says we will become spiritually bankrupt, nationally. Without going into a deep discussion on our national debt, we are now a nation that owes more revenue than it can produce in one generation. And with a weak military, rescue missions may just be a common way of life for our children’s, children.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #834

 

A Word from Papa “J”

I am reminded of the deer in Psalm 42 who pants for water after a long hard run. It simply does not matter what the deer had been running from, now it is time for refreshment. For the deer – water will do! For a dry and thirsty soul on foreign soil – only the LORD will do.

Good Morning

A Veterans’ sit-rep.

Just a small spot in this nation… yet and in case we forget; this is where Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and the Coast Guard represent with dignity the freedom we… the freedom we. Oh yes... FREEDOM DEMANDS A COMMITMENT.

A price that liberal America refuses to pay. Veterans Day was yesterday and few of us observed it. Today there are those who will celebrate the day, please CELEBRATE with caution... there are few celebrations left.

Jesse Abel, SKCS(ss) USN, Retired

Hebrews 9:28 - so Christ was offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for Him shall He appear a second time without sin unto salvation. Jesse <><

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #833

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

The cause and effect principle simply means that the effort one puts into a purpose or project will produce a result. Such as; a sluggard will be rewarded with a little over nothing, while the more diligent will prosper. However to both the sluggard and the diligent there remains the freedom of choice. Fate has nothing to do with being lazy or alert. Proverbs 13:4

Good Morning

Once as a firefighter I witnessed what was only a training exercise a few days earlier. Those few days earlier a bunch of us firefighters were watching a training video of water being disbursed at a very hot fire. Water is still the best substance to put out a fire, but it must be used properly or it does not work.

If the hose was lifted so that the water made an arch to land on top of the fire, the water never made it to the fire in that it would turn to steam first and dissipate into the air. In order for the water to be effective it had to be aimed more directly at the fire which meant that the firemen needed to be closer to the flame.

When the mill in the next town south caught fire a few days later several fire departments went to the largest fire that I had ever seen. Water from every truck there was being disbursed. I saw ladder trucks with the ladders to the peak disbursing water only to see it turn to steam before hitting the fire. Literally the mill burned itself out and our efforts for those three days were of little effect. The only part of the building left standing was the elevator shaft.

Here is the rub: Our resources, careers and our American ingenuity have failed to rid our nation of NATIONAL SIN. The truth is in the results of this day in the lives of us; the citizens. Our economy is broke, our families are immorally corrupt, our government affirms liberal life-styles, and our medical resources are a complete waste of money. We are about burned out.

We are now a nation of deterioration and decline. We have exhausted our human effort like so much steam rising from body waste on a cold day.

Is there an answer to this limited effort of the works of man? Absolutely! Otherwise, I would go down to the local bar and join the ranks of millions of Americans who have been duped into believing that body waste is better than prayer and to shut God out of their lives is the answer to all of America’s problems.

Did you know that the apostle James, who is the half-brother of Jesus Christ, made a statement in his epistle that is prophetic to our current events in America today? Here it is.

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver are corrupted, and that corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages f the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the LORD of Sabaoth. James 5:1-4 We must use prayer properly or it will not work.

We as a nation need to turn back to God. Notice: Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sin. James 5:19-10

The brethren need to pray for this nation and the sinner back to God, in doing so we might salvage our national heritage, if we do not Nineveh will witness against us at the judgment seat of Christ in the near future. Matthew 12:38-42

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #832

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

 

Jim Daly of Focus on the Family has a comment section in his blog. His comment this morning caused me to want to say something; so I took a look at what was already said and was reminded of verse of scripture in Ecclesiastes 10:1 and decided not to be one of the flies.

 

Good Morning

 

Like most of us I know how to nod and affirm in a casual conversation with friends, relatives and the church family, and like most of us I nod and affirm without approving or disproving. Then when the conversation ends, usually by the interruption of another, like most of us we walk away empty and critical.

 

(Once there was a picture hanging in building 83 on the Navy Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut. I would like to know where the picture is now or even if it still exists. It was a picture of a Navy Ship at sea. The seas were rough and threatening, the sky looked troublesome and angry; a scene of trouble that any sailor worth his salt knows too well.

 

Embedded within the main scene was another scene; the figure of Jesus Christ standing in the mist of the seas and His watch care over the ship. On the bottom of the frame were the words: “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith”? Matthew 8:26.

 

“And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with waves: but He was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke Him, saying LORD, save us: we perish. And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm”. Matthew 8:24-26.)

 

Our conversations in life are full of critical issues and important things, like a political storm or a damaging weather condition. We do need to take action, but we also need to know the ONE behind the scenes is in control. A pastor and good friend who now is with the LORD once said this.

 

“If you look at the people in front of you and the circumstances that put them there, all you will see is the people and the circumstance. But if you keep your eyes on God you will see Him move the people and work out the circumstances to His Glory.” So; LORD, Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heaven! Matthew 6:9.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #831

by Jesse Abel

 

A Word from Papa “J”

 

Well now! What shall we do next? All of those television ads that we crave to see are gone and sometime today people will go and gather those signs from the front of their yard. Elated or deflated there is a work ahead. Ecclesiastes 10:2 (Reminds me of a nation of peoples to far apart on the issues of freedom and liberty).

 

Good Morning

 

It is possible that you did not click on the verse above so here it is: “A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart is at his left” I know that we as a nation do not need to be told that we do not see eye to eye on freedom and liberty. I am as guilty as anyone who seeks to move us to the middle of the road where both the right and the left have common ground to work side by side.

 

The quote of the day may have come to me yesterday from my mom. While on a drive from her home in Plymouth, MA to my home in Brooklyn, CT, I said; “mom did you vote”? Her answer was what I expected but only in part. This is the part I expected. “No” and this is what I did not expect. “I do not like what both men represent” and I said, “What do you mean by that”? She said, “I have the absentee ballot sitting on my dresser, filled out and ready to mail, but what these men have to offer us is not what we need”. “What do we need?” I said. “I don’t know what we need” was her reply.

 

I was silent for my mind had raced to Romans 13:1-7 – Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves”. You can read the rest of this section of scripture on your own.

 

Our conversation on voting ended since she could not explain to me why both men running for president fell short of her likes and dislikes and because I felt that the answer I could give would have caused her to be upset, but now after the fact, she may not have been upset at all, just reminded that she knew the answer like all of us do, but are to foolish or self-righteous to admit it. Our nation needs to return to God and NO MAN, except the ONE (God and man) Jesus Christ; He can provide and restore our national needs – 1 Timothy 2:1-6.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #830

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

The next time you curse the leaves on the ground or the snow in the driveway remember that this is not a part of the original God given task; it is an attachment or rider. Man chose to disobey God 6,000 plus years ago and he has been reaping his reward since! Genesis 3:17b-19.

Good Morning

It has been several months since I wrote about, “Fatso and Skinny” these are the two finches that we have. These birds were a gift from one of our grandchildren who did not want to take care of them anymore. Fatso and Skinny are confined to a cage (thank goodness for that) but we should not be saddened that this 3 foot square area is all they know since they have duties and responsibilities and I will be happy to explain.

Each morning, Fatso sits in the nest tossing straw out and skinny sitting at the bottom of the cage gathers straw and flies up to the nest and stuffs it back in. It is a daily ritual that has gone on since we have had them. Okay, you are saying; “Jesse, you’ve got to much time on your hands”, well that could be true but I do not spend much time watching the birds. It just so happens that the birds are in my den since now and then when the other room is being used the birds come to visit.

All I have to do is look over to the left of my desk and on a small table near the window sits the cage, the birds and the noise. The noise is the argument of these birds and it goes like this. “Fatso! Stop throwing out that straw, we need it to sleep on!” “But Skinny! It stinks, bring us up some new stuff” and the cycle goes on and on. So I am familiar with their routine.

Sort of reminds me of all of the political ads that we have been muting on the TV over the last year. Well tomorrow these ads will be moved into the archives or storeroom of most all of the television stations across the land, “whoopee”!

I hope you go out and vote today… it is important that you do, but more importantly I hope you have prayed and sought the LORD’s Will for our Nation since it really does not matter who is in the leadership of this country. If we are a people called of God, we will pray and repent personally and nationally and God will heal our land.

If we are less than people called by God we will not pray or repent personally or nationally and God will not heal our land. Some will say that it is not as simple as that, well you would be wrong… Yes, it is! Acts 12:1-25 is a true event in history. God answers prayer even when we have the audacity to disbelieve Him. We should be willing to pray every day for our country, our military, our community, our neighborhood and our loved ones.

IF WE ARE NOT DOING THIS THEN… WE ARE NOT A PART OF THE PROBLEM. WE ARE THE WHOLE OF THE PROBLEM.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #829

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

Just taking a stroll through the “Howdy Dowdy” show! Don’t remember it? If not; then I feel a bit saddened for you. There was Buffalo Bob, Clarabell, Princes Summerfallwinterspring and a host of others. Did you know that Robert Keeshan was the first person to play the role of Clarabell the Clown? No doubt you know him better as “Captain Kangaroo”!
Good Morning

The Selfridge Department Store was founded in 1909 in London, England and even today is a very well-known store. One day in the mid-nineteen sixties the Navy Destroyer I was on pulled into Portsmouth, England for a weekend so I decided to go to the Department Store and look around. For this being the first time in London, I had an agenda that would take me to several sights so I was in a bit of a hurry.

I could not find the Selfridge store so I stopped one of the men who were briskly walking by. “Sir, I am looking for the Selfridge Department Store, can you tell me how to get there?” and with a superb English accent he said; “Lad, walk down to the end of the street and turn left, then at the end of the block, turn left again, then at the end of that block turn left again. Then at the end of the next block, you may want to turn left again since half way down that block the door to Selfridge will be on your left”.

I said, “Sir you’ve taken me around the block”! “He said; “precisely, the door is right behind you.”! With that he did a partial “Queen Ann salute with his umbrella and marched away with some remark about wondering if all American sailors were that naïve. Stranger things have happened to me, so no doubt that being my first time in London… I was naïve!

The story above is true and bit comical, the events below are true too but have a better and everlasting effect.

The naïve and the ignorant are in the slippery places of life, often in cast away places and headed for destruction. In the loftiness of folly these go astray and are brought to death. In a moment of time they are utterly consumed with terrors within the mind. Terrors that may be real or false, like that of someone in a foreign land or like a nightmare.

As saints we struggle with the very same issues of life as those who perish. Yet God is our deliver from such things that trouble the soul of his saints, we do not need to remain naïve or ignorant of the grace of God, He readily removes the images of fear from the heart of those who put their trust in Him.

When we cry out with a grievous heart and when we are pierced in our mind with troublesome things we can become like the foolish ones, even like a beasts who frets over its next meal. Nevertheless God is continually with His saints, He holds us by His All Powerful Right Hand. He guides us with Perfect Council. Not for just that moment of foolishness or ignorance, not for that hour of trouble or season of despair but throughout time and eternity too. You are not in good hands with a good god; but you are in Perfect Hands with God as your Father and Jesus as LORD. Psalm 73:1-28

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #828

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

 

I remember a program early in the life of television called “Truth or Consequences” Ralph Edwards hosted the quiz show where contestants were asked a ridiculous question and given two seconds to answer. Does anyone remember the name of the “buzzer” who sealed the fate of the contestant? Your two seconds are up! Beulah the Buzzer – your consequence, if you answered wrong is that you have to read the rest of the devotional.

 

Good Morning

 

Well it is Friday and I feel a bit giddy so who knows where this devotional is headed, but I do remember a time when growing up in Kentucky. Louisville to be exact! A bunch of us neighborhood kids were playing hide and seek. I spotted a bunch of newspaper that had come to rest against a fence. I thought; “perfect” since it was just turning dark it would be a great place to hide.

 

I unfolded the paper and laid down next to the fence and cover myself over with the paper. The next thing I remember were two policemen with flashlights shining into my face and one calling out; “we found him” he is asleep under these papers! Apparently my hiding spot was so good and comfortable that I went to sleep and the kids I was playing with went home.

 

None of the kids thought much about me not being around, they simply thought that I quit and went home, but my parents were concerned when I did not show up as expected and after a few questions with the neighbors, my dad called the police. In all I slept about two hours before being spotted.

 

Here is the rub! Don’t fall asleep Tuesday; November 7, 2012. This nation is not a bunch of children playing hide and seek; but we are adolescent, selfish, rebellious, and ignorant and I might add we have become lazy and complacent. We see the news in the paper and media and then we find a cozy spot and go to sleep, we do not pray; nor do we care about our neighbor.

 

The truth is that there is a consequence; Beulah is about to buzz; but there is one important aspect of this that most of us are overlooking. There is a chapter in the Holy Bible that I dread reading; now don’t get me wrong please. I love the word of God and I love the words in this chapter.

 

I dread the chapter because I see the United States of America living out the consequences of choosing to live apart from God’s righteousness by seeking to establish a self-righteous standard of social conduct apart from faith in God. Romans 1:16-32. PRAY AND VOTE this coming Tuesday… you’ll be glad you did!

Well, don't sleep on November 6, 2012... that is the real voting day! Beulah the buzzer got me!

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #827

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

Writing is like sitting in the sand at the beach and building a “sand castle”! That even the words we sit on have a supporting role. Is this a puzzle or an enigma for you? Fear not the Book of Proverbs will provide the skill for every task of life. Proverbs 1:1-31

Good Morning

In a few days we citizens of the United States of America will vote for a leader whom we trust to be the President of the United States of America for the next four years. Just to type those words are breath taking to me and like most of us we are proud to be citizens of this great nation.

This morning I would like to take a few thoughts from a prayer of Dr. Billy Graham; one of America’s finest men. The entire prayer of this man was sent to me by a cousin in Kentucky. She and I spent many days as young people playing in neighborhoods that were safe and innocent. Today it is no longer safe to be a child in any neighborhood.

No matter who fills the office of President of the United States of America, Americans need to return to prayer. We need to pray for God’s direction and His guidance. Some may be saying; well why is that? Today we call evil good and good evil. God says “woe” or “caution” or “stop it” to this conduct. This conduct has a consequence.

As a nation we have lost our balance of right and wrong thus the pendulum of our understanding of spiritual matters is far from center and our values of life are affected. Liberty and happiness is at the lowest level in our national history. We gamble needed resources in government controlled lotteries and we reward the lazy with welfare, Medicare and I don’t care.

We kill our unborn babies and wipe our mouth with the bloody napkin called choice, or more palatable; we murder the innocent and the guilty and call it abortion or justifiable. We breathe the polluted air of profanity and we legalize every expression of pornography. We raise undisciplined children who murder their peers and we say; “well, we did not spank them to build their self-esteem” how did that happen?

We have coveted our neighbors wife, his possessions and have willing broken his family and excused this activity as ambition. We have wrecked our homeland by ridiculing our forefathers and their insight of freedom and worship, men and women who were enlightened we have tossed aside for darkness.

We have wadded up our Constitution and tossed it into the recyclable trash, hoping that the recycled parchment will soon be a law or a tax. What shall we call our new constitution? Ohmyicare or Ohshouldicare. Yes, I agree Dr. Graham, we as a nation must repent and pray… it only takes a spark to get a fire going. I also like what Job 5:1-27 has to say about chastening and restoration.