The Devotional - 056 - Crashed at Sea

A Thought for the Day – 056 – Crashed at sea

No doubt in my mind! A woman of virtue does not need all of the attributes found in Proverbs 31:10-31, she only needs her husband who sees the gift of grace that God provides through her; gifts that exceed the value of a ruby. Because she fears the LORD with the fruit of her hands, she will know her husband’s praises because there is no displeasure in his bones. Proverbs 12:4

Comments and challenges

What sort of life would we have if everything went right? You and I do not know a day like that but this does not give us the green light however to overlook the wrong. This thought reminds me of the very first water recovery I was involved in just off the coast of Spain in 1964. Our destroyer, the one we talked about yesterday was heading for Rota, Spain when we got word that a plane had crashed into the water; we were asked to search the crash site for the pilot before entering port.

 

The pilot; a Navy officer was spotted floating face down so our captain sent our small whaleboat out to retrieve the body. The procedure was to place our diver in the water who would secure a rope around the body and bring it aboard and return to the ship. Since this procedure is dangerous and not practiced much our corpsman that was aboard the small boat and in charge, chose not to put the diver in the water.

 

This proved to be a mistake, in trying to secure the dead pilot with the rope from inside the whaleboat we bumped the body with the boat and knocked the air out of the lungs and our pilot disappeared into the deep. At this point all efforts to retrieve the man were lost. It is always necessary to follow the standard operating procedures in any military evolution, our Corpsman who feared losing the diver via rope entanglement chose to follow his emotional fears and failure was certain.

 

Naval Air Station Rota, Spain did not send us a “well done” message after our ship’s message informed them what had happened. In fact; the Commanding Officer of the Air Station had our ship banded from entering the port at Rota, claiming that we were incompetent. I do not think the Captain was wrong in this and certainly the base personnel would be overwhelmed with anger, and our crew could have experienced harm when going to the Air Base for duty free purchases at the exchange.

 

Looking at the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:4-7; I am reminded of the universal church of our day that is failing to fulfill the standard operating procedure that God provides in His Word. The world (a military operation for God) in which we live is a crash site of sin. In Matthew 28:18-20 we who are saved are given orders to go and save, to teach and to baptize those who are approaching their final and eternal rest. All of the unsaved are spiritually dead; all have fallen short of the runway. Romans 3:23.

 

What will you do today? For the physically dead we can do nothing, but there is hope for the recovery of the living lost and there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents, God expects one hundred percent, or all of the lost sheep, so what do you think? Have we missed a few?

 

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 055 - Landmines

A Thought for the Day – 055 – Landmines

False or true are common words in our daily activity this fact is more than we realize. How many times do we eat at those fast food places during the week? It is true we become hungry, but it is false to eat what is advertised. This is not a true or false quiz, but a matter of health. Bad eating habits are profane to ones self and a gluttonous sin in the face of our Creator. Proverbs 30:7-9

Comments and challenges

I have used Proverbs for a number of months as the thought for the day but after tomorrow I will be selecting thoughts from Ecclesiastes for a season.

Many years ago and before I served on my first destroyer in the Navy; the USS Forrest Sherman DD-931 made a trip to India. During that trip the King of India gave the ship a dog named Suki; here is an insert from a web site about the ship and the trip.

Suki, a Pembroke Welch Corgi, was given to the ship while in port at Bombay, India from the American Embassy, late 1962/early 1963.  Suki was of royal stock from a litter of pups from the Queen of England (or so the story goes).  He was a pure bred but was not of show quality and that is part of the reason he was given to ship. The reason he was not show quality is that one ear is slightly lower than the other (believe it or not).  Yet, Suki lived like a king with a good run of the ship as shown by the pix below and news article. Sorry the picture did not transfer.

 

One had to look for land mines in the middle of the night when you walked barefoot.  Suki's legs were so short that he had to be carried up the ladders.  His short legs also earned him the nickname of zero-zero.  Won't go into details; just suffice to say he kept getting hung up on the hatches of the ship when he wanted to go into the next compartment.  Thanks to James Magraw and John Rossy, I have learned that Suki retired and left the navy with a retiring Gunners Mate who retired and went back to Kentucky.  Little by little we will piece the puzzle together.  More pictures of him are coming and as soon as I get them y'all will be able to see them.

 

Okay I'm writing again; I got to know Suki very well and is the reason that I have owned two Corgis since retiring from the service but here is the rub (that is; if you consider this memory a rub). It does not matter if you are of a royal family or a poor one and it does not matter if you have a leg or an ear that doesn’t match the other side of your body. Your life experience will still be surrounded by people who love and care for you and it will always be your responsibility to love them in return.

 

In Second Samuel 4; 9; and 19 you will find the events of King David and a lame man Mephilosbeth the son of Jonathan, this is a good read about kindness when kindness was not appreciated. Suki often left “landmines” near the bunks of sailors who treated him poorly and this trait of messing up seems to be the nature of most of us who say we fear God and who are by faith are His adopted children, we drop a landmine and expect God to clean it up.

 

By grace we are saved (adopted) Romans 8: 12-17; by faith we believe (justified) and by grace through faith we are (sanctified) Ephesians 2:1-9 and by the power of God; we will be (glorified) 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. When we sin we resemble Suki or Mephilosbeth, (our ear fails the royalty test or our legs hang limp at the table of blessing) Hebrews 12:12-17, we should not take our relationship with God for granted as many do, but we should hold fast our confession of faith in God by entering into His promise of Rest, Hebrews 4:1-9. We can sum this up with 1 John 4:7-11.

 

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

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 - 052 - Spring Cleaning

A Thought for the Day – 051 – Spring cleaning

Do not be a partner with a thief, even to steal the nickel off the night stand or to know someone who did. Stealing promotes lying and both produce death. Maybe not physical death; but the death of TRUTH, of FAMILY trust, of FRIENDSHIP integrity and of the RELATIONAL values of life. The nickel is not worth it, since the repair of truth, of family, of friends and relationships will cost much more than one has. Proverbs 29:24

Comments and challenges

If you have an attic I am most certain that today would be a good day to visit it. However if you live in New England where there is a threat of severe weather I am not suggesting that you go to the attic and wait for the storm to hit so as to be injured or worse, but quickly go and grab a box or two that has those pleasant memories of times past.

Or if you are like me, go put that garden in before the rains come, since it is time to plant as the time to pluck what was planted is fast approaching. Solomon has a lot to say about life under the sun, so today if you do not have an attic or garden you might just run to your Holy Bible and open Solomon’s box of blessings as he shares with us the God given task of living life. God has made everything beautiful in its time.

Spring cleaning promotes memories, so it is not odd that at this time of the year for those who do “spring cleaning” to be reminded of times gone by; like dads old shoes, his favorite gloves and other items that bring him into focus. It is not the dust in the attic or the dusty box that causes the nose to get stuffy and the eyes fill up, so do not make that excuse and lose the value those of days gone by.

These personal histories of times gone by are truly a wealth that cannot be stolen, our mind and the things in it are protected by God. Yes I know and understand that the possibility of dementia and that other condition I cannot spell, the one that is even boggling the spelling mind of this computer; it starts with “a” and has a “z” in it somewhere. The word can end with any letter unless you make it plural, let me do that so at least I get three of the letter correct; the “s”.  

Now let me see, it seems I have forgotten my original train of thought? Hmmm? I think I will call this lapse of memory… “half-timers” instead of “Alzheimer’s”

Take the moment and read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, everything under the sun has a season, which is to live life to the full this is the task that God has given to mankind. In Ecclesiastes 3:9 Solomon adds, “What profit has the worker from that which he does? In other words if you do not WORK your life… who will work it for YOU? If you are relying on someone else to work your life; they will reap the reward. Ask any butler.

Our world is under the curse of God because of SIN; but note that Ecclesiastes 3:11 clearly explains to you and me that God has made everything beautiful in its time. How do you suppose that works? If I choose to ignore God and plant and pluck, live and die, mourn and dance, love and hate and so forth for the gratification of self like so many in the world do then I miss LIFE under the sun. I have rejected LIFE by ignoring GRACE.

What is grace? Grace is found in verse eleven with these words of Solomon. “Except that God has placed ETERNITY in our heart” and what is unique is that man cannot find this out alone, He needs to relinquish his or her selfish hold on life by giving his or her life back to God too find out that to plant and pluck, live and die, mourn and dance, love and hate and so forth are not for the GRATIFICATION of our selfish flesh, but for the glorification of our Creator who RIGHTS the UNRIGHT! As Ecclesiastes 3:12 explains. More tomorrow as we begin to study again the book of Ecclesiastes.

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 051 - The ship's wheel

A Thought for the Day – 051 – The ship's wheel 

The governors of the land are many; therefore there is much transgression in the courtyard. Understanding and knowledge of this can prolong the Right. What does this mean? Proverbs 28:1-2 to prolong righteousness in the land we must be willing to pray, then to follow the orders of our Originator and Finisher of Faith; Hebrews 12:1-2.

Comments and challenges

It was a warm day in July 1968 when we moored in Naples, Italy; there was little movement of the wind but when it did move the smell of the harbor and shore line was like that of dead fish and stale perfume. We had been warned by the ship’s corpsman to avoid falling into the waters of the harbor and if someone did they would be sent to the sickbay on the destroyer tender stationed there for observation for four days. The water of the harbor was filthy. Clearly the slim was thick enough to see.

We were moored to the destroyer tender in what the Navy calls “Med-moor” meaning that we were moored to the starboard side of the tender by our fantail; the fantail is the back end of the ship which means that the piers in the Mediterranean ports were seldom used for military vessels. The tender was anchored in a protected harbor and we would be taking a small water taxi to and from the tender when going ashore. We were moored to the tender’s side along with two other destroyers.

This turned out to be one of the Navy’s nightmares since men would realize the ease of slipping over to the other ship and stealing articles from the other crew. One night, our shipmates decided that the wheel (the helm) or steering wheel for you landlubbers should be swapped from the other ship next to us. So about five guys climbed over to the other ship and removed the wheel from that ship, and they attached our older wheel in its place.

All was going well and they crossed back over to our ship only to lose the swapped wheel in the drink as they passed from ship to ship. Knowing the condition of the water… NO ONE WAS willing to go after it. Now the other ship had our wheel and since it was getting to be daybreak by the time someone said, let’s go back and get our wheel, they got caught. As one of the Master-at-Arms aboard the ship I was involved in the investigation of this crime, we sent divers down and retrieved the wheel. Also we restored some trust with our fellow sailors on the other ship.

I am reminded of Psalm 1:7-19 the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Those five men were foolish, they had no fear of God, they only had the fear of getting caught and they did. They did not get caught because they were dumb or that their plan was faulty. They got caught because early in life they did not listen to the instruction of their father or mother and the law of “thy shall not steal” was ignored and they were enticed by each other to commit sin.

The precious possessions of others became a snare and a trap and the prize (the purse) fell in the putrid waters of evil, in their haste they lost their gain and little did they realize that their secret journey was in pursuit of their own captivity as they fell into the hands of the Living God who tossed their prize into the putrid Naples harbor. So it is with everyone who is greedy for gain, in the end it takes away the life of party and exposes those who seek an unrighteous reward.

 

This reminds me of our nation where a few men and women are trying to steal the helm and direction of this nation, these did not listen to their parents either, nor did they listen to the instructors of wisdom as they grew to adulthood. There are major differences in this personal story than that of our national one in that “WE THE PEOPLE” are not asleep we are watching the pilfering of our freedoms being stolen.

These national thieves do not wait for the night to come, but in the daytime when the courtyard is in session they change out the Constitution of our nation and replace it with something that has been dipped in sewage. We do not need the Master – at – Arms. We need Masters of Prayer, those men and women who will Rise up and pray; those who are patriots of this country, if we fail to do this, then we have failed the test of freedom and we will be a third world power within the lifetime of the next generation.

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 050 - Memeorial Day

A Thought for the Day – 050 – Memorial Day

It is the duty of the military to prepare the horse for the coming battle and it is the response of God to deliver the horse and the rider into victory when the heart of the rider is under the protection of the Living God. Proverbs 21:31

Comments and challenges

To men and women who serve or have served in our military and to those emergency responders within the borders of this country who serve or have served, we the citizens of the United States of America salute you. This day is your day and we honor you; please know that the work you do is blessed of God and protected by His Omnipotent Hand.

My thoughts about this nation as you may have read in the past are painful since our leadership is controlled by the men and women who first of all do not honor anything worthy, their honor is simply to covet and to destroy and this makes you the military the only human hope for this nation, so hang in there.

There is however another GREATER HOPE, his name is JESUS who is the AUTHOR and FINISHER of FAITH. Hebrews 12: 1-2 It is my prayer and will be my prayer that our national leaders will revoke some of the resent changes being form in the governing regulations of the military code of conduct. You know these changes will destroy and corrupt the honor and dignity of our military. Therefore it must be STOPPED.

YOU MEN AND WOMEN of the military must stand firm against same sex marriages and you must stand firm against those religious efforts to discredit the CREATOR GOD. We will pray for you; the battle for the freedom of this nation is the greatest battle we are facing as a nation. It is not one that will be fought with military strategies and bullet warfare. Therefore you in the military are like the rest of us DEPENDENT on God.

So go get that Holy Bible out of your duffle bag and stop being a secret believer in Jesus Christ. Stand up for your Faith in God and do not be silent. I think of a simple verse of scripture; James 4:7-10. Hiding your faith is not submitting to God, it is a sin; therefore confess it and draw near to God, there is a remnant of saints behind you and God is faithful.

Korah the writer of Psalm 42 says that while evil seeks to subdue God, we need to pant in our soul for the Living water. Well I must move on but there is so much to say. I love this country and I love the military… for more than twenty nine years I served as you do today and even though there were hard moments, I would trade none of those to the things this nation is attempting to push on you folks today.

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 049 - Root Beer

A Thought for the Day – 049 – Root Beer

What do you think when someone says; “I don’t understand, could you clear this up with a correct answer?” Truth is an action of loving kindness, like a friendship kiss. God provides an example for us when His Grace touches our faith. Proverbs 25:26 and Ephesians 2:8

Comments and challenges

I have written about this before, but it is on my mind again so let me see where these thoughts will take us today. 412 Brandise Street, Louisville, Kentucky is where my father’s mom and brothers and sisters lived while I was growing up. Every other day I would travel from our home to my grandmother’s home for a bag of food. My dad was out of work and I believe that we would have starved if it were not for her provisions.

The thought I have is that I do not remember the street on which we lived at the time, maybe because we had moved a number of times and what we called home was transient while my grandmother’s was more stable. Another stable home was 1701F Patten Court, Louisville, KY. This was the home of my cousins, a low income project but this did not matter, it was warm and cozy there too. Like home ought to be.

I can get all cozy and warm inside just thinking of those days when life was full of the turmoil of having nothing but having it all (do you understand?) it does not take much and it costs nothing to remember the days of one’s youth.

This reminds me of having a glass of root beer. If you fill the glass to quickly there is the foam at the top. Either sip the foam from the top and get an instant mustache or you can wait for the foaming bubbles to melt away; in either case the memories are rapid and enjoyable, then disappear softly.

“Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, ““abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.”” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they KNEW Him; and He vanished from their sight…” Luke 24:28-35

“America you have failed and you are fallen from the grace of God; “O America, America I long for the foam, the mustache and root beer of days gone by.”

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 048 - Why go to Church

A Thought for the Day – 048 – Why go to Church

Worry, sorrow, aggravation, backbiting and injury! For many people this is their plan for the day. It could be that they have a chemical imbalance! Yes, induced in their brain; but more importantly absorbed in their SOUL too! Like; over indulgence on the physical side of life always produces over indulgence of sin in the spiritual side of life. Proverbs 23:29-35.

Comments and challenges

This statement I make from time to time will never be worn out, especially for me. “I love the Word of God” for me it is as fresh as the sunrise and as cool as the early morning breeze. The warmth of the rising light and the chill of the passing night, a unique experience that God has given as a blessing to all of mankind; an experience that points them to Creation who speaks clearly to all people groups the world over, Psalm 19:1-4

Here is another thought! What is in it for you to go to church? Or I can say it this way; what do you expect to get out of going to church? For some of us there is the opportunity to see auntie or sister, for another a night out and away from the doldrums of being home alone, no doubt you can come up with an idea or two that misses the mark too.

Like my first comment, I love the Word of God; I also love to go to church. Not so much to see a brother or sister or an uncle or aunt since all of those born into the family of God by faith in Jesus Christ are my brothers and sisters, so I have an abundance of relatives there. I love to go to church because this is where my love for the Word of God is most satisfied.

Some of the truths experienced in church last night were about the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life, as believers in Jesus we are going there in God’s recreation of the new heavens and new earth. Revelation 22:1-5. Also, we experienced fellowship with Jesus Christ through communion and reflected on the truth that Jesus is the Bread of Life, more boldly He is the Tree of Life. John 6:22-40 and verses 66-67.

Also, we saw that Jesus is revealed as the Way, the Truth and the Life to all peoples of the world, even people groups of animistic cultures, those who fear the spirit world around us. Ephesians 6:12. So these are just a few reasons I go, these reasons bring me closer to my brothers and sisters in the LORD, closer to Jesus and provide a closer understanding to the world around me. WOW! Have a blessed day.

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 047 - Purpose for Living

A Thought for the Day – 047 – Purpose for Living

A prospector is an intense worker who searches God’s world for a blessing and a living. The robber has no such intent, the robber does not seek a blessing and willing steals his or her reward. Both the prospector and the robber are rewarded by God; to the prospector, blessing and honor and to the robber; God says… what goes around comes around! Proverbs 22:17-23.

Comments and challenges

Speaking of prospecting; what is it that most of us search for in life? I believe that we could some this up with three words. Happiness, love and fulfillment and if there would be a category to place those words in, it would no doubt be “Purpose for living”. Our society dictates the various ways we go about finding purpose in living and we citizens of the United States of America live in a society that is dark with prevailing evil that is a counterfeit purpose for living.

Over the last two hundred plus years, we the people have wandered from religion to religion and from cult to cult hoping to land in the “right” place spiritually with our Creator. The Holy Bible is the only source Book that points you and me in the “right” direction. The testimony of the Living Word of God is the Eye witness that testifies that the Holy Bible is the only way that can satisfy the longings of purpose for living.  Psalm 63:1-8.

So this would bring up at least one question but don’t be naïve; there are more questions but these questions pale in the face of this ONE. What does the Holy Bible say that “believing” is? The answer is “Faith” which the only definition for believing that the Holy Bible gives. Now there is a definition for the world’s search for knowing purpose for living and like “faith” it too is not complicated.

Religion and cults use the word “works”, now here is the rub! Faith and works have something in common which is why both are appealing to us. Whether we are saved or unsaved we seek to strive for purpose in living and in doing so we will approach this striving either by faith or by works. To one person who believes the Holy Bible, the pathway is a walk of faith that is ever increasing with happiness, love and fulfillment like the words found in 2 Peter 1:1-21.

Religions and cults who seek purpose for living walk by selfishly denying faith in God and seek to establish a system of works which is the deception or the doom and the depravity of Satan to destroy God’s people. A system empty of happiness, love and fulfillment; always striving for more and always falling short of the mark (Romans 3:21-26) The standard that God establishes who is not willing for any to perish is full of purpose for living 2 Peter 2:1-22. Now how do we know this? 2 Peter 3:1-18 and believe God and He will reward your faith with the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 046 - our example is He

A Thought for the Day – 046 – Our example is He

No doubt we know many who are lovers of pleasure and of wines and expensive perfumes. Yet these purchases lead to poverty, no; don’t look at the person’s wallet… look at the soul. Proverbs 21:15-17.

Comments and challenges

I am reminded of an experience some thirty years ago. I was talking with a friend about John the Baptizer and was making a comment from the gospel of John 1:19-28. Both of us having been born again about the same time, but my friend did not know that John the Baptizer and John the apostle were two different people. I did not handle the moment well and my friend became embarrassed and critical at my lack of showing love, what he lacked in biblical knowledge, I lacked in spiritual wisdom, the result for me was spiritual discipline, the result for my friend and brother was spiritual blessing.

Faith without works is DEAD! (James 2:14-26) – James who wrote the epistle of James had a lot of opportunity to learn this truth. No one will come to this Truth without being saved by the grace of God. But since James was of Jewish parents who brought up their children to fear God by Jewish customs he lacked the knowledge and opportunity to work the work faith apart from Jewish custom in those days.

The brothers and sisters of James had a strange brother within their mist who they could not understand; mostly their religion blocked them from fully knowing Him. Notice John 7:1-9. This brother whose name is Jesus did not seem to apply Himself to the way of the common Jew. With this there were many critical moments of misunderstanding as their brother Jesus often offended them by defending His faith in God who He called His Father.

Within our families we too have brothers and sisters who apply their beliefs to religions and isms that are aligned with our parental traditional and for the most part we ignore ways and often express snide remarks toward anyone who seeks to walk away from traditional values, just as the brothers and sisters in the family of Jews where Jesus grew up did.

The brothers of Jesus were named James and Jude and here in the gospel of John they show their critical disbelief and lack of discernment.  Yet we must notice that the longsuffering of Jesus and His faithful devotion to God who He called His Father eventually reach the spiritual ears of James and Jude who have written epistles of truth about their half-Brother Jesus. Written Epistles from the experience of seeing the unwritten epistle of faith in the heart of Jesus, Hebrews 12:1-2.

It is worthy to note as well that Jesus being God in the flesh certainly knew that one day His half-brothers would be called and saved by the sanctifying word of God the Father who called them to faith. This same faith is readily available today to everyone. Whoever calls upon the name of the LORD will be saved.

Our work regarding our brothers and sisters and our children too who are locked in a religions grip must be like that of our Savior Jesus; who for the joy that was set before Him, endure such hostility of sinners from sinners against Himself. Do not become weary in well doing and do not become discouraged of soul. God is at work and it is His work that counts, Hebrews 12:1-11.

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional -045 - Whose Angry?

A Thought for the Day – 044 – An overview

Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? The only ones who can know if they are without sin are those who have by faith believed God. Those who are walking in His Righteousness; Proverbs 20:5-11 and Romans 13:14.

Comments and challenges

Over the weekend I can usually come up with lots of thoughts to write about. Then comes Monday and do you think I can remember any of them. No, not one! Then I say, why didn’t I write it down? Even a short note on the subject would help charge the memory. What memory? I did write it down and now I do not know where the note is or even what I wrote it on.

What is our normal view of anger? Come on put your thinking cap on! Is anger a little boil over something but keeping the mouth shut. Maybe you pray and explain to God, “LORD help me, I am about to burst a bubble, shut that person up for me” or how about this one… here comes the car behind you and he or she speedily shifted to the slow speed lane to scurry around you; your mind flares in anger I’ll hurry and button up the space ahead so they can’t get in front of me.

This my friend is not anger, it is more like the uncontrolled tantrum of the child in you; anger is uncontrolled RAGE and hopefully you avoid it. Notice Exodus 32:15-20. Moses has just been with the LORD God on Mount Sinai, the LORD God had just fellowshipped with Moses over the giving of the LAW. Moses had watched as God wrote on the tablets of stone. The stones were loaded with the Words of God on both sides of two stones.

The scripture says that Moses when he saw the golden calf that the Israelites made that the anger of Moses became very hot (God explained to Moses what to expect on his return to camp; Exodus 32:1-14, at the request of Moses; God relented, but Moses burned in anger as he descended the mountain) and the work of God he casts out of his hands and the stones broke to pieces. We can be under the power of the Holy Spirit in one breath and under the power of emotional rage the next. It is that quick.

We should be aware that this first decent by Moses into the camp of Israelites, did not bring the glory of God into the camp as it did the second time, read Exodus 35:29-33. The setting of the first presentation of the LAW is that Moses and the Israelites failed. First with Moses who came from the meeting with God in a countenance of anticipated anger who no doubt was processing in his mind what he do if he found the people unprepared for his return. (Have you ever thought similar thoughts as you approached home)?

For me these passages speak volumes about absolute spirituality. We can and do seek time with the LORD and yet in the recesses of our mind we are anticipating the (known facts) that returning home will have with our little corner of world. When we come away from the LORD’s presence and He has spoken all of His Words, we return to our so called “real world” and immediately see that our anticipated thoughts are worse than expected. Anger and then Rage takes over and the Words of the LORD are broken.

Then we go back to the LORD and He says… “Well Jesse; another fine mess you got yourself into, here let’s do this again only this time clear your mind of those secret thoughts so when you leave my presence your countenance will be that of the fruit of My Spirit. Psalm 19:1-14 (especially verses 12-14) and Galatians 5:16-26 (especially verses 22-26).

Our countenance often ends the story, before the story has time to be told.

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 044- Going to the Dogs

A Thought for the Day – 044

What is better is it better to beat up someone for doing you or someone else wrong? The natural reaction is yes, let me at them! Consider this… the one you are beating on may be a fool and you will have wasted your time. You might be better off to instruct the fool and make him or her understand; this would be the better reproof and you may gain a friend. Proverbs 17:10

Comments and challenges

Our dog Sally is a Greyhound, even though her hair is black! In all of my years I thought that these dogs look like a very large rodent and dumb. We have had Sally for nearly five years and she is anything but dumb, she is no doubt one of the smartest hound dogs I have ever met, so I will take a moment or two to brag on her; since she is not capable of bragging on herself; although if she could talk she might very well do that.

We have another dog whose is a male and his name is Hunter, he is a Corgi, he is overweight and slower than frozen molasses. He normally wanders no more than five to ten feet from the steps, but Sally on the other hand goes right to the edge of the backyard which is about 100 feet away. For her age she would be about fifty years old in human age and she is still lighting fast running and when I call them in the first one up the stairs is Sally. By the time Hunter gets his legs going Sally is half way to the finish line.

Now the above does not make her smart, but what does is the process she goes through to get to go out. If I am standing she sticks her nose in the cup of one of my hands and pushes it toward the door and if I am sitting she sticks her nose in my armpit and seeks to push me out of the chair. If ignore all of this she goes to Hunter and they both sort of prance around and make noise. And if I ignore this, Sally will run to Louise and tell on me.

Did you know that the only breed of dog found in the Bible is a Greyhound? Notice if you will that Agur the son of Jakeh explains in Proverbs 30:29-31 that there are three that are majestic in step and that the fourth has potential. In an animal it is part of their instinct as even the lion who is the mighty one and who will not retreat from an attack.

The pace of the Greyhound, the charge of the male goat, the lion who is strong and the king whose troops support him, these are important attributes found in God’s creation. I have seen Sally in combat too, she does not back down and I would like to think that she is as fierce as the lion (I hope I never find out of course), but now what about the king, he is the only one who is capable (intelligent) enough to compromise his place of leadership.

What about the troops who are considered by that king as second rate, what about the inventory of growing children that are insufficient to fill in the ranks because of abortion and because we educate our young families to produce less than two children per family? What about a national heritage that is caving like the borders of the country? What about a nation that promotes sexual lifestyles that are an ABOMINATION to God who created the MAJESTIC PACE.

The king has had training in majesty, the king has had troops, the king has had leadership, the king has had a great nation and the king has spent all of this in selfish tyranny, therefore when he struts, he struts alone since he has wasted all the resources of a great nation. THIS MUST BE ANOTHER ONE OF MY PIPE DREAMS, (although I don’t smoke the pipe) I don’t know of any nation suffering like this; DO YOU? I think I will go back to my DOGS and enjoy their attics!

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 043 - Fear

A Thought for the Day – 043 – Fear

The way of the heart is to plan ahead when circumstances develop in your circle of influence. If we chose not to pray the outcome is still in the hands of the LORD God. Notice Proverbs 16:1 and 16:33. Why not heed Proverbs 16:3-4 and establish your thoughts in the sound advice of the LORD and be blessed. In other words, don’t follow the path of the wicked that are doomed to experience evil.

Comments and challenges

Here is a dumb question; do you have fears? The only reason I ask is to draw your attention to fear, but not to the obstacles or circumstances that may happen and send you into a depressive state of mind… don’t do that and yet I know that some of us will peel off and the flood of “what ifs” will begin rushing toward you over some recent or potential circumstance that seems to plague your mind.

Proverbs 16 is one of those portions of scripture to help us through the fears of life that seem to take the punch out of living. Car accidents will come, home invasions can happen and illnesses threaten our physical life. These are not our everyday experiences; these are mainly once in a lifetime events that seem to hang out in the recesses of our mind. We should prepare and protect as possible, but we should not be full of fear.

What if something does happen? Suppose your child falls down the stairs and puts the child in the hospital; what if you turn to the noise you hear coming from the kitchen and see a person who has intruded your home or your doctor’s visit reveals bad news? The results of these and many other events in life are life changers. Do we stop what we are doing and fall into an emotional rage of fear or revenge, or do we stop and PRAY to our Father in Heaven?

If you have read the Bible or if you are student of the Living Word of God you know that the Bible does not paint the rosy picture of a pleasant or prosperous life; in fact the Bible teaches just the opposite and warns of storms, poverty, war, loss and suffering. One look at the life of Jesus Christ simply proves that if these events happened to the Son of God, these will certainly happen to God’s children. We live in an evil world, it is full of evil and sinners, one solid look in the mirror should prove that.

We need not to focus on the fear of what if, but when life does throw us to the ground and fear comes, do not let the fear stop at the emotional part of your heart, let the fear reach your soul where FAITH is seated in the presence of Almighty God. Fear is no match against faith. WE NEED TO BEGIN PRAYING. Proverbs 16:3 is a simple statement from King Solomon. “Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established”.

Solomon’s view of the fears of life is like that of a huge object like stone or heavy weight. That is the best picture of FEAR that I can imagine, don’t try to hold back your present fear with an emotional blast from your heart, you will not be able to stop the heavy weight from crushing you. The word commit in Hebrew that Solomon uses can be translated “roll” giving the thought of rolling your fears to the LORD in prayer.

The work of rebounding from events in life is to continue to roll the events to the LORD of your soul and to allow God to weigh the spirits that are troubling your moment in time. Your thoughts will be established and the outcome will be blessed of God. Also, seek to remember that the event is past tense and there will be an outcome either from an emotional revolt or an answer from God. His decision whether we pray or react emotionally will still be provided. Proverbs 16:1 – 33 prove this thought and promise blessing.

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional -042- A quick overview

A Thought for the Day – 042 – An overview

The eyes of a person reveal much; joy, peace and goodness are in the eye of the “up right”. What is “up right” when referring to the behavioral pattern of a person? Look into the eyes of one who has no peace, no joy and no goodness and you will see that this eye is bent to peer through darkness, the one who sees unrest, has only moments of selfish pleasure and one who willingly avoids goodness. Proverbs 15:10-19

Comments and challenges

Just a quick note this morning: God is not willing that any man, woman or child should perish (that is to be separated from Him in eternity). For Him it is not His will that we should be without His love in time (that is; while we are alive in this body). He has set limits on life, (yours is temporal, His is eternal) He does not have a slack hand in the matters of life (human) and LIFE (eternal) He knows the limits of both (Psalm 90).

If you decide in your heart to return to FAITH in God you will find that the promise of God’s return is not slack as some of us count days and hours, notice in 2 Peter 3:1-9 where the apostle Peter explains this “but beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the LORD one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day”

That is that if you are willing to believe God, you will no longer have a need to focus on the temporal and daily disappointments of life and the imminent return of Christ, this fear will no longer be yours. For the first time you be able to focus on the eternal Son of God who after dying for your sin and mine is now risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of God right this very moment.

He is coming again; not as the LAMB of God for another sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 6:1-8) but as a Mighty Conqueror in that future day in Time that God calls “The Day of the LORD” 2 Peter 3:10-13. So do not be weak minded over this, but be steadfast and unwavering in this truth, use the longsuffering of God as valuable time to rescue the perishing and grow in the daily grace given to you by God Himself, 2Peter 3:14-18.

  

For scripture references please CTRL+ click on the following website: http://www.biblos.com

The Devotional - 041 - Last Night

A Thought for the Day – 041 – Last Night

Ever notice the ease of doing evil? Evil seems to lurk at every moment in time, but evil is more devious than every moment. Evil is there at every split-second. In other words in less than a half of a second; evil can produce eternal consequences. Proverbs 14:11-14

Comments and challenges

Yesterday I wrote of being in Pennsylvania, but I did not explain why we were there. We were invited to New Tribes Missions and the Wayumi experience of what it can be like to go into a people group who do not know a language other than their own. As we experienced this, we also experienced the obstacles of cultural differences that are much like going through a brick wall that has no visible opening. The commitment of any missionary who is called of God to go is not a short term visit, but a calling that can last a minimum of eight years and more like twelve to sixteen.

There are a few take away points from this weekend adventure that I would like to share but I have one of those slow boiling minds that takes time to put together an experience so while these points will not come out today, they will eventually. Besides this I am currently burdened by the recent events in my children’s lives who lost their mom yesterday to a unexpected heart attack. From time to time you might offer a prayer to God for those who are mourning over her loss at this time.

Last evening I was at the Providence Rescue Mission where I go once a month to share with those people a gospel message. As with every opportunity with these folks I seek to instruct them in the knowledge of God and of how the gospel of the grace of God is what all of mankind needs, not just those who for this moment in time are homeless or in need of food. Knowing that my first (ex) wife was in critical condition heart failure, I was struggling to get out the message I had prepared, then my phone let me know of an incoming message, she had suffered another heart failure.

I paused for a moment and I saw the despair and heart response of that group of people as I explained the events that were going on in the lives of my children at the moment. These folks were like my children; hurting boys and girls; who are the remnant of broken families and those hurting from drugs, alcohol and abusive lifestyles of all the categories found on this planet, a planet darkened by evil and bathed in the personal sin produced in this darkness.

Once I acknowledged this to that group of people it was as if the LORD lifted His hold on me and I was able to speak with the power and authority that God provided through the Holy Spirit that death is FINAL and if it comes to anyone of us, it comes for the unbelieving VIOLENTLY. In fact; the death of the unbeliever is always violent since Satan who is the author of evil is also the author of death which is his gospel (Genesis 3:4-6). The result is found in John 10:10a “Jesus speaking says that the “thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy”

Of course the true gospel is found in Genesis 3:15 the Words of God to Satan which is fulfilled in John 3:16 and explained by Jesus in; John 10:10b. Jesus speaking says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”. The gospel of the grace of God is just that, it is the whole counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation. At the end of my time teaching, a couple of men in our group found out and prayed with me over my children, it was a comfort.

I hope everyone has a blessed day, God loves you and how does He love you? He gave His Son personally to YOU to take your sin on Himself, in order to bring you out of this fallen and violent way of death and to return you to Him, just as Jesus is raised from the dead, if you have personal faith in Jesus you too will be raised up and given abundant life. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.