The Devotional - #038

A Thought for the Day – 038

One of the thoughts that creep into my mind (dangerous I know!) is the position that God our Father takes concerning the wisdom of the world. This wisdom is not only pictured by God as foolishness, but it is also revealed to you and me as adulterous. To me this is a vivid understanding that those who love the world are in an adulterous relationship with Satan and like him; love death – Proverbs 9:13-18.

Comments and challenges

All day I face the barren waste without the taste of water,
Cool water. Old Dan and I with throats burned dry and souls that cry for water,
Cool water.
The nights are cool and I'm a fool each star a pool of water,
Cool water. But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn and carry on to water,
Cool water.
(Chorus)
Keep a moving' Dan, don't you listen to him Dan, he's a devil not a man
and he spreads the burning' sand with water. Dan can't you see that big green tree where the waters running' free and it's waiting there for me and you; Water, cool water.

The shadows sway and seem to say tonight we pray for water,
Cool water. And way up there He'll hear our prayer and show us where there's water,
Cool Water.
Dan's feet are sore he's yearning for just one thing more than water,
Cool water. Like me, I guess, he'd like to rest where there's no quest for water,
Cool water.

The need for water drives the horse and his rider to visions of cool clear water. The need for water drives the rider to his knees and the vision of trees in the distance reminds him that Creation too is praying for cool clear water. The rider also sees the spiritual warfare that torments the mind that longs for water and he tells his horse not to listen to the one who is not a man.

This simple song of the past reminds me of the longing of my soul for cool clear water of the Living Word of God which today in the United States of America is under attack. The families of this nation are thirsting for this water and do not even know it. Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the LORD. Husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it. That He might sanctify it with the washing of the water by the word. Ephesians 5:23-33

Children obey your parents in the LORD, for this is RIGHT. Ephesians 6:1

What is wrong America? All day long I see the barren waste and WANT the TASTE of the Living Water; so I ask this question – America are you not thirsty TOO?

Okay America; I see your heart in this matter of freedom. It is like the clothes I see you wearing and the bobbles and beads that hang from your mouth, nose and ears and I say. UNDERSTOOD! You have no love for yourself. Therefore you have no love for God. Water, cool water, Oh Dan can’t you see that BIG GREEN TREE where the water is running free and it is waiting there for YOU AND ME. Yea, LORD; even so come quickly. Revelation 22:1-5 and 20-21. Please take the moment and read this.

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The Devotional - #037

A Thought for the Day – 037

Ever notice that wisdom speaks from Proverbs in the “first person singular” (I think this is right) and I suppose what I mean is that this Wisdom, like all of Creation is alive with God; and is capable of glorifying God by communicating His Almighty power and Authority over all He has Created. This Wisdom then supersedes the wisdom of mankind as in Proverbs 8:22-35 and reveals God; however when used wrongly that individual rejects God and sins against his or her soul which belongs to God – Proverbs 8:36.

Comments and challenges

There is so much more to say about the thought above that I must continue. Proverbs 8 is one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Proverbs and I have spent much time searching out the attributes and character of the Excellency of the Wisdom of God and yet the time spent is still short of what could be done.

The wisdom that God has is pure, personal and profitable for you and me, it is set apart from the wisdom of the world, and therefore in seeking to compare the Wisdom of God with the wisdom of the world you will seriously see that this Wisdom, like God is Holy from the fallen world. Spiritual Wisdom from God will always be an ongoing mystery, ordained before Creation and before the fall of angels.

In Proverbs 9, we see the separation of godly wisdom from worldly wisdom. Proverbs 9:1-6 and I believe that the wisdom of the world in this section is called foolishness in verse 6. This thought too is carried into the New Testament by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-16. I become so excited when the LORD through His Word reveals to me the value He has placed on the statement Paul makes in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 which is to know nothing other than the crucified LORD who is the revealed Wisdom of God.

In 1 Corinthians 2:7 the apostle speaks of this mystery that the wisdom of God holds, Paul uses the Greek word “promeletao” meaning to premeditate (the counsel of God in eternity and Wisdom had a seat in the counsel) and so with this thought in mind I run like one who has girded up the loins of his or her mind (1 Peter 1:13) that God seeks for all of us to understand that at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (His Second coming) if you do not know Him by the revealed Wisdom of God then, you will never know Him at all.

So then, I run back to Proverbs 8 to read more about the personal relationship that Wisdom has with God and the delight that Wisdom has with the sons of men. But I say… don’t listen to me in this; read it for yourself, for blessed are those who keep the way that the Wisdom of God leads them. Are you being led by the crucified LORD who is the Christ, but through worldly wisdom is to the Jew a stumbling block and to the Gentile foolishness?

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The Devotional - #036

A Thought for the Day – 036

Proverbs is identified in the Thompson Change Reference Bible as a section of poetry, along with Job; Psalms; Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. While there is some poetic content in Proverbs, I do not see anything in Proverbs 7:1-27 worthy of any poetic flavor, but of course I am not a poet or the son of one either!

Comments and challenges

When is the last time you failed someone or even yourself? Failure is inevitable, but it is also repairable! One of the largest pit falls of failure is the desire to cover failure up. Denial is self-motivated and usually ends up doing additional harm to those you love and is also a friendship destroyer. Facing failure is the first step to repair the future.

Since failure is likely to happen, just as it is likely that your car will breakdown; we must have a source for repair. Awe! Religion that’s the ticket! If I abide by some system of “do’s and don’ts” I can’t go wrong, so many of us pick a religion, normally the one our parents chose. As children we follow along in their footsteps and fail just as they did. We hear slogans like; “join our winning team” “we want you, join our approach to success”. Ha! Ha! I have to laugh. “if the team was winning or successful it is no doubt because I wasn’t on the team to begin with.

Today there is a bold attack on the Gospel of God, I like saying that the gospel of God is the entire Holy Bible and while the gospel will always be TRUE all of these attacks are because of human failure, even the failures we like to find funny; like the leaning tower of Pisa or the Edsel. Over the years human failure has taken on a new meaning in the world’s failing society.

Like maybe failure is no failure, maybe it is right to abort our babies in the womb? Maybe it is right to justify the life of an animal and incarcerate the human who for good reason killed it? And the list is much too large to go on; just add in whatever you wish. In our human strengths we FAIL so what are we to do? Can we repair this earthen vessel (the human body) through religion or human viewpoint (the repair shop). NO!

Yet we can be restored, restoration is greater than a simple repair that will blow out like a recapped tire over the next bump in the road. Notice Romans 1:16-17 the apostle Paul speaks clearly (He is not a failure) in that one of the biggest failures of man is that he or she has no faith and is ashamed of the gospel of God (Christ), it is not religion that man needs to keep from failing, it is faith. Faith in God has restored to Him who fails but now is “justified” for the just shall live by faith.

This does not mean that our failures are now justified; the circumstances of living this life are still in view, but it does mean that restoration of life’s critical failures can be overcome. 1 Peter 4:7-11

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The Devotional - #035

A Thought for the Day – 035

The Pearl of Wisdom and the peril of adultery – both rewards are personal choice. Both are intoxicating. One is laced tightly with instruction; the other is loose with unlaced sin. One embraces and rejoices while the other entangles and destroys. Heed godly instruction as the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD – Proverbs 5:1-23

Comments and challenges

From a sailors perspective the Mediterranean Sea near Turkey is very picturesque. Until 1869 it was not possible for sailors to navigate from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The Suez Canal changed all of that and one morning several years ago while stationed on a U.S. Navy destroyer I was looking out at the beaches as we were just off the Coast of Cyprus. To my surprise as well as those with me; up popped a submarine a few hundred yards off our port bow, the sub was identified as Russian and it was having air system problems.

Our Ship’s captain via our quartermasters asked if we could help them in some way, their answer was no, but that they had help coming. The next morning, a Russian Cruiser, two Destroyers and a Submarine Tender showed up heading west toward the sub and the area where we were. We indicated that we were there to help, they indicated that they were not impressed and for us to go away. Now I would have gladly done that but our captain had a different thought… we stayed.

We circled the little flotilla of four ships and I do not remember the number of days we did this. However what I do remember is that the destroyers took turns training their guns on us the whole time and likewise we trained our guns on them. A little flexing of the muscle you might say, but we were no match for the three Russian warships, we could have taken the submarine tender though I’m sure and maybe the submarine since it was ailing.

Here is the rub! The beauty of the area, Cyprus to our north and Turkey to our west became unattractive; the truth is that these beautiful beaches and scenery was no longer in focus. When the circumstances of life take over your day, all else takes a back seat. Your eyes see people and places as impossible obstacles, your ears hear sound bites that seem to be back biting, but are simply incomplete and your mind races to solve problems that really are not on the radar and do not exist. Then what is not a problem; becomes larger than life itself, even a nightmare.

Troas, Ephesus, Antioch, Paphos, Caesarea and Jerusalem; all of these places of the past and present were nearby, all were visited by the apostle Paul on his journeys and each of the these places posed a threat to his life and mission and yet if you read his epistles and the Book of Acts you will notice that the apostles eyes, ears and mind were not on the threatening circumstances of the enemies of the cross. His eyes, his ears and his mind were focused on being all that God had called Him to be.

Like the apostle… Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely din in the light of His Glory and Grace. Faith in God is the only answer to the problems of mankind, it is not that you won’t hear, see and be mindful of the enemy. But if your eyes, ears and mind are on Jesus, the beauty of faith in Him will not fade away and your victory in Him will be secure and full of unspeakable glory. Hebrews 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:27-30 and many other passages, go ahead search these out, you will be glad you did.

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The Devotional - #034

A Thought for the Day – 034

In my thoughts this morning regarding Proverbs 3; I was struck with this. God communicates with His children. He does so with kindness, with purpose and with His love. It matters not where you read from in His Living Word, it only matters that you Read and hear the Life He desires to share with you – Proverbs 3:19-26

Comments and challenges

Someone asked me yesterday, Jesse is there still time for this nation to repent? Surely God has not given up on the peoples of this land and as believers in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God we should not as well. It is true that the face of this nation has changed and certainly not changed for the better. This alone is a back breaker for most people at or above sixty years of age. This it is not the end of the home of the brave; but it is a bump in the road for the land of the free.

No one needs to explain to you and me the economy, the morality, the weak minded laws or the crime laced government bureaucrats that are currently undermining our Constitution and our Godly Creeds that have carried this nation for the last two hundred plus years, but this does not mean that we should ignore those who daily remind us of our floundering future and our past heritage.

No what we need as a people of God and Country is a heart of returning to God. I am not talking about “LIP SERVICE” to Him, God does not hear the words of people who rant rote prayers nor does He bother with those who for the FEAR of sudden terror cry out. The Day of the LORD has not yet come, but when it does there will be not time to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

So what do we need? We need boldness at TWO thrones. First: Boldness at the Throne of Grace praying to God to change our heart, not the nation. It is my heart and your heart that helps to drive the nation to be aggressive in all the wrong ways and it will be my heart and your heart that will help to drive the nation to its knees. Second: Boldness at the throne of our towns, communities and country to correct the wrongs.

Well Jesse that is easier said than done. YES IT IS, but it must be done. Ezekiel 18:2 are words that are currently in our face, placed there by God. Our fathers (you and me) have eaten sour grapes and we breathe out bad economy, we smell of immoral conduct, we create weak minded laws to protect our crime and our government rides on the coattails of laws that erode rather than contain the nation.

Oh! God has more to say through his prophet; Ezekiel 18:2… what about the children whose teeth are set on edge? Have you noticed your children lately? No doubt you have and you think it is great that they are involved or engaged in the worldly mindset of, destroying TRUTH, of destroying FAMILY VALUES, of destroying EACH OTHER and of destroying morality with OVER THE COUNTER birth control. Our children’s teeth are set on edge and we like it. Ezekiel 18 has lots and lots of good things to say to the reader, but remember this

Ezekiel did not think that his goodness had anything to do with the words he wrote; notice Ezekiel 18:1

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The Devotional - #033

A Thought for the Day – 033

There are only two wisdoms for mankind to know. The offering of one of these wisdoms comes from God and the other comes from the world in which we live. The wisdom that comes from God is a treasury of discernment, love and awe. The other is a waste land of confusion, hate and self-abating law. Where do your values of wisdom fall in Proverbs 2:1-11 OR in – Proverbs 2:12-22?

Comments and challenges

As a First Responder in critical developments like, fire, auto accidents and medical emergencies a responder will face events that they have been trained to handle. Also with longevity in any career a person will often develop a normal and successful routine. Emergency responders must avoid this sort of routine, their understanding of quenching the fire, extricating the injured and comforting the sick must include methods that appear routine, but are defined as precautionary routines. The fireman must ensure that his or her clothing and equipment is functioning properly.

The emergency responder must ensure that their clothing and machinery to extract victims is working properly and the emergency medical team must be protected with proper clothing to prevent the various illnesses and injuries within this work. This requires constant training. In addition to all of this training it is helpful to know that if I commit what I do to the LORD, He will direct my steps and establish my thoughts. Proverbs 16:3.

It is equally nice to KNOW that God will protect me in the mist of the battle. Psalm 91:1-16. As a nation we have set aside precaution (God consciousness) for complacency (self-consciousness). Trouble is on the horizon! I wonder? Do we as a nation have enough emergency responders (Saints) to quench, extract and comfort? Genesis 18:16-33. Should we be concerned about such things as this? Those who say no! Shame on you, have you not read Hebrews 11:8-12; Read it Again Hebrews 11:1-40, you’ve not resisted this fallen world to the shedding of blood, Hebrews 12:1-2. There is still time to repent, isn't there?

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The Devotional - #032

A Thought for the Day – 032

There is that longing in the soul to know God; there is that distraction of living to ignore God.  Like the generation of the cursers, the generation of the pure in their own eyes and the generation of back biters. Then there are those government officials who are like the leech, crying give, give. NATION, rise above this by returning to God; notice Proverbs 30:5-8, but first read – Proverbs 30:1-33

Comments and challenges

Ever had had the desire to carve out a piece of wood and make trinket, a car or even some other toy or item? Well if you were young once and a boy, you no doubt had the urge. Boys like knives and they like to whittle. Sometimes when I look at our nation as a whole I think that we have a bunch of adult men and women with the minds of children who are simply whittling away the valued resources of this GREAT nation, which is rapidly losing IT’S greatest to the whittler.

The knives of these leaders, whittle away the foundation of our commandments, creeds and codes by making it okay for a man to marry another man, or for a woman to marry another woman. Then these whittlers chip away many young people who are being born into families of those who still seek to provide and inventory of a civilized community with outcome based education, which results in dumbing down our young by molding the to think and react like robots.

Then as if this isn’t enough, we train our national Americans to tolerate, religions, isms and cults while demonizing FAITH in the Creator God. You say how do we do that? Oh I don’t know who it was (but God does), but someone recently said to the public, “God bless the plan to abolish parents in the land!” or something to that effect; parenthood is not a plan; it is a gift from God, the blessing is included with the child. 

Then there is the other whittler or whittlers who make illegal entry into this nation interestingly legal enough. Then once established are given sums of money to spread their national cultures in communities that once were solid pillars of patriotism. These are the hanging chads of a controlled vote, not a free vote. Of course it may be true that these are not whittlers at all, just low life termites who chew on the foundation of our national Constitution turning THE document into a pile of dust or pulp. I would say chad, but that is old news of a generation ago.

We are a poor and needy nation though not in doing good while giving in to evil; but poor in spirit and needy for God. Our gold and silver is full of the cancer of corruption and our use of it is to pay out much of the dollar for a cure. The nation’s economy has a debt that cannot be paid, “legally” so we simply print more money. Sort of like spending a wheel barrel full of one hundred dollar bills to have a two gallon bucket of one dollar bills as a buffer.

Some may be saying that I am painting a BLACK picture, I agree, it is the only color I have in my box of crayons, someone has crept in and whittled all the other colors into intangible nubs. “Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. These are new every morning. Great is YOUR faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, says my soul. “Therefore I hope in HIM. Lamentations 3:21-23. Awe go ahead… read the whole of chapter 3. And again NATION… REPENT OR WEEP.

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