"For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Awake O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'" Ephesians 5:14
The first sentence struck me this morning. As is so often with God's word, it is filled with truth and is as plain as the nose on my face. It is the kind of sentence, that when reading the Bible, I don't even stop to think about it. Something said in such obvious truth gives no cause to dispute it.
If something is in the dark, like a shoe somewhere it doesn't belong, and I get up to investigate a noise and walk into it, it startles me, and causes me to lose my footing. I may trip and fall and hurt myself. There are two ways to avoid this. The first is to of course put my shoes away so this doesn't happen again, or turn on my tiny LED flashlight as soon as I slip my feet into my slippers.
Once I have added the smallest amount of light necessary to not wake up my sleeping husband, everything is exposed that once lay hidden by the darkness.
The enemy lives this way. Just thriving in the darkness waiting to trip us up. He chooses to place himself dead center on the path we know as familiar in the light. Once we trip and fall, he has us. At least until we are able to find a light switch or to wait for the arrival of some godly help.
So we must never take our path for granted. There are those who would take great pleasure in making us believe that we should take a different way. Rest assured, our path is ordained by the Great Mapmaker Himself. So don't let go of the fact that the simple truth is--keep the light shining. Walk your path in righteousness and shine God's light before you. In this way, you will protect yourself, and you will also expose what's hidden to those who have also been trapped. The Word of God is and will always be our best defense!
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Matthew 4:4
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Walking in Victory
A while back a friend asked me, "What does it mean to walk in victory? What does it look like?"
1 Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV) says, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ."
What God showed me what that victory can only come after a battle. A person crippled, legs broken and weak. He is at physical therapy. Jesus is holding him up with an arm around him and His hand on his arm. They are at the parallel bars used to aid someone walking. Jesus is also at the other end, cheering and clapping.
Victory is achieved one step at a time, but with growing strength, by walking in faith and hope, and relying on God to support us. We will make it to the end where we will meet Him at the finish line. He is with us and before us, He makes the way straight.
We wouldn't be able to walk outside of the bars, we need to remain in the boundary of their safety (walk on our own path). Look ahead at the delight in Jesus' eyes! Don't look down at your feet, go forward...one step at a time. Soon enough the braces will come off and we will run again in victory. How glorious to know that Jesus Himself walks every step with us. Have you thanked Him lately?
1 Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV) says, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ."
What God showed me what that victory can only come after a battle. A person crippled, legs broken and weak. He is at physical therapy. Jesus is holding him up with an arm around him and His hand on his arm. They are at the parallel bars used to aid someone walking. Jesus is also at the other end, cheering and clapping.
Victory is achieved one step at a time, but with growing strength, by walking in faith and hope, and relying on God to support us. We will make it to the end where we will meet Him at the finish line. He is with us and before us, He makes the way straight.
We wouldn't be able to walk outside of the bars, we need to remain in the boundary of their safety (walk on our own path). Look ahead at the delight in Jesus' eyes! Don't look down at your feet, go forward...one step at a time. Soon enough the braces will come off and we will run again in victory. How glorious to know that Jesus Himself walks every step with us. Have you thanked Him lately?
Don't Worry
We are living in times like no others. There are people talking about what they believe the truth behind this pandemic is, how our rights have been taken away, how this is just a dress rehearsal for what is to come, and many other theories. I am not here to add to any of these things. They may be true, they may not be.
I am here simply to declare that no matter what happens, today or in the future, we must remember that God is still in charge. He watches, He gets angry, He is the One who raises up kings and brings them down. These things will never change. The Bible is filled with stories of God's love and about His wrath. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow; and nothing, absolutely nothing, gets by unnoticed by Him. He is just and true. Since the beginning of time men have tried to take over the world. It has never happened, and it won't.
Don't give in to fear, no matter what you hear. The devil is getting louder and louder these days because he knows his time is short. When he fills our heads with disaster that causes worry, we take our minds off God and place it on the current situation. And believe me, God is right in the middle of this current situation. Who else could have shut down every nation on earth at the same time? Perhaps to get our attention? What Satan means for evil, God will use for good. (Genesis 50:20 NKJV) Remember, the devil doesn't have the power that God has, and he still has to bow to the name of Jesus. I am of the belief that this year, here in the land of the living, we will witness with our physical and spiritual eyes the glory of God. We are a chosen generation, and I believe that when this happens it will change the world and so very many will come to Him, either for the first time or return after an absence.
Remember, Jesus died for us, those of us that are born again and those who have yet to make that decision. If you want to know where you will go when you die, just give your life to Him. The Prayer tab above will take you to the Prayer of Salvation.
He is the keeper of the Book of Life. Is your name in it?
I am here simply to declare that no matter what happens, today or in the future, we must remember that God is still in charge. He watches, He gets angry, He is the One who raises up kings and brings them down. These things will never change. The Bible is filled with stories of God's love and about His wrath. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow; and nothing, absolutely nothing, gets by unnoticed by Him. He is just and true. Since the beginning of time men have tried to take over the world. It has never happened, and it won't.
Don't give in to fear, no matter what you hear. The devil is getting louder and louder these days because he knows his time is short. When he fills our heads with disaster that causes worry, we take our minds off God and place it on the current situation. And believe me, God is right in the middle of this current situation. Who else could have shut down every nation on earth at the same time? Perhaps to get our attention? What Satan means for evil, God will use for good. (Genesis 50:20 NKJV) Remember, the devil doesn't have the power that God has, and he still has to bow to the name of Jesus. I am of the belief that this year, here in the land of the living, we will witness with our physical and spiritual eyes the glory of God. We are a chosen generation, and I believe that when this happens it will change the world and so very many will come to Him, either for the first time or return after an absence.
Remember, Jesus died for us, those of us that are born again and those who have yet to make that decision. If you want to know where you will go when you die, just give your life to Him. The Prayer tab above will take you to the Prayer of Salvation.
He is the keeper of the Book of Life. Is your name in it?
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Things I Learned from Reading the Story of Noah
Many times when I read the Bible I get out my commentaries and learn even more. Such is the case of the story of Noah. I used the Matthew Henry Commentary. These are my thoughts interchanged with his, based on the biblical account.
Noah was a descendant of Seth.
He was very old when God called him to build the Ark. He was 600 years old when the flood began.
Noah needed to apply pitch on the outside to keep off the rain and seal the boat, and on the inside to take away the bad smell of the animals when kept near to each other. (God thinks of our comfort because He cares for us. What a good, kind, and sweet God we serve.)
God told Noah to "come into the ark", not to 'go' into it. Not all versions use the word 'come,' however. The reason to 'come' implies that God would go with Noah and his family. God would lead Noah into the ark, travel with him, and bring him safely out of it. This changed the ark from being Noah's prison to not only a refuge, but a palace. This call to Noah was a type of the call which the Gospel gives to humble sinners.
All the animals and birds were under Noah's power and his protection. What a great task--to be responsible for the future re-population of the earth!
The sky was probably lovely with no sign of what was to come when Noah and his family entered the boat seven days before the flood began.
Noah have the people the warning that the flood would come in seven days. If anyone had changed their ways, they would have been able to board.
Noah had to walk in faith.
It had never rained before this.
God closed the door, keeping Noah safe and disallowing anyone else to get in.
It didn't start raining until 7 days after the animals and Noah and his family entered the Ark.
The waters became geysers from the earth and met with the rain, which didn't pour in drops, but in streams to flood the earth. We have not seen anything comparable since.
(Matthew Henry note: None of us are destroyed by the justice of God except those who hate to be reformed by the grace of God. (I say, good word!))
It rained for 40 days and 40 nights without diminishing. The ark floated for quite some time after the rain stopped.
At the end of 150 days the waters decreased. The ark rested on Mount Ararat in the seventh month on the seventeenth day. The waters continued to decrease until the tenth month. On the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen. Forty days later Noah sent out a raven. Then he sent a dove.
The dove returned because there was no place for her to rest. He waited another seven days and sent her out again. She returned with an olive leaf in her mouth. This is how Noah knew the waters had receded from the earth.
He waited another seven days and sent the dove out again. This time she did not return.
Noah was 601 years old when he was able to see dry ground. Almost two months later the earth was dried and God told Noah he and his family could leave the ark. All the animals came out of the ark.
Noah built an alter to God and offered a burnt offering on it with every clean animal and every clean bird he had with him specifically for this purpose on the ark.
Noah's sacrifice touched God's heart and in His heart he said that He would never again curse the ground for man's sake, nor would He destroy every living thing as He had done. The sign of the covenant God made with the earth was a rainbow.
Noah lived another 350 years. So he lived 950 years and then he died.
I hope the story of Noah helps you to see how much God loves His creation. He didn't destroy mankind, He knew of a righteous man, the only one He could find and kept him and his family safe from His judgment. He had them be fruitful and multiply. Noah had a wife and three married sons when they went into the ark. So we all come from Noah's family.
The story of Noah can be found in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, chapters 6 through 9.
Noah was a descendant of Seth.
He was very old when God called him to build the Ark. He was 600 years old when the flood began.
Noah needed to apply pitch on the outside to keep off the rain and seal the boat, and on the inside to take away the bad smell of the animals when kept near to each other. (God thinks of our comfort because He cares for us. What a good, kind, and sweet God we serve.)
God told Noah to "come into the ark", not to 'go' into it. Not all versions use the word 'come,' however. The reason to 'come' implies that God would go with Noah and his family. God would lead Noah into the ark, travel with him, and bring him safely out of it. This changed the ark from being Noah's prison to not only a refuge, but a palace. This call to Noah was a type of the call which the Gospel gives to humble sinners.
All the animals and birds were under Noah's power and his protection. What a great task--to be responsible for the future re-population of the earth!
The sky was probably lovely with no sign of what was to come when Noah and his family entered the boat seven days before the flood began.
Noah have the people the warning that the flood would come in seven days. If anyone had changed their ways, they would have been able to board.
Noah had to walk in faith.
It had never rained before this.
God closed the door, keeping Noah safe and disallowing anyone else to get in.
It didn't start raining until 7 days after the animals and Noah and his family entered the Ark.
The waters became geysers from the earth and met with the rain, which didn't pour in drops, but in streams to flood the earth. We have not seen anything comparable since.
(Matthew Henry note: None of us are destroyed by the justice of God except those who hate to be reformed by the grace of God. (I say, good word!))
It rained for 40 days and 40 nights without diminishing. The ark floated for quite some time after the rain stopped.
At the end of 150 days the waters decreased. The ark rested on Mount Ararat in the seventh month on the seventeenth day. The waters continued to decrease until the tenth month. On the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen. Forty days later Noah sent out a raven. Then he sent a dove.
The dove returned because there was no place for her to rest. He waited another seven days and sent her out again. She returned with an olive leaf in her mouth. This is how Noah knew the waters had receded from the earth.
He waited another seven days and sent the dove out again. This time she did not return.
Noah was 601 years old when he was able to see dry ground. Almost two months later the earth was dried and God told Noah he and his family could leave the ark. All the animals came out of the ark.
Noah built an alter to God and offered a burnt offering on it with every clean animal and every clean bird he had with him specifically for this purpose on the ark.
Noah's sacrifice touched God's heart and in His heart he said that He would never again curse the ground for man's sake, nor would He destroy every living thing as He had done. The sign of the covenant God made with the earth was a rainbow.
Noah lived another 350 years. So he lived 950 years and then he died.
I hope the story of Noah helps you to see how much God loves His creation. He didn't destroy mankind, He knew of a righteous man, the only one He could find and kept him and his family safe from His judgment. He had them be fruitful and multiply. Noah had a wife and three married sons when they went into the ark. So we all come from Noah's family.
The story of Noah can be found in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, chapters 6 through 9.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Something New to Think About
Once again, please replace Dear Reader with your own name.
Dear Reader, how much more of your potential do you think you could reach if you sought the approval of God and no one else?
Dear Reader, if you want to live a life of purpose and meaning, maximize the strengths God has given you. Find ways to do more of what you do well, and less of what you don't.
God has holy plans for you, dear Reader!
Dear Reader, what reveals your purpose? The spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences God gave you.
God wanted you, dear Reader, alive! Give Him glory!
Fear not, dear Reader, for I am with you says the Lord. I will never leave nor forsake you.
With faith the size of a mustard seed, you, Dear Reader, can move mountains.
God says, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, dear Reader, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
And you will seek me and find me, dear Reader, when you seek me with all your heart.
Dear Reader, how much more of your potential do you think you could reach if you sought the approval of God and no one else?
Dear Reader, if you want to live a life of purpose and meaning, maximize the strengths God has given you. Find ways to do more of what you do well, and less of what you don't.
God has holy plans for you, dear Reader!
Dear Reader, what reveals your purpose? The spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences God gave you.
God wanted you, dear Reader, alive! Give Him glory!
Fear not, dear Reader, for I am with you says the Lord. I will never leave nor forsake you.
With faith the size of a mustard seed, you, Dear Reader, can move mountains.
God says, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, dear Reader, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
And you will seek me and find me, dear Reader, when you seek me with all your heart.
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