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Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Remembrances
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Who Can We Trust?
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Seasons of Life
One Sunday morning this prayer was said at the beginning of the worship service: "Thank you, God, for the fall season we are coming into, which reminds us that God is with us in all seasons of life."
Just as God created the seasons for His purpose and our enjoyment, every life season we go through was ordained by God and is used for His purpose.
You can find beauty in each season of the year, and each season of your life. We are playing out our seasons just as God has planned them to be.
In this season of my life, most of my lifelong friends, and many of my friends on Facebook are snowcapped. It's what happens when you reach the age of 60 and above. I like what Charles Spurgeon said:
"What a glorious sight to watch a saint mature to the point of becoming like a mighty Alp--snowcapped, chosen of God, and magnificently reflecting the bright rays of 'the sun of righteousness' and His radiance, lifting Christ up for all to see the glory of His Father who is in heaven."
A mighty Alp! Snowcapped! Redeemed! Living for Jesus! Dare I say it's a description most of us would like said about us?
Yes, Fall is a beautiful month and so is each season of our lives. There are many things we can complain about, and yet, there are infinitely more that we can rejoice in. Let's rejoice and be thankful, for every season is part of God's plan for each of our lives.
By His Grace . . .
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
I Have a HOPE!
I chose this hymn to study for the
title alone. I write many words about HOPE. It's what fills me with the strength and courage to face each new day. One of my favorite Scripture verses
is Psalm 71:14: “But as for me, I will always have HOPE; I will praise you
more and more.”
Naylor experienced long and intense suffering during his life, being an invalid for nearly 41 years. He learned to trust God for the supply of his temporal needs because there was no other to trust. He learned to commune with God by being deprived of the opportunity of mingling much with his fellow men.
Yet he did not lose the joy out of
life. He built up the kingdom of God with his words of good cheer. He
demonstrated the efficacy of God's grace to sustain one and give joy in the
very discouraging circumstances of life.
Perhaps the words to this hymn is just what you need today. The words have certainly enriched my soul as I wrote the study!
“I
have a hope, serene and sure, That anchors past the veil;
In all the storms it holds secure, Nor will it ever fail.”
“I have a hope that looks away, From present woes and tears;
Nay, doth not shrink though death appear, For I shall live anew.”
My hope is born of God’s own word, And nourished by His grace;
His promise true my soul hath heard, And hope beholds His face.”
Joyful HOPE! Glorious HOPE! Forever HOPE! We have a reason to celebrate! I have a HOPE!
By His Grace . . .
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Tomorrow
"A Christian can look forward to tomorrow with joy. Tomorrow
is a happy thing. It is one stage nearer to glory, one step nearer to heaven, one
more mile sailed across life’s dangerous sea, one mile closer to home.
"Tomorrow is a fresh lamp of the fulfilled promise that God
has placed in His firmament. Use it as a guiding star or as a light to cheer
your path. Tomorrow the Christian may rejoice. You may say that today is black,
but I say that tomorrow is coming. You will mount on its wings and flee. You
will leave sorrow behind.
"Look forward to tomorrow with ecstasy, because our Lord may
come. Tomorrow, Christ may be on this earth. 'Therefore, you also be ready for
the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.' Matt. 24:44
"Tomorrow, we may all be in heaven. Tomorrow we may lean on
Christ’s breast.
"Tomorrow, or perhaps before then, this head will wear the
crown. This arm will wave the palm. This lip will sing the song. This foot will
walk the golden streets. Tomorrow, this heart will be full of immortal,
everlasting, eternal bliss. Be of good cheer, fellow Christians, tomorrow can
have nothing negative for you.
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day
may bring forth, rather, comfort yourself with tomorrow. You have a right to do that. You cannot have a bad
tomorrow. It may be the best day of your life, for it may be your last day on
earth."
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
What's Your Choice
Though there are no sheep in the pen, and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Double Good
Actually, though, he was talking about another 3:16 that is just as important to our understanding and learning of Scripture: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16
This was one of George’s points in proclaiming that there is
a standard and it’s the Bible: all Scripture is God-breathed. The Greek word is
“theopneustos.” God-breathed. Scripture just isn’t inspired by God, it is
God-breathed. God exhaling the ideas and
truths into those who wrote the words. He integrated His divine revelation into
their human limitations.
Jon Gleason at mindrenewers.com wrote: “The concept of the breath of God has important connotations
in Scripture, referring to God’s creative and life-giving power. The
Bible clearly says the Word of God is living, life-giving, and life-changing,
and the connotations of theopneustos match those characteristics.
“Those who translated theopneustos for hundreds of years using the words 'inspired' or 'inspiration' weren’t just making stuff up. There was a very real basis in the connotations of the breath of God for the translational choice they made. “God breathed the Scriptures into existence, and God breathed life and vitality into the Scriptures.”
This Greek word, theopneustos only occurs once in Scripture, but what a
meaning it has.
2 Timothy 3:16 is a Scripture verse that tell us all of the
Bible will help us through life, guiding and directing us, so that we can live
with assurance and truth. I hope whenever you read or hear someone mention John
3:16 that your mind will remember there’s another 3:16 that teaches us the
words in the Bible come directly from our God as He breathes the information to
the writers and the readers.
I've always liked the words my pastor says when praying after reading God's Word: "May the Lord add His blessing to the reading of His divine, inspired, inerrant and infallible Word." Indeed!
Is there a standard? Most definitely. Three sixteen. 3:16. Double good.
By His Grace . . .
Remembrances
The devotion I read this morning in " Look Unto Me: The Devotions of Charles Spurgeon " compiled by Jim Reimann, gave me hope that...
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This post comes from my second book, “ A Note For You .” The book contains most of the notes I wrote to one woman to encourage her for an en...
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That's Sam, as she tried to turn around in the middle of a narrow path after the first storm six days ago. We'd walked to the back ...
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Many years ago a friend asked me if I would type a collection of poems that her grandfather, P. J. Wolz, wrote. He was not famous . . . just...