Goodbye... for the Moment

Change occurs in everyone’s life and my life is no exception. Recently, God opened new doors and new avenues of service for me for which I am grateful. Very recently, I could see His hand at work as a new door opened. Unfortunately, there is currently not enough time for me to do all the things I would like to do. After prayerful consideration, I am taking a short leave from both this site and my own. I feel that if I cannot give these my best effort, then I would be shortchanging both myself and anyone who reads them. I do plan to return as I am certainly not the same person I was when I started...

Love Must Prevail

The Lord instructed Jeremiah to address the king of Judah, his ministers, and the people. Jeremiah spoke with integrity. Jeremiah 22:3 (GNT) - “I, the Lord, command you to do what is just and right. Protect the person who is being cheated from the one who is cheating him. Do not mistreat or oppress aliens, orphans, or widows; and do not kill innocent people in this holy place. To the modern ear, these commands sound like common sense. But, as Jeremiah made clear, there was wickedness in their hearts. As time moved on, wickedness remained in the world. Paul addressed this in his letter to...

Sight Versus Vision

Psalm 38 is a prayer.It is the prayer of one who suffers.It is a prayer of one who is in desperate need.After pouring out his heart, the Psalmist cries out.Psalm 38:22 (GNT) - Help me now, O Lord my savior!Mark 10 tells us of another man in need of healing.The man’s name is Bartimaeus, and his malady is blindness.Bartimaeus is sitting and begging by the road as Jesus passes.When Bartimaeus learns of this, he cries out.Like the Psalmist, he cries out for Jesus to have mercy on him.Others, perhaps out of embarrassment, tell him to keep silent.But Bartimaeus cries out even more.Jesus hears and responds.Mark...

Both Creation and Child

After the Lord appointed Cyrus as king, the prophet Isaiah delivers the Lord’s word.In addition, Isaiah affirms the Lord’s role in creation and history,His words apply to the new king, but they also apply to us.Isaiah compares the Creator to a potter and the created as a pot made of clay.Isaiah 45:9-10 (GNT) - Does a clay pot dare argue with its maker, a pot that is like all the others? Does the clay ask the potter what he is doing? Does the pot complain that its maker has no skill?Some seven centuries later, Christ taught His disciples how they should pray.After warning them not to pray the...

Strength Through Love

In Psalm 118, the Psalmist declared that the Lord’s loyal love endures.He went on to declare that in his distress, he cried out to the Lord.Even when things seemed darkest, the Lord came through.The Lord provided and gave him the strength to keep moving.Psalm 118:14 (NET) - The Lord gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.”Paul, in his letter to the Romans, encouraged the strong to help the week.Paul also encouraged mutual acceptance between Jews and Gentiles.Paul then stressed the fact that the Gentiles have received hope.Romans 15:13 (NET) - Now may the God of hope fill...

It's a God Thing

I borrowed this title from my pastor because the inspiration for this offering came in a unique way.Among my duties, I prepare a slideshow for our worship service.I include the various scripture readings in their entirety to benefit those in attendance.This also benefits those online who worship with us.I also teach a Sunday school class for adults.I try to challenge my students and promote discussion.Proverbs 27:17 (GNT) - People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.In my class we are studying a work from 1623 entitled The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart by...

Songs From the Heart

Psalm 118:15 (NRSV) - There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: ‘The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;Singing is a form of praise.In fact, the singing of hymns has become an integral part of the worship service.Even the Psalmist expounds on this in his “Song of Victory.”When Mary visited Elizabeth, she too had a “Song of Praise.”Luke 1:46-47 (NRSV) - And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,Some have been given the gift of music.You will certainly hear them as they sing in church choirs or function as song leaders.You may even...

Children of God

Malachi 2:10a (NKJV) - Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?The prophets spoke on God’s behalf to the people,It is therefore appropriate that Malachi means “my messenger.”He emerged when the commitment of the people to God was in decline.Malachi instructed the people to demonstrate greater faithfulness to God.He also reminded them that God was the God of all.Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, reminded them of this.He also reminded them how they were to treat others.Philippians 2:3 (NET) - Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility,...

Struggle, Strength, and Example

Habakkuk 3:19a (NET) - The Sovereign Lord is my source of strength.Here, the prophet declared his confidence in the Lord.Regardless of circumstances, he could rejoice.He understood that deliverance was of the Lord.And it was the Lord who would see him through all adversities.Paul recognized this.In his first letter to Timothy, Paul discussed Timothy’s ministry.He also discussed the challenges and adversities Timothy would face.People deserted the faith.They adopted strange beliefs and practices.But Paul reminded Timothy that he had to remain strong.Timothy would have to remain firm in his faith...

Accepting Discipline

Deuteronomy 8:5 (NET) - Be keenly aware that just as a parent disciplines his child, so the Lord your God disciplines you.God made his people wander in the wilderness for forty years.But God never abandoned them.When they were hungry, God gave them manna to eat.Their clothing never wore out.Their feet never swelled.Wandering was God’s way of disciplining His people.Before they could move forward, they had to learn discipline.Yet during this period of discipline, God still provided for them.The same was true for the followers of Christ.They too had to learn discipline.In fact, if you look closely,...

Wants, Needs, and Gratitude

Exodus 23:25a (NET) - You must serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water,This portion of scripture caught my attention.It caught my attention for three reasons.First, it reminded me that the blessing was for necessities and not luxuries.Second, this seems to reverse the punishment that befell Adam due to his disobedience (Genesis 3). Third, was its preceding verse which lends it context.Exodus 23:24 (NET) - You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their...

Getting on with the Job

I am in my final week of preparation to lead an Adult study on Dietrich Bonhoeffer.Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and theologian who actively resisted the Nazi regime.In time, he and other members of this resistance were imprisoned.Although he was locked away, Bonhoeffer ministered to both his guards and fellow prisoners.He also spent his time authoring books, papers, and letters.Through his writing, we see that God continued to use this man.In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we see that he too was imprisoned.He continued the work God gave him to do.In fact, his letters account for a good part...

Since the Beginning

Hannah was without children, and this distressed her greatly.She was so distressed that Eli the priest mistook her prayers for drunkenness. Hannah replied that she was not drunk.She explained she had poured out her soul before the Lord.Hearing this, Eli told her to depart in peace.God heard Hannah’s prayer and answered it with a son named Samuel.In gratitude, Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord.She also exalted the Lord in prayer as recorded in 1 Samuel.In that prayer, Hannah recognized both God’s complete sovereignty and His role in creation.1 Samuel 2:8b (NET) - The foundations of the...

Kindness, Compassion, Forgiveness

The Resurrection reminds us that we live in a new covenant.But even the Old Testament reminds us of just how the Lord wants us to live.It tells us how we were meant to live with one another.For example, the prophet Zechariah delivered a message from God.In that message, we are told what displeases the Lord.Zechariah 8:17 (NET) - Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath—these are all things that I hate,’ says the Lord.So, the Lord detests the planning of evil.The Lord also detests lying.In fact, we take offense when people do these things to us.We also find...

Hope and Confidence

Psalm 31:24 (NET) - Be strong and confident, all you who wait on the Lord.We are now in what is known as Holy Week.It is during this week that we focus upon a portion of Christ’s journey,Specifically, the portion of the journey that led to the cross and a borrowed tomb.But three days later, His disciples would find that same tomb empty.Christ arose just as He said He would, thus He is exactly who He claims to be.The Psalmist’s words remind us to be both strong and confident while we wait on the Lord.We can be strong and confident because of grace.God grants us this grace through the risen Christ.Paul...

Fools

April 1st is commonly known as April Fools’ Day. Some may refer to it by its older name: All Fool’s Day. It is a day on which many people play practical jokes on their unsuspecting friends. This is usually done in a spirit of fun. But, when you get down to it, being a fool is a serious matter. Scripture gives us numerous reminders about the dangers of being a fool. Jesus told a parable about the difference between hearing and doing. While many hear His words, not as many live by them. To this, Jesus offers a stern warning. Matthew 7:26-27 (NET) - Everyone who hears these words of mine...

In a Word

Psalm 33:6 (NET) - By the Lord’s decree the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all the starry hosts.Here, the Psalmist writes of God’s role in creation.In verse six, he echoes the words first recorded in Genesis.Genesis initially tells of God’s creation of the heavens and the earth.Although the Psalmist focuses on the heavens, there is one thing common to both.God simply speaks and creation results.One word from God, and it is so.Moreover, God looks upon His creation and calls it good.This illustrates God’s awesome power.First, God speaks.Next, what God speaks comes into being.And...

Testimonies

Exodus 15:11 (NET) - Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders?Testimony is defined as “evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.”If so, then the Scriptures are a collection of individual testimonies.These words from Exodus provide a good example.They are words from a song that Moses and the people sang to the Lord.They sang these words in praise of the Lord who delivered them.This is their testimony.They praised the Lord who delivered them from bondage.They also praised the Lord who delivered...

Divine Inheritance

Psalm 108:1 (NET) - I am determined, O God. I will sing and praise you with my whole heart.Here, the Psalmist is brimming with confidence.This is evident in his opening words: “I am determined.”Therefore, he will confidently sing and praise God with his entire being.The remainder of Psalm 108 bears this out.Confidence and determination come from God.But why would God give us these qualities?Paul speaks of this in his letter to the Colossians.This can be found in his prayer for the growth of the church.Colossians 1:11-12 (NET) - being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might...

God's Will?

Psalm 34:1 (NET) - I will praise the Lord at all times; my mouth will continually praise him.Psalm 34 is attributed to David.In verse one, he states that he will praise the Lord continuously.That means praising the Lord even when things are not going well.Praising the Lord when circumstances are in our favor is one thing.In fact, it is rather easy.Praising Him during times of loss and tragedy is another matter.Is it even conceivable that one could praise the Lord when a loved one dies?Can a person praise the Lord when they have lost their sole means of income?Is praising the Lord at all possible...

We Need the Good Shepherd

Micah 7:14a (NET) - Shepherd your people with your rod,The prophet begins the chapter by lamenting the sins of the people.He follows this with words of vindication.He concludes with a prayer in which he asks for a shepherd.The prophet understood how important it was for us to have a shepherd.Scripture makes many comparisons between people and sheep.But these comparisons are not necessarily flattering.I personally know people who currently raise these animals.The insights they have shared with me have proven quite revealing.To begin with, sheep are basically helpless.Left unprotected, they easily...

Epiphanies Continue

Matthew 2:7-11 (NET) - Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.” After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and...