No One Will Praise Him!

 

I once saw everyone in the world follow a young leader who came to power after the king was gone.   His followers could not even be counted. But years from now, no one will praise him—this makes no more sense than chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:15-16

I wonder how many times in world history there has been a young leader who was universally praised when he came to power, but after his time of "leadership" no one praised him? It has happened and without a doubt will happen again.

This is the flaw in popular elections. When uninformed people vote they make uninformed decisions. When foolish people vote they elect "fools" to rule them. When evil people vote they choose evil people to rule over them! A righteous nation comes from "righteous people" electing "righteous people" to serve as their leaders. It is not the process that makes the government a good one. It is the people!

If you live in a country that elects it's leaders with a popular vote and the government is corrupt, the problem is not with the government or it's leaders. The problem is with the people. If the people change, they will change the government. If the people grow more and more evil, so will their government. Bad government or a bad leader is a symptom of a population that is not living as it should!

If you live under a totalitarian rule and citizens do not have the right to choose leaders then you can rejoice in knowing that God Himself is your guardian and protector. But if you live in a country where the people choose the leaders pray for revival so that the election process will reflect a people who have turned their hearts to God!

"Lord Jesus, I thank You that Your sweet love and eternal protection is available to all Your followers. Give me the courage and strength to follow only You and not give my allegiance to an evil king! Praise Your Name forever. Amen."

Things and God!

 

 

Any of God's people who are poor should be glad he thinks so highly of them.  But any who are rich should be glad when God makes them humble. Rich people will disappear like wild flowers scorched by the burning heat of the sun. The flowers lose their blossoms, and their beauty is destroyed. This is how the rich will disappear, as they go about their business.

James 1:9-11

Are you rich or poor? Likely, you are poorer than some and richer than others. So truthfully, you are both rich and poor!

Which is better, to be rich or poor? Compared to the riches of God Almighty, every man is poor, very very poor! But when compared to the man who does not know Jesus Christ, every follower of Jesus is rich beyond anyone's wildest imagination!

I was once told by a very wealthy businessman that being rich in this world's goods is a very difficult thing. He was so rich that every time someone would complement him, he suspected that they were really trying to get something from him instead of simply delivering a sincere word of appreciation. Ask any lottery winner how quickly new friends appear wanting to get some of the money!

But, if you are poor in this worlds goods and you are a child of God, you can know for certain that God "thinks highly" of you! Also remember that Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to get into the kingdom of Heaven! Getting rich is never identified in Scripture as being a "good spiritual goal."

When you get more things, you must spend more of your time taking care of your things! It is better to ignore your things and focus on God, than to ignore God and focus on things.

So as I allocate the minutes of this day, will I spend more time on "my things" or my God? The richer you are, the harder it is to make God the clear winner in how you use your time!

"Dear Jesus, help my heart yearn for You more today than ever before. I want to want You more! I desire to desire You! Give me another glimpse of Your Beautiful Face today! Amen."

Extreme Makeover of Your Heart!

 

Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are. But since the people of this world did not know who Christ is, they don't know who we are.  My dear friends, we are already God's children, though what we will be hasn't yet been seen. But we do know when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is.   This hope makes us keep ourselves holy, just as Christ is holy.

1 John 3:1-3

About ten years ago there was an initially, very popular television series called "Extreme Makeover." The selected candidate submitted him or herself to a group of plastic surgeons, trainers, dentists, and other specialists who totally transformed their appearance. The show was cancelled after public opinion tuned against it's "unreal expectations" of physical beauty.

But for those who follow Jesus Christ there is a soon to come Extreme Makeover that will transform your physical body into one that will never die! It will only take one Physician to make all the changes necessary and once you have been changed you will never grow old, or get sick or become weak.

The extreme makeover to your body will come when Jesus takes you Home for eternity, but there is an extreme makeover that He does to your heart when you come to Him on this earth!

I do look forward to my "new" body. No aches, pains, sickness, or death are all very appealing. When I do physical labor now I realize that I seem to get a little weaker every year. But when I am presented with my "New Body" I will be able to do whatever is needed without having to let the young men do the heavy lifting.

But my heart is made over now! It is changed from a heart that fears to a heart that is bold and trusts Jesus. It is changed from a heart that is focused primarily on gratifying it's own desires to one that seeks to serve others first. My heart looks for a cross to bear and willingly seeks to carry it every day.

Should I keep my body in good physical shape here? Certainly, I should be responsible in caring for this body, but that is not the most important thing. God will completely change my body when Jesus comes, but I must let Jesus change my heart and mind right now, today!

"Lord Jesus thank You for the prospect of a new body, but thank You even more for the new heart that You are willing to put in me today! Make my heart look like Yours! Praise Your Holy Name. Amen."

God Sets the Boundaries!

 

My servant Moses is dead. Now you must lead Israel across the Jordan River into the land I'm giving to all of you.  Wherever you go, I'll give you that land, as I promised Moses.  It will reach from the Southern Desert to the Lebanon Mountains in the north, and to the northeast as far as the great Euphrates River. It will include the land of the Hittites, and the land from here at the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea on the west.

Joshua 1:2-4

The borders of the Land of Israel are not determined by negotiated treaty or even the decree of Israel's Parliament which is called the Knesset.  The boundaries of Israel were declared by God and only He can change them! 

But the tiny Land of Israel remains at the center of the tense international stand-off between those who believe it was established by God and those who think it should be annihilated. 

The principle is actually very simple.  When God creates, Satan tries to destroy.  That includes the Land of Israel, but Satan also wants to destroy what God has created in your life!  That is the fundamental description of "Spiritual Warfare."  When you express your faith in God and feel it in your heart, be prepared for the attack that will tempt you to deny that faith!

It is foolish and wicked to "redefine" things that God has set up.  That would include the Land of Israel, but also things like marriage and a God ordained sexual relationship.  Jesus commanded that His followers "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel," but men have turned that act of obedience to Jesus into an illegal activity in much of the world! 

Here is a piece of good advice!  Don't even consider the world's re-definitions of God's creations.  Let the Word of God establish the meaning of everything in your life!  Then you will never find yourself fighting against God Almighty!  When you do that you cannot win!

"Lord Jesus, help me to see everything in my life as You do!  Show me all the things that I am trying to redefine according to the ways of this world.  And may You be praised forever.  Amen."

Young With Jesus Forever!

 

The Scriptures say,

“Humans wither like grass,

and their glory fades

like wild flowers.

Grass dries up,

and flowers fall

to the ground.

But what the Lord has said

will stand forever.”

Our good news to you is what the Lord has said.

1 Peter 1:24-25

 

If you live long enough you will get old! You muscles will get weaker, your skin will wrinkle and probably your hair will turn white or fall out. "Humans wither like grass, and their glory fades like wild flowers." Much of the western world tries to deny those truths and even manipulate your body so that it appears you are not aging. But if you don't die, you will get old and if that process goes on long enough you will get very old!

I was a young man when I first noticed the "joy of an aging Christian." From the perspective of a twenty year old, it seemed that being "very old" would not be something that would make you happy. But you will see them in almost every church, nursing home and anywhere the "elderly" can be found. You look at wrinkled faces but there is great joy sparkling out of their eyes! That joy comes from what the Lord has said!

You arrive at a point in life where your health is failing you, your finances are being depleted, your friends are dying off, and the future of this earth looks grim at best, but the "WORD OF THE LORD" never changes and His promises are as sure as the sunrise every morning! The HEAVEN WORDS in the Bible become "soon coming prospects," and the promises of the end of suffering, pain and sorrow take hold of your hope!

And you can do all this because you have settled the struggle of a young heart that is tempted to follow the ways of the world. The world is trying to deceive you into thinking that you can be young again here on earth, but because of God's Word you can be sure that you will be young again in Heaven! That is the reason for the joy in your eyes and the smile on your face!

"Lord Jesus, I once was young but now I am old! I do want to be young again, but not on this earth! And so I wait with joy for when You come or I go to be young with You forever! Amen."

Give the Truth Free Reign!

 

There is only one God,

and Christ Jesus

is the only one

who can bring us

to God.

Jesus was truly human,

and he gave himself

to rescue all of us.

1 Timothy 2:5

Contrary to popular opinion there are not "many roads to Heaven!" If God is your intended destination there is only one Way to get there. That Way is Jesus Christ!

You may say, "Oh my, you are being too narrow in your understanding of God and how to please Him!" But Jesus Himself said that the Way is narrow not broad. The key to pleasing God is in being obedient to His Word not in doing whatever you think might please Him! Cain tried that and it was an utter disaster!

Here is where I am impacted today by these Words! Unless I am "tolerant" of many religions today I am considered to be a bigot. And the word "tolerant" has come to mean active encouragement rather than just allowing something to exist.

God does not tolerate lies! Truth is not kind and gentle to falsehood! When there is no truth in your life, there is no "Jesus" in your heart. Jesus defeated Satan, who is the father of lies and you must not live with Satan's children in your heart and coming out of your mouth!

As an American, the public and quite obvious lies of our leaders is very troubling to my heart and I believe is a sign of terrible things to come! But more troubling are the lies that I am tempted to say and embrace every day.

Give the Truth free reign in your heart. Hold on to the Truth and let go of every falsehood! Be willing to suffer the consequences of insisting that you will only walk with Jesus through this life. You will never, ever regret it!

"Lord Jesus, You are the only way to Heaven! Guard my steps today that they all will be on the Road of Life with You! And may You be praise forever! Amen."

Is Jesus Your Fondest Dream?

 

All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did,  so that somehow I also may be raised to life.

Philippians 3:10-11

Now they call it a "Bucket List." It is things you want to do before you die.  I suppose it could be called an "Unfulfilled Dreams List" as well.  That's what all advertisement is about.  Advertisements, also called "commercials" on electronic media,  attempt to create a desire in you for something that you don't have.  It may be a new car, house, watch, or even a new kind of medicine!  Whether we want to admit it or not, the desire for something we don't have can be rather all-consuming! 

Is it wrong for something you want to control your life?  The answer to that question depends on what it is that you desire.  If you want to "know Christ and the power that raised Him to life" then you can let that desire run wild in your heart!  You can safely let your life be consumed with Jesus!  There is no man alive who loves Jesus and desires Him "too much!" 

Let Jesus become your obsession!  Seek Him more than anything else in your life.  Strive to know Jesus better today than you did yesterday.  Pray about everything so that you will see His hand move around you as He answers those prayers!  Add two words to your TO DO list.  Let it become a TO DO WITH JESUS list.  Eliminate everything that cannot be done with Jesus!  Then let your heart loose to run after the Lord!

"Lord Jesus, make me deaf to those who would tell me that I desire You too much!  Open my ears to hear Your voice and the Words You are speaking to my heart today!  May You, Jesus be praised forever and ever! Amen."

Stop the Dirty Talk!

Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.

Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.

Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.

Ephesians 4:29-32

Why is "dirty talk" a problem for a follower of Jesus Christ?  It is because Satan wants the words of a disciple of Christ to bring shame to the Father.  A friend of mine recently bought a tee-shirt that has the name of Jesus written on the front.  When he wore the shirt for the first time he discovered that it is much easier to control his language with Jesus printed across his chest! 

Godly Words are powerful.  God spoke the world into existence.  With your mouth you can proclaim "Jesus is Lord" to the Glory of God the Father! 

Ungodly words are also powerful.  Peter denied even knowing Jesus three times on the night before the Crucifixion!  Relationships can be destroyed forever with hateful words.  Many Christians today have the opportunity and are encouraged to deny Christ in order to save their lives here on earth! 

Do you remember the old saying: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me?"  Well that old saying is quite wrong.  "Sticks and stones can only break my bones, but words can completely destroy me!" 

Remember, every time you open your mouth to speak you have an opportunity to speak Godly words that will build up and encourage or you can speak words that will hurt, harm and ultimately destroy.  Think before you speak and wear a Jesus tee-shirt if that will help!

"Lord Jesus open my mouth today to speak only Your Words!  May the Words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight!  Amen."

God’s Search Engine!

 

Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does?

“Has anyone known

the thoughts of the Lord

or given him advice?

 

Has anyone loaned

something to the Lord

that must be repaid?”

 

Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever! Amen.

Romans 11:33-36

My own pride tempts me not to talk about it, but I have some friends who are a lot smarter than I am. It is quite evident when I converse with someone whose I.Q. exceeds my own that they understand much more about our topic of conversation than I do. It can be intimidating, but it can also be a wonderful challenge and learning experience! If that person is also my friend I am truly blessed by our "un-equal" intellect!

Prayer is the same. When I pray, I enter into conversation with the One who knows everything. Unlimited wealth, wisdom and knowledge are accurate descriptions of God. When I submit my request to "God's Search Engine" the answer is totally accurate, complete and true! And to make things even better, Jesus is also my Friend!

So then you ask God the question: "What must I do to be saved?" That is what everyone's heart asks when they are confronted with sin in their own life. The problem is this: When I see how terrible my own sin is, even I can't honestly tell God that I should go to Heaven when I die. And with the guilt of my sin hanging around my neck, Heaven would be a horrible experience of trying to hide my sin from everyone else while pretending to enjoy Eternal Bliss.

Have you asked God what you must do about your own sin? Have you asked Him what you must do to be saved? If not, now is the time!

"Lord Jesus, I know that You know the answer to every question and in fact, You are the answer to the problem of my sin! Help me today Lord to hear Your voice and receive Your wisdom which is so much greater than mine! And may You be praised forever! Amen."

The Bible or Science?

 

God did not forget about Noah and the animals with him in the boat. So God made a wind blow, and the water started going down.  God stopped up the places where the water had been gushing out from under the earth. He also closed up the sky, and the rain stopped.  For 150 days the water slowly went down.  Then on the seventeenth day of the seventh month of the year, the boat came to rest somewhere in the Ararat mountains.

Genesis 8:1-4

An amazing "discovery" is beginning to make it's rounds in the scientific world. There is evidence that may show that deep inside the earth there is as much water or more than all the water in the oceans! Of course, that means that the Flood in Noah's day was perfectly possible and the way the Bible says it happened makes sense.

Do you wait for "science" to confirm the Bible before you accept what it says? If that is what you do, then to which do you give the most respect, science or the Bible? I believe that many "God fearing" people question the Bible but not science. When we rejoice that the scientific community has established that what the Bible says is true, I think we should be ashamed! We should rather rejoice that those who study science have finally come to believe what we have known all along to be true because it is plainly stated in the Bible!

The Word of God never changes, but those who study the physical world and how it works are always coming up with new theories about how it works. When you believe what the Bible says about everything, the scientific world will think you are wrong about many things because they have not yet "discovered" them!

"Lord Jesus everything You say is true! Help me today to believe You and Your Word above everyone else! And may You be praised forever! Amen."

Even if I am the Only One!

The Lord saw how bad the people on earth were and that everything they thought and planned was evil.  He was sorry that he had made them, and he said, “I'm going to destroy every person on earth! I'll even wipe out animals, birds, and reptiles. I'm sorry I ever made them.”

But the Lord was pleased with Noah, and this is the story about him. Noah was the only person who lived right and obeyed God.

Genesis 6:5-9

Did you ever ask yourself the question: "What difference can one person make?"  Well, in the days of Noah, one person made all the difference! 

When we think of Noah we also think of the Ark and the animals and of course, the Flood.  But those things are not the main point of the story of Noah.  The story of Noah is all about one man obeying God and doing what He told him to do.  If Noah had not pleased God you would not be alive today.  If Noah had not been obedient, then all of humanity was going to come to an abrupt end.

How important then is it that you have decided to be obedient to the Will of God?  Even if you are the only person alive today who obeys God, it is critical that you keep on seeking and following Jesus!  Live today as if the continued existence of the world depends on your faithfulness.  You cannot know how your life fits in to God's eternal plan.  But you can know that you are indeed part of that plan and God wants you  to live as Noah did before the Flood!

So instead of despairing because so many have turned away from God, focus your heart once again on following Jesus.  Even if you are the only one still obeying God, it is critical for all of us that you not turn away!  None of us see it now, but perhaps in Heaven we will know the impact our obedience had on the rest of the world! 

"Lord Jesus, I choose to follow You today even if I am, like Noah, the only one!    Praise Your Name forever! Amen."

What Does the Thunder Say?

The people were stubborn, and something still keeps them from seeing the truth when the Law is read. Only Christ can take away the covering that keeps them from seeing.

When the Law of Moses is read, they have their minds covered over with a covering that is removed only for those who turn to the Lord.  The Lord and the Spirit are one and the same, and the Lord's Spirit sets us free.

2 Corinthians 3:14-17

The Word of God is like a thunder clap for those whose hearts are not turned toward Jesus Christ!  Thunder makes a lot of noise, but the "meaning" of the thunder is hidden and known only to God and those to whom He reveals it. 

Everyone sees the power of God working in the world, but only those who believe in Jesus know what is really happening!

Should Christians watch and listen to the NEWS?  Oh yes!  Should followers of Jesus despair because of what they see happening in the world?  Oh no!  Almighty God is using everything that happens to craft His purposes in the world.  He uses the good things and He uses the evil to move the world toward the conclusion that He has planned! 

An amazing truth about walking with Jesus is that we can rejoice while the storm rages around us, and while our very lives are threatened by the enemies of God.  We can sleep peacefully like a baby in his mother's arms and know for certain that "all is well!" 

So when you hear the thunder in this world, ask God to let you know what He is saying!  The better you know the Lord the more you will hear His voice and you will hear the thunder less.

"Lord Jesus, I am hearing the thunder today and I don't know what it means.  Please let me understand what You are saying in this world that sounds to so many like noise and thunder!  Praise Your Holy Name!  Amen."

Children’s Toys!

You cannot be the slave of two masters. You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than to the other. You cannot serve God and money.

The Pharisees really loved money. So when they heard what Jesus said, they made fun of him.  But Jesus told them:

You are always making yourselves look good, but God sees what is in your heart. The things that most people think are important are worthless as far as God is concerned.

Luke 16:13-15

The treasures of a little child are carefully stored in a toy box.  You may still have one of those childhood possessions but most of them were probably lost years ago.  If you could collect all of the children's treasures and put them in one big pile, what would they be worth?  Well, as you know in terms of real value they would be worthless!  Dolls and toys and trucks and such are just small imitations of things that are real!

Did you know that all of the treasures of this world are worthless as far as God is concerned?   It only took God six days to create everything that there is.  And since God is indeed ALMIGHTY, He could have created everything in six seconds if He had chosen to do so! 

What do you do with your childhood treasures when you become an adult?  Well, I have never heard of a bride taking her doll on her honeymoon, or her husband bringing along his cap pistol!  Those things may be good memories, but they are not part of the life of an adult.  In the same way the things that are treasured on this earth will give way to the things of real value in Heaven. 

The things we value here on earth are like children's toys.  They may seem so important for now, but when we get to Heaven they may be just good memories.  The best advice is this: As you grow as a Christian, let go of the things of this world and take hold of the things of the next!  I want to show up in Heaven without my "children's toys."

"Lord, help me today to grow more into the man You want me to become.  Show me more of the Heavenly things that are of real value and will last forever!  Praise Your Name. Amen."

Why Not Have a King?

Samuel had two sons. The older one was Joel, and the younger one was Abijah. When Samuel was getting old, he let them be leaders at Beersheba. But they were not like their father. They were dishonest and accepted bribes to give unfair decisions.

One day the nation's leaders came to Samuel at Ramah  and said, “You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons, but they haven't followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader, just like all the other nations. Choose one for us!”

Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king, so he prayed about it.  The Lord answered:

Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king.

I Samuel 8:1-7

When a nation has a king, the honor that is due to God Almighty is frequently given to the king instead!  The reason a republic works so well is not because the people are able to rule themselves, it is rather because without a king they can be ruled by God. When a nation is established on the moral precepts found in the Bible and even declares that it trusts in God by printing that phrase on it's money, and then that nation rejects the rule of God for the rule of a human king, there are serious consequences.

The 200 plus year success of the United States is not because democracy is better than totalitarianism.  And it certainly is not because we are smarter than the rest of the world.  Our success is clearly based on a widespread recognition of the truths of God and our need to be ruled by His moral authority instead of a "king." 

Now, we are letting our "king" decide what is moral and what is not.  We let men, based on nothing more than their own opinions establish the laws of our land, which even they don't feel obliged to keep. 

The truth is that you can have only one KING in your heart.  Either you will serve and trust King Jesus, or you will serve another earthly king.  That kind of fundamental transformation will destroy any nation!

"Lord Jesus, sit on the throne of my heart today.  I choose to have no other King but You in my life.  And may everything I do today bring Glory to Your Name!  Amen."

Eternal Impossibility!

 

When these rulers have become as evil as possible, their power will end, and then a king who is dangerous and cannot be trusted will appear.   He will gain strength, but not on his own, and he will cause terrible destruction. He will wipe out powerful leaders and God's people as well.   His deceitful lies will make him so successful, that he will think he is really great. Suddenly he will kill many people, and he will even attack God, the Supreme Ruler. But God will crush him!

Daniel 8:23-25

As you read these verses you probably began to think about a specific leader of a country.  Since this blog is available wherever you can use the internet around the world I'm sure the description of a leader who lies, is successful and thinks he is really great would fit a number of heads of state.  I won't name any here, for fear that I would leave someone out of the list!

When you hear the lies of a leader and then you see him succeed in spite of his deceit you can easily be tempted to despair.  You may cry out: "Where are You God! Why do we have to suffer because of our leader?"  But instead of giving up, remember the stories of wicked leaders that God used, such as Pharaoh and even Nebuchadnezzar. 

If you have an evil leader, you can know for sure that in the end "God will crush him!"

Remember how Nebuchadnezzar went from the king's palace to wandering the fields like an animal and was indeed "out of his mind."  No one can stand against God and win.  That is an Eternal Impossibility!

"Lord Jesus, You are the only Perfect leader.  You are the One who will rule forever and ever!  Help me today to be at peace no matter what the wicked leaders of this world may do!  Praise Your Holy Name. Amen."

The Whole Truth!

 

 

You people may be strong

and brag about your sins,

but God can be trusted

day after day.

 

You plan brutal crimes,

and your lying words cut

like a sharp razor.

 

You would rather do evil

than good, and tell lies

than speak the truth.

 

You love to say cruel things,

and your words are a trap.

 

God will destroy you forever!

He will grab you and drag you

from your homes.

You will be uprooted

and left to die.

Psalm 52:1-5

Politicians in the United States have earned the reputation of being "serial liars."  It seems that many of them would rather tell a lie than tell the truth!  Are our leaders the only ones guilty of living in lies or is that problem widespread throughout our society? Of course lying is not simply a leadership issue.  Not telling the truth is like a flood covering our land!

The problem is simply this: What to do when you are uncomfortable with the truth.  Do you let the truth change you or do you lie about the truth because the truth would expose your sin?  "Passing the buck" about your own sin is as old as the Garden of Eden.  "It was the woman."   That was the excuse which was  quickly followed by "the snake" (THE DEVIL) made me do it! 

Perhaps the best and most unbelievable self justification of national leaders today is this: "I learned about it from the press, just like everyone else!"  If you believe those kinds of statements then you should be the teacher of the little boy who said his dog ate his homework!

But before we become too arrogant about how our lives certainly don't engage in such "lying" we need to ask ourselves one question.  How often do you speak a truth that makes your life uncomfortable?  Are you willing to proclaim the "truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,"  or do you only speak those words that will not expose your sin? 

"Lord Jesus, I confess to You that like the lying politicians I sometimes try to cover my own sin with a lie.  Give me the courage today to speak the truth regardless of the consequences.  May my sins be covered by Your Blood, Jesus and not by my own lies!  Praise Your Name forever!  Amen."

Watching for the Day!

The angel showed me a river that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life. The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb were seated.  Then it flowed down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river are trees that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, and the leaves are used as medicine to heal the nations.

God's curse will no longer be on the people of that city. He and the Lamb will be seated there on their thrones, and its people will worship God 4 and will see him face to face. God's name will be written on the foreheads of the people.  Never again will night appear, and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light, and they will rule forever.

Revelation 22:1-5

I love to get up before the sun comes up in the morning.  I have been an early riser for most of my life.  There is a special thrill of being there when the first rays of light come over the horizon to announce the coming of a new day!  If I am still asleep when the sun comes comes up I really feel that I have missed the best part of the day.  These early signs of the new day give me hope!

I also like watching for the DAY OF THE LORD!  Yes the return of Jesus Christ will come suddenly, but there will be signs of His coming that, like the early rays of morning announce that the time is near. 

As we look at today what seems to be the early rays of the Second Coming of Jesus the world becomes more troubled as followers of Jesus become excited with anticipation of a NEW DAY!  The certainty that these are the signs of His imminent return will only be confirmed when we hear the sound of the final trumpet and see Jesus descend from Heaven.  But expecting the return of Jesus is the attitude of heart that will keep us strong even in the worst of times!

As you live your life today, watch the horizon for the signs of His return.  Remember that as He promised, He will come and we will go!  Will it be today?  If it is not I will look for it tomorrow!

"Thank You Jesus for the promise of Your return.  And thank You Jesus that it may be yet today that I will see Your face!  May You be praised forever. Amen."

The Coming Storm!

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Then I looked and saw a lone eagle flying across the sky. It was shouting, “Trouble, trouble, trouble to everyone who lives on earth! The other three angels are now going to blow their trumpets.”

Revelation 8:13

When the earth confronts the judgments of Almighty God there will be trouble for everyone!  Those who predict catastrophes from "Global Warming" haven't even begun to imagine how bad it will be for those who stand in rebellion against the Creator of Heaven and Earth when He begins to judge the world.  They speak of "offending Mother Nature" but totally ignore their offenses toward "Father God!"  There is someone in control of all the natural forces on earth and it is not "Mother Nature!"

The Bible clearly predicts that there will be a time when the judgments of God will fall on planet earth.  Is it possible that the gathering storm of trouble that seems to be coming to the earth today is part of God's coming judgment?  If it is, you won't stop it from coming by "fixing" the world's economy or by calming growing military threats from some parts of the world. 

The only way to prepare for God's judgments on this earth is to make sure your heart is turned toward God and call on Jesus to be your Lord!  When you are right with God, then His judgments will not fall on you!  Might you be killed when His judgments fall on the world around you?  Oh, yes!  If you are a follower of Jesus, losing your life here on earth will not harm you.  If you lose your life here on earth you will gain your Eternal Life in Heaven! 

So here is the Word for today!  The Storm is coming!  Get right with God!

"Lord Jesus, thank You for the promise of Your return!  Help me Lord to be ready today for You to come back.  And praise Your Name forever!  Amen.”

Beautiful and Strong!

 

The sun isn’t like the moon, the moon isn’t like the stars, and each star is different.

That’s how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever.   These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong.   As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:41-44

It almost sounds like a commercial on television.  "Your ugly and weak body will become beautiful and strong!"  For so many the goal of life itself is to keep this physical body beautiful and strong and to stay alive here as long as possible.  Losing weight, having better "abs" (abdominal muscles) and looking "good" in a swim suit capture the attention of many people whose financial wealth is enough to keep them from being concerned about how to find the next meal.

We all know that ultimately all body building and beauty techniques for this physical body are doomed to fail!  You may be able to look like you are 40 when you are 60, but you will not look like you are 40 when you are 100!  The physical aging process is a non-stop trip to the grave that may be slowed, but not stopped! 

But your spiritual body that you will be given if you are a follower of Jesus Christ is very different indeed!  It will be beautiful and strong and it will never die!  You will forever be at your "prime of life!"  As the old church song proclaimed so well, you will "never grow old!"

So if you want the "perfect body," here on earth, you might as well quit searching for it.  The perfect body cannot be found here on earth and if you did find it, the next day it would start going away!  But when you get to Heaven your spiritual body will be beautiful and strong and to make things even better, it will not hurt or even catch a cold! 

And here is the best part.  The perfect, beautiful and strong body that you will have in Heaven is free if you follow Jesus!  Give Jesus your life and body here on this earth and He will give you a life and body in Heaven!  It is an amazing trade and one that you will never regret throughout Eternity!

"Lord, I give you my whole self again today!  Use me as You will!  And praise Your Holy Name forever! Amen."

A Good Fear of Falling!

 

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!  No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

I Corinthians 10:12-13

All men are tempted to do something wrong!  It is a part of what living on this earth as a human being is all about.  There are some who think that after you become a follower of Jesus all temptation goes away.  That is certainly not true.  Jesus Himself was tempted after He had been in the desert. 

When we are tempted God provides a "way of escape."  That means He shows us how to overcome each temptation and not sin!  There is no temptation that comes your way that is too great for you to resist! 

The best way to respond to temptation is to quickly and without even thinking about it say "GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN!"  Once you start pondering the temptation and debating whether or not it would really be that bad to give in to it, "just a little," you are in deep trouble!  Quote scripture when you are tempted.  That's what Jesus did! 

I don't like standing on the edge of a deep canyon, even if there is a good guard rail.  I really don't have a fear of heights, but I do have a fear of falling.  My "fear of falling" keeps me away from situations where falling would even be a possibility. 

When you are tempted it is a good thing to have a "fear of falling!"  Falling into sin makes life very difficult for everyone who does it.  If you do not take advantage of the "way of escape" God provides when you are tempted then you must suffer the consequences of the fall!  Thank God, even then He rescues us from our foolishness and provides a way back.  But how much better it is not to fall off the cliff in the first place!

Because of the Grace of God we often take temptation too lightly!  Yes He will forgive you and restore you if you turn back to Him, but the healing process may be slow and painful!  When temptation comes today take the "Way of Escape" and thank the Lord for it!

"Lord Jesus, help me today to stay far away from the edge of sin.  Show me how to escape every  temptation that comes my way, that You may be glorified!  Praise Your Name forever. Amen."

Blinded by the Light!

One day about noon I was getting close to Damascus, when a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice asking, “Saul, Saul, why are you so cruel to me?”

“Who are you?” I answered.

The Lord replied, “I am Jesus from Nazareth! I am the one you are so cruel to.” Those who were traveling with me saw the light, but did not hear the voice.

I asked, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

Then he told me, “Get up and go to Damascus. When you get there, you will be told what to do.”  The light had been so bright that I couldn't see. And the others had to lead me by the hand to Damascus.

Acts 22:6-11

When Saul, who would later be known as Paul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus, the light was so bright that he became blind.  Later Ananias came to Saul and baptized him.  Saul could see again, but it was not the same. 

Before he saw Jesus on the road, Christians were his enemies, now they were his brothers and sisters.  Before he saw Jesus his zeal for God pushed him to kill Christians.  Now he would spend the rest of his life encouraging all men to follow Christ.

If you are not a follower of Jesus, you need to know that when you give your heart to Jesus the way you see the world around you will change.  Some things that you see now, you will see no more.  And many things that you cannot see now, you will see clearly.

If you are a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of Christ has blinded you to many things in this world.  Even as a little child looks around and does not see the evil in the hearts of men, the Light of Jesus has dimmed your view of sin.  You see what men can become with Jesus rather than what they are without Him! 

"Lord Jesus shine in my eyes with Your blinding light and then let me see the world as You see it!  And may we all fall down at Your feet!  Praise Your Name forever.  Amen."

Never Separated from the Love of God!

 

In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us.   I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future,  and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Romans 8:37-39

When you are separated from the one you love, life is indeed hard.  Perhaps the most difficult part about war for those who go to the battlefield is being separated from their loved ones. Going through any traumas without the one you love close at hand is more disturbing than with a loved one at your side.  Anytime life circumstances demand that a married couple not be together for a time there are special strains that come to that relationship.

Jesus promised that He would be with us Always!  That means there is never a time when we will be separated from the Love of God through Jesus Christ!  It doesn't matter how rough life's circumstances become you can know for certain that Jesus is there by your side.

If you were to ask a follower of Jesus to identify the time in life when he or she felt the presence of God and His love more than any other time, the answer would probably be a time of great trouble.  I know for me it was after our 16 year old daughter was killed in an automobile accident.  The experience was horrible, but the comfort that came from the Lord at that time was greater than the trauma! 

Do Christians go to war?  Oh yes, all followers of Jesus are soldiers in the biggest war of all.  That is the war between the forces of Hell and Righteousness! But you can be sure that you are not separated from the Love of God in that battle.  Come what may the Love of God is right there with you!

"Lord Jesus, thank You again that I never have been, am not now, nor ever will be separated from the Love of God!  And may You be praised forever. Amen."

Supercharged by the Holy Spirit!

 

In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.

Romans 8:26

Are you a "List Person?"  Some folks have "To Do Lists,"  "Address Lists," and of course "Prayer Lists!"  I am not good with lists.  This may shock you, but I don't think I have ever had an "official" prayer list.  Yes I do pray and I pray every day, but I don't usually pray from a list.  So I take great comfort in this verse (Romans 8:26) because when I don't know what to pray for the Spirit prays "in ways that cannot be put into words. 

So when I say to God, "I really don't know what to ask You about __________!  The Spirit steps in and approaches the Father with the perfect request!  What an amazing and comforting truth!  So I can go to God and pray for situations about which I am totally ignorant and still pray with the Power of the Holy Spirit! 

When someone asks you "How is your prayer life?" the answer should be simple.  My prayer life is "Supercharged by the Holy Spirit!"  When I am weak, He is strong!  When I am ignorant, He knows everything! 

Perhaps that is why the prayer of a child can be so powerful!  A little child with innocence and ignorance asks God to bless someone.  Then the Holy Spirit steps in and goes to God about all the appropriate blessings that are needed.

As you pray today, don't hesitate to pray for someone because you are not informed about what is needed in their life.  Pray even for those with unknown needs because the Holy Spirit will step in and complete your request!

"Lord Jesus, I praise Your Holy Name!  You are worthy beyond all imagination.  Help me today to see how the Holy Spirit supercharges my prayers!  Amen."

His Hands on My Heart!

 

Some people brought their children to Jesus, so he could place his hands on them and pray for them. His disciples told the people to stop bothering him.  But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and don't try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom.”  After Jesus had placed his hands on the children, he left.

Matthew 19:13-15

The best thing parents can do for their children is to bring them to Jesus and let Him put His hands on them! 

Good parents want to give good gifts to their children.  It is wonderful when parents can give their children a stable home in which to live, a good education, and instruction on how to live as a productive member of society.  But the greatest gift of all and the one that makes all the difference is JESUS! 

If you can give your children nothing else, give them Jesus.  Let them see you relate to, commune with, and depend on Jesus for everything in your life.  Make sure that Jesus is not an imaginary person in your home, but rather the center of all that is going on. 

Of course, giving your children other blessings is good, but if you have given Jesus to your children and He has put His hands on them, then you have succeeded as a parent!

In the End, and there will be an End, nothing else matters!  What is the advantage if you are the richest person in the world and still you spend Eternity separated from God? 

Pray for your children or children yet to be born, and for those of us who are older, grandchildren that Jesus will put His hands on them and never let go.  Pray that the Love of Christ will engulf them and control every moment of every day that they live on  this earth!  When Jesus controls the heart of a child, the body grows older, but the heart remains like a child forever!

"Lord Jesus, give me once again the heart of a child. And Lord, put Your hands on my life.  Amen."