Saturday, June 20, 2020

June 20

Are you struggling? It’s easy when it seems the world has gone mad. Making decisions about your own life and what’s best for you, can be a challenge, especially when there are conflicting ideas from the so called “experts.” How do you know what to do? Do I  listen and fear, or do I dismiss, and subject myself to possible contamination? Do I wear a mask? Do I take the vaccine when it’s available? These are questions we will encounter in today’s society. On one hand, you could come down with the coronavirus, on the other hand, you could subject yourself to further illnesses from a contaminated mask, or from a vaccine that hasn’t been thoroughly tested or know what the potential effects will be in the future. If you haven’t started focusing on, or began listening to the Holy Spirit, now is the time to begin. He is a still, small voice that doesn’t come from fear, or any outside influences, he is the voice of God, guiding you in the right direction. We need to listen to him now more than ever; we can’t depend on our government to guide us in the right direction. We also cannot become a slave to fear. The enemy has sown the seeds of discord, and wants nothing more than for us to fall for his ploy; resist him, and he will flee. Pray, and listen, then pray, and listen again; God will make his voice known to you.


There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19

Friday, June 19, 2020

June 19

When we bought new furniture for our vacation home, we decided to go with something light in color. I found the most comfortable, and cozy chenille fabric, that feels like a soft blanket. I’ve never been overly concerned with spills, so when my grandbaby threw-up on it, I just ran and got a rag to clean it, and it wiped right up. Then this morning, I dripped coffee on it, and was sure I had stained it, but it also wiped right up, leaving it clean and pristine. Our goal is to never spill anything on it, but occasionally, mistakes happen, that could cause us to fret over the outcome, but it seems as if this couch might be stain resistant. As a Christ follower, we are spotless, and sparkling clean, but occasionally, mistakes happen, even though we try hard to avoid them. Wipe up the stain with a clean rag by repenting, and it will come right up, leaving us pristine again. We live in a tough world, full of sin, and temptation, and Jesus knows it all too well. He faced temptation too, but resisted. We have his perfection dwelling within, so we are stain resistant because of him. Live your life by listening carefully to the Holy Spirit, and take his way of escape out of sin, but don’t fret if you make a mistake, we are covered by his blood, which makes us white as snow.


"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 

Thursday, June 18, 2020

June 18

Ethan was a Levite, and served in the house of the Lord. He served beside Herman, the son of Samuel; they worked in the service of song. He was a singer and songwriter and may have helped pen Psalms 88 and 89. I have some of the brightest grandsons, but today, I am going to brag on my newest, Ethan, who is only three months old. What can a child do at three months, he is still a bed baby? Ethan is very vocal, he speaks a language that only God and the angels understand. His vocals are not limited to conversation, he sings along with the television, and gets very excited about his music. The name Ethan is described in today's definition as meaning strong, which also suits him, but I prefer the reference to his name in the Bible, as a singer and songwriter. Will our Ethan be a poet, and pen songs for use in the house of the Lord, just as Ethan in the Bible did? It’s too early to tell, but because he has not been tainted by the world yet, it looks like he is well on his way to becoming everything the Lord has planned. Even after being subjected to the world, his trials will give depth to his songs. Let us hope his name is a prophecy from the Lord. When you find the time, look up the meaning of your name, you may find it mentioned in the Bible like Ethan; see if it resembles your personality.


These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there. They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. 1 Chronicles 6:31-32


On the left hand were their brothers, the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 1 Chronicles 6:44

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

June 17

Taking a few days at the beach to let the fumes subside from the refinishing of the floors in my new home, also gives me a break from all the boxes that need to be unpacked. Though I still have that chore hanging over me, being here is a welcomed relief from all the madness of a move. When I return, I will have a fresh new look, and the fun of decorating waiting for me. As most know, you only get out what you put into something; it takes hard work to see a profit. The same holds true for your life as a Christ follower; your salvation doesn’t require you to work to receive it, but once you receive it, you are naturally compelled to work for the cause. Some are meant for large works, an example would be Billy Graham, but others work towards the cause in their daily lives, but you have to have the “want” to accomplish any of it. We are Holy Spirit driven, and we will be prompted to attend a cause when needed. Sometimes a ministry will grow from it, but other times it’s just for the moment. Don’t fret over your purpose; it will grow if need be, but otherwise be ready at a moments notice to share the gospel, whether it’s your testimony, or a passage from the Bible; you will know when it is time.


So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:17-18

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

June 16

To the followers of Christ: I just started Chronicles in the Bible. Here is a short chronicle of my life for the past couple of days. Today is day three in my new home. Day zero, we moved. Day one, I unpacked the kitchen. Day two, a company we hired, sanded and stained the floors; nothing got unpacked, and we inhaled the fumes from the stain all night. They will begin polyurethaning the floors today. Unfortunately, I don’t have any juicy tidbits of information to share with you, unlike the Chronicles in the Bible! Some of the details that are shared in the genealogy of David, are a little unexpected. For instance:


Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters, but Sheshan had an Egyptian slave whose name was Jarha. So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to Jarha his slave, and she bore him Attai. 1 Chronicles 2:34-35


David’s lineage is also Jesus’s lineage. Jesus overcame his earthly heritage; even though he is fully God, he is also fully man. He never mentioned that he was the son of a slave, but there is no doubt that he was, because his lineage doesn’t lie. We must overcome the slavery from our past sin, and the sin and shame of our forefathers, and point our eyes to the future; that’s what Jesus taught us while he ministered on earth. Don’t let your mind get stuck in the past; get beyond it, and become free.

Monday, June 15, 2020

June 15

God hears our thoughts and prayers, even for the simple, materialistic things. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had dogs of all shapes and sizes. Now, I have two small dogs and love them, but get very tired of putting them on a leash to take them out. Now that I’ve moved, I have an enclosed back yard with a fence, and can turn them out to sniff around, and do their business. It may seem silly, but it’s a convenience that I appreciate. The yard needs a little work, but that’s my specialty, and I can’t wait to get my hands dirty. Some people think that we shouldn’t ask too much of God, but the opposite is true. Yes, we should thank him for everything, but we should also make our request known to him. We don’t always get what we want, but every now and then, he will surprise us with a little gift.


 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

Sunday, June 14, 2020

June 14

Yesterday was moving day, and now I have boxes to unpack. I got rid of so much stuff, that I thought moving would be easy, but I was wrong. No move is ever easy, but this one was different. The family that purchased our home was living in a rental we had directly across the street. They decided that they liked our neighborhood, and wanted to stay. I’ll spare you the details, but we sold them the one we were living in, and moved into the rental. It was a matter of swapping belongings. We both had people come to help; it was like a beautifully orchestrated dance, every step well synchronized. We helped one another, by not walking empty handed from one house to another. We were friends before this move, but this brought us closer together; this is just another blessing on our lives, not the sale of the house, but the relationship with other humans. God’s blessings are not materialistic, he is all about the heart, and the treasures we build up in our souls; after all, that’s all we take with us when we move into his house. My advice for today is to relish the relationships you make along this journey we call life. Your move to the Father’s house might not be easy, but make sure the things you carry with you are worth taking.


"And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings." Luke 16:9