November 2, 2024

I’m getting a late start today because Rudy, my sweet little dog, kept me up with a stomach ache most of the night. Since he sleeps with us, he woke me up when he started moving around. This late-night trial was timed perfectly since I decided to cover the Book of James. Even though it is a minor trial, it serves as an example for the following verses:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

I can count this as a trial because it caused me to sleep later than usual, which threw off my rhythm for the time I spent alone with God praying, studying, and preparing my daily posts. God used my overnight trial to teach me patience with my dog and perseverance for still doing what He called me to do even though I had to do it a little sleepy. This was only a minor inconvenience; nevertheless, it became an excellent example of persistence while depending on God to assist in our calling in our times of weakness. Yes, there was the temptation to skip it and stay in bed, but I overcame it because God’s rewards for following His commands outweighed my need to cater to my physical well-being. Hang in there when the world gets tough because God sees how you handle its inconveniences.

November 1, 2024

There is something sweet about meeting other believers in Christ; I can describe it as love for strangers you didn't know you had. I am somewhat reserved; one evening at a local concert, I met a woman and her husband, who were also Christ-followers. She went over the top in excitement upon meeting me as another Christian. It was such a joyful meeting; though we were strangers, there was an immediate bond as sisters in Christ. As the body of Christ, we meld together when we meet. It's like our mouth realizing that the hand feeds it; we need one another, and there is joy associated with knowing the other parts of the body. 

I've had two encounters with angels I know of, and those meetings were a little different than meeting a Christ-follower; they were messengers during a great time of need. I thought, "Who was that, and what just happened?" There is a different spiritual feeling involved. That's why the Hebrew writer clarifies that we should love everyone; you never know who you will meet.

Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:1-2

October 31, 2024

There couldn’t be a better time to cover the encouraging chapter of Hebrews 12. God knew we would face many trials and tribulations, so He gave us scripture to refer to that helps us endure and persevere. We may not have yet had to endure the shedding of blood; nevertheless, what we are experiencing from the wicked tends to throw us off our game. Jesus understands us more than we realize because he suffered for our sake and endured under the pressure of evil. That doesn’t mean we won’t have to suffer the loss of blood, but he will give us the ability to handle it if such suffering becomes necessary. I pray that we are protected from such a trial. Scripture tells us to lay aside every weight that hinders us from running the race, which includes our concerns for our flesh, which inhibits us from growing closer to God spiritually. Our flesh is what feels natural, but the truth is our spiritual nature is more real than our bodies, which only hold us back from reaching our full potential in Jesus. For this reason, Jesus said we should deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow him. Keep working on growing closer to Jesus; that closeness is the treasure we should store and is all we will have left when our body gives way.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:4

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Luke 9:23-24

October 30, 2024

Living in this time in history takes a lot of faith to believe that God is in control, that everything will pan out, and that His plan will prevail. The writer of Hebrews covers some of the people he considered key players whose faith didn’t fail, and they believed in God for the outcome of their situation. These people were like us because they were ordinary people whom God used as examples to help us consider strengthening our faith in Him. We can all write stories of where our faith prevailed and are still writing it because it takes faith to believe the Holy Spirit is with us and to maintain our belief that Jesus is who he says he is. We’ve seen the works of His hands in our lives as a testament to that faith. I find it comforting that God rewards those who seek Him because it’s easy to stay in communication with Him throughout our day simply by praying and having the faith to believe that He hears you. Hold on to what you have; it seems we are nearing the end.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

October 29, 2024

The law of Moses was a shadow, and that shadow was of Jesus. Do we follow the shadow or the being casting the shadow? Jesus fulfilled the law, and we have a better picture of what God meant by that law because we have the light itself rather than a blurry gray area blocking the light. When you have faith in Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, you receive a download and are compelled to do the right thing because God’s laws are then written on your heart. Mind you, it helps to study God’s Word, but the Spirit will show you the right thing to do because of his infilling. Because Jesus was the perfect offering, there are no more pleasing sacrifices to God; it’s Jesus or nothing.

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:16-17

October 28, 2024

Our family has gone through a couple of years of probate, dealing with the estate of Richard’s dad. It took so long because he didn’t set up a trust or a will, which would have helped the process. I always thought he didn’t take the time to set it up because he felt he wasn’t going to die, but it may have been that it was overwhelming, so he left it all for Richard to sort out, and it’s been a nightmare. There was debt that had to be paid so that the disposition of the estate could be completed. Nevertheless, a person must die for a will or trust to go into effect. I’m sure I may be oversimplifying it, but for the New Testament or covenant to begin, Jesus had to die.

Another point that helps us understand is that when a will or testament is written, if changes are made, or the will is re-written, the new will takes the place of the old and the old one is no longer valid. The same can be said about the New Testament replacing the Old Testament. There is much to learn from the Old Testament, but when it comes to our inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, the New Testament will take precedence. Unlike Richard’s dad, Jesus settled his estate before he died on the cross. The blood he shed paid our debt, so we wouldn’t have to be responsible for it. We should be grateful that Jesus settled his estate before he passed; it’s a bigger deal than you might think.

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Hebrews 9:16-17 

October 27, 2024

Are you dealing with the regret of past sins? I have good news: if you are beating yourself up or suffering remorse. Because of your salvation in Jesus, God doesn’t remember your sins! It is time for you to let them go and heal. If our All Mighty God has put your iniquities behind Him and out of his mind, why should we continue fretting over them? How do you do that? It’s a matter of praying and asking God to help you forgive yourself. The best way to live without regret is to use your experience to help others. Your testimony of God’s forgiveness and Him no longer holding your faults against you is the best way to bring others to Jesus and to help you heal. I am so thankful we are not under the old covenant, the law of Moses, and held responsible for our inability to keep every detail of it. Our new covenant is wonderful and full of God’s grace and mercy. We are so fortunate to have Jesus.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 8:12