Month: November 2020

Patriots and Christians

As Christians, and as Americans, we have been through many trials over this past year. If President Trump isn’t confirmed as president for the next term, we will be facing even more trials. Here’s the question from my devotional this morning that really stood out to me.

“Can [GOD] trust that when your life doesn’t go as planned you’re still going to honor Him and trust Him and live for Him? Don’t make the mistake of thinking your trials are wasted seasons. When you’re living a life to honor God, nothing is wasted. Every trial you go through has significance when the Savior is involved.”

My life hasn’t gone as I had it planned for years. I haven’t honored Him, or trusted Him as I know I should. It’s time I trust in the LORD. If we stand our ground, and defend our rights that are being trampled left and right, we will face even greater trials over the next 4 years. In WWII there was a saying “Praise the LORD and pass the ammunition.”

It may come to that again in order to preserve our freedom to worship as we believe. Are you ready?

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope…..” Romans 5:3‭-‬4 NASB1995

Thank God!

A Psalm of David:

“I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to You before the gods. I will bow down toward Your holy temple. And give thanks to Your name for Your Lovingkindness and Your Truth; For You have magnified Your Word according to all Your Name. On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.”

“All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD. When they have heard the words of Your Mouth. And they will sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the Glory of the LORD. For though the LORD is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your Hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your Right Hand will save me. The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your Lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your Hands.” Psalms 138:1‭-‬8 NASB1995

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. Everything is a gift. Be thankful for His Mercy, Pardon, Patience, Lovingkindness, Truth. “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,….” Psalms 92:1‭-‬2 NIV

Pray. God delivers His promises in fulfillment of His Word. Don’t forget to say Thank You, Jesus! “….. to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,….” Ephesians 3:19‭-‬20 NIV

Remember God’s Pre-eminence. Eventually, EVERYONE will give thanks and praise the LORD. ALL of Creation will praise Him. He is our protection. Be thankful for all the troubles that have MISSED us. God’s Grace and Mercy will sustain us. He gives us Purpose. He will complete and accomplish His plans for me. God made me and He has a purpose for me!

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.” Psalms 139:13‭-‬14 NASB1995

“….. being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 NIV

Thank God for His fulfillment!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21 NIV

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours!

What does LOVE Require of Me?

“Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family.” Proverbs 6:16‭-‬19 MSG

Haughty eyes,

A lying tongue,

And hands that shed innocent blood, 

A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that run rapidly to evil, 

A false witness who utters lies,

And one who spreads strife among brothers. (NASB1995)

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NASB1995

Jesus’s new, all-encompassing, inescapably simple command is this: We are to do unto others as our heavenly Father, through Christ, has done unto us. When we submit ourselves to God, when we open our eyes and our hearts to Him, the enemy can’t stay. When we fill our hearts with the Love of Jesus, there isn’t room for hate. All those things that God hates are overcome by His Love; real love. It’s not emotional or sexual, it’s knowledge and choice.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 NASB1995

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 1 Corinthians 13:8 NASB1995

There’s a whole lot of hate being spewed by a lot of people in our country. My country. I don’t like how this presidential election is being handled. Politicians and “celebrities” are publicly lying and hating on the American people. My job, commanded to me by God, is to love these people, and to pray for these people. If the media is correct in calling the election (and I’m not at all convinced that they are correct), the we, the people of these United States, are in deep trouble. All of the things that God hates are embodied in the Democratic party’s candidates….. and yet, as Christians, we are to love them and pray for them.

God help us.