Category: Bible thoughts

Food, Glorious Food!

“The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” – Matthew 4:4 (http://bible.com/116/mat.4.4.NLT)

Can you imagine not eating for 40 days? No food, no snacks. I don’t know about you, but most days I have trouble going 6 hours without at least a snack, let alone 24 hours, or a week. 40 days. That’s what Jesus did, and He did it with intention. The scriptures tell us that He did this before He began His ministry, but also this: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.” – Matthew 4:1 (http://bible.com/116/mat.4.1.NLT)

He went out specifically to be tempted, and Satan did his best to cause Jesus to give in. He tempted Jesus with hot bread after all those days without food. For me, the smell of bread, fresh out of the oven, is incredibly tempting. Even if I have just eaten, a hot roll or slice of hot bread is hard to resist. Just smelling it makes my stomach rumble in anticipation! When the hot bread didn’t work, Satan went on to another temptation, the ability to fly, really, because he knew – and Jesus knew – that His angels would prevent Him from hitting the ground. I’ve dreamed of flying across the country, and it would be another great temptation for me to submit to. Finally, Satan shows Jesus the world.

“Next the devil took Him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to You,” he said, “if You will kneel down and worship me.” – Matthew 4:8‭-‬9 (http://bible.com/116/mat.4.8-9.NLT)

Imagine! You are offered the chance to rule the entire earth; could you resist? Really? We know that God created the earth, and that ultimately He will rebuild and reshape it into the perfection it was in the beginning. For now, though, and since Adam and Eve, God the Almighty has allowed Satan to rule because of their choices. So Jesus was offered the world…. He knew that Satan was and is the ultimate liar. Even so, it had to be tempting to take back the world in that instant. Jesus, through all of His temptations, gives us the words to get past the temptations we face daily.

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your GOD and serve only Him.’ ” – Matthew 4:10 (http://bible.com/116/mat.4.10.NLT)

Are you faced with a specific temptation today? I encourage you to pray about it, and to let the enemy know you recognize his tricks. Saying the words out loud can be a powerful tool. Satan and his minions can’t see into our heads or know our thoughts, but they have had years, centuries, to learn faces and behavior patterns. Be vocal against the enemy! Call him out, and let Jesus in so that He can stand with you against Satan.

Infinitely, Awesome, Epic …. etcetera

I get so tired of hearing these words. They have lost their true meanings by being trivialized in our every day conversation.

“Don’t say infinitely when you mean very; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.” – #CSLewis

“Oh, that’s infinitely better. What an awesome job. Wow, that’s epic, dude.”

How about this: “The heavens are infinitely bigger than we can imagine. We serve an awesome God, Who in His infinite wisdom has chosen humanity to serve and to be served by Him. The new Heaven and the new Earth will be epic for followers of Jesus. God created the Grand Canyon and the Himalayas with such epic proportions that they leave us breathless and on awe.”

Starting to understand? These 3 words convey so much when used properly. Sometimes, a simple gasp at the sight of the incredible and unmatchable scenery God created for us to view and experience is somehow more appropriate than words. This song tells it so well:

How Great Thou Are

Oh LORD my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art

Our LORD is Infinite, He is Epic, and He is Awesome. I am so glad to be His child! Can I get an Amen today?

Oh, Proverbs – How We Need to Heed Your Teachings!

“Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.” – Proverbs 4:5‭-‬7 (http://bible.com/116/pro.4.5-7.NLT)

Looking back over my life, it’s very easy to see that I turned my back on wisdom, and pushed her out of my mind and my life when I was in my second year of college. Keeping in mind that I went to a small, conservative, Christian Midwestern college…. No place is safe from the enemy. The first year wasn’t too bad. I had my sister and a good friend from our church to sort of mentor me and help me to stay in my faith. I also was introduced to alcohol and smoking by my dorm-mates, and I experienced snubbing and ridicule from my first roommates. Instead of the Christ-followers I expected, I got professing Christians who took every opportunity to cut me down verbally. It was not a fun first semester in that room, and it seriously impaired the way I began to look at life. Somewhere along the way, I quit reading my Bible, and eventually quit going to church.

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” – James 1:22‭-‬25 (http://bible.com/116/jas.1.22-25.NLT)

James points out quite clearly what happens when we walk away from God’s Word. We forget what it says, and it becomes easy for us to follow the wrong paths in life. Anyone else get this? If not, take a moment to look around you. The arrays on our leaders, both verbal and physical. The mockery and cruelty and disrespect that comprises so much of our “entertainment.” Television shows promoting mob justice, commercials showing complete disrespect for parents. It’s wrong to bully, but it’s okay to make fun of your parents? What???

I guess all of these First Amendment supporters think this is all just part of our rights, but I’m pretty sure that being disrespectful wasn’t what the founding fathers had in mind. I’m POSITIVE they would agree that a lawsuit over a display of raw cotton in a vase is completely ridiculous. I think that they would agree that refusing to be respectful of our flag and our service people is a not a “right”. It’s very simple, folks. If you are so upset by being an American, go live in another country. Please. Just go.

We, the Patriots and Christians, need to be on our knees with this prayer as the LORD said to King Solomon:

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14 (http://bible.com/116/2ch.7.14.NLT)

AMEN.

Coincidence, or God?

3 years ago today, I posted the following on my Facebook page. 3 days ago, I used that same verse – I had no idea it was going to pop-up in my memories today!

“Psalms 27:14 says to “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”

What a beautiful, and difficult, verse! We want what we want, NOW. No pain, no sorrow, no hardships.

I want my mom’s eyes to be fixed. I want my friend to not have anymore back pain. I want another friend to be well, and her daughter to be delivered from the prison of debilitating physical pain and emotional bondage. I want my nieces delivered from the physical illnesses they battle. For my friends and family to be whole and well.

God often has other plans; plans that are beautiful…. If we just let Him be in control. “Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” Amen!”

My mom’s eyes are much better; my friend had surgery and has no more back pain. My nieces are much healthier. God is still in control! We have new issues to deal with; financially and physically, but we know that no matter what we are dealing with, God is with us.

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.” – Isaiah 40:28 (http://bible.com/116/isa.40.28.NLT)

That’s the promise He gives us!

I Have Sinned

“Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord .” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” – 2 Samuel 12:13

If God forgives a man who was an adulterer and a murderer, and elevates him to king – why do you think God won’t forgive you?

“… EVERYONE who believes may have eternal life in Him.
For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s One and only Son.”
John 3:15-18

I think that says it all.

I NEED You, LORD

There’s a hymn we used to sing in church, “I Need Thee Every Hour.” It was written by Annie S. Hawks in 1872, a song that we could all relate to if we just admit our losses and failures. See if you agree.

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;

Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

Oh, yes, I need Him to make sense of the chaos and difficulties, the stumbles and falters, the failures I experience. I was in many ways more fortunate than most. I had an earthly Father who believed and practiced following Christ to the best of his ability, and a mother who made sure we were fed and dressed and well-mannered. We attended church services every Sunday and Wednesday; our churches hosted guest speakers, often in week-long revivals, so we were exposed to Christians from around the world. I learned very early that I needed Jesus, and accepted Him as my Savior very early in my life. Even as I became an adult and made the choice to step into the temptations of the world, I knew in my heart Who was LORD. I have been reminded over and over in the consequences of my choices that God is Supreme. He pulled me out of the depths of sin and depravity more than once. For a season, I would acknowledge His Lordship, and then I would turn my back on my Savior and go my merry way.

It amazes me that He never gave up on me. I’m not proud of my choices, even knowing that the greatest men of the Bible succumbed to temptation as great as mine. It amazes me that God chooses to use the bruised and the broken to follow Him. I think that’s why these words of Annie Hawks resonate in my soul. These words, along with the hymn ” Just As I Am” touch me so deeply. God doesn’t care about our past, or our color, or our financial state, or our physical condition. He cares about ONE thing; He cares about our souls, our heart condition. That’s why, in the Old Testament, the priests made blood sacrifices; to cover the sins of His chosen people. That’s why He sent His Son Jesus, to make the ultimate sacrifice and to cover ALL of our sins, past, present, and future, when we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. It’s why Jesus sacrificed Himself. For YOU. For ME. If you were the only person who ever lived, Jesus would have done whatever He did, just for you.

Mind-boggling; simple, but hard.

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the Everlasting GOD, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding.” – Isaiah 40:28 (http://bible.com/116/isa.40.28.NLT)

HALLELUJAH!

Wait

Once again, God nails it; He sends me exactly what I need.

“Wait for the LORD.” (Best advice EVER!) –

I don’t like waiting. I’m not very patient. We live in a world of instant gratification. We want what we want, and we want it NOW. Young adults want the big fancy house or apartment, with granite counter tops and all of the amenities. Children want their own phones and computers and televisions and electronics. When they are able to drive, they want their own car; a HOT car, not the parent’s car.

Adults aren’t setting any kind of example, either. A new car every few years (guilty!); credit cards that enable us to live beyond our means; divorces because we are no longer “in love” with our spouse – adultery is rampant, pornography is the norm. Look at the TV shows and movies that are popular. Disrepecting our parents and others is “cool.” We worry and fret over situations and circumstances that we have zero control over.

I am blessed to have my home and friends and family. Yet I find myself lacking contentment at times. There’s so much more I would like to do. Even after a lifetime of knowing that waiting on God is the best way, I still want what I want, now.

“Wait for the LORD….”

John puts it beautifully:

“In the beginning the WORD already existed. The WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD.

He existed in the beginning with GOD.

GOD created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him.

The WORD gave Life to everything that was created, and His Life brought Light to everyone.

The LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness can NEVER extinguish it.”

– John 1:1‭-‬5 (http://bible.com/116/jhn.1.1-5.NLT)

Does it get any clearer than this? Let’s try one more from Luke, the physician who followed Jesus and researched the story of His birth in order to give us a factual, historic accounting.

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the LORD appeared among them, and the radiance of the LORD’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

The SAVIOR – yes, the MESSIAH, the LORD – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

And you will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

– Luke 2:8‭-‬12 (http://bible.com/116/luk.2.8-12.NLT)

Isn’t this the most insane, most beautiful thing you’ve ever read? Can you even begin time imagine what John and Luke are describing for us? When we take the time to wait for God’s impeccable timing, fabulous things happen. Mary relied on the LORD, when she was a young, pregnant, unwed girl…. because she recognized that God, the Almighty LORD, had given her the most precious gift. Joseph waited on the LORD, and took this girl and the baby she was carrying, and was rewarded by being the stepfather of the Son of GOD! The Bible is full of examples of people – ordinary, sinful, broken people – who waited upon the LORD and we’re rewarded. Joseph who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers; Abraham and Sarah, too old to bear children and yet they had a son; Rahab the prostitute; Noah and his family; king David and his son Solomon….. the list is too long to put it all here. Wait for the LORD..

“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” – Psalms 27:14 (http://bible.com/116/psa.27.14.NLT)

Probably Going to Upset Someone…

Over the centuries, these verses have caused consternation and controversy among followers of Christ. It is not my intention to upset or offend; however, I am compelled to present my thoughts.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:1‭-‬2 NLT (http://bible.com/116/rom.12.1-2.NLT)

Many took these words to mean that they should separate themselves from the world, and live as hermits. Others joined like minded individuals and founded monasteries, where they could live in seclusion from the world, to study God’s Word. Like everything human, these became flawed institutions where men and women took the LORD’S instructions and perverted them. Please don’t misunderstand. Not every person became an extremist. That is, unfortunately, one of the flaws we carry in our humanity; the ability to take something good and holy and twist it. We ALL do it to some extent. There are many good and decent men and women who have taken the vows to become monks and nuns; many more who are truly committed to following the Lord than those who twist their vows into something ugly. Take for example the practice of self-flagelation. How, in the Name of all that is Holy, can harming ourselves be conceived as something our God would condone, or encourage? I think not. Paul addresses this in his letter to the Corinthians:

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19‭-‬20 NLT (http://bible.com/116/1co.6.19-20.NLT)

Whether harming ourselves through self-flagelation, physically or mentally or emotionally, or doing it to someone else, it’s wrong. Just consequences for wrongdoing are necessary because of our sinful nature’s, and they (hopefully) help us learn right and wrong. Setting one’s self apart from the world for a time of mediation and study can be enlightening and help us find peace with inner turmoil. The key is to use the time wisely, and then to rejoin the world to be an example for Christ. If you go back to Romans 12:1-2, it is clear that we are to be a light in the world. We should be different from the world, discerning in our dress and attitude. Our minds and our bodies belong to God, and when we surrender our lives to Jesus, our souls then belong to Him as well.

“We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.” – 2 Corinthians 1:12 NLT (http://bible.com/116/2co.1.12.NLT)

“In Christ Alone” just came on K-LOVE radio, one of my favorite new hymns, recorded by Kristian Stanfill. We are God’s children through His Son Jesus, and it is through Him that we are able to live apart from the world while at the same time we live in the world. I believe that this is what Paul meant when he said not to copy “the behavior and customs of this world,” and not to seclude or exclude ourselves from it physically.

Again, just my thoughts.

Help!

Paul wrote this reminder: “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “ – Acts of the Apostles 20:35 (http://bible.com/116/act.20.35.NLT)

How to decide where to help and what to give and what to do…. That is the question. A wise man told us, as Americans, the ‘what.’ John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address inspired children and adults to see the importance of civic action and public service. His historic words, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” challenged every American to contribute in some way to the public good. (https://www.jfklibrary.org)

Easier said, than done. There is so much to assist with today, between the record breaking hurricanes, flooding, draughts, tornados, earthquakes, and massive wildfires. I think every American has been affected in one way or another by all of these catastrophic events. Rising gas and material prices, possible food shortages; even if you have escaped these consequences (so far), most of us know people through friends or family, who are in one or more of the affected areas. I have people on both coasts and in Texas who are being devastated., and it’s difficult not to just load up the truck and take off. However, like thousands of others, I have neither the financial or physical means to do so. What does that leave us to do? The absolute, most powerful tool we have is prayer. Wonderful, glorious, time with our Father. First, we need to praise Him for His goodness, then we can ask the Holy Spirit to intercede and to comfort and protect our people.

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14 (http://bible.com/116/2ch.7.14.NLT)

Jesus also taught us:

“Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation. ” ” – Luke 11:2‭, ‬4 (http://bible.com/116/luk.11.2-4.NLT)

How do we help? We pray.