Is That Spam?

       My devotions have a different affect upon different mail handlers or Internet Providers.  I have recently had several devotions blocked by the company, "Comcast" and have determined that they are what we call, "Spam."    When you are my age, you remember what "Spam" was in the first place.  It was probably called that name as people wanted to make a connection with ham, but it wasn't of the same ingredient as real ham.   The uniform rectangular shape always gave it away.   So, they came close to the name and called it "Spam."  For many, it was a substitute for ham and not a very good one at that.  It has recently made a comeback and recipes for a dinner featuring Spam abound on the internet.   Psalm 119:9-11 says, " Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.   Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." 
       I get a quote a day from a source that sends out a famous quote Monday through Friday.  Famous authors, or some not so famous, make a statement that is sometimes worth remembering.  If you are famous, then more people want to remember what you said.  Douglas MacArthur made some famous statements that many people associate with his name.  The Word of God has many statements that make worthy quotes, such as, "I will come again."  "I can do all things Through Christ..."   "But my God shall supply all your need according to..."  The list could go on and on as we soon come to the conclusion that every word that God said is important.  Psalm 119 has 176 verses in it and all but five of them speak about God's Word in one way or another with such words as "commandment," "statutes," "testimonies" and so on.  The writer of this Psalm loved God's Word and we should do no less than that.  The world system will continually speak against God's Word.  Even as we say that, we are reminiscent of Second Timothy 3:16.  "All Scripture is inspired by God..."  Praise God today that we have the real and genuine Word of God as our guidance in both spiritual and physical things.  His Word will never fail us.

Family Trees

      I remember several years ago that I got a call from a stranger who had been doing research on my family tree.  They informed me that I could purchase a book with the descendents from the Freeland family and also a coat of arms.  Now, everyone wants to have a "coat of arms."  There also those companies now that will trace your DNA to see what country you are from.  They had also stated . that there was a large group of them down in another state.   Oh, and of course, there was a nominal charge for all of this. information.   Most people are interested in finding their "roots."  Family trees and genealogies are very important these days.  One of my relatives has gone to great lengths to duplicate our family tree on what looks like a large window shade.  Everyone's name is on the shade and you can trace your particular family back for several hundred years.  But, there is another family tree that is much more important.  It is important that you are a son or daughter of someone on earth, but it is more important that you are a member of the family of God.  Romans 8:16-17 says, "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him."   

     We are all born physically into a family.  Most of us can trace our family back to at least a couple of generations.  There was, however, that moment when we became "born again" or "born from above."  At that moment, we also became a part of another family, the family of God.  We are assured by the Holy Spirit that we are a member of that family just as it says in the above verses of Scripture.  We know that we are a part of the family of God just as much as we know that we are a part of a physical family on this earth.  So, rejoice today that you are a part of God's family.  As Romans 8:17 says, you are now one who is a "joint-heir" with Christ.  Wow!  What an inheritance that is going to be.  Praise God today for His goodness in making us a part of His family.  It may be important to some people where they are from, but for me, it is more important to know where you are going.

Warning Signs

       Warning signs are important.  They are especially important in driving a car.   Cars used to come with a series of gauges  that told you the condition of certain items. After a while, they replaced the gauges with lights, sometimes referred to as "idiot lights."  If the light comes on, you are in trouble.  Whatever type you may have, you don't want to disobey the warning signs.  They can be all over the highway warning drivers of various dangers from curves up ahead to construction sites to possible deer crossings.  Then, there are the numerous signs that occur inside of your automobile such as the warning lights that tell you of something that could stop your forward progress.  Signs are not limited to driving but can also be seen in almost every area of life.  We are warned about high voltage, whirling blades, dust particles, microwaves and the list can go on and on.  No matter where you look, there are warning signs.  The Bible also has a set of warning signs built right into the text.  One of them is the sign that reads, "Take Heed."  'we see it mentioned some 55 different times in the whole Bible.  One such warning was given in the following verse.  Hebrews 3:12 says, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."  
      Unbelief is a very serious matter.  If you do not believe what the Scriptures say, then you are in danger of being separated from God for all eternity.  The Scriptures give us a clear instruction on how to obtain eternal life.  All we need to do is follow the instructions.  If, however, we decide to not follow the instructions given, then we must acknowledge the warning signs.  These are marked with the "Take Heed" words.  Some people say that they don't believe the Bible so therefore the signs mean nothing to them.  You can take the same analogy over to traffic.  What if you disregard the warning signs on the highway?  Does that make them untrue?  No, it doesn't.  You will be heading for an accident just because you failed to believe in the message of the warning sign.  The same is true in the spiritual realm.  A person's unbelief in God's signs does not make them untrue.  It just means that they are going to be confronted with the bare facts of the truth some day and that they will be unprepared.  God has warned everyone with the words, "Take Heed."  So, why not do what it says.  A lot can be learned through the Scripture even after salvation.  There are many "Take Heed" signs that apply to believers.  So, why not take a moment and reflect on the times that God has said in His Word, to "take heed."  Praise God today for the clear message from God to us through His Word.

Cold Turkey

       Phrases often come into our lives and we use them without knowing where they came from.  I particularly love a cold turkey sandwich after Thanksgiving.  I put plenty of mayonnaise on it, salt and pepper, a couple slices of lettuce and of course, the cold turkey.  Then, I have found out that the term, "cold turkey" can also mean something quite different than a cold turkey sandwich.  In searching out the meaning of "cold turkey" I found that it was first used in an article in 1910 and one in 1920.  After that point, it became known as a person who was trying to kick a habit such as drugs or even computer applications of the present day.  Expressions are common in our language even in the spiritual realm.  One of our most famous expressions in Christian circles is that of being "born again" or even the word "Christian."  John 3:3 says, "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  
      That was the original usage of the term, "born again."  Charles Colson wrote a book almost 2,000 years later and titled the book, "Born Again."  He used that title to describe what had taken place in his life and it was a true statement.  Now, however, the term "born again" is looked at perhaps a little differently especially by people who have no idea what being born again really is.  Believers know the act to which John was referring as he goes on to explain it in great detail.  The term "Christian" was also a new term that came about due to a group of people who were referred to as people of the "way."  This group of "disciples" was later called "Christian" and it was used first in the city of Antioch.  There was no mistaking what Jesus was telling Nicodemus on that night.  He told him that he had to be born again, that is, of God, from above.  The meaning had been set and now it was going to be used time after time as people actually were born from above.  When the Philippian Jailer came to Paul and Silas with the ultimate question, Paul and Silas gave him the simple answer.  The question, "What must I do to be saved." and Paul answered him, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ..."  The term, "saved" has become a synonym for "born again."  Praise God for giving us His instructions on how to find the way to heaven.

How to be a Fool

       You can be around certain people and come to the conclusion that they are wise.  On the other hand, you can also spot a "fool."  I can recall doing certain things in my life that would condemn me in this area.  I recall having a load of lumber on the handlebars of my bicycle as I looked down "gooseberry" hill.  I figured that I could get down the hill with my load without any problem so pushed off with my left foot, got my feet on the peddles and let the bicycle go down the hill, coasting with no problem.   Then, for some reason, the front wheel began to wobble and the faster I went the more it wobbled.  I was headed for the ditch and couldn't stop.  Wood and rider went over the handle bars.  I had miscalculated something.  I should have stopped at that point, but kept on going.  My goal was to take the wood to a pond where I was going to construct a raft to float out into the water like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn..  Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." 
         This verse among others especially in the Book of Proverbs mentions that a fool is right in their own eyes.  Of all the books of the Bible, the word "fool" can be found over 40 times in the Book of Proverbs.  The definition has to do with being silly and is probably the opposite of being wise.  Webster, a number of years ago came up with this definition.  "In common language, a person who is somewhat deficient in intellect, but not an idiot; or a person who acts absurdly; one who does not exercise his reason; one who pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom."   The person who is a fool does not look at his or her own self as being a fool.  It is just the opposite with them.  They are void of wisdom on the matter and they will continue to act absurdly and not reason out the thing that they are doing.  I would like to say that the action just described was my only act of foolishness but it wasn't.  One can easily come to the conclusion that God certainly had His hand of protection around all that I was doing.  I made incorrect conclusions, performed acts of dangerous proportion and if it were not for God's protection, would have been severely harmed.  In all of this, the writer of the Proverb plainly says, the fool seems perfectly right in his or her own eyes.  Use your senses for God's work and evaluate what you are going to do according the the Word of God.  Evaluate what you are planning to do today and measure it according the the Word of God.  Praise God today for His Wisdom and His leading in your life.

Under The Covers

        Some of you know that we have a new kitten.  Well, she must be a cat by now as just had her first birthday.  She is quite active but also quite skittish.  She like to look out of the front window at all of the activity around the front of the house.  When she sees a car drive up to our driveway and someone get out, she pricks up her ears, looks over her shoulder and takes off for the bedroom.  She is either shy or afraid of other people.  She has found a way to get under the blanket of the bed and stays there and not moving a muscle until the "stranger" leaves our home.  She feels safe when completely covered over and not being able to see anyone.  From my point of view, there is a lump in the bed abut the size of a 5 pound sack of potatoes.  Psalm 91:4 says, "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." 
       There are many times in our lives where we do almost the same thing.  I recall that as a child I would get under the covers during a thunderstorm.  My thinking was, "If you can't see it, it can't hurt you."  Psalm 91 is one of my favorite Psalms because it says that there are times when God "covers us" with His feathers.  The Psalmist gives us the picture of a feathered creature protecting its children by covering them with its feathers.  Now, I don't think that God has feathers but this Psalm describes how He protects us.  In the first couple of verses, He describes the protection as a "fortress."  Both pictures describe God's protection over us.   People may try to intimidate us by their threats but they don't know to whom they are talking because God is with us.  I liked to ride my bicycle while living in Alexandria, Virginia and one day I noticed a very small dog standing at the fence with a bark that sounded 20 times his size.  It was then that I noticed a St. Bernard standing in back of the little dog.  The St. Bernard had the big voice.  Well, God has the big voice and we are under His protection.  So, always remember that you can find protection "under the feathers" of our living and protecting God.  After all, if He is for us, who can be against us?  Praise God for being our protector each and every day.

A Round Tuit

     It seems that with some people, they try to see just how many things they can put off until tomorrow.  You might be one of them.  There is a natural tendency to reschedule, put off, do it later or just plain "procrastinate."   I have a coin collection and one of the items in it is a Round Tuit.  It is about the size of a poker chip and has the word on it, "Tuit."  How many times have we said, "Oh, we will get around to it someday."    So, we now have a "round tuit."  No one has to take a course on how to procrastinate.  It has become just a description of people who don't get anything done and who keep waiting for it to accomplish itself, which it never does.  On the other hand, there are all kinds of devices for sale that will help you get things done.  They might be called "organizers" or "management tools."  Most computers contain several different programs which will help you in your scheduling and planning in order that you accomplish your goals.  The opposite of efficiency seems to find itself as the root of procrastination.  You may not be efficient and you may not progress in your job and your house might be falling down around you.  But, these are things that can be remedied.  There is, however, one area where procrastination will have eternal results.  This is in the area of your eternal salvation.  With some people, they put it off until a more convenient time or when they think they will grow tired of their sin.  Second Corinthians 6:2 says, "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"
          Paul quoted from Isaiah 49:8 and showed that this is not something that should be put off.  Salvation is something that has eternal results and we don't know just how much time we have left in order to make the necessary decision.  Procrastination in life doesn't have eternal results but rather results that can be corrected.  Procrastination in view of eternal things cannot be corrected nor changed once you pass from this life.  You "window of opportunity" exists while you can make an intelligent decision about Christ.  That means that today is the day of salvation.  It is not something that should be put off until tomorrow, or next week, or next year.  So, don't put off trusting Christ for your eternal life.  Don't put off sharing your faith with others as tomorrow might be too late.  You have this moment in this day, so use it for the Lord.  Praise God today for the many moments that He gives to us.  May we use them all wisely.

Is It All There?

        You can purchase a Bible these days in many different types of stores.  I used to work in a Book and Bible store in Northern Virginia while attending college,  Naturally, we sold Bibles. It was our primary item.  We were not, however, the only one selling bibles.  You can even find an inexpensive Bible these days in the "Dollar Tree."    In years past, you could even purchase them in a "dime" store.  One of my friends was a pastor in our area and he related the story that when he got saved, he began to read his Bible.  He had had this particular Bible for years, but had never read it through.  While reading it through, he discovered that over one hundred pages were missing.  Sometimes it happens in publishing that you don't get all that you paid for.  He declared to his people that you need to read the Bible to make sure that you have all of it.  You could have something missing and not know it.  Second Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:   That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 
        Today, I would like to emphasize that one word, "All."  That means just what it says.  All Scripture is profitable and All Scripture is inspired by God.  The Bible does not contain the Word of God.  The Bible IS the Word of God.  We are sure that it gives us the plan of salvation and how we can get from this life to the next life, or from earth to heaven.    The Bible tells us how we are to live in this life and gives us the answers that we need for the questions that  we have.  There has never been a time in my life when I have doubted the Word of God.  Now, it says a lot of things that I can't understand but I know that God's Word is true and that I am just a tad ignorant to say the least.  As the little chorus says, "I stand alone on the Word of God; the B I B L E."   Are you sure that your personable Bible has all of the pages?  Are you positive that there is not a part missing?  I guess the real question is, "Have you read your Bible through and through?  Praise God He gave us His Word.  May we all take time to read it.

Worrywart

          Words certainly mean different things to different people.  It is like the saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure."  In the same sense, one man's concern is another man's calamity.  We all view things differently.  In light of that, many are going through calamities of varying degrees even today.  Another term that is used at times about the emotions of some people is the term, "worrywart."  I could easily fall into the category of a "worrywart."  Now there might be degrees of a worrywart and although I may not be the worst, I am not the least either.   When you are going through a calamity, where do you turn?  The Psalmist has given us some good advice in the following verse.    Psalm 57:1 says,  "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."   
      The picture here is that of the protective bird, such as even a mother hen who protects here chicks under the cover of her wings.  With God, we can find the same type of protection and the same type of refuge.  What is necessary for us is to turn to God when trouble comes.  It does come upon us in varying forms and when it does, we need to remember just where our comfort  and refuge is.  When a storm would come up in the barnyard, the mother hen would just make some frantic clucking noises and the little chicks would come scurrying as fast as they could to crawl under her outstretched wings.  They had to make sure that they had not wandered too far from the mother hen.  They needed to be able to hear the warning and to get to the place of refuge.  The same is true of us.  We always need to be close enough to God that we are able to flee to His presence in the time of trouble.  Sometimes, however, we get to wander too far away. Our attitudes become complacent as things seem to have been going well.  We soon begin to lose contact with God, not because of anything He has done, but because we have wandered away.   So, make sure that you maintain a good line of communication with God through Scripture and prayer.  Remember that He is your place of refuge in a time of trouble.  Praise God today that He takes care of all our "calamities." 

Is Jesus Coming Today?

            In the old days, we were told to tie a string around your finger if you wanted to remember something.  Apparently it was the act of tying the string that would force an act to your mind.  When you would look at the string, you would remember what it was there for.  I never really did that myself.  I was glad however, when "post-it" notes were invented.  Now, I can really say that I use them.  Every now and then I will stick one on my computer with a note to do something that I really don't want to forget.  I use more sticky notes now then in years past.  I guess that is due to the fact that I am getting older.  Pretty soon, there may be sticky notes on top of sticky notes.  There are some things that it is very good to remember and one of them is in the following verse of Scripture.  First Thessalonians 4:16 says, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"   
      Yes, I believe in the rapture.  I know a lot of people don't really believe that the believers will be caught up someday.  I believe it and always have since i first became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is one great passage where Paul speaks about the event.  We probably all know that the word "rapture" doesn't appear in the Bible, but it does in the Latin version.  It was the Latin word for being "caught up."  Along with this verse, I like John 14:1-6, First Corinthians 15 and First John 3:1-3.  Other verses often excite me to remember the event that is coming.  So, it is good to remember that Jesus always keeps His promises which again refers me back to John 14.  I hear people wondering out loud these days, "What is this world coming to."  Well, the answer to that question is that it is coming to the "rapture."   None of us know on this earth when that is going to occur.  There are some who like to come up with their own date, and obviously, it didn't take place when they said it would.  Only the God the Father knows.  World events including national, international, and the condition of society seem to indicate that the time is growing closer.  That statement is, of course, true.  Every day is one more day closer to the time when Christ shall come again..  So, if you are wondering what is taking place in the world today, just turn to God's Word and see His plan.  I believe that what He said about the end days is true.  Praise God for His Word and the Plan that He has for all of us.

Advice on Fishing

        I have done some fishing in my lifetime.  I have read information on fishing, purchased all kinds of "lures" especially red and white ones that float on the top of the water.  I have fished early and fished late and in the end, caught a few.  Andrew, our son, and myself caught over a hundred bass in one year in one pond in Virginia using one bait, a Mann's purple jelly worm.  We were, however, not making a living off of fishing.  We sometimes think that we know everything there is about our profession.  Some people regard themselves as "professionals" that is, they have studied, perhaps got a degree in a certain field, have experience and think they know everything there is to know about what they do to make a living.  Then, God comes along and blows them out of the water.  Such was the case with the Apostle, Peter.  Luke 5:8-9 says, " When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.   For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:"  
       The story before was that they, Peter and his fellow fishermen, had fished all night and caught nothing.  They must have been good at what they did for a living, but they had caught nothing.  Jesus come along and gives them a simple instruction which is almost senseless to the fishermen.  Nevertheless, since it was Jesus making the proposal, they did what Jesus had requested.  Now, there is the key to the story.  Even after doing what they did all night, they were willing to do what Jesus requested.  Their statement at the beginning shows they were reluctant to do it, but because He was the One making the statement, they did it.  That is where we need to make an observation that is applicable to our own lives.  When the LORD makes a request of us, we should do it without hesitation.  It probably will not make sense to us at the time, but it is important for us to be obedient to what He asks us to do.  Jesus is not probably going to tap you on the shoulder to make these request.  He has, however, given us His Word in which we find the instructions for our lives.  We know from Scripture how we should live this life and how we should be sharing our faith with others.  As you go through this day, just remember that God is with you and that you have His guidance in His Book, the Bible.  Praise God today that He is always the Master Fisherman.  Go and be fishers of men yourselves.

You Were On His Mind

         "When E F Hutton speaks, everyone listens."  Maybe you remember that phrase.  I know I heard it on the television for several years and it usually showed a group of people talking and then all of a sudden, someone spoke from the firm of E. F. Hutton, and everyone stopped talking just to listen to what he said.  It was a cute advertisement but that's all that it was.  That's what advertisements are for.  You get them locked in your mind and can't get them out.  I have been influenced by advertisements.  I recall one time about 50 years ago, I was in the commissary at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D. C., looking for cereal and as I stood, there, I recalled an ad where corn stalks came popping up in the middle of the aisle which was supposed to prompt you to purchase "Corn Chex."  We are influenced by words and their meaning.  They get in our minds and then pop up when you least expect them.  The words of the Lord Jesus Christ should always pop up in our situations of life.  John 17:20 says, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;"   
      This chapter is truly the LORD's prayer.  It is a recording of the prayer that He prayed on the night of His betrayal.  We sing a song these days whose title says, "When He was on the Cross, I was on His Mind."  The above verse implies that very thought.  Well, at least He knew that there were going to be people who would believe because of what the He said and because of what the disciples said.  As we study the Bible these days, we hang on every word of it.  It is far greater than all of the E. F. Huttons in the world.  We have become accustomed of having "red" letter Bibles because it shows us the words of Christ and what He said.  It is important.  In fact, every word is important.  As I look at this verse, I see that I am one who has believed because of what the disciples said.  The words of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James remind us of what was said.  From such a casual statement in John 17, we realize that at that moment, the Lord Jesus Christ was praying for all those who would believe in the future.  If you believe, that includes you.  So you see, when Jesus was on the cross, you were on His mind.  Praise God today for the blessings of prayer and praise God for His Word.

Kicking Tires

      Well, it's baseball season again.  At least you know that for the next  5 months, you will hear about baseball on your local news channel. When you think about baseball, you perhaps have seen this scene.  The batter steps up to the plate, hits his shoes with the bat, swings it a few times, digs his feet into the dirt, glances out towards the pitcher and waits for the first pitch.  We have seen it thousands of times as the baseball season is now well under way in our country.  We all seem to have a set of things that we do many times, over and over again.  Sometimes, maybe we as believers, feel just like that batter.  We get ready for work, start planning what we are going to do, kick a few tires on our way out the door, plant our feet and try to imagine what's going to happen today and how it is going to affect us.  We know that we need some strength for what the world is going to throw our way.    First Peter 5:10 says, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."   
      The theme of First Peter is "Suffering leads to Glory."  We know that we are going to suffer in this life and we have been told that fact in this book.  The good news is that while we may be experiencing some suffering in these days, that glory is coming.  We can count on it.  It is something that is going to happen.  No matter what gets thrown our direction today, the Lord is there to strengthen us and to keep our feet planted.  Only in this case, we are not planted in the earth, but we are planted in God's Word.   You may have some left over items from yesterday that are facing you this day.  You may have something new that is going to pop into your life unexpected but you can always rest in the fact that God will do just what His Word says He will do.  In this case, you will be perfect, staflished, strengthened and settled.  Now, what can be better than that.  So, you might be like the batter that prepares for the first pitch of the day.  Keep you feet planted in God's Word.  You can't go wrong.  Praise God today for the fact that He is with you and strengthens you every moment and that He is not surprised by anything.

But God...

        I like books.  I can't say that I am an avid reader.  I don't always have my nose in a book or these days, in an electronic device reading something.  I still have a lot of books. When we went to Spain, we took with us ten mail bags of books.  Each bag contained 3 20 pound boxes.  All the books were wrapped in plastic and sealed.  Then, when we left Spain, we reversed the process.  One of the first books that I got after my Bible, was a concordance.  I had a "Young's" Concordance which had every word of the Bible in it.  Later on, I purchased the "Strong's" concordance.  I had them both and the large volumes were used a lot as I would look of words almost constantly.  It was easy to look up the meaning of a Biblical Word and find out the Bible references where that word was used in the King James Version.  It was almost impossible to look of phrases.  The Word, "but" is used over 3700 times and the word "God" is used 4,473 times.  In the day of the printed pages, I never took it on to find out how many times the phrase, "but God" occurred.    First Corinthians 3:6-7 says, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."  
     This phrases is used 44 times in the whole Bible.  Now, anyone can find out where that phrase occurs by a simple search on a Bible program with the computer.  I had the total list of references in about one second.  You can see by the number of times each word occurs that it would have taken much, much longer by looking them up individually in the written book.  The excitement, however, is not in the ease in which it can be done today, but in what the phrase says in the Bible.  The excitement is the contrast of what God does in our lives in the course of each and every day.  Every time that the phrase occurs we can find God doing something special.  Today's verse shows us a great example.  Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.  You may have heard sermons on this little phrase, "but God."  The first time I heard it used was in a conference given by our mission agency, United World Missions.  You may find yourself in the middle of testing or tribulation or another type of uncertain conditions, "But God..."  That is when you find the contrasting statement of what God is doing in your life.  So, whether you are Joseph facing his brothers or your own set of circumstance, you can always wait for the "But God..." to appear.  Praise God today for His involvement in our lives each and every day and in each and every day.

What Did You Just Say?

         My Father was never what you would call a "spiritual" man but in his latter years seemed to be drawing closer to God.  Every now and then he would come up with a saying similar to a proverb.  they were short little phrases  that had a lesson in them.  One of them went, "It is better to be thought of as a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."   It probably didn't originate with him and maybe many people have heard it before.   For me, it was one of the things that Dad taught me that I have never forgotten.  Proverbs are good to give one a highly valued lesson in life.  One teacher once said that the Book of Psalms shows our relationship with God and the Book of Proverbs shows our relationship to our fellow man.  James 3:7-8 says, "For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."  
      I am fascinated with words.  I am intrigued by the different meanings that words have and how they are used in communicating to someone else.  How we use those words is sometimes good and sometimes bad.  Perhaps you have had an occasion where you said something and then just wished you could get it back, but you can't.  There may be a person standing in front you with a perplexed or hurt look on their face and you can't get the words back.  You can't jump in your time machine and back up 5 minutes.  You said it and it is out there.  There are some phrases that people immediately throw out there to try to soften the blow, such as "Oh, I was only kidding."  In some cases, after you have said something, others might say or think, "He really is a fool."  You can't get it back.  James reminds us that the tongue is a difficult member to tame.  James reminds us that we are capable of taming almost every animal but can't even tame our own tongue.   When in a certain situation, we can't refrain from saying something that will reflect our own pride and our arrogance.  So, what are we to do?  Well, my Dad had another proverb that went, "Put your mind in gear before you put your mouth in motion."  We might simply say, "Think before you speak."  To have the knowledge that our tongue will get us into trouble should be enough incentive to be careful, but we go on anyway and say things that should not be said.  If you want to say something, try praising God for the things that He has done.  For the last several years, I have always tried to end our little devotional thought with a phrase.  So, Praise God today for His working in your life.  Praise Him for His goodness and mercy.  Praise Him for sending His Son to provide a way for you and I to spend eternity with Him.  Just Praise Him.

He Never Changes

    I have a friend in Illinois that sent me a list of headlines, or photos, of the headlines of many Newspapers.  While the headlines were true, they could also be taken in a completely different way.    Sometimes, words take on new meanings.  As you look at our culture today, we realize that there are certain words that now have completely different meanings than they did 100 years ago.  A recent example was the activity that occurred on September 11 a few years ago.   Two sets of numbers have two different meanings and it all depends on how you say them.  Now, it makes a difference if you say Nine One One or if you say, Nine Eleven.   Thee is a new phrase that wasn't there in previous years.  Many of the more common expressions that have changed have done so because of some type of sinful activity.  Words, like, dope, grass, joint all have new meanings and can be used at least two different ways.   It is comforting however, to know that there are at least a few things in this life that never change nor will the change in the future.  Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever."   
     While the world around us is in a constant state of change, some good and some bad, we can still have the confidence that Jesus Christ will never change.  Along those same lines, the plan of salvation that is associated with Christ will also never change.  The requirements for salvation are just the same today as they were in all of the generations that have preceded us.  God has not made any new requirements nor has He changed the requirements that are already in place.  Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ is still the basic way of salvation as was stated to the Philippians Jailer by the Apostle Paul in Acts 16:31.  This is indeed a rare occasion.  Just imagine!  This is probably the only thing in the world today that has not changed,  (other than the fact that man is in sin due to the fall.)  The Bible still stands as the Book that has the  instructions that give us the clear roadmap to eternal life.  Throughout the ages, there have come to be certain other religions that state that they offer eternal life.  But, when they are measured against the Word of God, it is clear that they are the pure invention of man and really offer no hope for eternal life.  So, put your faith in Christ for the answer for all things.  Remember.  Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.  Praise God today the He never changes.

Laborers

      How many people had a part in you becoming a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ?  When I give my testimony, I usually divide it up into four baptisms.  There were many people during my life that gave their own private testimony of the Christian faith.  Many of them were a witness to me by their faith and some by their actions.  It didn't become personal for a long time until people started using the Word of God.  I often share how my friend came to my teaching studio in the Navy and opened the door and began to recite First John 5:11-12.  He was just beginning the Navigator Memory System.  For me, it personally culminated in the two messages, back to back by Dr. Fred Brown and Dolphus Price.  Their messages were about people who thought they were Christians but really were not Christians.  The road was a long road and went for about 13 years before I submitted to the Gospel message and became a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  First Corinthians 3:8-9 says, "Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."   
     Maybe it was my friend, Ron, who planted the seed and then the string of countless believers who witnessed to me both by word and by deed.  They watered, and watered, and watered until the crop finally came in.  I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The seed could have been planted even years before that at the Billy Sunday Tabernacle in Winona Lake, Indiana.  God was working on me and it took a lot of watering along the way.  It takes the labor of many believers to finally get the work done.  Some will be the planters, and many will be those who water the seed that has been planted.  Some will even be the one who pulls in the net.  I recall one question that has been put to many which says, "What is there in this world that is keeping you from coming to Christ right now?"  So, we all have a part in the salvation for many people.  Some you probably have never met but your involvement in Missions makes you one of the people who waters the seed.  Praise God today that we have the privilege to be one of His workers in a ripe field.

Purpose

       I seem to always be on a diet of one type or another.  If there is a new diet, I will probably have tried it.  I have been on "calorie" diets, Atkins diets, South Beach diets, New Testament Diet, Cruise diet and probably a few others.  I like to cook and I like to sample what I cook.  So, I am constantly battling the "battle of the bulge."  There are millions of people who look for a new way or at least an easy way in which to lose weight.  One of the problems is we want our cake and eat it too.  There is an interesting passage in the Scriptures concerning a "vegetarian" diet.   Daniel 1:8 says, " But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."   
       Daniel and his friends were being transported to Babylon to serve Nebuchadnezzar.  Before they were presented to the king, they were to be fed the diet of the area which was going to include the kings meat and the kings wine.  Daniel and his friends made a proposition to the man in charge of them.  They wanted nothing to do with the kings food.  Instead, they simply wanted vegetables, or "pulse" as it says in the KJV, and water to drink.  When it came time to be presented to the king, the Scriptures report, "And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.  Some things for us to notice in this passage is that "Daniel purposed in his heart."  Daniel had already come to the conclusion that he was not going to follow the rules of the king, but the rules of God.  How many situations exist in our own lives where we have the choice to go with the flow of the world or to stand firm on the convictions of God's Word?  In thinking about those convictions, whom or what are we going to honor, God or the world system at that time?  We all know what took place in the lives of Daniel and his friends.  They were head and shoulders above the rest of the captives.  They stood out because they had decided to honor God above all the rest, no matter what.  God is always faithful to those who will take a stand on His Word.  So, how are you going to decide today in the matter that comes into your life/  Will you "purpose" in your heart to do or to not do something and thereby honor God, or will you take the route of submitting to the world?  Praise God today for the strength that He gives each day , hour and minute to follow His way in all things.

News

        One of the exciting times on a ship is called, "Mail Call."  I spent a few months at sea which was not my cup of tea, but nonetheless I ended up in the South Atlantic on what the Navy called a "cruise."  It was, however, quite different from a Disney Cruise.  When you are out at sea, you can't walk to the mail box everyday to get your mail.  It  has to be flown into your next port.  Sometimes the mail would be several weeks flying around until you got connected with it.  You may get several letters at the same time and then have to read them in order to make sense of some of the things said.  It was always good to get mail from home especially when you were isolated by water.  Proverbs 25:25 says, "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."  
       The writer of this proverb points out just how it feels to get news from your home or some distant land.  He made the comparison to a refreshing drink of cold water but in a spiritual sense.  One of the meanings of the word "gospel" is "good news."   The word "gospel" can be translated or at least defined as a "good message."  The Apostle Paul gives us his definition of the good news in First Corinthians 15:1-4.  Paul reminded the Corinthians that he had preached to them about this good news.  In verses 3 and 4, he sets forth the good news by defining it as the death of Christ, the burial of Christ and the resurrection of Christ.  You can't get much plainer than that definition.  We should be rejoicing in that good news everyday.  For many, the problem may be that it has become commonplace and doesn't excite us anymore.  We have become apathetic to this wonderful good news.  The news, or the gospel, is that which has come from God Himself to us.  That might be considered to be a "far country."  We should be reminded everyday about this "good news" and what it means to us.  It lays out the plan for our very lives which ends up in a place called "heaven."  So, when you go to the tap today to get a refreshing glass of cold water, may you remember the joy of the gospel.  Praise God today that He sent His Son to die for our sins that we might have access to heaven.

Do You Remember?

       Memories are good.  Mine are good when I have them and at my age that isn't very reliable any more.   It doesn't mean that you always live in the past, but to have memories is something that is good and often quite profitable in your life.  The Israelites seemed to have a difficult time remembering what God had done for them in the past.  As we look back to the nation of Israel during their time in Egypt, we realize that they did not have any recollection of God for over 400 years.  Then, through the leadership of Moses and Aaron, they were reintroduced to God as they were getting ready to leave Egypt.  From then on, God worked some very impressive works with the Israelites.  In the years to follow, the Israelites, however, begin to forget what God had done for them even though it had been recorded in God's Word.  Psalm 78:5-7 says, "For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:" 
       God did establish that testimony through the writings of the Old Testament including the Psalms.  They were told to remember what God had done for them, especially during those years that the Israelites wandered around in the wilderness.  As bleak as things were, God provided everything that they needed.  Verse 7 gives us the reason for this remembering:  "That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments."  That's the "bottom line" so to speak.  It tells us the reason.  When the Israelites needed to have hope in their lives, all they had to do was remember what God had done for them in the past.  Since God is faithful and does not change and who is also all powerful, He works in the same way today.  He also provides all of our needs.  You can probably look back in your life and see where God worked in the past.  You can also see where God never failed you but always met your needs.  There may have been times when He met your needs differently than you had figured, but He did meet your needs.  So, the needs that you have today and those that you will have tomorrow will also be met.  If you are having a low day, then take a moment and reflect on how God has worked in your life in the past, or if you want, take a look at how He worked with Israel in the past.  God is always faithful.  Praise Him for His daily provision.

Idioms

      Every language has a set of idioms.  They are words that are used together which have kind of a special meaning.  "We have one that goes, "When the cat's away, the mice will play."  In Spanish, the phrase goes, "When the cat's away, the mice don't go to devotions."  Close, but not the same.  The meaning is only good in that language and they often become snares for people trying to study that language.  We have a lot of "idioms" in our language.  One such phrase could be, "a little bit."  The primary use of this word is that which is put into a horse's mouth.   A later definition shows that it can also be a small part of something.  A waitress can offer you coffee and you might say, "Yes, I will have a little bit."  To a foreigner studying English, that might sound a "bit" confusing.  There is one thing we can know about God and that is that He does nothing with just a "little bit."  He supplies all of your need and He fills you to the fullest.  He just doesn't give you a "little bit" of grace but indeed you have all that you will ever need.  Second Corinthians 12:9 says, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me"  
       This has to be one of the most comforting verses for believers.  While it was spoken to the Apostle Paul, we can learn by an indirect application that it applies to us also.    God's grace is sufficient to meet every need that we have had, are having and will ever have.  We can never run out of God's grace.  We can't even get down to half a tank of God's grace.  It is always sufficient no matter what situation we face in this life.  Not only do we learn that it is sufficient for every concern of life, but we also learn another peculiar characteristic of grace.  When we are at the weakest, grace is there to provide the strength that we need.  You may have thought at one time or another that you were not going to be able to get through a particular day.  It may have been the tragic loss of a loved one or new beginnings, a new town, a new job, new friends and perhaps even a new church.  No matter what the difficulty, God's grace was sufficient to get you through.  So, are you a bit apprehensive about the future?  Are you concerned that you may not be able to bear up under some load or another?  Rest assured in the fact that God's grace is indeed sufficient.  Hang in there.  You'll make it.  Praise God today for His abundant grace in every situation.

The Plaque

     While finishing up my education at a college in the suburbs of Washington, D. C., I worked at a Christian book store.  We did have a rather good selection of books to sell but we also sold a number of other things such as paintings, plaques and other small items such as jewelry.  Many of the plaques would contain a verse from the Bible.  These verses would be inspirational in the sense that it would show a person's faith, hope, and supposedly a glimpse into their character.  Joshua 28:15 was one of the more chosen items along with Philippians 4:13, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Psalm 23 and the list goes on and on.  The owners of the bookstore would make a trip to Pennsylvania about every 4 or 5 months and stock up on a number of these items to sell in the book store.  Another one of the more popular items was the following verse.   Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 

       This is a verse of Scripture that we often use to bring up when things are just going badly in our lives.  When grief, sorry, and troubles come into our lives, we often fall back on this verse of Scripture.  We also use it when we can't come up with any good reason why these things are taking place in our lives.  It is like saying, "When all else fails, quote Romans 8:28.  The verse certainly gives us hope when seemingly all else is falling apart around us.  Adam Clarke says of this verse, "That the persons in whose behalf all things work for good are they who love God, and, consequently, who live in the spirit of obedience."   The verse is a comfort in times of trouble.  It is, however, also good for us to notice the little passage, "...to them that love God."   Most people, especially believers, will say that they love God.  That is something that is assumed or they wouldn't be Christians in the first place.  The Lord Jesus Christ reminded us that we love God.  "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."   When I look at my own life I come to the conclusion, that I am not loving Him with all of my heart, all of my soul and all of my mind.  It is something that we need to keep check on in all of our life.  Erosion takes place and things begin to creep into our mind.  The world system is constantly demanding more attention and if we are not careful, the little erosion becomes bigger and bigger until we look for other ways to explain our  problems in life.  Keep your hearts in tune with God and His Word on a moment by moment basis.  Truly, all things do work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.  Praise God for His working in our lives today.