Your Choices for Today are....

     Mary Flynn, one of the long time missionaries from Mali retired and went back to Elkins, West Virginia. After getting set up, she decided to go to the local grocery store to purchase a box of cereal. She walked into the store and began to look at the two aisles filled with cereal. You could get flakes, squares, round, cooked, uncooked, sweet, in individual boxes or large containers. After standing there for a period of time, Mary walked out of the store without a box of cereal. In Mali, Mary had only one choice when picking out cereal at a local store. The only one they had was Kellogg's Corn Flakes. We found this to also be true in Spain. So, after 30 years of eating Corn Flakes, Mary couldn't make up her mind what to choose. Joshua 24:15 says, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

           It has been recently pointed out to us in a Bible Class that God made us with the ability to choose. I make many choices each and every day from the time I get up, to the clothes I put on, to the meals I prepare and how I am going to spend my day. They are all choices. Choices have consequences. If I choose to purchase a very large container of cheerios at Sams, I am going to be eating Cheerios for the next three months. After all, I chose to purchase it. Since God made us with the ability to chose, we can also come to the conclusion that we can either chose to serve God or we can chose our own man made religion. When Joshua led the nation of Israel into Canaan, the land was filled with all kinds of pagan religions. In the final chapter of the book, Joshua made the above statement to the people. They had the choice to make and he left it up to them. They could serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob or they could serve the gods of the Philistines, Canaanites, Perizites and the Jebusites. Joshua went on to say, however, that as for himself and his family and all of his household, they had chosen to serve Jehovah, the LORD. You have a choice today and it is much like that of Joshua and all of the people of Israel. You can chose to serve the LORD God Almighty or you can chose to serve the gods of this world who have their own way which will eventually end up in destruction for all eternity. Yes, we have the ability to chose. You can chose your socks, your cereal, your cars and even where you live, but Whom will you chose to serve today? Praise God that He has given us His Word to show Whom it is that we should always be serving.

The BSP

        At one of my jobs, there was an expressions that went, “There is a right way and a wrong way and the Bell System Way.” When I worked for American Telephone and Telegraph company every office had a complete system of the “BSP's” which stood for Bell System Practice. Every process and piece of equipment was given complete instructions on how to do it in the BSP's. All you had to do to insure success was to follow the BSP. It could be a large radio transmitter, an Electronic Switching System or writing a letter. It was all covered in the BSP. When I wanted to know how to equalize a circuit, I would go to the BSP. Sound familiar? Hebrews 12:14 says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” 

        Whether it is Hebrews 12:14, or Second Timothy 3:16-17 or Psalm 119:105, the answer is always the same. When you want to find out the answer to any of life's questions, where do you go? You go to the Bible, the Word of God. When I worked for the Bell System, we had to update the BSP almost everyday to keep the library current with new equipment. There is no update needed for the Word of God. It is perfect the way it is. Second Timothy 3:16 reminds us that the Word of God is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction In righteousness. The Bible tells you where you were, where you are and where you are going. The temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden was in three areas; the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. The same three areas were used at the temptation of Christ in Mathew 4 and Luke 4. Again, the same areas are mentioned in First John 2 in regard to life's issues today. We are still being tempted in the same three areas, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. There is no update needed. Satan's method has not changed because it still works for him. The Word of God, however is our Guide as to how to beat his system. The verse for today, reminds us that we need to live a life “pursuing after holiness.” The word “follow” in the verse means to pursue after just as a Beagle pursues a rabbit. The way that we achieve this pursuit is found in the Word of God, the Bible. Holiness is a lifetime pursuit. The Navigator, Jerry Bridges wrote a book on it called, “The Pursuit of Holiness.” The temptations of Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Saul, David, Solomon, Peter and Paul are the same temptations that you and I face today. Remember the words of the little song, “I stand alone on the Word of God, the  B. I. B. L. E. Praise God today for His Word.

Will That be Peanut Butter and Jelly or Ham Salad?

          In all of my years of education, I was never in a primary or high school that had a cafeteria. We had to bring our own lunches. I brought mine in an old world war 2 ammunition box that was given to me by my Uncle Harry after the war. You could drive a truck over it. I think for the first three years, I ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and then the next 9 years, I ate ham salad only it was made with round up baloney with a sweet pickle and salad dressing. By the end of the day, especially in grade school, I would almost eat anything and the paste and crayons smelled mighty good by three o'clock in the afternoon. Our desire for food should be just as great in the spiritual life as it is in the physical life. First Peter 2:1-3 says, “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 

        We know from experience how a baby desires to be fed. In the beginning of life, it seems that every 2 or 3 hours we hear the crying of the baby that it needs more food. Peter capitalized on that idea, naturally through the inspiration of the Word of God, that we should desire to have spiritual food just as does a newborn babe. The result is the same when spiritual maturity begins to increase day by day in the life of the believer. Getting home from school would soon find me trying to eat anything that was available whether it be graham crackers and milk or even bread and ketchup. The same should be true today in regard to our hunger for the Word of God. For many, it seems that we are on a spiritual diet. The Bible is one thing that you can't get to much of. When you think of the diet of the believer, you should take a moment and reflect on the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 119. All but 5 of the 176 verses mention the value of the Word of God. I am always amazed at the love the Psalmist had for God's Word. It wasn't just a whim or something fanciful he thought that might be good, but was the deep desire of his heart to have a full diet of God's Word. Second Timothy 3:16-17 remind us of the value of God's Word to us and so we should be in it more and more each day. There is nothing in this world that can satisfy as does God's Word to a hungry believer. So don't settle for the paste and crayons of the world system, but turn to the Scriptures for a satisfying diet of real spiritual food. Praise God for giving us His Word.

The Cream Separator

    When I worked on a farm across the road from our house in Indiana, I had the opportunity to run the cream separator each morning. I would carry a couple pails full of milk into the little room where the separator stood, poured the milk in the top container and began to turn the handle. It was hard to turn but soon was picking up speed and I would get it going as fast as my little arms could go. Soon, the skim milk came out one spot and the cream came out of another spout, each falling into its own bucket. It was an amazing process. The farmer's wife, would then take the cream and make butter out it. It was interesting to note that once it was separated, it never went back together. When you poured them together after the process, the cream would eventually rise to the top of the milk bottle. You couldn't bring them back together again. Today, it doesn't work that way. When you purchase a bottle of homogenized milk, the cream never separates from the milk. I guess Christians are homogenized. To be homogenized means, “subjected to a process in which the fat droplets are emulsified and the cream does not separate.” Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

       The process of being homogenized for the believer is in connection with the love of God. Our verses for today are such a comfort to each and every believer for it proclaims loud and clear that there is nothing that will ever separate us from the love of God. Once you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are “homogenized” in regard to His love. The list of potential separators includes every area of which we could think. It even begins with one of the worst separators, “death.” Death itself is a separator of the body and soul as our bodies go into the ground and the soul returns to God which gave it as Solomon stated in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Not even death, can separate us from the Love of God. The list goes on and even includes at the end with “nor any other creature.” So, not even your own self can separate you from the love of God. How amazing is that? So, when you take a drink of milk I in the days ahead, remind yourself that you are a homogenized believer and that nothing can separate you from the love of God. You may not feel like your loved, but guess what? You are loved by God even as John 3:16 has declared. Praise God today that there is nothing in the universe that can separate us from His wonderful love.

God Knows Your Name

       Identification markers are amazing to me and it shows the uniqueness of each and every individual. Years ago, they discovered that finger prints were unique for each person. I have a phone that only requires me to place my finger on a spot and it will recognize that it is me and the phone will then be opened. Every now and then, I put the wrong finger on it and it says “fingerprint not recognized.” Then, came the discovery that every person's eyeball is also unique and can open doors by having it scanned. Of course, now we have the DNA markers that make up not only each and every person, but each and every plant. I was surprised to learn that even trees have different DNA. Isn't God amazing? Isaiah 40:31 says, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”

        When I think of just how unique we are in this vast world, I can't help but be amazed at God's wondrous power. We may come to a point in our lives where we wonder if God even knows that we are alive. We may wonder if God is aware of what is going on in our lives. The above verse reminds us that first of all, God created us. God knew Jeremiah even when Jeremiah was not even born. God knew him inside of his mother's womb and even had a purpose for him. We may ask, “so what?” Well, God's creation is 100% unique. I mentioned before that our daughter sent our “spit” to a lab to find out our heritage and all of the markers came back and showed all of the different nationalities that are present in our bodies. It was interesting to find out this information and while it is not earth shattering, it does show how much we are different even in our own family. We are different and we are unique. That leads to the second feature of the above verse. God says that He has called us by our name and that we are His. We are not just blobs on the face of history but we are all specific and unique individuals and God knows each and every person. What is also amazing is that there are not any “used” parts in any of us. Each and every part of us is unique. Every hair on our head and every drop of spit is unique to us. No one else has it and yet God calls us by our name. Have you ever felt alone and discouraged? Well, take heart that God knows each and every part of you because He created you and He knows each and every thing that is going on in your life. Praise God that He has made you and knows all about you yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Taking Another Test

          I have taken a lot of tests in my lifetime.  It seemed that every time I completed a course or a grade or some specific period in my life, I had to take a test.  I started out in a one room school that had four grades in it and at the end of the year, I had to take a test.  I got to listen to the teacher as she taught the grades above me and so I progressed well in the little one room school especially when the time for the test came.    When people hear the word "test" it seems to drive them crazy. I haven't found too many people who really enjoy taking a test. After all, you go through 12 years of public school taking all kinds of tests. Then, you take a driver's test. Then, there are all of the tests in college.  One college professor didn't call them tests.  He called them an opportunity to express back that which you had studied.   So, when you get on in your life you feel is if you have had enough tests and you don't want to take any more. But, God didn't leave the "testing" period out of the Bible. The Book of First John has a number of tests in it. These tests are to determine if you are a true believer or not. There are at least 16 different tests to determine if you are a believer. Finally, John concludes with the words found in First John 5:13 says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 

         This is the major reason that the book was written in the first place. The key word for me in this verse is the word "know" that appears in the middle of the verse: "...That ye may know that ye have eternal life..." Now, that is something good to know.   The word "know" does occur some 27 different times in this little book.  The book also contains a number of tests that are much like this one.  You can find about 16 basic tests that can be mentioned in regard to being a believer.  Now, the preceding verses, verses 11 and 12, give us one of the most basic tests for a believer. He who has the Son has life... How about you? Can you take the tests that are given in First John?  Even though we have many different types of tests in our life, the tests mentioned in this book will culminate in whether or not we are truly born again.  So, take a few more tests.  These won't hurt and they may give you some valuable information in regard to your future.  Rejoice today in the fact that God has loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins and to give us eternal life.

On the Team

     It is always nice to be part of a team.  I remember back as a teenager, I was never very good at sports.  I was about as uncoordinated as could be.  I couldn't play basketball and when you are from the state of Indiana, you have to be able to play basketball.  At the time I went to school, basketball was the only team sport that our school could participate in in.   Well, I couldn't play basketball.  So, I became the "team manager."  That meant that I carried the towels and the uniforms and the aspirin and the stuff you painted on blisters on feet.  We won the regional tournament that year and so the team got its picture taken.  And, there I was right in the front next to the coach.  I was a part of the team even though I couldn't get the basketball through the hoop.  Teams are always important.  The Apostle Paul realized it also.  Romans 16:1-3 says, "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:  That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.  Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:"  
       Now, I have only given you the first three verses of this chapter, but you should read the list of workers that were part of the Apostle's team.  If Paul had a Polaroid camera, this would be his mission picture for the local newsletter.  He doesn't want to forget one member and so goes on through this final chapter of Romans to list each and every one.  Today, we are still part of a team.  The team might only be 2, but it's still a team.  One person helping another is a team.  It's opening doors, or praying for needs, or giving out the gospel, or singing in the choir.  It's all about being a part of the team.  The church is not the building that stands in a certain place but it is the group of people that make it up.  It's men and women; boys and girls who are working to spread the gospel message so people can be saved.  Praise God today that you are part of the best team and when the final picture is made for the Heavenly Gazette, you will be in it.

Logic

         We had an interesting sermon on Sunday from one of the men at the chapel. The man has is a mathematician and teaches at a local college. He made a statement about logic and how sometimes we come to what might seem to be a logical conclusion but we may be wrong because we are missing a vital piece of information. He stated that this might seem to be an unusual statement coming from a mathematician. John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  
        When we look at John 14:1-6, we some pretty amazing things. We learn about the present ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven, that He is making a dwelling place for us, that He is coming again and that He is the Only way to heaven. It seems obvious that many people in the world today have ignored these statements as we have so many different beliefs in the world in regard to eternal life and how to get there. The people of the world have come to their own logical conclusion but they are lacking a very vital piece of information. They don't know Who God is and what He can do. They don't know what He did in referring to the creation and how long it took Him to do it. If you leave out this information in the equation, then your logical response is going to wrong. If you doubt that God created the universe and everything in it then you are going to come up with an illogical conclusion. If we doubt the truth of the Bible then we are going to have illogical conclusions because of the lack of all of the information. What does all of this have to do with us? When I believe what the Bible says and about who God is, then I can have confidence in the affairs of today. John 14:6 makes a very bold statement. It declares that there is only one way to God the Father and that is through the Son. We have all heard so many say before that we all will end up in heaven and that Christianity is only one of many ways to get there. That is the opposite of what John 14:6 say. He declared that there is only ONE way and not many. As we read the Bible, we get more and more information about God and how He is working in the world today. I know we won't know it all, but the more we get, the more we will be able to come to a “logical” conclusion about the affairs of life. When the Philippian jailer saw the power of God he asked one question, “What must I do to be saved?” The Apostle Paul answered him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house.” Look at the character of God and behold His glory. He is the One that has said that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Praise God today for His working in our lives and especially for the gift of salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9

Shalom, Shalom!

        The following verse is first written in Hebrew for illustration with the translation, which is quite familiar, after it. Let me say at the beginning that I am not a person who speaks Hebrew or can read it. I just wanted to show that there are two words that are identical but we translate them differently and if you look up the verse in a Hebrew Bible, you will find the same thing. It is a Hebrew grammar principle. You can find the same thing by looking in your Strong's concordance. Isa 26:3  יצר סמוך תצר שׁלום שׁלום כי בך בטוח׃  say, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” 

        The two words are simply “shalom, shalom.” Doug Hershey defines the Hebrew word as: “Shalom” is taken from the root word shalam, which means, 'to be safe in mind, body, or estate.'” It speaks of completeness, fullness, or a type of wholeness that encourages you to give back — to generously re-pay something in some way.” So, the word “peace” here means more than the absence of war but applies to our whole being. Where can we find such peace as that” Isaiah gives us the answer here in this text. The two words, peace, peace, when used as it is in the translation is simply the “perfect” peace. We live in a world that is not characterized by peace at all. I have mentioned before how that in one day in 1985 there were 58 wars going on in the world. The global conflict tracker today mentions that there are 24 wars or conflicts, going on today. So, you see, we are not living in a climate that has peace as any characteristic. Whatsoever. Then, there are the internal wars that are going on in the life of every person on the planet. There are wars against relationships, wars against disease, wars against grief and wars against societies. We are not in a peaceful climate. We do live, however, in a time when we can have “perfect peace” In order to find this type of peace we have to look at the verse that Isaiah mentions and says that this peace if available to the person who puts his trust in God. The individual's mind is focused on God in each and every thing and not just on the outward difficulties that seem to readily consume us. We can't find peace in our own health, our financial status, our church or our government. Perfect peace can only come to the individual who completely trusts in God. If you soul is not at rest today, then you need to refocus your attention on God's ability to calm all of the exterior forces that are battling against you and then you will find that “perfect peace.” Praise God today for the Peace that only He can give. Shalom

The Witness

        I was laying in bed the other night thinking about all of the Christians that I had known in my life when I was young. My first introduction to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ took place while I was in the U. S. Navy. In my first 19 years, no one spoke to me about the Lord Jesus Christ. I was invited to churches by some people and even went to an evangelistic meeting at Winona Lake, Indiana where I supposedly accepted Christ but it didn't take place there. After that meeting, no one spoke to me about the Bible. I probably wouldn't have listened anyway, but I still wonder if I crossed the path of many believers. In the same sense, I need to apologize to all those people who crossed my path afterwards, when I didn't say a word about the Lord Jesus Christ and salvation. Of course, for most of them, the apology would be too late for they have already passed from this life. Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  
      This verse contains the final words, as we know it, from Christ Himself and in the moments afterwards, He ascended into heaven. Those departing instructions were clear and simple and it was stated that we would end up being His witnesses. As we have mentioned before, the word that is used for “witnesses” is actually the word from which we get “martyr.” For many people they would find that they would be giving up their lives to speak about Jesus to anyone. We have the record of many individuals who died by speaking about Jesus in the book, “Foxes Book of Martyrs.” The book tells the accounts of people who perished for their faith for about the first 1500 years after the ascension. The persecution however, goes on today and in greater numbers than ever before. What has it cost you to speak about Christ to someone in the world today. For many, we have not sacrificed anything. We just hope that someone will tell them before they pass away. God has used the method of personal contact to reach the world with the Gospel. It isn't really a test of our faith, but it does indicate just how much we think about the Gospel message. If we know that heaven is real and that hell is real and that these are the only two destinations for life after death, then we should be concerned about our family, our friends and those we come in contact with today and tomorrow. Who was it that first witnessed to you? It could have been a person, a friend or even a family member. It may have been a radio program or a piece of a tract that you found on the floor. Somewhere, someone spoke to you about the Savior. Don't be silent any longer but put forth the message that “Jesus saves.” Praise God today for the witness of faithful believers. May we be one also.

Who is it that Answers Your Questions?

     When your car breaks down, to whom do you go for repairing the vehicle? When you need a diagnosis of a strange lump on your body, where do you go to find out what it is? I probably am right in thinking that you don't go to Tom Selleck. I have been seeing a lot of commercials about reverse mortgages and the one that is speaking with supposed authority is Tom Selleck. Now, why would I seek financial information from an actor? If I suspect that a lump might be cancer, would I go to a doctor or would I go to Tom Cruise? Would I let Micky Mantle pull a tooth? We seem to think that if a person is famous due to the silver screen or playing in a sports arena, that we can find the answers to life's deepest problems. Maybe we could ask Dennis Rodman to negotiate a peace treaty with North Korea. If you have a problem, you go to the one who is most likely to be able to give you help and not to the rich and famous celebrity who has no knowledge of the area in question. So, where do we go to find help for the perplexities of life? Psalm 5:2-3 says, “Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

        The Psalmist had no difficulty in answering the question and immediately turns his attention to God Who not only hears your request but is willing and able to answer it according to Biblical standards that God set down years before. We can first notice that the Psalmist directs his attention to God and says that it is unto Him, God, that he prays. The Psalmist didn't turn to the popular people in his day to find answers to questions but turned directly to God. We also see from this passage that the Psalmist offered his prayer in the morning. It is interesting to note that one can find various times of the day mentioned in the Scripture. You can find one reference that states that he prayed seven times a day. In the New Testament, we are admonished to pray unceasingly. Further, we are to give thanks to God for everything. We are also instructed to ask God and He will answer us. I would certainly trust God's answers to those of Hollywood, the NBA, NFL and the Olympic committee. So before you take your advice or example from Beyonce, ask God. You will find that when you ask God, His answers will always be right. Praise God today for His Word. May we be speaking to Him about the questions that we have and look to God every morning.

The Blue Comet

       Have you ever owned something that you just could never use? I got my Father's tools after he passed away in 1995. I have used some of them, but there is one that I probably will never use. It is a “blue Comet” pair of pliers. When you squeeze the handles, the tips spread apart instead of coming together. From what I understand, they are useful in the changing of your brake pads, for the purpose of spreading some spring so you can remove it. I haven't found any use for it yet and the odds are getting slimmer that I ever will. Some things are not practical. Perhaps you might have an item in your garage, basement or tool box that you will never use. It just isn't a practical item. Is your Christianity practical? That is, is it all useful or are there some things that you just never use? James 2:2-3 says, “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:”

         In many respect, the Epistle of James is considered to be a very practical book. The topics that James discusses are those which are very practical in the spiritual life. Lessons from other epistles may not be seen by anyone else. After all, who knows if you have forgiven someone else or not? James, however, deals with the things of life such as approval of a rich man and disapproval of a poor man. The evidence is there for all to see.  It is evident that the Word of God covers all areas of life and includes things that are seen and the things that are not seen. I can rejoice in all of the blessings of salvation and still not be “doing” the practical items from Jame's epistle. Sad to say, but we can say that we love the Lord but in the same time, fail to respond to the needs of our fellow believer. It is like saying that we have a couple of “blue comets” in our tool box that we will probably not be using any time soon. The short epistle will soon remind you of many things that you are lacking in your Christian life and that is the reason that it is so important. In speaking about one's beliefs, we often use the words, “Faith and Practice.” Faith is descriptive of what we believe and Practice is what we actually do. Do they demand the same respect in your life? Praise God for His Word and for the practical lessons that it gives us. May we take heed and do what God says.

Are You Missing Someone?

          We, Diane and myself, were recently sitting and talking about the fact that we missed our parents. Mother's Day and Father's Day are not usually great days of celebration for us since our Mothers and Fathers are all gone. While thinking about this for a moment, I realized that I had not heard a comment from one of my cousins, Phyllis Miller of La Porte, Indiana. She made many a comment on the devotions as they were on Facebook. I googled the home time paper in La Porte and didn't find anything, but then went to Google and put her name in the search box. The first entry was her obituary. Phyllis had passed away on December 14, 2018. Well, I guess that is the reason I have not seen her “amen” at the end of the devotions. Second Corinthians 5:6-8 says, “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 

         I often use this passage when I have the opportunity to preach a funeral. It is a real hope for those of us that have been left behind as it tells us what happens at death. I don't know of too many people who are looking forward to the actual event, but what takes place and the results are fantastic. I am preparing a song to sing this month with the choral group that Diane and I not participate in and the title is, “Finally Home.” That is the excitement of the passage above. If we are at home here on this earth in this body, then we absent, physically from the Lord, but if we are absent from the body, then we are present with the Lord. Solomon also reminded us of this in Ecclesiastes 12:7 where the body returns to dust but the soul returns to God which gave it. I haven't spoken with Phyllis for many years but lately, here comments were present as a response to the devotions. From her comments one could see her love for the Lord Jesus Christ and so I am confident that she is with the Lord and participating in the wonders and beauty of heaven. She has found her new home in heaven itself. I have one friend who when he doesn't get his copy of the devotion for a couple of days, will call me and see if I answer the phone and that I am still alive. So, life is short and if you are missing someone you haven't heard from for awhile, check them out to see how they are doing. Above all, keep looking up. As I have said at the end of these devotion for the past twenty years, “Jesus is coming again.” You may meet Him in death, or you may meet Him in the rapture. Praise God for the place He is preparing for each and every believer.

There's White and then there's Really White

  I have painted a lot of houses in my lifetime. It was due to moving so much. It seemed that we would be paining the inside of an apartment or house after we moved in. We usually ended up using a type of “white” paint. I soon became aware of all of the different shades of white that there are at the paint store. My computer tells me that there are about 32 million shades of different color so just imagine how many different shades of white that there are in the average paint store. You can have white, off white, cream, eggshell and the list goes on and on. You may not notice the difference until you compare one of the “off” shades with “real white.” Isaiah 6:5 says, “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

      Isaiah was a prophet which probably meant that he was a straight laced individual as we might call it today. He probably prayed a lot and got to know God very well. He was the spokesman that God chose to deliver a message to a specific people at a specific time. Isaiah found that the closer he got to God, the more his imperfections stood out. In Isaiah 64:6, he compares our righteousnesses as filthy rags. That means that all of the things that we think are great are really filthy when we get to compare them with what God really wants. Isaiah’s statement about his unclean lips among a people of unclean lips reveals how he felt during the vision that occurred. The Apostle Paul goes even further when he makes the following statement in Second Corinthians 5:20-21, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Our sins have been imputed to the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness has been imputed to us. Now, how great is that? Sometimes, our shortcomings seem to be just a tad discouraging, but it is part of the Christian life. We are in a period of growth that goes on from the first day of our Christian life until the day that He takes us home either through death or the rapture. Isaiah may have thought at one time that he was Okay but when he got close to God he found our otherwise. The same is true of us. The closer we get to God, the holier we see that He is. We, however, don’t stop. We keep pursuing after holiness. So praise God today for His Holiness and the fact that the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to you and I. Hallelujah, What a Savior!

Coffee Cans

       What would the world do without old coffee cans?  I have accumulated many coffee cans over the years and find that they can have a number of uses.  In most of my early years, coffee cans were metal but now many of them are plastic. They still have their value.  In the early spring, they can have both ends cut out of them and used to protect young tomato plants.  But, one of the biggest uses of the abundance of empty cans is  the storage of every type of nut, bolt, cotter pin, washer, gaskets and other assorted pieces of hardware.  Naturally, these are things that you wouldn't want to throw away as you might need just that very thing tomorrow.  So, we store them in coffee cans that are marked with various groupings to keep them separate.  There are plumbing pieces, electrical pieces. mechanical pieces, plastic pieces, curtain parts, etc., etc.  The idea is that every piece is good for something and that you will need it sooner or later.  The same thought can be said of every verse of Scripture.  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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."   
        Naturally, right at the beginning, we know that these verses of Scripture are far more important than nuts and bolts because these verses are going to be used in our lives.  They are going to decide how we live our lives and how we respond to the affairs of our daily lives.  The verses remind us of four basic areas in our lives such as the formation of our doctrine, for reproof, for correction and then for instruction in righteousness.  But, like the nuts and bolts that accumulate around the house, every verse is important because every verse is inspired by God.  All Scripture is "God breathed" and therefore has great meaning for our lives.  We can be challenged by new commands or become aware of new sins in our lives, or we can be made aware of some new promise that we had never seen before.  So, praise God today for His Word and remember that every part is important.

Some Assembly Required

        We have a young cat, just old enough to not be called a kitten any longer.  I purchased a "cat tree" to have something for her to climb and play on.  It did require some assembly.  In preparation, I found a video on YouTube that went through the detailed instruction.  It was a young lady and went through every step from beginning to end.  At one point, she put a wrong length bolt into the assembly and had to later take it out, as it was supposed to go somewhere else.  I thought that it was good for me to have watched this video so I won't make the same mistake.  I was going along with the assembly of the cat tree and got to one of the final steps and found that I was short one bolt.  Then, I realized that I still had made the same mistake and had to go back to remove and replace the bolt that I had put in the wrong spot.  Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" 
         There should be a sign on the front of every  believer which says, "Some Assembly Required."  We may have all of our parts in the right places, but there is still a work that is going on.  It is a work that God is doing.  Paul said that it was a "good" work and he also said that the work will someday be complete.  In the meantime, we go through this world from day to day realizing that God is still working in us.  We have all heard many times the phrase, "Please be patient with me, God is not finished with me yet."  This work is truly a "work in progress."  Sometimes, the work involves a little chipping away of some areas of our lives until everything is removed from us that does not represent what God wants to achieve in our lives.  the chipping away may result in some pain now and then but the finished product will certainly be worth it all.  There is one thing for sure.  God doesn't make a mistake and put something in our lives that doesn't belong at the time and then have to go back and correct it.  The Author and Finisher always does that which is perfect.  When the proper time comes, this work will be finished and we will be standing before the Lord Jesus Christ.  Until then, we go through life knowing that God is still working in us.  That should make us confident of what is taking place in our lives today and tomorrow and all the days to come.  We like to use the phrase, "God is in control."  We often use it when we don't know what else to say, but it is true.  God is in control and so we can rejoice in what He is doing in our lives today.  Praise God that He still works  in us.  We are not finished yet, but getting closer and closer everyday.

What is Your Standard of Morality?

     I read an article recently about a "clergyman" of a prominent main line denomination who states that we are getting thing all wrong because the Bible is all wrong.  That alone makes me wonder about the credentials of the man and the denomination but that is what people seem to be thinking these days.  The so called clergyman remarks that since the Bible was written by men it is full of mistakes, therefore we are wrong in the conclusions that we have in regard to many modern day issues.  It made me just a tad irritated to say the least that someone would even dare to say that the Bible is wrong because it contains countless errors.    Psalm 119:1 says, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD."  

       The LORD chose this verse for today because it comes from Psalm 119 whose 176 verses speak of the great value and authority of the Word of God.  All but 5 of those 176 verses speak about the Law, the Word, the Commandments, the statutes of the Word of God.  The Psalmist loved the Word and so do I.  That being said, I still see a general movement away from the Bible and see in its place a system of misplaced values.  If a person can receive punishment for abusing a puppy but kill an infant and receive no punishment, then it shows that we have misplaced values.  Taking the life of another human being is murder and is wrong in both the Old and New Testaments.  Even the Lord Jesus Christ summarized the Law into two commandments which spoke about loving God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and your neighbor as your self.  That sums up the Ten Commandments.  It is obvious when watches the media that the morals of the present day world are corrupt and are being replaced by things that are contrary to the Word of God.  We are fast approaching the final verse of the Book of Judges where it states that "... In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."   We are beginning to "reap what we have sown."   We know from the Word of God and even the historical accounts of Biblical empires that disobeyed God would soon fall into oblivion.  Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome all fell as world empires because of their failure to bow before the LORD Jehovah.  We can now ask the question, "Who's next?"  God's prophecies are coming true right before our eyes and yet we just keep on doing what we are doing and not taking any care for the Word of God.  So, what are you and I to do in this present age?  We need to have a love for the Word of God that matches that of the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 119.  Read the Psalm for yourself and see if it matches what you are experiencing in your own life. Do you love the Word of God?  Is the Word of God a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path?  Praise God today for His Word and make a covenant with God to stand on His Word no matter what takes place around you.

Are You Suffering?

          There seem to be certain things that take place in our lives that trigger a response of some sort based upon some action that took place a number of years ago.  Even an aroma can stir an emotion, perhaps of Thanksgiving on the farm or at Grandma's house.  Even a song can be a reminder of someone in your past.  I went to college later in life.  I often say it took twenty years for me to get my college finished.  I had one year in 1958 and I graduated from Washington Bible College in 1978.  There were, of course, about 17 years in between when God was preparing me for what was to come.  During my time towards the end of my education, I spent a lot of time drinking in the information of my professors.  One of my professors required us to give a synopsis of a Bible book during our study of that book.  It was called the "theme core" of the whole book.  While studying the epistles of Peter, he suggested the theme core to be, "Suffering Leads to Glory."  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." 
       Both of the words are used quite often, some eighteen times for the both of them, in the book.  this statement near the closing of the book reminds me of that theme core from years past.  I am attracted to the phrase, "after that ye have suffered a while..."  Are you going through some problem right now?  Are you facing some difficulty in a certain relationship with another person, believer or unbeliever?  Are you finding that your job is not the perfect job?  Are you even having trouble in church?  Have you been hurt at a church business meeting?  These may be some of the things that affect your life today in our country.   The suffering, whichever state it might be, is going to be in your life.  Christ reminded us that the world hated Him and it is going to hate us also.  Suffering takes on different degrees depending on where you are.  When I think about suffering, I am reminded about 20 Vietnamese who were running  as fast as they could, singing "It is Well With My Soul" as they were being gunned down.  They suffered to the point of giving their lives for their faith.  Another example were the five teenage girls that were attacked in India, four of which were beheaded and their heads left at the church door.  Some statistics point out the fact that there were more Christians persecuted to the point of death in 1995 than there were in the entire Foxes Book of Martyrs and things have not gotten better since 1995 but are worse today than ever before.  There is a ray of hope however in the fact that "suffering leads to glory" and the glory is far greater than we could ever imagine.  We can see but a glimpse of this glory in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and His ascension into heaven and the promises of the Book of Revelation.  So, whatever is going on in your life in the area of today's suffering is going to give way to glory.  God has promised it and that settles it.  Praise God for His plan for all of our lives.

How Do You Get There?

           I check the obituaries quite often, mostly due to my previous job at a retirement facility in our area.  I made a lot of friends during those years I spent there and every now and then, I see an obituary of one of them.  In so doing, I can't help notice how many people are assumed to have made the journey to heaven after their passing.  I saw a recent comment that had been written in a newspaper that stated that God would say, "Welcome home."   Those are nice thoughts that may comfort the bereaved that are left here on earth, but may not be necessarily true.  It is easy to assume that the dead have gone on to a place of comfort and rest and they assume that it is with God.  Comments are made about the "man upstairs" who will greet them and they will be have a good old time in that place called heaven.  In so many cases those comments are due entirely to a figment of one's imagination.  John 14:6 says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
         You can't bypass Jesus and expect to arrive at heaven.  The Lord Jesus Christ was very emphatic about how one gets to heaven and it wasn't by being  better than the next person, or being a particular political party or even by being a member of an evangelical church.  It also is not made possible by signing a card or by going up the aisle at an evangelistic service.  The Lord Jesus Christ said that there was but one way to heaven.  Notice that the verse says, "I am the way....no man cometh unto the Father but by me."    If a person is going to be making the trip to heaven then it is necessary to make the reservation now.  The Apostle Paul was asked by the Philippian jailer how to be saved and Paul answered, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in that passage that we find in Acts 16:31.  Believing in the saving Power of the Lord Jesus Christ is also preceded by repentance for one's sins.  Again, Acts 2:38 and Acts 3:19 to repent of our sins.  That means to be sorry for your sins, not just you realize that you got caught by someone else and you cried a lot or put up a big fuss.  We need to be sorry for our sins and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Many souls are going to end up at the Great White Throne judgment and say, "Oops!"  They will then try to rationalize their presence at that judgment by saying how many things they had done for Him but He will say, "Depart from me.  I never knew you."  What a terrible day that will be for so many souls who tried to sneak into heaven by their one of two good works that they thought would make them eligible for a place in heaven.  The obituaries often begin with the words. "so and so went home to be with the Lord..."  We would hope and pray that people would have that personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ now.  After all, He is the way!  Praise God today for the extended invitation to make a reservation in heaven.

The Rest of the Story

         About four months ago or more, we finished watching a lengthy Canadian production that must have run for about eleven years a long time ago.  We had finished it.  After a time, we decided to watch it again from the beginning.  When you are old, your mind may not be as sharp as it once used to be and you can watch things that you have seen before because you can't remember every detail or "who done it" in a mystery.  As we watched a couple of episodes recently, I was at least glad to know that the two main characters were going to stay together through the whole show.  I may not know every detail, but I know everything is going to work out in the end.  That's what so great about having a copy of God's Holy Word.  We know the outcome.  As some have said, "We know the rest of the story."   Revelation 20:10 says, "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."   
       All the way through the Bible, we learn of the actions of Satan and his crew of demons.  They wanted to stop the coming of the Messiah.  Right in the beginning of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we have the temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness and we have learned how to battle such a temptation with the Word of God.    We also learn how the devil roams about trying to devour whomever he can.  What is so beautiful about the Bible is that we can go to the end and find out how it all works out.  Today's verse reminds us of the inevitable outcome of Satan and all of his helpers.  As we read this passage, we have to notice that Satan is not "ruling" the lake of fire.  This is not his kingdom.  What is known is that he is going to be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  The Devil, or Satan, or old slewfoot, or the dragon, or the deceiver, the prince of the power of the air, will finally be cast into the lake of fire where he will be for ever and ever.  Satan will battle against God clear up to the end, but he loses and God is the Victor  We do know the rest of the story.  As you go through life today and meet the various problems that are sure to come into it, remember the end of the story.  You may even be tempted by some demon but you know where it is going to end up.  You know where the victory is and when it is going to be coming.  We also know that God gives us victory in the here and now as we keep our communication line open with Him moment by moment, day by day.  So, praise God today because He is the Victor and because of that, we to are victors, or conquerors.  Truly, Our God is an Awesome God.

Canes and Walkers

         When I was very young, my Mother or my Father would take my hand  in dangerous situations, such as crossing a street or going up stairs quickly.  It was for the purpose of keeping me from falling and getting hit by a car or in some other area of possible danger.  Now, that I am old, I find myself using various things to again keep me from falling.  The older you get, the more you fear falling on the floor or ground.  Our kitten that ran away liked to run fast in the house and one morning hit my foot unexpectedly and down I went.  It was quite a noise when I hit the floor which made the kitten run and hide for the next 3 hours.  We also have quite of number of "walkers" on the market and as my friend in another state says,"it even has a cup holder on it."  We have changed the name of a certain cafeteria in our area to "Kanes and Walkers."  It is because the elderly like to eat there and I know it is misspelled.  Jude, verses 24 and 25 says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
        Falling takes on a different idea in the spiritual sense, but the danger is still there and just as destructive.  Continual sin will result in us falling out of fellowship with God which then requires First John 1:9 and our confessing it to God for restoration.  Falling in the spiritual sense can also happen when young believers are lured away from the truth of God's Word.  Satan and his followers are good at giving you something that is "close" to the truth but really far off from it.  It may look spiritual, sound spiritual and promise worldly rewards, but is far from being all true.  The cults that will come knocking on your door will say all of the words that are just like the Baptist preacher says on Sunday but there are other things present that you don't hear about.  All of the men and the women that have started these cults are still in their graves but the One Who started the Christian faith has an empty tomb.  He was resurrected from the dead and was seen for the next forty days as He continued to minister in Jerusalem and the surrounding area.  He then bodily ascended into heaven while His disciples stood there and watched Him.  Now, He is the only One that can keep you from falling.  In a spiritual sense, God is always holding our hand.  So, Praise God today for the fact that He never lets go.  Remember Romans 8:38-39 which says, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."