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Hand Me Down Genes

Jeans heart blue denim texture Stock Photo - 14576987

As a youngin’ in hills of West Virginia, our family grew up the way most every other family did; we had hard working parents that provided for our every need. They loved on us, fixed cornbread and milk for a bedtime snack, took in strays (kids and dogs), handed down our clothes from sibling to sibling, and it never occurred to us until we were teens and the world told us so, that we were not rich. Over all it was a pretty charmed life when I look back. Many of their characteristics shine through in us, we all look a tad alike, we’re a compassionate non-confrontational lot, we have a love of music and art and for the most part we are similar in many ways, but different in a thousand others. So my question this morning to myself was, how do families with “bad genes” break free from the mold and become something outside the norm of their family? While I don’t understand the scientific side of it, or if behavioral tendencies are even an inherited lot or trained, I’ve seen enough “hand me down” characteristics to make me wonder. But no matter we are without excuse in Christ.

2nd Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I do not want to make light of the life of someone who was brought up in less than ideal circumstances. I know how blessed I am because I’ve witnessed countless times those who were not so blessed. Probably some of my worst days when working with the court system were the days I dealt with parents, who came in and degraded their children for being arrested and in such a predicament, when I knew I could pull the parents file and it would likely look much worse. I’ve also seen the flip side where good parents were broken into a thousand pieces because of their child poor decisions.

The point that I want to make in all of this is be it nurture or nature it’s a moot point in Christ! Upon the acceptance of Christ as your Savior the Lord creates within your soul a whole new heritage. While we are still the biological children of birthparents, our new birth has made us a child of the King. We have a new nature!

  • So that cranky woman who is cranky because her mother was… she is without excuse.
  • The son of a thief, does not have to steal…
  • The daughter of a harlot, can be as white as snow…
  • The child of abuse, can know and show love…
  • The child of neglect, can be an awesome parent…
  • The child raised in wrath can have a home of peace…

So whether your “genes” are blue (depressed), torn (stressed), holy (missing pieces), designer (unique) or even hand me downs of another sort you received a brand new pair in Christ. He now lives in you! You are without excuse. Live and love well friend!

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A Dozen Promises for Your Day!

In 2nd Timothy 1:1-2 Paul said to Timothy “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

There’s a song on my heart this morning! Titled Jesus is Coming Soon

Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear
Freedom we all hold dear now is at stake
Humbling your hearts to God saves from the chastening rod
Seek the way pilgrims trod, Christians awake

Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon
Many will meet their doom, trumpets will surely sound
All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the skies
Going where no one dies, heavenward bound

It’s a peppy little tune our choir sings that has your toe tappin’ and your eyes toward the skies because we believe in the twinkling of an eye we truly could be standing in the presence of God. But for now we are here… in this wicked place, with heartache and trouble on every side, and yet…(pause for special effect) there is unspeakable joy within my soul because I have that promise of life that the Apostle Paul spoke of. And as Christ said in John 10:10 it’s life abundantly!

Believe me when I say that I can get down in the dumps, crazy depressed because of situations in life. I’m not a millionaire, I have bills too. Lots of them! I’ve made mistakes, and not just a few. And if I focused on that I’d stay depressed, but it’s in verses like this that I find glory! Paul gave Timothy that threefold blessing that every believer owns and yet so many refuse to take the title.

Grace is getting what we don’t deserve. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. And Peace comes from knowing that God controls both and that He loves you.

I don’t deserve anything. I came into this world with nothing, and I’ll leave with nothing but God has sure been good to me in the meantime. I could tell, but it takes much too long, of the times that God has pulled my proverbial hinder parts from the fire in amazing ways! That’s called grace. I could also tell you of the times that I was sure my head was on the chopping block and as I cried out for mercy, He answered. And about that peace that Paul mentioned? You often don’t experience peace until you need it. As a young person I tried to imagine what it would be like when I lost a parent. That thought was so painful I couldn’t even fathom it. And then in 2003 my Dad went to Glory and the sweet peace that I experienced in those hours of grief were amazing!

Life’s tough, but we have a promise. How wonderful it is that in these troublesome times to have a promise that is far more sure than anything you’ve ever had your hands on. What is that promise? Here’s a dozen for your day, but there are countless others!

  1. That God is with me wherever I go – Joshua 1:9
  2. If I keep my mind on Him, I’ll have that perfect peace – Isaiah 26:3
  3. He’ll never leave us or forsakes us!  – Hebrews 13:5
  4. His peace will pass all understanding – Philippians 4:7
  5. He cares for me – I Peter 5:7
  6. All things work together for my good – Romans 8:28
  7. In this world I’ll have trouble, but in Christ we have victory over it or through it– John 16:33
  8. I can escape temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13
  9. God will supply all my needs – Philippians 4:19
  10. If I ask for wisdom God will supply it – James 1:6
  11. I’m forgiven of all – 1 John 1:9
  12. I will have eternal life – I John 5:11

There are so very, very many more, that’s just a few! I even provided the links so you can read them yourselves. Isn’t God’s Word grand! These are troubling times, but God is faithful. Do you have a need that I can lift to the Lord for you? It would be an honor if you’d let me know!

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Do you love like that?

I John 5:1-2 ~ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Making Light of a Dark subject:

Two men are standing on a bridge, one is about to jump off and the other is trying to talk him out of it.
The man asks the jumper, “So are you a Christian or a Hindu or a Jew or what?”
The jumper replies, “A Christian.”
The man says, “Small world, me too! Protestant, or Catholic, or Orthodox?”
The jumper answers, “Protestant.”
The man replies, “Me too! What denomination?”
The jumper says, “Baptist”
The man replies, “Me too! Southern Baptist or Northern Baptist?”
The jumper answers, “Northern Baptist.”
The man replies, “Me too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?”
The jumper answers, “Northern Conservative Baptist.”
The man replies, “Me too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern region?”
The jumper answers,” Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.”
The man replies, “Me too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region council of 1912?”.
The jumper answers, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region council of 1912.”
The man then pushes the jumper off the bridge and screams, “Die Heretic!”

If you ask a Christian, “Do you love God?” Their answer would most certainly be a jubilant “Of course!”

If you ask them, “Do you love the brethren?” Again I would expect an affirmative reply.

But put two denominations in a room together, throw in a few doctrinal questions and you’ll see the love of both fly out the window. As funny as the afore written joke was it rings too true for my taste and entirely too close home.

I don’t ever want to be a painted saint. One that stands before her peers dolled up with hypocrisy. I’ve shoved my share of the brethren off a bridge. Just yesterday. Praise God they didn’t know it! It was only in my head, but God knew it. I was sitting in our local football stadium watching my grandbabies play ball. I don’t know how hot Hell is going to be, but if it’s any hotter than that stadium I’m glad I don’t own any part of it. It was miserable hot! Maybe that’s why my mind went cranky, or maybe I just got in the flesh, but regardless, before long I noticed that that stadium was full of hypocrites. All kinds of people that I knew for fact weren’t living the way God wanted them to. They didn’t dress right, talk right, or walk right.

Hello? Enter reality check here. When did God give me the assignment of Christian checker?

He said that we’d know we were His if we loved the children of God. Not if we loved the Baptist. While there are certain doctrinal points that I believe and are a foundational part of my faith they belong in the church, not on the playing field. Yesterday I brought them to the literal playing field. Praise God I didn’t voice them. John also said we’d know we were children of God if we kept His commandments.  Jesus said there was a new commandment in John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

Today is Sunday. I’m going to the church I love with the people I love. I’m going to sit on the front row, right up next to the altar where I sit every Sunday. Not because I want to be seen, but because I don’t want to see anyone else. I’m too weak to keep my mind on Christ when looking at other people, in the church or out of the church.

I believe that it’s not what’s over the door that will get me to Heaven, but do I love like that? I mean really love? I need to love better…

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A Trip to the Station

Isaiah 22:13-19 ~  And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts. Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock? Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord’s house. And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.

 Stations in Life

I will confess to you that over my lifetime there have been countless stations that pride factored in. I loved the title, I did not always love the job. When I left my job with the courts, I left because I was absolutely miserable. When I received the job it was a blessing and an appointment from a Circuit Judge, a job of prestige of sorts; but with it came heartache and sorrow of families, personal information about the lives of people in my community and day by day it tore at my heart. Coupled with the politics of the place I was not a happy camper. Station meant nothing at that point, I just wanted out.

This was not the case with Shebna. His position had gone to his head and he began to think himself so important that, while his city lie in ruin around him, he had built, or engraved for himself, a house in stone that Isaiah referred to as his own sepulcher. Nice huh? A house that looked like a grave plot; my spine just shivered. Mainly because I’ve witnessed much of the same in society today when they build huge houses of enormous cost and then fill it with misery and death. But God sends Isaiah with a message in verse 19 that says “I will drive thee from thy station.”

I don’t know at what point God’s going to get there with the American political faction but He will. I don’t know if I’ll get to see it, but it will come to pass, because God detests prideful acts where people live with total disregard for others. I don’t think God’s going to take care of it on the political realm only, but on the spiritual as well. For too long church leaders have set in their stations of life enjoying the prestige that the role carries while their communities lie in shambles. Wicked television evangelist squander every dollar they can from their fans with total disregard for the hardship it caused, proclaiming that it was for God’s glory when in reality it fueled their jet. I’m not lumping them all in the same category. There are some good television ministries, we have some awesome leaders in our churches, we have a “few” decent political allies. It must only be a few, else they’d be more done in Washington.

My point of this blog is this. We need to be more aware of our surroundings. Those within and without. I speak very personally now. I waste so much. I could do so much more with what I’ve been given. I don’t live in a mansion, or drive a Cadillac, but I’ve got some poor priorities. Today for myself I just want to examine my “station” in life lest God sends me a messenger…

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Children of the Wind

Ephesians 4:14 ~  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

As Christians go I am likely on the mouthier end of the spectrum. I have lots of opinions, most of which are Bible based, but I can occasionally throw my own in there for bad measure and have to take a trip to the woodshed to get it beat out of me. Paul through the Holy Spirit gives sound advice to the body of believers in Christ Jesus.

Children of the Wind

The bible says to study to show thyself approved. Speed reading won’t work, I’ve tried. There’s a reason God wants us to stay in His word; so that we’re not swept up in the nonsense of the world that’s out there today. Even the slightest of things can skew your judgment. There are popular sayings that I’ve heard all my life and quoted many times thinking there to be bible foundation only to find out later that it was an interpretation of the scripture and often a bad one! Just the other day I referenced the lion laying down with the lamb in scripture. It ain’t in there, why I thought it was I have no idea. Mostly because I’ve heard well intentioned folks quote it, and just picked it up as truth. It makes me wonder what else I may have “picked up.” The verse actually reads “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6.

So you may say that it’s apples and oranges, different yet the same. That won’t fly either.

Let’s look at Mark 10:24 in the King James version of the Bible.

“And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”

Now let’s look at the same verse in the NIV. “The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!”  I read that this morning and my stomach rolled over. Christ said it was hard for “them that trust in riches to enter the Kingdom,” The NIV left the riches part out. Apples and oranges? Not so to an unsaved soul that hears “it is hard to get to heaven.” And says to themselves, “then why try.”

Misquoting scripture can cause a doubt to be cast onto the Word of God. Not understanding it for yourself can cause a doubt in your life. Don’t assume that every good intentioned Christian knows what they’re talking about, for certain don’t assume I do. Read and study it yourself. Most of them don’t misquote scripture or say things with the intent to harm, but you can believe that Satan can use even the most subtle of things to twist the Word of God as he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:1-3

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Eve added “neither shall ye touch it.” Satan’s words of doubt caused her misquote the Lord. And while it seemed such a small matter, we all know how that story ended…

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Grafted & Grateful!

grafted and grateful copy

Romans 11:19-21 ~ Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

I have very few Jewish friends, and although there are no synagogues close by (only 0.1% of our entire state of West Virginia is Jewish) it does not lessen my burden for the Nation of Israel and my responsibility to pray for them. I do not understand much about the Jewish culture, but that’s okay; I don’t have to understand all there is to know about the modern day Jews to understand there was an olden day plan that’s still in effect. It makes my heart quiver when I see the government leaders of the United States turn their backs on Israel; I may not know a lot, but I know how God feels about His elect and those who fail to help them. I know from a mother’s perspective how I would feel if my children rejected me, it would more painful than I could possibly imagine and I know that God’s hurt is much deeper than that. So, when I think about God grafting the gentiles into the nation of Israel, I don’t take it lightly. He also knew how we’d treat Him, by the way.

It was God’s choosing to cut Israel off for a season because of their rejection of His Son, and it was His choice to allow a rag tag bunch of gentiles to come into His table and sup with Him as one of His own. Israel was, still is and forever will be God’s chosen people. What has changed is that they are no longer “exclusively” His people. Gentile believers are “grafted in” to His Chosen People Israel through the gift of the Holy Spirit upon our acceptance of His Son. It’s an honor, and one that is yet to be fully comprehended on how great it is. But when we gather in glory we’ll get it. Today I’m just grafted and grateful and I know that I don’t want to break my Lord’s heart.

Being a grafted part of the tree makes me want to have my roots by the water’s edge. Psalm 1:1-3 says “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also will not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

A Threefold Promise from being grounded in the Word of God.

Fruit – Strength – Prosperity. They do not come to the slothful or those inattentive of the things of God.

We’re not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Be careful where you get advice. Matthew Henry said that “God knows His people by name, but we must know them by their character.” We’re called to witness to the lost not to walk with them until we look more like them than Christ.

We’re not to sit in the seat of the scornful – those who make light of faith and talk against Heaven. There are some jokes that I’m pretty sure God doesn’t laugh at; such as those that make light of sinful acts or of the holiness of God.

We are to meditate in the Word of God. Not just read it and move on, but mull it around for a spell! Take a verse and consider how it applies to your life, search and see if your life matches up with the Word of God, or are there some areas that can use some work. I know what the answer is in my life.

It’s a privilege to have the Word of God, it is through the Holy Spirit that we have understanding of it. We have the Holy Spirit because God loved us enough to adopt us into His family and graft us into His family tree. Don’t take it for granted…

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Damage Control

James 3:5-10

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 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. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

I know this will surprise many of you but I have occasionally shot my mouth off when things would have been better left unsaid. I truly believe that I have been called to be somewhat of a cheerleader of the faith, to encourage believers young and old to continue in their fight of faith by using my mouth as weapon of warfare for the Lord’s work. And then there are those times…

The times that I have to pray that the Lord will shut my mouth because it will say things that “ought not so to be.” I don’t always heed my mother’s advice. As a child in the Strange Creek Grocery store in Braxton County, WV I once corrected an old man’s grammar. My mother wasn’t long about lining me out that she could correct my grammar because that was her job, it was not my job to correct anyone’s. God and I had that same talk this morning…. I’m still a slow learner.

It generally happens when I’m frustrated because of circumstances or hurt. I sometimes am my own cheerleader. “Who do they think they are? Here I am trying to encourage the believers and do the will of God, I’m the one down in the trenches, the one who’s been committed to the Lord’s work for the last 17 years, the one who’s fought Hell with a water pistol and they have the audacity to…” Yea… that’s godly right? So I have to pray, God give me the bridle, put the bits in my mouth and yank them tight or I’m going to do damage.

I heard God say, “That’s not your job.”

James’ words convicted my heart this morning, my prayer was answered. God bridled my tongue and I understood what James meant when he said “and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” The old nature shouts, “Give’em a piece of your mind.” The new nature says “you’re supposed to have the mind of Christ.” The old nature says, “Curse them.” The new nature says, “God made them, you have no right.”

There’s a war within me, you too for that matter; and I don’t want to set a fire with a course for hell. Did you catch that in James’ words? I sure did. I believe that it was God’s way of saying to me this morning. Those piddley things in life don’t mater… unless you allow Satan to use them to blind the eyes of a sinner and they go to Hell. That I’ll lay to your charge.

Bridle me Lord! Amen.

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Confidence in the Wait

Hebrews 10:35-36 ~ Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Waiting for the will of God… never my strong suit. I pray for it continually and then there are those times that I strive for it about 30 seconds. I’m just keeping it real. I’ve told you before, I am the poster child on what not to do. God must tell me again and again sometimes before I get it. Why He is so patient I don’t understand. I fully believe I was set apart for such a time as this and I don’t say those words lightly because I know from reading the scripture that those who do the will of God generally don’t have an easy time of it. Trouble befell them, their families were often caught up in it, they lost their lives and yet they rejoiced.

We know that scripture says our trouble here is just for a little while, and yet trouble can feel like an eternity when you’re in the midst of it. That’s why verses like Hebrews 10:35-36 are in the scripture.

On my way home from the office a few days ago I stopped at a convenience store and this cute little old lady, cute as can be was checking out in front of me. As always I was in a hurry; so when she pulled out her lottery tickets my stomach rolled over. True to form my eyes probably did too. I detest the lottery just so you know. It’s a waste of money and another way that the wicked get wealthy at the poor’s expense. So I waited as she cashed in her $3.00 win for two bottles of water and thought to myself, “Well at least praise God she didn’t buy beer with it.” And when she finished that transaction I gleefully thought my suffering was over. But no. She then had to determine what new flavors of destruction she was going to purchase by way of lottery tickets. I wanted to tell her that God had so much more for her, but she went on her way and I paid for my soda pop and walked out feeling discouraged.

Lottery tickets are a hoped for quick fix with your chances of winning 1 in 175,223,510. Of course that’s your chances of winning the Powerball, you may win a mesely dollar or ten. But in truth how much did you spend to win it? And the wicked laugh all the way to bank as you do without something good that God would have liked for you to have. God’s ways are not generally a quick fix but hallelujah they’re guaranteed!

C.S. Lewis once said “ There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way.’”

I’m not sure who this was written for today, other than me. But God’s word says to be confident in the reward, and patient, and that after His will is done you’ll receive the promise. The will of God? If you run that through a concordance what you’ll discover is that His will is around His service. He may use many other means to get there, but the end result should come back to His glory.

Want to know what’s not His will?

Matthew 18:14

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

How are you serving today?

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The Private Times of a very Public Gospel

2 Peter 1:20

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

I praise God for a simple mind. Even when God gives me something that I think is spiritually “deep”, I’m pretty sure it’s from the shallow end of the pool. When I read the scripture I seldom find any grand and glorious revelation, it’s more of an “Oh, so that’s how it is Lord, thanks!” The scriptures (at least the recommended King James Version) are written on an eighth to tenth grade level. God loves simple people, what can I say. Theologians who can delve into the scripture and write page upon page of deep theological studies  have nothing on me, so can I, it’s just when I explain it it’s in much simpler terms. Where Dr. Mryon Guiler, one of my heroes of biblical knowledge, can expound great truths for an hour on two words from one text, I can for all intents and purposes read the text and “get it.” I’m okay with that. The Bible was meant for understanding.

The Big Lie

“I don’t read the Bible because I just don’t get it.”

I said the same thing… and then I got saved. Ahhhhhhh. Yes I said it. I’m not saying you’re not saved, but you’re either not saved or you’re rebellious. I know from experience because I’ve been both. As a baby Christian in 1996 I discovered what 2 Peter 1:20 meant. This morning I discovered it anew! That’s how the Bible works. I recommend you not take my word for anything written here, but read 2 Peter, Chapter 1 for yourself. It’s but 21 verses, it won’t kill you. As a matter of act it will give you life! But here it is, Shari quoted in the simples of forms.

Verse 1-8

The Bible is all that and a bag of chips. No, it’s much, much more! It’s everything you need to get by in this world unscathed by the wickedness you’re surrounded in. It is the precious promises of God. Perhaps we’ve heard that phrase so much we’ve dulled our ears to it. Or perhaps promises have become so “un-meaningful” in life that we’ve stopped believing the word actually exists in its purest form. Well it exists, and through eternity we’ll experience that every Word in the Holy Text was real. And you need it to survive. I warned you I was simple, read it yourself, you’ll probably get much more!

Verses 9-10

Remember when I said if you don’t get the Bible, you’re either not saved or not right. Insert grin here. It’s the truth, God said it first. Verse 10 reads “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…” If you’re not understanding the Bible, make sure you’re saved.

Verses 11-15

Peter reminds them and now I remind you that you need to stay in the Word of God. It’s your ticket to Heaven. Peter wrote (the Lord said) in verse 11 “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” It’s not just be reading, but by understanding that the Word of God is how the Lord speaks to His children. So you may ask “What about the people who can’t read and understand.” If you’re reading this, you can understand. All others, God will take care of, He’s a very nice God that way.

Verse 16

Peter writes as an eye witness of the Savior.

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

We’ll read the Sunday Gazzette and take it for the gospel (foolish mortals that we are) and yet question if the Bible is literal or figurative. Call me simple, but if a guy was there, and speaks as an oracle (truth and revelation) of the Creator of the Universe, I’m gonna believe him over some yahoo that received a “new revelation.”

Verses 17-19

In Peter’s day he walked with the LORD, he heard GOD Himself from Heaven speak to His Son, Jesus Christ. He was there at the mount of transfiguration (Luke 9:27-36) when Christ spoke with Moses and Elias. But now Christ dwells within the heart of the saved, which is how you interpret the Bible.

Verses 20-21

Which is what started this blog today.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Don’t worry that you don’t understand the entire Bible, what you need to understand the Holy Ghost will reveal to you. I’m not a Bible Scholar. I don’t know all there is to know about the Bible, but little by little, (just what my pea brain can get) God reveals to me His Word through the Holy Spirit. It’s not just for Preachers. Peter was fisherman, Matthew was an IRS agent, and so on and so forth God used ordinary people. He’ll use you too. In these perilous times you need to understand current events, and if you want the truth go to the Bible, not the evening news.

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Courage for the Day

Joshua 1:6-9 ~ Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.  Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. 

Although all of God’s Word, from every punctuation mark to name is of equal importance, there is sometimes a special emphasis on something repeated. It’s as if God is saying, “Did you catch that? I need you to understand, so here it is again.” We know with the children in our own lives that there is sometimes a necessity to repeat something especially if we fear that they’re in harm’s way. In today’s scripture Moses had just died, Israel was about to go forth with a new leader, into a new land, unchartered territory, much like my own beloved Victory Baptist Church is facing with the leaving of our Pastor. It’s also been on a personal level for me many times over the past few years that I have had to face things never I’ve never been through before. My own unchartered territory. It’s a time that Satan loves to mess with your mind; he loves goading you into doubt and dismay of the unknown. He diligently tries keeping you from the Word of God because he knows that there is power and strength to be found among the pages.

Whether you are in a new stage of life or not, for you’ll be on the brink of one eventually, this message will help you. Not because I’m anything great, but because the Word of God will not return void; the bible says so.  God told Israel to have courage three times with three important facts. Facts that we need to remember as we move forward in our lives.

Be courageous because I’ve given you a promise.

God promised Israel deliverance into a new land. He didn’t promise them it would be without battles and giants but He promised it would be theirs. I’m for certain it would have been easier on them if they’d have gone the first time God told them to go in obedience, but their disobedience didn’t change God’s promise. We may change our mind, but God doesn’t change His. He may however change the method of the deliverance because of our unwillingness to go along with His original plan… speaking from experience. In my heart I know that God has made promises in my life. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” God has a plan, and I believe that as time passes in our lives He reveals it to us as a promise with our obedience. He has a great plan that doesn’t necessarily come easy, but if we continue on His way, it’s a promise.

Be courageous because I’ve given you My Word.

Staying in the Word is crucial in times like these. With the political nonsense going on in the world I found it “enlightening” when Joshua wrote “turn not from it to the right hand or to the left.”  Our political power is not where we need to be turning for guidance. Can I get an Amen on that one? Both sides have a lot of work to do to get in line with God. If you want to know how to live your life or how to make a decision, base it on the Word of God, nothing else. If you want to know how to prosper, Joshua just told you… “Live according to God’s law.” That doesn’t promise you’ll be a millionaire, you may be a “nillionaire” (have nothing) but you’ll prosper in ways unimagined and God will take care of you.

Be courageous I’m with you.

If we believe God’s promises and we earnestly pray for His guidance; if we stay in His Word, we’ll get to where we’re going; but regardless child of God, even when we make the wrong decisions in life God never, ever forsakes us. In the deepest valley’s to highest peaks of the mountain God is there.

Are you in unchartered territory? I am. But I’m trusting in God’s promises, I’m believing in God’s Word and I know He is with me. Be courageous, God’s got ya covered!