Hail or High Water

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There is a part of God’s creation that doesn’t have a soul but yet always obeys Him. Always does as he commands. That part of creation is nature and animals. They can’t talk back to God. They can’t refuse to obey him. They’re at God’s mercy. When he parted the Red Sea, the water didn’t have a choice but to separate. When he caused the donkey to speak to Balaam, the donkey didn’t have a choice but to speak.

When the sun shines each day. When the stars come out at night. When the rain falls. When the wind blows. When a tornado strikes. When hail pummels the ground. None of these have a choice. Weather patterns don’t have a choice whether to start or stop. It does as God commands.

Excessive weather events are controlled by God. Tsunamis. Drought. Earthquakes. Landslides. Volcanoes. God created this earth to obey his commands. And if you notice, people call these incidents acts of God.

And now mankind is trying to manipulate nature. We want to stop the sun’s rays from beaming to the earth. We’ve put layers of radiation in place to damage human and animal bodies. And we call it good. We call it progress. But we’ve never stopped to ask what God thinks of our plans and ideas for improving his creation. Shame on us. I’d dare to say that God perfectly created the universe. The planets. The stars. The galaxies. The sun and moon. The oceans and all that live therein. He doesn’t need any help improving it. He expects us to care for it, not harm it.

But yet the one part of creation that God loves the most is mankind. The part of creation made in His image. The part that he gave a mind and soul and the power to choose. We’re the one part of God’s creation who decides what we do. We can choose to obey God or we can refuse. Mankind is the one part of God’s creation that God chose to commune with one on one. He gave us a soul. He gave us a mind to reason and choose. Vocal chords to speak. We can communicate intelligently.

In the garden of Even, God spent time with Adam and Eve. He didn’t just sit alone in nature. He went to nature to spend time with his image bearers. And when those first two humans disobeyed God’s command, they were separated from him.

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalms 19:7

If God tells us that we should do something magnificent, we can choose not to do it. If he tells us to stop doing something, we can choose to continue or to stop. We, as image bearers of God, don’t have to obey Him. We can say no. We. Can. Say. No. I’m going to do what I want. When I want. Why I want. Where I want. How I want. We can refuse to obey.

Even though we know God’s will and ways are always perfect, we always have a choice. We have that power. We can say no. We can refuse to honor God. It doesn’t make us more powerful. By any means. It shows our weakness. Refusing to obey God shows our weakness, and it shows that we have given in to another power. The power of Satan influences us by using other people or things that God has made and called good. But Satan twists the good into evil and calls it good.

Only God’s creation that doesn’t have a soul is powerless to refuse God. We might think. Wow, all those poor animals. Those poor flowers and trees. The poor oceans. They have to do everything God commands. But look at what little worries they have. The Bible says just as God feeds the birds of the air, so will he feed and clothe us.

Did you ever notice that Satan doesn’t run after the oceans or skies or animals? He doesn’t tempt them to do what they weren’t created to do. Have you ever seen a potato planted and later harvested as an apple? Does a deer give birth to a cat? Does rain refuse to soak the ground? Satan tempts the creation of God who has the power of choice. Mankind has the choice to do right or wrong. Good or bad. We can create beauty or destroy God’s work. We have the power to refuse Satan’s advances. One little word is all it takes. NO.

We see creation, the trees, the flowers and the insects that are required to keep nature working. God created all of those. He has power over them. They don’t stop and ask why they have to work. The sun doesn’t ask why it has to shine today. It doesn’t beg to be left behind the clouds. Does the moon ever say no, I don’t want to come out at night? Do the stars refuse to shine? Do the constellations refuse to move into format? Does the earth refuse to turn?

God has given those of his creation with souls the responsibility to care for the rest of the earth he created. He created it for our use and for his good purpose. And we treat it with shame because we don’t respect God and His commands. We don’t honor Him through our service of caring for the earth. It’s on us. God commanded us to care for the earth. And there are those who think more highly of creation than they do the Creator. That in and of itself is a problem. But when we care for creation, we acknowledge and honor our Creator.

If creation honors God’s commands, why can’t I?

When the Israelites escaped from Egypt— when the family of Jacob left that foreign land— the land of Judah became God’s sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom. The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs! What’s wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. He turned the rock into a pool of water; yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock. Psalms 114:1-8

Trouble Spotted Ahead

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I believe Jesus could return at anytime to take his followers home with him. We’re seeing prophecies being fulfilled. We’re witnessing the changing of the guard as it relates to morality and acceptance of blatant sin. There is military unrest throughout the world. Countries once thought enemies have shaken hands. Countries once thought friends have parted ways. Citizens of countries throughout the world have been put on notice that the clamp is tightening on personal freedom and autonomy. Privacy is pretty much a thing of the past. Food shortages are said to be coming soon.

I read an article recently that caused unwanted anxiety. If the warning is true, a catastrophic event could occur soon and you may never read what I’m writing. Or the supposed event may have already passed without fanfare. If the warning is false, life will continue as normal for the time being. All future stability in the world is up for grabs. Some call these warnings conspiracy theories. Others note them as plain conspiracies that will eventually play out in front of our lives. I’ve read that we should pay attention to what is being said about future catastrophic events. I assume we should consider ourselves warned. If the crazy words are being said, then someone has possibly planned to cause destruction. And many lives will be endangered or ended. Only time will tell.

Regardless of what does or doesn’t happen, at the moment, all our hearts are still beating. The sun is shining. The weather is muggy in my neighborhood. And American flags are flying. It looks to be a good day. No one knows at this point what the end of the week will look like. But isn’t that the case for any week?

It just so happens that I was reading in Psalms this morning and came across some chapters that were like a salve to my anxious heart. My soul is at peace, but my physical being is at times shaken by the news and speculations that I read. Perhaps I shouldn’t read them, but I want to be in the know. I’m not one for surprises. But I also know that I can’t plan for every disaster.

But back to the Psalms. The soothing words were written long ago by men facing uncertain times of their own. Their nation, too, had turned its back on God. They too were facing known and unknown enemies. Yet there were some who were faithfully serving God. They were obeying his commands and following his lead. But because their leaders had bowed to false gods, the nation was unstable.

What we must remember is that the enemy we’re facing is unseen. He’s lurking. He’s pushing. He’s gaining power where he once would have none. And he’s being allowed to expand his reach further and further into civilization. He wants full and total control. And there will be a day when that happens. But it isn’t today. Yet he still causes major friction and turmoil in hearts and in homes. In leaders and in followers. In cities and in countries. Yet he is not the savior of the world. He is the world’s worst enemy. But he wants the world to think of him as friend and savior. That he is not. He is Satan. The enemy of our soul.

So during the times of turmoil in my heart, these Psalms are a balm of peace. The one constant, unchanging element of life is God. He is always present, even when times are uncertain. And these Psalms speak peace and comfort in those uncertainties.

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Psalms 42:1-2

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. Psalms 42:8

For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies? Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. Psalms 43:2-3

Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us. O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. Psalms 44:5-8

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalms 46:1-3

The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalms 46:6-7

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalms 46:10-11

I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.

Jim Bailey

Happy Birthday, America

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This week America celebrates another birthday. Two hundred forty seven years ago, America launched its quest for freedom. But did you know that July 4th wasn’t the actual day that freedom was declared for this young country? No. The American Revolution started in April 1775. The first draft of the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson in June 1776. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress decided to declare independence. The document was actually signed on August 2nd. And it wasn’t delivered to Great Britain until November 1776.

So, what actually happened on July 4th?

July 4th is the date the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. The document was dated July 4, 1776. That date has stuck with the document from the beginning and was declared a national holiday in 1870. Almost one hundred years after the Declaration of Independence was written and signed, legislation was finally put in place recognizing July 4th as the official national holiday.

For almost twenty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the country didn’t celebrate that monumental occasion. It was practically forgotten until John Adams wrote a letter in 1817 complaining that the country seemed uninterested in its past. History repeats itself, wouldn’t you say?

In April 1818, Congress passed the Flag Act. The act ensures that the American flag has thirteen stripes. Alternating red and white stripes. There will be a star for each state admitted to the union. Since 1818, there have been twenty-four versions of the flag, representing each new state admitted since then. Any new version of the flag is effective on July 4th of the year after the new state’s admission.

Francis Bellamy wrote the first pledge of allegiance in August 1892. In its original form, the pledge read: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In 1923, the following phrase was added:  “the Flag of the United States of America”. In 1954, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words “under God” to the pledge in response to Communist threats.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All Americans should be proud of the country we represent. We should never take lightly the freedom that has been fought for and won by our soldiers. Many have given their lives for our freedom. Let’s honor their sacrifice and not give away what was given to us by previous generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord , the people he chose for his inheritance. Psalms 33:12

America has been billed as the land of the free and the home of the brave. But look at us. Our personal freedoms are being threatened. And bravery seems to be in high demand. So what has changed? It appears as though our nation has forgotten that we are to be a nation under God. Where have we put God? It seems that for years this country has been in a downward spiral, due to the fact that we moved God out of control.

Our country started out on a biblical foundation, yet we now find ourselves living in a land that is governed by unbiblical principles. Anything and everything goes. Oh. God has never chosen America as his favored people. He gave the favored status to the nation of Israel. And it was from Israel that the Messiah came to earth. God’s only Son was born to a virgin named Mary. The Messiah came to earth and died for our sins long before America arrived on the scene.

And yet, this country that became a superpower is threatened today by forces unseen. Oh. We see the threats. We hear the threats. Fellow citizens use mean words to attack our liberties. Other nations seem to believe we’re no longer a viable threat, so they spew their own threats at us. We have bullies in office and others are vying for the job. We don’t know how this nation will survive or thrive if current conditions remain the norm.

Yet we must remember. God is an ever present help in times of trouble. No matter what happens in this country. No matter who wins or loses any election. No matter if we agree with the decisions handed down from the highest court of the land. God is in control. He does not waver and he does not bow to anyone. God allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. Our nation, great as it is, isn’t the superpower we must worship. The superpower in charge of all creation and of all times and of all things is God Almighty. We will all bow and worship him at some appointed time in the future. May his name be praised.

Sin’s Deception

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I’ve begun reading about sin. Sin. It’s an ugly word. But it looks beautiful. It is attractive and desirable. Sin makes you acceptable to people who ignore God, and it makes them comfortable when they’re with you. But sin separates us from God.  What do we want most? To be acceptable by everyone surrounding us? Or do we want to be found acceptable to God? It’s our choice.

In his book, Know Your Enemy, Graham Beynon gives us some pointers about sin. I thought it would be helpful to stop and consider what sin really is and what it does to us.

Sin is disobedience to God’s Word.  We do not want to be governed by God’s law.  We make ourselves the god of our lives when we take away God’s authority.  We live as if we know what’s best for us, rather than seeking the will of our perfect Heavenly Father, who sacrificed his only Son for our sins.

In any form of sin, we are acting in open hostility to God. It seems harsh to say that, but participation in a sinful life is not an act of loving God. How can it be? We can’t say we love God and then intentionally disobey him. Sin is outright rebellion.

Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.  1 John 3:4

Sin involves losing faith in God. Satan sows seeds of doubt about God and his commands for how we are to live.  Satan twists and distorts God’s word, so we will doubt God’s character.  For example.  God says he loves us, but then he allows hardships to come into our lives.  Why would a good and perfect God do that?  If God is generous, why does he restrict us from doing certain things? I must ask myself.  Have I ever questioned God’s goodness?  If so, what caused me to doubt?  Am I willing to turn the tables on those doubts and study the Bible until I’m reconvinced that God is always and forever good even when my circumstances may not be? How can we say our faith in God is strong if we deliberately choose to sin against him?

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31

Sin involves believing lies.  In order to separate us from our belief in God, Satan has to distort the truth.  He has to convince us that what we once thought was truth isn’t.  Satan has to win our confidence.  At times, it’s a hard sell for him.  Other times.  He’s got an easy job.  How hard do we make it on Satan to convince us that his lies are the truth?

We can believe that our disobedience is actually good for us. That sin is right. It can be easy to convince ourselves that our actions or our words or even our intentions are good. But if we’re truly honest with ourselves, we know that we’re rotten to the core. We know that we’re self-centered, but we won’t admit it. And we definitely don’t call it sin. We believe the lie that sin has told us. We resist the truth, because the lie seems easier to live with. Until it isn’t.

For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

Sin will always be attractive.  If sin was actually ugly, would we be interested?  Honestly?  We want to look at beauty.  We want to be involved with beautiful people.  We want to drive fancy cars and wear the latest fashions. We want others to want to know us. We long to be part of the in crowd.  We want to be attractive to others, so we look for things that attract us.  We don’t have any interest in ugly.  So, Satan knows how to attract us to his evil schemes.  Make wrong look right and make right look wrong. 

Sin won’t look live an ugly man with glowing eyes, dressed in a red robe and carrying a pitchfork. Oh. No. Sin will be pretty and easy. It will be more appealing than not sinning. Because not sinning means denying ourselves something that seems so right and good and beautiful. But sin will lead to eternal death.

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.  James 1:14

Sin never delivers on its promise. When we sin, we believe something about God that isn’t true. And once we’ve committed that sin, it loses its allure. Suddenly, the shiny apple has dulled. The new has worn off. And we’re left feeling used and worn. Maybe not at first. But, after awhile. After believing the lie that sin has told us, we’ll realize that the lie isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

What was once appealing has now been exposed as a lie. The happiness we thought we would find didn’t last. And we find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation. How can we get back to where we once were? How can we regain our innocence?

We have the option to believe truth or lies. And once we’ve lived with believing lies, we can turn back to the truth. We don’t have to believe lies and live in sin all of our days. We can turn back to belief in God. God keeps all his promises. All the time. In his time.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23

Lukewarm Water

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I drink a quart of water first thing every morning. I know that if I don’t, I may not drink enough throughout the rest of the day. One quart down is a good way to start the day. At least in my opinion. I’m not sure why, but I prefer to drink it warm, or even a little past warm. The other morning, I wasn’t paying too much attention to what I was doing when I filled the quart jar. I took a solid drink and realized it was only lukewarm. It wasn’t very pleasant. I drank a little bit and then set the jar on the counter to finish filling my dog’s breakfast bowl.

When I returned to the water a few minutes later, I realized it had cooled down considerably. It was now almost cold. No. It obviously wasn’t ice cold. But it wasn’t even lukewarm any longer. I realized it didn’t take much time at all for the lukewarm water to cool off. If it had been hot or warm water, I could have taken more time to drink it without it becoming noticeably cool.

Oh sure. There are days when I almost scald myself, because I’ve gotten the water too hot. But those days seem to be rare. Thank goodness. I don’t need to burn myself in the wee hours of the morning. I just want to get an early start on meeting my water quota for the day.

Some may say that lukewarm water is the way to drink it if you’re not looking for ice water or hot tea. But lukewarm water is somewhat akin to complacency. It’s saying it doesn’t really want to make an effort. The problem is that lukewarm water looks like any other water. Someone could be easily fooled thinking they’re getting a nice glass of cold water. Obviously, they’ll know it isn’t ice water, because there’s no ice or condensation. And they’ll know it isn’t hot water because there’s no steam or heat. But will they think it’s lukewarm? Not really. I mean. After all. Who drinks lukewarm water? Besides me on accident.

What is the purpose of lukewarm water?

Lukewarm Christians look like any other Christian. They play the part well. They know the right words to say. They know the right things to do. They know to go to church. They know to treat others well. They most likely know the ten commandments. Do they live by each of them? Only they and God know.

Have lukewarm Christians ever been on fire for God? Have their hearts burned to know more about the God who created them? Have they ever made an effort to spend time with God on a regular basis? Do they pray? Do they attend church? Is their Christianity on the outside, but never made its way inward? Is that even Christianity? When a person calls themselves a Christian, shouldn’t there be evidence that they’re growing in their faith?

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Isaiah 29:13

I have to ask how easy is it to spot a lukewarm Christian? Do they look any different from Christians who are wholeheartedly serving the Lord? Can you spot one easily in a crowded room? Can God even work in a lukewarm Christian? After all, they aren’t really committed to Christ. If God doesn’t work through lukewarm churches, how can he work through a lukewarm Christian? He says we are either hot or cold. Otherwise, like lukewarm water, he will spit us out of his mouth.

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Revelation 3:15-16

What is the purpose of a lukewarm Christian?

It’s assumed that cold Christians aren’t Christians. They don’t claim to be Christians. They don’t feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit in their lives. But those who are lukewarm call themselves Christians, yet there’s no fruit or growth. So, how can they sense the Holy Spirit’s leading? Pretending to be something you’re not is basically living a lie. As the old saying goes. You can fool all the people some of the time. And you can fool some of the people all the time. But you can’t fool all the people all the time. And you can never fool God. He sees right through our lukewarmness. It’s better to be cold and not pretend to be what you’re not.

If left untouched, lukewarm water always turns cold. And it only takes a matter of minutes to lose any heat it had. Left to its own devices, it will never turn hot. The same goes for lukewarm Christians. They will soon lose what warmth they had if there’s no attempts to be reheated.

Two people set out for home walking the dusty road back to Emmaus. Discussing the disheartening events of the weekend, they suddenly found a stranger walking with them. He acted so innocent when they discussed the troubling scene they had witnessed in Jerusalem. The one they hoped to be the Promised Messiah had been unceremoniously killed. Hanged on a cross. And now on the third day since his death, his body was missing. They couldn’t explain it. And they couldn’t understand how this lone traveler had somehow missed out on all the happenings. How could he have not heard what was happening in their holy city?

But then. When he opened his mouth, he explained the Old Testament in a way they had never heard. He explained all the Scriptures that explained his life. Yet they knew him not. They had no idea the Promised Messiah was walking that seven mile stretch with them from Jerusalem to Emmaus. But when he sat down to break bread with them, the Holy Spirit opened their eyes and their hearts. Suddenly, they were aware the Son of God was sitting with them. They realized why the man who had been hanging on that cross was missing from his tomb. He was sitting in their home. And just as quickly as he appeared to them on the road, he disappeared.

They asked each other. Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked with us and opened the Scriptures to us? They who had been lukewarm in their faith. They who did not fully understand the Scriptures suddenly believed the story of the Messiah. Oh. These two believed in God. They were, after all, practicing Jews. But they didn’t fully believe that the One who had been preaching and teaching and performing miracles was truly the Messiah. They hadn’t accepted him as their Savior. Sure. They wanted him to be the One, but they weren’t yet convinced. And what did it take to convince them? A face to face and a heart to heart conversation. A digging in of the Scriptures. Then they believed.

Read about the walk to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-34.

How can we who hear the story of the resurrection of our Savior have such calloused, cold hearts? How can we go about our days as if the world was our oyster? Aren’t our hearts burning to understand the teachings of our Lord and Savior? What will it take to soften our hearts today and cause us to be on fire for the One who died for our sins?

Oh, ye of little faith. We must either fully trust God and live for him, or deny him altogether. And who of us who call ourselves Christians want to deny him? But then. Why are we so hesitant to fully trust him? What would it cost us? And yet, if we don’t trust him fully, it will cost us our soul. Eternity in hell is a huge price to pay to be lukewarm. Especially when we don’t realize we’re lukewarm.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10

Massage Therapy

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I am lying face down on the table with a sheet over me.  I know my shoulders are tight and will need the strength of his hands to loosen the muscles.  I also know that he’s loosened them in the past, so I have complete faith that this massage will be no different.  I haven’t seen him in a couple of months, due to no fault of my own.  He has a habit of calling in sick on Mondays.  And it always seems to be the Monday I am scheduled to meet with him. I try not to schedule these appointments on Mondays, but it can’t always be helped.

Oh.  I’ve broken up with him a couple of times over the years.  But I keep running back to him, because I get the desired results from his touch.  My tightened muscles loosen from the bruising manipulation of his fingers.  Sure.  Pain is sometimes involved.  I’m ok with that.  If the deep tissue massage works out all the tightness and eases the lack of movement in my shoulders and neck, then yes, I’m ok with a little pain. 

As he works on my legs and thighs, he is amazed that I can’t feel any pain.  He can tell that the work he is doing is showing results in my loosened muscles and unstuck fascia.  But I can’t always tell a difference.  Sure.  I sometimes hear a popping sound.  And other times I sense a calming feeling in a once tight muscle.  But as he’s working on each area, he can feel the difference even if I can’t.

I schedule time with this man each month. Ninety minutes per month. That’s all the time I’m allotted. By the end of the month, I’m beginning to feel the strain and tightness in my muscles. I know the time is drawing near for my next meeting. I always look forward to these times. That’s the reason I get frustrated when he suddenly cancels the appointment.

Oh. I’m not impressed with the man personally. He isn’t handsome, but he doesn’t have to be. He plays music of his liking. And it’s always the same music every month. I don’t even like the music, and I recognize the songs each time I hear them. It isn’t meditative, soothing instrumental music that you would associate with a massage. It’s annoying music. He also talks during our time together. I don’t need conversation when I’m trying to relax.

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9

Another thing. Almost every time I visit him, the person at the front desk dares to ask me the same question. Are you sixty-five? NO. I’m not. Apparently, I look that age, or people don’t understand that you don’t have to be at that age to have gray hair and saggy skin. They don’t need to know how close I’m getting to it, but please. Show some respect. And put a tracker into your scheduling system that automatically gives a discount once a person qualifies for it.

But it’s the touch of his strong hands that bring me back to him. And there are times that he extends our time together. Thirty extra minutes of massage? Count me in. Especially since I’ve already paid.

Oh. I was unfaithful last month. I met with someone new. I’ve been told by those close to me that he isn’t trustworthy, and I should find someone who is more reliable. But the new one I visited didn’t quite fit what I’m looking for. So I’ve crossed her off my list. I may keep searching for a backup, but I imagine it would be practically impossible to find anyone better than this man.

I know. This is a first world problem, and it isn’t even really a problem. I don’t live a spoiled life. I don’t live in luxury. I don’t buy designer clothes or possessions. I live a pretty simple life. I live a good life. But yet. I find things to complain about.

There are issues I could focus on and make myself sick with worry. I’ve had trouble in my life. But for this moment, I’m thankful for my imperfect but good life. Things could be better, but they could always be worse. After all, as it says in Ecclesiastes, everything is meaningless.

I think it’s time to count my blessings rather than focus on the petty annoyances that really don’t matter. Life is too good to dwell on unnecessary, trivial matters. It may not always be this way, so I think I’ll focus on the good and be grateful for what God has given me.

Defending the Faith

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I’ve been reading about Stephen. He was the first martyr killed for his Christian faith. Oh. I’m sure he didn’t expect to die that day. After all, he had been performing miracles and doing the work of the Lord. Then some men started a debate with him, and they turned against him as they realized they were no match for his wisdom. The men who challenged him were most likely descendants of Jewish men who had been freed from slavery or imprisonment.

None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. Act 6:10

The reality is that Stephen wasn’t any smarter, more educated or a more qualified debater than those challenging him. The difference was that he had the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon him, and he spoke truthfully and fearlessly. He had soundly defeated them in the debate, and they were set to get even. They were disputing his authority in these matters.

So this group of men turned the tables on him, and the situation quickly got ugly. Oh. Stephen kept his cool. But these men secretly persuaded others to lie about him. Then they stirred up the people and others in the area and took him to face the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was no laughing matter. This was basically the Supreme Court of Israel. And not only that, these accusers then produced false witnesses who testified against Stephen in the courtroom. They claimed he was blaspheming Moses and God.

Suddenly, everything went wrong for Stephen. He was put on trial. And the witnesses brought in to testify lied about him. There was nothing factual about the evidence that was brought before the court. Yet, there he stood. Facing his accusers, his face shone as bright as an angel’s. Oh. Stephen may have known what the end result would be. And he most likely knew that he would soon be standing in front of God Almighty instead of this Sanhedrin. But he wasn’t fazed by the prospect. He was ready to meet his Maker.

When asked by the high priest if the accusations were true, Stephen preached a mighty sermon to this crowd of mockers. He shared the story of mankind from Abraham to their current day. He didn’t let any detail slide. Those in the crowd knew the story. They were men educated in the Jewish worldview. They knew the Scriptures and could recite them from memory. So what was their problem?

In his defense of Christianity, Stephen called out his accusers. He made no effort to conceal the truth about their willingness to persecute the prophets and even kill the Messiah. He accused them of deliberately disobeying God’s law. So, of course. It’s easy to see how the Jewish leaders of the high court were immediately incensed at his allegations. He was quickly dragged out of court and stoned to death.

In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:15-17

But, oh, we say. Why didn’t he just keep his big mouth shut? Why did he have to point the finger of accusation and judgment at them? And to their face? After all, this was the high court of the land. What did he think they would do after he said those pointed words? Did he expect a slap on the wrist and be let go? Or, was he answering to a higher calling?

The thing is. Stephen’s faith was no different from other Christians of his day. The difference was that he was willing to risk all for the sake of Christ. Others weren’t so willing. He represented Christ gracefully, not weakly, in a moment of provocation.

Stephen was able to apply Scripture to the challenges he faced. In the heated confrontation, he was able to speak biblical truth to his detractors. I wonder. Can I do that today? When I’m engaged in a conversation about my faith, can I uphold my beliefs with Scripture? Would I stand strong in my convictions? Or am I just spouting my opinion? Do I even engage in those types of conversations, or do I run and hide? Do I always take the easy way out of hard conversations? Do I know the Bible well enough to back up my faith with Scripture? Or, would I just fake my way through and hope no one was the wiser? Would I be willing to put my life or my liberty on the line for my faith?

If I knew that others would lie about me, bring in false witnesses and take me to court, would my faith stand strong? Would my faith be as firm in court as it is with my friends and fellow Christians? Or, are there certain groups of people I shy away from so I don’t have to face an uncertain future?

There are many questions we must ask ourselves if we stand for Christ. Are we willing to make a stand?

As believers in the Christian faith, we must know the Scriptures and be able to apply them relevantly to the cultural challenges we face today. That is exactly what Stephen did, and we are no different from him today. The challenges we are up against in this world today may look a little different from the issues Stephen faced, but they all have a spiritual consequence. We must be able to defend our faith from a Biblical perspective when we discuss those issues.

You can read Stephen’s story in Acts 6:8-7:60.

Daily Devotions

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

God knew that his chosen people, the nation of Israel, would some day want a king to rule over them. They would eventually want to be like their neighboring nations that had kings. So God spoke through Moses and gave instructions on what a king should do. And sure enough. That’s what happened. The Israelites asked for a king, so God gave them the desire of their hearts. It’s obvious that the kings either deliberately disobeyed or forgot or ignored the instructions God gave them. There was one command that would have made all other commands easier to obey. By the way history has been written, it is apparent that these kings chose not to perform this one daily task. If all of the men who eventually became king over Israel would have followed this one simple command, history would have been written in a totally different way. But here we are. Sure. It would have taken time out of their busy royal lives, but there are always things and people and events that can distract us. We must stay focused on obeying God’s commands, every one of them, so that our lives will be free from sin.

The command God spoke through Moses was that the king must copy for himself the Law of God onto a scroll. And he should do this in the presence of the priests. He should then always keep that copy with him and read it every day as long as he lives. Imagine if each Israelite king would have read God’s law every day of his reign. And by copying the law in front of the priests meant that they could instruct him in the meaning of the words he was writing.

When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:18-20

It’s a known fact that we learn by writing down the information given to us. What better way for the king to know the commands he’s to follow than by writing them down. That simple task would familiarize him with the laws. And then when he would read them each day, he would have a written reminder of how to lead his nation to follow God. It doesn’t seem a difficult command to follow. Does it?

Now imagine. If all the presidents who have ever been elected to lead our great nation would have written out every single word of the Bible in front of a noted theologian each day. Imagine that they would have then read it daily. Imagine how different our country would be. Imagine how different their decisions would have been. Imagine what evils they could have prevented. Imagine the good this country could have done. Imagine the actual freedom the citizens of this country would experience. Also. Along with a good conscience and truthful speaking and righteous acts committed by these presidents, there would be dissenters. Not only dissenters from within the nation, but foreign dissenters. No. Not everyone will agree with the teachings of the Bible. But everyone doesn’t have to agree with it in order for it to be true.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalms 119:105

We have a choice each day. To read or not to read the Bible. Let’s take a stand and open the Word of God and apply it to our lives. It’s also not a bad idea to get a pad of paper and pen and write it out in longhand. Writing with pen and paper seems to be a dying art, but imagine the learning that would take place if we committed to spending time in God’s Word each and every day. If we are committed Christians, then it should already be a habit we follow. But if not, then today is the best day to start. Open the Word and read it. Write it down and even commit it to memory.

I’ve made the decision to read my Bible through every year. I’m on my third year of doing this. Each year I read it, I find things that I’ve forgotten or overlooked or ignored. Or perhaps certain passages of Scripture didn’t jump out at me in previous readings. I find that I’m learning new truths each time I read the Bible. And I love that. The Bible is full of many types of literature, so it is never dull. It gives commands on how we should live. It provides prophecies that have been fulfilled, as well as others that are still waiting to happen. It’s not only historical, but it is full of references of how our life will continue after we pass from this earth.

At some point in his reign, King Solomon stopped his daily practice of reading Scriptures. And it became obvious during his reign that something had changed. Oh. But first. He was never perfect. His priorities changed from pleasing God to pleasing himself. He grew very wealthy. He denied himself no luxury. He married many, many women and had a multitude of concubines. And he began worshipping false gods that his many wives worshipped. They and their worship of false gods pulled him away from the One True God.

We too must be very cautious. If we don’t maintain a regular habit of reading the Bible, we may get caught up in practices that ignore or deny God. Isn’t it true that if we don’t stay in touch with our friends, we think of them less often. They aren’t as high a priority as they once were. We tend to forget about them. The same goes with our relationship with God. If we don’t spend time with him every day, we will find excuses to ignore him. He will stop being a priority in our lives. Let’s not do that. Too much is at stake.

And then what happens if a friend confronts us about something we don’t want to hear? Do we avoid them? Unfriend them? Do we make them less of a priority because we don’t want to hear uncomfortable truths? Do we treat God the same way? If we read something in his Word that convicts us, do we continue reading or set the book aside and never open it again? Do we tell ourselves that we aren’t really a bad person and those words must be meant for someone else?

Our life on this earth is short compared to eternity. We think seventy or eighty years is long, but they go by very quickly. And if we haven’t made a habit of reading God’s Word and spending time with him, we won’t recognize his power and authority. Let’s open the Word of God and make it a daily habit. Then let’s see what happens in our lives.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12

No Smell of Smoke

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Daniel’s three friends were in trouble. They had been invited to a celebration of sorts. The king had built an idol and expected his government leaders to bow down to it. And these three said No. They would not bow. They didn’t even have a second thought about changing their minds. Even when given a second chance, they stood strong on the grounds that it would defile their relationship with God. And there was no way they would let anything come between them and God. There was no hesitation or pause in their response. They had made that decision ahead of time, and they were sticking to it.

So here they were standing in front of a blazing furnace. And the king was so enraged that he had the furnace turned up several degrees hotter. And he had his mighty military men bind these three hand and foot before throwing them in the furnace. The fire was so hot that it killed the soldiers who shoved them into the furnace. As they fell down into the flames, the binding around their arms and feet fell away. They were free to move about freely. No. They didn’t burn up. They didn’t die. They were walking around in that big furnace. And suddenly the king shrieked! He saw a fourth one in the fire. I’m sure he was suddenly fearful. How did a fourth person get in the fire? Who was this and how did he get in there? And the king claimed he looked like the son of a god.

Oh. Deep down he knew, but he didn’t want to admit it. The king knew who was in the fire with these three faithful followers of God Almighty. This king, Nebuchadnezzar, had already had a run-in with this God, and God proved his might. Now, once again, here is God showing up to save the lives of three men who faithfully stood strong in their faith against a self-infatuated king. You see. Just before tossing these men in the fire, the king had dared to ask them just what god would be able to save them. And guess who showed the king. God himself.

So the king did the only thing he could do. He called to the men in the furnace to come out. So out of the furnace the three men walked. Not a hair on their heads was singed. Their clothes weren’t scorched. And they didn’t even smell of smoke. It was a miracle indeed.

You can read the full story in Daniel 3.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Psalms 46:1-2

Imagine a time when you are called on to bow to a false god or a false ideology that goes against your faith in God. As you stand with the crowd, there are watchers. They are looking for those who refuse to bow to the demand. And the decision must be made in an instant. To bow or not to bow. What would you choose? Oh. If you’ve already made the decision ahead of time that nothing, and I mean nothing, comes between you and God, then you don’t hesitate. Making that decision in advance is key to not bowing to pressure. But if the decision hasn’t been made, then the split second you have will be very telling. If you haven’t thought out what you would do when a very difficult decision that tests your faith stands before you, you could easily bow to a demand you don’t support. And then. There you are.

Let’s say you decide to stand for God’s truth. You buck the trend and choose to share the reason you can’t comply with what is being demanded of you. And then you’re challenged even further with loss of job or worse. Do you still stand strong in your convictions? Or, does your courage begin to fray? Do you go against the grain and maintain your personal faith in the face of any and all threats? Let’s say that you do.

Then the true test comes. You lose your beloved job and no one will hire you. After all, you’re not one who can be counted on to support current cultural trends. So you’re blacklisted. Loss of income. Loss of respect in your field of expertise. You’re an outcast. During that time of testing, do you feel the fourth person in the fire with you? Do you sense God’s sweet presence walking with you through that burning furnace? Just because you alone stood for your faith when others bowed to pressure doesn’t mean you’re standing alone.

Then, by God’s grace and provision, you land on your feet. You find a job and you’re saved from homelessness and embarrassment. You can once again pay your bills and provide for your family. You know that it is through the hand of God that you have gotten through the difficulty, and you’re so very thankful. You know that God is truly the source of your strength, and your faith is stronger than ever.

But do others see that stronger faith and courage in you? Did you walk out of the fire without any smoke damage? Was your hair singed? Were you clothes scorched? Do you smell like the smoke of testing? Did you walk out with a bitter attitude? Do you grumble and complain because life isn’t fair? Do you carry the smell of smoke or the aroma of Christ?

We’ve all been through deep trials in our lives. Some are walking through the fire of testing at this moment. Others feel they’re about to be burned. They are standing strong in their faith, but some days are more difficult than others. They wonder if standing strong is really worth it. They wonder if giving up and giving in to the pressures they’re facing is the best thing to do. Is it better to cave to pressure or burn in the fire?

When we are in the fiery trials, we can know that God is with us. We know his goodness exists even when life doesn’t feel good. We can sense his nearness as we walk through the fiery trials of life. We don’t know if the three men in the furnace knew there was a fourth person in the fire with them. So, we may not always be aware of God’s presence with us as we face trials and tests in our lives. Can we accept the trials knowing that God has allowed them, even if we don’t sense his presence?

We must walk worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ regardless of the cost. We must stand for what is biblical. We must also decide that the things we believe, the biblical values we hold near and dear to us, will impact the way we live our lives. It is time for Christians to be courageous.

Skimming the Truth

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The thing is. I didn’t lie. I didn’t embellish. But I still didn’t tell the truth. I omitted facts in my story that would have implicated me. No. It wasn’t a harmful omission. It just wasn’t a full truth. And God checked me on it. 

Oh. When I was sharing the story, I realized I should give the full details. But in a moment of self-righteousness, I omitted the information that would bring me down a notch in the other person’s eyes. So, I just didn’t share that part of the story. I didn’t realize when the conversation started that I would be faced with this dilemma, and I was a little caught off guard.

And then God tapped on my heart. And I couldn’t ignore the tap. So, I set the story straight and shared all the details. She probably didn’t think a thing about it, but I knew that I had set things right between me and my God. And that is the way I want to live my life. Keeping things straight between me and God.

I knew I needed to be exonerated in God’s eyes. Because. After all. If I ignore his tug on my heart for a seemingly inconsequential omission of information, what will I do when in a situation of consequence? If I can’t own up in the small offenses, I surely won’t have the courage to do or say the right thing in a really tough situation. 

Partial truth is not complete truth. Obviously. So is it truth? We live as if it is. Oh. We say. I didn’t lie. But if we don’t tell the entire true story, we’re leaving out vital information. And that information could steer the hearer to a different conclusion. And sometimes that’s the goal we’re aiming for. Giving enough truth to call it truth, but making sure the listener doesn’t get all the facts that leads them to a decision, act or thought that goes against our objective. It’s a faulty thing this manipulation of people and actions and facts. We need to be careful.

My dad used to say that a lie was the skin of the truth. And he was right. When the layers of the story are peeled back, it moves further from the truth. Especially if we have to stretch the information to put ourselves in a good light. The conscience will only prick for so long until a callous forms. And then it hardens to the truth. Until the day comes that truth is basically invisible. Then we must ask the question. Is it still truth?

Tell the truth. No matter what.

We lie because we’re threatened by the truth.

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12‭-‬14

Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord , my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:13-14

The Jews and Gentiles were a mixed lot. The Jewish nation was chosen by God as his treasured possession. His son, Jesus, would be born into their nation to save us from our sinful condition. Then there were the Gentiles. They had their own separate beliefs, which were much more relaxed than Jewish traditions. The apostles Peter and Paul had preached to them about the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They wanted the Gentiles to know that Jesus died not only for the sins of the Jewish people, but he died for the Gentiles, as well.

Since the Jews had many regulations about food preparation and foods they were allowed to eat, anyone who was a Jew wouldn’t eat with those who weren’t of their persuasion. But when Peter spent time with the Gentiles, he ate with them. He gave up his Jewish rules in order to share the good news of salvation with his Gentile friends. He became one of them to win them to Christianity. He wasn’t trying to change their traditions. But then, some Jewish friends came to visit. All of a sudden, Peter no longer ate with the Gentiles. He became a strict Jew again. While living among the Gentiles, Peter snubbed them because his Jewish friends came to visit. Perhaps he felt torn between the two groups of people. Perhaps he was unsure how to please his Jewish brothers but still continue his relationship with the Gentiles. It was a touchy subject, to say the least.

Instead of skimming the truth with our words and actions, we need to preserve it. Let’s preserve the truth by making sure that’s all we say. No cutting corners. No exaggerations. No hedging. If we can’t say the truth, then we should be silent. And if we can’t be silent, then we should speak the truth. I know. At times, we get caught off guard. That’s what happened to me. I wasn’t planning to skim the truth, but there it was. I didn’t tell the full side of my story, so I led my listener to believe something of me that wasn’t true. And I’m sure it didn’t bother her in the slightest when I corrected my story. But it mattered to me.

And when Peter stopped eating with the Gentiles, he was hedging the truth to both the Jews and Gentiles. In his case, Paul set him straight. Paul confronted him and demanded he live authentically at all times. That’s exactly what we as followers of Christ are called to today. We must live authentic Christian lives. We must be willing to speak truth, not only in inconsequential conversations, but in all situations. Because when we are in the throes of a heavy conversation, we’ll be in a position to naturally speak truth. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Let’s be authentic. Let’s be truth tellers.

If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me. Psalms 66:18-20