“WHO IS THE LORD?”

 Proverbs 30:7-9                     (ESV)

    “[7] Two things I ask of YOU;

        deny them not to me before I die: 

    [8] Remove far from me falsehood and lying;

        give me neither poverty nor riches;

        feed me with the food that is needful for me, 

    [9] lest I be full and deny YOU

        and say, “WHO IS THE LORD?”

    or lest I be poor and steal

        and profane the name of my GOD.”

Solomon was the WISEST man alive, not by his own actions, but by the direction of his CREATOR (1 Kings 4:29-30).  According to most, he made some decisions that were not an example of Godly Wisdom, but his earthly smarts.  These verses, however, made a statement that Solomon understood that it is ALMIGHTY GOD WHO is over EVERYTHING, and HE leads us where HIS PLAN calls!  

Since Solomon was known to be a man that sometimes listened to “the dark side” of his intellect, he knew that reaping the rewards for his actions was a certainty.  That regrettably didn’t mean that his decisions were always the wisest, even though GOD had placed HIS wisdom inside of him for Solomon’s benefit and GODS Glory!

Does this make any sense for Solomon to reject Godly Wisdom and accept his choices?  He had Godly Wisdom, but occasionally he CHOSE to listen to his earthly desires rather than LISTEN to the Godly Wisdom that GOD had BLESSED him with at times?  

Do I sometimes do THE SAME THING?  We have THE WORD OF GOD, a testament of HIS instruction manual, and yet I get so “busy” in the things of “this world” that I listen the cares of my surroundings rather than slowing down and listening for DIVINE INSTRUCTION!!!  This lowly servant needs to be FOREVER making sure that I am asking “WHO IS THE LORD” when I am being presented with options for the choices for my future!  James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves therefore to GOD. RESIST the devil, and he will FLEE from you”.  Proverbs 28:26 “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a FOOL, but he who walks in WISDOM will be delivered”.  “WHO IS THE LORD” will be very clear when we submit to HIM!!!

“FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY!”

 Ephesians 3:20-21        (ESV)

“Now to HIM WHO is able to do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to HIM be glory in the church and in CHRIST JESUS throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

“WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM!”

 Romans 7:24-25                             (ESV)

“[24] “WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM”! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD! So then, I myself serve the law of GOD with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”

This letter (book of Romans) was written by Paul to “all those in Rome who are loved by GOD and CALLED be saints” (Romans 1:7)!  In the 2,000 years since, “the enemy” has not been weakened, nor has he given up any of his tricks to deceive!  “WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM” that I allow myself to to be overtaken by the schemes of the evil one and cause pain and discontent in my life?  

Paul was a stalwart of Believers.  My level of commitment may never match his, but I am TREMENDOUSLY further along than I used to be!  FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause this “WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM” to SEE the traps of “the enemy” and focus on serving YOU!!!

“THE CLOUD AND THE DARKNESS!”

 Exodus 14:19-20                          (ESV)

“[19] Then the ANGEL of GOD WHO was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the Pillar of Cloud MOVED FROM BEFORE THEM and STOOD BEHIND THEM, [20] coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was “THE CLOUD AND THE DARKNESS”. And it LIT UP THE NIGHT without one coming near the other all night.”

The Children of Israel were CHOSEN by ALMIGHTY GOD to demonstrate HIS MIRACULOUS work to and through them!  But their “lack of FAITH” was always displaying itself in demonstrative ways when they needed show it most!  One might expect them to be prepared for an upcoming “trial”, but they were seemingly always caught off guard, not expecting “the enemy” to show up when he did!

In the passage of Scripture above, “the enemy” (the darkness) was rendered harmless by THE CLOUD (GOD) “without one coming near the other all night.”  THE DARKNESS create FEAR just by the sight of its presence, BUT JESUS is the LIGHT (John 8:12) of the world and FEAR has to flee when HE is present!  The Children of Israel had a choice between looking at “THE CLOUD AND THE DARKNESS”!  

We too have the option of looking at the DARK TRIALS of “the enemy” or looking at the LIGHT OF THE WORLD!  The option seems rather simple and certain when you don’t have THE DARKNESS around you.  But when THE CLOUD (GOD) abides in us we SEE DARKNESS, then FEAR has to flee!  

“GOD CHOSE YOU!”

 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15                  (ESV)

Stand Firm

“[13] But we ought always to give thanks to GOD for you, brothers beloved by the LORD, because “GOD CHOSE YOU” as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the SPIRIT and Belief in the TRUTH. [14] To this HE CALLED YOU our gospel, so that you may obtain the Glory of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. [15] So then, brothers, STAND FIRM and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”

The following statement was written by someone who is “educated”, as the prefix before the author’s name was “Dr.”.  

“If this year were your last, would you spend the next hour mindlessly checking your social media, or would you read something that uplifts you instead? Would you compose a snarky comment on this article, or use the time to call a friend to see how she is doing?”

Having your EYES OPENED to SEE what lies in the future is a humbling, yet exhilarating thing!  KNOWING that I am one of the CHOSEN by the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES to worship and adore HIM for eternity gives me PEACE that is indescribable.  

The church at Thessalonica was who the Apostle Paul was writing to, but as Believers we benefit from his messages written in the first century following the sacrificial, atoning death, burial and resurrection of JESUS.  “But we ought always to give thanks to GOD for you, brothers beloved by the LORD, because “GOD CHOSE YOU” as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the SPIRIT and Belief in the TRUTH. To this HE CALLED YOU our gospel, so that you may obtain the Glory of our LORD JESUS CHRIST” cannot be improved upon, in my humble opinion!  “GOD CHOSE YOU” is the ONLY thing that sets me apart from the rest of Creation!  

We need to take the time to LISTEN to OUR CREATOR and let HIM give us guidance and direction for our lives!  Trying to figure out what we need to accomplish in “this world” is as futile as anything I can imagine.  The Apostle’s all left “this world” not owning much!  But they all left KNOWING “GOD CHOSE YOU” and that was enough!  What will you do with the knowledge that “GOD CHOSE YOU”???

“LISTENS!”

 1 John 4:4-6.                     (ESV)

“[4] Little children, you are from GOD and have overcome them, for HE WHO is in you is GREATER than he who is in the world. [5] They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. [6] We are from GOD. Whoever knows GOD “LISTENS” to us; whoever is not from GOD does not listen to us. By this we know the SPIRIT of TRUTH and the spirit of error.”

Recently I saw the following post on a social media site, “This goes out to all the people who had report cards growing up that read “talks too much”!  My thoughts immediately went back to before the Brain Hemorrhage, when my personality was quite different!  Hearing oftentimes that “You can’t learn anything with your mouth open” never sunk in to my “extremely confident”personality.  But ALMIGHTY GOD can change even the strongest of personalities, and we don’t have to give our consent to the change!!

The SPIRIT of TRUTH IS ABLE to change the hardest of hearts into a vessel that can be used for HIS GLORY!  Previously I was “extremely busy”, trying to be whatever I felt at the time I was being led to accomplish?  The concept of LISTENING hardly entered my thought process as I was TOO BUSY doing things, and not always for the Kingdom!  For me at the time, just remaining in the whirlwind of activity I was operating in was sufficient.  Apparently what it was accomplishing wasn’t that important as long as I was doing something???

Only recently have I discerned that he who “LISTENS” to the SPIRIT of TRUTH is in the quiet stillness of their prayer time is the one who is doing a worthwhile thing!  The one who takes time and “LISTENS” to the SPIRIT of TRUTH is the person that can HEAR the direction that they are being led.  

The word “LISTENS” is used above about those who “know GOD”!  Those who DO NOT know GOD cannot understand TRUTH!  1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us “The natural person DOES NOT accept the things of the SPIRIT of GOD, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are SPIRITUALLY discerned”!  A person CANNOT “LISTEN” to GOD unless he is CHOSEN!  Count your BLESSINGS if you are able to “LISTEN” to the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES!!!

“A HELPER FIT FOR HIM!”

 Genesis 2:18-25                           (ESV)

“[18] Then the LORD GOD said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him “A HELPER FIT FOR HIM”.” [19] Now out of the ground the LORD GOD had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. [20] The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found “A HELPER FIT FOR HIM”. [21] So the LORD GOD caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. [22] And the rib that the LORD GOD had taken from the man HE made into a woman and brought her to the man. [23] Then the man said, 

    “This at last is bone of my bones

        and flesh of my flesh;

    she shall be called Woman,

        because she was taken out of Man.”

    [24] Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. [25] And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”

Briefly today, Scripture says that the LORD GOD made man, then GOD made “A HELPER FIT FOR HIM” and identity was named Woman!  Twice in the seven verses of Scripture above “A HELPER FIT FOR HIM” is used to identify the helper GOD made SPECIFICALLY for Adam!  How did GOD know what Adam needed?  HE is GOD ALMIGHTY, HE KNOWS EVERYTHING!!!

How did GOD “know” precisely what “Big Ray”

would need before HE placed “A HELPER FIT FOR HIM” in his life!  HE IS GOD ALMIGHTY, HE KNOWS EVERYTHING!!!  So if there is a weakness in my wife, I should step in and realize that “A HELPER FIT FOR HIM” has been ordained by the LORD GOD to complete me and me to complete her!  There is NO IMPROVING what GOD ordains and I need to understand that and eternally THANK HIM that HE CHOSE her to complete me!!!

“FOR YOU ARE MY GOD!”

 Psalm 143:9-12                                (ESV)

    “[9] Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!

        I have fled to YOU for refuge. 

    [10] Teach me to do YOUR will,

        “FOR YOU ARE MY GOD!”

    LET YOUR GOOD SPIRIT LEAD ME

        ON LEVEL GROUND!

    [11] For YOUR name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life!

        In YOUR righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! 

    [12] And in YOUR steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,

        and YOU will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,

        for I am YOUR servant.””

“SEE HOW THE FATHER WAITS!”

 James 5:7-9                              (ESV)

Patience in Suffering

“[7] BE PATIENT, therefore, brothers, UNTIL THE COMING OF THE LORD. “SEE HOW THE FARMER WAITS” for the PRECIOUS FRUIT of the earth, being PATIENT about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. [8] You also, BE PATIENT. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand. [9] Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the JUDGE is standing at the door.”

My grandfather was EXTRAORDINARILY gifted as a farmer.  Most mornings he would be in his garden before the sun came up tending to his crops, usually with no reward until the harvest was complete.  He had other talents, but farming was something that he did most of his life of almost 90 years!  One might think that BEING PATIENT would come naturally to an older person, however it is not something that has been easy for this humble servant!  It seemed as though my grandfather knew that he would not be able to plant seeds and expect to receive fully mature plants within a few days.  After turning 62 earlier this year, I am probably STILL learning that growth of plants, as well as humans, is controlled by our CREATOR, ALMIGHTY GOD!

“SEE HOW THE FARMER WAITS” is a statement that one CANNOT be expecting unrealistic growth WITHOUT a certain period of time in the ground.  From my experience, seeds HAVE to be planted (buried) before they can go through the process of producing fruit!  As humans, most are born with the mentality that we need to produce to be considered “worth our while” (Meriting one's time or efforts)!  Most are operating at such a pace that we are unable to consider the probable consequences of our actions before it is time to experience what those SEEDS produce!  

Being “older” lends itself to being able to recognize TRUTHS more than in my youth. While my inexperience and lack of discipline may have led me to “dig up the seeds” to see if they were growing, allowing GOD to keep those seeds covered in the ground is exactly what they needed at times!  GROWTH tends to happen when the SEEDS are in the soil, not when they are observed by those who don’t have knowledge of the growing process!  We need to BE PATIENT and “SEE HOW THE FARMER WAITS” for his rewards for his labor, both physical and SPIRITUAL!!!

“BE PATIENT!”

 James 5:7-9                              (ESV)

Patience in Suffering

“[7] “BE PATIENT”, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the LORD. See how the farmer WAITS for the precious fruit of the earth, being PATIENT about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. [8] You also, “BE PATIENT”. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand. [9] Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the JUDGE is standing at the door.”

Noticing an “older than I am” acquaintance on a social media site recently caused me to reminisce about the journey I have traveled in my brief life, but far longer than others have been blessed with.  The fact that I am older than my grandfather when I observed him tearing up a check that my great-grandfather wrote to him for carrying his final milk cow to the cattle auction was almost alarming, but very true!  Our time here is limited, even though we don’t SEE that TRUTH when we are operating at the speed of “this world”.

We tend to get so caught up in the “hurriedness” of living that we don’t enjoy LIFE from time to time.  It was just revealed to me that the temperature is supposed to be in the 30’s tonight, an indication that the summer heat might be nearing an end.  Enjoying the warm weather before the cold of winter is something that I have to remind myself how blessed I am to experience.  Before the Brain Hemorrhage, I was extremely hot natured, wearing very little warm clothing in the dead of winter.  Since, I am very cold natured, even wearing long sleeved shirts during the summer months!  

Like my friend I saw this morning, I am a bit older than I used to be!  But I understand that it is ONLY by the Grace of GOD that any of us are still here, on planet earth!  We are here FOR A PURPOSE, to celebrate HIS goodness and grace to a lost and dying world.  Sure, we are only here for a short time, but we need to “BE PATIENT” and live in the TRUTH that ALMIGHTY GOD is in control of the very breath that we breathe, NOT US!!!

“THEY KNEW GOD!”

 Romans 1:21-25                         (ESV)

“[21] For although “THEY KNEW GOD”, they did not honor HIM as GOD or give thanks to HIM, but they became futile in their thinking, and THEIR FOOLISH HEARTS WE DARKENED. [22] Claiming to be wise, THEY BECAME FOOLS, [23] and exchanged the Glory of the immortal GOD for images RESEMBLING mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

[24] Therefore GOD gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the TRUTH about GOD for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than THE CREATOR, WHO is blessed forever! Amen.”

On Saturday, August 20 of the year 2022, one of my sons carried me to see an NFL preseason game watching a team that today is playing a regular season game on television.  Although I enjoyed the game AND FELLOWSHIP with my son, I am not COMMITTED FOLLOWER of the aforementioned team and therefore am not greatly influenced by a win or loss.

The words “THEY KNEW GOD” gives a supposition that the people “understood” WHO GOD is?  But their EYES had yet to be OPENED to SEE WHO provided them with the very breath they were breathing (Isaiah 42:5), and HE could take away that breath at HIS discretion?  Do you think that any human being would ignore THE CREATOR if their EYES were able to SEE TRUTH, and ignore what that meant to their being???

Even though “THEY KNEW GOD”, apparently their eyes were not opened to understand THE CREATOR was WHO they were ignoring and minimizing”!  THEY BECAME FOOLS and THEIR FOOLISH HEARTS WE DARKENED, exchanging the Glory of the immortal GOD for a lie!  

We need to SEE WHO our CREATOR is and fully understand that HE wants to reside inside of our bodies!  We can say “THEY KNEW GOD”, but until our EYES are OPENED to SEE and KNOW HIM, we will never LIVE in VICTORY!!!

“CERTAINLY NOT!”

 Galatians 2:17-19                           (ESV)

“[17] But if, in our endeavor to be JUSTIFIED IN CHRIST, we too were found to be sinners, is CHRIST then a servant of sin? “CERTAINLY NOT!” [18] For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. [19] For through the law I DIED TO THE LAW, SO THAT I MIGHT LIVE TO GOD.”

Living IN CHRIST does NOT indicate that we will never sin again!  As a matter of fact, in his first epistle to Timothy the Apostle Paul writes “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners, OF WHOM I AM THE FOREMOST”, or the KJV uses the word CHIEF!  In my opinion, the Apostle Paul was probably the most dedicated servant we have the privilege of reading about.  Yet, he called himself the chief of sinners???

When we SEE where we are IN CHRIST compared to who we KNOW we were when we were lost, it is an EXTREMELY HUMBLING experience!  The Apostle Paul, the author of Galatians as well, was rather clear (yet emphatic) about he was the FOREMOST of sinners, but JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT!!  He wrote in the today’s focal passage that JESUS was “CERTAINLY NOT” a sinner, but in 1 Timothy that he was the FOREMOST of sinners!

It is difficult for me to rank myself above anyone about anything!  But in 1 Timothy 1:16, the verse where he admits he is the worst of sinners, Paul writes “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the FOREMOST, JESUS CHRIST might display HIS PERFECT PATIENCE as an example to those who were to Believe in HIM for eternal life.”  HE displays HIS PERFECT PATIENCE for the FOREMOST OF SINNERS because HE LOVES US!  And is it because we are worthy, “CERTAINLY NOT!”, but because of HIS LOVE for us!!!

“I AM SURE OF THIS!”

 Philippians 1:3-11                      (ESV)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

“[3] I thank my GOD in all my remembrance of you, [4] always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, [5] because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. [6] And “I AM SURE OF THIS”, that HE WHO began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of JESUS CHRIST. [7] It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. [8] For GOD is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of CHRIST JESUS. [9] And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, [10] so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of CHRIST, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through JESUS CHRIST, to the glory and praise of GOD.”

This “letter” written to the church at Philippi was written from the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned under the authority of Nero, Emperor of the Roman Empire until his death in June of 68 AD.  Paul was in prison, but he wrote “I AM SURE OF THIS” to the Philippian church “that HE WHO began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of JESUS”!  The KJV of Philippians 1:6 begins with “Being CONFIDENT of this very thing”!  The Apostle Paul KNEW that JESUS WOULD COMPLETE HIS WORK, regardless of how bleak the prognosis appeared!

Noting several friends who have lost loved ones and are grieving their “departure” from “this world”, one might consider the “sympathetic” response would be to grieve with them?  However, whenever one removes themselves from the human ties and considers that the WORK of JESUS supersedes ALL, it becomes very clear that the cares of humanity aren’t as important as we might think?  When the doctor spoke the words to my 77 1/2 year old mom that she had breast cancer, my brain couldn’t process that information!  Only 8 months prior my brain had hemorrhaged, very nearly causing death!  She refused treatment and 22 days later left to enter her eternal reward!  Her focus was on where she was going, regardless of what my Brain Damaged mind was dreaming up!  

As stated, Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the church of Philippi from a Roman prison.  One might believe that he would be discouraged and fretful about his immediate future?  He KNEW where he was going and he couldn’t act as though he didn’t!  He understood that ALMIGHTY GOD had a Plan for his life and he was trying to fulfill that Plan whatever it cost!  

The Apostle Paul “probably died sometime around AD 64” around the age of 60, according to some.  He KNEW that he was prepared for what lay ahead of him, just like my mom did, “I AM SURE OF THIS”!!!  The same author who penned the passage of Scripture above also wrote 2 Timothy 4:7 which says “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.  Let the same be said of me when my time is completed.  But let me plainly and boldly say on this side of the grave that “I AM SURE OF THIS”, as to where I am headed!  

“OPEN MY EYES!”

 Psalm 119:17-24                           (ESV)

    “[17] DEAL BOUNTIFULLY  WITH YOUR servant,

        that I may live and keep YOUR WORD. 

    [18] “OPEN MY EYES”, THAT I MAY BEHOLD WONDROUS THINGS OUT OF YOUR LAW. 

    [19] I am a sojourner on the earth;

        hide not YOUR commandments from me! 

    [20] My soul is consumed with longing

        for YOUR rules at all times. 

    [21] YOU rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,

        who wander from your commandments. 

    [22] Take away from me scorn and contempt,

        for I have kept YOUR testimonies. 

    [23] Even though princes sit plotting against me,

        YOUR servant will meditate on YOUR statutes. 

    [24] YOUR testimonies are my delight;

        they are my counselors.”

It might seem a bit presumptuous, but when you Believe ALMIGHTY GOD has placed a VISION in your heart and soul, asking HIM to “OPEN MY EYES” to SEE what HE requires me to do is the ONLY option available to this follower of CHRIST!  When HIS PLAN is what you desire,  experiencing resistance from “the enemy” is to be expected.  We should expect to encounter a “rough road” on our journey, but with the HOLY SPIRIT as our GUIDE we should always expect to be victorious in HIS MISSION!  

Walking with the HOLY SPIRIT as the Navigator of our bodies should be the preferred method of travel for the Believer.  Why do we “mortals” sometimes appear to surrender our FAITH to do anything less than what ONLY GOD can do to COMPLETE HIS PLAN?  

FATHER IN HEAVEN, “”OPEN MY EYES”, THAT I MAY BEHOLD WONDROUS THINGS OUT OF YOUR LAW” and know PRECISELY what it is that I need to do for YOUR GLORY!!!  There is NOTHING that I prefer doing other than YOUR PLAN for my life!  “OPEN MY EYES” to SEE YOUR PLAN!!!

“BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!”

 Deuteronomy 31:6-8                                 (ESV)

“[6] “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS”. DO NOT FEAR or BE IN DREAD OF THEM, for it is the LORD your GOD WHO goes with you. HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU.”

[7] Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS”, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. [8] IT IS THE LORD WHO GOES BEFORE YOU is the LORD. HE WILL BE WITH YOU; HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. DO NOT BE AFRAID OR BE DISMAYED.””

Moses begins Deuteronomy by reminding the people of their journey with GOD from slavery into the Promised Land thus far. He reminds them of the victories GOD gave them over their enemies, and how GOD wanted Moses to pass the baton to a new generation of Israelites led by a next-generation leader, Joshua, the son of Nun.  By the end of the book of Deuteronomy Moses dies, but not before instructing Joshua to “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS”!

Moses was known as someone who GOD ALMIGHTY would “speak to face to face”, according to Exodus 33:11.  Moses KNEW that GOD was capable of speaking to Joshua, but he wanted to make certain that Joshua was LISTENING TO GOD and not children of Israel, like Aaron had done in Exodus 32.  That brought about worshiping the Golden Calf, a low point of the Exodus.  Moses surely didn’t want this to occur again!

Far too often in my walk with GOD I have failed to “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS”, relying on my own wisdom or ideas to guide my steps.  Anytime “the enemy” can cause our focus to on ANYTHING other than GODS PURPOSE for our lives, he isn’t far from having us defeated!  We MUST “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS” and keep our focus on doing what HIS PLAN is for us, and in HIS TIMING!  For us to “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS” means that we MUST rely on the HOLY SPIRIT living inside of us (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19) for our guidance, NOT our own wisdom!

Relying on ourselves to “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS” is a recipe for disaster!  Our INDWELLER, the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, must be given freedom to guide and direct our lives.  Our choices are we can either attempt to go where we want to go, or we can travel where we are LED, as we “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS”, yielding to HIS LEADERSHIP!!!

“DO NOT CONDEMN ME!”

 Job 10                          (ESV)

Job Continues: A Plea to GOD

    “[1] “I loathe my life;

    I will give free utterance to my complaint;

        I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 

    [2] I will say to GOD, “DO NOT CONDEMN ME”;

        let me know why YOU contend against me. 

    [3] Does it seem good to YOU to oppress,

        to despise the work of YOUR hands

        and favor the designs of the wicked? 

    [4] Have YOU eyes of flesh?

        Do YOU see as man sees? 

    [5] Are YOUR days as the days of man,

        or YOUR years as a man’s years, 

    [6] that YOU seek out my iniquity

        and search for my sin, 

    [7] although YOU know that I am not guilty,

        and there is none to deliver out of YOUR hand? 

    [8] YOUR hands fashioned and made me,

        and now YOU have destroyed me altogether. 

    [9] Remember that YOU have made me like clay;

        and will YOU return me to the dust? 

    [10] Did YOU not pour me out like milk

        and curdle me like cheese? 

    [11] YOU clothed me with skin and flesh,

        and knit me together with bones and sinews. 

    [12] YOU have granted me life and steadfast love,

        and YOUR care has preserved my spirit. 

    [13] Yet these things YOU hid in YOUR heart;

        I know that this was YOUR purpose. 

    [14] If I sin, YOU watch me

        and do not acquit me of my iniquity. 

    [15] If I am guilty, woe to me!

        If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head,

    for I am filled with disgrace

        and look on my affliction. 

    [16] And were my head lifted up, YOU would hunt me like a lion

        and again work wonders against me. 

    [17] YOU renew YOUR witnesses against me

        and increase your vexation toward me;

        YOU bring fresh troops against me.

    [18] “Why did YOU bring me out from the womb?

        Would that I had died before any eye had seen me 

    [19] and were as though I had not been,

        carried from the womb to the grave. 

    [20] Are not my days few?

        Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer 

    [21] before I go—and I shall not return—

        to the land of darkness and deep shadow, 

    [22] the land of gloom like thick darkness,

        like deep shadow without any order,

        where light is as thick darkness.”

These thoughts and words were written about Job while he was in the midst of severe angst over the persecutions and temptations of Satan, but only after GOD told Satan in Job 1:12 “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” 

“The enemy” is ONLY allowed to take what THE LORD permits, and ALMIGHTY GOD gave Job TWICE AS MUCH (Job 42:10) as he had previously and Satan was unable to stop GOD’s goodness!!!

Job was in a place where GOD permitted, not from punishment, but because GOD wanted to display HIS Sovereignty over “the enemy”!  “DO NOT CONDEMN ME” was his prayer to GOD at this time, but it was brought about by the trials and tribulations of the unholy one!  “DO NOT CONDEMN ME”, LORD, amidst the attacks from the destroyer!!!

“I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE!”

 John 10:22-31                    (ESV)

“I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE”

“[22] At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and JESUS was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. [24] So the Jews gathered around HIM and said to HIM, “How long will YOU keep us in suspense? If you are the CHRIST, tell us plainly.” [25] JESUS answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my FATHER’S NAME bear witness about ME, [26] but you do not believe because you are not among MY sheep. [27] MY sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of MY hand. [29] MY FATHER, WHO has given them to ME, IS GREATER THAN ALL, and no one is able to snatch them out of the FATHER’S hand. [30] “I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE”.”  [31] The Jews picked up stones again to stone HIM.”

Acknowledging that “the Jews” what some would consider to be “bad people” is something that I have never been able to completely wrap my mind around!  They were GODS CHOSEN PEOPLE As a matter of fact, Scripture indicates from the beginning that HE “laid down HIS LIFE” for us!  How, why, and couldn’t HE have devised a better plan to CHOOSE HIS Beloved is something that my mind has never been able to comprehend. As far back as Genesis 12 Abram was CHOSEN by GOD to be separated as a BELIEVER in GOD, not because he was better than others, but because he was KNOWN BY GOD ALMIGHTY, “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4)!  

Deuteronomy 7:6 plainly states “For you are a people HOLY to the LORD your GOD. The LORD your GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU to be a people for HIS treasured possession, OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLES who are on the face of the earth.”  The definition of the HOLY begins with “to be set apart”!  “The Jews”, and most of Creation, did not accept JESUS as GOD, not because they were intellectually lacking or inferior.  Their EYES were not OPENED to the TRUTH to SEE GOD walking in their midst, even though they were about to CRUCIFY HIM!  As GOD CHOSE Abraham in Genesis 12 to bless, HE also CHOSE me to be drawn out of the darkness and into HIS marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)!  

ALMIGHTY GOD CHOSE to allow HIS SON to 

suffer the gruesomeness of Calvary because I could NEVER measure up to HIS perfection!   JESUS CHRIST was submissive because “I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE”!  John 17:23 says “I in them and YOU in ME, that they may BECOME PERFECTLY ONE, so that the world may know that you sent ME and loved them even as you loved ME”.   Even though I am FAR from perfect, JESUS IS IN ME therefore I can be seen by the FATHER AS PERFECT because “I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE”!!!

“IN PRETENSE!”

 Jeremiah 3:6-10                      (ESV)

Faithless Israel Called to Repentance

“[6] The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what she did, THAT FAITHLESS ONE, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore? [7] And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to ME,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. [8] She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore. [9] Because SHE TOOK HER WHOREDOM LIGHTLY, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree. [10] Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but “IN PRETENSE”, declares the LORD.””

In a dictionary, the word PRETENSE is defined “A false appearance or action INTENDED TO DECEIVE; A professed but feigned reason or excuse; a pretext; Something imagined or pretended”.  

Israel had broken her relationship with THE LORD and HE “sent her away with a decree of divorce”(v8)!  To have ALMIGHTY GOD, our CREATOR and SUSTAINER, put HIS CHOSEN away in divorce would have been devastating to me, but the penalty for their sins DID NOT turn Judah back to THE LORD!  “Judah did not fear” and “SHE TOOK HER WHOREDOM LIGHTLY”!  She was “cheating” on her CREATOR with with NO REMORSE!!!

Are our actions and better today?  We tend to think that we can have an adulterous affair on our SAVIOR with no consequences?!?  ALMIGHTY GOD promises in Scripture many times that HE will never leave us nor forsake us, yet we tend to BULLDOZE through life without SLOWING DOWN and listening to our MAKER!  Isaiah 44:6 “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides ME there is no god”, and we listen to heretics and false teachers instead of searching HIS WORD for TRUTH!

Are we actual BELIEVERS exhibiting FAITH in our CREATOR, or are we acting “IN PRETENSE” trying to “fit in” where we are NOT welcome in “this world”?  Is our FAITH in our wealth, retirement or financial stability?  Or do we rely solely on our relationship with JESUS?  Professing “IN PRETENSE” is precisely what “the enemy” wants from each of us’. Will you FOLLOW HIM, or is your belief only “IN PRETENSE”???