Gratitude

Psalm 136

For every image my eyes bring into focus… for every sound wave that beats against my eardrums… for every flavor that grazes my taste buds… for every scent that tickles my nostrils… for every texture my hands embrace… for every (good) thought that rests in my mind… for every (good) motive that settles in my heart… for every breath I inhale and exhale… I am grateful.

Stumbling And Falling

Romans 11:11

There are some who stumble, and there are some who fall. The former can be good, but the latter, not at all.

God chastises His children, to shift their minds to Him, but when a child falls, the decision was all on them.

In those times we stumble, it’s easy to stand aright, but falling from the hand of God, can make you lose your sight.

Be careful not to stumble, be certain not to fall, but if you lose your focus, the stumble trumps the fall.

Early Birds

Psalm 5:1-3

The secret of a close relationship with God is to pray to him earnestly each morning. In the morning, our minds are more free from problems and we can commit the whole day to God. Regular communication helps any friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God. We need to communicate with him daily. Do you have a regular time to pray and read God’s Word?

(Excerpt from Life Application Study Bible)

Wisdom Beyond This Point!

Proverbs 4:7

How did you arrive at your point of suffering? Were your hard times the cause of someone else’s doing, or do you spend your days in regret, contemplating on the choices you should not have made? While many today endure troublesome times, some suffer more, from the works of their own hands. Life will inevitability bring us into difficult seasons, but let’s not assist in making our days unnecessarily harder, by making the wrong choices. Let’s learn to use wisdom in all our doings, in order to avoid senseless suffering.

Look At Me!!!

Psalm 44:8

What has the world become? In times past, men and women functioned very differently than today. The father would typically provide for the family, while the mother turned the house into a home. Children were disciplined in the home, and in turn, were usually well-behaved in public. Modesty was common in the dress code of men, women, and children, and rarely would anyone feel comfortable enough to expose their body in public places. Sadly, the rise of social media has changed our society forever! Not a day goes by, where people aren’t seeking attention, by either exposing their bodies, or doing something unusual with their cell phone camera.

Why do so many people seek attention these days? Well, I’m glad you asked. The main reason individuals yearn to be noticed is, they have absolutely no relationship with God the Father. When God is first in a person’s life, they’ll no doubt place His desires above their own. Another reason people freely expose their personal business on social media is, they lack self-respect, and need the approval of others to feel relevant. What a shame. God made everyone wonderfully, and that alone should make all people feel appreciated. Unfortunately, modesty, humility, and self-control were placed to the side when Facebook, Twitter, Tick Tock, and Instagram became prominent social media outlets.

While it’s not uncommon for “worldly” folk to be drawn to such selfish desires, it’s sad when those who claim to be “Christians” are found yearning to get views on their social media platforms. The body of Christ was commanded to be holy, and that includes all conversation and communication. What you say from your lips, or type on a phone or computer, will be a representation of what you believe. If you claim to be righteous, but post unholy videos, then your claims are false. If you gossip, lie, or support unethical media, then you are just as bad as those who post it. As becoming Saints, we must keep ourselves separate from all things ungodly, and unhealthy. The world is expected to seek attention, as satan did when pride consumed him in heaven, but the church of the living God, should never be partakers of such unholy behaviors.

The Bible tells us to make our boast in the Lord. In other words, brag on God for being the creator of life, and sustaining all things in it. As frail humans, we should never allow ourselves to think highly of anything we do, because at any moment, sickness, tragedy, or any other unfortunate thing could occur. God is the only one who deserves attention, and the glory we place in ourselves, should be redirected toward heaven.

Troubled Treasure

Proverbs 15:16, 16:8

We in the United States, live in a society where greed is prominent. The more men gain, the more they want. Humility has become an afterthought in the great ole’ “Land of the Free”. Rather than be grateful for simply having enough (food, money, property, etc.), men desire more of things, than what they really need. Oftentimes, those who desire more than enough, typically find themselves struggling with the troubles that are inevitably associated with “too much”. Rare and few are those who desire much, in order to care for the needs of others. Conversely, those with selfish motives can be found in abundance.

God commanded His people to fear Him, and keep His commandments. Obeying these simple commands requires one to always walk in humility, while appreciating the daily benefits provided by the hand of God.

Those who profess to be born-again believers, should never be guilty of greed, nor the desire to want more than what they need. “Give us this day our daily bread” should be the mindest of all who love the Lord, and strive to be His representatives in the earth. Make an honest effort to empty yourselves of pride and selfishness, then ask God to fill your hearts with His love, wisdom, and understanding.

Gone Too Soon…

2 Chronicles 35:20-27

Throughout history, many people, including men, women, and children, have died before their time. Some even say, there’s an appointed time for all men to eventually pass on from this life to the next, but I’m certain, many have left this earth prematurely. All men were created wonderfully by the hand of God, and tasked with a special purpose to fulfill in the earth. Unfortunately, not all people were successful in fully completing their ordained assignments.

In my brief 40 years of existence, I’ve witnessed the lives of many be cut short, whether by murder, suicide, or some type of accidental tragedy. In the same way we witness a tree die before fully developing and producing fruit, is similar to seeing a person’s life end, before they even begin to show their true potential.

From a young age, king Josiah ruled in Jerusalem well. God gave this young king wisdom and spiritual insight, in order to restore the temple of the Lord, and His people, to prominence once again. The texts reads, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the left, nor to the right” (2 Chronicles 34:2). King Josiah did well in cleansing Judah and Jerusalem from all idolatry. During his reign, Josiah and the children of Israel departed not from following God.

While this great reign could have endured many more years, it was cut short when king Josiah went against a man, following the Lord’s assignment. The King of Israel assumed incorrectly, a heathen ruler could be doing a work for the Lord. Unfortunately, his false assumption cost him his life. Just because someone is in the company of heathen, doesn’t exclude them from being used of God. The Lord can use anyone He desires, to fulfill His plan. Rather than listen to Necho’s message, Josiah disguised himself, and went against the man’s words. The king died at a fairly young age, then was buried in one of the sepulchers of his fathers.

No man knows the day or time of his death, but while we have life, let’s use wisdom to navigate through it. We may not have all the solutions or answers to the many questions of life, but we serve the God who does. Appreciate every second you’re blessed to have, and do all you can to avoid making foolish mistakes. God loves everyone, but He can get more use from our lives, when we place all our trust in His will, and not our own.

A Song Of Grief

Amos 5

v.1 “Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation….

v.2 The virgin of Israel has fallen… there is none to raise her up…

v.3 For thus saith the Lord God…

v.4 …Seek ye me, and ye shall live…

v.5 But seek not Beth-el… and Beth-el shall come to nought…

v.6 Seek the Lord, and ye shall live…

v.7 Ye who turn judgment into wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth…

v.8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning…

v.12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins…

v.14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you…

v.15 Hate the evil, and love the good…”