Category: heart

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Numbers 16 The Cost of Sin

God was clear as to His choice to lead the nation out of Egypt and into the wilderness where God would test them to see if they would wholly follow the Lord. We don’t know when this took place, but it was after the anointing of the men who would care for the Tabernacle. They had seen the miracles, witnessed the building of the Tabernacle, witnessed the anointing of Aaron and his sons. God’s mercy had been clearly revealed even when Aaron led the people astray with the golden calf. And yet…the sin of pride and the sin of grumbling raised its ugly head. 

We have seen this even today in churches that split and we have experienced it in three different churches we attended, yet God protected us in ways that we could never have expected. He removed us before the final crushing blow so that we would not be there. The devastation it brings to the body is beyond description. Satan knows our weakest point and in the case of Korah, his weakest link was bending his ear to the gossip, as was the sin of our former churches, which led to grumbling and finally to the division of those churches. For Koran it was death by the hand of God. God hates grumbling and He hates when we selectively choose whom to disregard. God will bring it to its conclusion either by us humbling ourselves or by some other means. 

Oh Father, keep us from grumbling, keep us wholly devoted to you and your servants whom You have chosen. Give us a discerning spirit to know what is truth and what are lies from the enemy. Believer, put your armor on for the battle is real and certain. 

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Genesis 25-26 Trust…or…Fear

Are you fearful and if so of what?

Two times in these chapters we read that God blessed Isaac because of the obedience of his father Abraham. This is a principle that God has revealed: children are blessed because of the obedience and faithfulness of their parents. 

Yet, Isaac had a failure just as Abraham in that he did not trust God to protect his wife, but instead lied about his relationship with her. But, just as Numbers tells us , if we sin, God will reveal it loud and clear which is exactly what happened to Isaac. [Num 32:23] Both Abraham and Isaac had one glaring failure which the book of Proverbs tells us: The fear of man is a snare but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. [Prov29:25]

So why did God bless Abraham and Isaac? God clearly points out that He hates lying in Proverbs 6 and in other places we see the fruit of lies like in the account of Gehazi where God pronounced leprosy on him. These are those issues that we find frustrating but when that happens and we don’t have clear cut answers, we need to remember Isaiah 55:8-9. His ways are higher and more superior to ours. 

God has His plans and even though we may not understand, we can trust that His way is the right and true way. Where is God calling you to trust Him today and tomorrow and the next day? 

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Genesis 22 It takes Faith…

God tests our heart motives

Hebrews reminds us that by faith Abraham obeyed God in leaving his home and by waiting on God for a son to be born as one born out of due time. Yet, even though Abraham obeyed God, he was tested by God to prove his faithfulness. We too are tested by God to prove our faithfulness and our steadfastness. Abraham was found faithful and God recognized it and counted him as righteous. 

As we look at our lives, we can experience tests just as Abraham and like his son Isaac, we see the wood and the fire but where is the lamb? Abraham wisely answered that God Himself would provide the lamb and He did. When you face a test and wonder where the lamb is, will you stop and believe without a shadow of doubt that God will provide? 

Over and over through the OT and NT we see Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. He provided the east wind to draw the Nile back so the Israelites could walk across on dry ground. He provided water for Rahab in the desert. He provided the walls to fill down in Jericho so the city could be conquered. In Acts, God provided two angelic visitors to release Peter from prison.

Where have you seen God’s provision in your life? What was the result? 

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12.14.24. Today and Tomorrow

Revelation 10 Just another day…

How is your walk today?
Is Jesus walking with you today?

We have watched the Apostle John as he has experienced the heavens opened and the crowd of believers and martyrs, but now John has an experience that only he and the angelic forces know about for he was told to seal the contents.

The newspapers of today write about what has happened and forecasts what they presume will happen tomorrow and beyond. As our biblical editor, John has now viewed something out of the ordinary and it is not ‘just another day” in paradise. It is frightening to behold the angel and hear the seven thunders and finally a voice saying seal this up, just as Daniel was told. We wonder if the scroll he was told to eat was the same scroll that others had seen and tasted. 

The angel is majestic and mighty. He has a rainbow around his head and his legs are like fire. Imagine seeing this in real time. It isn’t “just another day.” It is a day that God wants us to see and to wonder about. 

What has your day been like? Have you had a vision like John? Probably not, but we are to observe and ponder. Are we ready for the contents to be revealed or is it “just another day” to you? 

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12.5.24. A King’s Prayer

Let God handle this
Trust God!

Today as I in the past, we are a people that often face turmoil and distress of various things that come across our path. We are a people who feel lost and at times feel like we are alone. Yet, in the midst of this we have this promise: He who owns the cattle on a thousand hills is the author of our faith and He has the gift of mercy. Again we see the heart of David in his prayer as our example: I pour out my lament before him, I tell him about my troubles.

Psalm 142 David’s Prayer

To the Lord I cry out, to the Lord I plead for mercy

When you are in a “mess” is this how you face it? Do you cry out to the Lord? Do you plead for His mercy? King David has given us his prayers that we may know that he is a man just like us. In times of distress, David has gone to the throne of God to seek His face and His mercy. Can you hear his lament? Can you sympathize with him and want to help? 

What trouble are you facing? Are you carrying this trouble to the Lord? Beloved, just as David found peace in the storm you can also for this is true: Even when my strength leaves me, you watch my footsteps.

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11.25.24.Darkness is Revealed

God is Light
He is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path

John 18 Friends vs Enemies

John accurately describes those who love Jesus and those who seek to kill Him. Friends will stay by your side, but enemies will seek you out. This is the darkness that John wrote about early in his book: they loved darkness for their deeds were evil. But, what about Peter? Why did he fail Jesus in the hour of need? John wants us to see how easily our faith is tested and found wanting. Jesus reminded the disciples to be on guard, but Peter failed this warning and if truth be known we do as well. Satan knows our every weakness and the perfect time to reveal our true heart. Beloved, be on guard even now for the enemy of our soul knows your weakness and where you will fail. But…thankfully the story does not end here for Peter. There will be tears of repentance but John holds this close to our hearts so we can equate in this moment of darkness and see ourselves. 

Today as you have done many a time, fall to your knees and repent early lest He who holds the key find you wanting. 

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11.18.24. Love!

John 18 Acceptance

How full is your love cup today? Do you choose to love all or do you love piecemeal? Why is love so important? It is the mark of he who has followed the Master. Truth: “ I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” And now you ask me, how do I know whom to accept Lord? Jesus said this is the mark: “I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another” 

Is your love cup full or empty or half-full? Stop and observe, listen carefully. What do you see, what do you hear? Actions speak louder than words so be busy loving so that others will know you have been in the presence of the Lord as you begin today and every day. 

Love is a gift
Share it.
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Give God Praise!

Praising God

John 5 One on One

It is interesting to me, the reader, to see the travels of Jesus. We saw him in Cana, then in Samaria, and now back in Jerusalem. Each place his foot trod, he found the needy and met those needs practically be it water or by healing a cripple. He never tired or quit looking. His eyes were everywhere looking for that one person who needed something to make their life full. He continues to do that even today through His Word. What do you need today? Jesus is right there beside you to meet your needs. 

Are you like Jesus looking for the needy in your community? Or are you satisfied it just let others do it? Take for example the story of when Jesus heals a lame man on the Sabbath. The man didn’t know who Jesus was but he complied with his instructions to take up his bed and walk.  It seems he never looked back and never said thank you. Instead he meandered all through Jerusalem with his old mat signifying his before status. In the meantime the religious leaders found him and were quick to judge the healed man. Imagine being accosted by the religious “police” and you have no response to their queries! But, Jesus finds him and warns him to not sin again and he quickly tells the authorities about him. Do you find that strange? What does this say about this man and about us? 

Put yourself in the position of the healed man and ask yourself, am I the person who receives that special gift from the Lord and fail to stop and thank Him? Do I tattle on the one who made me well? Do I make judgments about another’s work and even more so if it is the work of God? The Pharisees were quick to make judgments but not praise for a work done by God. Jesus reminded them that Moses wrote about Him and if they were students of Moses they would be doing as he did—-obeying and honoring God. They had the false idea that their salvation was in his words, not the words of God. 

What need do you have today? Are you quick to receive but slow to give thanks? Do you seek salvation in the words of Moses or the words of God? 

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10.30.24. Be an Encourager Today!

Snail ,mail

3 John A Balm in Gilead

The Apostle John is writing to a personal friend, Gaius. His words to him remind us of this hymn: There is a Balm in Gilead. “Sometimes I feel discouraged,And deep I feel the pain In prayers the Holy Spirit revives my soul again” So it is when we need that balm that heals, a friend sends us words of encouragement. 

John has learned from others that Gaius is living according to the truth. In fact, John records this phrase twice! How encouraging to know that Gaius “ demonstrates faithfulness by whatever he does for the brothers”  and even more so in that he demonstrates that to complete strangers! What a great compliment to receive and how encouraged Gaius must have been at receiving this letter from a dear close friend. 

Today, who needs this word of encouragement? Who needs the words of that great hymn: There is a Balm in Gilead? Remember this stanza as you wade through today’s many appointments: “If you can’t pray like Peter,If you can’t be like Paul. Go home and tell your neighbor, He died to save us all.”

Be an encourager today to someone, pray for them, and send them gracious words that are a balm.  You are where you are today to  edify and lift someone up. 

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10.18.24. How Enduring is your Love?

God is love!

Psalm 118 Enduring!

 Our world is awash in turmoil with wars and rumors of wars. There are problems with the church  and its people with fightings within and without. Yet, in the midst of this the psalmist reminds us that God is the same today as He was yesterday and will be in the future. One of the marks of God is his enduring love for His people. How enduring is your love for God and His creatures? Enduring means everlasting,  “continuous existence, perpetual, everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity.”

The psalmist gives glowing praise to the Father: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures.” Stop today and ponder that thought and meditate on it for your daily walk. Be encouraged and share this thought with another. 

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