Proverbs 15:30-33 – “The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy.   31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise. 32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.” NKJV

We are told in Scripture that when your eyes are good, your whole body is full of light and that the light of the body is the eye (Luke 11; Matthew 6).  We have all heard that the eyes are the window of the soul, and here in Proverbs, we are told that the “light of the eyes brings joy to the heart.” 

Light is Truth, and Truth brings Liberty, and Liberty brings Joy, and Joy brings Freedom and produces Rejoicing!    The result of walking in Truth and hearing not only the “Good Report of Jesus” but getting “Good Reports in Life” causes health to flow into the bones, and from the bones comes the marrow, which is crucial to health in the body like the blood.  Isn’t it amazing how powerful the truths of God’s word are?

The writer did not stop there but when on to say:

• The person who will hear life’s rebukes will abide among the wise.
• The one who disdains instruction despises his own soul.
• The one who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

It is from “understanding” that we gain “knowledge,” and from “knowledge” that we come to know the Lord, and as we develop a “reverential fear” of the Lord and follow His Instructions, we gain wisdom! 

From the position of walking in “wisdom,” we gain “humility” because we know who we are and who He is.  Out of that position comes Honor!  Everything in God is a progression. 

It is a process.  It is line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.  You do not wake up one morning a fully developed adult from an infant, nor do you instantly become a fully mature Christian from a babe in Christ – – It is a Process!  Involved along the way is “Believing the Good Report” and receiving “Good Reports of Life.”

A Good Report is invaluable in our Christian Experience, which is one reason I believe sharing our “good reports” with those around us is essential to encourage them.  When I hear what God has done in the life of another, I have several options:

• I can become jealous because He has not done the same for me.
• I can dismiss it as some delusional thought about coincidence.
• I can rejoice with them and allow that “good report” to inspire my faith and confidence in God.

I choose the latter!  So, bring on the “Good Reports” I want to rejoice with you!  I am Forgiven, and what better report could one give than that?  

May God be with you as you go through your day!  Blessings abundantly!

John 14:1-6 – “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.   3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  4 And where I go, you know, and the way you know.”   5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”  6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” NKJV

I do not know how anyone could fail to recognize that the hour in which we live is a “time of trouble,” or “troubling times.”  It seems that in many ways, mankind has slipped a little farther down the slope of depravity, become more vile, and the violence and corruption are reaching epic proportions all over the world. 

The Bible and our Lord identified the characteristics of these Last Days and gave us numerous warnings and precautions.  Here we find one of the most pertinent passages regarding “troubled times” in the Bible. 

Consider what Jesus says:

• Let not your heart be troubled…

That is an action that each of us is responsible for.  It is a choice, a decision based on a fact that is indisputable and unshakable.  It is based on reason and hope.  It is a direct command for all the followers of Christ.  Instead of succumbing to the temptation to “fret” and become “fearful,” we are to dismiss our “troubled hearts.”

• You believe in God, believe also in Me…

That is the foundation upon which the command is given – Our Faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  If we genuinely believe God, then “fear” has to depart because “perfect love casts our fear,” and God is Love in Perfection.  He has and will never fail to keep His promises.  His words are more sure than anything we see or know in the natural realm.

• His Promise extends or adds to our confidence…

“In My Father’s House are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you….” The eternal abode awaits us, so what do we have to fear in this life?  Nothing! 

• “I go to prepare a place for you…”

What a promise we have that Jesus is now in preparation of our Eternal Bridal Chamber to spend eternity with him as His bride.

• “And If I go… I will come again… That where I am, there you may be also…”

The ultimate diminishing of fear and trouble of heart.

Jesus identified that to access this promise and provision, we must come “through Him.”  He is the WAY….  He is the TRUTH…. He is the LIFE…. He is the ONLY access to the Father.  There are not many roads to heaven and salvation; it is through the Blood of Jesus alone.  It is through the Atonement, the work of Christ on the Cross.  No other religion, philosophy, or act of penance, NOTHING BUT JESUS!

If you are troubled today, look inside your heart, and ask yourself if you put your entire trust and confidence in Jesus.  If not, then run to him.  May the Lord bless you as you go through your day!

Psalm 61:1-2 – “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” NKJV

I love the Psalms!  Every time I read this passage; it moves me more than words can describe because I have been there many times.  We have all faced those moments when we were overwhelmed by life or the events and circumstances of life. 

There have been those times when the news that came was so earth-shattering that we did not think we could take another step.  There have been those times when we were unsure how to survive the situation, and disaster appeared imminent.  There have been those times when we were so battle fatigued that we hardly felt that we could pray, much less that there would be an answer to our prayers.  It is in those times that this Psalm rises within our hearts!

Listen to the Psalmist – “From the end of the earth, I will cry to You!”  Wow!  That is an expression of desperation and confidence we all need to maintain in our hearts.  Our dependency must be so wholly upon God that no matter what transpires, our first inclination is to ‘Cry Out to Him!’

“When my heart is OVERWHELMED, lead me to the Rock that is Higher than I.”  In my moment of total despair, I need You, Oh Lord, to have Your Holy Spirit come, take my hand, and lead me to YOU!  I need to ascend above my trials, troubles, and tribulations and sit at Your feet so I can see not only Your hand working but that there is a place above the fray!  I need to know that You are my strength, sword, shield, sustainer, and life! 

Lord, You know my frailty and humanity.  You know that I will sometimes despair and show signs of losing heart, so I cry out to You that in those times, You Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.  You, Oh Lord, are my Hope!  I know You are my keeper and shade on my right hand.  I know that You will never leave or forsake me and will always be there whenever I need You, even when I do not know I need You.

My continual cry is, “Lord, help me always remember that I need you every hour.”  My continual prayer is, “Lord, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”  I give you praise and thanksgiving, for not only are you worthy of all praise, but you have never and will never fail me!

My dear friends, whenever your heart is Overwhelmed, the Lord is there to lead you to the Rock that is higher than you! 

May the Lord bless you richly as you go through your day!

Galatians 6:7-10 – “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. “NKJV

I have often been asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?’ I have also been asked, “Why do some people live wicked lives and never seem to have any problems?”  I will not attempt to address the first one at this time other than to say the Bible tells us that the rain falls on the just and unjust alike, and we know from studying the scripture that it never says life is fair, only that God is just!  God will take the bad in our lives and work “all things together” for our ultimate good, which is the wrong question.

As for the second question, I have frequently replied, “Payday Someday!”  There will be a day of reckoning in which we will all give account of our lives and actions before God.  We may go through this life seemingly untouched and unaffected by our actions, but there will be an accounting.  I would rather have God’s chastening hand now than hear His judgment then!  I would instead be disciplined now than face the ultimate judgment then! 

That being said, God is far more interested in redemption than punishment.  He is far more interested in bringing us into the family of God than seeing us spend eternity in Hell.  Had that not been the case, Jesus would never have gone to the Cross.  Sadly, many have been coddled for so long and so many excuses made for their behavior that they have been anesthetized to the pricks of conscience and somehow believe that they are immune or even justified in their lifestyles and actions. 

That is another reason parents should “train up their children in the way that they should go.”  Godly training as a child may not be something that the child or teen appears to have any interest in whatsoever, but those seeds will germinate as life goes on, and they will never be able to escape those pricks to their conscience.  They may continue to reject God, but at least there will be the seed in their hearts that is an open door for the Holy Spirit to walk through to bring conviction and challenge to their lives. 

Life is somewhat like farming. 

• We reap what we sow.  The farmer will not get green beans or watermelons if he plants corn. 
• We reap later than we sow.  The crops do not rise instantly from the soil but take time to germinate, grow, develop, and produce fruit. 
• We reap more than we sow.  If you plant one kernel of corn, you get a corn stalk that produces multiple ears, each with many kernels, so the harvest is many-fold more than the initial planting. 

The same is true in life.   

• If you want to reap Love, you must sow Love. 
• If you want to reap Blessings, you must be a Blessing. 
• If you want to reap Compassion, you must demonstrate Compassion. 

The question is, “What is the harvest you need right now?”  My advice is to begin planting the seed for that harvest!

May God richly bless you as you go through your day in Him!

Romans 12:1-2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” NKJV

Much is said in today’s political world and even in religious circles about compromise.  There are some things in both those arenas that “compromise” is not acceptable, and in this passage, we find one of those cases.

Notice that the apostle Paul is telling the Roman Christians to present their bodies as “living sacrifices” to God.  He then tells them a two-fold bit of instruction that I want us to consider:

Be not conformed to this world.  If we follow political correctness to its full desired goal, we will abandon all the basic principles of our Faith and the Bible and Compromise.   We would use the other world that is rampant today as a guide to the detriment of our core beliefs – Tolerance. 

Many non-religious and even some so-called religious people believe that we should accept every religion and teaching that comes down the pike and that there are many roads to heaven.  The Bible differs from that view and identifies that JESUS is the Door and is the only access to the Father. 

Paul tells those listening and those of us reading today, whatever you do, refuse to be “conformed” to this world and its philosophy or ideology.  You are in this world but through Christ, not of it.

He then takes the second step and tells them to be Transformed by the renewing of their minds.  The mind plays a much more significant role in the Christian walk than most are willing to acknowledge.  It is not a mindless following of Christ that the Bible asks us to do but a well-thought-out evaluation and examination of Truth.

Our minds can be compared to a computer, and sometimes when viruses, malware, and spyware infiltrate, we need to reprogram to eliminate them.  Sometimes we need a Holy Spirit purging of the philosophy of Egypt or the World and return to the core foundational principles taught in God’s Word.  In that place, we come to know the “will of God.”  The will that is “good, acceptable, and perfect.”

So instead of being intimidated into casting away your principles in the interest of “Political Correctness,” hold on to your convictions, for they are worth dying for.  Hold on to the basic principles of God’s Word; they are worth living for.  Allow the Holy Spirit to reprogram or renew your mind so that you are so in tune with the Spirit of God that you quickly and clearly hear the still, small voice saying, “This is the way walk in it.”

May God bless you as you go through your day!

1 John 2:1-2 – “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” NKJV

Here we come to one of those words in the Bible that many look at, read, and pass by without giving much thought to – PROPITIATION.  John tells us in this passage that his purpose was to help them come to the place so that they “do not sin.” 

However, he also recognized that they were human beings and were subject to stumbling and succumbing to temptation, thereby entering into “acts of sin.”  His pastor heart compelled him to address the truth that “if we do sin (or as someone said – “when we sin”), we have an Advocate (someone to plead our case in the legal court of heaven), and that one is Jesus who paid the price for our redemption.  No greater Attorney could be found than Jesus Himself.  His standing with the Father is unequaled by any.

John tells us that Jesus was the “propitiation for our sins.”  He is the ATONEMENT.  He paid the ultimate and complete sacrifice or price for our redemption.  Jesus came among us, lived as a man subject to temptations like we are, and lived above sin.  He satisfied the demands of divine justice and became the sacrificial lamb for the SIN OF THE WORLD. 

Through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, He has fulfilled the legal requirements of divine justice to break the hold and power of the devil on our lives.  We no longer belong to the devil. We belong to God; whenever we fall short and miss the mark, the devil is Johnny on the Spot to remind God and us of that fact.  That is where Jesus comes in.  He receives our repentance, presents us before the Father, and identifies His work, the covering of His blood on our sins and our repentance.  He is our Attorney!

Therefore, instead of allowing the devil to beat you up over sin, realize that you have one pleading your case that is worthy – Jesus!  So instead of giving up and throwing in the towel, saying it is no use, recognize that it is “in Him” and “through Him” that we live and move and have our being.  Our hope is not in our ability but in Him.  Our hope is not in our perfection but in His.  Our hope is not in reaching a point where we have no flaws but in Him who is flawless.

As you go through this day, refuse to allow sin to beset your course.  If you sin, immediately go to your attorney – Confess that sin, receive His pardon, and allow Him to present your case in the court of heaven.  You are part of the redeemed of the Lord, so rejoice!

May God be with you as you go through the day!  Blessings1

Psalm 11:3 – “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

That sounds like bad news and even has an element of hopelessness in it, right?  Yes and no, for it depends on your perspective and your understanding of Who God is.

Let me share with you what filled my heart and mind and occupied my time of meditation upon the Word of God today.

As I prayed, pondered, meditated, read, and contemplated, Psalms 1 & 11 captured my attention.  I include the opening of Psalm 2 in that consideration.  The Lord was speaking to me powerfully from the Psalms.

Psalm 2:1 – “Why do the nations rage, and the peoples meditate on a vain thing.”

But I must bring this question to the table, “What foundations?”   There are multiple dimensions we can consider. 

• The foundations of moral righteousness. 
• The foundations of human government. 
• The foundations of the family. 
• The foundations of the church.

God established order, but man, influenced by the devil, has been shredding them for millenniums.  This is not a political or social creation.   Those are byproducts of the root cause – SIN! 

Modern philosophy and ancient philosophy are at war with God, morality, truth, and biblical principles & precepts.  Our world (people) find themselves in a state of decay, declension, and depravity that is destroying everything.

Foundations are being destroyed so much that many are losing faith.   They see the decline but not the hand of God.  They see the church living like and with the same fear as the world.   They trust the arm of flesh because they have lost hope in the arm of God.

Is there an answer?  YES!

CONSIDER PSALM ONE

In verses one through three, we have a powerful revelation and application that can lead us to victory in our Christian walk.

• Do not walk in the counsel (faux wisdom) of the ungodly.   The contrast is to walk in the counsel of God.  It is not enough to not do evil.  We must do good.
• Do not stand in the way of the sinner.  (Live as they lived).  Our walk is the opposite of the way of sinners.  We are those who follow the precepts and principles of God’s Word.
• Do not sit in the seat of scoffers.  (This is not doubters and mockery, but all doubt toward God).  Our walk is the exact opposite.  We walk in commitment and total confidence in the Word, trusting God. 
• MEDITATE on God, His Word, His Person, Promises, and Power.

When we do that, we will have firm foundations and be like the firmly planted tree by the living waters.  

• We will be productive and live in God’s power and authority.
• We will be fruitful, and rather than growing useless with age, you will stay flourishing, vibrant, and alive.
• We will prosper in All Things.
• We must have faith and believe God intends this for us.
• We have to see it with the eyes of the Spirit.

The danger is that unless we see this, we will not pursue it and will never be those who live in expectancy!  We are to Walk in God’s counsel, Sit in God’s presence, meditate upon, study, read, and apply God’s Word.

Hear me, Please – God says this is you.  The question becomes, “What do you say?”  Do we agree with God and become the people He says we are, or do we agree with the devil, a negative view and decline?   It is a choice!

God says that We are Victorious, so we need to set our hearts, minds, souls, and strength to receive.   The seeds we sow will determine the harvest we receive.  What harvest do you desire?

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

Lamentations 3:22-24 – “The lovingkindnesses of Yahweh indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.  ²³ They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  ²⁴ “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I wait for Him.”  LSB

As I read, prayed, pondered, and meditated upon the Word, the LORD, and life, I was reminded of this truth – God’s Love and Mercy Never End!  Hallelujah!  The compassion of God is beyond measure.  His love, mercy, and compassions are new every morning because He is faithful, and He is our portion!  He said, “My eyes pour down unceasingly without stopping.”  Then he set a time on it – “Until Yahweh looks down from heaven and sees.”  If He sees, He will act, was the idea.

There are many things to be gleaned from 1 Corinthians.  However, 3:21-23 is an indispensable catalyst for right thinking and producing right living.  “…For ALL THINGS belong to you.” (v.21). He repeated this at the end of verse 22.  Then in verse 23, he declared, “And you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”

Have you noticed that we worry and fret over stuff?  We see our troubles, needs, lacks, powerlessness, and inadequacy, BUT here we read Everything Belongs to Us!  Wow!  Did you say EVERYTHING?  But… The problem is, we do not believe it!  We believe it theoretically, but it is not who we are.  

We profess it because it is in the Bible, BUT we do not see it as ours experientially.  We do not see ourselves as worthy or spiritual enough.  Satan steals our hope and faith, and we relegate that truth to the super saints or to be enjoyed in eternity rather than now. 

However, “if” it is true that ALL THINGS belong to us because we belong to Christ and He belongs to God – Why Do We Struggle with The Promise?

We must have our minds reprogrammed.  The only way to do that is to guard our lips. Protect our eyes and ears (what we watch & listen to).  Be careful how and what you allow to come into your consciousness.  

Then, we must begin the process of changing how we talk.  It is essential that we say what God says, not what we see or hear from the devil, others, or circumstances.   We must train ourselves to agree with God and say what He says.  Agree with God, not circumstances or opinions. 

A truth we miss is that whatever we agree with, we give power to.   Abraham believed in hope.  He hoped for what he believed.  It was hopeless & and impossible, But God Said, and he chose to agree with God.

I challenge you today to decide that no more negative or defeatist words or thoughts will be in you.  Determine that if God said it, no matter what you see, you will agree with God even to death.  Nothing will shake you from your confidence in Him.

If God is telling the truth and He is, then we are more than conquerors through Jesus and can do all things through our Lord!  You are victorious if you do not give up, give in, or give out!

This is a new day of victory; rejoice! May the grace of God keep you in perfect peace and bless you richly!

Psalm 3:3-6 – “But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. 4 I was crying to the LORD with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. 5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.”  NASB

Someone recently said something that I have heard hundreds of times, “Growing old is not for sissies.”  I responded, “Life is not always easy, but worth it.”  The person I was talking to said, “True, if…”  I waited, and they said no more.  Before I could ask what the “if” was, the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart, “THE IF” is Me; the IF is GOD!”

I have often thought about Life and Living.  As a minister and having served as a pastor of congregations, it has been my joy and sorrow to deal with people in varying situations and stages of life.  Joy to see the work of God in bringing them to peace and victory, and sorry when I could not help them find the solace and peace they craved. 

In life, we encounter difficulties. That statement makes me Mr. Obvious, but as simplistic and broad as it is, it is true.  None of us have immunity from problems, nor are we exempt from enemies who desire to reduce us to nothingness.  Jesus declared as much in the Gospels.  However, He also said that we were not to fear or fret because we could live in the confidence that our Heavenly Father desires to ‘give us the kingdom.’  Jesus promised to bring us abundant life and make life worth living.  That is a tremendous comfort to me.

In the midst of difficulties, the Psalmist declared, “Lord, you are a shield about me.”   In Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, the word shield is protection but one of the imageries was that of the ‘hide of a crocodile.’  I laughed and rejoiced when I read that.  Ancient civilizations have historically viewed the crocodile’s hide as impenetrable.  That is the clear message of the Psalmist, “God, you are like the hide of a crocodile, impenetrable, in your protective covering.”  That is enough to make me want to shout, Hallelujah!  Well, Hallelujah!

In the Book of Job, when the devil appeared before the Throne of God, God baited him with Job, and the devil’s objection was, “But you have a hedge or a shield about him.”  God did not deny that.  In Zechariah 2:5, God said, “For I, declared the Lord, will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.”  That was His promise for Jerusalem, and I believe His desire and promise for each of us.  He is our shield, buckler, glory, and the giver and sustainer of life.  We do not have to fear what is outside when we fear, reverentially, God and serve Him.  That is the “If” of my friend’s statement. 

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Hell is not God’s desire for us but Heaven and Life.  Jesus did not come to destroy but to bring Life.  Therefore, when facing difficulty, disappointment, and even depression, look upward and rejoice because our God is “A Shield About Us!”  And if God is for us, it does not matter who is against us; they are no match for Him. No problem, disease, difficulty, person, or devil in hell is a match for Him!  

Put on the whole armor of God and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus.  Allow the Spirit of God to enable you to pull down strongholds.  Allow the Life of God to flow richly in your hearts and minds; as you do, you will discover that Life is worth the effort!

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!