1 Samuel 1:24-28 – “Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.”  NKJV

The words leap off the page at me when I read, “…as long as he lives, he shall be lent to the LORD.”  Imagine a mother whose heart was so heavy that she had no children and her fervent prayer resulted in a prophetic word and a miraculous work of God to provide her that child, a son, she had so desire.  Now, imagine that mother being willing to totally dedicate that son to God and giving him physically as well as spiritually to the LORD. 

I have had people tell me they thought less of Hannah because she gave up the child but remember her vow in v.11, “…O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”   Her vow was her covenant with God and the life that was produced in Samuel is nothing short of extraordinary.

She kept him in the early formative years of his life before taking him to Eli, the priest.  That calls to mind the words of Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  Her vow indicated that Samuel would act and serve as a Levite but would be raised as a Nazarite or one who willing dedicates himself to God. This was signifying that he would be totally dedicated to God and I am convinced that is the message she conveyed to him in those formative years. 

She taught him God’s covenant and instilled in him the importance of keeping vows made to God and in pursuing God’s purposes in life. She taught him through her words and actions that God was supreme above all things.  Then when she takes him to Eli he has been saturated with the Word of God, Prayers, and the impact that his godly mother would have the rest of his days.

Of course, that is only one side of the equation for we dare not omit personal responsibility and personal commitment.  Samuel could have resisted and rebelled, but he didn’t.  He didn’t because the method and message of his mother resonated in his heart.  She had kindled in him a desire to serve God and while I’m sure that her leaving him with the priest was somewhat traumatic or would have been for most children.  I’m sure her heart was torn from her chest as she walked away.  I’m equally sure that God saw both their hearts and through His Spirit, Power, and Love provided a balm of peace in their hearts.  Samuel had to decide to fulfill the vow of his mother and he did.

Would Samuel have become the mighty prophet of God and man of the hour had she not made that vow and kept it?  Probably not.  Would Samuel have become a strong pillar in Israel had his mother not instilled in him from his birth the purpose of his life and the purpose of God?  Probably not. I cannot emphasize the value and importance of godly parents in raising children.  One of the most significant problems in our world today, especially in America, is the lack of two-parent homes and the lack of godly parenting.  Thank God for those who view their role and responsibility as parents as a ministry and mandate from God to fulfill the first part of Proverbs 22:6 so that the latter part can become a sure reality. 

If you have children, they are your responsibility, and you are accountable to God for the training and example they receive.  You are their role model, not Hollywood, Athletes, or Entertainers.  You Are!  Your value in the shaping of their lives is almost incalculable.

God bless you as you fulfill your purposes for this day in Jesus!

Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”  NKJV

I love the story of Balak and Balaam.  Balak was paying Balaam to curse Israel and each time Balaam would stand to do what he was being paid to do the Lord would put a blessing in his mouth.  This infuriated Balak and finally, Balaam uttered the words of our text. 

Remember when Saul, the King disobeyed the directive of Samuel the prophet in 1 Samuel.  I love Samuel’s way of approaching issues.  Saul had defeated the Amalekites and Agag their king and rather than being obedient he spared the king and took his livestock for spoil contrary to God’s directive through the prophet.  Samuel showed up and Saul gloated about his great victory and his obedience to God’s directive.  Samuel, looked around and asked, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”  Simply, “Saul if you had been truly obedient I wouldn’t be hearing this.” 

Saul protested that he did it to bring the livestock to sacrifice to the Lord and the prophet said, “Be quiet!”  He let Saul know that God was not the least bit interested in his justifications for disobedience and in 1 Samuel 15:22 he uttered words that should resonate with us daily, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” 

It reminds me of the story of the pastor struggling about what to do and one of his little ladies said, “Pastor if God tells me to jump through a hole in the wall it is my business to jump and His business to make the hole.”  William Burton McCafferty used to say, “God can pull us through anything if we can stand the pull.”  Obedience is our business making the way where there seems to be no way Gods.  

Paul’s message to the Philippian church is revealed in his declaration in 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” and in 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.”  It is our responsibility to OBEY!           We do not have to understand it all or even see clearly how it is all going to work out.  We are to OBEY!  That obedience is out of a heart of love and a confidence that God is God and will do what He does and NEVER FAILS!

Let me caution you.  I have tried to jump through some walls I wanted God to tell me to jump through and He had not.  The result was some severe headaches and pains from trying to run through a troop and leap over a wall He had not directed me to do.  However, there have been many times when I knew in my spirit that He had given me a directive and it seemed impossible.  In those times when I leaped, he made the hole, and victory was realized. 

Our problem, too often, is we are not listening to that still small voice of the Spirit of God and going on what we think ought to happen or what we’ve been told ought to happen.  We need to develop ‘spiritual hearing’ and become Obedient in all things and at all times.  It is daunting to see the wall, hear the directive to jump, and see no hole through which to go.  Yet, it is incredibly exhilarating to take a flying leap and suddenly there is a hole for you to go through, a supernatural move of God.

If we can trust Him for our salvation.  If we can believe He created the heavens and the earth.  If we can believe that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins.  If we can believe that He loves us with an everlasting love and it truly is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom.  Why, is it difficult to be obedient?  I need no credit for anything attributed to me as having accomplished in life for all that I am, all that I have, and all that I have done is the result of being Obedient and His moving on my behalf.

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

Judges 2:7 – “So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.”  NKJV

There was an old country preacher that I knew who often said regarding the presence of God, “It is better felt than telt…”  I love feeling the presence of God and basking in the sunlight of His presence, power, and love.  And, as I reflect on that preacher’s words, I find there is something in it worthy of consideration regarding experience.  I personally, do not want to ever reach the place that I base my relationship with God on an emotional experience, but I never want to discount or discontinue that either.  I long to make my permeant residence In His Presence both Here and in Eternity!

In this passage, there is a realization that is important in life.  I have heard about some of the great revivals of days gone by but did not experience them.  However, I have been in the presence of God and had some incredible experiences, and witnessed some powerful moves of God’s Spirit that lasted long in churches, communities, and people.  I treasure those. 

However, who among us is not cognizant of the fact that historical experiences we did not participate in do not captivate us as those we did?  This passage reveals that so long as Joshua the Moses mentored leader who lead the nation into the Promised Land and the elders who were also eyewitnesses lived GOD Reigned in the hearts of people.  When they died, there were no longer those who had experiential first-hand knowledge of God’s mighty deliverance and fulfilling His promise to bring them to the Land of Milk and Honey.  When experience died there was a gradual erosion of commitment and a turning away or growing cold in dedication.

Every revival of the church lasted until the generation that witnessed and experienced it died and then it began to wane.  The fervor and fire of that revival kept the Church on track pursuing the truth that revival revealed and/or restored but when there were none who had experienced it around those who had heard about it could not embrace it with the same devotion nor feel the same compulsion to comply with the directives of the Spirit of God. 

It had become, to them, theoretical rather than experiential.  Sadly, many identify themselves as Christians in much the same way, theoretical rather than experiential.  We talk about God being able to “do all things” but if we have not witnessed or experienced His miraculous it is, to us, theory and when the chips are down, we cannot stand on the promise with confidence.

I know some who grew up in Church and in homes where there was a fervent dedication to God, prayer was a staple, and the Bible was the guide.  They heard about it from their parents and grandparents but never truly experienced it for themselves and as those who had the experience received their eternal promotion the devotion and practices that kept the fire burning waned and diminished. 

That reminds me of the truth that “You cannot get to heaven on Mama or Papas faith or experience.”  Christianity is a personal experience and relationship, not something that is inherited like property.  Growing up going to church may help you establish some important moral principles and ethics but will not save your soul.  The fact that Mama or Papa had their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life does not automatically inscribe yours there.  It is an individual and personal experience.  “If we (each individual) confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” 

Experience or having a spiritual encounter with God personally is incredibly valuable in helping us to resist temptation and maintain our dedication as we “seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.”   If you do not personally know Jesus, I urge you to go into your prayer closet and call upon Him in repentance and receive His pardon and grace transforming you from darkness unto light.  Jesus has promised that if ANYONE will call upon Him, He will not reject us.  Today is the day of salvation and now is the accepted time.  Experience God for yourself and the Bible will no longer be a theory but reality.

God bless you as you open the door to today with all its problems, promises, and potential.  Have a Great Day!

Proverbs 27:1 – “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”  NKJV

The gospel song “I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand” has been on my heart and mind for days.  Most of us make plans for the future and sometimes we talk about what we are going to do in the days ahead.  We should take to heart this passage and the wise words of wisdom offered in James 4:13-17 where the apostle instructs us not to boast about the future as though it were dependent upon us.  Our lives are like a vapor and as Job declared we are of few days and our days are filled with difficulty. 

Although we cannot know what tomorrow holds, we can know who holds tomorrow and that is the most important thing.  An important truth in this is doing daily what we know we should and doing it.  It is living life to the full in obedience to the directive of Scripture and the Spirit of God.  It is walking with a clear conscience.  It is savoring each moment of this fleeting thing called life.

I’ve had people say to me, “I wish I knew what tomorrow holds” and each time I’ve suggested that rather than focusing on ‘knowing the unknown’ it is more important to know the one who ‘controls the unknown’.  If I know God and trust Him, then tomorrow will take care of itself and I do not have to spend one second fretting over it.  God promises that He will NEVER leave us, nor will He forsake us and when I read such passages as Psalm 91, I face all my tomorrows and today with complete confidence that I am sheltered safely in the arms of God and that provides perfect peace.

I wake up each day with the declaration, ‘this is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it” and then get out of bed and prepared to experience the day.  I do not endure life I live it.  I do not cope I enjoy life.  My shepherd leads me through all things and to all things and I have complete confidence in His ability to keep me and navigate the troubled waters of life. 

Therefore, as you go into this new day go with a renewed confidence that God is there with you every step of the way and no matter what comes HE IS THERE!   If He is there you have no reason to be anything but thankful, joyous, and anticipatory of the unfolding of this day!  

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

Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” NKJV

I will never forget when I first began to travel in itinerant ministry as an Evangelist, I went to get some business cards printed and wanted to use this passage on my card.  The man who took my order looked at it and said, “Why would you want to put ‘a word filthy spoken’ on your card?”  I DIDN’T!   I realized quickly how easy it would be for someone to misread the verse and choose another instead. 

However, the passage is a powerful message on speaking ‘right words’ at the ‘right time’ for the ‘right reason’ and for being a man/woman of your word.  My parents and grandparents instilled in me that if you gave your word you gave yourself and it was to be honored.  Both my father and maternal grandfather were men of such integrity that if they gave their word and shook hands it was more binding than any legal contract.  

It was their bond!  They considered someone who broke their word of the basest sort of person.  I recall once making a pledge for a small amount of money but being in school I had no means to accumulate the extra money short of a miracle from God.  I told my father about my pledge and he wrote me a check and told me that next time not to make a commitment I was not sure I could keep.  I tried to explain that I would get the money somehow, but he would have none of it because I had given my word and the due date on the pledge was at hand.  In his mind, if I did not meet the ‘faith promise’ I was breaking my word and that would tarnish both my name and reputation and he could not abide that.

I have found this passage relevant in situations where a ‘calming word’ at the right moment diffused a potentially volatile situation and brought peace.  I’ve seen it when a ‘wise word’ was offered that prevented a life from being shipwrecked by a terrible decision.  I’ve seen it when an ‘encouraging word’ was given and a heart was rescued out of despondency and depression.  A ‘right word’ at the ‘right time’ for the ‘right reason’ is truly like an apple of gold in a setting of silver.  It is not only beautiful but a treasure!

We each should carefully measure our words and allow the Holy Spirit to set a guard at our mouths so that when we speak, we speak light into darkness and life into death.  So, as you go through your day go with the knowledge and confidence that God will give you the right words to say at the right time no matter the situation.

Blessings be upon you abundantly today is my prayer!

Ruth 1:16-17 – “16 But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  17 Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”  NKJV

The incredible power of devotion and faithfulness is seen in the Book of Ruth in both Ruth and Boaz.  However, for it to have reached the place that Boaz could take Ruth as a wife, there had to be the commitment of Ruth in making Covenant with Naomi.  Ruth’s husband was dead and Naomi had no other sons and no prospect of having sons that could marry Ruth and raise up seed in the name of his brother.  Ruth was released by Naomi as was Orpah but Ruth refused to desert her mother-in-law and her covenant vows are seen in these verses.

Naomi was moved by Ruth’s commitment and selflessness but more importantly, God took note of her heart which produced her actions.  When they returned to Bethlehem they were destitute and among their relatives was a rich man named Boaz and Ruth requested Naomi’s permission to go to his field to glean so they could eat. 

There is no evidence that Ruth had a plan to get Boaz to marry her.  She was seeking to care for her mother-in-law.  It was the custom of the Jews to allow strangers to gather the corners of the fields and even glean the trampled down grain so when Ruth came to the field the workers honored the custom and allowed her to glean.  Boaz took note of her and upon inquiry realized who she was and was, no doubt, moved by her devotion to Naomi.  He invited her to continue day by day gleaning in his fields and instructed the workers to drop handfuls on purpose for her so that she would be sure to have a goodly amount to sell and for Naomi and her to eat.

When Ruth reported what had transpired to Naomi, her mother-in-law sensed the heart of God and knew the Law of the Kinsman-Redeemer so she encouraged Ruth to return with specific instructions.  Her willingness to comply and her demonstrated virtue moved the heart of Boaz as God worked His plan looking down the road to the Christ being born.  Boaz sought to protect her reputation and took action to approach the Near Kinsman to enact the Kinsman-Redeemer rights.  The Near Kinsman declined for personal reasons allowing Boaz to fulfill the role and duty required by the Law.

Ruth and Boaz had a son.  The child was named Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David from whose line Christ was born.  In the life of Ruth and Boaz, we get a picture of the Kinsman-Redeemer Jesus and in the Book of Revelation Five, we find one of the elders told John that there is one that has earned the right to open the scroll in heaven and that one is Jesus our Kinsman-Redeemer. He, Jesus, has redeemed us, is redeeming us, and will redeem us in the Last Days and seal forever our eternal place with Him in glory.

Two thoughts I want to leave you with.  One, the heart of a servant can clearly be seen in Ruth and the servant’s heart was rewarded by God.  Two, it was not enough just to serve but Ruth cut a covenant with Naomi, and God is a Covenant Making and Covenant Keeping God and honors His covenant forever.  Ruth, in my mind, gives us a picture of what we should be and can be in Christ!

God bless you as you embark on today’s leg of your life’s journey

Nehemiah 1:4 – “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”  NKJV

This verse is in reference to Nehemiah hearing the news about the disrepair of Jerusalem and it so broke his heart that it moved him to action.  In his situation, it was an action that could easily have cost him his life but he was so moved he could do nothing else.  That brings me to the thought that I want to address today.

When was the last time you were ‘so moved’ by the condition of our world, the church, or a life, that it so moved you that ‘prayer’ and ‘fasting’ was the immediate response?  Then you went into action with the guidance of the Holy Spirit?  Sadly, I hear many talking about the Need for ‘renewal’, ‘restoration’, and/or ‘revival’. But I do not see many that are so heartbroken over the condition and the dying souls of men that they are driven into intercessory prayer and fasting.  Honestly, if it does not move us to the point that it breaks our hearts I doubt that we will give it much serious thought and as a result will not be compelled to do that which is needed to change the circumstances or situation.

I am reminded of the biblical record when Jesus came to Mary and Martha at their brother, Lazarus’ tomb.  Mary ran to Jesus weeping and whether it was intentional or not leveled an accusation toward Him saying, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”  It was both a statement of faith and frustration.  He asked where they had buried Lazarus and as she led Him to the tomb Jesus wept!  He then moved into action that restored the life to Lazarus who had been dead three days.  A significant miracle by any standards!

I have a friend who is incredibly easily touched by the Spirit of God.  We will be in a public place sharing a meal or a thought, and something will catch his eye and he will be in tears brokenhearted over the condition, situation, or life that he is observing.  He then excuses himself and I do not have to ask for I know that he is going to his prayer closet to intercede over whatever it was.  There have been many times I’ve seen him days later and he will have a testimony of something God has done in that very situation.  He becomes so brokenhearted that he acts in the most powerful way that we humans can act he reaches out to the Throne of Heaven.

If we truly believe that the church or our world is in need of ‘renewal’, ‘restoration’, and/or ‘revival’ why does it not crush our hearts?  I am not trying to be accusatory for I ask myself the same question and do not always like the answers I receive within my heart and mind.  God help us to never become so entangled with the affairs of this life that we lose contact with the Throne of Heaven and experience such desensitization of our hearts that we are not shattered by the condition of the world.  Lord, I pray that you make our hearts so tender that we actually mourn over sin.

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

Philemon 1-11 – “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia,  Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:  3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.  8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you — being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ — 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.”  NKJV

We know from previous readings and studies that Paul received significant ministry from the runaway slave Onesimus who belonged to Philemon, a believer and fellow laborer in the cause of the Kingdom.   There are many lessons here and one is how to make an appeal without overstepping your authority or sounding self-righteous.

Paul identifies himself as a prisoner of Jesus and referred to Philemon as a ‘friend’ and ‘fellow laborer’.  He identified others in the church that Philemon was a part of and called them ‘fellow soldiers’.  He blessed their work and their house and informed them of his frequent and continual prayer for them and the success of the work they were conducting as well as their love, liberty, and charity.

Paul then informs Philemonthat while he could issue a directive based on Scripture and the Word of God, he chose to offer an appeal as a friend and fellow laborer in Christ out of love.  He then made his appeal for Onesimusand detailed his ministry and value to Paul in Paul’s time of suffering. 

His plea included the assertion that while Onesimus may have been unprofitable, disgruntled, and dissatisfied causing him to run away he was now a member of the Body of Christ, and if his lot was serving as a servant he would do so with his heart and be the best servant possible.  Paul was appealing for Onesimus to be received not just as a servant but as a brother in Christ.

While I cannot personally fathom using anyone as a slave, we have slavery in so many ways in life and justify it.  I’ve seen husband-wife relations where one or the other is a virtual if not literal slave and abused enormously if they try to break free. I’ve seen employer-employee relationships where the employee was a virtual slave with constant threats as to their future if they did not toe the line. 

I’ve seen the political world where citizens are virtual slaves forced to bow to the whims and wishes of an all-powerful government.  I’ve even seen it in churches where either the pastor or the congregation were ruled by tyranny and made virtual slaves.  None of that is God’s desire, in my view but if we approached each other as members of the Body of Christ regardless of our social, political, economic, or relational status we would find a much more productive working relationship.

If we would learn to appeal as friend to friend, brother to brother rather than issuing decrees we would find a much more productive situation.  Therefore, as you go through your day go know that you are representing the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and respond to those things you encounter with that view in mind. 

May the rich and bountiful blessing of our Lord be upon you!

Luke 17:1-4 – “Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.  3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”  NKJV

The Lord Jesus clearly stated that “offenses” will come in life.  You cannot create a social climate where there are no occasions where someone is offended.  However, the word offend is to cause displeasure, anger, resentment, or wounded feelings.  It is possible for someone to be offensive and for we choose not to take offense.  It is my conviction and belief that to be ‘offended’ we have to make a choice to allow what was said or done to so influence us that we harbor resentment and hold an amount of unforgiveness in our hearts as a result.

While we cannot prevent offenses from coming, we do have a biblical directive on how to handle conflicts and offenses.  In the social medium of Facebook, I have had to block a few (very few) people from posting on my page because they became antagonistic and combative descending into personal attacks and using profanity.  In most of those cases, I reminded them that this could not and would not be tolerated and when those few decided to continue, I took that action. 

I have been blocked on occasions by others and only one actually notified me of their action but some of the others posted things on their pages quoting what I had said and vilifying me over them without calling my name.  One was religious and that person notified me of their action, and it was because they held a different doctrinal point of view than I and the other two were political. 

For Christians, there is only one true course to take with regard to offenses and that is found in Matthew 18.  It should be the minimum that a believer follows, and we should never shut someone out due to a perceived or real offense without following the directive of this passage outlined by our Lord.  It may be that the individual is unaware of their offense and what they did or said was not premeditated or malicious and something they would gladly rectify if given the chance. 

I have been misunderstood and misunderstood others in my life and each time I have followed, or they have followed Matthew 18 we quickly realized the offense or perceived offense was a misunderstanding and nothing malicious.  A friendship was preserved, and needless bitterness was prevented.

Matthew 18:15-20 – “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.  16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.  17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.  20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”  NASB

I always encourage people, if they take exception to anything I say or do, let me know it and allow me to explain in an attempt to clear the air with regard to any malice on my part.  Offenses will come, we cannot prevent them, but we can prevent them from becoming havens of unforgiveness and bitterness.

God bless you as you go through your day!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven — 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.”  NASB

Without going through this list item by item and commenting I would ask that you focus on the simple reality that God has a time, for everything.  I heard an argument for a person who was Pro-Choice and Pro-Abortion attempt to use this passage to support their view and somehow makes it biblical.  They argued that if the pregnancy was unwanted that could indicate them being in the condition of “at the time to uproot”.  When they heard the pushback that abortion could be considered murder and was assuredly killing of the unborn.  They argued that this was simply God’s allowable time to kill, pluck up, and tear down.  I found that position to be absolutely astounding. 

This passage brings many challenges to a believer’s heart but making it a license to take the life of the unborn and innocent is astounding.  None of us determine the time of our birth and none of us should determine the time of our death.  There are associations in life that require us to cultivate and there are times when we must uproot those alliances and go a different direction. 

There is a time when weeping and mourning will be appropriate and there is a time when laughter is the proper answer to times of difficulty or ease.  There can be a time to go to war and a time to make peace.  There is a time to reach out and befriend and there is a time to separate ourselves from evil associations.  In short, God has His timing for things that we often do not understand and may not see His purposes or plan but we must TRUST! 

If I truly believe that God has a time for everything and truly believe that He is taking every event of my life and blending it together for my good and His ultimate purpose I can TRUST and REST in Him.  I can deal with times when my heart is broken, I have been let down by someone near and dear or I am under severe attack.  I can raise my sword and go to war and I can lay it down and extend the olive branch of peace because I TRUST Him and am confident in His timing. 

Our problems are often when we try to force our timing into the situation. It is there that we may weep when we should be laughing, embracing when we should be shunning, planting when we should be plowing, or speaking when we should be silent.  His ways are higher than our ways and His thought than our thoughts.  Our secret to success is learning to HEAR His voice that voice of the Spirit of God confirmed by His Word and TRUST!

God, bless you as you embark on today’s leg of life’s journey!