Extra note – As a pastor of a congregation I saw the struggles people have with feeling like they are cut off from not only their congregation but even their friends.  I always tried to encourage them that they were not forgotten.

            Since becoming disabled I see the truth of what they felt.  People are busy with their lives and families and they do not think about those who they used to fellowship and worship with.  Church families without meaning to forget those they used to worship with.

            The Body is often more interested in filling pews and forget about those who can no longer “serve” the congregation.  By this they lose so much!!!

            Since becoming disabled I spend much time praying for the people I know and the congregations we served.  God has given me a prayer ministry for not only those I love but for those around the world who God loves.

            I joke with Bonnie that while trapped in our home I travel the world as God calls me to pray for so many nations and peoples around the world!  At times I feel like I travel more than I ever have as at times as God calls me to pray I feel as though I am there.

            I also send cards to shut-ins and those who need hope and encouragement.  What I am saying is that congregations by forgetting about their shut-ins lose out on the ministry they can bring!

            I learned this in my first charge where a lady had a terrible stroke and could no longer talk.  She finally realized that she could say short phrases if she sang them.  One day she told me she felt so worthless and sad.  God moved me to ask her to start praying for congregations that made up the charge.

            During the time I was there many wonderful things happened and I know that a great part of the success was due to her ministry of prayer!

January 30, 2018 Tuesday

“Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.” (Mark 1:23-28 NKJV)

            In this passage did Jesus rebuke and cast out demons or heal someone with a psychiatric problem?  The Bible clearly states many times that Jesus cast our demons, many who publicly declared that Jesus is the Son of God!

            Isn’t it amazing that these people with “psychiatric” problems knew what very few people knew?  They seemed to have a very spiritual understand of not only who Jesus was and the purpose of His coming.

            Our dilemma is if we do not believe the Bible is God’s Word we are led astray by every whim and idea that comes by.  Without the guidance and leading of the Bible and the Holy Spirit we can find ourselves actually believing and teaching against God!  We can even become enemies of the God we think we are serving!

            So many Christians have no idea who God is and the Truth of God and so they are easily led astray.  One way Christians are led astray is the not believe or accept the reality that we are in a world engaged in a spiritual warfare and so fall prey to evil.  A common saying is that if we do not pray then we will become prey to the evil one!

            Evil is real!  Demons are real!  In a world filled with murder, theft, lies, abuse, slavery, pornography, and an inability to know who and even what we are we are prey for the evil one and demons. That is why many Christians are no different than those around them.

            If you want to see the power of the Bible and prayer look around and see the frenzy with which people want to make it harder for Christians to pray publicly and to make the Bible and Bible study available.

            Then realize that these same people call for school and jails to provide prayer rugs for Muslims.  That there is no call for the Qur’an and the writings of other religions and they even push for them to be taught in schools.

            They see the power and the danger of the Bible and prayer much more than we as Christians do.  Discover the power of God in the Bible and prayer to protect you from the power of the evil one!

           

            Today would be defined as a bad day but God redeems the pain and weariness and makes it a good day!  I praise you Lord!

January 29, 2018 Monday

“Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:21-22 NKJV)

            Jesus went to the synagogue wherever he went.  Wherever Jesus went the nearest synagogue or the Temple was part of the itinerary.  Part of this was to share the Good News but it seems Jesus also went to join in community worship since the good News was preached everywhere.

            And when Jesus taught people were usually amazed at and the wisdom and authority with which He preached and spoke.  They were used to messages from the scribes which had not authority.

            Without authority a message becomes little more than a sharing of ideas or the law which though helpful doesn’t touch the deepest need of the soul.  Self-help messages can improve life but cannot create life or renew a life darkened by sin.

            How can we as broken human beings teach or share with authority?  We can understand that Jesus as God had the authority to teach and preach.  But how can we?

            The simple truth is our authority comes from our relationship with Jesus and being led by the Holy Spirit.  Our message must also have its foundation in the Bible which is the written word of God.  The combination of Jesus as the Living Word and the Bible as the written word gives us the authority we need.  By this our message can reach into the hearts where a person’s life can be changes eternally.

            This is not just true for preachers and teachers but for everyone who is a Christian.  For each of us are called to share the Good News with those God places in our lives.  To share a message that has authority we must immerse ourselves in the Bible and be guided by the Holy Spirit.  Are you?  Does your life and teaching make an eternal difference?

            Not as tired as I thought I would be after the weekend and doing better than I thought.  The meds for my stomach and for jerking seem to be helping a lot.  God is so good to give Dr Byrd know what I need.  Right now all they can do is treat the symptoms.  God has taught me that with Him every day is a good day no matter how painful or exhausting it is!

January 28, 2018 Sunday

““I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. “And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.” (Exodus 29:45-46 NKJV)

            Usually my scriptures come from the lectionary but this week God really touched my soul with this verse as I was reading through the Bible this year.  I do believe this is my new life verse!

            In many ways these verses are a summation of what I have tried to emphasize in my ministry over the years.  That God is with us, loves us and brought us through so much so He could dwell among us!

            The mystery of God can be seen in these verses as we see not only the presence but the direct contact of God to bring people out of slavery to the freedom of being with God.  We also see the glory, power and wonder of God who is “the LORD their God.”   

            We also see the I am used here which connects us to Jesus as Lord and God.  Jesus would use I am to declare that He is life, light, bread and so many other basic parts of Creation and being.  All that we have and all that we need Jesus does not just offer but He IS!

            Do you think God cannot help you with the problems that you face?  Do you think God is not there or doesn’t care?  Do you believe you are so lost that God cannot find you?

            If you cry out to God in the midst of your misery you will be set free from your bondage and slavery through the blood of Jesus the door to a new life and even more a return to being able to walk and talk with God!  Will you cry out to God?

            After the visit with the Brigatti’s yesterday I thought I might not be able to go to worship but I did.  I had a wonderful conversation with Jack Davis who we were friends with 25 years ago when we served Asbury.  I always enjoy the sermons of Rev Ashley and the choir.  Had to rest the rest of the day.

January 27, 2018 Saturday

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.” (1 Corinthians 7:29-31 NKJV)

            “For the form of this world is passing away.”  

            We are called to bear the burden of saving our world!  We must save the world for it is our home!  We must save the world because it is all that is!

            WHAT A LIE!!!  This world, indeed the entire universe was created to hold life.  Life is the only eternal thing and our life can only be saved by God!  But our time is short and the time we have to receive God’s salvation is short!

            The bible teaches us that there will be a new Heaven and a new earth.  Why?  Because Heaven was tainted by the angelic fall and earth has been tainted by human fall.  Sin has destroyed everything but God and we are left sitting in our own mess needing to be changed like a baby.  We cry and weep for someone to change us.

            When we cry out to God we are changed and become cleansed and become eternal and able to come into God’s presence!  And as we are changed so is our way of looking at life as God reveals to us He is the source!

            We now have a different urgency that is not only beyond this dying world but is also higher!  We do many of the same things but they no longer bind us and become a weight that destroys not only our happiness but even our joy.

            We seek the eternal things of true Life and seek to bring others to God and to true Life!  We seek not to save this world but to allow ourselves to be part of God saving the Lives of those who also are passing away.

            Are you trying to save the world and to save your life?  Are you weighed down by the many things of the world?  Are you willing to let all that go and receive all God has to offer you?

            Today is a better day.  I believe the new meds to help my stomach and the twitching are helping and I can rest better.  Still weak and still hurting but much more at a level I can endure. 

January 26, 2018 Friday

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.” (Psalm 62:5-12 NKJV)

            Many books have been written which teach money, sex and power are the important things to work for.  It is advertised, celebrated and even awarded!  They are like shiny toys that just as their warranty ends lie broken but they also break our lives!

            It is easy to see the flashing lights of the world and miss the true Light that is God but they are a lie and as they deceive us they destroy us!  They destroy hope in an effort to make it harder for us to hope in God!

“Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”

            Without God we are a mere vapor but if we pour our hearts to God then God has room to enter our lives and fill us with the Holy Spirit!  Only through God can we know that we cannot be moved because by the mercy of God in Jesus Christ He becomes our “rock” and our “salvation”.

            As the Psalmist declares twice he has heard God is the source of all power and mercy!  Our vain attempts to achieve power through oppression and robbery will always fall short.  The only way to power is through the source of power.

            I once heard someone say that they fought their way to the top and found they were alone.  Our attempts at power only alienate us and separate us but as we receive God’s power we are united with God and all those who are His!

            And finally we see the word Selah.  Selah means So Be It and is the same as amen.  So as the Psalmist declares that “God is a refuge for us” he calls out Selah – So Be It – Amen!

            Where are you looking for power?  What are you investing your life in?  What do you really desire?  Or is the question Who is your desire?

            I feel so weak and hurt so much so I rested in bed so I was able to be up when Jonathan came.  It is always good to see him and Bonnie made a wonderful supper and Rebecca got the house ready.  I am so blessed by the family that surrounds me every day.

January 25, 2018 Thursday

“This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed. Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” Then the LORD said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”” (Jonah 4:1-11 NLT)

            What sad words from a prophet of God!  Here is Jonah’s complaint against God.

“I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.”

            Jonah actually complains that God is too merciful and loving and is eager to forgive and to not destroy!  WOW!  I wonder if Jonah is as upset when God loves and forgives Jonah also?

            God’s response to the tirade of Jonah is very simple:  does Jonah have the right to be angry and condemn God for His mercy to Nineveh?

            Isn’t it amazing we actually can convince ourselves that we can judge the conduct of the God and Judge of Creation!  What an arrogance to believe we know better or are more correct than God!  Or even that we can know the heart of another to sit in judgment!

            Years ago Ted Bundy received the death penalty for the horrendous crimes he committed.  When in prison he called for a Christian leader to come and through him Bundy professed faith in Jesus.  Ted Bundy then recorded his testimony of what he had done and the impact pornography had upon him from the time he was a child. 

            When Ted Bundy was put to death the news showed the many people outside the prison celebrating his execution.  There were many buses from Christian congregations.  It saddens me to this day.

            God reminds Jonah that in Nineveh were many God had created and cared for.  There were many, though evil, God desired to come to Him!  Years later Jesus Christ would put it so simply yet with such depth as He declared that only those without sin are qualified to cast a stone.  I like all of them must drop my stone and slink away from judgment.  How about you?

            Days are getting worse but God is so good!  Bonnie is such a blessing as she got me some large print books to help me read.  We also ordered a new super giant print Bible with money from selling books and DVDs off.  I call it my recycled Bible.

January 24, 2018 Wednesday

“The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.” When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.” (Jonah 3:5-10 NLT)

            Some will say that you can become too bad for God.  Others think that they are too bad for God.  But the story of Jonah is a story of the not just the great depth that Jonah reached in the great fish but the even greater depth of God’s mercy.

            God forgives the people of Nineveh at the time they are enemies of His people and are ruthless enemies of them and Him!  Without a doubt the people of Nineveh would even today be listed as one of the most brutal and horrific people.

            Yet their response to God’s message brought by Jonah causes an amazing response.

“People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence.”

            The people of Nineveh respond to God’s judgment with confession and a cry for mercy!  They knew they didn’t deserve God’s mercy but held a tiny hope if not faith.

“Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”

            WOW!  The people of Nineveh had a better view of God than many today, even among God’s people!  Against all hope they hoped God would “change His mind” and relent from their destruction!  WOW!

            And then God DID!  When God saw they repented and sought forgiveness God “changed His mind” and did not destroy them!  I wonder how and when they knew God wouldn’t destroy them?  Did God reveal it or was it only when the time had gone by?

            Do you believe God can forgive you?  Even more, do you believe God can forgive others?  And most of all, do you believe God can forgive your worst enemy?  FOR GOD CAN!

            Bad days are starting back.  The new meds to help my stomach problems and the jerking and twitching seem to help but the overall pain and weaknesses are back.  I used to call these bad days but I realize these are also good days since God is with me.  The only bad days are those I do not seek God’s presence and love!!!

Bonnie and I read this in our devotional from Near to the Heart of God: Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns by Robert J. Morgan

James Montgomery wrote four hundred hymns, the best-known being the Christmas carol “Angels from the Realms of Glory.” Among his lesser-known hymns is this wonderful prayer for Christian workers. A copy in the author’s handwriting says it was written on January 23, 1833, for “a meeting of the clergy.” It’s usually sung to the tune “Duke Street” (“Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun”). Offer it today as a prayer for your pastor or church staff!

Pour out Thy Spirit from on high; 

Lord, Thine assembled servants bless; 

Graces and gifts to each supply, 

And clothe Thy priests with righteousness.

 Within Thy temple when they stand, 

To teach the truth, as taught by Thee, 

Savior, like stars in Thy right hand 

May all Thy Church’s pastors be.

 To watch and pray and never faint, 

By day and night, strict guard to keep, 

To warn the sinner, cheer the saint, 

Nourish Thy lambs, and feed Thy sheep.

 Then, when their work is finished here, 

May they in hope their charge resign; 

When the Chief Shepherd shall appear, 

O God, may they and we be Thine.

 I will pour out My Spirit in those days. – Acts 2:18

From Near to the Heart of God: Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns by Robert J. Morgan on (p. 27). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

January 23, 2018 Tuesday

“Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”” (Jonah 3:1-4 NLT)

            “A second time”.  God called Jonah to go fishing in Nineveh and instead he got caught by God through a great fish.  But God renews the call of Jonah and gave him another chance.

            Do you give those in the Church a second chance?  Do you look for God to patiently change people as God patiently changed you?

            Jonah is such a sad tale of a prophet who did not want to let go of his hate to give others a second chance even after God had given him a second chance.  But finally Jonah enters the massive city of Nineveh with the message that God would destroy it in 40 days.

            God’s call for Jonah must have seemed daunting to walk for three days across an evil city crying out that they would be destroyed.  What if God called you to do that in New York, London, Beijing or any other capital or important city?  Would you go or would you run as Jonah did?  Would you be nervous thinking about those strange people who preach the Good News on street corners?

            God’s call for Jonah must have seemed strange not just to Jonah but also to the people of Nineveh.  Why would they who lived in a powerful city in a powerful nation listen to such a strange and amazing cry?

            Like this verse we may in our lives share the message and never see the result of it.  We may just plant the seed that God will grow into a fertile crop of people who will answer God’s call to plant seeds for others!

           

            This is the fifth day when I have felt well.  It is coming to an end since I had a rough time last night.  I went to see Dr. Byrd today and she said that all I was suffering from was explained by the Small Fiber Neuropathy.  She gave me new medicines to help with more symptoms and try to keep up with the growing strain and pain.  But God is so good and even the bad days are good!

January 22, 2018 Monday

“One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.” (Mark 1:16-20 NLT)

            It is easy to think that we must invite people to come to church, especially our church.  After all we need to fill the pews and we need the offerings the new people will bring.

            But Jesus was interested in other things and more important things.  The call of Jesus is “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”  Look at the stages of this call.

Come – Jesus came to call us to Him and to discover our need to receive forgiveness and grace.

Follow Jesus – One of the hardest things for us is to turn from our own selfish and self centered lives and seek to follow God’s call.  When you plan for the future it is your future or do you seek God’s guidance?

Show you how to fish for people – Pastor’s and Christian leaders often but too much emphasis on this without realizing that without the first two steps it is impossible for someone to fish.  As leaders we also try to do a God thing failing to see Jesus said He would show us how to fish for people!

            Some will ask why James and John left their lives so quickly to follow Jesus but I believe that many people are waiting and look for someone who will lead them and who is worthy to follow.  Also we do not know how God prepared their hearts ahead of time.

            When I would go fishing for people I would always ask God to lead me and guide me in what to say as well as what not to say.  Will you seek Jesus to follow and be guided by Him so you can indeed fish for people?

January 21, 2018 Sunday

“Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”” (Mark 1:14-15 NLT)

            The coming of Jesus for many has become either a date we argue about or something that happened a long time ago.  It is too easy to lose the wonder and mystery of a child and be amazed as God at last fulfilled His promise.

“The time promised by God has come at last!”

            Does that make your heart and soul break forth in joy?  Does that make you wonder how such an amazing could have happened?  Are you amazed that the God who created all wrapped Himself in human flesh and came from the Worship of heaven to the abuse and murder of His Creation?

            Jesus proclaims that the Kingdom of God is near!  Where is this Kingdom of God?  How can we know it even if we see it?  Jesus states that the Kingdom of God happens when we “Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” For then we become the Temple and the Throne for God!  For the Kingdom is where we put God on the throne of our heart!

            The Kingdom of God is also a reminder that we belong to a people who since Adam and Eve and until our Lord returns placed God on the Throne of their lives.  For after John was arrested Jesus began to announce the Good News. 

            I remember the first congregations I served and we had a great year and I was celebrating.  In all wisdom my District Superintendent reminded me that I was part of so many and that I reaped what others had sown and others would reap what I had sown!  That we are part of God’s eternal line of those in the Kingdom of God!

            Do you wonder at this amazing flow of God’s Kingdom?  I remember the story about the minister who went to a Chamber of Commerce meeting and when they asked for the company that had been in business the longest he proudly proclaimed he was part of God’s Church and that it had been in business for 2,000 years!

            Today I was able to go to worship at Asbury UMC in Knoxville Tennessee.  It always is such a blessing to be able to worship with my brothers and sister in Christ!  Even though it is so painful to go I know it is worth it to me.  I also listen to the podcast of the service at First UMC Jefferson City Tennessee.

January 20, 2018 Saturday

“"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.” (1Corinthians 6:12-20 NIV)

            Have you ever lived with the tension of doing the dos and not doing the don’ts?  Someone once said that if you spend more time doing the dos you have less time to do the don’ts.

            Paul reminds us that it is the power of God we are raised to a new life just as Jesus was raised.  We often think of this new life as happening after our physical death when we get to heaven.  But Paul in these verses reminds us that our new life is now!

            Through God’s power we can live a new life under what is called sanctification and God will change us in what we want and what we do.  IF we spend time in prayer and reading the Bible over time God works on us like the potter with clay and molds into the person we never thought we could be.

            In this molding process God leaves His fingerprints in our lives as an indelible mark of His presence in our lives and His deep love for us.  As you look back and see the changes in your life you are seeing God’s fingerprints in your life.

            But what if you do not see those changes?  That is a sign that you have not spent time in prayer and in the Bible and have not taken time to develop a relationship with God.  God is a Gentleman and will not go where He is not wanted.

            If you make room for God in your life then you become a Temple for the presence of God and worship will not something that happens on Sunday but an everyday experience of unity with God’s love and His Church!

            What will you do?  Will you pray and ask God to make you a dwelling place for Him or will you settle for going to worship one day a week?

(Today I thought about those who are offended when the masculine words for God are used.  I do not want to hurt anyone but since God uses the masculine to refer to Himself I use that.)

            Today is the third day when the pain is less and I am able to get some things done.  I used to call them good days but in truth everyday with God is a good day!  I pray that I will be able to go to worship tomorrow!  I so miss being with God’s children.

1/19/2018

My Lord woke me and called for me to pray

For the fear merchants spread their seed

It grows into a harvest of anger and fear

The evil one will bring fire and hail

Not from the skies but within hearts

The blaze consumes the fear merchants

And those who let the seed into them

The blaze will grow and burn so many

Souls will be lost in their fear and anger

For you cannot blame the fear merchants

Because you have let their seed into you

You have let it grow into a hateful crop

And you have let it keep you from love

And you have let it keep you from prayer

And you have let it keep you from joy

And you have let it keep you from peace

And you have let it keep you from God

PRAY for those who you hate the most

PRAY for those who you fear the most

PRAY for those who you dread the most

PRAY for those who you call them

For you are them to who you call them

And they pray against you out of fear

Little children please humble yourself

Fall before God in true humility

Lest we fall before God in judgment

Judgment because the Church failed

Failed to love each other as we should

Failed to love others as we are called

Failed to love God who loved you first

Cry out lest we burn in our hatred

Cry out lest we burn in our fear

Cry out to the Lord of mercy and love

Cry out for help not to come from above

But for God’s love and hope to burn within

That the fire of fear and hatred will be

Consumed by the fire of God’s love

Let us cry out to our God in humility

Let us cry out to our God in confession

Let us cry out to our God in repentance

Let us cry out to our God in hope

In the hope that God will be merciful

In the hope that God will forgive us

In the hope that God will be just

In the hope that God will be Holy

In the hope that God will make us

Also to be all those things ourselves

Pray for those you don’t want to

Pray for them most of all

Not because they need it most of all

But because you need to most of all

Put anger aside or God will be angry

Put your fear aside lest God destroy

Call upon God to plant seeds of hope

Call upon God to plant seeds of faith

Call upon God to plant seeds of joy

Call upon God to plant seeds of love

REMEMBER IF YOU DON’T LOVE THOSE YOU SEE

YOU CAN’T LOVE THE GOD YOU CANNOT SEE

And you will not receive God’s love

Because you don’t love those God loves

Not because God doesn’t love you

But because hatred blinds you from love

Because fear blinds you from His love

BE IN PRAYER YOU WHO ARE GOD’S

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW

GOD’S LOVE AND GRACE FOR THEM

For if you are full of hate for them

You will become the them to God

Little children BE IN PRAYER

January 18, 2018 Thursday

“For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (Psalm 139:1-6 NIV)

            I fear this verse!  I fear the searching of God for I know what I am and I know who I am!  I know that my tongue is not always filled with God’s Word but is often filled with my anger and fear.

             I remember the lady who once told me that she only wanted what she deserved!  But is that what you want?  Do you want the pain and destruction and the hell in this life to grow into your hell in the next?

            Pray and discover that God is all around you waiting for you to let Him in and that God will lay His hand upon you and watch over you. 

            In this world of fear know that God is around you and watching over you!  Let God into your heart and through His love know and experience the hope faith and love He has for you.  In the ground of hope let the seed of faith grow into a mighty plant that produces the fruit of love that provides seed for others!

            For then you will KNOW that “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Fear the Lord while He may be found!  Cry out for mercy from God while you may be found!  Rest in God’s love that you who are lost will find God!

            You who think you need it least need it most!  Lest we get what we DESERVE!

            Today is a good day, a great day!  I caught up on this blog, prepared cards to send out, prayed for so many and was able to eat well.  I know that God is so good today but God is also so good on the worst of days.  I pray God will help me be good on the worst days!

January 17, 2018 Wednesday

“And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family for ever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’" Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "Here I am." "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes." The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognised that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD.” (1Samuel 3:11-20 NIV)

            Sometimes we hear something from God that we don’t want to hear.  For some this is a good thing because they enjoy telling others they are bad or that they are wrong.  But for others this is hard because we do not want to say terrible things to others. 

            One time I asked God why I should share something terrible with someone.  Couldn’t God get someone else to share this?  God helped me realize that I was the one to share precisely because I would not like to and would not rejoice in their pain!

            Do you understand Samuel’s lack of desire to tell Eli that God considered him and his family “contemptible”?  Not just because Samuel cared but also because he was living in Eli’s home and under his authority.

            The other side is that Eli wanted to know!  Eli wanted to hear even the bad news from God.  Eli had to call for Samuel to be placed under the same judgment if he did not tell him!

            Will we be under the same judgment of the lost if we do not tell them what God said, even if we do not want to?  What does the Bible say about this?  That is if you even read it. 

            Then we see the hope of telling others God’s call for them.  At hearing such terrible news Eli responds "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."   Eli accepts God and

            How will they know of their need for God if we do not tell them?  How will they know God loves them if we do not tell them?  How will they know of the hope through God’s grace in Jesus Christ if we do not tell them?

            Will you hear God’s call and tell them?

            The last couple of days have been bad and I have spent most of the day in bed.  My stomach has been very acidic and I have not been able to eat much.  Slept a lot and even napped a lot during the day but I still feel very weak.