September 5

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11 NKJV)

      WAKE UP! It is so easy as a Christian to quietly live our life for ourselves in faith. But we owe God and others to wake up to the hurt and pain of those around us and live our salvation by sharing the love of Jesus Christ with those around us.

September 4

“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:10 NKJV)

      The law is not just a task God assigns us but a way of living together without harming each other. Love is not an addition to the law but the fulfillment of it!

September 3

“For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” (Romans 13:9 NKJV)

      We are given part of the “You shall not” list. Many books and sermons have been written on how to not do them but we are given a you shall that sums up all the commandments “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

September 2

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8 NKJV)

      God has loved us freely and at great cost to Him and our debt is to love God and sharing love with one another.

September 1

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished.” (Isaiah 51:6 NKJV)

    Look around you and see the wonders of Creation which will vanish and die. Only in the eternal God can we live forever!

August 31

“My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait upon Me, And on My arm they will trust.” (Isaiah 51:5 NKJV)

      Notice how many times My and Me are used in this passage. God does not give or offer what we need but is all we need.

August 30

““Listen to Me, My people; And give ear to Me, O My nation: For law will proceed from Me, And I will make My justice rest As a light of the peoples.” (Isaiah 51:4 NKJV)

      In Isaiah God reveals to us the coming presence and work of Jesus. Jesus is the Light come to us!

August 29

“For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” (Isaiah 51:3 NKJV)

      Again we see God wanting to bring us back to the Garden of Eden where we can have a personal and complete communication with God.

August 28

“Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.”” (Isaiah 51:2 NKJV)

      Abraham is our father because of his faith but it is at times easier to recognize Moses as our father who God used to share the law.

August 27

“Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.” (Isaiah 51:2 AV)

      We are part of a lineage of God’s people who are our father’s and mother’s in the faith. For the Jews Abraham was the father of God’s people and Sarah the mother. Yet the Jews often called Moses their father.

August 26

““Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.” (Isaiah 51:1 NKJV)

      Adam was formed from the dirt of the earth, the dirt God created. Jesus, the foundation stone, would dig us from the pit of sin we dug for ourselves.

August 25

“Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:28 NKJV)

      Jesus not only recognized her faith but honored her for it and healed her daughter. Jesus answered this prayer of faith offered with love for another.

August 24

“And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”” (Matthew 15:27 NKJV)

   Out of love for her daughter and the desperation of her need her response is awe inspiring. She believes to be under the table of God is better than sitting at the head of any other table!

It is our human arrogance to believe we can understand God and His actions. Each piece of the life of Jesus is part of the puzzle of God we can only complete when we see Him face to face! In humility learn rather than explain, by faith God will reveal what we must know and trust in God’s glory and goodness for the rest.

August 23

“But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”” (Matthew 15:26 NKJV)

There is an unexpected harshness to the reply of Jesus calling Samaritans and her little dogs referring to them as not just inconsequential but useless! We must not excuse Jesus but see this as another opportunity for God to reveal Himself to us.

August 22

“Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”” (Matthew 15:25 NKJV)

This mother does not give up and worshiped Jesus saying, “Lord, help me!”” Praying to God is a recognition of the glory of God and our desperate need for Him!

August 21

“But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”” (Matthew 15:24 NKJV)

Being sent to Israel first is a theme Jesus would use and teach and by the book of Acts we see this is how the early Church operated. There would even be a debate by early Church leaders about how to welcome in gentile converts.

August 20

“But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”” (Matthew 15:23 NKJV)

      There are so many reasons given for the silence of Jesus. We want a quick explanation, even if we have to provide it our self. The disciples complain she is bothering them and for Jesus to send her away. Moments like this can only be fathomed by the entire Gospels and through the Holy Spirit.

August 19

“And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”” (Matthew 15:22 NKJV)

      The Canaanites were the enemies of the Jews who go far out of their way to not be near them. Her cry for mercy from the “Son of David” is a recognition Jesus was in the royal lineage. Many would consider this an uneducated mistake of demon-possession for psychological trouble. Have we “educated” ourselves from real life?

August 18

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”” (Romans 10:15 NKJV)

      In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) the glorious God commands us to go out into the world on beautiful feet. The word disciple is used instead of evangelism as Jesus calls us to “preach the gospel of peace” and “bring glad tidings of good things!”

There is a story of a missionary who was called of God to share the gospel with a tribe of cannibals everyone feared. Despite the arguments of others he went and found them receptive. There was part of their belief that a white man would come to shown them the true God.

The missionary led the entire village to Christ and they were all baptized. He stayed a long time disciplining them.

After a long time the missionary was talking to the chief and exclaimed about all God had done. With tears in his eyes the chief lamented they had not come in time for his father to have heard and believed.

August 17

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14 NKJV)

       Paul calls us to break out of our lethargy and teach and preach God to the world. They cannot hear without a preacher, they cannot believe in the God they have not heard of and they cannot call on God for salvation.

August 16

“For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”” (Romans 10:13 NKJV)

      Again we are told whoever calls of the name of the Lord will be saved. Who we are or what we have done does not matter. Christians MUST accept all who call on God.

August 15

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.” (Romans 10:12 NKJV)

      We can believe Christianity as dividing us from “them” but Paul teaches any who call on God will receive the riches of the glorious God and the fellowship of believers!

August 14

“As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."” (Romans 10:11 NIV)

      Paul makes the amazing declaration the if we trust in Jesus we will “never be put to shame.” declaring this is scripture gives it the weight of the glorious God rather than Paul.

August 13

“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10 NKJV)

      It is easy to think calling out to God is all there is to salvation but God also requires us to confess with our mouth our salvation. People should know we are Christians by our mouth!

August 12,2020

“Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (Mt 14:21 NKJV)

      This is called the feeding of the 5,000 but that is really not accurate because the women and children were not included in this number. It is believed the number is 3 or 4 times as much. What a glorious God!

August 11,2020

“So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.” (Matthew 14:20 NKJV)

      Two points to highlight from this passage teach us the love and power of God:

1. From the “five loaves and the two fish” Jesus was able to feed the huge crowd.

2. There was a basket of leftovers for each disciple. Was this done to help the disciples know the abundance of God?

August 10,2020

“Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.” (Matthew 14:19 NKJV)

      The crowd seems to have more faith in Jesus than the disciples as they sit and wait. Jesus lifts their recognition of the Father by looking up to heaven and offering the blessing.

August 9,2020

“17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.”” (Matthew 14:17-18 NKJV)

      The disciples cannot see the opportunity because they see their limitations. They count their assets and finding them wanting lose the offer of Jesus to be part of God’s miracle.

August 8,2020

“But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”” (Matthew 14:16 NKJV)

      God offers the disciples the opportunity to take part in the glorious act of supernaturally feeding the crowd. God also reveals to we must through God’s power care for them, about them, and through acts of love draw them to God.

August 7,2020

“And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14 NKJV)

      Literally being moved with compassion means to be moved in our spleen or bowels. The spleen and bowels were thought to be the seat of emotion and pity. Compassion is no good without producing action to help those in need.

August 6,2020

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” (Romans 1:8 NKJV)

      Faith in God does not just change us, it has an impact and can be a source of change in those around us. Through God this change can spread throughout the world.

August 5,2020

“To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7 NKJV)

      Grace and peace are gifts from God and so we must pray they God’s people will receive them (they are always there but must be wanted and received). Especially you, for you need to have something to be able to share!

August 4,2020

“Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.” (Psalm 86:17 NKJV)

      May God’s blessings be seen by those who hate me, and God so they will shamed by You!

August 3,2020

“Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, And save the son of Your maidservant.” (Psalm 86:16 NKJV)

      The farthest we get from God is when we turn away. Their is no end to the distance between us and God by merely by turning away. But the blessing is we are always as close to God we simply need to turn around.

August 2,2020

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:15 NKJV)

      The glorious God does what He does because of Who He is!

August 1,2020

“O God, the proud have risen against me, And a mob of violent men have sought my life, And have not set You before them.” (Psalm 86:14 NKJV)

      Those who persecute and kill God’s people are really expressing their hatred of God! They have set themselves above God.

July 31,2020

“For great is Your mercy toward me, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” (Psalm 86:13 NKJV)

      The mercy of God can only be appreciated when we accept we DESERVE hell! Even when we are on this earth we are in “the depths of Sheol.” Worship the glorious God who delivered your soul “from the depths of Sheol.”

July 30,2020

“I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore.” (Psalm 86:12 NKJV)

      Praise and glorify the Lord God with all we are for all of time.

July 29,2020

“Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” (Psalm 86:11 NKJV)

      God is the ultimate teacher because He alone can reveal who He is. It is interesting the psalmist wants the Lord to teach His way so he could walk in God’s truth. Jesus would fulfill this for He is THE Way and Truth!

July 28,2020

“For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.” (Psalm 86:10 NKJV)

      To glorify God is to recognize Who He is and what He does!

July 27,2020

“All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name.” (Psalm 86:9 NKJV)

      Whether they recognize it or not ALL nations have been made by God and will worship the Lord and glorify God’s name!

July 26,2020

“Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.” (Psalm 86:8 NKJV)

   We think of god’s of long ago but every generation has their own god’s. Those to whom you look too for safety and security is your God.

July 25,2020

“In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.” (Psalm 86:7 NKJV)

      During times of trouble we can have what is called a foxhole prayer. Prayers and promises made in time of trouble but left in the foxhole when things get better. Is that how you pray?

July 24,2020

“Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications.” (Psalm 86:6 NKJV)

      Give ear – listen – hear. It is interesting the psalmist separates prayer and voicing supplications.

July 23,2020

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5 NKJV)

      WOW! The Lord – is good – ready to forgive – abundant in mercy. To partake of this glorious God we must call upon Him.

July 22,2020

“Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 86:4 NKJV)

      Does the psalmist mean for God to make His servant rejoice or for God to rejoice in His servant? Does it matter? Either way “to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”

July 21,2020

“Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long.” (Psalm 86:3 NKJV)

      If we asked forgiveness each time we sinned we would indeed cry to God for mercy “all day long” as we should.

July 20,2020

“Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You!” (Psalm 86:2 NKJV)

      How can a human being be holy? Because we trust God is our God and will serve Him.

July 19,2020

“«A Prayer of David» Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me; For I am poor and needy.” (Psalm 86:1 NKJV)

      This verse is supposed to be a favorite of General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War. We see the humility of standing before the God of glory with the expectation of God’s grace.

July 18,2020

““But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”” (Matthew 13:23 NKJV)

      If we open ourselves to God we are prepared not only to grow but to produce fruit to the glory of God! Do not just listen to the word but work to grow in your understanding.

July 17,2020

““Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22 NKJV)

    Thorns surround us and our attempts to not get pricked contorts us us out of usefulness to God. As a gift of the glorious God pray you will grow and be fruitful.

July 16,2020

“20 “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 “yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.” (Matthew 13:20-21 NKJV)

      Belief is harder to maintain than to get. After the initial joy if there is not an attempt at growth of our belief it will wither and die.

July 15,2020

““When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.” (Matthew 13:19 NKJV)

      There is hearing and there is hearing. We can hear and it will pass us by or we can hear and it becomes part of our thought process and then our belief system. Take time to process the message of our glorious God.

July 14,2020

““Therefore hear the parable of the sower:” (Matthew 13:18 NKJV)

      God wants us to listen. Our lives are so full of noise and dissension we cannot hear God. Take time to hear what God is saying to you.

July 13,2020

“Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed.” (Isaiah 56:1 NKJV)

      While we are called to “Keep justice, and do righteousness” they are who our glorious God is.

July 12,2020

““For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12 NKJV)

      It is easy for us to forget Creation praises their Creator. When Abel’s blood was shed the ground cried out to God. When walk our lives in joy and peace we join with all of Creation in worshiping our glorious God.

July 11,2020

“And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.” (Acts 27:3 NKJV)

      Again Paul is given freedom within his arrest to encourage God’s people. What an amazing and glorious God!

July 10,2020

“So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.” (Acts 24:23 NKJV)

      What an amazing and glorious God! In Paul’s life God set him free, saved him from death and this time even in prison Paul is set at liberty within his prison!

July 9,2020

““The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;” (Luke 4:18 NKJV)

      Jesus reads the text and also claims it as His reason for coming. Jesus put behind His glory to enter into our dark world to be our Light!

July 8,2020

“‘Then you turned around and profaned My name, and every one of you brought back his male and female slaves, whom you had set at liberty, at their pleasure, and brought them back into subjection, to be your male and female slaves.’” (Jeremiah 34:16 NKJV)

      And that quickly all is undone and they “profaned My name” declares God! Those they had set free were brought back to be slaves. Slavery is just as destructive to the owner as to the slave as both believe life is of little value.

July 7,2020

“‘Then you recently turned and did what was right in My sight — every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor; and you made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My name.” (Jeremiah 34:15 NKJV)

      Three times God declares He recognized their obedience.

My sight

covenant before Me

house which is called by My name

      Their obedience honors and glorifies God!

July 6,2020

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem to proclaim liberty to them:” (Jeremiah 34:8 NKJV)

      God continues to honor the peoples desire to not reveal His glory but speak through an intercessor. But they would not listen to the prophets any more than to God.

July 5,2020

““The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” (Isaiah 61:1 NKJV)

      Many centuries before the birth of Jesus we are shown the calling and ministry of Jesus. Jesus revealed His glory by not only repeating the words but also living them!

July 4,2020

“And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.” (Psalm 119:45 NKJV)

      The glory God is we can live within God’s teachings in complete liberty. The worst slavery is to live without any law and without it’s guidance.

July 3,2020

“‘And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.” (Leviticus 25:10 NKJV)

       The year of Jubilee was a reset for God’s people where those who were enslaved were set free and all were allowed to return to their land allotted to them. These would become complete as in Jesus we are set free by His sacrifice! All debts are paid and we are free.

July 2,2020

““But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house.” (Genesis 24:40 NKJV)

      Abraham trusted God and after watching God’s faithfulness so did the servant! In the time this was happening if there was not an heir the servant or his children would inherit. But the servant believed the God who had taken care of Abraham would care for him.

July 1,2020

““And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has.” (Genesis 24:36 NKJV)

      What a wonderful declaration: “and to him he has given all that he has.” Declare God’s glory as you recognize all you have is God’s gracious gift for you.

June 30,2020

““The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.” (Genesis 24:35 NKJV)

      A servant glorifies God for the blessing his master received! Can we be happy when others are blessed and praise the God of generosity!

June 29,2020

“In the courts of the LORD’S house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 116:19 NKJV)

      Like Psalm 100 praise takes place in the court of God. The psalmist also declares God’s house dwells in the midst of Jerusalem!

June 28,2020

“I will pay my vows to the LORD Now in the presence of all His people,” (Psalm 116:18 NKJV)

      At first this may seen boastful or arrogant but the psalmist could also pay in the presence of God’s people to declare God’s glory before others!

June 27,2020

“I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD.” (Psalm 116:17 NKJV)

      Recognition of God’s blessings leads to thanksgiving and thanksgiving leads to calling on God and this becomes a cycle expressing God’s love and glory!

June 26,2020

“O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.” (Psalm 116:16 NKJV)

      The psalmist recognizes the glory of God and their own undeserving nature. Twice the psalmist recognizes they are a servant of God and also the “son of Your maidservant”.

June 25,2020

“Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116:15 NKJV)

     God is glad when His saints die?! From “Adam where are you?” God has sacrifice all so the relationship with those created in His image could once again happen. This will only fully happen when we enter God’s presence by death.

June 24,2020

“And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.” (Acts 27:3 NKJV)

      In the midst of the perilous journey the guard Julius “treated Paul kindly.” The glory of God is seen in Paul’s imprisonment as Julius gives him the chance to share the Good News!

June 23,2020

“I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD.” (Psalm 116:13 NKJV)

      There are two cups seen throughout the Bible which are the Cup of God’s Wrath and the Cup of God’s salvation. The psalmist will take up the Cup of Salvation by calling on the name “of the LORD.” The glory and love of God allows us this choice.

June 22,2020

“What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me?” (Psalm 116:12 NKJV)

      When looking at the glory of God our eyes are opened to see all God is doing for us. We are surrounded by God’s blessings and love and often sit in poverty not seeing all that surrounds us!

      When we finally see what God has done for us we should, we must, find a way to respond! The psalmist in response asks what he should “render” to God. The word render means to turn back, to return, to come back.

June 21,2020

“Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:2 NKJV)

      On our own we would not even think of coming to God but the psalmist understands we are able to call upon God because God made the first move.

      “Therefore” not only the psalmist but all of us can call upon God. We can speak to God about anything and even hear God speaking to us. Guided by the Bible we can even know we have the correct “number” and are really talking with God.

June 20,2020

“I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications.” (Psalms 116:1 NKJV)

      The glory of God is seen in His desire to once again communicate with us!

“Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”” (Genesis 3:9 NKJV)

      God’s first response to the fall was to declare He missed us!!! We deserved anger – wrath – judgment but God misses us! God used so many ways so we once again communicate with God who misses us!!!

June 19,2020

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5 NKJV)

      We know there is faith, hope and love but hope often gets left out. Faith and love grow in the good soil of hope. We come to faith in God because we hope beyond hope God will receive us even though we are so undeserving. Love grows as we come to hope God will enable us to live our lives in a way that loves.

June 18,2020

“and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:4 NKJV)

      The glory of God’s grace continues to work in us and better us as just part of its blessing. Grace is not just to get to heaven because eternal life begins the moment we come to God.

June 17,2020

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;” (Romans 5:3 NKJV)

     The grace of God does not just save us but gives meaning to our life. We see the glory of God as our tribulations produce perseverance. The glory of God’s grace is beyond our comprehension but not beyond our appreciation.

June 16,2020

“through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:2 NKJV)

      Faith is not of us but is itself an act of the grace of God. God’s glory is seen in His great love to call us back from our sin and rebellion. What kind of love is this?

A birth comes with a slow change of what delivers

things become uncomfortable and out of balance

at times there is happiness about the coming life

at other times there is a dread at coming change

what will be brought about by the coming change

closer to the time the more discomfort there is

the pain continues to grow within every part

all becomes connected in pressure and pain

slowly the old life falls apart in preparation

for the new to be born the old must pass away

faster and faster the pressure grows and grows

the pain continues to grow like the new birth

the pain births many rivulets of sweat flowing

fear tenses muscles making it harder to move

fear grows into anger and anger into hate

the coming birth grows all that seems wrong

it seems as if new life will bring about death

like with twins the new life battles within

which new life will come forth from this birth

as the birth begins the pressure grows harsher

too much must come through so little space

groans, screams, tears, anger all become one

what will come forth from this new birthing

what will the future hold for us with this birth

Only God knows! Others must pray and hope      6/12/2020

It is easier to choose death than life

life is difficult and very hard work

you don’t have to die to choose death

you just have to choose not to live

there are many dead walking around

they just don’t bother laying down

there is no life within their existing

each day begins and ends – just ends

too afraid of death to really live              6/10/2020

June 15,2020

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1 NKJV)

      The glory of God is how we are able to once again love and worship God. We are justified – made just by faith in the redemptive power of the death and resurrection of Jesus which allows us to “have peace with God”.

There is the death of a thousand cuts

Why can’t you do anything right?

Why are you so fat?

You are such a bucket head!

You sweat too much!

You are so stupid!

Your father left!

I didn’t want you to know your grandmother!

You are a lousy husband!

You are not the man I married!

You did not become the man I thought you would be!

You are a bad father!

You hurt me!

Why can’t you love me like I want?

Why don’t you pray and read the Bible with me?

You are smart enough to know better!

You put your work before us!

You didn’t pastor the way you should have!

You do not care!

So many many more. Each one a cut, a jab. I try so hard to not feel sorry for myself.

You are stupid to waste your time feeling sorry for yourself!

I try not to let them pile up.

I have told you this time after time and you never change!

I trust in God to love me.

You are such a sinner and can’t let go of the pornography!

I read Hebrews 6 and realize I have humiliated God and am cut off from Him.

So now I wait.

I continue to worship the God who deserves it even though I humiliated Him and am cut off because God is still worthy of praise. I pray for those in need hoping God will still hear my prayer. I lay here disabled and just try to make it through each hour. At times the pain is so horrific but I deserve it for I have dishonored God and hurt others. When this started I thought it was to glorify God but now I know it is just a preparation for hell. I wait for this pain to become the eternal pain I deserve. I am not depressed I just know.

So now I wait.