31 May 2017
One Day Closer
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And those who have died believing in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive will be gathered up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever.

I read a “health” article from theguardian.com a couple of weeks ago called “Sleeping for less than six hours may cause early death, study finds.” Sometimes, I do not get a full eight hours, so naturally, I curiously read what the “experts” had to say.

It (the UK study) found that those who generally slept for less than six hours a night were 12% more likely to experience a premature death over a period of 25 years than those who consistently got six to eight hours' sleep. Evidence for the link was unequivocal, the researchers concluded.

Wow! Isn’t that fascinating? Over a period of 25 years, or, in other words, the older I get, the closer I get to dying? Come on, people, that is not news. The truth is actually that every single day we all get one day closer to dying no matter how many zzzz’s we got last night! This article not only confirms that people love to sell fear, but also that people fear death badly!

It is just a fact that every day every person gets one day closer to death. But for those who believe in Jesus, every day also brings us one day closer to His return!

Dear God,
Thank you for the simple truth that those who believe in your Son will enjoy eternal life no matter when we die, and those of us who are still alive also have the hope of Jesus’ return any day! There really is no“sting” in death just like your Word says. I love that everything you promise is true and good, and I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
​(1 Corinthians 15:56-57)

29 May 2017
The Rebuttal
Psalm 103:17-18
But the Lord’s love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren and to those who keep his agreement and who remember to obey his orders.

I watched an interview on Tucker Carlson’s show last week where the Freedom From Religion co president, Dan Barker, went off on how cruel, destructive and crazy God is. This guy claims to be informed on what the Bible “really” teaches, but he clearly does not know God at all, and he must be completely unaware that Psalm 103 is even in the Bible.

All of Psalm 103 clearly expresses what God is really like. He is accurately described as the One who doesn’t treat us harshly, saves us, satisfies us with GOOD things, and loves us like no one else ever will. These attributes to Him are amazing and true. How God gets saddled with the evil in the world that are a result of people’s free will is ridiculous. He is the only one who offers the solution, relief and protection from the wickedness in the world; he doesn’t cause it. Mr. Freedom from Religion is saying God isn’t too powerful if he allows wickedness to go on, but that man sure does love his free will, and he uses his free will, ironically, to freely misunderstand, misrepresent, and misinterpret the One, True, Living God.

Here’s what the Bible really says about those who use their free will to obey all that God offers...

But the Lord’s love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren and to those who keep his agreement and who remember to obey his orders.

These are not the actions of a cold, heartless, maniacal being. Believers are not being duped; we’re being blessed! I love Psalm 103. It articulates so completely and accurately the attributes of God in one place and is the perfect rebuttal to smug, atheistic God mockers.

All that I am, praise the Lord;
    everything in me, praise his holy name.
My whole being, praise the Lord
    and do not forget all his kindnesses.
He forgives all my sins
    and heals all my diseases.
He saves my life from the grave
    and loads me with love and mercy.
He satisfies me with good things
    and makes me young again, like the eagle.
The Lord does what is right and fair
    for all who are wronged by others.
He showed his ways to Moses
    and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The Lord shows mercy and is kind.
    He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love.
He will not always accuse us,
    and he will not be angry forever.
He has not punished us as our sins should be punished;
    he has not repaid us for the evil we have done.
As high as the sky is above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who respect him.
He has taken our sins away from us
    as far as the east is from west.
The Lord has mercy on those who respect him,
    as a father has mercy on his children.
He knows how we were made;
    he remembers that we are dust.
Human life is like grass;
    we grow like a flower in the field.
After the wind blows, the flower is gone,
    and there is no sign of where it was.
But the Lord’s love for those who respect him
    continues forever and ever,
    and his goodness continues to their grandchildren
and to those who keep his agreement
    and who remember to obey his orders.
​(Psalm 103)

Dear God,
​Thank you that you are not hiding your attributes from us, but you actually freely express them to us in your Word so that we know exactly what you are like and can freely choose to follow you. Thank you for making these good things even available to us. If you were cruel, you wouldn't! I love how you treat me with love and do not hold my sins against me, and how you give me good things -- really good things. I love you so much, and I thank you, and I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

​The interview starts at 22:55 on the following youtube clip:

26 May 2017
At Just the Right Time
John 3:17
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

When you’re looking for something, isn’t it wonderful when it finds you instead? I know that when I was 19, and not even looking for a husband yet, my friend set me up with the guy I would marry. I enjoyed a nice, long teaching career that was exciting and dynamic before common core and test scores sucked the fun out of the profession. And God made sure that we had kids at the perfect time in our marriage too. A lot of times when we make stuff happen for ourselves or wait until we’re “ready” nothing happens at best or bad things happen at worst. But when what we need just presents itself and is lavishly given to us, we are free to dive in and enjoy!

At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6) This is the best thing that ever happened for any of us.. Not only did God send Jesus, he sent him at just the right time. And we weren’t looking for him, but he sure is looking for us! He knew Jesus is exactly what we need.

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world... We are already judged. We already know we do wrong things, or we would never feel bad about anything. Jesus didn’t come to tell us what we already know, he came to be our solution. He saves! He has given us exactly what we need. God knows what I need because he made me (see Psalm 139). And because he is so full of love for me, he keeps sending me what I need when I need it! I enjoy my marriage, my job, and my kids because the One who brought us Jesus, keeps paying attention to me and gives me what I need when I need it.

All that I am, praise the Lord; everything in me, praise his holy name. My whole being, praise the Lord and do not forget all his kindnesses. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He saves my life from the grave and loads me with love and mercy. He satisfies me with good things and makes me young again, like the eagle. The Lord does what is right and fair for all who are wronged by others...The Lord shows mercy and is kind. He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love... He has not punished us as our sins should be punished; he has not repaid us for the evil we have done. As high as the sky is above the earth, so great is his love for those who respect him. He has taken our sins away from us as far as the east is from west. The Lord has mercy on those who respect him, as a father has mercy on his children... The Lord’s love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren... (Psalm 103)

Dear God,
Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for bringing HIM to US because I am powerless to save myself in any way. Thank you for giving us the BEST plan, the best Friend, the best Savior, when you sent your Son. And thank you that you consistently bring me good things, that you continue to care about me, and that you show your love for me every single day by providing what I need always at just the right time. You always act “at just the right time” and you’ve never stopped. Thank you, thank you so much for your great love and great personal attention to the details of my life and the lives of those who love and trust you. I love you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
       

​25 May 2017
Real Communication
James 1:19
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.


Instead, we are all quick to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, quick to express an opinion, and quick to go off and give someone a piece of our mind. Society has become more interruptive, more intolerant, and more disrespectful as a result. Not only is James advocating great spiritual wisdom in this passage, he is also simply directing us towards good manners.

God’s way really does always make everything better. Even adhering to His process of communication here makes for a well-mannered society regardless of the spiritual concerns. However, listening is how we become wise, speaking is how we impart wisdom, and anger rightly placed offers correction that can save a soul.

Listening...
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. (Proverbs 19:20)
Speaking...
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (Ephesians 4:29)
Anger...
When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.  I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then  he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. (Mark 10:14-16)
​
Dear God,
Thank you for always teaching us the BEST way. Your instructions for communications are what is best for our hearts as well as for those whom with we communicate. And most of all, I want to be a good listener to YOU, communicate wisdom with love to others, and not be arbitrarily defense, but consistently and boldly be a defender of Truth. I love you and thank you for teaching and equipping me, and I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
       

​24 May 2017 
What Real Love Really Is         
Romans 12:10
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Love each other... The times we are currently living in show that a lot of people have no idea what “genuine affection” really is. Loving each other doesn’t mean that we agree on every single point or force others to endorse a certain point of view. Loving with genuine affection is how Jesus loves us – he just loves us anyway.

For Believers, our love for others is certainly genuine. We do not want anyone to die in their sins. There is no one that we strenuously disagree with or hate so much that we wouldn’t want them to know Jesus and be saved. This is what genuine love is. Pray for and encourage those in the faith to remain faithful, and pray for and encourage those who refuse to realize their need for it. Genuine affection has absolutely nothing to do with agreeing, endorsing, or making nice. Those things are superficial. Real love means that in spite of a person’s perceptions or actions, I want them to really know Jesus and experience how much he love us.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. (John 15:9-12)

Take delight in honoring each other... What does that mean? Honoring each other is a reflection of what Jesus’ kind of love looks like. We show others (whether we agree with them or not) that we love them as perfectly described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7...

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance...

Just doing one of these things is loving and honoring to another person. I’m so glad the “always hopeful” part is there. We discuss this in our Women’s Bible Study all the time. When people express resentment towards us, we are thankful that an option that we have to love them is just being hopeful that they turn to Jesus and get restored. If we don’t hope the best for others, then our affection is not genuine and does not reflect a desire for everyone to know Jesus and enjoy a relationship with him which is what real love really is.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for giving me the desire and the equipment to genuinely love others. I pray for our nation right now that is deceived and teaching young people that we all have to agree or we can’t get along. Thank you that we are not restricted to such a small way of thinking. Thank you that we can be with anyone and hope they seek you with all their heart and discover for themselves that love has nothing to do with agreeing with each other but everything to do with knowing you and being forgiven and loved by you. You are so good to me, and I just can’t thank you enough. And I love you, and I pray in your name, amen.