THE DELIGHTS OF YOUR HEART

Week Thirty-One, 2017

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

It’s crazy how easily we can talk ourselves into wanting to be more, have more, and do more. And for me, it happens the most when I let the world creep in where Jesus should reside instead.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Taking delight in the Lord means that our hearts truly find peace and fulfillment in Him. If we truly find satisfaction and worth in Christ, Scripture says He will give us the longings of our hearts. The idea behind this verse and others like it is that, when we truly rejoice or “delight” in the eternal things of God, our desires will begin to parallel His and we will never go unfulfilled.

Many delight in wealth, status, material possessions, and other temporary things of this world, but they are never satisfied. They never truly get what they want, hence the reason they are always wanting more.

Everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father, but from the world which seeks pleasure. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

We will never be deeply fulfilled or “happy” with the things this world has to offer. But, if we place our joy and hope in God first, He will meet all of our needs.

Have you trusted God first in your life? If not do so today and receives the desires of your heart.

THOUGHT: What gives you pleasure in life? Does it come from the world or from Jesus?

PRAYER: Father God, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you and look to you and to you alone for true delight and pleasure in life.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The GROWTH key to spiritual maturity:

G – Go to God in prayer daily.
R – Read God’s Word daily.
O – Obey God moment by moment.
W – Witness for Christ by your life and word.
T – Trust God with every detail of your life.
H – The Holy Spirit – Allow Him to control and empower your daily life and witness.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. Franklin Roosevelt.

The enemy is scheming to knock us down. Ken Whitten.

Wisdom from former President and General Dwight Eisenhower: “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both”. Is that the path we are on?

_____

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017.

“ ‘AMISS’ – OR ‘A MIST’?” (James 4:11-17)

Series: JAMES July 23, 2017 10:30 AM
First Baptist Church, Earlville, NY,  J B Stopford, Pastor

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “A Medical Funny”
Patient: It’s been one month since my last visit and I still feel miserable.
Doctor: Did you follow the instructions on the medicine I gave you?
Patient: I sure did. The bottle said “keep tightly closed.”

INTRODUCTION Last week, we entered Chapter 4, and the 6 “Warnings Against Pride”.

Last week we studied WARNING #1 PRIDE PROMOTES STRIFE (4:1-6) James, in addressing the individual members of a church, warns about the battle within – the strife to pledge our wholehearted love for the Lord. When we allow pleasures and values of this world to overshadow that love – remember what he called us, “adulterous”! An OT word takes on a NT application. God is jealous (v. 5), and He wants His children to be humble before Him (v. 6).

And then we studied WARNING #2 HUMILITY CURES WORLDLINESS (4:7-10) We were given a warning against using the world’s standards to determine the success or importance of our church. If we averaged 30 people in the am service, 10 in SS, 10 in youth group, our financial obligations met, and a good testimony in the community, these could be the marks of a spiritually healthy church! And we noted those terms James used to guide that person who desires to walk humbly before his Lord: submit, resist, come, wash, purify, take one’s worldliness to a funeral, and humble yourselves before the Lord. And we concluded that God is hungry for a rich relationship between Him and us – not to settle for accomplishments but to settle ONLY for Him! How is your/our walk with the Lord?
Today we add two more warnings, and each warning will have a word to zero in on. PRAYER

WARNING #3. DO NOT JUDGE A BROTHER (4:11-12)
The word for this section is, of course, “judge”. You and I are familiar with many verses which teach us on “judging” or being “judgmental”. Remember Matthew 7:1? In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us that most oft-quoted, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” And Asaph in Psalm 82 talks about people being “gods” or “little judges”. What does that mean? How do these passages help us understand the passage in James 4:11-12? Remember Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” So what do these passages teach us? Both the Savior and Asaph show us that when someone judges, he is actually representing the Lord Himself! Why is a judge deemed a “good” or “fair” judge? Usually because he has been consistently honest, just like the Master Himself. Let’s apply these wonderful principles to James 4:11-12. First off, to whom is the passage addressed: one brother versus another brother! In just one fell swoop, James under the

inspiration of the Holy Spirit reminds the members of the church that the Lord Himself has elevated the body of believers of a local church to the wonderful title of “brothers” and “sisters” – the highest relationship an earthly person can have! James then reminds the reader of 2 thoughts: first, the brother is to be a doer of the law, not a judge of it; and second, any one who becomes a judge of the law is taking the place of the only Judge (Capital “J”) of the law, even the Lord Himself. How does that work out in the church? When you observe a brother or sister in Christ behaving or talking in such a way as to dishonor Christ, what is your response? To first share with someone else your disapproval so as to be more knowledgeable “prayer warriors”? To rush right up to that person and let him or her know what you think of that type of language or action – as if you are an expert? OR to come alongside that brother or sister and be just that, a brother or sister with them. Not a judge or a jury, but a brother or sister in Christ! As someone wisely observed, “When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we don’t have time to see the mistakes of others. We will reach out a helping hand to them and concentrate on our own walk with the Lord.”

Do not judge a brother. Become one with them. Walk with them, even through their shortcomings. Walk with them together back to the cross, to His Word, to His walk. Don’t judge – walk!
May I add one personal thought? We are often too busy to walk with another brother or sister. We have our own agenda for what supposedly absolutely needs to be done this day, this moment. What if your brother or sister is God’s assignment for you for this day, this moment? Would you miss God’s voice and shout over it to do your own thing? OR will you yield to God’s voice and come alongside the brother or sister who needs another hand to walk them along the path to holiness, to a fresh life in Christ?

WARNING #4. DO NOT BOAST ABOUT TOMORROW (4:13-17)
I call this section of Scripture “The Jim Deaver Rule of Life.” Not too many of you may remember Jim Deaver. He was a Marine true and true. He grew up in the Buffalo area and eventually found a job as a corrections officer for the State of NY. Throughout his life he was heavily involved in Boy Scouts and influencing young people. When I first met him, he was in his early 60’s. He and his wife had spent the month of June 1986 in California where he went to a reunion of his WW 2 Marine Corps troop. He ultimately was the last of the troop, and got to open the bottle of champagne reserved for the last surviving member. But he came under the teaching of Scripture. When he first heard this section of the Word, something amazing happened. He immediately applied God’s word to his life. From then on, he realized that there were many Scriptures that could become a vital part of his life. His life was never the same.
And what particular passage of the Word changed him? The phrase, “if it is the Lord’s will” or “Lord willing” or “God-willing”. Jim realized that he was living his life the way he wanted to. And from then on, he developed an intimacy with his heavenly Father that surrendered each day to the heavenly Father’s Lordship for that day.
But what one word changes this whole scene? The word in our NIV is the word “mist” in verse 14. Some versions call it a “vapor”. The best imagery of this word is the picture of the morning fog. The poet Carl Sandburg wrote a brief insight into this “mist”, in his majestic poem, “The Fog”: “The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.” That’s it.
And to what is James referring to when he talks about this mist, this vapor, this morning fog? OUR LIVES!

Let’s look at 2 classic psalms that will be of great help. I trust you have become familiar with the second. The first is Psalm 62. Note the introductory verses of vs. 1-2. David then uses his position before the Lord to remind him of how the enemy often treat him, as found in vs. 9-12. Their lives are only a “breath” – a mist, a vapor, a morning fog. That should be a rich encouragement as we all struggle in a world where others seem to flaunt who they are before us or what they have accomplished more than us.

But also check out Psalm 39! David is sitting before a fire, watching the logs go from burning timber to dwindling embers. As he contemplates the dying fire, the Lord speaks to him through a heart-wrenching hunger and appeal in verse 4. And in verse 5, David comes to grips with the reality of his life: it is but a “breath” – same idea as “mist”, “vapor”, “morning fog”. Poof! It’s gone! So what am I to do with this revelation? Note verse 7 and exclaim with David, “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” What does David say that gives life its meaning? Life is but a dying fire. A mist. A breath. A vapor. A morning fog. Fleeting. But God gives each breath hope. He who numbers our days gives each one fulfillment.
So James says, since life is but a mist – a morning fog – then I will live each day in the Lord’s will. (v. 17) And when I do it, my life is full. And when I know what I am to do, and don’t do it – only for me is this judgment: it is sin to me.

CONCLUSION
This week, the wise Lord may do some really neat and unexpected things with you. He may bring before your path a brother or sister in Christ who is hurting. They may need a word of hope. Or they may simply need an arm or a hug to let them know that they will not be going through this season alone.
And this week the Lord may give you many options of things to do – how do you choose what is best? By seeking His will, His peace, His Lordship for that day. Living our life as a mist, a vapor, a morning fog, each day now will take on fresh purpose, fresh fulfillment.

So go live! And in living, bring great pleasure to the One Who has called you out of darkness into the light of His glorious life!

“BLESSED TO BLESS”

THINK

On These

Things

Blessed To Bless

Our God is in the “Blessing Business.” He is a giver. It is His desire to bless us, His people, in every way. It has been that way from the very first moment of creation. All that is was made for our benefit. Truly we are a blessed people.

What does being “blessed” mean?

According to the Hebrew dictionary it means things such as happiness as well as good fortune. Psalm 1 is a mini seminar on being blessed.

Psalm 1

(1)Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (4) The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (5) Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. (6) For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What does it mean to be blessed? Psalm 1 answers the question for us in verse 3.

And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

To bring forth fruit in due season!

To have whatever you do prosper.

What a wonderful prospect!

Obey verse 1, practice verse 2, and verse 3 WILL be yours. It is a fact.

Let us presume you are a man. Let us have you turn aside from the things of the world that are listed in verse 1: ungodly counsel, sin, scorn for the things of God. Let us have you delight in the law of the Lord and meditate in it day and night, as prescribed inverse 2. Then you

Shall be like a tree . . .”

In your mind, picture a tree: Strong, enduring, stable, unchanging except for growth. Trees weather storms. Trees live long, some longer than men. To be like a tree is to be strong, sturdy, long lived. A severe storm may damage a few branches, but the only real enemy that a tree cannot stand up to is extended drought. But this tree is planted, purposely placed, by the rivers of water. These are living waters that will feed and nourish without fail. Of course! What else could flow out of the Word of God?

Shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water

That bringeth forth his fruit in his season.”

FRUIT! The very word makes you think of bright red apples, ripe oranges, sweet green pears, plump purple plums. Ummm. Fruit. In season. Sweet and pleasant. What a delightful promise.

Now, consider this question: When a tree brings forth fruit, who is it eaten by? Whom does it nourish? Not the tree.

It nourishes those among whom the tree exists.

When a man is like a tree and brings forth fruit it is not for him. It is for those whom he is among!

A blessed man blesses those about him.

A blessed man is able to feed the sheep, just as Jesus desired Peter to do. (John 21:15-17)

There once was a man who set himself to live a Psalm 1 life. We see a part of his report in verse 74 of Psalm 119, where we find the following observation as he converses with God:

They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.”

Those that fear God will be glad to see this man! Gladness certainly fits the description of a blessing. And a life that can make other lives glad is surely bearing fruit.

Notice the special reason given for the gladness. It is not because of a handsome stature, a powerful personality, a reputation for generous giving, an over-riding authority. It is none of these. It is because he has hoped in the Word of God.

Delighted, Meditated, Hoped

Yes, the leaves are for the tree, and the fruits are for others.

What are the acts in which a Blessed Man might prosper? Will he oversee a great financial empire? Probably not. Will he do great works of construction, buildings and bridges and by-ways? I imagine not. Will he occupy prominent political office, exercising authority and receiving obeisance? Not likely. Here are some of the things he may do: He may –

  • Teach the Word of God to others,

  • Instruct those in need of guidance,

  • Pray for healing and other needs,

And many other ministries, all of which will prosper.

. . . his leaf also shall not wither . . .”

Healthy leaves are the mark of a healthy tree. A tree with healthy leaves has received nourishment from the sun and water very day.

The man with healthy “leaves” has received nourishment from the Son, and the water of the Word every day – and every night.

Drink Deeply – Bear Fruit – Bless Others

07/17

Presented by Bro. Al Salay, Blessed Man Ministries Inc.

1093 A1A Beach Blvd. #273, St. Augustine, FL 32080-6733

www.BlessedMan.net [email protected]

THE DOOR

Week Thirty, 2017

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. – John 10:9 KJV

Recently I visited The Ark Encounter. It was an awesome experience to see the ark built to the Biblical specifications found in Genesis. It is more than five hundred feet long and eighty-five feet in width. It is a destination that should be on everyone’s “bucket list.”

One thing that impressed me from both inside and outside was the immensity of the door where the animals and people entered the ark. As I pondered it, the thought came to me that there was only one door and all who wanted to be saved had to enter through that one door.

There was one door into the ark that saved Noah and his family from the flood. Similarly there is only one “door” that can save us from eternal judgment. Jesus Christ is that door and He is the only way to be saved from sin.

What will you do with Jesus Christ? Your answer to that question has eternal consequences.

We are all guilty of sinning against our Holy Creator. Because He is Holy, God must judge sin. If you take an honest look at your life, you will know that you have sinned and are in need of a savior.

The Bible states that now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians). If you have not already done so, will you turn from your sins and call on the risen Lord to save you?

If you have not already done so, enter the only door that leads to eternal life today.

***

Sometimes True Stories

The $20 and the $1 Joke
Two well-worn bills arrived at the Federal Reserve Bank to be retired – a twenty and a one. As they traveled down the conveyor belt, they struck up a conversation. The twenty reminisced about the interesting life he had, traveling all over the country. “I’ve been to the finest restaurants, Broadway shows, Las Vegas, Atlantic City ,” he said. “I even want on a Caribbean cruise. Where have you been?”

“Oh,” said the one dollar bill, “I’ve been to the Methodist church, the Episcopal church, the Lutheran church and the Baptist church.”

“What’s a church?” asked the twenty.

Quotes You Can Use

“Friends will be there for you during good times and during bad times. True friends are with you in all times. True friends are unashamedly loyal to you.
If you read history you will find that Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.” — C. S. Lewis

“No matter the size of your need, the resources of God are more than sufficient.

If it’s wrong, fight it. If it’s right, fight for it. ” —David Gibbs III

“It is estimated that churches in the United States are closing at the rate of one hundred per week. We cannot blame everything on an ungodly generation. Often the cause is having not a godly enough ministry. ” —Frank Becker

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017.

©2017 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618

The Depression Proof Church

The title is a bit deceptive. It’s not about money. Or at least, it’s not just about money, although “the love of money is the root of all evil,” and bucks, bricks, and bodies seem to be the principal concern of many church leaders today.

The concept of God’s Church being “depression proof” is of a church that is not focused on its own preservation, but upon lifting up Jesus making disciples, and blessing others. It’s the concept of the New Testament Church, a concept that seems lost in the fogs of time.

The depression proof church is filled with contentment and peace because it is not a place of brick and mortar, but a spiritual building, a fellowship of believers, the Body of Christ.

When The Depression Proof Church was first published, it received praise from several seminary presidents.

Paige Patterson, President of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (https://swbts.edu/) and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, wrote this:

“In a day of ‘how to’ manuals on church growth and effectiveness, to find a writer who tells the truth…is a breath of fresh air. Frank Becker in this book, The Depression Proof Church: The Biblical Answer to a Church in Crisis, has clearly enunciated the one essential, namely, a return to the church of the New Testament.”

Dr. John Kenzy, President of Youth Challenge International Bible Institute, called it “compelling and timely,” and added, it “exposes revelation from God.”

Admittedly, The Depression Proof Church is not prophetic in the sense that the Holy Bible is prophetic, but it certainly has proven frighteningly predictive.

Consider Houston, Texas, America’s fourth largest city. Recent events provide several examples of the attacks now being faced by Christians nationwide. Houston is a logical place for the enemies of the Church to focus their attacks because—if they can establish precedents that damage the work of God in the very heart of the Bible Belt—they can succeed anywhere.

Not long ago, the mayor of Houston—a woman who was recently “married” to another woman—demanded that local pastors provide her administration with copies of their sermons. Since this is a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution, as well as God’s higher law, she was forced to back down for the time being, but she wasn’t through.

Later, the city council that she dominated was faced with a court order that requires that the council either put a so-called Equal-rights Ordinance on the November ballot or repeal it. A week later the council voted to put it on the November ballot.

But the city of Houston has not limited itself to these two fronts in their over war against Christians. They are now determined to literally bulldoze two churches that have served their troubled neighborhood for decades, using the excuse that the city wants to condemn the property so that they can build something new and more useful.

Across America, the abuses against Christians, and the insults to God, are too numerous to list. When believers look around them at the abuses, they are asking how we can expect God to bless a nation so deeply steeped in sin, and have begun to pray “God save America” rather than “God bless America.”

Who would have imagined that there would be such seemingly concerted action—such carefully orchestrated conspiracies—to silence the voices of millions of Christians who have done nothing but good for the people of America and the world? The altering of public opinion that is made possible by social media and through false news demonstrates that we are now ruled by the voices of the left manifesting itself through public passions, and that the end of freedom of religion, and America as a democratic republic, cannot be far away.

We have long heard of the atrocities against humanity committed by Planned Parenthood, evils so great that they can only be compared with the Nazi’s laboratory “experimentation” on human beings and their mass-production genocide of millions committed during the 1930s and 40s. The so-called Planned Parenthood organization has been “harvesting” the bodies of unborn babies for profit. Not since the Holocaust have we heard of such horrific crimes against humanity. Yet, Americans do not rise up in horror at these horrors.

Joseph Stalin of the USSR probably murdered more innocents than even the Germans, and the modern left has learned their lessons from him. “A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.” They have supported the slaughter of over 65-million unborn babies.

Now the attacks on the Church and on the principals of liberty are increasing in number and intensity. Even for far-sighted Christians, the terrible events that predicted in The Depression Proof Church are arriving years earlier than anticipated.  Many wonder whether we are beginning to witness the fulfillment of end-times prophecies recorded in Holy Scripture.

The broad attacks on Christians in general, and on the institutional Church in particular, along with the inability of Christian leaders to deal effectively with these attacks, is sobering. Far more sobering, however, is the fact that these attacks are even allowed, even welcomed, by public opinion, and not quelled by the courts.

Whether issues as frivolous as “Inflategate,” or as serious as the Benghazi slaughter, too many of our citizens seem indifferent to sin.  The attitude is, “Hey, these are not crimes. Everyone from President Obama on down does this sort of thing. Most people cheat, steal, and tell lies from time to time. Why get excited about it?” And they ask defiantly, “What are you, some kind of fanatic Christian?”

People seem interested only in their own illusions of security and comfort. Their reasoning seems to take place not in their heads and hearts, but is a matter of their lusts and passions.

Perhaps, as I wrote several years ago in The Depression Proof Church, our Christian leaders are at fault, because everything rises and falls on leadership, and our nation’s slide is ultimately a result of the failures of the Church. I can look back on my own years as a pastor and realize that I too often fell short. But self-recrimination will not bind our wounds or salve our national conscience. America has fallen on dark times.

God, save America!

Touching First Base

Week twenty-eight, 2017

Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. – 2 Timothy 2:5

The 1924 baseball World Series between the Washington Senators and the New York Yankees remains legendary. It was the seventh game of the series. The Senators and the Yankees are tied, three games a piece. It is the bottom of the ninth inning. The first two batters strike out. The third and final batter approaches the plate. His team is down by one run.

The pitcher releases a fiery curve ball. Strike one! He repeats the pitch. Strike two! Many in the crowd suspect that all has been lost. Then, the third pitch barrels toward the plate. Amazingly, the batter eyes it perfectly. His forceful swing sends the ball well on its way. The crowd erupts into pandemonium as they think that he has hit a homerun.

But, the ball hits a pole and bounces backward into fair territory. The runner makes it around to home plate. As the crowd explodes into sheer exuberance, the home plate umpire surprisingly calls out the runner. The home plate umpire goes to the mike to announce the determination. “The runner at home is called out because he failed to touch first base.”

Imagine that! The entire season and the World Series are lost due to a technicality. The runner in his excitement fails to touch first. Countless hours of practice, travel, and games were summarily nullified by a small yet very significant omission. However, that is also the case with the life of faith.

The game of baseball is governed by a set of rules and must be played by the rulebook. We also have a rulebook in the game of life, and we shall not receive the crown of eternal life unless we abide by the divine rules given to us through God’s Holy Word, the Bible.

The very first base we must touch in becoming a Christian is to believe unquestionably that Jesus is Lord and to confess our sins and turn our life over to Him. We must believe what the Bible says about Jesus and His love for us if we want to score in the game of life.

Committing our lives to Jesus is the first base of the Christian faith. Don’t run the rest of the bases of life until you touch that first base. God so loved the world that He gave us His only son, so that all who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Sometimes True Stories

We are in a VERY DRY season.
How Dry is it?

The Baptist are now Sprinkling
The Methodist are using wet wipes,
The Presbyterians are giving out rain checks and
The Episcopalians, Catholics & Lutherans are praying for the wine to turn back to water.

Quotes You Can Use

God Is Not Calling You Somewhere Else until He Needs You Somewhere Else Doing What You’re Doing Right Where You Are. Ken Whitten

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Reinhold Niebuhr.

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017

 

DECLARE

Week Twenty-Seven, 2017

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him. – Psalm 91:1-2 NLT

What is it that we declare about the Lord? Do we, like David, declare “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety”? Do we declare that “He is my God, and I trust him”?

We may say those statements in our minds, say them in our heart of hearts, even say them out loud for all to hear, but do our actions match our declarations? If I say that I trust in the Lord, but my life is riddled with worry, what does that declare about my faith in Jesus.

When we make a declaration on how much we thank God for the gifts, for the talents, for the victories then begin pounding our chests, as if to say, “Look at me. Look what I have accomplished. Look what I have done,” what does that declare about me and my God? I’m not saying that we shouldn’t publicly make our declarations. I just think we need to follow those declarations up with actions that point back to the Most High.

The blessings here promised are not for all believers, but for those who live in close fellowship with God. Every child of God looks towards the inner sanctuary and the mercy seat, yet all do not dwell in the most holy place; they run to it at times, and enjoy occasional approaches, but they do not habitually reside in the presence of God.

That all those who live a life of communion with God are constantly safe under his protection, and may therefore preserve a holy serenity and security of mind at all times. He that dwells, in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he that by faith chooses God for his guardian shall find all that in Him, which he needs or can desire.

How is your relationship with God? Do you come to Him casually and occasionally or do you keep Him close beside you? Is your life pointed to God at all times?

We can find rest in His shadow. He alone is our ultimate refuge and place of safety. He is our God and we can always trust Him.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

This list breaks down Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-34 and puts them into 7 bite size morsels for us to chew on about why we should not worry:

6:25 – The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.

6:26 – Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today.

6:27 – Worrying is more harmful than helpful

6:28-30 – God does not ignore those who depend on Him.

6:31,32 – Worrying shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.

6:33 – Worrying keeps us from real challenges God wants us to pursue.

6:34 – Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

No dream is too big; you just need to become the person it challenges you to be.

How easy it is to forget all the blessings of our lives that we take for granted. God has blessed us beyond our understanding. Dwight Short

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Proverbs 9:7-8

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017.
©2017 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618