By John Grant, Week Twenty, 2020

“How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner. How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!” (Lamentations 4:1-2).

A few months ago, my wife and I descended 1,300 feet below the surface and toured the salt mines outside Krakow, Poland. It was an incredible experience. My most important takeaway I learned was how in the times long ago the price of salt was higher per ounce than the price of gold. Salt was more practical, and much needed for food preservation and many other things. Gold was merely ornamental.

Fast forward to today when the price of gold is nearly $1,700 per ounce, but how quickly that can fade to nothing compared to the price of a loaf of bread. The prophet, Jeremiah, who wrote, Lamentations, saw that hundreds of years ago. The temple, which was overlaid with gold, was in ruins; and the gold was not distinguished from common rubbish.

Recent times have shown us how items were so wanted by people that the shelves were empty and our gold (credit cards and cash) were useless to purchase the depleted items. We all have some “gold” in our lives, but what happens when our gold loses its luster? Our fine gold of our lives become dull! Our gold is our idols.

Pastor Tim Keller so aptly says, “An idol is something we cannot live without. We must have it. Therefore, it drives us to break rules we once honored to harm others, even ourselves, in order to obtain it. Anything in life can serve as an idol, or a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life. An idol is anything more important to you than God. Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give. Anything so central and essential to your life, that should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living.”

What are some of our gods… financial security, comfort, people, job security, spiritual leaders, living the American dream….? In recent days our lives have been shaken and our lives have changed. It has not all been a pleasurable experience and the jury is still out on what the long term effects will play out. Our lives have changed, but one thing we know is our God has not changed.

He reminds us brokenness that leads to change is not aimless, pain that leads us to trust in God is not pointless and confusion that leads us to God’s throne for answers is not meaningless. In the words of Pastor Ken Whitten, our problem is not the depth of our brokenness. Rather, our problem is the depth of our own self- sufficiency.

Our idols will tarnish and wither away, but God never will.

What are the idols (gold) of your life and how have recent events drawn your focus on Jesus?

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The Entertainment Test

Here are 10 questions to consider when we turn on the TV, go to a movie, attend a concert, or watch a play:

1. Is what I’m watching lewd and lascivious and appeals to my sinful fleshy desires?

2. Am I looking at a person created in God’s image with pure and honorable intentions?

3. Does this entertainment distract from my pursuit of holiness, righteousness, and godliness?

4. Does this show produce ennobling thoughts or pollute my mind with cheap and tawdry thoughts?

5. Is the allurement of this show vulgar or virtuous?

6. Am I morally stronger from this entertainment, or spiritually weakened?

7. Are the values being presented consistent with my Christian values?

8. Am I allowing myself to be amused by something that is sinful?

9. Would I feel comfortable having Jesus sit with me during this show?

10. When I finish watching, do I feel good about myself or do I feel sleazy?

—Ken Weliever – ThePreachersWord.com

Three ways Jesus responds to fear

One-way Christianity is different from other religions and worldviews centers in Jesus’ redemptive response to fear. Consider three lessons he offers his followers:

1—We should live in the present and trust the future to God.

Jesus taught us, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). This day is the only day there is. Someday there will be a global crisis that seems frightening and unmanageable, but before it accelerates, Jesus will return for us or you or I will go to him. That’s why “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). We are one day closer to eternity than ever before, and we have only today to be ready.

So, live in this day and trust tomorrow to the providence of your Father.

2—Worry is fruitless.

Jesus asks us, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If you then are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” (Luke 12:25–26).

Worry provides the sense that we are doing something about our fear, but this is an illusion. Rather than worry about the future, we should prepare by doing what we can do and trust God with what we cannot.

3—Our Father is Lord of the universe.

He asks: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore” (Matthew 10:29–31).

Our Father measures the universe with the palm of His hand (Isaiah 40:12). He is on the throne of the world.

Let’s be sure He is on the throne of our hearts today. Jim Denison

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Hope is for the soul what breathing is for the living organism. Gabriel Marcel

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning is young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. Henry Ford

No matter what rough storm is in your life, if Jesus is in your boat, your boat will not sink. Franklin Graham

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Thomas A. Edison

Week Nineteen, 2020

By John Grant

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

In these recent times, we have been introduced to a new word: pandemic. It is usually used to describe the explosion of a medical epidemic, but literally the word means something prevalent over a whole country or the world.

On December 31 last year, China alerted the World Health Organization of several cases of unusual pneumonia in Wuhan, a port city of 11 million people in the central Hubei province. The virus was unknown. Several of those infected worked at the city’s Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which was shut down on January 1.

The Wuhan coronavirus is thought to have originated in bats, which may have passed the disease to one of a few potential intermediary species, which then passed it to humans from where it rapidly spread around the world infecting nearly two million people and causing death in more than one hundred thousand in nearly 200 countries. The spread took not years, but days.

One of Jesus last instructions was to create another worldwide pandemic, not a medical one, but an evangelical one. He instructed His followers to make disciples of all nations, as He assured them of His continuing presence. There were no newspapers, Internet or TV and radio. His instructions fell on the ears of foot soldiers who spread the Gospel from person to person and town to town.

Beginning with Jesus, the Christianity was spread around the world first by Jesus’ disciples, then by emperors, kings, and missionaries. Through crusades, conquests, and simple word of mouth, Christianity has had a profound influence on the last 2,000 years of world history.

Humanly speaking, the odds were all stacked against it. It was unthinkable that a small, despised movement from a corner of Palestine could move out to become the dominant faith of the mighty Roman Empire, an empire steeped in fiercely defended traditional pagan religions. The spread of the Christian church in its earliest centuries is one of the most amazing phenomena in all of human history. Wave after wave of persecution was unleashed to squash it.

The earliest Christians did not have church buildings. They typically met in homes. They did not have public ceremonies that would introduce them to the public. They had no access to the mass media of their day. So how can we account for their steady and diverse expansion over the first three centuries?

The answer is found in Scripture. The spread of Christianity was through the power of the Holy Spirit and with continued presence of Jesus, both of which continue today. Perhaps an evangelical pandemic is on order.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

What is success? How do you define it? What are the essentials of success? And how do you know when you’ve achieved success?

Google “success” and you will incredibly get 5,440,000,000 hits in .48 seconds. Go to Amazon and you find there are over 90,000 books written about success. All of these sources are filled with formulas, fundamentals and principles for achieving success in a given area of life.

The world’s standard often measures success on the basis of prosperity, performance, possessions, position, or power. God, however, not only gives His definition of success, but the means by which we can achieve it.

When Moses died, Joshua was designated to become the leader of Israel and assigned the task of conquering Canaan. God issued this stirring and inspiring exhortation to encourage and direct Joshua (Joshua 1:6-9).

Here are God’s five fundamentals to Joshua for spiritual success and prosperity.

1. Be Strong.

2. Be Courageous

3. Stay Focused

4. Meditate on the Word.

5. Do God’s Will.

Let’s return to the fundamentals of our faith. Then our way will be “prosperous,” and we will enjoy “good success.” Ken Weliever, The Preacherman.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

By owning fewer possessions, we reserve time, money, and energy for the things that matter most. So, take some time to focus on the things you own and what can be removed, today or in the future. The Minimalist

Even in total silence, it’s hard to hear God’s voice over the screaming claims of the world when God tries to pierce our heart, that’s what Satan does. Dwight Short

Hope in your present is fueled by God’s faithfulness in the past. Kelly Knouse

Hope is setting my focus on ultimate restoration, not instant relief. Kelly Knouse

Hope is a gift you receive, not a goal you create. Kelly Knouse

Before we were saved, we were the focus of our lives. Bob Sprinkle

Appreciation is one of the world’s greatest motivators.

*****

By John Grant, Week Eighteen, 2020

YOUR REFUGE

“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.“(Ps 9:9).

“In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God” (Ps 62:7).

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust” (Ps 91:2).

In the Old Testament, when Israel conquered, divided and possessed the land of Canaan, God designated six special cities called the “Cities of Refuge.” These cities were a place of safety for the man who accidentally killed another person. It was a place where he could flee and find protection from “the avenger of blood.” The one responsible for the accidental homicide would quickly need a place of sanctuary to escape the dead man’s family who would be pursuing him. Ultimately, the man’s innocence or guilt would be determined by the elders. But in the meantime, until the emotions subsided and tempers cooled, the one seeking asylum was safe in the city of refuge.

The cities of refuge were easily accessible and always available. Their gates were open to all who needed them. They were place of security, shelter and safety– a constant reminder of God’s grace and mercy. No wonder Jehovah is often referred to by the Psalmist as his refuge. The word “refuge” is from a verb that literally means “to flee.” It denotes “a shelter; a rock of refuge.” Inherent in the word is the idea of safety. Care. And protection from danger.

Life is filled with many trials, troubles, temptations and even tragedies. Sickness. Suffering. Death. Divorce. Financial setbacks. All of these trouble us. Or our friends, family or brethren at some time in our lives. Currently, we’re experiencing a crisis as we deal with COVID-19. It has filled many with worry. Fear. Even panic. Sadly, some have even taken their own lives due to the financial fall out as a result. This is a time that calls for calm. Faith. Trust. And reliance on the Lord. We have a place of refuge to which we can seek shelter during this storm.

When life as we know it has been turned upside down, when everything seems to be falling apart, and when the future looks uncertain and even foreboding, we know that our God is a dependable fortress to whom we can flee, find protection and feel safe.

This is something that the secular world has trouble understanding. Vice-President Pence has been ridiculed for his faith and calling for people to pray during this crisis. Mike Lindell, the founder of My Pillow, was unmercifully mocked for his statement of faith at a recent Cornoavirus press conference for encouraging people to pray and read their Bibles.

Faith in God during these stressful times provides comfort, consolation and contentment, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Through prayer, meditation and the promises of scripture our hope lies not in political or scientific solutions, but in the power, providence and protection of the Almighty.

Our God of righteousness. He offers a divine shoulder to lean on. The everlasting arms. We share in divine association and fellowship. He’s our rock and fortress. He lifts us to new heights. And even in tough times we can experience the joy of our salvation.

God is not a spectator in our suffering, but a shelter for those struggling during the severe storms of life. Lean on Him and on Him alone as we travel these pandemic waters.

Contributed by The Preacher Man Ken Weliever THEPREACHERSWORD.com

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

By owning fewer possessions, we reserve time, money, and energy for the things that matter most. So, take some time to focus on the things you own and what can be removed, today or in the future. The Minimalist

— o —

Max Lucado notes: The Jesus of many people is small enough to be contained in an aquarium that fits on a cabinet. He never causes trouble or demands attention. If you want a goldfish bowl of Jesus, steer clear of the real Jesus Christ. He changes everything! No, Jesus doesn’t make you sexy, skinny, or clever. Jesus doesn’t change what you see in the mirror. He changes how you see what you see. He will not be silenced, packaged, or predicted. He is the pastor who chased people out of church. He is the prophet who had a soft spot for crooks and whores. He is the king who washed the grime off the feet of his betrayer. He turned a breadbasket into a buffet and a dead friend into a living one. And most of all, he transformed the tomb into a womb out of which life was born life . . . your life.

— o —

How John Newton found God’s amazing grace:

In 1748, John Newton converted to Christianity during a huge storm at sea. He was born in 1725, the son of a ship commander. He went to sea at the age of eleven and eventually became the captain of a slave ship.

He had received religious instruction from his godly mother, but she died when he was a child and he gave up any religious convictions. However, during a violent storm, he called out, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” He believed that God addressed him through the storm and that his grace had begun to work on his life. He called March 10, 1748, his “great deliverance.”

Newton eventually became a disciple of George Whitefield and came to admire John Wesley. He taught himself Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and surrendered to a call to ministry. He eventually wrote 280 hymns for the church, of which the most famous is “Amazing Grace.” He later moved to pastor a church in London, where he influenced William Wilberforce. Though he lost his sight in his later years, he continued preaching until his death in 1807.

The following is on his grave marker. “Once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”

Jesus used a storm to bring his amazing grace to a lost soul, and through him, to the world.

What fears would you trust to that Grace today?

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

When Abraham Lincoln was facing the crisis of a divided nation during the civil war, he was faced with many tough decisions. Often, he was second guessed. Criticized. And even mocked. It’s no wonder he admitted, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”

There are times in our lives when we are confronted with the reality that we are not in control of the world around us. The Minimalist

Even in total silence, it’s hard to hear God’s voice over the screaming claims of the world when God tries to pierce our heart, that’s what Satan does. Dwight Short

Leadership is often easy during the good times. It’s when everything seems to be against you— when you’re out of energy and you don’t want to lead—that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sands of emotion. Richard Gonzmart

We always claim that our families are our number one priority. Yet, how often do we put them on the back burner. The Minimalist.

Spend less time looking at the horizon and more time enjoying the things immediately around. The Minimalist

Don’t spend so much time thinking about what God could do in your life that you fail to focus on what God is doing in your life. Kelly Knouse

Week Seventeen, 2020

“What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11).

The transformation of water into wine at the Marriage at Cana or Wedding at Cana is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John. In the Gospel account, Jesus, His mother and His disciples are invited to a wedding, and when the wine runs out, Jesus delivers a sign of his glory by turning water into wine.

But there is more, and I thought about it recently as I drove through Cana. Cana is in Galilee, not far from Nazareth. There was a wedding there and Jesus, His mother and the disciples were invited. In those days, wine was a common drink, as the fermentation took the bacteria out of water. A Jewish wedding back in those days was a real party, often more than a day. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him.

Jesus spoke to His mother calling her “dear woman” and asked her why He was telling Him, so she told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. There were several jars filled with water to the brim….. water used for ceremonial washing, not for drinking. Jesus told the servants to fill jars with water and take it to the brim and take it to the host of the banquet.

To the wedding host’s amazement, the unclean water had been turned into wine. But there is more. The host did not know where the wine came from so he called the bridegroom aside 1and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. He spoke to His mother saying, “Why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” He was about to do an act that separated Him in part from His earthly family as He performed His first miracle and established the Glory of His heavenly family.

The guests were amazed, the disciples believed, and the path of His earthly ministry was on its way. The Lord’s miraculously changing water into wine signifies that He changes our death into life. The water signifies death, and the wine signifies life. When the Lord changes our water into wine, that wine in our marriage feast will never end.

Has He turned your death into life?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

When people are reading a job posting on any one of the hundreds of job sights, one of the headings is always “Job Requirements”.

And in this section they delineate all the necessary skills to be able to fulfill the Job Description or be a successful candidate for the position.

It may be certain education levels, a certain number of work experience years, or certain proficiencies and skill levels that are necessary to be considered for the job.

As we read this passage in Micah today, we see three such requirements from the Lord; to act justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with your God.

And preceding these requirements, we are reminded that He has already shown us what is good. We already know. And then like a new dawn, His reminder springs forth from the page.

For us to do and be what he has called us to do and be, it begins with making Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life. Soon followed by the requirements mentioned here in Micah; act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.

Just like Jesus… – Marty Stubblefield

— o —

Hannah Brencher, was an Atlanta writer who left kind notes in public places when she lived in New York City. Her idea birthed a movement called The World Needs More Love Letters, which now operates in seventy countries and has delivered more than 250,000 letters.

— o —

What would you guess might be the most popular Bible verse, according to You Version’s 400 million users?

Philippians 4:6 is the answer. The verse says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” What does its popularity say about us?

— o —

Two Life Rules About Church Harmony:

1. Think the Best, Not the Worst

2. Speak to the Person, Not About the Person

— o —

One of America’s most destructive myths: the harder you work, the happier you will be.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Prayerlessness is my declaration of independence from God.

Kids today don’t know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.

If You Contain a Fire, It Will Die; If You Let It out, It Will Spread. Ken Whitten

People cannot be saved unless Jesus saves them. Dr. Ronnie Floyd

Of all the distractions that keep us from living a fulfilled life, the most prevalent in our world today may be busyness. The Minimalist

Apologizing doesn’t mean you are wrong and the other person is right. It means that you value relationships more than your ego.

Christians spend more money in the streets than the followers of other religions spent in their temples. Historian Eberhard Arnold

The Church’s Greatest Need Is the Word of God

God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Plans. John 16:7

As pastor Dwight L. Moody put it, “Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.”

You want to be a missionary? Great. Go next door.—EVANGELIST J. JOHN

Do you know your own neighbors?

By John Grant (Week 16, 2020)

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

These past few weeks have been different and challenging, but they have also brought out the best in some people and the worst in others. Social distancing and lockdown orders have kept us at home and brought about new family relationships. We did a Zoom with our children and grandchildren, something we otherwise would not have done. It has been a time for families to create new relationships with others and with ourselves. The Bible tells us how to create, build and secure relationships.

Quarantined as a family can get tough, but the Bible tells us to use the Bible as we build relationships in the home to be taken out into the community. Be gentle with another, simple as that. The goal of social lockdown should be getting prepared for when things return to normal. The Bible gives us four things to build up individually and as a family to take with us when the door of our community finally are fully open again.

INTEGRITY: The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Proverbs 11:3 We must demonstrate Christ-like wholeness, privately and publicly.

EXCELLENCE: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 This is when we need to rely on God. We need to rely on God when things are getting the best of us in a relationship, when things keep going south, and when God isn’t the center of the relationship. We should honor and glorify God in all that we do.

SERVING: I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:15-17 In all that we do, we should model Jesus’ example of serving.

TEAMWORK: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4. We will work together with other fellow believers for the cause of Christ.

We do not yet know the world and our lives will be different when this pandemic is all over, but we know it will be different and we need to be prepared to do our part to make this a better world and the Bible tells us how.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

How to avoid the ‘prison of anxiety:

Paul founded the Philippian church in the face of great opposition. He and Silas were beaten and imprisoned before they were released and asked to leave the city (Acts 16:6–40). The congregation they left faced the threat of similar political and religious persecution. Many must have wondered about their financial security and their futures.

To them, the apostle offered these transformational words: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God” (Philippians 4:6). “Do not be anxious” could be translated, “Be worried about absolutely nothing.” There are no exceptions here.

Instead, we are to pray about “everything” with “supplication” (specific requests) and “thanksgiving” (expressions of gratitude). We are to tell God our needs, as explicitly as possible, while thanking him for hearing us and answering us in whatever way is best.

When we do, “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7). We could render this promise, “The peace of God, which understanding cannot produce or comprehend, will protect your emotions and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”

The next time you worry about your finances or anything else creeps into your feelings and thoughts, obey verse 6 and claim verse 7.

Max Lucado offers these comments on our text: “One would think Christians would be exempt from anxiety, but we are not. It’s enough to make us wonder if the apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he wrote in Philippians 4:6, ‘Be anxious for nothing.’

“Is that what he meant? Not exactly. He wrote the phrase in the present active tense—implying an ongoing state . . . as if to say Don’t let anything in life leave you perpetually breathless and in angst. The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.”

Rather than the prison of anxiety, let’s choose the promise of abundant grace in Christ.

What fear do you need to entrust to your Father today? Jim Denison

— o —

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.

The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration. The Minimalist

— o —

Numerous studies show that PRAYER improves psychological wellbeing and mental health, lessens depression among cancer patients, enables greater cognitive focus, increases self-control and lessens unhealthy behavior, promotes sacrifice for others, and strengthens relationships. Jim Denison

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

There are four ways to look at sin… deny, compare, admit and confess. Ken Whitten

What is needed desperately today is prophetic insight. Scholars can interpret the past; it takes prophets to interpret the present. Learning will enable a man (or woman) to pass judgement on our yesterdays, but it requires a gift of clear seeing to pass sentence on our day. A. W. Tozer

Most people spend more time working around problems than they do trying to solve them. Henry Ford

Christians spend more money in the streets than the followers of other religions have spent in their temples. Historian Eberhard Arnold

The Church’s Greatest Need Is the Word of God

God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Plans. John 16:7

Punishment is what we believe all lawbreakers should receive unless we happened to have slipped up ourselves.