Our God is a God of good promises, good intentions for each of us, and power to carry out His plans. But God tells us that there’s an evil one who seeks to steal all good God-things from us. Sure enough, Satan tries to come in and steal from everyone that he can – our blessings, trust in God, and joy. This evil one has certainly thrown fears and doubts my way. Not only because of him, but also because I’m flesh, because of past painful difficulties, and maybe even partly because of what I have been wrongly taught, my …
Building Faith with Bible Pathway – sample – Old Testament Reading
Building Faith for Bible Pathway is part guide book, part devotional book that helps you read straight through the entire Bible in one year. It helped me read the Bible and increase my faith. I was given the opportunity to bring it back to print and it’s now available for purchase at Amazon and other book stores. You may also see the sidebar on my website. Here is an excerpt from June 3rd, when we are in the Old Testament. A reader would begin with the segment guide below and then read the Scripture chapters listed – in this case …
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“The Cross of Christ with its Divine Paradox”
For a classic, a treat, and nourishment to chew on, here is an essay by A.W. Tozer to savor.
Note to Self – Seek God’s Connection, Not More Information
I have to keep remembering it’s not about information and knowledge in this journey of life. It’s not about finding the right system, program, book, or answer – even though I love the right answers. It’s not even about reading the Bible and then closing it up again, but rather it is about knowing God in each trying circumstance. Every time this journey feels so difficult, I try hard to figure out what to do. I try to find the secret to wrapping up life in a nice tidy box. But it’s not about that at all. Besides, that was …
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How Are Your Assignments Coming Along?
We see much throughout Scripture about the tasks and assignments individuals are given. In 1 Chronicles 23 alone here are a few of the jobs that had to be filled and the workers needed. supervisors for temple workers, workers to build the temple, craftsmen and artisans, officials and judges, gatekeepers, those who praised the Lord with musical instruments, and finally one man Aaron, was set apart to minister before the Lord and to pronounce blessings in His name. As I read about the tasks and jobs it always makes me think about our assignments. First, each of us has our …
Trampled by the enemy or Resurrected and Blessed by God
There virtually isn’t any part of our own life that the world and the enemy of God enemy hasn’t effected, fought over, maimed, stolen, or tried to kill, ruin, and destroy. We would like to think that we’re born into God’s world and that we’re safe, but really the world that we’re born into is God’s world that has been touched and trampled by the enemy of God and the enemy’s minions. The enemy takes God’s good gifts and twists them into all sorts of lies, ugliness, and counterfeits. Our job is to come to know the Creator, King, and …
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Praying for Guidance
My book, “Building Faith with Bible Pathway,” which I brought back to print is an enjoyable devotional/guide that helps us read the Bible daily. (It’s available through Amazon, plus my website www.ToughTimesandPeace.com.) Dr. John Hash, in the April 8th entry, reminds us that: Though the way may seem more uncertain each day, we must be like David, who as the days got more difficult and as his enemies pursued him, continued to pray for guidance on which way to turn. How applicable this is for us on many levels. It is what I’m trying to do these days. I’m praying …
Feelings and Soul-Healing
Sometimes I’m a real mess. Lately, I’ve had a few issues that have hit some sore spots in my soul and I flinch with pain-induced over-reactions. I semi-wake in the middle of the night thinking on these things. Not only are we born with a fully functioning sin and self nature of our own (which easily desires to take us in a direction other than God), but we’ve also been born into a family with it’s own reactive threads that have unknowingly been woven into our lives. Each family and generation has needs and deficiencies and wounds, as well as …
Jesus’ Power
Jesus holds all power. Power over disease. Power over demons. Power over nature. (He calmed the storm and walked on water.) Power over matter. (He turned water into wine, a few small loaves and fishes into a feast.) Power (and forgiveness) over sin. Power over death. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 Jesus is our Savior and desires that we are resurrected in …
The King – Royalty and Responsiblity
I love, love, love the movie The King’s Speech. I’ve seen it twice. In the movie, the Duke of York was destined to be King of Britain and to speak for the people and to the people, but he painfully stuttered with every conversation. With the patient, persistent help of Lionel – a speech therapist, friend, and coach, King George VI slowly overcomes the things that impede his ability to speak. His progress sometimes seemed imperceptible and sometimes back to square-one. Yet through hard work, love, and acceptance, as well as learning to share honestly about all that he had …