Daily Devotional

You should know this because it’s true, it comes right out of God’s Word; that in the last days there will be rapidly increasing difficult times because the Day of the Lord is soon. Signs of His very soon return will be that more and more people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud about their wickedness, mocking God and His people. They will be unloving and unforgiving. They will be extremely disobedient to their parents, having no regard for the wisdom of the aged, ungrateful and even terrorizing people just for fun and fame. They will consider nothing sacred. They enjoy slandering others for personal gain. They have no self-control with their feelings and emotions. They will be cruel in ways that are unheard of, hating all that is good and holy. They will even betray their friends and not feel guilty or ashamed. They are reckless lawbreakers, arrogant in their love of pleasure.

 

People oppose the truth because they don’t understand the truth, having rejected the Spirit of God over and over until they have no good conscious or sense left. So they are very eager to follow new teachings that oppose the teachings of our Lord God. They act religious but they reject the power of God that could make them godly.

 

People no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching from the Word of God, but instead they follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them everything will be just fine. They will not be prepared for what is coming. But these false teachers and prophets won’t get away with this for long, soon people will recognize what fools they have been to take the word of false teachers and prophets instead of God’s word, but it will be too late!

 

But, I have hope when I remember Your faithful love that never ends! Your mercies never cease. Great is Your faithfulness and Your mercies begin afresh each morning when I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” You O Lord are good to those who depend on You and who eagerly search for You. It is very good for me to wait quietly for You and to submit to the yoke of Your discipline and good works.

 

(Taken from 2 Timothy 3 and 4, and Lamentations 3)

 

 

Is His Gospel My Gospel?

As I think about why we do all that we do for each other at Christmas and New Years – year after year after year – I’m reminded how my love for Jesus has been tested since I gave my heart and life to Him over 40 years ago. Do I still love Him as I did at the start?

 

I’m reminded of how giving my husband Mike is. I can never out give him any time of the year! He simply loves to give me extravagant gifts and when I ask him if I can do something that will cost ‘him’ – he figures a way to make it happen. I have found that my husband is a lot like the Lord. Now that we’re older and wiser, we both agree that the best gift we can give one another is our genuine friendship – with all that it means.

 

Anyway, as I consider my relationship with my Savior I’m looking back to see how I’ve treated Him. I had to ask myself after readying this passage in 2 Timothy, if I consider the gospel of Jesus Christ my gospel.

 

This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s Word is not chained. Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” 2 Timothy 2:8-10

 

Have I been a true friend to Him? Will I be a true friend in the coming days when our friendship is tested like never before? I remember what the Lord called His first disciples who walked with Him; He called them His friends, and no longer His servants. Why did the Lord say this to them? Did the Lord’s gospel become their own as they walked with Him day by day, listening to His teaching about the coming Kingdom and learning how to trust the Father as the Son did?

 

What gives me the confidence to say that it is “my” gospel as Paul did?

 

I hear Christians, and me too, refer to the gospel as “the” gospel, but I’ve never heard anyone refer to the gospel so ‘possessively’ as Paul does here in calling it his gospel. I have to ask myself, what am I willing to give up, go through and go without to make the gospel as much my gospel as it was the Lord’s?

 

I have to ask myself another question: Have I chained God’s Word in any way? As Paul sat in prison because of ‘his’ gospel, he had freedom to share God’s Word there. I have to ask myself if God’s Word means that much to me that I would overflow with God’s Word, no matter what it cost me.

 

The believer’s persecution and death is under the perfect supervision of our God, no matter where our precious gospel takes us.

 

“If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:11-13

 

What would it take for me to disown the gospel of Jesus Christ; if anything at all? What will I not do for the gospel? Is the gospel of Jesus Christ mine in every way? Traditions and habits are very hard to break, but why wait for a crisis?

 

Lord, this is the season we love to celebrate buying and giving gifts to each other. Forgive us Lord for making it more about each other than about You; more about getting through this season than about getting close to You; more about Santa coming again than about Your coming again. May we not be like the ones who missed the time of Your coming to them because of their traditions. May we not be among those who celebrate inside as the You stand at the door knocking to come in.

 

May 2016 truly be a ‘renewing’ year for us all!

Just Some Thoughts

I grew up in the 60’s, and I had a lot of friends who went to the Vietnam war. Some of them came back missing limbs, some came back with drug addictions, some did not even come back. Those who did come back were not welcomed and honored but instead they were spit upon and made to feel ashamed.

 

Today those same people who treated my friends in the war that way are now leading this country. Hillary Clinton was part of this group. She also went after President Nixon for lying to the American people and trying to cover up his tapes, which led to his resignation. Now look at her and what she has become. Why doesn’t her standard in the 60’s apply to her today? Leaders like her who were rebels in the 60’s still are today, but they show it by being against anyone who stands for the truth and common sense. Because of the rebellion of the 60s the outcome is seen in the millennial-society today; those who have no reality of truth and solutions; everything is virtual reality, computer generated.

 

These rebels from the 60’s distort and pervert the truth by saying, “What is truth?” They create confusion and chaos in society. When right has become wrong and wrong has become right then where does one go to find the truth? What can we do when our leaders refuse to acknowledge the truth and do that which is right and good for society? A rebel society refuses to acknowledge the truth and do what they want; for what makes them happy today because they live in confusion and fear. They give no thought of what will happen in the near future, and live only for today. They become numb to what they see and hear from the media with all the crime and killing, as if it’s part of a normal life.

 

What is our hope when the government is broken and society is without any true leadership? What will happen to our children and grandchildren?

 

The only One trustworthy is God, and His Word has the solution to man’s confusion and fear. God has given us all the common sense that He exists and that we desperately need Him. We don’t have to all agree on what we are faced with, but we need to be united with the goal of preserving this great country for the future of our children and grandchildren, and to do so we need God. We need to humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge who He says He is, and cling to His promise that He will reward those who earnestly seek Him. This is what our forefathers did at the start, and they did it for us.

Daily Devotional

The battle for the church of 2016 is not to defend the Bible, but to have the mind of Christ in all situations.

 

Jesus would go to where the sinners are, and He commanded the church to be fishers of people and go to where they are. We bring the Word Of God with us, when we live it out in front of them.

 

The church is not very wise today, because we do not understand the schemes of the evil one. Jesus told his church to go where the fish are, not to wait for them to come to you. If we go to where the people are we might be in places that make us uncomfortable or afraid. Sometimes to find a good fishing hole it will require a lot from us just to get there. It might be a place where no one has been before. It is easy to sit in our chairs at home or in church buildings expecting people to come to us. People will ask about our hope when they see us in places where they are but talking and acting differently.

 

We know there is a great persecution coming for the church, and we need to be wise. We must not fight the battles that the evil one wants us to fight as Christians. God has called us to go into areas and into places with the gospel. Has the church become like the people who condemned Jesus for eating and drinking with sinners just because He went where the fish are. Jesus did not sin at any time no matter where He was and who He was with. He simply saw opportunities to do the will of His Father in word and deed.

 

My prayer in 2016 is that I would be willing to go where the Lord wants to go with me and fish for men that He is drawing to Himself. This year I commit to praying for the church to be united with the mind of Christ and not caught unaware of the schemes of the evil one. I pray that we will become wise in knowing what we should fight against and how to fight with the power invested in us. I pray that we understand that our power can only come with being humble, unified in love, and know truth of God.

 

Philippians 2:5-11 NLT

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

 

 

To My Grandchildren – 2016

Recognize the rebellion that lives within you, for it will haunt you day and night. Understand that you are a sinner because the sacrifice your Lord desires is a broken spirit and repentant heart. Along with this never forget that your Lord will never reject you.

 

Look at what happens to mighty people who do not trust in God. They trust in their wealth, and grow more and more bold in their wickedness. They become proud as they refuse to follow God’s laws. Their stubbornness has only made them slaves in the land of plenty, having turned their backs on God’s mercy and love.

 

Honor those who lead you to the Lord and in the work of the Lord. Show them great respect. Follow their example of commitment and love.

 

I write this to you to encourage you and strengthen your faith in the Lord. Be careful that you do not become lazy and careless with God’s word, and never stop praying. Hold on to the truth and avoid every kind of evil and sexual sin. Test everything you hear with the Word of God, and do not scoff at prophecies; for you must know how to be prepared at all times. Learn to be thankful in all circumstances because the Lord is with you and He will never forsake you.

 

Let your love for one another grow strong and full of faith. Make it your goal to live a quiet productive life – working with your hands and sharing with others. Live a life that will honor your God because God’s desire is to honor His children for their faith in Him. 

 

Your Grandfather

 

 

Daily Devotional – 2016 New Year

What will this year bring to America? We still live in the greatest country in the world. If it were not so then why are so many people trying to get here. But, what about our future, and what will the decisions made in the past bring this year? What will the decisions that are in the making bring on America and her citizens in the near future?

 

The Lord called me to be a watchman and I have brought out what I see coming. I have told everyone for the last 2 years – to be prepared; not to be fearful but to look at each occurrence as an opportunity to take advantage of.

 

When I say to people that we need to be prepared they seem to jump to the idea of hiding out with water, food, and guns. This is not what I mean, although a somewhat good idea. What I mean by being prepared is first and foremost being right with God and learning to listen to His voice only. Then by watching what is happening around us and asking God to show us each our own open door of opportunity. We know what is coming because it is written about throughout the Word of God, especially in the book of Revelation where we are told by the Lord that in reading this book – we will be blessed. We will be blessed by God showing us how to be prepared for what is coming.

 

If you have not started, I urge you to start today reading the Word of God day after day, believing what is written and then trusting God at His Word. We must understand that our future is not of this world but of His glorious Kingdom of which there will be no end. We are told in God’s Word that God’s Spirit will raise us up to be with the Lord and to reign with Him when He returns. So, to cling to this world will only bring fear and great loss. We may lose things, family members and maybe our own physical life, but if I am not worried about this life and trying to hold on to it, then I will be able to see clearly how I should think and act the way God wants me to.

 

Let me ask you these questions and how you answer should reveal where your mind (and heart) is. What will you do if everything to be taken from you? What will you do if your children are taken from your home? What will you do if they say you are not mentally stable and must be put away because of your faith in Jesus Christ? What will you do if your family is slaughtered in front of you? What choices will you make when your earthly life is determined by what you say next?

 

Because of what the Lord has laid on my heart for His children, throughout the year 2016 I am going to re-post every Sunday morning all of the words the Lord has given me for the last two years about what is coming that we need to be prepared for. I have mixed emotions about this. I’m excited, nervous, and concerned. I’m very concerned because I am a father and a grandfather and I don’t want any of my loved ones to face what I believe is coming that my children and grandchildren will live through. I pray that they will be men and women who truly know the Lord, and who are ready to stand in obedience to God with courage and hope in God’s promises no matter what happens.

 

The Lord showed me this Christmas season that one day we will walk as a family to the throne of our Father, and stand in His court to receive all that He has promised His children.

 

“And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’ And he also said, ‘It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” Revelation 21:5-7

Needed: An Awakening – Chapter 12

Is America at war with God’s law? Conclusion

 

Isaiah 59:14-15 “So justice is driven back and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.”

 

In doing this series on the Ten Commandments one thing stood out that I would like to end with. Just as God has set in place laws to govern this universe so He has done the same thing for the moral fabric of society in what these Ten Commandments stand for. We are not saved through the law (if that was the case then the incarnation of the Lord with Him dying on the cross would be of no effect), but we are saved through the amazing grace of God through the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. However, the law has been given to us to direct us in the right way or right path in order to live a productive life; one that is true and just in a fallen world.

 

We see the war that has been waged against God’s law with it being removed from our government courts, schools and other public buildings. We seem to think that by getting rid of the law of God we now have freedom to do what we want and to believe that what we think, apart from God’s law is right.

 

In other words, like Israel in the Old Testament under the judges at the close of Joshua’s reign, they each did as they wanted in their own opinion of right and wrong; they were right in their own eyes but not right with God.

 

What we do not understand is that by getting rid of the Ten Commandments (as gaining what we think is freedom) this has put us under the tyranny of thousands of ‘little man-made laws’ that has enslaved us instead and most people (even Christians) do not understand that they are slaves and not freemen.

 

For example: take property rights. God’s 8th commandment is “do not steal,” meaning that we have the right to property of our own, but look at all of the ‘little laws’ that have popped up taking away our rights slowly but surely.

 

For example: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is becoming very powerful can declare your property worthless because of some minor infraction under their man-made laws, and take it from you. Or take the government’s ability to issue property tax that if not paid they can take away your property.

 

Another example: the ‘little law’ in existence called ‘eminent domain.’ This law gives the government the right to take private land for public purposes, but only if the government provides fair compensation to the property owner. The process through which the government acquires private property for public benefit is known as condemnation.

 

How this works is that the government will come in when the town or city is expanding and see private property to acquire for this expanding purpose and will then offer the owner what they think is a reasonable price. If the owner agrees then it is settled, but if the owner does not agree then it goes into ‘condemnation proceedings’ where the owner then comes and brings out the price that they think is fair and then the two: government and owner must settle the matter. However, we find that developers wanting a piece of property also go to the government and persuade the government to use ‘eminent domain’ to acquire private property that can then be developed often for the benefit of the developer, but primarily for the expansion of the town or city for the increase of tax revenue.

 

What we are finding today are other ‘little laws’ taking away our rights, one by one. For example: we have today a law called ‘hate law.’ Sounds good because we do not want any hate speech taking place, but in reality we see that it is a law that bans one from even preaching certain truths from the Word of God that convicts (condemns) us under God’s laws. For example: calling homosexuality a sin can now be labeled as hate speech.

 

Because Pandora’s Box has been opened, where all of this will go no one (but the Lord) knows, but Isaiah prepared us for it by telling us about a time like this: “Justice is far from us and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows… We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but is far away. So justice is driven back and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” Isaiah 59:9,11b,14,15

 

If this sounds familiar in our day it is only because we have rejected God’s law that gives us freedom to do what is right and true with protection of that freedom. Yet, we have been brought into bondage by these ‘little man-made laws’ man has conjured up.

 

I admire the giant intellect and moral standing of our Founding Fathers when they drafted our Constitution that has stood the test of time, but is now being lowered to the dust bin of history. We need men/women in the seat of government who will govern with the Constitution in mind and do that which is true, right and just. We still have the power of the vote. Might we use it wisely. Amen?

 

Daily Devotional

Son, there are lot of people who say they believe in Me, but what do they believe about Me?

 

  1. If you believe I was just a man, even a very wise man that lived a sinless life – then I cannot save you and you will have no hope in death.
  2. If you believe I have a brother named Satan – then I cannot save you and you will have no peace.
  3. If you believe I am an angel, even the greatest angel – then I cannot save you and you will get no mercy.
  4. If you believe I am a god among many gods, then I cannot save you and you will be lost forever.
  5. If you believe that I AM the great I AM of the Bible, and believe that I died to pay for your sins and that I have forgiven you – then I CAN SAVE YOU, and you will have hope in death, protection, peace and guidance through your life.

 

Son, ask people who do they say that I am?

Daily Devotional

This morning while reading about the kings of Judah, there was something that stood out to me. The Bible said they started out with the worship of God only to end their lives worshiping idols, allowing idol worship in. So the thought this morning is what God’s book has to say about my life.

 

To the young: You are just starting out on your life’s journey. What will it take for life to move you off your relationship with God? Will success, failure or sickness stop you from walking with God?

 

To the middle age: What will it take for you to slip back to your old ways? Will keeping busy at work taking care of a family? How about setbacks in your finances and the loss of things? What about the death of a child, or the loss of your mate by death or divorce, or severe sickness?

 

To the old: Life has thrown you everything that the young and the middle aged will see, and maybe you have stayed the course. But will you quit the journey feeling that there is nothing you have left to offer that anyone wants or needs?

 

I know that the Bible writes about me, as it does all of us. I know that there are many things that I’ve done that I will have to answer for one day. But I also know that my Lord has forgiven it all, and my desire is just to finish strong for the Lord trusting in His love and strength. I will remember this quote I heard, “You will be remembered for how you finished, not how you started.”

 

So here is what the Word says about this life we live whether we are young, middle aged, or at the end of our lives.

 

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10,16-18 NLT

 

“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT

 

Daily Devotional

Son, all heaven is alert. So do not team up with unbelievers. How can My righteousness find any agreement with wickedness? How can My light live in peace with darkness? Therefore, separate yourselves from them, so that I can bless you.

 

If racing against mere men tired you out, how will you compete with the horses that are coming? Keep your head. Don’t lose sight of the course. Remember what I said.

 

Son, there will be some of your greater family, that will turn against you. So do not trust them, no matter how pleasantly they speak. I AM your shepherd, and you will have all that you need. When it is the darkest, do not be afraid. I AM close beside you. Let Me lead you by My peaceful stream in green meadows; for there I will renew your strength. My Word and Spirit will comfort you. Let Me guide you along the right path that will keep you safe and bring honor to My Name.

 

Remember that I bless those whose hearts are pure towards Me; for they have the right relationship with Me their Savior.