Dragging Feet

I make mental notes, even sticky notes, of supplies and time needed for events, tasks, and projects I want to carry out, so why is the result often the same time and again? Experience has taught me that what I plan to do usually takes longer than I think, yet I sometimes delay starting. That choice always sends me scrambling for time.

Procrastinators think they have enough or more time than they do, but Solomon tells us in the Book of Wisdom: "Boast not thyself of tomorrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1).

No one can regain misspent time; it's gone. Assuming you can pick up later today or tomorrow where you left off is faulty and sometimes deadly thinking; we have no promise of seeing another day or minute. Procrastination is a robber of time, opportunities, and blessings. After hearing Paul's message, Felix, the governor of Judaea, was disturbed and convicted of his sins. But instead of asking what he should do, he sent God's messenger away, thinking he would deal with his sins at a more convenient time. But that didn't happen.

Countless people who postpone giving their lives to Jesus, thinking they have more time, will spend eternity in hell's torments, separated from God who loves them. Don't put off doing what you should. Procrastination—your choice to delay kills the best intentions to do what's right.

Sleep Well

There was a thunderstorm with heavy rainfall during the night, waking Scout and causing him to pace about the room and lose sleep. Once we were up and about in the morning, he returned to bed and slept for hours, feeling safe from harm because his “mama” and “daddy” were finally awake. He depended on and trusted us for his safety and well-being.

The psalms tell us of people praising God for His greatness and love, feeling lonely or filled with sorrow, afraid and fleeing danger or boldly facing the enemy, and so much more. This psalm is one of many that says the Lord is our help; He is the answer to every need:

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence my help cometh. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalm 121:1–3

Storms happen and often rage around us, weatherwise and personally. They can keep us restless and sometimes frightened. But the Maker of nature and creation is also the Keeper. When we lift our eyes to the Lord (and His Word) from whom our help comes, we can rest in Him, unafraid. Unlike us, Scout’s caretakers (and you), God never grows weary, sleepy, or falls asleep (v. 4). His eyes and ears are always alert to His children's praises, needs, concerns, and fears. He helps us stand firm no matter what comes our way; we can sleep well and boldly face each day. Our heavenly Father, Abba—our Daddy, watches over and safely keeps our souls when we turn to and trust Him. 

Part 2 of Stinky Strikes Again

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.’” Isaiah 46:10

If you read about our dog’s escapade yesterday, you will understand today why I thanked God for the coincidence of Scout’s “skunking” and drooling on the family room rug happening when it did. I hope the words lucky and coincidence grabbed your attention: I do not believe in luck or coincidences. Chance plays no part in life’s sweet smells or stinkiness—God holds everything and allows what He pleases.

I planned to bathe Scout, vacuum, and shampoo the rug at the end of the week. The tasks aren’t big chores but combined are “enemies” of my knees. But an unexpected family need put my plan on hold. Had I bathed Scout and cleaned the rug when planned, I would have (without choice) had to repeat the tasks the next day. That was no “coincidence,” and “luck” had nothing to do with God’s timing and another of His unique life lessons.

God-winks. I first heard the word in a movie (A God-wink Christmas) described as “An event or personal experience, often identified as coincidence, so astounding that it is seen as a sign of divine intervention, especially when in answer to a prayer.” The movie attributed God’s hand at work in the circumstances of two people’s lives rather than a coincidence. Grant it, my dog and rug “God-winks” were not astounding and not in answer to prayer, yet I acknowledged them as God’s handiwork. He loves me so much—His timing blessed me by taking care of little things that made a big difference.

My reference to God winking about His activity may concern you. But if God laughs at the wicked (Psalm 37:13), can He not also “wink” at His children as He intervenes on their behalf, as if to say, “I’ve got you covered in this?” Almighty God knows all from before the beginning to the end; what hasn’t yet happened doesn’t take Him by surprise. God’s Word stands: He honors what He says and carries out His purposes. Nothing is too insignificant or gigantic for our Father, who loves us immensely.

Stinky Strikes Again

Our excited little dog ran outside into the darkness with the small steak bone we gave him. But not two minutes later ran back inside, boneless and with a frightened and bewildered look on his face. Then we got the whiff of what happened. It seems the skunk chased Scout to the door, and thankfully its spray missed the dog but hit the doorway outside and into the house. We scrubbed for hours, trying to get rid of the odor, and two days later, only a trace amount was left. This incident reminded me of Scout’s first ordeal with Mr. Stinky three years ago; he wasn’t so fortunate that time:  

WHEN LIFE STINKS

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45

Awakened from a sound sleep at six o’clock in the morning with, “We have a problem,” is not the most desirable way to begin a day. Once I knew there was no medical emergency, I asked, “What’s wrong?”

Before you learn what happened, let me say that our little dog does not have one ounce of maliciousness in him. He is the most friendly and likable dog we have ever owned and dearly loves the outdoors. After he awakens each morning, he goes outdoors, and, as with most mornings, he is hot on the trail of some creature that walked about outside as we slept—such is life in the country. But this morning, Scout was not trailing the usual rabbit, squirrel, or raccoon but was introduced to Mr. Skunk. He only wanted to say Hello, but the little critter sprayed him in the mouth, unaware of our dog’s cordial intentions to play with a new friend. (Beware of the friends you choose in life!) After his encounter, Scout ran indoors, drooling everywhere, including on the only rug in our house. We handled the problem in stride—we put “stinky” outside until we enjoyed our morning coffee. Afterward, we tackled the house and dog odor.

Bad things happen to good people (and animals). But as God’s children, we should resemble our Father when life stinks and do good towards those who spitefully treat us. We are to imitate Him: He loved us, sinners, that we are, so much that He sent His Son to die for us (Rom 5:8). Without distinction, God allows good and evil for the just and unjust, knowing the hearts of every person and pardoning whom He will. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isa 55:7–9); we don’t know His intentions.

God said, “To Me belongeth vengeance and recompense (Deut 32:35). Paul writes: “Recompense no man evil for evil. . . avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath. Dearly beloved, it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom 12:17, 19). God will repay the wrongs of others—He is supreme over all creation and holds all things in His hands. Living peaceably with others is sometimes difficult, but we are to strive for peace, trusting our Maker with the details. We must believe God honors His Word, or we will be most miserable. This morning I thanked God for today’s life stink. Why? The answer will be in tomorrow’s devotional.

FYI:  To neutralize skunk odor for a medium-sized dog: Mix ¼ cup baking soda, two teaspoons mild laundry detergent, one bottle of peroxide, and ½ bottle of water—use at once. Work the mixture well into the coat and leave it on for five minutes. Rinse well. Then rinse with a solution of one cup vinegar and 5 cups water, followed by a bath using your pet’s regular shampoo. Odor gone! 

Gimmicks Are Not Dependable

“Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before Me forever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from Me; for them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” 1 Samuel 2:30

God instructed His people on how to fight their battles (Deut 20) and made plain the blessings of obedience and the cursings of disobeying Him (Deut 28). But the Israelites disregarded God’s warning and were perplexed when the Philistines attacked them and killed about four thousand men. Their solution? They had two priests fetch the Ark of the Covenant (where God’s presence dwelt among His people–2 Sam 6:2) from Shiloh and walk before them in battle. They thought that would do the trick; it worked for Moses and Joshua and would be the answer to victory. But it wasn’t. The Philistines were afraid when they heard the Israelite God was in Israel’s camp but regrouped and attacked again, killing another thirty thousand men. What happened? Instead of confessing their sins and returning to God’s covenant, Israel had Eli’s wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, unrightfully carry God’s Ark into battle before them. But the consequences of disobedience were costly. Thirty-four thousand Israelites died, and the enemy took God’s Ark; Eli’s sons died; Eli fell to his death when hearing of his sons’ deaths, and Phinehas’ wife died in childbirth after hearing of her husband’s death.

God can do what He wants, where and when He wants—He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient. And God will not let anyone use Him for their purposes, no matter what approach we use. We can manipulate circumstances, make promises, and cry out loudly to God for help in our times of need and for Him to heal us and our country. Still, unless we go to Him with confession of sins and repentant hearts, our actions and voices are in the wind; we cannot carry His presence and mercy into our battles with sin-filled lives expecting victory. Defeat is sure when we do. God listens to His people’s pleas but will not act on their behalf until they humble themselves before Him, seek Him, and turn from their wicked ways. Only then will He hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land (OUR sins; OUR land) 2 Chron 7:14.

A Rotten or Healthy Core

There are several reasons why a healthy-looking tree would fall: an act of nature, someone cutting it down, or the tree wasn’t as stable as it looked. We heard and watched as the largest and one of our most beautiful trees on the property fell. It was the backdrop that held fond memories of family pictures and the one that provided shade we enjoyed. We cut one tree down from the driveway side of the house because it was dangerously leaning. Although both trees looked beautiful outside, they showed signs of a disease once cut down; their core was rotten from top to bottom.

“A sound heart is the life of the flesh, but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). A healthy heart needs blood flowing into and from it—it must be disease-free and have obstruction-free blood circulating through the body. Anything hindering blood flow puts the body’s health at risk for diseases. Envy, resenting the success of, or wanting what others have that we think we deserve, can “eat away” at the fiber of one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Diseased and brittle bones, hearts, and minds can ruin health and cause one to fall prey to the enemy.

“Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Pride or haughtiness, thinking more highly of oneself than one should and lowly of others, has the same result as envy: a sick mind and body. As pride goes forward, destruction will follow. Spiritual, emotional, and sometimes physical ruin comes to those whose hearts aren’t right with God and others. Although people look good outside, God knows the core condition of their hearts and minds. The Bible says prideful people will fall; ruin will come. But unlike a fallen tree that stays down, people can rise from their fallen state and walk in righteousness again by admitting their sins and repenting, turning back to God (1 John 1:9). 

When You Wish Upon a Star

Have you ever recited Star Light, Star Bright, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, or made a wish on a falling star? Did you think that making a wish on God’s sparkling creation—the stars that twinkle declaring His glory—could make your dreams come true? We can wish for, work towards, and find ways to have what we want, but that can be a slippery and often rebellious approach. David’s psalm tells us plainly how to have our heart’s desires and be pleasing to God:

“Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:4–5

We are to make God our heart’s delight—find satisfaction and comfort in who God says He is, trust His loving kindness, and depend on Him for everything. When we desire to know, love, and please God above all else, we entrust everything to His guidance and control. That means rolling our possessions, families, goings, doings, cares, and wants onto Him, believing He will bring about what is best. You can trust God to meet your requests and needs when you desire what He wants, or you can fruitlessly wish upon a star.

Redoing the Redo

Our daughter is a high school teacher; her heart desires that the students learn the material she teaches. If they miss or fail a test, she allows them to make up or redo it—she wants them to know what she’s teaching.

God inspired writers to pen His Holy Word to teach us. It shows us what’s wrong, how to correct the bad, and how to live rightly so we are thoroughly equipped and carry out His work (2 Tim 3:16–17). God has given us everything we need to live godly lives. We learn through Biblical examples like Job, the Patriarchs (and their wives), the wandering Israelites, kings, prophets, the apostles, Jesus’ siblings, and so many others that faith tests will happen. Some, like Job, passed their test, but others failed the first one and had redos. They faced many trials, and tests await us regarding our spouse and family (or desire for one), possessions, finances, employment, and the many life decisions we must make.

Even if we read and study the Bible and live obediently, God tests us, but not with temptations to do wrong; that comes from the sinful desires that drag us away (Jam 1:13–14). He allows us to go through challenging circumstances, but not because He’s unfair, angry, or disappointed in us. Then why? The trying of our faith develops perseverance that matures our character and trust in Him (Rom 5:8; James 1:2–4). Paul and James tell us to glory, take joy in life’s trials, troubles, and sorrow—boast to others about how God carried us through the trying times and what He accomplished.

Although I never made a failing score on a school exam, I’ve failed my share of life tests, and my gracious heavenly Father gives me a redo each time—sometimes a redo of the redo. Why? God wants me to learn the material He’s teaching. He desires His best for me and wants the same for you.

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 NLT 

The Only Way to Know

Sniff, sniff; it looks and smells good, but does it taste good? You will never know if something is sweet, sour, bitter, bland, or spicy unless you try the flavor; tasting it lets you know.

You’ve heard, seen, and “smelled” the sweetness in the lives of people who call themselves Christians. Their testimonies of God’s presence, mercy, and compassion are inspiring, and you wonder what that would be like for you. But you will never know until you experience the Lord Jesus yourself.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is he that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8

The psalmist personally experienced the Lord’s nearness, protection, guidance, and goodness and encouraged others (us) to try Him. Jesus wants seekers to find and “taste” Him—try His flavor and experience what He has to offer. Life is sometimes bitter and other times sweet, but the writer says blessed (happy) are those who put their trust in the Lord. Like David, you will experience joy, God’s goodness, and the benefits of His presence for yourself when you know Him personally. Taste and see for yourself that the Lord is good. 

The Keyholder

“That door is probably locked,” my logical comment as we drove up to the building. And it was.

“That’s okay; I have the keys,” my husband responded. He unlocked the door, and we walked inside.

The one holding the keys has power and authority over that which is locked, but only if they use the right one and insert it correctly. A house key will not start a car, nor will a car key unlock a house, and neither would work if inserted upside down. Keyholders can’t choose what to open; their keys only work with what they have authority over and if they use them correctly. The Father gave Jesus all power (authority) "in heaven and in earth" (Matt 28:18).

“And I will give unto thee the keys to the kingdom of heaven. . .” Matthew 16:19a

After His ascension and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Jesus entrusted and authorized Peter with the kingdom of heaven’s keys. The apostle boldly preached the message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and God unlocked salvation’s doorway to the Jews first (Acts 2:13–42) and then to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1–45). Peter rightly used the keys and authority Jesus gave him. Thousands heard the Word, repented, and walked through salvation’s opened door, and God added believers to His family, His Church.

We have the key that unlocks our heart’s door; the key to a meaningful life is trusting and obeying Jesus. When we open the door and invite the Savior in, Jesus entrusts—commands us to go and tell the Gospel message to everyone as we daily go about our business so they, too, will know the Keyholder of life, death, and eternity. 

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed

“Oh, good Lord!” 

Please don’t judge me for using the Lord’s name lightly—I’m not. I genuinely believe the Lord IS good and often tell Him how much I love and appreciate Him for His goodness. When you hear someone speak God’s name disrespectfully, does it make your skin “crawl” like mine? That feeling you get when someone drags their fingernails across a chalkboard? It should!

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

Not all people (Christians included) have thoughts of adoration, blessing, or gratefulness when saying God, Jesus, Christ, or Lord. Instead, they use the Divine Being to express surprise, something difficult to believe, frustration, a vow, or profanity. Others speak His name, blaming Him when life throws an unwanted curve ball. When saying the common phrase, “Oh, my,” why do some people find it necessary to add one of God’s names to the expression? Do your thoughts stray from God’s holiness and goodness during prayer, meditation, and devotional times while speaking His name? We must stay alert; we are accountable!

Flippant references to God, irreverently and idly using or swearing by His name—taking His name in vain—is sinful. God is holy; we should address, approach, and converse with Him with awe, respect, praise, and a healthy dose of fear: He holds all lawbreakers guilty. 

Oh, Good Lord, how good and praiseworthy You are! Thank You for mercy when we repent of disrespecting Your great name. Thank You for the blessings of Your abundant grace and forgiveness.

(My thanks to Mr. Gerald Houston for inspiring the significance of “Oh, good Lord.”)

 

Connection Status

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6

Living outside the city limits in a wooded area has its blissful perks—most of the time. Low bar or no bar signals indicate poor reception and can be frustrating, but that’s a price one pays for country-like living.

Discontentment causes disconnects. Poorly handling stressful situations or carelessly living can block our receiving God’s instructions. Although nothing or no one can separate us from Him (Ps 139:7–10), we can lose our connection to God by our disobedience: wrong actions or not acting when we should. We must decide daily to deal graciously with God’s providence, live rightly, and be thankful for His many blessings. Dissatisfaction, ungodly reactions, and fearlessly straying from what God wants are costly.

 “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.” Proverbs 15:16

DÉJÀ VU: Here I Go Again

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

I looked at the bedside clock and was surprised to see that I had slept until 6:44 a.m. But when I got out of bed, glancing again at the clock, the time was only 6:15. My thoughts raced back to the morning when God woke me with the 3:16 a.m. flashing time, sending me on a Bible verse journey where I learned about the Book of Remembrance in Malachi. I looked up 6:15 and 6:44 in the Bible’s sixty-six books yet found nothing “eye-opening.” But researching those time references through God’s Word did lead me to a passage with a timely message that I would not have otherwise discovered.

God doesn’t carbon copy His work. Jumping to conclusions about His activity can sometimes misdirect our course and cost us a missed blessing for ourselves and others. But that morning, God honored my search through the Scriptures. Despite acting under an incorrect presumption of what I thought He wanted, I learned about the Service of Song in the first book of Chronicles, a biblical “golden nugget” I passed on to others. No matter what draws us to read the Bible, the results are never fruitless:

“So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11   

More Than Directing

“And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the Lord. . .” 1 Chronicles 6:31

Before God called my husband to preach the Word, he served in churches as the minister over the music and youth programs. The term churches often used decades ago for those positions was Music Director and Youth Director, but the men were much more than mere “directors” of the programs; they were ministers unto the Lord and the people if they were genuinely God-ordained to serve.

The Service of Song: Isn’t that a beautiful and more fitting title of serving God in a church’s choral department rather than Music Director? That person, if genuinely God-called, does so much more than direct the music and songs. The appointed minister fulfills his position in “The Service of Song” by leading the singing of songs and following the Holy Spirit’s lead in creating an atmosphere of praise to bring glory to God. But he cannot prepare a congregant’s heart, nor is he responsible for how or if they respond in worship to the Holy God worthy of all worship and praise. That’s our doing.

Church attendees ready themselves on Sunday, go to their place of worship, and find their usual place to sit, ready to sing praises (or sometimes only listen) and hear a word from the Lord. Many of them are unaware of the many hours of preparation by the ministers (whether paid or volunteers), so everything would function smoothly. These men don’t wait until the last minute to flippantly pick and choose what they want to speak or sing:

The pastor spends days researching, studying, and praying over God’s appointed message, confident that the Service of Song minister did his part in having the sound system and microphones ready. The minister of songs sets the microphones and recording devices to broadcast the services; he meets with vocalists and sometimes the musicians for practice (thank you, Mrs. Sue Nesom, for your devotion as pianist), setting the form of music and each one’s microphone for the best sound. Whether he has to find and secure equipment updates and installation, he is often the go-to person; that means many trips to oversee bringing the church up-to-date with the latest technology.

God anointed David as the “sweet psalmist of Israel” (1 Sam 23:1) to sing and pen songs and appoint men over the singing work for God’s tabernacle. Three masters of the sacred songs are named: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan. Each man served their assignments with their children (1 Chron 6:33). What is the significance of that verse? Their sons followed their devotion to serving the Lord in song.

Darryl Hoychick’s service to the Lord began with music and youth ministries, leading to preaching the Word. Our only son, Jason, followed the same path as his dad’s devotion to music, youth, and preaching the Word. Shane Longoria also follows his dad’s devoted service as a Service of Songs minister in his place of worship. Brother Roger Longoria (and Angela, working quietly in the background) do much more than you think for Texas Avenue Baptist Church to meet weekly with God on Sundays corporately.

You folks have expressed appreciation and overwhelmingly blessed your pastor and me, his wife. Let’s also express gratitude to our God-appointed Service of Songs minister, Bro Roger, and Angela, his wife, and others who quietly serve with devotion. We love and appreciate you all.

Firestarter

“Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” James 3:5b

We enjoyed having a fireplace that had a gas line running to the log grate. All we had to do was put a little kindling under the logs, light a match or striker, turn the valve on, and voila—a flame shot across the length of the grate! We turned off the gas when the wood ignited and soon had a blazing fire.

Although the tongue is a small part of the body (little member), it has the power to accomplish much for good or evil, to build up or tear down. Words of blessing are encouraging and confidence builders; they bring hope to the hopeless and can turn someone to seek the Lord. But careless or cruelly crafted words can offend, ruin a reputation, turn harmony into chaos, and sometimes drive people away from knowing Jesus as Savior. James says the tongue used wrongfully is a fire from hell, turning the world into turmoil (v. 6). It is an untameable evil and, like a snake’s bite, full of poison (v. 8).

Our tongues don’t need a gas line to start a blazing fire; It only takes one spark from misused words, and once started, no one can stop the fiery results by turning off a valve. The same mouth that praises and honors God one moment can spew slander and lie about someone the next; James says this should not happen (v. 10). But individuals who bridle their tongue (words) are people of integrity and can rule over their whole body (v. 2). 

The Saga of Old Faithful Continues

Yesterday’s tractor story—six weeks later:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

The old relic seemed to have met its demise many times, yet after some tweaking, it kept going. But this time, the issue was not merely an overlooked, corroded connection, nor was it a low charge on the battery. Pieces of the old tractor lay strewn about on the lawn, and I wondered if there was any hope of its resurrection one more time. The tractor's age had finally taken its toll, and I thought, This is the end of Old Faithful. It served its purpose for the twenty years we owned it and the countless years for its previous owner; it had fulfilled its duty. But even though the battery still showed signs of life, it was at fault. Once replaced with a new one, Old Faithful was on the move again, performing usual tasks.

Psalm 51 is David’s confession of his sin and plea for God’s forgiveness. He knew that only by God’s power and cleansing could his life be made right again. He needed his feelings and affections made right; he needed a clean heart—a new heart and a right spirit. Your situation may not be like King David’s, but much like Old Faithful, life circumstances have taken their toll. You have faithfully served the Lord in the past, but now pieces of your life lie around you;  you are weary from use but still desire usefulness. You show signs of life, but you feel broken.

The remedy for all three situations is renewal: A new battery resurrected the tractor. A cleansed heart and spirit revived David. Child of God, no matter what caused you to grow weary or drift from God, like David, cry out to your Father for healing. God’s divine power will heal your brokenness and create a new heart and renewed stamina; your feelings and affections are made right before Him. And just like Old Faithful, you can continue fulfilling your life’s purpose.

No Sparks?

During dinner with friends, the topic of old, dependable tractors came up in our conversation. That thought stirred fond memories of our Old Faithful that I reshare today and tomorrow:

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

Old Faithful, our old and not-so-attractive tractor seemed irreparable because it needed a tire rim replacement, but parts were no longer available because of its age. Thankfully, the former owner with the “know-how” concocted a remedy. Once repaired, although it still has only two working gears, moving faster in reverse than forward, the immobile tractor became useful once again. But soon after, the tractor stood “dead in its tracks.” Before deciding what to do, the same friend looked over Old Faithful and discovered the battery posts had significant corrosion. My husband had no suspicion of that being the problem since he had inspected them not long ago.

Do you sometimes feel like you go faster in reverse than forward, taking one step forward but moving two backward? Has your connection with God eroded; do you feel disconnected? Do you hear from Him at all? Daily self-inspections are necessary to maintain a close relationship with God your Father and for sparks to ignite your life. You must remove the slightest sign of corrosion (sin—no matter how great or small), or you will not move forward (prosper) in your daily walk.

You may not be “dead in your tracks,” but you’re in a rut. You cannot move forward in God’s plan for your life until you confess and repent of (turn away from, forsake) known sin in your life. It may be a sin dealt with recently, but just like the corrosion on the battery posts, it cropped up again, and you overlooked it. Is it something you were to do that you haven’t yet done? Or, if you’re unaware of any sin, ask God to reveal what needs cleaning up to restore a good connection with Him. The result? Cleansing and forgiveness; by God’s grace, you are moving forward again. Your heavenly Father wants fellowship with you and for you to prosper in His plans for your life as you walk with Him. 

Two Birthdays

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

Our family significantly grew once we said, “I do”—our families merged. We later added children, then they had children, and the grandchildren added great-grandchildren—we celebrate family birthdays every month of the year. But for all of us who know right from wrong, the most significant birth is the moment we are born the second time.

Physical birth comes first, but without a spiritual rebirth, Jesus said a person cannot be part of God’s domain or family. We must be born again (v. 7). There must be a time in your life when you acknowledge Jesus is God’s Son, that He died for your sins and rose from the grave. You must confess your sins to God and ask Him to forgive and cleanse you (Rom 10:9, 10, 13)—and He will (1 John 1:9). Born-again believers want to turn from their old way of living, yield to and follow Jesus; that’s letting Him be Lord of your life.

We are living proof that one day we were born. That day someone recorded your birth date. You may not recall the date of your second birthday, but without a doubt, you invited Jesus into your life—the Holy Spirit confirms in your spirit that you are God’s child. That moment you said yes to Jesus, God wrote your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life; His presence within you is your assurance of living eternally with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But if you lack peace or have doubts, you have cause for concern.

Following the Leader

“If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve Me, him will my Father honor.” John 12:26

Jesus called His first disciples, saying, “Follow Me,” and they did. They went where He went and followed His example. Jesus said He knows those who belong to Him (His sheep), and when we hear His voice, we will follow Him, and Paul confidently encouraged believers to do those things they had learned and received from him because they had witnessed his faithful service to the Lord (Phil 4:9).

Before you trail the one leading you, ensure that you follow a leader who follows Jesus. 

Highest High to the Lowest Low

God resides in His children—He goes where you go, hears what you say, and sees what you do. Is this truth comforting or frightening? You cannot if you’ve tried to run away from your Father. But if you’ve turned your back on Him, repent. Confess your sin and turn around; He hasn’t left you. Praise Him today; our heavenly Father will never withdraw His presence or leave His children helpless (Heb 13:5).

What's the Confusion?

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God created He him, male and female created He them.” Genesis 1:27. “And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.” “Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:22, 24.

Some people are dissatisfied with how God created them, while others say they are confused about themselves. But make no mistake. God created us purposefully for reasons of His own; He was not confused when He formed you and me in our mother’s womb, and will never be confused. The Bible, God’s living Word, is clear: The Creator of all made male and female in His likeness and breathed the breath of life into man, and he became a living soul (2:7)—we are the highest and most prized of His creation. He instituted marriage between a man and a woman. Someone can unite with their own kind or have their appearance altered, but that doesn’t negate the truth of God’s Word and His intent for humanity. Plant life, sea life, air life, and land life are content knowing who they are and how to function, except for some humans; those who refuse to bend to God’s authority and the Word rebel against their Maker. 

Rebooting

Technology, we “gotta” love it! Having moved from cable internet with 100 MPS to a satellite with 1.8, we often lose connection. Restarting the router to get a working signal is a daily routine; sometimes, we have to unplug and restart all electronics for them to function. Our service provider suggested we face the router in the direction of the signal tower. Do we get frustrated? Yes. Does the aggravation keep us from rebooting? It could, but we would be without service if we didn't.

Disconnections happen. Dealing with unfavorable circumstances unfavorably, turning from a healthy to a more lax diet, having a head-strong attitude to have things our way, or adding to or taking away from God’s plan for our daily living have consequences. Life can bog us down and cause disconnections that create physical and spiritual anxiety, achiness, bloatedness, tenseness, lethargy, and irritation. That’s when we need a system reboot; not only physically but spiritually, for our well-being.

Don’t let life’s frustrations, troubles, or sorrows keep you from a reboot. We can’t fix ourselves, but we can unplug from the things that cause disconnects from our “Life-source Signal” and face the One who can. Our Father will reconnect and keep us connected, but we must first turn from our way and follow Him. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.” Psalm 121:1 

Few Among Many

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” 1 Peter 3:8

Personal struggles and suffering often dictate how we respond to others and God. Peter wrote to God’s people struggling amid times of persecution, encouraging them to persevere for the Lord Jesus Christ. He instructed them to be like-minded (according to God’s Word), sympathetic and courteous, showing compassion toward one another. They were to humbly love and serve one another as brothers and sisters, belonging to the same family in the Lord. Showing pity expresses tender-heartedness toward fellow believers who are troubled or have erred along the way; Christ showed us compassion and forgiveness; we should do the same for others. Genuine born-again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ treat others courteously—with humble friendliness, which is sometimes challenging.

Christians should have a ready reason for their Christianity for anyone who asks. God-followers love others and do good (words and actions), even toward those who do evil toward us; seek peace and pursue it. Peter’s instructions in this verse on godly living are a few among many in the Bible. Jesus said we keep God’s commands by loving Him above all others and others as we love ourselves (Matt 22:37–40). When we fulfill our calling, we honor our heavenly Father; the grandest blessings await the faithful beyond this life when we see our Savior face-to-face.

Darkness Breaker

“The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130

Authorities confiscated and destroyed Bibles, yet a Russian officer found a scrap of paper with the Bible verse John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” There was no accompanying commentary to explain its meaning. Still, God’s Word shed light, opening “the eyes” of his soul to understand its truth. The Holy Spirit wooed, and the spiritually inexperienced, misled man gave His life to Christ.

The Russian-born, now born-again believer came to America, studied at Louisiana College (now a university), and became one of the school’s most outstanding, well-known, and beloved professors of God’s Word. His life and teachings were instrumental in changing countless lives for the cause of Christ; His testimony still reaches hearts, although he is no longer with us. God’s profound truths pierce through the darkness, and the Holy Spirit stirs people to turn to HIm. Whether to open one’s heart to receive the Word’s Light rests on the readers and hearers. 

Why? Trust. Praise.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 43:5

Sometimes we neglect to remember how gracious our heavenly Father is towards us and let gloomy thoughts overwhelm us. Other times, unwelcoming circumstances cause us to see and dwell on life’s undesirable events that have us bowed low. When life isn’t going as you hoped, do as the psalmist: trust God to look favorably upon you and lift your face. He is your salvation; His presence carried you through before and will do it again. 

Put your confidence in God and praise Him. Trust that He is at work amid your troubles; they will not always last—eternity with Him awaits.

The Look that Speaks

“The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.” Proverbs 25:23

A north wind puts rain to flight; it usually brings fair weather. Some people don’t need to say a word; their facial expressions speak volumes. But that unique “gift” isn’t necessary to silence backbiters who speak ill of others. If you express disapproval, frown upon them, and refuse to listen, you “drive them away”—put them to shame, silencing them. A disapproving look “speaks” volumes. Defamers have no place without listeners or an audience.

Disobedience Has a Price Tag

“Arise, go. . .” “But Jonah rose up to flee. . .” Jonah 1:2a, 3a

This sentence rang out a clear message during Sunday’s Bible study: “Jonah had to pay for his disobedience.” But the price he paid was more than a boat ride. Sin is costly and affects us significantly, but also others around us.

God gave His prophet instructions, but instead of obeying, Jonah paid the fare to go in the opposite direction from Nineveh. He was unprepared for the high cost of fleeing God’s presence when he boarded the ship: His disobedience cost the sailors the loss of their cargo and equipment, and at Jonah’s insistence, they had to throw him overboard to save themselves. Even though that action caused them to acknowledge Jonah’s God, did they ever recover from the guilt of that experience?

Jonah went down to Joppa to find a ship headed for Tarshish and went down into the boat. The sailors threw the prophet out of the ship, and he went down into the water, where a great fish “downed” him. He was in the fish’s belly three days and three nights, down at the mountains’ base at the bottom of the sea. Down, down, down—the more determined someone is to go from God’s presence, the farther down they go. But God has a way of getting our attention, doesn’t He? Sometimes we must hit “rock bottom” before we look up.

It wasn’t until Jonah’s “soul fainted within him” that he remembered the Lord and cried out to Him (2:7). At God’s command, the fish obediently vomited Jonah out onto dry land. God repeated His instructions to Jonah (Aren't you thankful for God's do-overs?"); this time, Jonah obeyed, although grudgingly. Thousands of Ninevites came to know the One True Living God, and 120,000 innocent children escaped death. He, who received God’s mercy, reluctantly preached repentance to Israel’s enemy and was angry that God showed mercy, sparing them when they repented. Jonah’s story ends with God confronting him about his pity for a plant that died, without concern for the thousands of souls that would have perished and gone to hell.

Jonah wanted his way and lacked concern and mercy for Nineveh’s people, but how do his actions differ from ours? Do we not want God to punish wicked people? We also have to “pay” when we don’t get our way and try to run from God. How often do people show more grief over a pet that died than their family and friends without Christ destined for hell? No one is without sin (Rom 3:23). Thank God He deals mercifully with us as He did Jonah, confronting us with our sins so we can get right with Him. 

What's Next?

I vividly recall the day God showed me a truth I had read many times before in the Bible but skimmed over because I didn’t understand it. But that day, His light shone on it, and I understood. That morning, God opened an opportunity for me to share with someone who also needed to hear the same message.

“Study to show thyself approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Imprisoned in Rome, Paul writes in his second epistle to Timothy, in chapter four, that he is at death’s threshold. Luke, the beloved physician and often his traveling companion, was with him, yet he wrote to Timothy, asking that he come soon and bring John Mark with him, the cloak he left, the books, and especially the parchments. Paul doesn’t say the reason for wanting to see John Mark other than his helpfulness to him. Nor does Paul say why he wanted the writings or whether they were his. But Paul, the well-educated in God’s Word, shows us that it is vital to keep reading and studying. No matter how often you’ve read the Bible through its entirety or how many verses you can quote, we never know enough.

Paul was ready to die. He had faithfully fulfilled his office and encouraged Timothy to stay steadfast as God’s proclaimer of Truth. Death awaits us, but until then, like Paul, keep learning. Equip yourself with God’s Word that is alive and speaks new messages from familiar words if we listen to God’s voice. What’s next? Encourage others and share God’s truths that He teaches you until He calls you home.

Check for Leakage

“Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” Hebrews 2:1

The writer of Hebrews connects chapter two to the first one, where he speaks of Christ’s superiority over the prophets and sovereignty over the angels God created. In times past, God communicated His word through history, the prophets, poetry, proverbs, and angelic messengers. Then God sent His Son, Jesus, to complete His divine work.

The unnamed writer urges us to listen to, retain, and live by God’s Word that we’ve heard. If we’re inattentive or neglectful in what we hear and read, God’s truths can slip by us or “leak out.” Jesus’ parable of the sower in Matthew 13 tells us that unless we prepare our hearts and minds to receive and retain God’s Word, our lives are unfruitful—we let His words pass by or leak out. Read, meditate on, and embrace God’s truth; let them guide your words and actions.