Deut. 11:12

A land which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.

The eyes of God were upon the land where God was leading His people. By the way, it was a land of fortified cities, giants and armies of dangerous individuals. It was a scary place. However, God would be with them from start to finish.

If we bring it from their town to ours, we must remember we serve the same God. He has placed us here at this time for a specific purpose. Get your eyes off the difficulties because He will be the observer of the dangers. Just live for Him in the surroundings He brought you into. From beginning to the end, He won’t take His eyes off it.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Deut. 11:11

But the land you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven.

Moses told the people that the land they were heading to would be well-watered from heaven. That was good for a people used to a dry wilderness. Whether in the mountains or valleys, God would take care of them. This would be the land He was calling them to.

The Bible teaches of mountain experiences when everything is great. So, it also speaks of the valleys when things fall apart and become confusing.  God has called us to both. However, in either place His supply is always sufficient.

From forty-eight years of experience with His calling on my life, I testify that this is the truth.

Think about it.

Gary

A brain walks into a bar and says, “I’ll have a pint of beer, please.”

The barman looks at him and says, “Sorry, I can’t serve you.”

“Why not?” asks the brain.

The bartender responds, “You’re already out of your head.”

Does the Bible address folks who are out of their head? Glad you asked.

Jeremiah 51:7

Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the Lord,
Intoxicating all the earth.
The nations have drunk of her wine;
Therefore the nations are going mad.

Acts 26:24

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

Paul was not the one out of his head, but Agrippa was.

Are you sane? Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Hear about the new restaurant called Karma?

There’s no menu: You get what you deserve.

This is just the opposite of what we find in Christ. In Christ we get what we don’t deserve.

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Psalm 103:10 

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

Karma or Christ?  Give it some thought.

Gary

In the spring of 1924, Jack Sundine was a four-year-old kid, standing in a line with his father inside the White House, waiting to meet President Calvin Coolidge. As they neared him, Jack noticed that he said something to each visitor as they shook hands. Soon, the thrilling moment arrived. Jack put his small hand into the president’s. Then the president said words Jack will always remember: “Move along.”

In contrast, aren’t you glad that when we come to God, He doesn’t tell us to move along? No, He is personally involved in our lives and desires to hear from us.

Jeremiah 33:3 

Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Jeremiah 29:12 

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you.

He cares for you. Give it some thought.

Gary

The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world’s greatest tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is room in them for little besides ourselves.

–       A. W. Tozer

Philippians 2:3 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Ephesians 4:32 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Greek word for testing is dokimion (da-key-me-on). This is a term for the potter who puts his vessel into the fire and then takes it out to inspect it to see if there is a crack. The cracked vessels were sold at a much-reduced price. However, on the vessel that went through the fire and did not crack, the potter would write “da-key-me-on” which was a witness to all who would purchase the work, “It has been tested by fire and did not crack.” In other words, it persevered and endured the trial.

–       Larry Thompson

James 1:2-4 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:12 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.

Give it some thought.

Gary