2 Peter 3:18

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Here’s grace. Just grow in it. Grace means unmerited favor. No, you don’t deserve it, but God will give it to you anyway.

Grow in knowledge. The textbook for this course is the Bible. It tells everything about the Creator and where He fits in the grand scheme of things. It discusses where you came from and why you act the way you do. The future of the planet is revealed and, yes, it is going to get a lot warmer.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will get all the glory for it all. He has made a way where there seems to be no way. Like a pathway in the wilderness, He leads us.

Give it some thought.

Gary

 A boy in Sunday school heard the story about Lot’s wife looking back and turning into a pillar of salt. When the teacher asked if there were any comments on this story, one little boy said, “That’s nothing! Last week, my mom looked back when she was driving and turned into a telephone pole!”

Does it matter where you look? It sure does!  Guess what: The Bible has a lot to say about that.

Ephesians 5:15

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Philippians 2:4

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 3:2

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

Hebrews 12:2

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Be careful where you are looking. Give it some thought.

Gary

“Snowbird” is a song by the Canadian lyricist Gene MacLellan. Though it has been recorded by many performers, it is best known through Anne Murray’s 1969 recording, which—after appearing as an album track in mid-1969—was released as a single in mid-1970.

Two stanzas of this speak loudly of the human effort to find that one completely-satisfying endeavor. The goals of the human experience that end up like a trip to the fair.

When I was young
My heart was young then, too
Anything that it would tell me
That’s the thing that I would do

But now I feel such emptiness within
For the thing that I want most in life’s
The thing that I can’t win

Let me say unequivocally, that a much better way to spend time is to discover who put us on the planet and what He expects of us while we’re here.

Psalm 81:10-13

I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

“But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.

Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!

Think about it. Don’t make the same mistake as Israel.

Gary

Hebrews 10:32-34

But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.

1) These early believers remained faithful in spite of terrible suffering (vs. 32).
2) They were exposed to public ridicule (vs. 33).
3) They were persecuted (vs. 33).
4) They helped others who suffered the same way (vs. 33).
5) They showed sympathy to those thrown in jail (vs. 34).
6) They lost all that they had (vs. 34).

And here’s the kicker . . .

7) They accepted it with joy (vs. 34).

“People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (Heb. 11:14-16a). 

Could we have faith like that in today’s world? Sure, we could.

Give it some thought.

Gary

God’s character

God is good.  God is faithful.

God knows what is best.  He is quick to forgive.

He will never leave me.  His mercy endures forever.

He makes no mistakes.  God has a purpose.

He is working out His plan for me.  God still loves me.

The Holy Spirit indwells me.  Jesus is alive today.

He will return someday.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

My faithfulness has been subject to change, but God’s faithfulness endures forever.

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

2 Timothy 2:13

if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Jeremiah 12:1

Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You;
Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?

Why is Jeremiah questioning God? In his limited view of things, it seems that the wicked are going unpunished and having their way with his people. They seem to be so happy in their evil pursuits.

If God was into our modern clichés, He would have said to Jeremiah, “Don’t be distressed because it is not over till the fat lady sings.”

Matthew 12:36

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Let it go and don’t get angry at the news. God knows what He is doing and He gets the last laugh.

Psalm 2:4

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.

Psalm 37:13

The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that His day is coming.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Shortly before his death Mark Twain wrote, “A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle; they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; …those they love are taken from them, and the joy of life is turned to aching grief. It (the release) comes at last–the only unpoisoned gift earth ever had for them–and they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence…a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever.”

Sad statement, but so true for so many. If it is all about this life, there is certainly enough disappointment to lead to this conclusion. However, in Christ we have a much different perspective.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

 Give it some thought.

Gary