Author: Thomas E Meyer Jr

Formerly Homeless Sinner Now, Child of God, Saved by Grace.

They are like young trees replanted in Eden, putting down its roots near the rivers—Praying to Connect with God in the Forest Glades and Quiet Rivers. Jeremiah 17:7-8

Jeremiah 17:7-8 Christian Standard Bible

7 The person who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.

8 He will be like a tree planted by water:
it sends its roots out toward a stream,
it doesn’t fear when heat comes,
and its foliage remains green.
It will not worry in a year of drought
or cease producing fruit.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There’s something about walking in the woods that quiets the noise of this fallen world.

As soon as you step onto a forest trail, the busy pace of your life starts to slow down.

The sounds of traffic fade away, and so does the pressure of your stressful schedule and responsibilities.

Trees tower over you, leaves crunch beneath your shoes, and sunlight filters through the tree branches to scatter across the forest floor.

All of that can raise your perspective beyond your to-do list and inspire you to pay attention to your surroundings.

In the woods, it becomes much easier to notice God’s presence with you than when you’re inside chaos, because creation naturally points to the Creator. 

When you look at the trees around you, you can see that they aren’t running around anxiously or trying to rush to grow.

They simply live the way God designed them to live – with confident trust that their Creator will provide what they need.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says that the person who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted beside water, sending its roots toward the stream.

When the heat comes, that tree doesn’t fear.

Its leaves remain green, even in seasons of drought, it continues to bear fruit. 

In the woods, some trees have grown for generations.

Over the years, they’ve faced storms, high winds, seasons of dryness, harsh winters, and intense summer heat.

Yet they remain standing, strongly rooted in the same place where they began.

Trees’ strength comes from their roots. Beneath the soil, an unseen network of roots stretches outward and downward, quietly, steadily drawing its water and nutrients from the earth.

Those roots work constantly, even though no one passing by ever notices them.

That hidden connection is what allows the tree to survive even in the harshest conditions.

Trust in God works in much the same way.

Most of the time, trust grows quietly beneath the surface of your life.

It develops in the everyday moments when you turn your thoughts toward God instead of letting worry take over.

It deepens more when you bring your concerns to God in prayer instead of trying to carry them alone.

It strengthens each time you remind yourself that God’s wisdom, knowledge of His Creation, reaches far beyond what you can know or see.

Just like roots slowly pushing through the soil, implicit trust develops over time through steady habits. Walking in the woods can help you remember that truth.

Every tree you pass is a living picture of what it looks like to stay connected to a source of life.

Those trees don’t control the weather.

They can’t stop the wind or make it rain.

Their stability comes from just remaining steadily rooted beside the water that sustains them.

God invites you to live with that same kind of connection.

Trusting God allows your life to become steady in that same way. You’ll still sometimes face challenging circumstances, but you’ll be able to overcome those challenges because you’ll be rooted in a strong relationship with God.

Whenever you need inspiration, take a long walk in the woods.

Notice the quiet dignity, majesty and strength of the trees around you, and how their branches stretch toward the sky with confidence.

Picture the tree roots beneath the soil, spreading outward in search of water.

God is inviting you to live with that kind of trust.

While you walk, connect with God in prayer, and he’ll meet you where you are.

God serves as our personal guide with every step we take through life, and we can trust him to meet all our needs – as he does for all the trees all around us. 

TRUST……

HOPE …..

These are precious priceless commodities…and not very plentiful, or common, in our day, are they?

There are just too many things we can’t or refuse to trust in or depend on!

But did you notice what they do for the one who TRUSTS in the LORD?…and for the one who’s HOPE is the LORD? 

That one is abundantly blessed…happy!!

He is like a tree whose roots reach all the way down to a continual source of life-giving and refreshing water.. always fully satisfied and nurtured by the GOODNESS of GOD!!

Can you imagine anything better in the heat or droughts that come our way–than to have infinitely more than maximum access to the real Source of Life!!

GOD offers that to you and me!!

We just need to reach for Him–as a tree sends it thirsty roots in search of life-giving water….

Really HOPING…..

Truly TRUSTING the LORD….


In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ……

Psalm 104

God the Creator

1 My soul, bless the Lord!
Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with majesty and splendor.
2 He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe,
spreading out the sky like a canopy,
3 laying the beams of his palace
on the waters above,
making the clouds his chariot,
walking on the wings of the wind,
4 and making the winds his messengers,[a]
flames of fire his servants.

5 He established the earth on its foundations;
it will never be shaken.
6 You covered it with the deep
as if it were a garment;
the water stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke the water fled;
at the sound of your thunder they hurried away—
8 mountains rose and valleys sank[b]—
to the place you established for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
they will never cover the earth again.

10 He causes the springs to gush into the valleys;
they flow between the mountains.
11 They supply water for every wild beast;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky live beside the springs;
they make their voices heard among the foliage.
13 He waters the mountains from his palace;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of your labor.

14 He causes grass to grow for the livestock
and provides crops for man to cultivate,
producing food from the earth,
15 wine that makes human hearts glad—
making his face shine with oil—
and bread that sustains human hearts.

16 The trees of the Lord flourish,[c]
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests;
storks make their homes in the pine trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the cliffs are a refuge for hyraxes.

19 He made the moon to mark the[d] festivals;[e]
the sun knows when to set.
20 You bring darkness, and it becomes night,
when all the forest animals stir.
21 The young lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises; they go back
and lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work
and to his labor until evening.

24 How countless are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.[f]
25 Here is the sea, vast and wide,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships move about,
and Leviathan, which you formed to play there.

27 All of them wait for you
to give them their food at the right time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your breath,[g]
they are created,
and you renew the surface of the ground.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Imprisoned at the Intersection of our Expectations And Disappointments. Matthew 11:1-6

Matthew 11:1-6 New American Standard Bible
John’s Questions

11 When Jesus had finished [a]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and [b]preach in their cities.

2 Now while in prison, John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to [c]look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the [d]gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is [e]any person who does not [f] take offense at Me.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

John was disillusioned when he questioned whether Jesus was the Messiah.

Studying this incident will assist us to avoid becoming disillusioned in Christ.

Who among us will ever dare to be honest enough to admit that more times than they can count, they have felt imprisoned at the ironclad intersection of their expectations and disappointments?

Matthew 11:1-6 sits at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You had your life mapped out, but somehow things didn’t turn out as you had planned.

Then you saw your doctor for your annual routine physical examination.

You thought everything was going swimmingly, but then there came that dark and rainy moment when your doctor told you you needed an urgent surgery if you were to survive until next month. Tests found several masses in your lungs.

Your life was transformed by the new reality and your dreams died that day. The surgery would mean long weeks of being in bed and weeks of therapy after the surgery. It meant pain—intense, constant pain whether you had the surgery or not. You are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You thought your marriage would last forever, only to see your spouse walk out.

Your marriage crumbled, and you were left to pick up the pieces.

Now, you work multiple jobs at an income that is never quite enough, and you struggle to raise your children without any tangible help of your husband.

You have cried enough tears to fill an ocean and you wonder if your children will ever fully recover from the devastation they have just suddenly experienced.

Still, you realize that you’re the only person left standing between your children and self-destruction.

You are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You thought you were set to enjoy your golden years but changing markets have all of a sudden forced you to scramble in order to survive.

Retirement!

Ha!

You’re working more now than ever.

You had hoped to take life easy, but now you’re working just to make ends meet.

You set aside what you thought would be needed, but somehow it hasn’t proven to be enough.

Those who sit at their dinner table to consume what they have thought to be sufficient now have to survive on a budget which is proving to be inadequate.

You didn’t expect to be forced to care for ageing parents, but someone has to sacrifice so your aging mother or father can have the medical care they need.

Modern medicine is a two-edged sword, extending our lives but imposing new necessities on our children.

Thus, you are saddled with the responsibility of caring for your parents at the time when you know you should be planning or preparing for your own future.

You stand imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

If we could only know what God has planned for us, we could perhaps be courageous. We can’t know what God will be doing, and so we feel that we must grapple with a dark unknown rather than walking with confidence through our chaotic situation. We are too “Christian” to admit that we sometimes struggle with doubt, but in our heart, we experience so very often times when we ask, “Is this really what life is all about?”

At such times, we are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You’ve been praying, and no answer comes.

You cannot help but wonder whether God hears you when you pray?

Does God care about your struggles?

Because the response of the Holy One seems non-existent, you find yourself questioning God; even find yourself asking, “Did Jesus really die for my sins?

If I am forgiven, why am I having such a hard time?

Why is there so much confusion in my life, if God is in control?”

Confusion seems to grow constantly, and you can’t help but wonder why God seems to ignore you.

It is almost as though He is unaware of who you are or what you are going through.

You are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

Questions come flooding into our minds: Why is there so much hurt in the world if God is good?

He could make things right if He wanted to do so.

He has the power.

Why doesn’t He do something?

The question sticks in our throat, but we are too tight lipped, stiff necked, embarrassed to let it pass beyond our lips.

Admit it!

Confess it!

We find ourselves to be imprisoned at our intersections of Expectations and Disappointments

We don’t want people to know that we have been locked up in the dungeon of doubt.

Has it all been worth it?

Has my sacrifice, my struggle, my sorrow made any difference?

Does Jesus care .001% that I am seemingly unable to move beyond my present condition of living in this rut that defines my life at the present?

You are imprisoned at the center in a jail of Expectation and Disappointment.

The message this day is for Christians, for followers of the Christ who have experienced disappointment or for those who will soon enter into despair.

13 How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long am I to feel anxious in my soul,
With grief in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2)

The Psalmist’s message is also intended to offer an authentic expression of hope for the afflicted soul, when everything seems hopeless, hope in Christ.

5 But I have trusted in Your faithfulness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has looked after me. (Psalm 13:5-6)

The message is intended to be a source of encouragement for the people of God when imprisoned at the center of a dangerously rutted intersection called “my Expectations and my Disappointments.” Praying for any Help in this trouble.

Faith, the Scripture tells us, is active and relational.

It reaches beyond the visible, tangible world into the reality of God’s promises.

Religion, on the other hand, often remains visible—it is what you do, not whom you trust.

Illustration: Imagine two people standing on opposite sides of a wide creek of unknown depths. Religion may give you a map, a rope, and rules about how to cross it. Faith is taking the step because you trust the one who builds the bridge.

Dr. John Piper wrote, “Faith is not mere belief; it is a life surrendered to the will of God because we trust Him completely.”

Here, Piper reminds us true faith is personal surrender, not checklists of duties. Religion without faith can mark boxes but does nothing to transform the heart.

1: Faith is Relational, Religion is Ritual

Consider Micah 6:6-8 (NLT):

“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should I offer my firstborn for my rebellion, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you: Only to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

The prophet Micah addresses Israel, who had become experts at religious ritual—sacrifices, festivals, offerings—yet their hearts far were distant from God.

The Hebrew word used here for “walk” here, ‘halak,’ implies a daily lifestyle of focusing on ongoing relationships, obedience, not merely ritual performances.

Faith focuses on relationship: “walk humbly with your God.”

Religion focuses on ritual: “burnt offerings, rivers of olive oil.”

Modern believers often fall into “religious checklists”: attending church, volunteering, giving, but lacking deep, trusting relationship with Jesus.

Faith invites us into an intimacy with God—through prayer, Scripture, study, obedience—not simply participation in activities.

2: Faith Impacts the Heart, Religion Controls Behavior

Let’s turn to Romans 10:9-10 (NLT):

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God — and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”

Paul writes to the Roman church, a mixture of Jews and Gentiles steeped in both cultural and religious practices. The Greek word for “believe” here is ‘pisteuo‘, which conveys personal trust and commitment, not just intellectual assent.

Religion might prescribe outward actions—attendance, fasting, charity—but faith reaches the heart.

Faith is internal trust in Christ, resulting in external obedience. Paul clearly emphasizes a holistic transformation: belief leads to confession, confession leads to salvation, and salvation changes life.

In today’s world, it is easy to confuse being “religious” with being “right with God.”

One might pray, tithe, volunteer—but without heart-level trust in Jesus, these acts are empty.

True faith begins in the heart, flows outward, produces a life that honors God.

 “Religion is what you do; faith is what God does in you.”

This is profound. Religion without faith produces mere action; faith without religion produces authentic devotion that transforms communities and lives.

3: Faith Produces Freedom, Religion Can Produce Bondage

Consider Galatians 5:1 (NLT):

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Paul addresses believers who were tempted to return to legalistic observances—rituals, laws, and human traditions.

The Greek word for “slavery” here is ‘douleia‘, implying bondage, not simply obligation. Religion without faith often enslaves; faith liberates.

Religion can become burdensome with too many “hair-splitting” rules; faith produces joyful obedience.

Faith rests in Christ’s work; religion rests on human effort.

In the 21st century, believers are pressured by social expectations: “If you’re spiritual, do this, say that, attend here.”

True discipleship, born of faith, is freedom.

You are no longer bound by fear of judgment but empowered by the love of Christ.

A friend once described his faith journey like this:

“I spent years following religious rules, always anxious I’d fail God. When I finally trusted Jesus, I realised obedience was no longer a chain—it was wings.”

Charles Stanley said, “True faith never imprisons; it always liberates because it rests in the grace of God, not the efforts of man.”

Faith liberates.

Religion can constrict.

Understanding this is critical for authentic discipleship.

In the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Praying …

The Lord Rescues People from Many Troubles.

107 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting.
2 The redeemed of the Lord shall say so,
Those whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
3 And gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the [a]south.

10 There were those who lived in darkness and in [i]the shadow of death,
Prisoners in misery and [j]chains,
11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God
And rejected the plan of the Most High.
12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
They stumbled and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and [k]the shadow of death
And broke their bands apart.
15 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [l]wonders to the sons of mankind!
16 For He has shattered gates of bronze
And cut off bars of iron.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When God’s Voice Calls for far more than vain and empty performances? The path of obedience? God desires our entire hearts. 1 Samuel 15:22-23

1 Samuel 15:22-23 Christian Standard Bible

22 Then Samuel said:

Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,
to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

God gave instructions to attack the Amalekites because they had ruthlessly attacked his people coming out of slavery from Egypt (Deuteronomy 25:17-19).

Setting up an ambush, Saul attacked Amalek with great speed and force.

Saul’s army gobbled up territory without much pushback.

They destroyed the Amalekites and took their King Agag alive.

Saul looked at the Amalekites’ good livestock and decided to keep them alive too. What could be wrong with that? Saul simply believed he could make better decisions based on his knowledge of war than on God’s knowledge of obedience.

When Samuel came, he was shocked to see two things: alive animals and an alive King Agag.

And because of this, God had said he was greatly disappointed with Saul.

Israel’s first king had chosen his world over God’s world. The Amalekites were not the only ones who dishonored God as he worked to lead his people.

Saul too had worked against God and tried to take advantage for his own gain.

God gave King Saul a clear command—to destroy the Amalekites completely.

Saul won the battle, but chose to spare their king and keep the best animals.

When confronted, he insisted he had obeyed the Lord.

But the bleating of sheep told another story.

Saul justified his disobedience by claiming he saved the animals for sacrifice.

Samuel’s response still echoes through the centuries: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” God wasn’t impressed with Saul’s offering; He wanted Saul’s heart.

Obedience is not about our checking religious boxes—it’s about surrendering our entire hearts, our souls, our wills.

It’s about our saying, “Yes, Lord,” even when it’s rock hard, inconvenient, or uncomfortable.

The people of Israel suffered while Saul was their leader.

Saul did not obey God’s commands.

Saul also set up a monument to honor himself for his victory in a war, raising himself above God.

When Samuel asked Saul, “Why did you not obey the Lord?”

Saul lied, saying that everything he did was for God. Of course, Samuel already knew what Saul had done, and this was an opportunity for Saul to ­repent.

But Saul’s answer was ridiculous.

He tried to cover up his greed with religious excuses.

Saul claimed that he had saved out the best sheep and cattle in order to sacrifice them to God.

But that was a lie.

He also shifted blame to others, saying it was the soldiers who had saved out the best sheep and cattle.

So Samuel said, “Enough!” Samuel cried out to the Lord.

And he told Saul that because he had rejected the word of the Lord, God had now rejected him as king over Israel.

How about us today?

Do we live our lives as we please?

Do we lift ourselves up and ignore God’s words?

Do we make up religious excuses when we have done wrong?

Do we blame, criminalize, condemn, imprison, scapegoat, ruinate the lives of others for failing to acknowledge, confess, what is our own act of wrong­doing?

When Obedience Costs You Something Irreplaceable …

Hebrews 11:8 tells us that “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out…not knowing where he was going.”

If we do these things, we need to repent and appeal to God for his mercy and grace. We do not want to face the sting of suffering of being rejected by God.

Abraham’s obedience was costly—it required trust.

He left everything familiar, and later, when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, obedience demanded he implicitly trust God, sacrifice his own first born son.

The journey up Mount Moriah wasn’t just about the test—it was about trust.

Abraham could say to Isaac that, “God Himself will provide,” because obedience had taught him God’s faithfulness.

Walking with God means we’ll face similar tests.

Maybe he’s asking you to forgive the unforgivable, to give, and to step into something uncertain, the enemy whispering, “If God loves you, why this trial?”

But every test of obedience is meant to strengthen your faith, not to crush it.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5

When Blessing Follows Surrender and obedience ….

In Luke 5, Peter and his crew had fished all night with nothing to show for it.

Then Jesus told him, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

It made no sense—but Peter obeyed.

The result?

So many fish that the nets began to break.

That’s what happens when obedience meets faith and trust.

The blessing was waiting beyond the “nevertheless.”

Peter’s reluctant obedience became the moment of divine overflow—and a turning point in his calling.

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” — Isaiah 1:19

Obedience doesn’t always lead to material blessing, but it will always lead us to spiritual fruit.

Proverbs 3:6-12 Christian Standard Bible

6 in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 This will be healing for your body[b]
and strengthening for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest;
10 then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe his discipline;
12 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

God honors the heart that places trust in Him first and acts on faith!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

Psalm 119:25-40 Complete Jewish Bible

ד (Dalet)

25 I lie prostrate in the dust;
revive me, in keeping with your word.
26 I told you of my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your laws.
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wonders.
28 I am melting away from anxiety and grief;
renew my strength, in keeping with your word.
29 Keep deceitful ways far from me,
and favor me with your Torah.
30 I choose the way of trust;
I set your rulings [before me].
31 I cling to your instruction;
Adonai, don’t let me be put to shame!
32 I will run the way of your mitzvot,
for you have broadened my understanding.

ה (Heh)

33 Teach me, Adonai, the way of your laws;
keeping them will be its own reward for me.
34 Give me understanding; then I will keep your Torah;
I will observe it with all my heart.
35 Guide me on the path of your mitzvot,
for I take pleasure in it.
36 Bend my heart toward your instructions
and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
with your ways, give me life.
38 Fulfill your promise, which you made to your servant,
which you made to those who fear you.
39 Avert the disgrace which I dread,
for your rulings are good.
40 See how I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness, give me life!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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A voice said to, “Proclaim!” And so I answer, “What should I proclaim?” “All humanity is merely grass, all its kindness is like a field of wildflowers. Psalm 90:1-6, Isaiah 40:6-8

Isaiah 40:6-8 English Standard Version

The Word of God Stands Forever

6 A voice says, “Cry!”
    And I said,[a] “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
    and all its beauty[b] is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
    surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever.

Psalm 90:1-6 New American Standard Bible

BOOK 4
God’s Eternity and the Brevity of Human Life.
A Prayer of [a]Moses, the man of God.

90 Lord, You have been our [b]dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
[c]Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

3 You turn mortals back into dust
And say, “Return, you sons of mankind.”
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it passes by,
[d]Or like a watch in the night.
5 You have [e]swept them away like a flood, they [f]fall asleep;
In the morning they are like grass that [g]sprouts anew.
6 In the morning it flourishes and [h]sprouts anew;
Toward evening it wilts and withers away.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The Fragility of Life ….

Our text today emphasizes two solemn truths that point to the same fact.

There is no room for human vanity.

Human pride is nothing but utter foolishness.

Our bodies are as fragile as grass.

We have physical weaknesses that cannot be disguised.

Time carves wrinkles into our faces, and make-up cannot cover it. Our legs too become weak, our knees wobble, our hands droop, our eyes blur, and every gray silver hair that sprouts on our heads is a reminder of the shortness of our lives.

We also have emotional weaknesses.

There are times when we despair of life itself.

We cry, we moan, we sob, assailed by anguish.

We have moral and spiritual weaknesses as well.

We promise to walk in righteousness, and yet our feet often stray down winding paths taking us to all points of a compass and all of them take us into big circles.

We are ambiguous and contradictory people.

The good we want to do, we do not do; and the evil we hate, we practice.

Besides being fragile like grass, all the glory we achieve has a fleeting beauty like that of the flowers of the field.

The heat of the sun makes the delicate flower wither and dry.

Our glory is fleeting, and our accomplishments pass away.

Our achievements are lost in the dust of time.

We are too small, too fragile, too young!

But, thankfully, that doesn’t have to be our end.

In the Lord we can trust that our destiny is safe with him.

No Place for God?

Psalm 90:7-10 New American Standard Bible

7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,
And we have been terrified by Your wrath.
8 You have placed our guilty deeds before You,
Our hidden sins in the light of Your presence.
9 For all our days have dwindled away in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a [a]sigh.
10 As for the days of our [b]life, [c]they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy;
For it quickly passes, and we disappear.

11 Who [d]understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear [e]that is due You?

Some time ago a chaplain at a public university heard one of the administrators saying, “No offense, but I think anyone who believes in God has a mental health problem. God has no place in a scientific institution such as a university.”

That administrator is not alone.

An article in a church magazine reported that a small group of students who were studying theology at a German university were convinced by their DMin. professor that “neither God nor the church were of much relevance today.”

Even though they were baptized members of Lutheran and Reformed churches, they felt that God had become irrelevant.

Some of the people I know have come to the same conclusion: If there is a God, he is far away and no longer matters.

About 2,700 years ago God’s people in Jerusalem and Judah felt the same way.

Many of their people had been taken into exile, and it seemed that the Lord had abandoned them.

But God told his ­prophet Isaiah to remind them that he was with them every step of the way.

Regardless of what anyone might think, God is here, and he is at work in our world still today.

Some 700 years after Isaiah spoke, God proved his presence through the birth of his Son, the Lord Jesus.

He “moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14, The Message).

Don’t think for a moment that God has become irrele­vant. Our God is here!

Each of us needs a healthy dose of comfort from time to time.

The child at play who trips and scrapes her knee badly needs comfort from a parent or other caregiver.

The young man or woman at college with its unfamiliar surroundings needs someone to talk to.

Consider also the young couple whose first child was stillborn, the middle-aged couple whose son died in an accident, and that elderly man whose wife of 60 years is slipping away because of Alzheimer’s. Who will dare to comfort them?

Thank God that there is good news in Isaiah’s song.

God himself says, “Comfort, comfort my people. . . . Speak tenderly. . . .”

When we need comfort, we must remember, first, that God is the Sovereign Lord. He will meet us in every situation with his powerful arm.

As an old hymn puts it, “Oh, let me not forget that, though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.”

Never forget it!

1 This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.

Second, our Father is a loving, compassionate God.

No matter what adversities you may be going through today, you can take comfort.

Like a shepherd with his sheep, God carries us close to his heart.

Remember Jesus’ parting words:

“I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …

Psalm 16 New American Standard Bible

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.

A [a]Mikhtam of David.

16 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
2 [b]I said to the Lord, “You are [c]my Lord;
I have nothing good besides You.”
3 As for the [d]saints who are on the earth,
[e]They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them.
4 [f]The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.

7 I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
Indeed, my [g]mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to [h]Sheol;
You will not [i]allow Your [j]Holy One to [k]undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the way of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Can you start to see new possibilities when you do remember who God is? Jeremiah 32:9-20

Jeremiah 32:9-20 New American Standard Bible

9 “So I bought the field which was in Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle’s son, and I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10 And I [a] signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales.  11 Then I took the deeds of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions and the open copy; 12 and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son and in the sight of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, in the sight of all the Jews who were sitting in the courtyard of the guard. 13 And I commanded Baruch in their sight, saying, 14 ‘This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, so that they may [b]last a long time.” 15 For this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be purchased in this land.”’

Jeremiah Prays and God Explains

16 “After giving the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying, 17 ‘Oh, Lord [c]God! Behold, You Yourself have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too difficult for You, 18 who shows mercy to thousands, but repays the wrongdoing of fathers into the laps of their children after them, great and mighty God. The Lord of armies is His name; 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of mankind, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; 20 who has accomplished signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Are you going through a time right now where you feel stuck?

Maybe you’ve been searching for a solution to a problem for a long time, but you still can’t solve it.

You may be trying to change a relationship or your circumstances for the better, but nothing seems to change.

Or, maybe you’re hoping for a new opportunity or a fresh idea, but you’re still waiting.

When you feel stuck, it’s easy to believe that you’ve reached the end of what’s possible. 

Jeremiah 32:17 has good news for you. God – the powerful Creator of heaven and earth – can do anything!

Nothing is too hard for God.

Since God spoke, made everything in creation, he can help you in your current situation, no matter how complicated or overwhelming it feels. 

You can start to see new possibilities when you remember who God is.

The same God who designed stars, oceans, and human minds is still at work today. He’s not intimidated by obstacles, and his power is stronger than the obstacles you face. There are no limits to God’s love or to his power.

God loves you fully, completely and unconditionally, and he’s willing to use his unlimited power to help you get unstuck and move forward well. 

New possibilities don’t always come into your life as dramatic breakthroughs.

Sometimes they come in subtle yet still significant ways, like a fresh new perspective or a nudge to try something different.

God sometimes works in ways that will stretch your thinking by challenging you to trust him far beyond what feels comfortable, feasible or even logical. 

Our Scripture for today describes a real-estate transaction.

Money is transferred from buyer to seller; witnesses and officials sign and seal the transfer papers; there are multiple copies of documents and arrangements for preserving the documents.

This is not unlike what would still happen today in a land sale, except for a few things:

  • Jeremiah, the buyer, cannot take possession of the land because it’s behind enemy lines.
  • This real-estate closing is taking place in a Jerusalem prison, and Jeremiah is the prisoner.
  • Jeremiah knows (because God has revealed it to him) that his nation will not win against the enemy.

Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon will destroy Jerusalem and exile the Israelites to a place a thousand miles away.

Indeed, Jeremiah the prophet is in prison because he has preached what God has revealed to him.

But God has also revealed through Jeremiah that after 70 years the people will return to build homes and farms in the land. Truly a long-term investment!

Still today, God calls us to live our lives and to devote ourselves and the gifts he has given us to long-term things—things that will last.

And the number-one example of a long-term investment that fits God’s plan is to make sure we give of our resources and time and energy to help bring others into God’s kingdom.

When you face uncertainty, your first instinct may be to focus on what you can’t do or don’t have.

But Jeremiah’s prayer turns your attention back to God’s unlimited power instead of your limited human power.

When you focus first on God’s greatness, you can see your problems from a proper perspective.

They’re still real, but they’re no longer too big to solve, because they’re much smaller than God’s power to help you. 

Trusting God with new possibilities also involves asking for God’s guidance along the way.

God doesn’t expect you to figure everything out on your own.

He invites you to come to him with all of your questions.

You can ask God to help you make the best decisions for every step of the process of moving forward.

You can also ask God for encouragement.

The more you pray to see new possibilities, the more faith will overcome fear in your life. 

It’s also important to remember that God’s timing may look different from yours.

Even though you may want answers right now, God may be shaping your character, patience, or faith while you wait.

Even then, new possibilities are forming beneath the surface of what you can see.

God is always at work, even when you can’t yet see the results. 

Creativity is another way God brings new possibilities into your life.

A new idea, a different approach, or a fresh solution to a problem can be God’s way of opening a door.

When you invite God into your thinking, he can help you imagine what’s next.

That can lead you to solve a problem at work, find a new way to heal a soured relationship, discover a call to serve as a volunteer that you hadn’t considered before, or another wonderful breakthrough. 

What’s most important for you to see new possibilities is hope.

Stay hopeful that God will help you get unstuck and move forward in the best ways, at the best time.

When you trust God to handle what seems impossible, you make room for God to move in ways that may surprise you. 

God can do what you can’t do. 

So, if you’re feeling stuck, ask the God who made the heavens and the earth to help you see what you can’t see yet.

New possibilities are always going to be so much closer than you think!

In the Name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 29 New American Standard Bible

The Voice of the Lord in the Storm.
A Psalm of David.

29 Ascribe to the Lord, [a]sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory [b]due His name;
Worship the Lord in holy attire.

3 The voice of the Lord is on the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over [c]many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon in pieces.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord divides [d]flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord [e]shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
11 [f]The Lord will give strength to His people;
[g]The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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My letting Jesus meet me in my need. believing the idea of a good God gets perpetually challenged while we must encounter such hardships and pains. Luke 5:1-11

Luke 5:1-11 New King James Version

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

5 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they [a]forsook all and followed Him.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Sometimes a desperate need comes upon our lives. Inevitably these times of overwhelming lack make us feel stuck; we don’t have the resources or ability to overcome such need. In these moments, we often retreat, feel far from God.

The idea of a good God gets mightily challenged while we must encounter such hardship and pain. This proves tragic because God has repeatedly promised, and proven time and again exactly how his heart is with the poor and needy.

God, by his nature, sees emptiness and tries to fill it with goodness. Looking upon our broken world and the lives within it, God didn’t stay distant. Despite our sin, he entered the story through Jesus, also called Immanuel, God with us.

He became a man to reach us where we were. John 10:10

Here in Luke 5 we see how Jesus’s closeness transformed lives, performed miracles. With the man dropped through the roof, Christ forgave his sin and healed his body, acknowledged affirmed meeting both spiritual and physical.

Pointedly, he dealt with the spiritual first, the physical coming after. We also have to let him just meet us, invite us into the story.

First, we must realize he’s already near us, and then we must cry out to him, pleading with him to do what he must to do—love us and join, to fill us with his light and life, both redeeming and transforming us and our story with his own.

James 1:2-8 New Living Translation

Faith and Endurance

2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 

Sometimes our responses to a demand or request depends on who is ­asking.

Simon had worked hard all night without catching anything, so going out again and expecting a different result would not have been a likely plan for success.

By the time Jesus asked, Simon’s boat was moored, the nets had been washed.

It was time to call it quits.

So it is easy to imagine Simon brushing Jesus’ request aside.

What could a builder’s son possibly tell a fisherman about fishing?

But this was Jesus asking.

Jesus had been teaching people from the boat while Simon was cleaning his nets. Perhaps Simon had heard something that made him pay full attention.

So when Jesus asked him to put out into deep water and “let down the nets for a catch,” Simon said, “Because you say so, I will.”

As the clock continues to tick away, it can be easy to feel as if we have worked hard all night without catching anything.

For all our efforts we still struggle with the same problems and temptations.

Our boss demands a greater sacrifice of our time, our wife and children give us the same worries, and our neighbors seem no more open to Jesus than when we first befriended them. Even so, we will act right, keep on pushing out our nets.

Jesus has asked us for perseverance.

Sometimes our responses depend on who is doing the asking.

In the Name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ….

Praying ….

Psalm 27
My Stronghold

Of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh,
my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army deploys against me,
my heart will not be afraid;
though a war breaks out against me,
I will still be confident.

4 I have asked one thing from the Lord;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the Lord
and seeking him in his temple.
5 For he will conceal me in his shelter
in the day of adversity;
he will hide me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Then my head will be high
above my enemies around me;
I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Lord, hear my voice when I call;
be gracious to me and answer me.
8 My heart says this about you:
“Seek[a] his face.”
Lord, I will seek your face.
9 Do not hide your face from me;
do not turn your servant away in anger.
You have been my helper;
do not leave me or abandon me,
God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord cares for me.

11 Because of my adversaries,
show me your way, Lord,
and lead me on a level path.
12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing violence.

13 I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
Wait for the Lord.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Ways of Revival and Loneliness are complicated concepts in today’s increasingly self-connected world. Luke 5:12-16

Luke 5:12-16 The Message

Invitation to a Changed Life

12 One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.”

13 Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone.

14-16 Jesus instructed him, “Don’t talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed self to the priest, along with the offering ordered by Moses. Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” But the man couldn’t keep it to himself, and the word got out. Soon a large crowd of people had gathered to listen and be healed of their sicknesses. As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

During the time of Jesus leprosy was seen as a condemnable sickness.

To be sick with leprosy was perceived by many as a punishment from God.

That is why those who were sick with leprosy kept their distance from the people because they were labeled to be shameful and sinful.

In Jesus’ day, lepers were considered untouchables.

Leprosy was a highly infectious skin disease.

God had given strict instructions for anyone with leprosy:

“When anyone has a swelling or a rash or shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease . . . the priest . . . shall pronounce them ceremonially unclean. . . . As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:2-3, 46).

In our Scripture reading today, Jesus reaches out to touch a leper.

It was something unheard of.

A leper was unclean and was not allowed to live with his family or in society.

He was destitute, homeless, lonely for human contact and interaction, a smile, a simple wave of a hand communicating to him “hello or God bless you, sir.”

To touch a leprous person was to become unclean and untouchable yourself.

But that’s why Jesus came and acted as he did—where others will observe, be horrified by, his daring to reach out to people who were labeled untouchable.

In our reading for today, the leper didn’t want to be an outcast anymore.

Hoping against hope, He took a risk that Jesus might take a risk on him.

From the dusty ground, the leper uttered his prayer to the visiting Rabbi:

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

This was the trusting prayer of a desperate man looking for restoration. 

Jesus didn’t react as so many had done before—he moved toward the man rather than away.

He reached out and touched the man.

Jesus’ words;

“I am willing. . . . Be clean!” set into motion a transformation from the Savior who was not repelled by the man’s instinctive response: “I am untouchable.”

But how did the man in our gospel who was sick with leprosy behave?

Upon seeing Jesus he did not run away from Him, he instead went towards Jesus.

Pleaded with Jesus to cure him with his dreaded disease.

And as we read, Jesus did not refuse the sick man, he cured him immediately.

We are called to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5-8

We are called to act and respond with the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 9:20-22, Matthew 25:31-46, Acts 10:20-26, Philippians 4:8-9, Galatians 6:7-10, 2 Timothy 2:1-7.

In what ways have you been, do you need to become more inspired, empowered to reach out in prayer to God, to be a light on that path, through which the Lord can reach out his hands to touch a lonely, destitute shoulder and reveal himself?

Psalm 119:105-112 The Message

105-112 By your words I can see where I’m going;
    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back
    from living by your righteous order.
Everything’s falling apart on me, God;
    put me together again with your Word.
Adorn me with your finest sayings, God;
    teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
    but I don’t forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
    but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
    I always have and always will.

Do you need a touch from the Master?

Do you need his cleansing?

He is walking in your direction.

Let him touch you.

Become that Leprous individual,

Jesus’ amazing touch of love heals the very thing keeping each of us in hiding.

In the Name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …

Praying ….

Psalm 119:25-40 The Message

25-32 I’m feeling terrible—I couldn’t feel worse!
    Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember?
When I told my story, you responded;
    train me well in your deep wisdom.
Help me understand these things inside and out
    so I can ponder your miracle-wonders.
My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling-down barn;
    build me up again by your Word.
Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
    grace me with your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
    I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
    God, don’t let me down!
I’ll run the course you lay out for me
    if you’ll just show me how.

33-40 God, teach me lessons for living
    so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—
    my whole life one long, obedient response.
Guide me down the road of your commandments;
    I love traveling this freeway!
Give me an appetite for your words of wisdom,
    and not for piling up loot.
Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,
    invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
Affirm your promises to me—
    promises made to all who fear you.
Deflect the harsh words of my critics—
    but what you say is always so good.
See how hungry I am for your counsel;
    preserve my life through your righteous ways!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Cast all your doubts aside! the god of this age has most assuredly darkened and blinded the minds of unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 New International Version

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In context, Paul is talking about the glories of the New Covenant of God.

Paul is rejoicing in the wonderful promises founded on the blood of Christ – the gospel which removes all who confess with their whole hearts, and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ from the condemnation of the Law, for the free gift of God is eternal life to all who believe on Christ. (Romans 10:9-13)

Because of the incalculable glories of the wonderful gospel of Christ, where the life and light of salvation flows to all who believe, a determined Paul rejoices to teach the good news of God’s saving grace and to set out the truth of Scripture because he knew that it was only by God’s grace that he himself had been saved.

Because of the indelible glories contained in the gospel of Christ, Paul does not get discouraged, even when those that he is teaching choose not to listen to the message of the good news, but flatly reject the truth of God’s amazing grace.

Paul knew that there was a host of reasons that many refused to listen to the gospel of God’s grace.

He knew that although they had heard the truth, they had renounced it.

Although they had heard the gospel, they chose not to believe it.

Although they had been given an opportunity to accept it, they had chosen to reject the truth of the glorious gospel of Christ.

When people hear the gospel and then willingly reject it, they unwittingly give the god of this world a strong foothold in their mind – as a result their unbelief becomes more and more firmly established in their hearts, until their minds are twisted, blinded, darkened to the glorious truth of the gospel of God’s grace.

It is not God’s will that anyone should perish, but that all come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus – and yet, God still gives every single man and woman a choice to ether believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved or to reject the gospel of grace and be condemned.

Men and women who choose to steadfastly close off their minds to the gospel of God’s grace are those that are perishing.

Mark 15:24-32 New Living Translation

24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice[a] to decide who would get each piece. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 Two revolutionaries[b] were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.[c]

29 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.

Jesus was ridiculed by everyone present during his Passion – the crowds cried “Crucify him!” before Pilate.

The soldiers beat and mocked him, spit in his face.

People who passed by him hanging on the cross hurled their insults at Jesus.

The religious leaders mocked him.

Even one of the criminals who were dying beside the Lord threw in his own ridicule and scorn his way.

Jesus’ own closest followers had betrayed, denied, and abandoned him.

Our Savior faced the cruelty and the humiliation of the cross alone.

Don’t we know someone who still scoffs at Jesus like this?

Have we ever been that someone who scoffs at Jesus like this?

For the most part, Jesus impaled on the cross didn’t move either the crowd or the religious people, and for the most part, Jesus suffering, dying on the cross, doesn’t move a vast number of people today.

WHY?

Maybe because we cannot comprehend the sacrifice don’t understand how real, how graphic, how horrific, and how required the cross was for our eternal life.

He did it so you and I can have the confidence that he will never abandon us – even if everyone we hold dear abandons us, those hating us hurl insults at us.

Doesn’t it seem clear that the two crosses with the two thieves represent the required choice that each of us must make? We all begin the same with Jesus.

Jesus indelibly demonstrated he would pay any price to love us and redeem us.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to allow us to live in him.

Does the cross move you toward rejection of the gospel?

Does the cross move you toward proclaiming Acts 4:8-12 of the gospel?

8 Then Peter, [a]filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “[b]Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are [c]on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to [d] how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that [e]by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—[f]by [g]this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 [h]He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

The cross reveals the unconditional love of God for you like nothing else in all the universe does.

The horror and the intensity of the cross scream out to us that God loves us.

Has seeing God-in-the-Flesh on the cross, dying in our place, ever moved you?

Are we moved toward rejection or acceptance by the truth that the Lord of all Creation submit himself to the ugliness of dying on the cross out of his love?

In the Name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Praying ….

Psalm 22

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.
For the music director; upon [a]Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.

22 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my [b]help are the words of my [c]groaning.
2 My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but [d]I have no rest.
3 Yet You are holy,
You who [e]are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You rescued them.
5 To You they cried out and they fled to safety;
In You they trusted and were not [f]disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a person,
A disgrace of mankind and despised by the people.
7 All who see me deride me;
They [g]sneer, they shake their heads, saying,
8 “[h]Turn [i]him over to the Lord; let Him save him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from [j]birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

11 Do not be far from me, for [k]trouble is near;
For there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open their mouths wide at me,
As a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within [l]me.
15 My strength is dried up like a piece of pottery,
And my tongue clings to my jaws;
And You lay me [m]in the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
[n]A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
[o]They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
18 They divide my garments among them,
And they cast lots for my clothing.

19 But You, Lord, do not be far away;
You who are my help, hurry to my assistance.
20 Save my [p]soul from the sword,
My only life from the [q]power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.

22 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you [r]descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you [s]descendants of Israel.
24 For He has not despised nor scorned the suffering of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.
26 The [t]afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
May your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before [u]You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s
And He rules over the nations.
29 All the [v]prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will kneel before Him,
Even he who [w]cannot keep his soul alive.
30 A [x]posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Wrestling with ourselves, it’s our all-night fighting to live side by side with the Lord, fight the good mental fight. Genesis 32:22-26

Genesis 32:22-32 English Standard Version

Jacob Wrestles with God

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children,[a] and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,[b] for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,[c] saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Genesis 32:24 is a Bible verse from the Old Testament where Jacob was faced with a great trial and wrestles with a man who turned out to be God.

Wow, that sounds almost too wild to be true.

Can we envision or imagine ourselves in 2026 wrestling with someone intent on causing harm to us and then discovering that someone turned out to be God?

God has a way of keeping the true shock value of a trial tucked away from our consciousness until after we’ve come out of it.

Thankfully, many times He hides the most severe part of what we are going through until it’s passed.

He knows all too well the fragility of our human nature, but He also sees the streaks of determination and resolve within us.

He created us with this miraculous blend of gifts, and He delights in growing them within us, causing them to emerge, mature, be revealed, brightly shining before Him and too before others, like the brilliant bloom of a fragrant flower.

Jacob had been through a lot of deception, wondering what trick was coming.

He worked twenty years of hard labor for his Uncle Laban, who deceived him when he promised he could wed Rachel his daughter, but instead he gave him Leah. He made him work another seven years before he could wed Rachel, and intentionally cheated him of his wages 10 different times (Genesis 31:38-42).

In all this, God blessed Jacob, and when Jacob left Laban and headed back to his home country, he was accompanied by his wives, children, flocks and herds in abundance.

Jacob didn’t just wrestle with God for a night.

He wrestled with him 20 years during Laban’s authority and oppression over him. But God was subtly growing something better in Jacob through this time.

As a young man, Jacob along with his mother, had deceived his father into giving him his brother Esau’s birthright blessing.

Esau was furious and vowed to kill Jacob, and so Jacob fled for his life.

But after 20 years of working for someone who had successfully deceived and oppressed him, and at the exact right moment God said it was time to go home.

Now Jacob was hemmed in by an oppressive and angry boss behind him, and a brother before him, who twenty years earlier wanted him dead , and now God in the form of a man was brought into the light and observed wrestling with him!

Do not we feel like that sometimes, like there are crafty deceptive forces all around, closing in on us, surrounding us, squishing, with no escape in sight?

Jacob had a lot at stake.

He didn’t give up.

Hung onto Him as if his whole life and his future would just vanish.

He knew God had been with him and had blessed him with family and wealth, despite Laban’s efforts to keep him down.

We all will endure diverse and various trials and tribulations of all sizes and strengths, in all forms and manners possible.

Be resolute in your belief and lay claim to it.

In Genesis 32:24, Jacob was left alone as he sent his family and flocks across the stream keeping them safe from the possibility of an impending attack coming from his brother.

Matthew 4:1-10 Christian Standard Bible

The Temptation of Jesus

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”[a]

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:

He will give his angels orders concerning you,
and they will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.”[b]

7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”[c]

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”[d]

10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away,[e] Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”[f]

He was all alone,

There was no person, to cling to or connive, for help or comfort or protection.

Isn’t that usually when we become aware of God’s Presence, when no one else is around, and most especially when we are in between a boulder and a hard place?

We wrestle, struggling and striving for victory, for relief, for peace, for freedom and for safety, security, enduring love, for joy and sometimes for our very life.

Do we actually have that authentic, immovable unshakable resolve to hang on?

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

A Psalm of David.

35 Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of [a]buckler and shield
And rise up as my help.
3 Draw also the spear and [b]the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me;
Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4 Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my [c]life;
Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
With the angel of the Lord driving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
With the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 For they hid their net for me without cause;
Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him when he is unaware,
And let the net which he hid catch him;
Let him fall into that very destruction.

9 So my soul shall rejoice in the Lord;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You,
Who rescues the afflicted from one who is too strong for him,
And the afflicted and the poor from one who robs him?”

Psalm 15 English Standard Version
Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

A Psalm of David.

15 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
    Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
    and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
    and does no evil to his neighbor,
    nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
    but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
    and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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What Do You Want Now? Get Serious! What is causing all of these quarrels and fights among you? Is it not your desires battling inside you? Do You desire things and do not have them? James 4:1-10 

James 4:1-10 New Living Translation

Drawing Close to God

4 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

4 You adulterers![a] Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.[b] 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”[c]

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Today I would like to share with you James 4:1-4,

“Where do wars and fights come from among you?

Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

You lust and do not have.

You murder and covet and cannot obtain.

You fight and war.

Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your worldly impulses and pleasures.

Adulterers and adulteresses!

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

I share this today because these 4 verses have extreme depth to our personal life, family, the church, all the way up to the highest levels of a city, state, country.

First, it starts in our own hearts.

Jesus said, “Out of the mouth the heart speaks.”

Check your heart and see, are you asking for things because you want it just for your glory and pleasure?

Second, look at those who destroy property, who destroyed nations, who also destroy people.

They do so, because they lust and do not have.

They refused to humble themselves and ask the Lord for direction.

It comes down to a person having hate inside them.

Jesus said that “hate is the same as murder.”

Finally know, that we can not want nor value to be a friend to the spirit of this world and follow the Lord.

You can not be a friend to the adversarial spirit and the Holy Spirit at the same time.

You will either follow Jesus or follow the Adversary.

Would you be able to identify, know, recognize, the difference between them?

What Do You so desperately Want you would risk cheating God?

“You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

2-3 You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

4-6 You’re cheating on God.

Desires are thoughts.

Sadly, they often begin with the words of our two-year-old selves: “I want that!”

We can easily think, for example, “I want a car (or a house) like that.”

Or, “I wanted the job he got.”

I want, I want, I want.

Not all of our desires are bad, but many are.

If we want something that belongs to others or if we want something at the expense of others, that is typically wrong.

Pleasure and enjoyment are great blessings, but if we seek such things only for selfish reasons, that can be wrong too.

We can easily deceive ourselves into thinking, “I should have that . . . and why shouldn’t I?”

Our desires can cause battles within us.

How do we know if what we want is right or wrong?

We can take it to God in prayer.

And if we think, “I can’t possibly ask God for that,” it is probably a wrongful desire.

We can also have lots of good desires, though.

We may want our children to do well in school.

We may want our friend’s marriage to be saved.

We may want our church to grow.

God is pleased when we ask for good things like these with the right motives.

As we pray about our desires, let’s focus on those which can bring about glory to God, good for our neighbors, family, and friends.

Let’s pray about what can bring growth and maturity and Shalom in God’s kingdom throughout the world.

Things like these are always in line with the desires of God’s heart.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

Security of Those Who Trust in the Lord, and Insecurity of the Wicked.

A Psalm of David.

37 Do not get upset because of evildoers,
Do not be envious of wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass,
And decay like the green plants.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
Live in the land and [a]cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring out your righteousness as the light,
And your judgment as the noonday.

7 [b]Rest in the Lord and wait [c]patiently for Him;
Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way,
Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and abandon wrath;
Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be eliminated,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked person will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow
To take down the afflicted and the needy,
To kill off those who are upright in conduct.
15 Their sword will enter their own heart,
And their bows will be broken.

16 Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
But the Lord sustains the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the [d]blameless,
And their inheritance will be forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And in the days of famine they will have plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish;
And the enemies of the Lord will be like the [e]glory of the pastures,
They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not pay back,
But the righteous is gracious and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him will inherit the land,
But those cursed by Him will be eliminated.

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled down,
Because the Lord is the One [f]who holds his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his [g]descendants begging for bread.
26 All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his [h]descendants are a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good,
So that you will dwell forever.
28 For the Lord loves [i]justice
And does not abandon His godly ones;
They are protected forever,
But the [j]descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice.
31 The Law of his God is in his heart;
His steps do not slip.
32 The wicked spies upon the righteous
And seeks to kill him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand
Or let him be condemned when he is judged.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are eliminated, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked, violent person
Spreading himself like a luxuriant [k]tree in its native soil.
36 Then he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37 Observe the [l]blameless person, and look at the upright;
For the person of peace will have a future.
38 But wrongdoers will altogether be destroyed;
The future of the wicked will be eliminated.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;
He rescues them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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