Friday, November 25, 2016

A Question Of Balance

A Question Of Balance                                         11-25-16 

Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV) 11  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.


All ya'll 60's and 70's hippies out there! Remember that blast from the past by The Moody Blues? I still remember sitting around the hooch overseas in 1970 with my friend Chucky Harris listening to the 'question" in this song.

                                "Why do we never get an answer
                                  When we're knocking at the door
                                  With a thousand million questions 
                                  About hate and death and war?
                                  'Cause when we stop and look around us
                                  There is nothing that we need
                                   In  world of persecution that is burning in it's greed"

The writer goes on to declare that "I'm looking for someone to change my life,I'm looking for a miracle in my life...."

That someone,with that miracle,along with the answers to the question became reality to this writer around 7:30 A.M. on October 8,1975, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth,the Lord of Glory.

Some 45 years later however, the world is asking the same question isn't it? It is seeking the same miracle isn't it? Where's the peace? Or better "Where's the beef" as the Wendy's woman used to say.And herein lieth the lesson.

Chloe came home from school one day this week with something her teacher had said to her. It was about Thanksliving. No,not a typo. Thanksliving. In addition to our yearly celebration of Thanksgiving to God,wouldn't it be nice if we spent the rest of the year in THANKSLIVING to God. Hmmmm.....out of the mouth of babes.

As I pondered the wisdom of the 9 year old sitting in the back seat,the Lord put the above verse on my mind.

I have read this passage of Scripture countless times and while reading,an image always comes to mind. That of a man at perfect peace. Peace with God. Peace with the world. Peace with HIMSELF. Maybe you don't get that picture,but,for some reason I always do.

You see the Apostle Paul had found it. You remember the bumper sticker from many years ago? I FOUND IT! Well,Paul had found it. Found what? The secret. The secret to WHAT please, Ronnie?!! 

The secret to peace and contentment of course.The answer to the question don't you know?Listen to this. Life,I was told long ago, is like a wheel that rolls down the road. Sometimes you are on top,with the world by the tail;and sometimes you are on the bottom looking up. There are times and seasons for everything. Read Ecclesiastes 3. Ya feelin' me here?

But,the Apostle Paul had found the secret. It was maintaining a balance throughout all the different circumstances and conditions that life presented him with. Paul had....and here it is...Paul had LEARNED to be CONTENT in whatever situation he found himself in. And here is the power in that Scripture.

In order to LEARN contentment and peace in hard times,we must of necessity, EXPERIENCE hard times. In order to LEARN contentment and peace in PLENTIFUL AND ABUNDANT times,we must EXPERIENCE plenty and abundance. What's that Ronnie? We need to learn contentment in times of plenty? Brothers and sisters,as has been proven from time immortal, there is more danger to our soul in times of plenty than in times of need. But that is another story.

So my question today is where are we presently on the wheel?

Are you on he top and the whole world is your oyster? Take heed. Don't forget WHO got you there.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV) 12  Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
Or are you laying flattened on the road trying to see the license plate of the semi that just trucked you? Take heart this too shall pass.

Job 42:12 (ESV) 12  And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.....

You see Paul had learned the secret. Rainy days or sunshine, famine,drought or plentiful harvest,the question had been answered for him. It was a matter of balance. It was keeping the Lord Jesus in front of his eyes no matter what. It was a question of Thanksliving.

Psalm 68:19 (ESV) 19  Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah



God Bless










    




                                


   

Friday, November 18, 2016

The Course

The Course                                               11-18-16

Acts 13:25 (ESV) 25  And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’


I read a post this week past proclaiming the favor of God. I won't go into details but let me tell you something about favor.We all have experienced the favor of God,IF we call Jesus our Savior. God's favor was extended to us in eternity past, before the creation of the world, by the grace given us through the Lamb of God that was slain before the foundation of the world. It's here where I will begin.

Course....According to Dictionary.Com., "A direction or route taken or to be taken." If you have run in road races you know that the race is along a predetermined course or route. Follow the course,finish the race and you get the T-shirt.But,it's the course that I want to talk about today.Have you ever looked at your circumstances and wondered where it all went wrong? Have you ever asked God why? Or have you ever questioned if God cared or if He was even there? Yeah,I feel ya.And herein lieth the lesson.

Here was John the Baptist.The COUSIN of Jesus. Prophesied to be the forerunner of the Messiah of Israel and indeed the entire human race.He had a powerful ministry. He had baptized Jesus Himself. Jesus Christ,the Lord of Glory had this to say about John.

Matthew 11:11 (ESV) 11  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Those are pretty heady words from the Savior of the world. So here he is. John the Baptist.No one greater and where is he now? Look and see.

Matthew 11:2 (ESV) 2  Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples

Where was he? .....Where?? John the Baptist,baptizer of the Son Of God,none greater among women....yeah THAT John the Baptist. He was in prison. IN PRISON!! How do you think he felt? Do you think he had some questions and doubts about Jesus? Do you think he wondered if God had really spoken to him?Was he really the forerunner of the Messiah?Or was he deceived. Had he been running in vain? Think about it. What must have been running through his head while sitting in that prison cell. I can hear him now. "What is going on God? Do you see me sitting here in this prison cell?" "God was that really you?" What a battle it must have been.Yes,his faith faltered.It's recorded in the Word. But here is the point . It was his course. It was HIS COURSE. His predetermined route for this life that had been foreordained by the Lord God Almighty.

Look at The Apostle Paul.Or how about Jeremiah,or the Apostle Peter on and on and on.Even the Lord Jesus Himself. Their courses were not always strewn with rose petals. 

Brothers and Sisters maybe you are having a rough go of it.It seems as if your entire world has gone dark. You are having a hard time believing what God has spoken to you. Doubts and fears have entered in,and you are wondering where the "favor" of God is. Heck Ronnie,it's not even about  favor, my question is where is God? Is He still up there? I feel ya. Take heart.God is mindful of you and you are on course. He's got you in the palm of His Hand and you are in very,VERY good company. Just flip the pages of the Word of God and read about them.

Psalm 3:5-6 (ESV) 5  I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
6  I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.



God Bless
   


      

The Course

The Course                                               11-18-16

Acts 13:25 (ESV) 25  And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’


I read a post this week past proclaiming the favor of God. I won't go into details but let me tell you something about favor.We all have experienced the favor of God,IF we call Jesus our Savior. God's favor was extended to us in eternity past, before the creation of the world, by the grace given us through the Lamb of God that was slain before the foundation of the world. It's here where I will begin.

Course....According to Dictionary.Com., "A direction or route taken or to be taken." If you have run in road races you know that the race is along a predetermined course or route. Follow the course,finish the race and you get the T-shirt.But,it's the course that I want to talk about today.Have you ever looked at your circumstances and wondered where it all went wrong? Have you ever asked God why? Or have you ever questioned if God cared or if He was even there? Yeah,I feel ya.And herein lieth the lesson.

Here was John the Baptist.The COUSIN of Jesus. Prophesied to be the forerunner of the Messiah of Israel and indeed the entire human race.He had a powerful ministry. He had baptized Jesus Himself. Jesus Christ,the Lord of Glory had this to say about John.

Matthew 11:11 (ESV) 11  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Those are pretty heady words from the Savior of the world. So here he is. John the Baptist.No one greater and where is he now? Look and see.

Matthew 11:2 (ESV) 2  Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples

Where was he? .....Where?? John the Baptist,baptizer of the Son Of God,none greater among women....yeah THAT John the Baptist. He was in prison. IN PRISON!! How do you think he felt? Do you think he had some questions and doubts about Jesus? Do you think he wondered if God had really spoken to him?Was he really the forerunner of the Messiah?Or was he deceived. Had he been running in vain? Think about it. What must have been running through his head while sitting in that prison cell. I can hear him now. "What is going on God? Do you see me sitting here in this prison cell?" "God was that really you?" What a battle it must have been.Yes,his faith faltered.It's recorded in the Word. But here is the point . It was his course. It was HIS COURSE. His predetermined route for this life that had been foreordained by the Lord God Almighty.

Look at The Apostle Paul.Or how about Jeremiah,or the Apostle Peter on and on and on.Even the Lord Jesus Himself. Their courses were not always strewn with rose petals. 

Brothers and Sisters maybe you are having a rough go of it.It seems as if your entire world has gone dark. You are having a hard time believing what God has spoken to you. Doubts and fears have entered in,and you are wondering where the "favor" of God is. Heck Ronnie,it's not even about  favor, my question is where is God? Is He still up there? I feel ya. Take heart.God is mindful of you and you are on course. He's got you in the palm of His Hand and you are in very,VERY good company. Just flip the pages of the Word of God and read about them.

Psalm 3:5-6 (ESV) 5  I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
6  I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.



God Bless
   


      

Friday, November 11, 2016

Selections Have Consequences

Selections Have Consequences                                   11-11-16

Proverbs 29:25-26 (ESV) 25  The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
26  Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice.


No, this is not a misquote of President Obama's "elections have consequences" from 2009. It floated across my mind as I was listening to the reports of what was happening across the country.To be frank, I was not moved at all by the reaction to the election. Without getting sidetracked,I will say that truthfully I wasn't in a conciliatory mood. I recognized that the proverbial olive branch had to be extended. But,after reading the news accounts I was not quite ready. Right or wrong that is how I felt. That said,this verse crossed my mind recently.We are seeing this verse played out in the streets,right before our eyes are we not? And herein lieth the lesson.  

Selections have consequences don't they? We have a segment of our people that feel cheated. They feel that they are suffering under the boot of injustice. They have a fear. Whether it is justified,whether it is perceived or whether it is manufactured to promote a cloaked agenda,it is a fear isn't it? Here is the disconnect. They have been caught up in the passion of the moment.They are seeking redress for injustice in the wisdom of man; in the face of a ruler,rather than in the giver of justice,the Lord God. 

You see we all are faced daily with selections or choices if you will. In this corner we have God and His Word, in the opposing corner we have the world and it's wisdom.We must choose or select WHO and WHAT we will follow. Read the words of Joshua as he put that same choice to the children of Israel.

Joshua 24:15 (ESV) 15  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

You see, Brothers and Sisters, we are in a buffet line and we must make a selection.
We must choose to be givers or takers. We can choose to walk by faith or walk by sight. We can choose to live in love or hate. We can choose to seek the wisdom found in God's Word, the Bible;or we can choose the Wall Street Journal,New York Times,Fox News or CNN.Ultimately we must choose The Lord Jesus Christ.....or not. God has given us that freedom. Remember however,our choices,our selections,come with consequences.

Folks, the Lord Jesus says that He has the answers. It is our call whether to believe and trust in Him or not.

Psalm 7:1 (ESV) 1
 O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,



God Bless


 



  

Friday, November 4, 2016

Beware The Power Brokers

Beware The Power Brokers                                      11-04-16

Being this is my last post before the election I felt moved upon to repost a blog I wrote from about the same time four years ago. However I cannot find that post anywhere so I will attempt a  reconstruction here today. Just some thoughts concerning upcoming events. Read this somewhat lengthy passage of Scripture from the Book of Judges. 

Judges 9:7-15 (ESV) 7  When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
8  The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9  But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’
10  And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’
11  But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’
12  And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’
13  But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’
14  Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’
15  And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’


Jotham's metaphor. Let me ask you a question. What is it that makes obtaining to and holding a "position" in this life such a rush? No matter your chosen vocation, what is it occupying our psyche that drives us onward and upward? Well,you might respond "it is a spirit of excellence or a passion for doing what we do that drives us." O.K. I'll buy that. You also might add "it is the financial reward that so often(but not always) accompanies success in this world. MONEY is a driving force. O.K. I will most certainly agree with the material benefit of success being a motivation.But, BUT,when one has achieved these goals...when you have risen to the top of your profession,...when you have more money than you will ever be able to spend,why the wanderlust to achieve even more? Why are you not enjoying the fruits of a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice? In other words why are you NOT floating around the Caribbean or the Mediterranean on a yacht living life to the fullest? What is it that causes you to go seeking after a position that is going to cause you nothing but headache after headache and age you by twenty or thirty years in a span of a fourth of that time? I will give you my take on that question. POWER.....POWER! It is the hunger,thirst,lust for power.And herein lieth the lesson.

In the story above the trees want to "anoint" a King over them. They inquire of two different fruit bearing trees and then a vine asking them if they would "hold sway over them," and they receive the same response. "Why would I want to leave where I am and what I do to rule and reign over you?" Notice that the trees and vine produce fruit that cheers both God and men.No need or desire to seek anything else. They are content and thriving where God has placed them. Then they come to the bramble. Ever get caught in a bramble bush? A prickly thorn bush.It is the thorn bush that desires the "anointing." The bramble agrees ON A CONDITION to take the reigns of power and hold sway over the trees.The trees must be acting in good faith. They must desire the bramble to rule over them. Be careful! You might get what you anoint or as is our case today,what you VOTE for! A bramble bush!!

Brothers and sisters,be wary of ALL those that seek for power, especially from an election podium. When that word power starts being bandied about it is not necessarily a sign to run the other way;but it is a time to exercise extreme caution.Why? Because many,many times the power that those amongst us seek is the power to control you and me. 

You see,when we put our trust into a political system,a political party,or a political candidate,we are putting our trust into earthly power brokers. Can we have a political preference?Absolutely. And I will add that this particular election year yields a clear and distinctive choice for all us "trees"out there. But, and please hear me,if we are putting our trust in a political candidate,party etc.,etc., to heal our land,then we are setting ourselves up not only for a huge letdown but for manipulation and even coercion. Let us line our choice up by what Scripture has to say on the different issues confronting us. NOT a party line or a candidate preference. You feelin'it here?

 Here's a final take on power and the authority we accord earthly rulers and a good rule of thumb to keep our perspective clear and in focus.Look at this.

John 6:15 (ESV) 15  Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus rejected this particular offer of an earthly kingdom.
For what reason? I don't know for sure. Maybe it was because His kingdom was not of this world. Folks we must occupy this world until the Lord Jesus returns, That is HIS command.But, we must never put our TRUST and CONFIDENCE in the systems or the power brokers of this world. They are doomed to failure.

Psalm 2:10-12 (ESV) 10  Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.



God Bless