Psalm 104:1 -- "Bless the Lord, O my Soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty."
Mark 13:26 -- " Then they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory."
John 1:14 -- "And the Word became flesh, and dwelled among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Monday, July 31, 2017
Friday, July 28, 2017
Weekend Sermon -- Matthew 11:16-19
After the terrible storm we had this week, I am very glad to be with you today to post the Weekend Sermon. I hope that those of you who read this blog have had a less eventful week than I have.
We had the most rain fall in one night since records have been kept in my area. I've never seen it rain that hard for that long. I did get a little bit of water in my garage, but it was not that bad. I had no other damage. I just want to thank everyone for their prayers.
Please be in prayer for those who did have flooding damage in my area. One of the rivers had a record crest, and several businesses and homes suffered significant damage. As far as I know, no one was injured. It was a really bad storm.
I am working on my writing business and ministry. Please pray for me during this time of transition. Also, please pray that the mole in my yard will quit tearing things up. This is really bothering me.
In other matters, please be in prayer for those who are suffering from the cholera outbreak in South Sudan and Yemen. Pray that these nations will receive the aid that they need, and that these two nations will be at peace.
Let us all be in prayer for peace in the world. There is so much violence and warfare. Please, let us concentrate our prayers on Syria and Iraq.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's all pray for the nations of Tunisia and Japan. Pray that many in these nations will hear of the love of Jesus.
The last two weeks, we stepped away from our series on the parables of Jesus so that I could bring messages on a couple of passages that have had significant meaning in my life. Today, we will resume our parables of Jesus series. Some do not think that this passage of Scripture is a parable, but I think that it is.
Our parable today is told by Jesus in response to an encounter that He had with the disciples of John the Baptist. John was in prison, and while there, he began to wonder if Jesus really was the promised one. John sent some of his disciples to go and ask Jesus if Jesus was the Messiah, or if they should expect someone else.
Jesus told John's disciples to go and tell him that the blind are receiving sight, the lame are walking, the deaf are hearing, lepers are cleansed, the dead are being raised and the poor are having the good news preached to them.
When John's disciples departed bearing Jesus' message, Jesus gave the crowd a message about John the Baptist. Jesus said that John was the one who was prophesied of in Malachi. John was the one who prepared the way for Jesus the Messiah.
After these remarks, Jesus told a parable. He said, "To what shall I compare this generation." Jesus said they were like children calling to each other, "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance, we sang a dirge for you, and you did not mourn."
Jesus said that John came neither eating nor drinking, and the people said he had a demon. Jesus came eating and drinking, and they called Jesus a drunkard, a glutton and a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
What did this mean? Well, it had a very specific meaning in the context in which the parable was told. John was very ascetic. He was out in the desert preaching a message of repentance. He wore a camel hair garment and ate wild locust and honey.
Many people came to hear John and were baptized by him. However, he was rejected by the religious leaders of the day. Most people went on about their business and ignored the message of John.
Jesus had a different style than John. Jesus was not ascetic. He went to feasts and parties. He turned the water into wine. He brought His message to those who were the outcasts of society. Just as they hated John, the religious leaders of Jesus' day despised Him as well. Ultimately, most people would reject Jesus.
Jesus was saying that the people of his day basically just didn't want to hear and respond to the truth no matter the way in which it was presented. They always had an excuse, and they wanted to attack the messenger. No matter what presentation the message came in, their problem was ultimately with the message and not the messenger. The people did not really see a need to change. The religious leaders just wanted to hold on to their power.
So, what can we learn and apply from this parable for our own lives? One thing that I take from this parable is that some people will always find an excuse not to respond to the message of Jesus. It seems that we are always trying to find some new way in the church to package the message of Jesus to make it acceptable to the masses. This is never going to work. Ultimately, the problem people have is that they will not recognize their need for a savior, and they are not willing to turn their lives over to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
We need to realize that regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit does a work in someone's life, only then can that person respond in faith to the message that they have received. Our responsibility is to preach the word of the Lord.
Another lesson that I take from this parable is that some people will never be satisfied with what you do. As a minister, you will not be able to please everyone. When my uncle was a pastor, he always had someone in his congregation that didn't like him, or someone that was always critical of him.
What you have to do in these circumstances is to remember to be faithful to the Lord. Keep serving Him and presenting the message that the Lord has called you to bring.
One final message that speaks to me in this parable is about relationships. In our lives, we will encounter people who are not willing to accept who we are. They want us to be different, and they try to get us to act the way they want us to act. For instance, they may not be satisfied with your appearance or with your job or career. They always want you to change something about yourself to make yourself acceptable to them.
Often, people will try to change for someone else. Usually, this turns out bad. The other person really did like the person they wanted to change to begin with, so after they change, they still don't like them.
If someone can't accept you for who you are (I am not speaking about something that is illegal or destructive) then that is not someone you really want to be around. People should love you for who and what you are not for what they think they want you to be.
Next week, our schedule is going to be different. I will post the verses on Monday. There will not be a book review this week. I have to go to the dentist on Wednesday. I don't know yet what all this will entail. I would ask that you pray that all will go well. Depending on what happens with the dentist, the Weekend Sermon may be delayed until Saturday. May God bless you all. Amen.
We had the most rain fall in one night since records have been kept in my area. I've never seen it rain that hard for that long. I did get a little bit of water in my garage, but it was not that bad. I had no other damage. I just want to thank everyone for their prayers.
Please be in prayer for those who did have flooding damage in my area. One of the rivers had a record crest, and several businesses and homes suffered significant damage. As far as I know, no one was injured. It was a really bad storm.
I am working on my writing business and ministry. Please pray for me during this time of transition. Also, please pray that the mole in my yard will quit tearing things up. This is really bothering me.
In other matters, please be in prayer for those who are suffering from the cholera outbreak in South Sudan and Yemen. Pray that these nations will receive the aid that they need, and that these two nations will be at peace.
Let us all be in prayer for peace in the world. There is so much violence and warfare. Please, let us concentrate our prayers on Syria and Iraq.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's all pray for the nations of Tunisia and Japan. Pray that many in these nations will hear of the love of Jesus.
The last two weeks, we stepped away from our series on the parables of Jesus so that I could bring messages on a couple of passages that have had significant meaning in my life. Today, we will resume our parables of Jesus series. Some do not think that this passage of Scripture is a parable, but I think that it is.
Our parable today is told by Jesus in response to an encounter that He had with the disciples of John the Baptist. John was in prison, and while there, he began to wonder if Jesus really was the promised one. John sent some of his disciples to go and ask Jesus if Jesus was the Messiah, or if they should expect someone else.
Jesus told John's disciples to go and tell him that the blind are receiving sight, the lame are walking, the deaf are hearing, lepers are cleansed, the dead are being raised and the poor are having the good news preached to them.
When John's disciples departed bearing Jesus' message, Jesus gave the crowd a message about John the Baptist. Jesus said that John was the one who was prophesied of in Malachi. John was the one who prepared the way for Jesus the Messiah.
After these remarks, Jesus told a parable. He said, "To what shall I compare this generation." Jesus said they were like children calling to each other, "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance, we sang a dirge for you, and you did not mourn."
Jesus said that John came neither eating nor drinking, and the people said he had a demon. Jesus came eating and drinking, and they called Jesus a drunkard, a glutton and a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
What did this mean? Well, it had a very specific meaning in the context in which the parable was told. John was very ascetic. He was out in the desert preaching a message of repentance. He wore a camel hair garment and ate wild locust and honey.
Many people came to hear John and were baptized by him. However, he was rejected by the religious leaders of the day. Most people went on about their business and ignored the message of John.
Jesus had a different style than John. Jesus was not ascetic. He went to feasts and parties. He turned the water into wine. He brought His message to those who were the outcasts of society. Just as they hated John, the religious leaders of Jesus' day despised Him as well. Ultimately, most people would reject Jesus.
Jesus was saying that the people of his day basically just didn't want to hear and respond to the truth no matter the way in which it was presented. They always had an excuse, and they wanted to attack the messenger. No matter what presentation the message came in, their problem was ultimately with the message and not the messenger. The people did not really see a need to change. The religious leaders just wanted to hold on to their power.
So, what can we learn and apply from this parable for our own lives? One thing that I take from this parable is that some people will always find an excuse not to respond to the message of Jesus. It seems that we are always trying to find some new way in the church to package the message of Jesus to make it acceptable to the masses. This is never going to work. Ultimately, the problem people have is that they will not recognize their need for a savior, and they are not willing to turn their lives over to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
We need to realize that regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit does a work in someone's life, only then can that person respond in faith to the message that they have received. Our responsibility is to preach the word of the Lord.
Another lesson that I take from this parable is that some people will never be satisfied with what you do. As a minister, you will not be able to please everyone. When my uncle was a pastor, he always had someone in his congregation that didn't like him, or someone that was always critical of him.
What you have to do in these circumstances is to remember to be faithful to the Lord. Keep serving Him and presenting the message that the Lord has called you to bring.
One final message that speaks to me in this parable is about relationships. In our lives, we will encounter people who are not willing to accept who we are. They want us to be different, and they try to get us to act the way they want us to act. For instance, they may not be satisfied with your appearance or with your job or career. They always want you to change something about yourself to make yourself acceptable to them.
Often, people will try to change for someone else. Usually, this turns out bad. The other person really did like the person they wanted to change to begin with, so after they change, they still don't like them.
If someone can't accept you for who you are (I am not speaking about something that is illegal or destructive) then that is not someone you really want to be around. People should love you for who and what you are not for what they think they want you to be.
Next week, our schedule is going to be different. I will post the verses on Monday. There will not be a book review this week. I have to go to the dentist on Wednesday. I don't know yet what all this will entail. I would ask that you pray that all will go well. Depending on what happens with the dentist, the Weekend Sermon may be delayed until Saturday. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Book Review -- "No Going Back"
The book that I am reviewing today is entitled "No Going Back". It is the first in a mystery series featuring ex-policeman Daniel Whelan and his former police dog Taz.
In this first book, author Lyndon Stachey does a good job of introducing us to the main characters and setting the plot and action for the book. I did think that this book took a little while to really get going, but it became a real page turner for me the more I read.
Daniel is divorced and has a son who he doesn't get to see as much as he'd like to. Daniel is working as a truck driver and living in a small apartment with Taz as they try to get their lives back together.
"No Going Back" deals with Daniel's attempts to investigate a ring of criminals who are abducting girls and keeping them prisoner. Daniel and Taz work to keep one girl safe while they try to free her sister from her captors.
If you like a good mystery book with a good dog character, you will definitely enjoy this book. Taz is not a dog to be messed with, and he is completely devoted and loyal to his partner. If you find this book a little slow at first, keep reading. It will definitely pay off.
There are three other books in this series so far. They are available at my library, so I will be reading them and reviewing them here on the blog as I am able.
P.S. --- I would like to ask everyone who reads the blog to pray that the storms predicted for my area will not be too bad tonight. We are getting way to much rain again. Also, please pray that I will get enough writing work and that I will be able to find a part-time job as a supplement. I do not want to ever have to go back to working at a job like I just had.
On one other note. I have started working more in ministry, so please pray that that will go well.
Also, It is possible that the Weekend Sermon will appear on Saturday instead of Friday this week. If you don't see it Friday, look for it on Saturday. Thank you all for your prayers on my behalf.
In this first book, author Lyndon Stachey does a good job of introducing us to the main characters and setting the plot and action for the book. I did think that this book took a little while to really get going, but it became a real page turner for me the more I read.
Daniel is divorced and has a son who he doesn't get to see as much as he'd like to. Daniel is working as a truck driver and living in a small apartment with Taz as they try to get their lives back together.
"No Going Back" deals with Daniel's attempts to investigate a ring of criminals who are abducting girls and keeping them prisoner. Daniel and Taz work to keep one girl safe while they try to free her sister from her captors.
If you like a good mystery book with a good dog character, you will definitely enjoy this book. Taz is not a dog to be messed with, and he is completely devoted and loyal to his partner. If you find this book a little slow at first, keep reading. It will definitely pay off.
There are three other books in this series so far. They are available at my library, so I will be reading them and reviewing them here on the blog as I am able.
P.S. --- I would like to ask everyone who reads the blog to pray that the storms predicted for my area will not be too bad tonight. We are getting way to much rain again. Also, please pray that I will get enough writing work and that I will be able to find a part-time job as a supplement. I do not want to ever have to go back to working at a job like I just had.
On one other note. I have started working more in ministry, so please pray that that will go well.
Also, It is possible that the Weekend Sermon will appear on Saturday instead of Friday this week. If you don't see it Friday, look for it on Saturday. Thank you all for your prayers on my behalf.
Monday, July 24, 2017
Verses For the Week
Psalm 34:19 -- "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."
Isaiah 26:3 -- You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."
Please keep praying about the situation with the mole tearing up my yard. He is still out there. Thank you for your prayers about the storms. There was no damage around my immediate area.
Isaiah 26:3 -- You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."
Please keep praying about the situation with the mole tearing up my yard. He is still out there. Thank you for your prayers about the storms. There was no damage around my immediate area.
Friday, July 21, 2017
Weekend Sermon -- "Romans 8:31-39"
Welcome to this week's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am so very glad to be with you today. I am a little bit late in posting the sermon today because one of my window air-conditioners went out, and I had to get it replaced before the really hot part of the day sets in. I am thankful that my brother came over to help me. I hope that all of you are doing very well today.
I have some important news to report. As of yesterday, I am looking for another job. The place where I've worked for the last three years was implementing some things that I just could not go along with. I thought about this for a long time, and I believe that the right thing to do was to move on. I am going to work a lot more on my writing as there are a lot of writing jobs for me to do. I would also like to get a part-time job to help supplement the leaner times in writing. I would ask that you pray for me during this time. Pray that writing will go well and that I will find a good part-time job where I don't have to feel bad, stressed and sick all the time.
I am going to be working on a major writing project involving the Sermon on the Mount. I am already part of the way through on this. Please pray that this will go well. This is something that I have wanted to do for the Lord for a very long time. Also, please pray that the storms predicted for my area on Saturday will not be bad.
In other areas of prayer, please pray about the situation in the Central African Republic. I heard on NPR the other morning that warring factions are intentionally targeting children. This is terrible, and we all need to pray about this.
Please be in prayer for those in Yemen, South Sudan and Congo that are beset with various epidemics. Pray that they will receive the help that they need.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for the nations of Iran and Uzbekistan. Pray that people in these two nations will hear and respond to the message of Jesus' love.
Last week, we took a break from our ongoing series on the parables of Jesus. We will be doing that again today. Next week, we will return to our parables of Jesus series and stay in that series until we finish the messages I want to bring on that.
Today, I would like us to focus our attention on a passage in Romans that means a lot to me because it speaks so eloquently of the love that Jesus has for us.
Romans 8:31 starts be asking the question, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" The answer of course is that if God is with us, nothing will ultimately prevail over those who are in Christ. In this life we are going to encounter problems and trials. That's just part of life in this world. But, Jesus has overcome the world. No matter what difficulties this world throws at us, we have the victory in Jesus. As a minister I like always says, "The worst thing is never the last thing if you are a Christian." We can have confidence in the fact that Jesus has prepared a place for us and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Paul goes on to ask if there is anyone who can bring a charge against God's elect. Is there anyone to condemn? Once again the answer is that there is no one. Jesus has died for our sins bearing our sins in His body on the cross. Jesus has been raises in triumph from the dead. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.
No matter what the forces of evil try to bring against us in the way of guilt over past sins, we know that all of our sins are forgiven through the work of Jesus. We don't have to fear punishment or death, because Jesus has dealt with all of this through His life, death and resurrection. Those who are in Jesus need not fear. There is no condemnation. Jesus has taken care of it all.
Paul will ask one more question, "Who will separate us from the love of Christ?" No one and nothing. No matter what the hardship we may face in life, it will not separate from the love of Jesus. What this means to me is that I should never doubt Jesus' love for me even in the most difficult times of life. Just because bad things happen in this life, it doesn't mean that Jesus doesn't love us or that He has abandoned us. Jesus promised to never leave us and to never forsake us. That is a promise we can hold on to into eternity and beyond.
The powers of darkness cannot separate us from the love of Jesus. Heavenly beings cannot separate us from the love of Jesus. Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of Jesus.
We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Jesus loves us now, and He will love us forever.
Whenever I feel depressed and sad, this is one of the passages I turn to for comfort and support. Knowing that Jesus loves me even if no one else does makes me feel that I can overcome and live for Him. It makes me feel that I can make it through until I see Him face to face one day.
If you are facing a particularly difficult time, hold on to the fact that Jesus loves you, and nothing will ever change that. He will always love you.
Next week, I will have a review of a mystery book with a dog in it on Wednesday. I will post the verses on Monday. On Friday, we will continue in our series on the parables of Jesus. May God bless you all. Amen.
I have some important news to report. As of yesterday, I am looking for another job. The place where I've worked for the last three years was implementing some things that I just could not go along with. I thought about this for a long time, and I believe that the right thing to do was to move on. I am going to work a lot more on my writing as there are a lot of writing jobs for me to do. I would also like to get a part-time job to help supplement the leaner times in writing. I would ask that you pray for me during this time. Pray that writing will go well and that I will find a good part-time job where I don't have to feel bad, stressed and sick all the time.
I am going to be working on a major writing project involving the Sermon on the Mount. I am already part of the way through on this. Please pray that this will go well. This is something that I have wanted to do for the Lord for a very long time. Also, please pray that the storms predicted for my area on Saturday will not be bad.
In other areas of prayer, please pray about the situation in the Central African Republic. I heard on NPR the other morning that warring factions are intentionally targeting children. This is terrible, and we all need to pray about this.
Please be in prayer for those in Yemen, South Sudan and Congo that are beset with various epidemics. Pray that they will receive the help that they need.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for the nations of Iran and Uzbekistan. Pray that people in these two nations will hear and respond to the message of Jesus' love.
Last week, we took a break from our ongoing series on the parables of Jesus. We will be doing that again today. Next week, we will return to our parables of Jesus series and stay in that series until we finish the messages I want to bring on that.
Today, I would like us to focus our attention on a passage in Romans that means a lot to me because it speaks so eloquently of the love that Jesus has for us.
Romans 8:31 starts be asking the question, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" The answer of course is that if God is with us, nothing will ultimately prevail over those who are in Christ. In this life we are going to encounter problems and trials. That's just part of life in this world. But, Jesus has overcome the world. No matter what difficulties this world throws at us, we have the victory in Jesus. As a minister I like always says, "The worst thing is never the last thing if you are a Christian." We can have confidence in the fact that Jesus has prepared a place for us and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Paul goes on to ask if there is anyone who can bring a charge against God's elect. Is there anyone to condemn? Once again the answer is that there is no one. Jesus has died for our sins bearing our sins in His body on the cross. Jesus has been raises in triumph from the dead. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.
No matter what the forces of evil try to bring against us in the way of guilt over past sins, we know that all of our sins are forgiven through the work of Jesus. We don't have to fear punishment or death, because Jesus has dealt with all of this through His life, death and resurrection. Those who are in Jesus need not fear. There is no condemnation. Jesus has taken care of it all.
Paul will ask one more question, "Who will separate us from the love of Christ?" No one and nothing. No matter what the hardship we may face in life, it will not separate from the love of Jesus. What this means to me is that I should never doubt Jesus' love for me even in the most difficult times of life. Just because bad things happen in this life, it doesn't mean that Jesus doesn't love us or that He has abandoned us. Jesus promised to never leave us and to never forsake us. That is a promise we can hold on to into eternity and beyond.
The powers of darkness cannot separate us from the love of Jesus. Heavenly beings cannot separate us from the love of Jesus. Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of Jesus.
We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Jesus loves us now, and He will love us forever.
Whenever I feel depressed and sad, this is one of the passages I turn to for comfort and support. Knowing that Jesus loves me even if no one else does makes me feel that I can overcome and live for Him. It makes me feel that I can make it through until I see Him face to face one day.
If you are facing a particularly difficult time, hold on to the fact that Jesus loves you, and nothing will ever change that. He will always love you.
Next week, I will have a review of a mystery book with a dog in it on Wednesday. I will post the verses on Monday. On Friday, we will continue in our series on the parables of Jesus. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Book Review -- "Will's Red Coat"
A few years ago now, I picked Tom Ryan's book "Following Atticus" as my dog book of the year here on the blog. I highly recommend that book to anyone looking for an excellent story about the friendship between a man and a dog. It really tells a great story about how a dog can help to change a person's life.
Tom Ryan has just written another book. "Will's Red Coat" that tells the story of an old dog named Will that Tom adopted because nobody else wanted to. Will was a very old dog who had lost his home. Tom decided to take Will in just so that the old dog could pass his last few days in peace.
When Will first came to Tom, he was in a lot of pain, and Will would often bite Tom when Tom tried to pick him up and touch him. However, Tom didn't give up on Will. It took time, but Will finally began to trust Tom, and their friendship grew. Atticus, on the other hand, never interacted with Will all that much.
Will started to come alive again in Tom's home. He decided to live again and enjoy life. Will liked to listen to music and smell the wonderful scents of flowers. Tom even planted a garden for Will so that the little dog could enjoy the smells.
"Will's Red Coat" is a book that teaches an important lesson. You are never too old to start again. Life may have handed you some really rough times, but you can begin again.
I found this to be a very inspiring book. I hope that many people will read it and find inspiration in this little dog's life. I also hope that it will demonstrate the fact that older dogs need to be adopted into people's homes. They have a lot of love left to give.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Verses For the Week
John 16:33 -- "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
I Corinthians 15:57 -- But thanks be to God. He has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
I Corinthians 15:57 -- But thanks be to God. He has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Friday, July 14, 2017
Weekend Sermon -- 2 Timothy 2:1-13
I am glad that I was able to post the sermon today and I did not have to wait until Saturday. As I've said, this is what I look forward to doing each week. I hope that all of you who read the blog are doing well.
We had heavy rain last night in my area. I didn't have flooding near my house. However, there was one area just to the north of me that received over 5 inches of rain in one hour. I thank the Lord that the storms near me weren't bad, but please pray for those who were affected in a bad way by the storms.
I have a prayer request that some may find odd, but I am going to ask you to pray about it anyway. I have a mole in my front yard that is absolutely tearing my yard to shreds. I know that this may seem like a trivial thing to some, but it is really bothering me. Please pray that this mole or moles will go back into the large field behind the house where they came from. No one cares if they are in that field. Thank you.
Now, on a more important note. Please pray for those who are suffering from terrible diseases in this world. There are ongoing problems with cholera in Yemen and South Sudan. Polio is a problem in Congo. Pray for an end to these epidemics.
Let us all continue to pray for peace in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and South Sudan. Pray for peace wherever violence rages.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for Togo and Sri Lanka. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
This week, we are not having a message from our parables of Jesus series. Instead, I would like us to focus our attention on a passage that has been meaningful to me over the past few weeks.
II Timothy is one of the pastoral epistles. It was written by Paul to Timothy. Timothy was a young man who Paul trained to be a leader in the Christian church. In II Timothy Paul gives instructions to his young disciple.
Beginning in verse 1 of chapter 2, Paul calls on Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. This is something that all of us need to do. We need to realize that we have been given God's unmerited favor in Jesus. We have not done anything to earn our salvation. It is a gift of God. Knowing this, we need to share this gift of the presence of the Lord with others so that they might come to experience the love and forgiveness of Jesus as well.
In the verses which follow, Paul calls upon Timothy to suffer hardship like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He calls on Timothy not to entangle himself in the things of this world but to keep his focus on the ministry. He is to keep his focus on preaching the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the same message for which Paul was imprisoned.
As followers of Jesus, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and keep our focus on the mission that He has given us to do. We need to realize that this world is passing away. Only what is done for the sake of Jesus with eternal values in view will remain. We have a mission given to us by the Lord Jesus in the Great Commission to take His Gospel to the ends of the earth. We have a mission of making this world a little bit better place than how we found it.
I believe that if all Christians would concentrate more of their efforts on evangelism and good works for others that this world could be revolutionized in the name of Jesus.
In verses 11-13, Paul makes some statements to Timothy that I want us to focus our attention on.
In verse 11 Paul says, "If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him." This means that if we have trusted in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and in His glorious resurrection, we are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus will not face eternal death, but instead they will have eternal life. Jesus said that He has gone to prepare a place for all those who trust in Him. When we die, Jesus will take us to be with Him forever. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Him, even though he were dead, yet shall he live.
In verse 12 Paul states, "If we endure, we will also reign with Him." Life on earth is hard, and those who live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. If we faithfully follow the teachings and the commandments of Jesus while we are here on earth, He will reward us in the world to come. In some sense we will rule and reign with the Lord Jesus in His eternal kingdom that will have no end.
Verse 12 also tells us that, "If we deny Him, He will deny us," If you don't want to follow Jesus anymore, He will not force you to follow Him. As I've said before, I don't think we can lose our salvation by committing a sin or sins. However, I do believe that a person can make a conscious decision not to be follower of Jesus anymore. I also believe that there are some who are Christians in name only. Jesus said this Himself. Jesus said that in the final judgment some will say to Him "Lord, Lord," but Jesus will say to them "I never knew you. Depart from me you who work iniquity."
Finally, in verse 14 we read the words, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself." I love this verse. This verse tells me that even though I may disappoint the Lord at times, He will not walk away from me. He is always faithful to keep every promise that He has made to us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." In the difficult times of life, this is an extremely comforting thought. The Lord will always keep His promises. He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. Even if others forsake us. The Lord will not forsake us.
What is important in realizing this is that we have to keep an ultimate perspective. We may have hardship and struggles in this life. We may end up as bad as Lazarus who was laid at the rich man's gate. However, the Lord has promised an eternal reward to all of those who faithfully follow Him. Throughout eternity we will have eternal joy and abundance if we are faithful to the Lord right now. He will keep this promise. He is faithful in that He will always be with us, and He will provide for us in the world to come.
I hope these few verses from II Timothy have been an encouragement to you. Next week, we will look at another passage that has been important to me recently. After that, we will return to our series on the parables of Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses, and on Wednesday, I will have a dog book review. May God bless you all. Amen.
We had heavy rain last night in my area. I didn't have flooding near my house. However, there was one area just to the north of me that received over 5 inches of rain in one hour. I thank the Lord that the storms near me weren't bad, but please pray for those who were affected in a bad way by the storms.
I have a prayer request that some may find odd, but I am going to ask you to pray about it anyway. I have a mole in my front yard that is absolutely tearing my yard to shreds. I know that this may seem like a trivial thing to some, but it is really bothering me. Please pray that this mole or moles will go back into the large field behind the house where they came from. No one cares if they are in that field. Thank you.
Now, on a more important note. Please pray for those who are suffering from terrible diseases in this world. There are ongoing problems with cholera in Yemen and South Sudan. Polio is a problem in Congo. Pray for an end to these epidemics.
Let us all continue to pray for peace in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and South Sudan. Pray for peace wherever violence rages.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for Togo and Sri Lanka. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
This week, we are not having a message from our parables of Jesus series. Instead, I would like us to focus our attention on a passage that has been meaningful to me over the past few weeks.
II Timothy is one of the pastoral epistles. It was written by Paul to Timothy. Timothy was a young man who Paul trained to be a leader in the Christian church. In II Timothy Paul gives instructions to his young disciple.
Beginning in verse 1 of chapter 2, Paul calls on Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. This is something that all of us need to do. We need to realize that we have been given God's unmerited favor in Jesus. We have not done anything to earn our salvation. It is a gift of God. Knowing this, we need to share this gift of the presence of the Lord with others so that they might come to experience the love and forgiveness of Jesus as well.
In the verses which follow, Paul calls upon Timothy to suffer hardship like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He calls on Timothy not to entangle himself in the things of this world but to keep his focus on the ministry. He is to keep his focus on preaching the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the same message for which Paul was imprisoned.
As followers of Jesus, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and keep our focus on the mission that He has given us to do. We need to realize that this world is passing away. Only what is done for the sake of Jesus with eternal values in view will remain. We have a mission given to us by the Lord Jesus in the Great Commission to take His Gospel to the ends of the earth. We have a mission of making this world a little bit better place than how we found it.
I believe that if all Christians would concentrate more of their efforts on evangelism and good works for others that this world could be revolutionized in the name of Jesus.
In verses 11-13, Paul makes some statements to Timothy that I want us to focus our attention on.
In verse 11 Paul says, "If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him." This means that if we have trusted in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and in His glorious resurrection, we are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus will not face eternal death, but instead they will have eternal life. Jesus said that He has gone to prepare a place for all those who trust in Him. When we die, Jesus will take us to be with Him forever. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Him, even though he were dead, yet shall he live.
In verse 12 Paul states, "If we endure, we will also reign with Him." Life on earth is hard, and those who live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. If we faithfully follow the teachings and the commandments of Jesus while we are here on earth, He will reward us in the world to come. In some sense we will rule and reign with the Lord Jesus in His eternal kingdom that will have no end.
Verse 12 also tells us that, "If we deny Him, He will deny us," If you don't want to follow Jesus anymore, He will not force you to follow Him. As I've said before, I don't think we can lose our salvation by committing a sin or sins. However, I do believe that a person can make a conscious decision not to be follower of Jesus anymore. I also believe that there are some who are Christians in name only. Jesus said this Himself. Jesus said that in the final judgment some will say to Him "Lord, Lord," but Jesus will say to them "I never knew you. Depart from me you who work iniquity."
Finally, in verse 14 we read the words, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself." I love this verse. This verse tells me that even though I may disappoint the Lord at times, He will not walk away from me. He is always faithful to keep every promise that He has made to us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." In the difficult times of life, this is an extremely comforting thought. The Lord will always keep His promises. He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. Even if others forsake us. The Lord will not forsake us.
What is important in realizing this is that we have to keep an ultimate perspective. We may have hardship and struggles in this life. We may end up as bad as Lazarus who was laid at the rich man's gate. However, the Lord has promised an eternal reward to all of those who faithfully follow Him. Throughout eternity we will have eternal joy and abundance if we are faithful to the Lord right now. He will keep this promise. He is faithful in that He will always be with us, and He will provide for us in the world to come.
I hope these few verses from II Timothy have been an encouragement to you. Next week, we will look at another passage that has been important to me recently. After that, we will return to our series on the parables of Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses, and on Wednesday, I will have a dog book review. May God bless you all. Amen.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Update
First of all, I just want to let everyone know that the Weekend Sermon may be delayed until Saturday. I am not sure about this yet. If you don't see the sermon on Friday, look for it on Saturday. On another note. Tonight, there are supposed to be bad storms with flooding rain in my area again. Please pray that these storms will not be bad. The stormy weather around my area this year is about to get me down.
I need everyone's prayers in another matter as well. I have been really down the last couple of days. Please pray that I will feel better. Thank you for your prayers. May God bless you all.
I need everyone's prayers in another matter as well. I have been really down the last couple of days. Please pray that I will feel better. Thank you for your prayers. May God bless you all.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Book Review -- "The Grace of Dogs"
"The Grace of Dogs" by Andrew Root is a must read for anyone who has had a special dog in their life. It is one of the best books I've read from a theological perspective that deals with the questions of whether or not dogs have souls and whether or not dogs go to Heaven.
Andrew Root is a professor at Luther Seminary and a graduate of Princeton Seminary. He and his family were the guardians of a special black Labrador named Kirby. Kirby had a very close relationship with Andrew's son, Owen. When Kirby had to be put to sleep, Owen made the sign of the cross on his beloved dog and told his friend that he loved him. This action made Andrew Root start his journey to discover the grace of dogs.
In this book, the author takes the reader through much of the current research into how dogs came to live among humans and how dogs have learned to respond to us in a close friendship. Mr. Root examines psychological, theological, biological and medical disciplines that shed light on the human dog relationship.
There are two passages in this book that are quite good. The information about Levinas and his story about the dog that visited the prisoners is extremely touching. The story of the encounter of Bonhoeffer and the boy who asked him if his dog was in Heaven is also moving. Bonhoeffer's statement, "God loses nothing that God loves" is a priceless statement in this context and in our relationship with the Lord in general.
I hope that many people will read this fine book. I highly recommend it.
Andrew Root is a professor at Luther Seminary and a graduate of Princeton Seminary. He and his family were the guardians of a special black Labrador named Kirby. Kirby had a very close relationship with Andrew's son, Owen. When Kirby had to be put to sleep, Owen made the sign of the cross on his beloved dog and told his friend that he loved him. This action made Andrew Root start his journey to discover the grace of dogs.
In this book, the author takes the reader through much of the current research into how dogs came to live among humans and how dogs have learned to respond to us in a close friendship. Mr. Root examines psychological, theological, biological and medical disciplines that shed light on the human dog relationship.
There are two passages in this book that are quite good. The information about Levinas and his story about the dog that visited the prisoners is extremely touching. The story of the encounter of Bonhoeffer and the boy who asked him if his dog was in Heaven is also moving. Bonhoeffer's statement, "God loses nothing that God loves" is a priceless statement in this context and in our relationship with the Lord in general.
I hope that many people will read this fine book. I highly recommend it.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Verses For the Week
Philippians 4:4 -- "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice."
Romans 12:15 -- "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep"
Psalm 33:21 -- "For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name."
I Thessalonians 5:16 -- "Rejoice always."
Romans 12:15 -- "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep"
Psalm 33:21 -- "For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name."
I Thessalonians 5:16 -- "Rejoice always."
Friday, July 7, 2017
Weekend Sermon -- The Parable of the Talents
Thank you for stopping by the blog for another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I hope everyone is well. Each week it is a blessing to be able to post the sermon.
This last week I had a couple of days off around Independence Day. It was nice not to have to go into work for a couple of days. I am still trying to get back to writing full-time. Please pray that I will be able to do this. I haven't been feeling well, and I would also ask that you would pray that I can get back to feeling better. I've been missing my folks and my friends this last week. I know that they are with Jesus now, but I still miss them and get sad. Would you please pray that I will get back to feeling better in this area as well. Thank you for your prayers.
In prayer this week, please pray for those in Japan who are dealing with flooding. Also, continue to pray that the cholera outbreaks in Yemen and South Sudan will come to an end. Pray for an end to the polio problem in Congo.
Syria and Iraq are two countries that really need our prayers right now. War has deeply affected these two nations, and they are in great need of peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for the nations of Mauritania and Saudi Arabia. Pray that those in these two countries will hear the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness.
For most of this year, we have been in a series a messages on the parables of Jesus. We have a few more messages in this series, and we will continue studying the parables today. Today, our focus will be on the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30.
The parable goes something like this. A man was going to go on a journey. He left a some of money with each of his servants. He gave five talents to one servant, two to another and he gave the third servant one talent.
The first servant traded and did business turning his five talents into ten. The man who had two talents increased his amount as well. However, the third servant went and buried his talent in the ground.
The man came back from his journey and asked the three servants what they had done with the talents they were given. The first servant told the man that he had doubled his money. The man said to the servant, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." The same thing happened with the second servant.
Then the third servant came forward. He told the master that he had buried his one talent and presented it back to the master. The master was angry because the man had done nothing with the talent. He had the third servant cast away from his presence.
Let''s examine what we can learn from this parable. First of all, this parable is often used as the basis for sermons about giving and the use of financial resources. While that certainly has something to do with this parable, that is not the only meaning of this parable by any means.
This parable is a parable about the final judgment when Jesus returns to set up His eternal kingdom. He will rule and reign forever with power and great glory.
Jesus ascended into Heaven after he appeared for forty days post-resurrection. While Jesus is in Heaven awaiting the time of His return, He has entrusted each of us who are His followers with the task of using the abilities and resources that He has given us to make this world a better place and telling others about His love and grace.
All of us who are followers of Jesus have been given a great gift and a great responsibility. The servants in this parable were entrusted with significant amounts of the master's wealth. Those of us who are in Christ have been given the gift of His great grace, love and forgiveness. The Lord has given each of us the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. He had provided each of us with gifts, talents and responsibilities. It is our duty to use those things that the Lord has blessed us and graced us with.
Not everyone has the same measure of gifts nor the same measure of resources. We are to do the best we can with what we have.
I believe that everyone has been given a spiritual gift. Some are called to be teachers, pastors or missionaries. Some have been given the gift of helps or administration. There are several spiritual gifts mentioned in both Romans and I Corinthians. Whatever gift the Lord has blessed us with, we are to use that gift for the honor and the glory of the Lord. We need to make this world a better place and shine our light into the dark places of this world.
We all have also been given a measure of financial resources by the Lord. Many of us can easily give the basic ten percent tithe that the Scriptures call upon us to give. For others, giving ten percent is nothing. You may be wealthy enough to give much more. And if you can, you should.
That is what this parable is all about. While we are here on this earth waiting for Jesus to return, we should use whatever gifts and resources we have to bring honor and glory to Jesus.
One day, when Jesus returns, we will give an account of what we have done with what we have been given. It will not be a judgment that determines our eternal salvation. We are saved by grace through faith. Good works have nothing to do with it. However, Jesus did say that each person will be rewarded according to what he or she has done.
I believe that when we stand before Jesus, some will be given greater enjoyment and rewards in Jesus' kingdom than others will. This is based on what we have done for the Lord while we had the chance here on earth.
The Bible speaks about crowns that we can receive for what we do for Jesus. The apostle Paul speaks about this day of judgment this way. He says that we will stand before Jesus and our works will be tried as by fire. Some will have gold, silver and precious stones that represent their works for the Lord. When tried by fire, these works will remain. Others who only worked for themselves or for money and those things which have no eternal value will have works represented by wood, hay and stubble. When tried by fire, these works will be consumed with nothing remaining.
I know that I want to receive a good reward from the Lord Jesus. I want to try to do what I can for Him while I have the time. That is what is frustrating me so much right now working so much at my current job. I feel that I am going through life wasting so many opportunities for doing things for the Lord. In a fundamental way, I feel I'm not doing all that I should be doing.
It is may desire, and I hope it is the desire of all followers of Jesus, to hear Him say "Well done good and faithful servant." That is what will make all the struggles of this life worth it. To hear those words will make everything all right. All the suffering and sorrow in life will be washed away just to hear those words.
I hope to strive harder to make a difference in this world and bring honor and glory to Jesus. I hope that that is your desire as well. Let us all do our best for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Next week, we will step away for one week from our parables of Jesus series, and I will post a message on a different topic. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will have a review of an excellent dog book. May God bless you all. Amen.
This last week I had a couple of days off around Independence Day. It was nice not to have to go into work for a couple of days. I am still trying to get back to writing full-time. Please pray that I will be able to do this. I haven't been feeling well, and I would also ask that you would pray that I can get back to feeling better. I've been missing my folks and my friends this last week. I know that they are with Jesus now, but I still miss them and get sad. Would you please pray that I will get back to feeling better in this area as well. Thank you for your prayers.
In prayer this week, please pray for those in Japan who are dealing with flooding. Also, continue to pray that the cholera outbreaks in Yemen and South Sudan will come to an end. Pray for an end to the polio problem in Congo.
Syria and Iraq are two countries that really need our prayers right now. War has deeply affected these two nations, and they are in great need of peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for the nations of Mauritania and Saudi Arabia. Pray that those in these two countries will hear the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness.
For most of this year, we have been in a series a messages on the parables of Jesus. We have a few more messages in this series, and we will continue studying the parables today. Today, our focus will be on the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30.
The parable goes something like this. A man was going to go on a journey. He left a some of money with each of his servants. He gave five talents to one servant, two to another and he gave the third servant one talent.
The first servant traded and did business turning his five talents into ten. The man who had two talents increased his amount as well. However, the third servant went and buried his talent in the ground.
The man came back from his journey and asked the three servants what they had done with the talents they were given. The first servant told the man that he had doubled his money. The man said to the servant, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." The same thing happened with the second servant.
Then the third servant came forward. He told the master that he had buried his one talent and presented it back to the master. The master was angry because the man had done nothing with the talent. He had the third servant cast away from his presence.
Let''s examine what we can learn from this parable. First of all, this parable is often used as the basis for sermons about giving and the use of financial resources. While that certainly has something to do with this parable, that is not the only meaning of this parable by any means.
This parable is a parable about the final judgment when Jesus returns to set up His eternal kingdom. He will rule and reign forever with power and great glory.
Jesus ascended into Heaven after he appeared for forty days post-resurrection. While Jesus is in Heaven awaiting the time of His return, He has entrusted each of us who are His followers with the task of using the abilities and resources that He has given us to make this world a better place and telling others about His love and grace.
All of us who are followers of Jesus have been given a great gift and a great responsibility. The servants in this parable were entrusted with significant amounts of the master's wealth. Those of us who are in Christ have been given the gift of His great grace, love and forgiveness. The Lord has given each of us the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. He had provided each of us with gifts, talents and responsibilities. It is our duty to use those things that the Lord has blessed us and graced us with.
Not everyone has the same measure of gifts nor the same measure of resources. We are to do the best we can with what we have.
I believe that everyone has been given a spiritual gift. Some are called to be teachers, pastors or missionaries. Some have been given the gift of helps or administration. There are several spiritual gifts mentioned in both Romans and I Corinthians. Whatever gift the Lord has blessed us with, we are to use that gift for the honor and the glory of the Lord. We need to make this world a better place and shine our light into the dark places of this world.
We all have also been given a measure of financial resources by the Lord. Many of us can easily give the basic ten percent tithe that the Scriptures call upon us to give. For others, giving ten percent is nothing. You may be wealthy enough to give much more. And if you can, you should.
That is what this parable is all about. While we are here on this earth waiting for Jesus to return, we should use whatever gifts and resources we have to bring honor and glory to Jesus.
One day, when Jesus returns, we will give an account of what we have done with what we have been given. It will not be a judgment that determines our eternal salvation. We are saved by grace through faith. Good works have nothing to do with it. However, Jesus did say that each person will be rewarded according to what he or she has done.
I believe that when we stand before Jesus, some will be given greater enjoyment and rewards in Jesus' kingdom than others will. This is based on what we have done for the Lord while we had the chance here on earth.
The Bible speaks about crowns that we can receive for what we do for Jesus. The apostle Paul speaks about this day of judgment this way. He says that we will stand before Jesus and our works will be tried as by fire. Some will have gold, silver and precious stones that represent their works for the Lord. When tried by fire, these works will remain. Others who only worked for themselves or for money and those things which have no eternal value will have works represented by wood, hay and stubble. When tried by fire, these works will be consumed with nothing remaining.
I know that I want to receive a good reward from the Lord Jesus. I want to try to do what I can for Him while I have the time. That is what is frustrating me so much right now working so much at my current job. I feel that I am going through life wasting so many opportunities for doing things for the Lord. In a fundamental way, I feel I'm not doing all that I should be doing.
It is may desire, and I hope it is the desire of all followers of Jesus, to hear Him say "Well done good and faithful servant." That is what will make all the struggles of this life worth it. To hear those words will make everything all right. All the suffering and sorrow in life will be washed away just to hear those words.
I hope to strive harder to make a difference in this world and bring honor and glory to Jesus. I hope that that is your desire as well. Let us all do our best for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Next week, we will step away for one week from our parables of Jesus series, and I will post a message on a different topic. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will have a review of an excellent dog book. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Book Review -- Finding Gobi
Today I am reviewing a book called "Finding Gobi" written by Dion Leonard. It is a book that I have mixed feelings about.
Dion Leonard is a long-distance runner who participates in ultra distance events. He has placed in the top ten in several of the world's premiere ultra events. While racing in one such event in the deserts of China, Leonard encounters a small, stray dog. This dog, who he will name Gobi, attaches herself to Leonard, and the little dog actually follows him during the course of much of the multi-day race.
The author grows very attached to the little dog, and he decides to take Gobi back with him to Scotland. It will turn into a much more difficult process than he ever imagined. For one thing, Gobi goes missing, and the author has to fly back to China to help locate his missing friend and find a way to finally bring her home.
This is a nice story of a man's love for a little dog. That is the part of the story that I enjoyed. I just thought that the book wasn't written that well. It seems that it is drawn out to make the book longer. I also didn't like the way that portions of the author's past life were introduced in the book. It made the presentation of the book seem choppy.
Those who like nice dog stories will definitely enjoy this book. However, I think that there are many dog and animal books on the market that are written in a better manner.
Dion Leonard is a long-distance runner who participates in ultra distance events. He has placed in the top ten in several of the world's premiere ultra events. While racing in one such event in the deserts of China, Leonard encounters a small, stray dog. This dog, who he will name Gobi, attaches herself to Leonard, and the little dog actually follows him during the course of much of the multi-day race.
The author grows very attached to the little dog, and he decides to take Gobi back with him to Scotland. It will turn into a much more difficult process than he ever imagined. For one thing, Gobi goes missing, and the author has to fly back to China to help locate his missing friend and find a way to finally bring her home.
This is a nice story of a man's love for a little dog. That is the part of the story that I enjoyed. I just thought that the book wasn't written that well. It seems that it is drawn out to make the book longer. I also didn't like the way that portions of the author's past life were introduced in the book. It made the presentation of the book seem choppy.
Those who like nice dog stories will definitely enjoy this book. However, I think that there are many dog and animal books on the market that are written in a better manner.
Monday, July 3, 2017
Verses For the Week
I want to begin today by wishing everyone in the United States a happy and safe Independence Day holiday tomorrow. Also, I would ask that you would please pray that the storms predicted for the next couple of days will not be too bad. Thank you.
I also wanted to say thank you to the Lord for helping me last week to make a major improvement in my financial situation. As many of you who have read the blog for several years know, I was without work and in a bad situation a few years back. By the grace of the Lord, I am doing better now, and I am very thankful to the Lord for that. Thank you for all of your prayers regarding these matters over the years.
And now, here are the verses for the week:
John 8:32 -- "And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
John 8:36 -- "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
II Corinthians 3:7 -- "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom"
I also wanted to say thank you to the Lord for helping me last week to make a major improvement in my financial situation. As many of you who have read the blog for several years know, I was without work and in a bad situation a few years back. By the grace of the Lord, I am doing better now, and I am very thankful to the Lord for that. Thank you for all of your prayers regarding these matters over the years.
And now, here are the verses for the week:
John 8:32 -- "And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
John 8:36 -- "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
II Corinthians 3:7 -- "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom"
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