“I will tell you, hear me; What I have seen I will declare,…” Job 15:17
Most of us do the same as Job’s friend – we speak our mind of what we have seen and experienced.
We give our opinion on politics, sports, weather, and other people. Continue reading
On the last Sunday of a month we decided to have a singing/band practice. This gives members in our church an opportunity to practice any special music for the coming month and it gives the praise band some time to play together. Continue reading
The word of God still does what it should do.
It is written,
For the word of God is living and powerful, Continue reading
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
This thought occurred to me.
Every so often someone will bring up a question about those that never hear the Gospel of Christ and their disposition on judgment day. Continue reading
It’s a strange feeling to see someone that looks like you.
That happened one time, many years ago at Astorworld. (Yes, it was a long, long time ago) Continue reading
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matt 16:24
That saying of Jesus may have sent chills down the backs of those listening. Continue reading
FYI… last week’s sickness really had me down and I took the week to rejuvenate my body and my mind, which includes the Morning Thought. Thanks for your prayers and your patience.
I think everyone deserves a time to refresh, renew, rejuvenate, regain, and repair.
Jesus often took time to do it with prayer.
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. Matt 14:23
Getting away from the crowds and getting alone with Father is what renewed His strength.
It does not say Jesus or any other person took vacations or a day off. There was probably no way to do that in an agrarian society. If you did not work, you did not eat; you did not provide for yourself the means to barter for other goods and services. In other words, the common person could not afford to take a day off.
There were no vacations until perhaps the 19th century and it was the elite usually taking time off, quite often, for health reasons.
The Puritans would take a day off for church and fellowship. The preacher would tell everyone the blessings of hard work and the sin of idleness.
Certainly the Bible had things to say about that subject.
Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. Prov 19:15
She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Prov 31:27
Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks. Eccl 10:18
Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; Ezek 16:49
Now vacation’s, holidays, and personal days off are pretty common place. Linda is on spring break this week and I took a week vacation to be with her.
But vacations can’t last forever. And taking a little time off from daily devotion can’t be put on permanent hold.
As Jesus said, and I take liberty to use this here,
Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? Luke 2:49
Sorry for the delay. I was sick all night with some kind of stomach ailment – perhaps food poisoning. It was enough to keep me from going to work and, later, sleep with socks on, both are unusual for me.
The Bible has quite a bit to say about sickness.
In the Law it says,
You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. Ex 23:25
The Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, Deut 7:15
And while it seems that God wants to protect His people from sickness. For this to happen it appears the people would need to serve Him with all their heart, mind, and soul; to follow His commandments and statutes, which did not happen.
Sickness knows no bounds and affected kings, priest, and prophets alike.
Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. 2 Kings 13:14
Elisha did die.
Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isa 38:1
Hezekiah did not die at this time but would fifteen years later.
Jesus was well known for preaching and teaching the Gospel to the people and
healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matt 9:35
And while there is a gift of healing through the Holy Spirit, it is evident that not everyone receives healing.
There was the infirmity of Paul, which he sought three times for God to remove. And there was a man that Paul also did not heal.
Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. 2 Tim 4:20
Sickness is a part of life and I believe sickness is a result of bacteria, viruses, impurities, and sin.
My sickness was through violating some food law and eating spoiled meat. Did I know this at the time? No, had I, I would never have eaten it.
Yet I feel that God has delivered me from this sickness.
by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24
Probably the best part about being sick, if there is one, is my wife anointing me with oil and praying over me for healing.
The wintry mix wasn’t as bad as predicted or as bad as most of us imagined it would be. Though I haven’t ventured out as of yet, I have walked around outside and taken a few “signs” of the conditions. Continue reading
Here in East Texas the first major winter storm is predicted for the next 24 hours.
Winter is a strange, unpredictable time for the area. Last week 70 degree temperatures were reached and in January it hit the 80 degree mark.
There have been a few dips into the 20’s but so far winter weather has consisted of temp’s mostly in the 40’s with, perhaps, some rain.
Now the prediction is freezing rain or sleet with temperature not going above the mid 30’s.
TXDOT has trucks of sand and gravel to spread on bridges and roadways. Schools are preparing for the necessity of closing for a day or two.
Others will wrap pipes or cover tender vegetation that has already sprouted in gardens.
Yesterday I bought ten gallons of gas just in case the electric lines are downed and we have to run off the generator.
People hear of a major change in the weather and they prepare.
Prepare to meet your God, Amos 4:12
How many are prepared for the return of Jesus. He has given notice that He is returning. He may not have said when but He has promised that return nevertheless.
He has prepared for you!
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3
Are you ready?
Have you prepared to meet your God as much as you have prepared for other things in life like winter weather, a vacation, or retirement?
Prepare yourself.
Morning Thought with Pastor Tim 