Today’s Thought “Efficacy Restrained” G. Ward Ezekiel 33 26 You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Should you then possess the land?”’ 27 You shall say this to them: ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “As I live, those who are in the places of ruins certainly will fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the animals to be devoured, and those who are in the strongholds and in the caves will die of plague. Families everywhere remain grievous although conspiracy theorists perpetuate notions of the current pandemic given us has now witnessed well over 400,000 deaths alone in America. Political pundits of sorts prophesied its end once the electorate would complete their process. Scientists are demonized as hypothesis rendered have been somewhat incongruent with earlier prognostications, because they too are learning. The populous yet trusts them with their lives, particularly if/when prognosis demanding medical professionalism visits them. We’ve now been exposed to a newer strain of this horrid disease and for those of us once hospitalized in this regard, our conveyances are words in the fiercest winds. Will you however believe God? Before you insist I’m declaring He’s the author of Covid, I will encourage your investigation to know that sufferings and afflictions were given the whole of mankind after the initial couple violated HIS rule and reign…

Today’s Thought “Using A Magnifying Glass” G. Ward John 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Water flows from our tap, purified by local treatment plants and we dare not consume anything less than bottled water, while some in remote parts of the world just desire clean drinking water, separate from where the wild animals also drink. This scenario given is analogous of what the scripture represents in its largest sense of the sentence; the contingency – “If.” You certainly cannot construe the holy things of God in correlation to mankind’s value systems; it’s ever-evolving. HE’s not a genie in a bottle granting wishes. Instead, a righteous and reverent regard of Heaven being pleased is the only focal point for our consideration and while some would preclude this understanding as insufficient, you must ask, how has wanting things or conditions through supplication been so entirely selfish for our land without greater intercession for the inhabitants of the world under dictatorships and abject poverty lacking basic provision? Let’s not relegate this responsibility given us back to His sufficient throne. As Heaven is without parameter, earth should demand replication (*Matt.6:10).

Today’s Thought “Tears From A Clown” G. Ward Psalm 63 4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with fat and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. While religious enthusiasts share how necessary it is to be entirely upbeat in demeanor as it correlates to “letting our light shine before men” there’s a spiritual recognition that witnessed Jesus’ weeping and although we’re not privy to the range of every emotion from this Wonderful Savior, we understand His humanity as sinless, so we follow. Moreover, our days are replete with both happy and sad, but despair is not to be mentioned among us. Why? Because access to our Redeemer has become the satisfaction that most assuredly brings joy and solace. Tears of depression will soon echo praise when trust in HIS care is centerpoint over miseries. It’s a joy to call HIM LORD…

Today’s Thought “Cheating On the Test” G. Ward 1 Samuel 15 22 Samuel said, “Does the LORD have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice, and to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry. Law is argumentative and courtrooms are in overflow to witness legal professionals searching for twists of sorts to accommodate their client’s agenda. Books and periodicals can offer great facts that educate, but there’s yet an un-authoritative approach given per manuscript involving personal perspective that leads to furthered theorizing. The voice of God (HIS written Word) however, remains the most explicit authorship ever and compels every man (regardless of educational pursuits and socio-economic standing) towards perfect submission that grants eternity with the Author without error (cf. Matt.7:13-14). While a common practice (sanctioned by most) insists we take charge over our own lives appears a reasonable pursuit, it’s instrumental in denying a preparation unto being owned by the Only Wise, Gentle Savior and it’s not too late to revert to the original plan (Ac.3:19)…

Today’s Thought “Hurdling While Arthritic” G. Ward Philippians 4 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Happiness is over-rated because of its temporal position, whereas joy is with permanent posture as readily perceived and often forsaken. It’s because our plans are without dutiful ownership of moments and hopes can often be misplaced as we’re with personal consultation unto limited sources. Instead, best instruction should be our vigilance unto the ONE who desires your life to embody resolute peace that supplies contentment. A pursuit otherwise is ridiculous (i.e. entirely cyclical), particularly when one’s experiences in self-reliance never completely satisfies (Phil.4:5-7)…

Today’s Thought “The Way We Were” G. Ward Psalm 1 2 But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, And on His Law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. I’m recalling the old change purse seasoned adults would carry many decades ago. It was the smallest leather satchel with metal twists and inside there was most assuredly more silver than copper; a child’s imagination would salivate upon seeing this. If you were a boy like me, you could go to the dime store and purchase a toy and yet have enough for that illustrious small brown bag filled with penny candy. We’ve come a long way since then and coins are now problematic to carry and besides, they’re without greater purchase power. It’s that reality that contemplates the speed of relevancy, particularly with the kinds of demand modern men place on societal need. It’s therefore and abundantly clear that a slow-down must be considered before we implode, with consideration of more memorable tidbits of the way things were when times weren’t so hurried and adjust accordingly.

Today’s Thought “Prayer Trends” G. Ward Matthew 6 9 “Pray, then, in this way: Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” Prayer is honored among most, yet its essential objective in the same more seeks to extract what’s perceivably necessary for a journey minus sufferings than gratefulness for access and to approach an earthly king/queen may be with great rehearsal, the entry unto the Most Excellent threshold speaks impetuously.

Today’s Thought “Higher Than…” G. Ward Hebrews 10:25 “Not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Perspective is enlarged when information superior to anything is ingested with others anticipating the same; sharing with personal insistence that incites enthusiasm (naturally and spiritually), whereas many will soon be overwhelmed through an inherent compelling to meet this holy standard. Keep Pressing (*Phil.3:12-14)…

Today’s Thought “More Superlative to Perceive” G. Ward Philippians 1 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. Going to Heaven now carries a frivolous connotation even attainable for those speculative of their deliverance solely provided by the Holy One vs. an assurance that Heaven is home (i.e. overwhelming confidence through an unrelenting pursuit of Jesus as Owner of my every step). We’re more provided a joyous, PSEUDO, philosophical approach to living that denies a preparation comparable to your Grandparents’ and while some do well in delivering riches towards their progeny after death, it’s never to be compared with eternal security where moth and rust are obliterated (*Phil.3:20-21). If/when Heaven becomes my view, then my living may rise to its contingency (2 Pe.3:11-18).

Today’s Thought “Of the United States…” G. Ward Hebrews 12:2-3 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Most generations throughout the entirety of the world experienced a liberator for their district. That one was generally without respector of ethnicity or economic bracket, but sought to impose hope throughout their village. Oppositional forces, particularly those with superiority complexes were infuriated as any deemed uncivilized (in their wrongful estimation), would never achieve the kind of civility matching theirs. The Liberator however persisted, encouraging the least to the greatest of freedom’s opportunity despite categorical positioning (from some) un-sanctioned from Heaven and while we certainly extend honor to an exemplary liberator who embodied this, even with comparability to an Apostle named Peter (who decided upon his own martyrdom that his crucifixion shouldn’t be as ordinary, that is hung on the tree, but rather to be positioned upside down, so as to be equated with his Savior’s suffering). We choose this day to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a modern day equivalency of a great liberator aforementioned. We however understand that both Peter and Martin lived vicariously through the Perfect example of their truest Liberator – Jesus and can be found with HIM…

Today’s Thought “Walking the Line” G. Ward 1 Peter 5 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. When the objective from any relinquishes being controlled by the Almighty in order to bring correction unto another, forgetfulness of the un-invited remedy may serve great embarrassment for you as the struggle in embellishment is clear and while each of us have considered such, the proper modus operandi for any who trust the Lord’s Way is to wait on HIS lead.

Today’s Thought “Won’t he Do It?” G. Ward 1 Kings 19 1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more so, if by about this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the life of one of them.” 3 And he was afraid, and got up and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah; and he left his servant there. The trust Elijah the Prophet had in Holy God was recently so great as the Almighty performed numerous miracles through him to encounter not the king, but his wife’s venomous, retributive injunction that demanded his death and for moments this man of God forgot the clarity of his demand (unto these unbelievers) embraced what the Creator would do, not him (1 Ki.18:21-24). We’re in a similar season and Jezebel is the world. Don’t forget Who’s greater (cf. Matt.10:28).

Today’s Thought “Border Patrol” G. Ward Psalm 127:1 “Unless the LORD builds a house, they who build it labor in vain; Unless the LORD guards a city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” While the game of chess is with a spirited competition, it’s comparably with a proposed similitude in human theorizing. However, after the king is captured, the game concludes and our juxtaposing this and that ruins, even lethal (*cf. Jas.4:1-4).

Today’s Thought “A New Campaign” G. Ward Genesis 4 3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering; 5 but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy. Cheapened by wrongful interpretation and popular theorizing has become a response of Abel unto Holy God, “Am I my brother’s keeper” and whereas the LORD knew he killed his own, the same has been viewed an atrocity to which we’d never participate in. Yet, every time we neglect to lead another to the grace received, we’ve become an executioner in the same and while the gratefulness whereby mercy found us is celebratory, the entirety of what it means to not forsake the meeting with other recipients of favor is with contingency and that allowance from Heaven subjugates our redemption insisting there’s “room at the inn” for another.

Today’s Thought “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep…” G. Ward Psalm 65:1-4 There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, God, And the vow will be fulfilled for You. You who hear prayer, To You all mankind comes. Wrongdoings prevail against me; as for our offenses, You forgive them. Blessed is the one You choose and allow to approach You; He will dwell in Your courtyards. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple. Without provocation, due to conditions un-satisfying, even where fear of uncertainty lives, exists the believer’s prayer. It never seeks to order the Almighty onto unbeknownst shift towards earthly compliance, nor blasphemes by introducing HIM to recent dilemma, particularly when there’s no praise or supplication until trouble transpires. Instead prayer is more a personal posture, yielding towards where Sufficiency is found - sharing everything; so as to be cleansed and ready for work amidst wavering opinion soon to be exposed.

Today’s Thought “The Finish Line” G. Ward Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We’ve moved so quickly from the controversy of upheaval in our nation’s capital building to forget 3800 Americans died from complications of Covid-19 (that same day) and some 4000 on yesterday. Many hundreds of thousands in this nation are contracting this disease daily and family of those having died won’t move quickly beyond grief’s scope; they’re trapped in misery while our lives purport analytical reasoning that demands answers, even determining what tags we ought to administer to those complicit in the anarchy of January 6, 2021. Our forked tongues and pompous mindsets speak about the Almighty with confidence of a rapport until another calamity strikes and without contemplation we pre-suppose upon His character asking Him “why” He would allow anything less than a glorious picnic status; always looking onto personal pleasures from Heaven. The pandemic rises (even with the recent development of a vaccine) and many of America’s citizenry of the last great one of 1918 are gone perhaps, that even testified to the deaths of 3-5% of the world’s population. Holy God remains Omniscient and available and expediency (old folks would say – HASTE) onto HIM demands “you better run to the City of Refuge, you better run!”

Today’s Thought “Boundless Latitudes” G. Ward Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” An Answer from Yesterday: There’s never enough instruction pertinent to the things of Holy God. Moreover and as any pursue it, they will find it entirely antithetical to human thought, causing a humility no matter the intellect. With it and certainly upon receptivity to its guidance, reveals an absolutism imposed by Heaven from the beginning and whereas our Author seeks to guide us, it doesn’t stem from egocentric desire to be recognized, but by merciful Love that keeps us from falling. When authorship is perceived as inerrant from other scripts, internalized as sufficient, be sure to know dangers in liberalities is imminent, even violence (*cf. Jas.4:1-5).

Today’s Thought “Name Calling” G. Ward Matthew 5:16 “Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” The State of Georgia residents needs a stimulus and while you think this involves a monetary payout, I’m thinking more reprieve from television commercials. We’ve been bombarded unlike other political seasons, pervading on us crafty, theatrical skits that sought to invade our subliminal mindsets at the time in exercising our voting rights. While we celebrate choice (particularly in a free land), the points of perceived influence these campaigns portray have been exasperating. Moreover, it invites opinions that violates peace, particularly when you fail to observe my partisan behavior exactly as I do, you’re deemed an enemy, entirely insensible. There’s one opinion Heaven insists we have and it remains “Christ is Sufficient.” The reconciliation HE offers and when presented concisely thwarts opportunity for political inaccuracy’s unsettled rise. Therefore, my words have become few, because I trust in HIS Way…

Today’s Thought “Clergy Collar” G. Ward 1 Timothy 3:7 “And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.” Each of us have a responsibility onto how others perceive our moral fortitude and while some are quick to remain an island (i.e. lacking continuity with care thereunto), there’s spiritual insistence embracing forbearance that restricts believers from being known for value systems that have no eternal factoring (worthy of pursuit) and whereas unrest exists from myriads of perspectives/speculations and whereas search for Truth appears a common denominator found in man, outsiders should be able to find one (you and me) with a perfect solution that remembers righteousness never emanated from man in the first place.

Today’s Thought “Weatherman’s Segment” G. Ward Matthew 5:45 “So that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Have you noticed that watching the news involves those major headlines with commercial breaks that preface the weather segment and when the network returns the telecast, viewing the entirety of climatic conditions generally involves our hearing what “today” may present without next week’s forecast (that is unless I have something pressing for a day included)? The Almighty’s allowance towards man seemingly allows bathroom breaks while His discourse seeks to instruct and although many observe those blessings available moment to moment, the commercial is then concluded and the rest of the forecast has concluded and HE closes the book (Rev.21:27)…