Today’s Thought “A Must Read” G. Ward 2 Corinthians 5 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” An ambassador for Christ includes everyone who say they’re believers. Moreover, their dutiful response (particularly after being bought with a price) is to represent our Lord, pleading unto any to be reconciled to Holy God; therefore, you’ll need to know our God IS NOT on the side of Democrats, nor Republicans, yet loving them all (2 Pe.3:9) and HIS ways are not partisan (Isa.55:8-9, *Ac.2:44). To pervade on any, resolutions that will make our society more aware to the ways of this world (i.e. how to be on God’s side, apart from understanding there is no righteousness found in any apart from Christ – Ro.3:10, 3:23), with presumed morality, along with bouts in righteousness; perpetuates the Devil’s work from the beginning of man (*Ge.3:1-7). Morality neglected happens because lack of ambassadorship is rampant and whereas Christ rode on a donkey, it wasn’t because HE looked to politics, while never avoiding the topic either (*Matt.22:15-22) but would point any towards His Father’s Way (cf.1 John 3:8-9). Many won’t listen because you’re not saying anything!

Today’s Thought “Longing for Home” G. Ward Jeremiah 29 5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” It is written that we’d never forget earth as a temporary place and whereas everyone is guaranteed an eternity, few that comply with Holy God’s demands will experience presence with HIM (Matt.7:13-14) and while disobedience (i.e. subverting Truth) was the necklace of choice for some in Israel that placed them in a brutal, unruly, strange land, we admonish you onto immediate compliance while in a brutal, unruly, strange land…

Today’s Thought “Lacking Foundation” G. Ward Romans 12 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Thursdays are associated with the term “throwback” because of its insistence to reflect on what has been and whether we’ve overcome them and whereas that may be the problem; that is, our believing in a wrongful authority over self (Gal.2:20), the saga continues. Then there’s that faith thing and while many profess obtaining it, a co-dependency exists as to who the object of their faith rests with? They absolutely can’t make up their minds; more than 90% belongs to the brain God gave them, while the Savior comes in last (the other percentages belong to money, friends, etc.) and because bad news travels at an alarming rate that broods contemptuous behavior, more come to the same adoption. Chants of more legislation, against those shouting less is the percentage aforementioned that keeps us diverting attention towards systems unsanctioned by Heaven and “Throwback Thursday” forgets the Truth of God’s Word – “God must prove to be true, though every person be found a liar” (Ro.3:4b).

Today’s Thought “Apathy, Opposite of Truth” G. Ward Genesis 19 26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. The rich pasture land was the choice given Lot by Abraham (his Uncle) and whereas its appearance seemed flawless, the inhabitants were perverted. They (Lot’s family) would settle there enjoying their posh environment, absolutely envied by many. Soon thereafter, God’s emissaries would insist Lot gather his family and flee this horrid land as destruction would encapsulate it entirely. While running for their lives (particularly as God’s angels would lead them by their hands), Lot’s wife kept looking back and because the region encompassed the Dead Sea (the highest salinity (salt content) of all the seas), along with the winds of burning sulfur stirring drifts of salt over them all and her longing for the things seemingly lost, her wrongful and incessant view established tremendous crust over her being, disabling breath. *This is not our home and we too must be prepared to run; not to a nearby region, but to the Shelter where the Almighty exists…

Today’s Thought “Within, Without” G. Ward Mark 7 6 But He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7 AND IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’ So authoritative a man sounds when he expounds on subject matter unfamiliar with the hearer and whereas vulnerabilities to topics concerning spiritual fortitude leave some with blank stares in uncertainty, wrongful application towards the only message with eternal implication continues and can have dire cost to one more reliant on the professor versus his Maker (*1 Pe.3:15).

Today’s Thought “Dutiful, Without Preference” G. Ward Ephesians 2 6 And raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. What will the future look like? It will be what we’ll determine to give away and while riches can be a wasteful legacy, peace and love transcends every generation. Believers cannot echo belief in the ONE who was/is entirely selfless, even establishing the only foundational message in truth, then compelling us to imitate HIM and utilize methodologies without eternal merit for consideration unto future generations and expect a spiritual dividend (*Luke 6:43-45)…

Today’s Thought “Points in Disconcert” G. Ward Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” While to be favored by Heaven won’t mean favorite, but Holy God’s desire to grant Shelter in a weary land and whereas that will/can include any, they must first give themselves over to dying to self, allowing His ownership (Matt.16:24). Authentic praise understands best acknowledgement will consistently build on the spiritual premise of full surrender to His Way (John 14:6), thanking HIM for good and bad; for HE never abandons (through it all).

Today’s Thought “Lost in Space” G. Ward Proverbs 19:2 “Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” Our demand for answers can/will block dependency on Truth and while it’s not intentional bouts with error from our own promptings, being hurried remains the culprit. The quintessential search engine is the Word of God; offering resolve unto every challenge presented mankind. It’s referred to as “daily bread” because it absolutely nourishes and guides perfectly, warranting a slow-down whereby recapitulation of sorts is what once was normal.

Today’s Thought “Ears to Hear?” G. Ward Proverbs 27:12 “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” We thought of Mother’s advice as redundant, particularly when she would admonish our being careful and what we neglected to know is how it planted subliminal messaging that served to remind us to forsake that to which may enable harm. Parents are the preliminary agents for a receptivity for perfect submission unto our Lord (Deut.6:4-7) and if we fail to heed His warning, other messages may appear prudent, but enable distance in what could have been A Mighty Fortress (cf. John 10:7-10).

Today’s Thought “Sadness Accumulated” G. Ward Matthew 12 36 But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. Our country’s pace is with swift transition and whereas we’re often awakening to tragedies, perpetuated by many believing they’re on God’s side, even with evil determinations that ruin, they’ll forget HE won’t participate in darkness and while simple statements are with such evaluation from the sayer, true believers are compelled to mimic our Savior and HE didn’t care anything about Caesar’s politics, so why should any know yours?

Today’s Thought “Touchy, Feely…” G. Ward Luke 11 42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every kind of garden herb, and yet you ignore justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. If church announcements included next week’s sermon topic called “Giving, An Act of Worship,” many would suddenly find it necessary to visit Aunt Suzanne that week. Ordinarily and because disciples neglect personal interrogation of God’s Word, there’s delight in their hearing how terrible this world is versus their spiritual duty unto God, then man and let’s not forget those who play the church lottery system; pervading a notion, give a dime to God and He’ll return a dollar mentality. While they don’t miss, there’s purposeful forgetfulness in knowing worshippers exist throughout the whole world, who live in squalid conditions and unable to contribute generously, yet they worship with the equivalency of pennies. Have we regressed from Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees thousands of years ago?

Today’s Thought “I Believe?” G. Ward 2 Peter 3 2 To remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.” Truly, the Savior is soon to return for His church (*1 Thess.4:13-18) and while some wait for another funeral to hear how, when and who qualifies, activity of soul neglects such anticipation because it more wants an “abundance” factor (John 10:10) they say Jesus insisted would happen; when HE was merely referring to His superiority to guide their lives in Truth until His return, so avoid bad teaching. Will you be ready?

Today’s Thought “My Last Testament” G. Ward Psalm 39:1 I said, “I will keep watch over my ways So that I do not sin with my tongue; I will keep watch over my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.” Like the psalmist, we perpetuate notions of God not moving fast enough on the wickedness found in our society, even up to purporting hatred towards an opposing view by some seemingly distant from perceived truth. Arrogance is the necklace of choice unto both sides of the coin, because there’s failure to interrogate the account of man (historically) which unfolds his impatience and pompous position. He first believes God doesn’t care and so it’s necessary for him to move towards another source (i.e. politics, social reform); while foolishly allowing his mouth to echo such blatant mistrust (cf. Jas.3:3-6). Trusting the Almighty quietly adjusts to His “All Knowing” position and proclaims it “sufficient” unto every generation (*Ps.1:1-3).

Today’s Thought “Keep Pressing!” G. Ward 1 Samuel 8 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you as well. Those responsible unto Truth must never consider relenting because some are offended (cf. Matt.10:28). I believe it’s an adjustment of the presentation (not the message) that’s necessary. Believer’s messaging must embrace the Object of their faith and deny the kind of testimonials whereby some would think they were ever worthy of such pardon from Christ, but more embody the “whoever will” precedent in coming to Truth; even then (as it was), the objectivity of man was/continues to be an insatiable drive by newest desire and precludes the penetrability of “good news” for their adoption. We must remain vigilant, for our time is short.

Today’s Thought “Authoritarian Visitation” G. Ward John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Whereas man has sought a merger, in the name of cooperative by waiting on a legislative process that proclaims being on God’s side, every participant (left or right) forgot the Rule Book and its Designer, whose governance was absolutely perfect from the beginning.

Today’s Thought “Taught by God” G. Ward 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 “And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” The Holy script proposed by God to man never meant we’d graduate to do away with curriculum guides, but to promote an ongoing dependence on the Almighty that celebrates His supreme wisdom instructing and guiding us. Many look to an audible/visual reference for personal impact from another professor and whereas he’ll soon be replaced by an even more magnificent other, every educator is imminently to depart earth, while the Author of Life, where Supremacy exists and lives forever.

Today’s Thought “Privatized Arrogance” G. Ward Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes dishonor; But with the humble there is wisdom.” While media outlets opt for sensationalistic stories that involve killings and chaos and whereas our daily routine seeks to remain cautious, let’s not forget those victims of social disorder that anticipated fulfillment of days ahead also. There remains a preparation where destruction cannot penetrate (*Jas.4:7-8) and although perpetrators thought they succeeded, my promotion unto home has been promised (John 14:1-3)…

Today’s Thought “Happy BIRTH-day?” G. Ward John 1 6 There was a man named John who was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. All my plans and perspectives should remain hidden when submission to the Lord’s Way is realized. History has unfolded a regurgitated philosophy from man appearing worthy to adopt, until those same purveyors of ingenuity arrive at the point of death and then what matters?

Today’s Thought “Amazing Love” G. Ward Psalm 34:1 “I will praise the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.” It’s so very good to calculate the costs of potential bad decision making because of the pain it may deliver and whereas no one has avoided this actuality and then escalated from misery to peace, many thereafter exercise in ungratefulness, assuming there’s no one to thank. Instead, a meditative review is the demand from those seeking spiritual prudence and assessment in how Heaven keeps smiling on His children, particularly when we all lack the kind of faithfulness He models is marvelously amazing!

Today’s Thought “Strangers In the Night” G. Ward John 10 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. Applying context to the study of God’s Word will ensure HE alone receives glory and honor and whereas Christ would teach the essence of greatest intimacy that would depend on His guidance to lead our lives as HE is Owner, many only hear of this “abundance” factoring to equate it with “Stuff” over the more substantive characterization that rescued my fascination with false teaching, filled with tactics and promises of immediate deliverance that keeps me floundering on discontentment mountain. I prefer rest…