Today’s Thought “Bombastic Partying” G. Ward

 

Amos 5: ²¹ “I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your festive assemblies.

 

The Prophet Amos, God’s confrontational specialist, would even be less popular than ever as he’d reveal the Almighty’s perspective on religious festivals, along with what appeared to be great worship of sorts. HE Alone would see their hearts of disobedience, injustice and oppression towards their fellow man. America won’t go long without such celebratory regard in the same. We love to party, but forget Who’s at watch. It appears we’ve not improved much over the centuries. We can be equally contemptuous in how we correlate to Holy God, mostly as we’ll need HIM, forgetting the intensive price our Savior paid - so costly. I’d encourage each of you to not look at what others are doing wrong when hearing such, but to look within to see where you’re falling short and beg our Lord’s pardon and live accordingly.

 

Father God, Your patience with love is remarkable! May our awakening involve great reflection in how good You’ve been to us and leave out so much word service and offer internal exchange that witnesses Your will found in Your Word and make ourselves available to it, through peace with hospitality, even to those seemingly undeserving – particularly since our Lord Jesus gave His all, that we’d be HIS vessels, useful and productive. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Grandmother’s Hug” G. Ward

 

Psalm 46:10

“Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.”

 

This verse is part of a song that assures any to know that God’s plans won’t be thwarted and while many wait on explanation in why perfect environments don’t exist, neglect to investigate the chronicles of God, perhaps in their estimation would take far too long. Moreover, whatever any will say regarding troubles in my way, won’t ever satisfy – for we’ve been taught to not entertain pain of sorts, versus the spirit of endurance that trusts in the LORD.

The American way (in such estimation aforementioned), forgets HE is still loving the world and whereas many inhabitants, from numerous regions awakened to another day without clean drinking water, along with not having several breakfast choices, our perceptions in being blessed can certainly be happenstance over endowment from the Holy One; in that, believers are blessed to be a blessing (Ge.12:2, 22:18, Prov.11:25).

 

Father God, our review in Your Truth affords our new captivity to see others exposed in lesser conditions, to thereafter insist on being a partner of Your fellowship that ensures others know of Your care of them won’t depart. May every believer more adjust towards intentional contentment, whether abased or with abundance; particularly as we know You to be our Mighty Shelter in every storm of Life, all because of Jesus. Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “The Abundant Life” G. Ward

Luke 5: ⁴ Now when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon responded and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” ⁶ And when they had done this, they caught a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to tear; ⁷ so they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, to the point that they were sinking. ⁸ But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

 

Whereas to be a fisherman was with comparability of a garbage collector’s perception and some who’ve portrayed both these vocations as less significant, until they desire fish to eat (which was very common to diets then and now), along with great expectation of pick-up for smelly trash accumulation at one’s residence – desperately needing to be retrieved and altogether proves a foolish estimation in who may be worthy to be deemed significant, is as wavering as mankind’s pursuit of happiness.

Simon Peter, prior to Jesus and dependent on such a catch (while perhaps never exposed to anything remotely as what he witnessed), could have paid his bills for a month, along with taking his wife out for fine dining, but was absolutely overwhelmed to have encountered his Perfect Redeemer and thereafter hang his head (without cognition), feeling so unworthy to be in the presence of the Holy One.

Question: Are we too familiar with King Jesus; approaching HIS throne as if we’re so deserving (*Eccl.5:1-2)?

 

Lord God, we’re confident of Your presence, yet reverently in tune to You as Holy and so recognize a need to repent because we’ve been indifferent to Your will that commands us and so we’re determining need for many pauses throughout this Your day provided, that enables knowledge of Your unrelenting presence, along with wisdom exercised to ensure Your will be done. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

 

Today’s Thought “The Grip of Grace” G. Ward

Colossians 1:9

For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

 

What was the reasoning for so much prayer? It was great commendation to never move away from the purpose of existing after salvation’s experience, that is the joy in being known by the Magnificent Savior-Jesus and knowing that because HE forgave me for my every indiscretion, He will/can do for any. Spiritual commendation in the Word of God is always established on obedience and when/if our desire is to please God and not man, we’re assuredly on the right track. It’s therefore incumbent on any who believe to obey and whereas our Lord has provided the way of escape from death and punishment, compelling us to testify to what HE can do for another, by teaching them HIS commands and not what you’ve done, may your day say yes; not in mouthy expression, but in availability to another in sharing the Truth of His Word?

Father God, we don’t live for the ceremonial award presentation, but in the meditation where You rescued us and we’re guilty of offering great praise without affording another that same expression. So, may we all find another to establish in the foundational fact of Jesus loving them also and give freely that to WHO can/will redeem them - indiscriminate to who they are, as the Spirit changes us into better vessels than days before, in Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “I Shall Not be Moved” G. Ward

 

Deuteronomy 9:1 “Hear, Israel! You are crossing the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities that are great and fortified to heaven, ² a people who are great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand against the sons of Anak?’ 

 

These verses concerned Israel’s inheritance of a Promised Land so very threatening. They’d view (from afar) a people existent in that land with incredible size and strength (Nu.13:25-29) and would naturally doubt their ability to conquer these people; equating Moses’ instruction as insufficient as victims of homelessness against a settled and fortified people. Moreover, they would immediately adjourn to thoughts of lack in military might, versus what v.3 would say (“So be aware today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over ahead of you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and eliminate them quickly, just as the Lord has spoken to you.”).

Our Lord’s Sovereign Control remains and our following Christ is synonymous with our travailing in a wilderness experience as strangers in this land, not ours, and whereas it’ll appear so very threatening at times, the “sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Ro.8:18). Our Lord has prepared a Perfect Home for us.

 

Lord God, may our eyes continue to see dimly, for soon the brightest day, shall continue forever and ever and so, we live unto that blessed hope, consumed in Your goodness, and persuading others to persevere in Jesus – although trials persist. For HIS burden remains light. May HE forever be praised, Amen. 

 

Today’s Thought “The Snowball Effect” G. Ward

1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion, Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

 

Leadership is compelling, in that it should set a tone for greatest character, perseverance in conviction, along with compassionate care for those we’re responsible unto and whereas King David (like others) experienced periodic lapse in these areas (common to humanity), he’d desire the Lord receive all the glory and honor in/through his every endeavor, although the Almighty disallowed him opportunity to build the Temple, but chose his son Solomon instead (*1 Chron.22:8). David’s sincerity to establish a house for Holy God was more realized, particularly as he’d give generously to such a project without limits (29:2-5) and his exemplary freewill giving, became causation for many (both leaders and commoners) to also embody great generosity.

While we’re compelled not to sound the trumpet when giving (Matt.6:1-4), a generous soul’s efforts will become evident, to prayerfully witness others to exemplify Jesus’ words, “it’s better to give than to receive.”

 

Father God, may we know that while You have no need of anything, sacrificial giving is worship of You. It’s Your generosity that first gave and whereas each of us have been given a kingdom that witnesses Jesus as Lord, may our stewardship increase that ensures others know how You alone are worthy of all praise. May we adjust immediately to our being Your temple in earth, extending every opportunity for others to carry the riches of Your grace wherever we go, In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “The Sheep Gate” G. Ward

Romans 9:15

¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I show compassion.”

 

The Almighty’s Way is significantly different from ours and we praise for that. Moreover, we’ve been chosen, not because we’ve offered anything (including talent, nor intellect), while assured that our own sins allowed Calvary’s cross; whereby the King of kings, our Savior, gave generously and completely and the Spirit having taught us how the foundation of such grace is marvelously sufficient and we’re feeding each day on that actuality. Each day granted compels us as followers to cease assessing what’s wrong with people made by our Creator, for HE’S shared that dilemma. Our hearts were/are the problem (Jer.17:9-10). HE said they’re desperately wicked and only HE can perform the surgery necessary that obliterates its contamination. Therefore, when we view such spiritual disconnect from any, we should see ourselves, to then share what’s been afforded us (2 Cor.5:16).

 

Father God, You keep us constrained, because our natural capacities lack consistent faithfulness that compels every disciple, Your vessels, to proclaim the portion giving us victory and that distribution must never determine another’s worthiness, for ALL fall short. So, may our gratefulness, more celebrate Your shelter from arrogance to mercy – through Jesus, Amen.