Today’s Thought “Smothered Pork Chops and Rice” G. Ward

Mark 7:20-22 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.”

I’ve been vegan for 1 year, 3 months, 5 hours and six minutes with periodic bouts in missing varied food items. My having been a member of AARP along with qualifying for senior housing, endeavored this change for health reasons only. As a pastor I’ve been interrogated about catfish, shrimp and pork incessantly. While the answer remains too simplistic for many due to pre-suppositional thoughts that deny conformity, the answer is two-fold: Israel was given law, both moral and dietary to portray them amidst a society purporting their own governance, to be a distinctive people belonging to Holy God for His purpose. Secondly, while Jesus removed evil spirits from two men casting them into a herd of swine whereby immediately they were thrust over a steep bank to drown, that never implied that Mama’s ham was tainted. Every portion of God’s word compels us towards “Perfect Submission” that renders “Perfect Delight!”

Today’s Thought “Wake Up Call” G. Ward

Psalm 121:2-4 “My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.”

 

"Rip Van Winkle" is a short story by the American author Washington Irving first published in 1819. It follows a Dutch-American villager in colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains and wakes up 20 years later, having missed the American Revolution (Wikipedia).

The swiftness of modern times seeks to pervade on us a similar slumber (cf. Rip Van Winkle), in that we’re now forced to think that prayer efforts unto Holy God obliterating cancer and the like, is that which should awaken HIM to the pestilences of today. Has any diagnosed with this horrendous disease suffered and died; particularly when they’ve lived a life devoted to our Lord? Where then is their suffering now (*1 Cor.15:55-57)? Castigations of political figures who in the name of partisanship seek to convince a populous even while sounding incredulous, exercise masterfully in diversion tactics, subtracting from greater issues that truly advocates their constituency’s concerns. The so-called believer avoids (similarly) the masses with the gospel truth (through concise presentation), ensuring any (who will listen) that Holy God never lost control.

Today’s Thought “To Be or Not to Be…” G. Ward
James 4:17 “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

If I’m unfamiliar with a particular word, I don’t retrieve a magazine of sorts for the definition; particularly when a dictionary may be within my grasp. Many grapple each day with whose philosophy they’ll adopt to govern their outlook. Moreover, the consensus from these purveyors of motivation agrees that if circumstances and people are disagreeable, venture in an opposite direction. It’s no wonder that the predominance in humankind subject themselves to a merry-go-round syndrome (that is a quest unending); looking for love and acceptance from a populous who embraces selfish pursuits. It’s the very opposite of what TRUTH (*Jn.14:6) personified. Our MAKER delights in our interdependence, but only when we seek out others to encourage; not unto a worldly perspective that keeps us running aimlessly, but scurries towards HIS shelter knowing that the storm is imminent (*Ps.91:1).

Today’s Thought “In A Long Line Without Money” G. Ward

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Another day granted is without merit from Heaven, especially when any awakens unto one’s own plans. Purporting ideas taken from the whole of society that mandates you can remain as you’ve been (i.e. personality and preference) while compelling Heaven’s embrace, defeats Christ’s sacrifice that desires to own you. Jesus insists, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt.11:29).

Today’s Thought “Punishment Can Be Favor” G. Ward

Revelation 1:9 “I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

When choice given man becomes so familiar, he may soon be subject to doom. Moreover, too much preference offered, then perceived, lends more concentration of my own desire over Holy God’s pleasure. John the Revelator sought to uphold his Lord’s selfless-ness by sharing vigorously an urgency to walk accordingly, unto any who would listen. The government exercised in great jealousy, desiring to be all the peace the people would need, while John demonstrated who the real Prince of Peace was, causing him to be banished from the whole of society. Seemingly an impossible loneliness to endeavor, until any by faith perceive the eternal presence Holy God offers. Our observation of Holy God’s word through John’s banishment has become favorable to our today (*Rev.1:1-3).

Use me LORD for Your glory…

Today’s Thought “Just Add More Water…” G. Ward

Hebrews 9:27  “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

The opportunity given in the name of being awakened more demands a compelling awareness than operating as I’ve done in times past; any less a thought process is contemptuous. Moreover, man’s assessment on how good I’ve been through my own perceived achievements won’t matter against an Eternal regard; that’s regardless of what’s written on my obituary page and how I appeared sleeping peaceably in the coffin afforded me (*Mt.7:21).

Today’s Thought “Social Degradation” G. Ward

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Every impropriety (i.e. political, economic, social) given man is inherent (Ge.8:21); but Jesus saves. We cannot allow tags in permanency to occupy those appearing un-constrained, particularly in view of having received mercy. While the hypocrite remains critical on others, he’s soon to miss a peaceable end (*Heb.4:16, 1 Pe.2:10).

Today’s Thought “The Best Wife” G. Ward

2 Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.”

Gloriously, the church is equated as “the bride” while the groom is unequivocally Jesus Christ. Why then would we need some type of spirit medium to tell us the intimate details concerning our spouse (Ro.10:8-9)? Love’s pursuit insists that marital intimacy remain personal…

Today’s Thought “Worship His Majesty…” G. Ward

2 Samuel 6:6-7 “But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.”

Our innocence unto the things of Holy God may appear as a pursuit in righteousness (cf. Nu.4:15) until one contrasts how far they’ve progressed in all the particulars of knowing HIM. While one’s mouth is with those same accolades regarding HIS attributes, it may forget a preeminent responsibility in bringing another along without lazy pursuit (cf. 1 Pe.2:9, 3:15-17).

Today’s Thought “Bad vs. Worse” G. Ward

Genesis 8::21 The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.”

It’s more comfortable to perceive the disconnect in other’s; particularly when their foolishness is vivid. Immediately, most cast dispersion in judgment against those seemingly uncooperative because there’s lack unto investigating the actuality of every man’s desire that selfishly and primarily embraces himself, refusing to rescue the least (*Jude 1:10-23).

Today’s Thought “A Smorgasbord of Choices” G. Ward

Matthew 12:38-39 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” ³⁹ But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.”

 Blessings are seemingly in the myriad of choices until our demands in preference go un-noticed. Moreover, it broods familiarity that never sheds contentment causing continual hunger, whereby I eat and get fatter then die of cause relative to my choices (cf. Ro.6:23).

Today’s Thought “Get Off My Grass!” G. Ward

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”

What truly is proprietary; particularly in view of a dead man leaving with nothing?

Today’s Thought “This and That…” G. Ward

2 Samuel 2:4 “The bows of the mighty are shattered, but the feeble gird on strength.”

While some calculate spiritual activity of next moments, others fly to Australia in their dreams, anticipating safety because statistical data insists that flying is safer than driving (*Jas.4:13-15).

Today’s Thought “If I Were A Rich Man…” G. Ward

Colossians 1:28 “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.”

Awakening from a night’s slumber can quickly become the day dreaming of my earthly position filled with perceived insufficiencies because lack of achievement’s contrast surmises what is visually successful in another and more seeks to adopt that lifestyle vs. true understanding that unfolds contentment.

Today’s Thought “God Bless America” G. Ward

Exodus 20:3-6  “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. “

A system that employs choices (tagging them as innovative), preference and self-motivating principles is seemingly with righteous pursuits but rarely contemplates their end; leaving a legacy of generations to follow with great quests in never ending desire outside of Holy God’s calling to fulfill (Gregory’s definition of idolatry).

Today’s Thought “Social Unrest” G. Ward

1 Samuel 2:3 “Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”

Periodicals, blogs and testimonies of sorts, reveal the priority of the sayer and can often portray Holy God as a search engine that delivers like a genie in a bottle (cf. Pr.1:24-29). What presumably is the end of life for any man, forces his ear to incline unto blessed hope, squashing acquired wealth of knowledge and riches, whereby it very well may be too late (cf. Lk.6:46).

Today’s Thought “Derelict In Duty” G. Ward

Matthew 4:3-4 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

Nefarious, adjective:

1.        (typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal. = The Devil

2. Man: a human being of either sex; a person.

The Devil is upset because many seek to obliterate his job by living vicariously through a life that is not their own, furthering a governance according to what suits one’s pleasures over the demands from his MAKER.

Contrary to popular belief Holy God doesn’t need your help, just your availability…