Today’s Thought “Celebrating Hope” G. Ward

John 4:13-14

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Mama said, “trust not in man” and whereas I had no idea her scholarly approach emanated from scripture (Ps.118:8), I’m grateful for spiritual maturity. When/if those who propose to believe in things seen is resolute, it unfolds the heart and if practiced so vigorously, it conveys unbelief. Instead, our lives are said to be synonymous to a vapor (i.e., here today and gone tomorrow – *Jas.4:14); therefore, our proclaiming our Lord’s Sufficiency, Sovereignty and Omnipotence, must circumvent the days remaining.

 

Today’s Thought “Driving; Low on Gas and Money” G. Ward

Hebrews 13

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, ²¹ equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Our Lord’s preparation onto those first disciples (*Matt.10:14-23) is perceivably a dismal equipping, until any prudent in the scriptures examine the ways of the world as entirely contrary to Holy God’s. Hebrews 13 is a tremendous elaboration of Jesus’ words, calling for interdependence with/for believers’ attention, through understanding - the road ahead remains equally as rough. The prayer aforementioned is unfortunately rare (for our era) as this kind of preparation is marginalized by pre-suppositional leaders - neglect of our Lord’s current disciple. Our churches are allowed speeches that more motivate hearers onto an acceptable cutting an umbilical cord from the Father’s directives, with periodic surgical attachment when any are under collapse (again unfortunately sanctioned by misguided spiritual leadership – Prov.1:24-30).

What are your plans for Sunday Morning (cf. Heb.10:25)? If your preparation resides at home, why haven’t you begun?

 

Today’s Thought “Hey! That’s My Church Seat!” 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.

Ritualistic acts of the Old Testament were certainly/mostly honorable; particularly since those participants desired to be a pleasing aroma in the nostril of Holy God; but those sacrifices were temporal supplications that postponed judgment until a Most Excellent and Perfect sacrifice could be offered for mankind’s sinfulness (Heb.10:1-4).

If/when a mindset to live holy is precedent and exists among believers, they’ll celebrate the Holy One so entirely sacrificial, along with HIS righteousness through a determined compliance (i.e., obedience), that guards a spiritual and ongoing war of flesh v. Spirit (*cf. Ro.4:1-6), while yet pressing on to meet the higher calling to fulfill.

 

Today’s Thought “Pessimism, A Silent Killer” G. Ward

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Whereas I as well, suffer with bouts in opinion/perspective concerning mankind’s refusal to cooperate under the guidelines of our Creator, I must first bow my head in godly sorrow; as I’ve been committal in such arrogance that thinks of myself too highly. This actuality - I pray, will become the introspection from many, that questions their own heavenly usefulness before they’ll lose hope; even that to which disallows one’s personal commitment onto any who will listen to the greatest message of reconciliation, perceivably unfavorable (*particularly since mine own guilt in un-loveliness is an unfortunate visitor).

Spiritual transformation is ongoing for every man and free will provided by our Lord opens the door. Let’s love HIM back, but solely on HIS terms.

 

Today’s Thought “One Last Bathroom Break” G. Ward

John 12

 ⁴⁶ I have come as Light into the world, so that no one who believes in Me will remain in darkness. ⁴⁷ If anyone hears My teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 

 

Spurious (i.e., disingenuous), would be the tag of Jesus’ inference to the so-called spiritual leaders attending HIS discourse to them; yet, there were others present, who were willing to commit to HIS way. Moreover, these leaders (present) would promote (previously) their impractical and lengthy words to more impress a people and whereas our Lord’s words brought freedom from sin and a peace that assured any of a ministry of presence HE’D provide and whereas those spiritual professors listening would stand confounded, while others would be convinced that HE is/was the Lord, all were offered a chance by our Lord who would soon move on (cf. 1 Cor.2:1-5).

The true test for a believer’s perception of Truth will never listen to great prognosticating from leaders solely pervading good things for all, along with impressive/theatrical discourses from some entirely unavailable to their audiences, but honor spiritual leadership who insist God is Great and we are far less than.

 

Today’s Thought “Open Book Test” G. Ward

Hebrews 11

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.

 

Faith most assuredly has an object in mind to exercise proficiently (through a directive given) and whereas a believer’s regard for the gift of faith solely rests in Christ, our confidence is witness to HIS Mighty hand and proven-ness throughout the generations (cf. John 1:2-3). Therefore, our faith persists and is placed in HIM, while trusting in HIS presence; even when our wavering souls diminish towards self-preservation (i.e., fulfilling a lust of the flesh ideology – so foolishly temporal).

Objectively, our greatest war in humanity is not against flesh and blood (Eph.6:12), but wrongful submission to the world’s theorizing (2 Cor.4:3-5, 1 John 2:15-17), and spiritually deemed so entirely temporal. So, let’s open the book, where all the answers that counter ridiculous behaviors exist and pass the test.

 

Today’s Thought “Snowy Day Reflections” G. Ward

Matthew 6

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Our Lord’s words carry a great indictment on some who more teeter-totter on implicit belief of God’s Word, while adoring their futile mindsets. Moreover, our Lord introduces how impractical dependence on oneself (an owning one’s power theorizing – cf. Jas.4:14) is the most unspiritual thing humanity can embody (Prov.16:18).

There’s superficiality furthered when we elevate things and people equally as temporal and comparable to our short lives in earth. Therefore, and because there’s no middle ground (surrender) acceptable by Holy God from us – that insists we have a love relationship with HIM, along with detestable practices so distant from HIS moral code proposed for those HE created, remains unrecognizable by HIM (*Ps.139:1-7) …

Let’s begin a rightful pursuit of HIS Way on today as if we’ve never failed (*Lam.3:22-23).

 

Today’s Thought “I Need Thee…” G. Ward

James 4

⁶ But He gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

All our Lord Jesus would demonstrate (Ro.5:8), an unparalleled love – through enduring greatest persecution from men onto death (while innocent), establishes any/every believer unto courage to live as HE lived - by never forgetting the price paid (on our behalf and despite our sinfulness) and striving daily to be a fragrant aroma, as we offer ourselves sacrificially and similarly (Eph.5:2).

The New Year presented cannot persist to say redemption from the Savior is most important, to exist on personal terms of the prior year; but acknowledge greater necessity to do HIS will.

 

Today’s Thought “Trapped by Opinion” G. Ward

Titus 1

⁵ For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

 

The magnitude of falsehoods increases daily in our world, even subverting the Truth of God’s Word. Many propose to believe, while questioning our proposed belief in the inerrancy of the entire script that governs us from Genesis to Revelation and we know to serve this present age – won’t mean that our criticisms can/should exist alongside our dispelling Truth, but our willingness to disciple any onto the reality of our blessed conviction that Christ is LORD remains precedent. If you’re appointed, you’ll serve. Moreover, if you’re appointed, you’ll do so in love – anticipating HIS changing them and us (for HIS Glory)!

 

Today’s Thought “Watch Night?” G. Ward

Jeremiah 6

¹⁴ They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.

While it’s great to see worship gatherings before the New Year, whereby worshippers seek the peaceable dependence on their Maker, even with a resolute determination to please HIM in all they’ll do and whereas many spiritual leaders compel audiences’ excitement by pervading many blessings ahead – what exactly will that mean for the hearer(?). Moreover, where’s the preparation for potential grievous days ahead? Could that teaching exacerbate a notion of being able to absolutely thwart the pain ahead?

The vulnerability of man can/will often regard spiritual leadership to absolutely offer a discernment unbeknownst to some lacking scholarship and if that discourse offered insists on flattery, no confidence in one’s time in need exists (Heb.4:16).