Today’s Thought “A Garden Anticipated” G. Ward Judges 2 1 Now the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, I will never break My covenant with you, 2 and as for you, you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed Me; what is this thing that you have done?” 3 Therefore I also said, “I will not drive them out from you; but they will become like thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.” Perhaps you’ve considered an organic vegetable garden at a time where pesticides are rampant even disallowing butterflies appearing? Moreover, health matters have become monumental, along with concern for wavering economics that lends prudence in perspective. So, we’re off to our local nursery whereas great inquiry with their associates is given and all our purchases are the sum of 6 months of vegetable purchasing, but we’re more consumed with the potential yield (cf. Lk.14:28-33), so we shop. Our endeavors wait for sprouts (daily) to witness very little, but remain hopeful. The seed packets guaranteed a time whereby certain growth should exist, but our neglect to consult with a Master Horticulturist vs. the young part-time associate (*Ps.118:8) forgot to cultivate the soil (depleted of nutrients). I’m reminded, without God I can do nothing…

Today’s Thought “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay…” G. Ward Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Meditation is practiced by many cultures and religions, mainly reliant on goodness found within, along with personal experiences in perceived success that hopes for a repeat. The meditative process sanctioned by faith in Christ relies on the goodness found in Him, along with an unwavering pursuit to walk as He walked with implicit trust that when doing so joy and peace is mine and determines (as a practitioner) to never settle for a life of mediocrity experienced before I met this Wonderful Savior.

Today’s Thought “There Is No Place Like Home!” G. Ward Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.” Rarely will one consider how many chances they’ve been given to correct wrongs, particularly when many of God’s representatives (all around) introduce warnings. There’s mostly great reciting that loves to portray the Creator’s attributes; namely His merciful kindness, and forgiveness, refusing to acknowledge His anger as a perfect consideration also. Nineveh (i.e. its citizenry) for the Prophet Nahum was such a place. One hundred years prior the Prophet Jonah entered that same city with great warning and most repented to then find distance from the integrity of their personal spiritual demand. Have we become equally calloused in our approach to Holy God by estimating we have other chances to correct the distance of intimacy with Him as neglected, or will we seek to emulate His faithfulness whereas practice thereunto promotes security?

Today’s Thought “Just Like Mary?” G. Ward Luke 1 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Worship is that which solely belongs to the Lord. It contemplates Who He is and extends thanksgiving for His provisions and unrelenting guidance; but it primarily asks Him to reign supreme over who I’ve been and considers my existence as possible because He alone created me for His purpose (*Lk.1:46-55). Elizabeth (the cousin to Mary – Mother of Jesus) understood the magnitude of Mary’s pregnancy without being told by man. Although both of these women would soon experience great joy in the birth of their sons, great misery was an eventual accompaniment for the mothers of these great men; their worship of God however wouldn’t relent. When a life only seeks to extract the exciting possibilities from Great and Holy God without ongoing preparation that involves sufferings (all must encounter – cf. *Ps.46:1), it’s the worst denial ever.

Today’s Thought “Newest Determinations” G. Ward 1 Peter 4 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God. Awakening to an independence that dis-involves a practice I once delighted in, even granting me popularity among many acquaintances cannot co-exist with spiritual maturity desired (*cf. Pr.18:24) and retrieving just one more drink at one more party while believing that the wine made by Jesus (in such grandiose proportion) was an intoxicating beverage (as what’s employed by friends of today), may defer to a life once lived in frivolity (Lk.13:3).

Today’s Thought “A Perfect Neighborhood” G. Ward Romans 3 3 It is true that some of them did not believe the message. But does this mean that God cannot be trusted, just because they did not have faith? 4 No, indeed! God tells the truth, even if everyone else is a liar. The Scriptures say about God, “Your words will be proven true, and in court you will win your case.” Belief in God pursues His words by absolutely hating times to which all that’s given for our compliance is replaced by personal pleasure and when that occurs, a soul that belongs to the Lord will need restoration; whereby the barometer for knowing the displeasure in selfish pursuits (that says I’m HIS) immediately seeks spiritual conformity via strong appeal unto the Righteous One violated and HE is Faithful to forgive.

Today’s Thought “Still Renting…” G. Ward Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. From the beginning, mankind’s compelling from Heaven demanded we know that our passage from earth to eternity is short lived (Ps.90:10-12, Jas.4:13-17). We therefore must render excellent care of everything placed in our grasp. While we’ve been taught a more pervasive set of ideas to embrace that demands there’s no manual to aid our directives where marriage, rearing children, behavioral issues (both socially and professionally) and making purchases, further investigation of the spiritual duty (in our existence) is without the kind of prudence that guards us from potential weariness, particularly when our consultation with books of philosophy accompanies or has superiority over God’s words. Philosophers (great and small) come and go, but the Almighty…