Today’s Thought “Detective for A Day” G. Ward Proverbs 14:15 “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” My love for the fellowship of Christ is our commitment to the Word of God that produces a common bond. That unity translates a total dependence on our Savior as Leader and transcends our gatherings, whereby consciences are seared in dedication of every endeavor to His exemplar life in earth. Many organizations of sorts anticipate the continuity modeled by our love, but must juxtapose personalities (self-seeking). It can be likened to a Teacher busy corralling energies of children; so much so that it impedes curriculum’s objective and whereas believers have been purchased by an incorruptible, sacrificial Redeemer, our insistence to be transformed by/for His purpose remains paramount. We beg for perfect spiritual reconciliation each day from those outside of this faith who feel they can have this Wonderful Savior, while still pursuant to their self-gratification, denying the contingency for truly knowing Him (*Matt.16:24-26) and whereas those same outsiders deem we’re robotic, lacking critical thinking, we’re proud to say we insist to remain in the boundary of His words as this day is presented.

Today’s Thought “Lost With Little Gas Remaining” G. Ward Psalm 81:11-12 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.” He was a 25 year old Dominican that made it to the major league (a dream for most young men having grown up with little) and his assignment on an anticipated date in August 1982 as starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves had him infuriated as he sought to find the stadium while driving on Metropolitan Atlanta’s illustrious Interstate (285). There’s one thing in great frustration in trying to ascertain directions in Atlanta (particularly from a native) and another when there’s a language barrier (as Spanish was preferred). Perez would drive the expanse of the parameter more than twice (the equivalent of 150 miles) with little gas remaining and while some would criticize his reliance on a GPS system, remember it was 1982 (we were still inserting coins at the phone booth). Inviting you to such magnificence in storyline that’s absolutely true, won’t compare to the highway portraying destruction when any refuse Holy God’s guidance by insisting on dreams exercised apart from His prompting. He alone is unmatched in wisdom and Sufficient to make the world and its contents. Is it too difficult for Him to guide your short life, considering others (from thousands of years) have endured under His Mighty Shelter (cf. *2 Cor.6:2)?

Today’s Thought “Holding MY Position” G. Ward 1 Samuel 15:23 “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” The Word of God is given man not for partial compliance and although we can witness that throughout the passages, there’s refusal to believe those same scenarios provided include me (cf. vs.22b). Was/is God so saturated with us as favorites of His to have made things so difficult in times past unto others to then bless us with grace and mercy from the Savior’s most excellent sacrificial act that the warnings of old have been nullified; or is it written for our perfect guidance (*2 Ti.3:16-17)? Our compliance now will determine our success with things in earth and beyond (and whether there is one – in a favorable location). When there’s insistence to pervade “your way” in conjunction to “The Only Way” (proven from the beginning – Jn.1:1-3), failures are imminent.

Today’s Thought “Under the Radar” G. Ward James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. Christ was/is the quintessential Advocate for man, in that He helped our helpless estate and because our confession of Him as entirely Sufficient to do so and then guide us, the building we occupy is being re-constructed for His purpose. While others have too been exemplary, even selfless, their service is generally given as a portion in life and whereas Christ embodied full surrender unto mankind (even His opposers), our compelling in imitating HIM has become the barometer for belief and everything endeavored must be weighed accordingly.

Today’s Thought “Chain of Fools” G. Ward Matthew 11 25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants. Participation in a funeral on yesterday, then again on today, is inevitable for all men (not so much the circumstance of pageantry, but certainty of dying). We should be discovering that the span of life is altogether short and one who is wise (i.e. in sociological proportion) plans for future retirement vigorously and is commended for fiscal priority, but lacks guarantee of a next breath, along with no control thereunto and whereas his pursuit in acclimation towards a comfortable life seems prudent, he neglected the most important mission – “where will I spend eternity” (*cf. Matt.11:28-30)?

Today’s Thought “Forgetting Me Not” G. Ward 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. The term “A Work in Progress” applies here and that progression is ongoing and whereas we’re thankful as we engage how far we’ve come, we must never forget the journey was made possible by the Holy One. It was entirely His prompting that enabled this love relationship and our confession of His sufficiency to do so must remain as life’s viaduct for blessings furthered (Jn.6:44). Moreover and finally, this gratitude must be willing to never consider a regressive exchange towards castigating others to which enabled (along with necessitated) mine own spiritual reconciliation achieved as something impossible for another because of what seemingly is impracticable for their change. Absolutely nothing is too difficult for the Lord!

Today’s Thought “Your Opinions, Your Philosophies…” G. Ward Psalm 84 6 Passing through the Valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. This great Psalm speaks to an anticipation of worship (i.e. gaining presence with Holy God). As worshippers walked the distance to their perspective place of worship, they would encounter picturesque tracts of land that lent effortless accompaniment to the joy of it all; but the valley spoken of was extremely arid (dreary) and certainly could have dampened the worshipper’s experiencing a joyful ascent to the Temple. By faith and very particularly in this New Testament era, we’re called temples of the Spirit (1 Cor.6:19-20) and conditions all around are with great moral failures, pervading great unrest with its common citizenry. Participation in the fury without absolute resolve (i.e. peace – cf. Jn.14:27) is a contribution in futility that subtracts from spiritual effectiveness, along with hindering desired presence with the Holy One (*cf. 2 Ti.2:16).