‘Don’t you remember?’ Those words sear my heart. Sounds like an accusation about a lack of caring. Not listening. Not paying attention. You know what I mean. Remember?

The disciples in Mark 8 failed to bring enough food to meet their needs. Only one loaf of bread for a boatload of hungry men. But Jesus warns them about allowing sin to rise up in their lives like yeast does for loaves of bread. But, as usual, they misunderstand Him. They think Jesus mutters on about their growling tummies, which cry out for the staff of life.

That’s when Jesus utters these unwelcome words–‘And do you not remember?’ (Mark 8: 18). He harkens back to when He fed over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and a couple of fish. His point is that little is much when Jesus is in it. They saw this miracle. All the bounty from His hands right in front of their eyes. No problem meeting seemingly insurmountable needs, even with leftovers galore. The sky’s the limit… and beyond. So, remember, don’t forget. Have a little faith, while you’re at it.

But they forgot. Slipped their minds. Failed to ring a bell. How terrible. So unbelieving, careless, and blind. I can’t understand those blokes. It was right in front of their eyes. You couldn’t miss it if you tried. Seeing should be believing, shouldn’t it? But it wasn’t.

That could be my story as well. And yours, too? To still berate ourselves for sins God has forgiven and forgotten decades ago. Ever fearful at the slightest upset. Thinking that God has given up on us, or even worse, rejected us. That’s never what you or I imagine, is it? Think again. That’s me to a tee. Hits the bullseye. I do remember.

So, isn’t it time to believe Him? To learn by heart His promises? To mull them over and over again? To get serious about our faith? To bask in His mercies and love? Isn’t it time? Seems more like overtime.

Lord Jesus, I believe you. Please help my unbelief. Amen.

Do you like being around someone who thinks they’re better than anyone else? Devoted followers of Narcissus? Perfect fussbudgets, even among believers? Holier-than-thou with spiritual noses perched high in the air? Not me. So, I skedaddle far away as fast as my old legs can carry me!

Don’t worry about hanging around with me. I’m as far from perfect as someone can be. I know myself. Warts and all. When times get tough, I can easily waver in my faith in Jesus. Panic before praying. Expecting to be thrashed and smashed to smithereens. Probably not just me. You think?

Here in Daniel 11, the worst character hits Israel’s national stage. A ruthless renegade draws as much blood as possible. He commits what’s called the ‘abomination of desolation’ (Dan. 11: 31), which is a rebuke of God and His authority, unparalleled in the history of the Lord’s people. Their collective backs are smack up against a hellish wall of evil. Sounds like today’s news, doesn’t it?

What happens to God’s people? Do they stand their ground solidly for their Lord? Let’s find out–‘And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end…’ (Dan. 11: 33-35). But does this only refer to the ancients? Hardly.

For when we stumble, there’s a helping hand reaching out to us. Jesus is strong when we are weak. When we fail Him, as regretful as that can be, He’s there to lift us up, to love us, and forgive us. Others may try to flatter us away from following Jesus, but in time, we’ll come to our senses. He allows us to wander so that we’ll learn firsthand that home with Him is better than anywhere else. This I’ve learned. The hard way.

Come home. Don’t let stumbling keep you down and distraught. Let Jesus help you to get up, to dust you off, to shake off any guilt or shame, and to make you right as rain for Him.

Thank you, Jesus, for helping me to stand with you. Amen.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt uneasy with those who seem to have all the answers to life’s tough questions. They’re so self-confident. Comfortable with what makes me uncomfortable. As if to cut off my dastardly questions as soon as possible. To make me go away or plain disappear.

Reading the Old Testament book of Daniel, we note that God gives Daniel an awesome and horrific vision of the future, which he doesn’t understand, that also makes him utterly sick. However, strangely enough, his lack of comprehension gives me some hope. Not everything God tells us, or that He allows in our lives, will we understand.

Even Daniel didn’t have a clue except that tough times were ahead for God’s people. Oy veh, yuck! So, buckle up your seatbelt. Not just wine and roses. Bad things happen to God’s own precious children. We understand that, don’t we? Or do we imagine that being a Christian exempts us from the difficulties that come from living in a fallen world, where our sin makes life even dodgier?

So, what does Daniel do with this sickening picture? Roll over and play dead? Ignore it all, hoping it goes away? Bury his head in the sand? Blame someone else?

Daniel 8: 27–‘And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.’ When we don’t have a clue about something, busy yourself with what God’s given you to do. Keep on keeping on. Get up and get going. Wallow not.

I’ve received numerous rejections for my writings. Nasty editors making terrible decisions! Guess I could fold up my computer and call it a day, moping and groaning, with my chin scraping across the ground. I could, but I won’t. I’ll write some more. Keep sending them off. Do what He calls me to do. Be stubborn for the Lord. Me, stubborn?!

Now read Daniel 9: 3-4–‘Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy…I prayed to the Lord my God.’ There’s a novel idea! Turn to God with whatever is bugging you and pray your heart out. Ask for His help. Even plead like Daniel did. Wait on Him. Pray some more.

Try not to get in front of God, as I often do, but stay respectfully behind HIm, waiting for His direction and guidance, as I’d like to do. I know–easier said than done. But give it a try. Why not?

That’s good Bible wisdom for when the roof starts to fall in on you, figuratively speaking. Get on with your life as best you can, surrounding it with prayer to your Lord. Give it to Him. He can handle anything much better than you or I can.

Bottom line? If it was good enough for Daniel, it’s good enough for…well, you know!

Thank you, Jesus, for helping me to hang tough with you through it all. Amen.

It seems that distractions have become a toxic way of life. Record numbers of cars running over pedestrians, who were both glued to their smartphones, so-called. How many people’s homes have we entered with their televisions blaring and no sign of turning them off? A subtle hint as to how welcome we are? Any guesses?

Even my thinking seems scattered. Takes more effort to focus and concentrate. Old age or way too many things floating around in my pea brain? No comments from those in the peanut gallery!

Jesus’ parable of the seeds and soil, found in Mark 4, directly addresses the issue of being distracted from spiritual matters. He tells the story comparing people to a plant, off to a good start, that gets choked out by weeds–‘They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful’ (Mark 4: 18-19).

It’s that phrase ‘desires for other things’ that gives me pause. ‘Other things’ like what? Worries about family, or health, or politics, or just plain everything or anything?

‘Other things’ as in grasping more filthy lucre or getting ahead, pushing and shoving your way up some ladder of success, tossing aside anyone who dares to get in your way?

‘Other things’ such as gluing ourselves to digital screens, barely coming up for air, or noticing that oncoming truck? ‘Other things’ can crowd out our productivity for the Lord, making us less useful. More unavailable, leading to less quantity and quality time with Jesus and your Bible.

Like the king in Daniel chapter 5. Belshazzar, by name. He’d heard about the One true God, and how He can humble even the most highfalutin’ monarch, like what God did with his father Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4). Yet Belshazzar turns his back on God as if humming Bing Crosby’s song ‘Going My Way’!–‘And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven’ (Dan. 5: 22-23).

This foolish king was forewarned. He’s without excuse, yet he willingly tosses it all aside. God forbid that we ever do much the same. God forgive us for doing those ‘other things’, which displease our Lord Jesus.

So, this week, look carefully at what ‘other things’ distract us from your Lord. Open wide your spiritual eyes, and let your ears be tuned to hear God. Watch and listen. Then you’ll know. A choice is offered. And then what…?

Lord Jesus, help me to focus on following you. Amen.