Category Archives: Uncategorized

IN THE CLOUD… Acts Chapter 1

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My wife knows about computers and the internet.  Not me!  After all, I was the one who hastily promised that one more problem with my laptop computer and out the window it goes!  However, it has heard me and is on its best behavior.   For the moment!

Let me ask you a question.  How does this computer work?  I don’t get it.  Know what scares me?  What’s next?  The new-and-improved whatever?  Now that I’ve mastered my clever use of the microwave!  Change doesn’t stop.  Not for all my wishing.  When I get the hang of something, it becomes obsolete.  That’s not nice!  Or fair!  Like all the talk about ‘the cloud’.  Head in the clouds, sounds about right!  What is it?  About storing information?  ‘In the cloud’?  Where?  How?  What?  When?  Oy vay, already!  Sure is cloudy to me!

Why not turn to the Bible?  About time, right?  I was reading in Acts chapter one, after Jesus’ resurrection and His amazing appearances, which the disciples could not deny(even doubting Thomas!), that Jesus is ALIVE!  Their collective jaw has fallen wide open.  Acts 1:9–‘…He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.’  A cloud.

Jesus has been with them in person, face-to-face.  But now in a new realm, which they’re not able to see through or penetrate.  Clouds now separate us from Him.  Thick clouds like the one’s in the desert that shaded God’s people from the blazing sun after they left slavery in Egypt.  When my wife and I traveled in Egypt, visiting the Pyramids, the Temple of Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings, any cloud that offered even a millisecond of shade was most welcome.  God’s gift to us…and the ancient Israelites.

Today, spiritually, ‘the cloud’ requires the exercise of faith,  a certainty beyond sight.  We can believe in Him whom we cannot see.  Faith becomes stronger when tough times muscle in.  No pain…no gain.  Don’t bemoan ‘the cloud’.  The dark days when the sun seems far away, when warmth has given way to some shiver of icy cold trouble.  When God seems out-of-reach, even out-of-touch.

Yes,  Jesus is no longer here on earth.  What He’s given us, what He’s left for us, is sufficient to manage even those cloudy days and rainy nights that come our way.  The Bible, the Holy Spirit, other believers, prayer, faith…

I thank the Lord for clouds.  I’ll stand under them knowing that He is above yet never far away.  His safety… under the cloud.  For some day, not too far off, we’ll be in heaven, enjoying all the light we ever wanted.  We won’t even need the sun above.  For there will be the Son.  The Lamb who is the lamp(Revelation 21: 23).  Look!  The clouds have parted and disappeared!  Beautiful weather for the forever future…!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for shade and protection.  Feels good to be in your family.   In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

NO ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS!… Psalms 63 and 64

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Psalms 63 and 64 are jam-packed with wisdom for daily living.  Taken together, they would be good for what ails us.  Ready for some good medicine?  Without all those television warnings of multiple, horrific and sometimes fatal side effects?  But nothing dangerous with these psalms.  No snake oil here!  Don’t even need a spoonful of sugar, Mary Poppins!  Good… all on their own.

Psalm 63: 3– ‘your love is better than life’.  We think that human life is the most precious thing of all.  But it isn’t.  God’s love trumps every hand we’re dealt.  When we believe in Jesus, He gives us the antidote to death itself, which is eternal life!  No better medicine anywhere!  God’s love will outlast anything.

Love comes from Jesus, who gave His all for us.  His commitment– when we are His, He will be ours forever.  He loves us that much.  Hard to fathom?  Many times I can’t get a handle on the depth, height and width of God’s love in Jesus.  But my inability to grasp His love is not the issue.  What matters is His word.  He’s given it to us.  Don’t take my word for it.  Take His!  And when you do, God opens up all kinds of blessings for us to utterly delight in.  Lasting things…can you think of some?

Like forgiveness.  Heavy weights of guilt and shame lifted from our shoulders.  A purpose beyond myself.  Thinking about others.  Even those whom I utterly dislike.  I need to love and pray for them.  Feels right to do that.  Not easy, though.

He also gives us an open communication route–prayer.  Psalm 64:1– ‘Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint…’  We can tell Him whatever is on our hearts and minds.  Then verse two tells us of God’s protection and care–‘Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked…’   He hides us from many hazards in life.  I can’t even imagine all the times He’s spared me, hid me, protected me from some horrible threat.  I wasn’t even aware of it at the time.  Thought it was some lucky break.  Not quite!  Angels are all around us.

Finally, and best of all, we’ll praise Him–‘All mankind will fear(worship); they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.  Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!'(Psalm 64: 9-10).

Let’s think hard and long on the things of the Lord.  Not focusing on this life alone, but on what’s lasting… the Lord Himself!   Finally, like the grand finale fireworks on the 4th of July, to praise Him more and more.  The skies erupt with color!  Aerial salutes in praise to our wonderful God and Lord!  I’m feeling better already!  You too?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us the best life of all.  Not due to anything in us, but all from your Son Jesus Christ.  In His name.  Amen.

HOW I WISH… TO LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP!…Matthew 11:25-30

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I’m thinking about the phrase from the Song of Solomon, about those ‘little foxes that ruin'(S of S 2:15).  So many little things that rob us of joy and peace.  Sending us down ‘dead ends’,  off-course from where the Lord wants us to be.  We could go on-and-on with a list of what distracts us in life.

For me, lots of ‘little foxes’ roam my emotions.  Happens in the middle of the night.  I need some shuteye, but ‘little foxes’ pursue me.  Fears roll on.  Worries rear their ugly heads.  It’s dark outside.   I sense something within that feels very threatened and frightened.  When these ‘little foxes’ wake me, there’s not much chance of falling back to sleep.  At least not for awhile.    Possibly, it’s as we age, that sleep becomes a rarer commodity.  I’m no expert in almost anything, but I do know what ‘dogs’ me at night.  It’s not dogs, but those ‘little foxes that ruin’.

How I wish I could lay me down to sleep.  It was not many years ago now that the Lord put an idea into my ‘pea brain’ that helps.  I asked Him for relief.  This is what came to me.  Pray.  I know this sounds like something a pastor would recommend!   Typical.  But that’s it.  So, when I wake up with a jolt,  I begin to praise the Lord!  Stop the panic… start to pray.

Do you know how hard it is to praise Him?   Stopping my incessant asking and begging for things for me or others I know?  Takes real effort, sad to say.  But I do it.  Thank Him for Himself.  Praise Him for His amazing creation, His constant care for a world that increasingly thumbs-its-collective-nose at Him.  I thank Him–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Then I pray for our family and friends, for missionaries we know and support.  Christian organizations we love to give to, our church family, the other churches which I served rather poorly sad to admit, and for our country drifting farther and farther away from the Lord.  Certainly, my writing.  That He would be glorified, and you would be edified, encouraged and even stretched in your faith.

After awhile, never know when, off I go to sleep!  A peace passes over my weary mind as I slumber off to ‘nodsville’!  Sometimes to a disturbing dream!  Oh well, sleep… nevertheless!   Prayer is the primary aid in my battle for slumber and ‘forty-winks’!  Then again, should prayer ever be called yet another ‘aid’?  No, it’s more like the way to go, first-and-foremost.  I’m staying with Him in prayer…whenever.  Sleep or no sleep!  Join me?

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, that we can praise you.  We need your peace and rest.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

PRODUCTIVE FOR GOD?… Matthew 21: 33-46

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We love to visit South Carolina.  Especially the city of Charleston, with all its beauty, culture and history.  We’ve always rented a condo on nearby Seabrook Island.  A wonderful setting where you could just stay put and have the best time ever.  In early spring one year, we enjoyed all the flowers in bloom.  The redbud trees with their vibrant purplish/red flowers, while the flowering peach trees with tri-color blooms took our breath away.  The azaleas bursting forth with colors of red and white, pink and purple.

This particular year, the winter had been especially severe, with a couple of devastating ice storms that felled trees and their limbs as far as you could see.  Even still,  spring was right on schedule.  Everything as it should be.  All designed by the Master Gardener, God Himself.  When we have drought here in the Pacific Northwest,  get ready for record rainfall the next year.  Happens… but never by happenstance.

God’s creation balances itself,  as He plans for it.  Today, I’m exploring one verse in Matthew 21.  Jesus tells a disturbing story about what happens to people who thumb their noses at God Almighty, His prophets and servants, and then finally His Son.  Fools all.   Their end?  Not a pretty sight.  Even the ‘pious’ folk, so impressed with themselves, their robes and high positions in society, will have surprises awaiting them.  And not very pleasant ones at that.

Bringing this story to today, I fear for those church denominations that have flaunted their disdain for the Word of God.  Pick-and-choose what they like, reject what they don’t.  The Bible–tossed aside as myth and fable.  Out-of-date like many canned veggies in our old pantry!  Out-of-touch with the current culture.  Truth has expired or so they say.  What a shame!

Jesus, says that God’s Kingdom will not be for them, but given ‘…to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons'(Matthew 21: 41).  God’s Kingdom–taken from some, given to others.  Heavy words.  Jesus says that the Kingdom is given to us.  Never earned.  Can’t add up enough ‘brownie-points’ to gain entrance.  We’re never good enough.  We don’t have to be.  It’s His gift to those who believe in Him.  Given…to those who will bear fruit.

Now here’s another angle.  We dare not sit on our haunches, hoisting a tall one, toasting God, basking in the lazy, hazy summer days of the Kingdom.  That won’t happen if we truly are God’s own.  We’ll be fruitful and productive.  Jesus doesn’t say what kind of fruit productive people will bear.  That leaves the orchard open to all kinds and varieties.  Whatever you were made to be by God, be that for Him.  Go for it!   A harvest for the Lord!  Pretty tasty stuff indeed!

Prayer:  Lord, we want to be all that you have created us to be.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

THOSE LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT!… Song of Solomon 2: 15

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You may not remember a popular singer of the 1940’s and ’50’s.  She had many hit singles during a long career, and lived to the ripe old age of 94!  One hit song was ‘Little Things Mean a Lot’.  The lyrics were somewhat silly, but the tune very catchy.  Reading this verse from the Song of Solomon, I was humming the tune to myself.

The first time I heard Kitty Kallen sing this song was in Florida, where my brother-in-law played it on his 8-track cassette player.  Unfortunately, many of his 8-track tapes had melted in the heat and humidity of a few Florida summers.  But this one, ‘Little Things Mean a Lot’, was in mint condition!

King Solomon wrote–‘catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom'(S of S 2:15).  Little things.  Doesn’t take much.  As in relationships.  A word poorly chosen.  Something overlooked or forgotten, that seemed small to us yet significant to someone else.  A friend gives us a strange look.  Only one person utters a cutting comment about a sermon I delivered,  and all the good comments(if there were any!) go out the window.  ‘Little foxes…’.  You can think of your own.

What do we do with these ‘little foxes’ and the damage they do?  Solomon says to ‘…catch them…’  How?  I think this is where boundaries in our relationships come in handy.  Making sure we keep away from people who belittle and humiliate us.  Nibble away at us.  Drain us.  Suck the air out of the room.  You know who they are in your life.  Pray, asking the Lord, to help you minimize and marginalize them.   Left…to their own devices.  No longer roaming free, eating away in your vineyard.  Know what I mean?  Or who?

What else to ‘catch them’?   Here’s another side of the same coin.  We can try to think the very best of people.  To step back and not let every little thing bother us.  To give someone the benefit of the doubt.  Many times, I’ve concluded something or other, only to be totally wrong.  Cut them some slack.  I’ve heard this called ‘charitable judgements’.  Giving the benefit of the doubt.  Try it.  I have.  Sure, I don’t like being wrong.  But, it’s far better than ruining a relationship, all for the wrong reasons, some of my own making.

‘Little Things Mean a Lot’!  Watch out for them.  Keep those ‘little foxes’ out.  But step back and make sure that what we think are ‘little foxes’ are truly that.  Sometimes they’re not.  They might be melted ‘tapes’ playing a twisted, messed-up and garbled tune.  So, be on guard.  Be careful.  Watch…

Prayer:  Lord, we need your Holy Spirit’s gift of discernment to identify those ‘little foxes’.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

READING ALL OF JONAH?…Jonah 1-4

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Here’s a challenge for you.  Read the entire Old Testament book of Jonah.  Only 4 chapters.   A measly 48 verses.  Too much to ask?  I think not!  So, go for it!  While serving my second church, I was asked by a local radio station to tape four Bible studies for weekly broadcast.  The topic?   Any Scripture of my choice.  Really?  And me…on the radio?  Very thrilling, indeed!

Let me tell you why.  It was listening to Billy Graham’s radio program, ‘The Hour of Decision’, when I first heard about faith in Jesus Christ.  I responded ‘YES!’ to the invitation.  The message of God’s love was crystal clear to me.  I knew nothing about the Bible.  I was not from a family that often attended church.  God was rarely  mentioned in our home.  And He wanted to be in my life?  I was merely flipping the dial.  News programs?  No.  But the best news I’d ever heard.  Now, years later, I’m on the radio telling others that God loves them as much as He loves me.  All because of what His Son did on the cross thousands of years before.

What should I talk about?  I chose Jonah for my talks.  Why?  I identify with him…the reluctant prophet.  The one who says ‘no’ to God.  The presumptuous preacher, who would rather go as far away from God’s call as he possibly could.  He ships off to Tarshish, when God had clearly commanded him to bring good news to Ninevah, the opposite direction.  As if the Lord was telling you to preach in New York City, and you high tale it to Los Angeles.  That’s Jonah.   Rebellious.  Angry and bitter.

Not only Jonah.  That’s me… sometimes.  You too?  No, never!  This is an amazing story.  Chapter 3 verse 1–  ‘Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time…’   Not giving up on His prophet.  Or letting him off the hook, either.  God puts it right to him to do the tough work of God’s will.   The word of the Lord comes right at Jonah a second time.

There’s that word ‘again’ again!   God gives Jonah another shot at obedience.  I love that thought.  God majors in forgiveness.  He loves to give us His mercy… in spite of all our failures, our flippant and feeble excuses.  He comes alongside…a second time.  A third.  A fourth.  Again and again.  Not giving up on.  Thank God for second chances.  He’s done that for me many times.

Unfinished business for God in your life?   Is there not someone, whom you’ve been avoiding, running away from, who needs to hear the good news of Jesus?  And God says to go back.  Tell them of His love and about His Son.  Will you?  What will we do with God’s second chances?

Prayer:  Lord, for all your love and forgiveness, we thank you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

THAT SPECIAL LITTLE WORD… Matthew 22: 1-14

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I was reading the story about the wedding feast.  Reminded me that in April of 1994 (yes, I do know the date!), Sue and I got married and had a lovely reception.  Whoever was filming took pictures exclusively of the food!  Who cares about the people attending, especially that groom and his lovely bride!

Matthew, chapter 22– story of a king’s wedding feast for his son , with people making all kinds of excuses as to why they can’t attend.  Even murdered some of the king’s servants, who came bearing their invitations.  Can you imagine?

The king orders his remaining servants to hit the highways-and-byways inviting anyone they can find.  The high-and-mighty would be replaced by the down-and-out.   Now, let me step back for a moment.  Matthew, who is the only Gospel writer to record this particular parable, is a tax-collector.  Not an endearing occupation listed on one’s resume!

He had two names.  Matthew and Levi.  Lots of people had two names.   I have a few.  My classmates from school days always call me ‘Johnny’.  Relatives say ‘John Adam’.  Lots of men in my family were named John.   If my two names were said together, it helped identify me as the one in trouble!   No high marks for creative naming in our tribe!

Jesus has called lots of people to follow Him.  But a tax-collector?  That raises a few eyebrows!  Can you hear the behind-the-scenes mumbling?

Now, the Bible doesn’t say so, but I can picture Matthew Levi, having godly parents, who would have agonized over this son, who had gone astray.  Levi, one of Jacob’s twelve sons,  founded the priesthood.  They led all worship in the Tabernacle and Temple.  Was not his name a wish and prayer of his parents?  To grow up to be a godly, priestly man?   They would have made sure he received a proper education in the Word of God.  Obeyed God’s Law.  Celebrating all the holy days of the Jewish calendar and the Sabbath.

I wonder if his conscience didn’t nag at him something fierce.  So, when Jesus walks up to his tax-collecting table and asks him to follow Him(Matthew 9:9), there are no excuses given.  Not even a second thought.  Just ‘up and at ’em’ for Matthew Levi with the good possibility of being right with his God.  Yes!

What about that little word mentioned in today’s title?   It’s a tiny one.  Easy to skim over.  Here it is:  ‘again’.  Five letters.  That’s all.  But it makes a world of difference to someone like Matthew Levi.  To you and me.  Matthew writes that Jesus once ‘again’ tells the people a parable(Matthew 22: 1).  As in second chances.  Not giving up on us.   Even to tax-collectors.  God will find a way.  Keep praying daily that everyone in your family will come to know Jesus.  Keep at it.  Don’t ever give up!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for all your help.   In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

‘…AND IN CONCLUSION’!… Ecclesiastes 12

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Computer problems make this title almost prophetic!  Troubles connecting…annoying delays…possible ‘virus’ lurking inside this infernal machine.  You must know that I am not a computer whiz.  How could you ever tell?!   If it were up to me, I’d be writing longhand. Hopefully, this is not ‘in conclusion’ of my ‘Reflections’ devotional!

Reading the book of Ecclesiastes puts us on a great journey with King Solomon.  Life poses many questions and quandaries.  We ask the big question: ‘why’.  Why does God allow such evil to go unchecked?  Why do God’s people suffer?  Why am I so timid about sharing the Lord, when on most any other topic I can ‘wax eloquent!’ for probably way too long?   Why…why…why?

We all ask these questions, but where are the answers?   I’ve known some well-meaning Christians who thought that they had all the answers.  They seemed complacently satisfied with them.  Glib, superficial responses(or so I’ve concluded) to the strains and struggles of life.  I don’t enjoy being around those people.  Feels like they’re telling me to keep quiet or worse.  Quit bugging them with my infernal questions.

I don’t see it that way.  Airing whatever perplexes me, exercises my faith.  Sees more of life’s depth and width, exposing gaps that only faith in Jesus can fill.  But not those easy answers.  No.  Sometimes we have to admit that we don’t have a clue.  No idea.  I see life through a different set of lenses. See humor in most things.  Not all, certainly.  But quite a few.  That’s me.  But, my humor can be off-putting to some.  As their personalities can be for me.  Regardless, we are told to love one another.  Wish them God’s very best.  Pray for them.  But we don’t have to like them or spend extra time with those who grate us in all the wrong ways.  Do we?  Maybe I should try harder?  Is that what you’re thinking?  Could be.

Solomon tries to find meaning and happiness in his life.  You name it, he tried it.  All to no avail.  So, what’s his conclusion?  I love what he says–‘fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man'(Ecclesiastes 12:13).  Simple words, to-the-point.  Bare-bones.  A skeleton that we are to flesh out through the personality the Lord has given us.  Don’t muck it up with myriad rules and regulations(as the Pharisees did).

Worship the Lord.  Look to Him.  Know His Word.  Keep His commandments.  That’s it.  Live freely-as we were created to be.  Be myself.  As different as I am from you.  And you, from the rest of us.  But, all… ‘in Christ’.  God living through us.  Wanting our obedience, yes.  Reliant on Him, always.  Being who we are.  Knowing whose we are.  That’s the ‘whole enchilada’…see what I mean?!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for making us who we are.  At your feet, we will find freedom.  In Jesus Christ.  Amen.

GOADS ONCE AGAIN!…Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

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Recently,  the title of my devotional was about ‘goads’.  Unfortunately, there was  absolutely no reference to them at all.  None!  Can you believe it?  I can!  Actually, I have a good excuse.  My laptop computer experienced three ‘freeze outs’, which goads me!  There’s that word again!  Can be found in Ecclesiastes 12: 11.  Solomon says(not ‘Simon Says’!)  that ‘the words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails–given by One Shepherd’.  Like a goad.  What in the world is that?

It’s a sharp metal point attached to the end of a long stick,  keeping the sheep moving in the right direction.  A shepherd uses a goad to keep the flock together, not wandering off into dangerous places.  We, as Christians, know that the Bible contains God’s love letters.  But some portions seem more like ‘tough love’.  As a goad that pokes us, keeping us moving in His direction.  Out of trouble.  Out of ditches we stumble into with the greatest of ease.

I marvel at my natural ability to fall into some hole of my own making.  Not proud of this.  Not for one moment.  Bet I’m not the only one so ‘gifted’, and I’m no betting man!  The Bible is like a goad, Solomon says.  It tells us to watch out.  Be careful.  There’s more here than good old ‘pats-on-the-back’, ‘all about me’, ‘I’m Okay… You’re Not So Hot!’ stuff.  There are hard words to hear in our Bibles, as well.  Some knuckle-rapping discipline that’s well-deserved.  For ‘…all have sinned and come short of the glory of God'(Romans 3:23).   ‘All’ still means ‘all’ in my book.  No exceptions except for the Lord Jesus.  He’s God in the flesh.  We’re not.  Yes, we’re made in God’s image, but flesh nevertheless.  This is why we need His help, gentle or otherwise.  Often I need a proverbial swift ‘kick-in-the-pants’ from the Lord.  And I find that in the Bible.  Not everywhere.

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16:  ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…’  The Bible comes from God Himself.  Through varied personalities of its human authors.  Containing not only good news but correction.  And rebuking, as well.  Along with training and teaching.  Balanced words.  From His hand to ours.  Not the back of His hand.  No, but the hand that helps us up off the ground of our own foolish making.  Goads may sting a bit here or there.  But they are meant to help us in our journey of life, led by the Good Shepherd of the flock.  Take ALL His words into your heart.  Are you ready?  I think I am.  Still don’t like the pain of that sharp, pointy goad!  It’s okay.  I know whose hand holds it.  Does that not make all the difference?

Prayer:  Help us, Lord.   We need your steady hand.   In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

GOADS AND ALL!… Ecclesiastes 12: 9-14

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Here we are at the conclusion of King Solomon’s wise sayings found in the book of Ecclesiastes.  Not merely his own good ideas.  No.  Much more–the wisdom of Almighty God, found in the pages of the Bible.  Fresh and alive with meaning every time we sit at His feet.  God’s inspired Word… from beginning to end.

In Ecclesiastes 12: 11, Solomon says that these collected sayings are like ‘firmly embedded nails’.  Not easily removed.  Ever try to pull out a nail, set so deep, that it won’t budge?  The Bible resembles those nails.  Strong and firm, binding weighty matters tightly together.

There’s more–verse 10 says that the Bible speaks ‘just the right words’.  His words are ‘upright and true’.   From the Holy Spirit, who authored the Bible, through many different individuals, like Solomon himself.  ‘Just the right words’…’upright and true’.  Wish that could be said of me!  Can’t… by a longshot.  I’ve put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count, and I was never good at math!  May look like my tongue in my mouth; but, invariably, it’s my right foot moving all around, and I’m not even doing the ‘hokey-pokey’!

But one thing I cannot be accused of is this– that I’m highly opinionated.  That’s not me.  We all know some who are…opinionated, that is.   Have to be right.  Know it all.  Unbendable.  Competitive.  Inflexible.  This is an age of highly-opinionated people.  Many of them strike me as overconfident, offensively proud and rude.  I don’t like them.  Could you tell!?

Here’s good news that helps us float above the rogue-waves of sin that are breaking over the land.  The more I think about it, the more I WANT to hear from His Word.  I want more time with God.  More…of His thinking and His plans.  More…of Him!  Plain and simple.  Wouldn’t that be a preview of heaven here on earth?  Sounds good to you, too?  Then, let’s go for it!

Get more into His Word, the Bible.  Open it up, blow off any accumulated dust, write in its margins, dog-ear the pages, wear it out.  It’s your Bible.  Read it… asking for insight from the author, God the Holy Spirit.  He promises to respond if you seek Him, giving Him the time needed.

Wait a minute!  I forgot about those ‘goads’ in today’s title!  But for now, company’s coming!  They will be hungry and must be fed!  Here’s a quick question–hungry for God?  Pull up to the table.  Feast on His Word!  Eat all you want!  Would you pass me some Old Testament, please?!

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for giving us your Word, the Bible.  We love you, Lord, and want more of you in our lives.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.