Anchored in the Bible

S ~ 'So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. ' Hebrews 2:1

O ~ Drift. Not an intentional leaving, just a slow movement off course. And the longer you drift, the further off course you are. Just a degree, over time, it enough to miss the mark.

A ~ Drifting from the truth. It happens to people, to churches, to denominations. Drifting is far more dangerous than it appears. To keep from drifting from the truth...bible study. Personal bible study AND bible study with people who are not lunatics.

P ~ Lord, may the only drifting I do... be closer to You!

Yoke's On You

S ~ 'And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline:' Lamentations 3:27

O ~ It can be harder to submit to discipline if you have not learned it early. Also, being disciplined young is not only beneficial then, but as you age, it saves you and keeps you from many unnecessary troubles.

A ~ Yoke of discpline sounds harsh, and even surprising that the NLT uses the word. However, discipline at a young age saves so much harm, and yet the choice is still with the child - to submit.

P ~ Father God, as your child, thank You for your grace enabling me to submit to Your discipline. May I not chaff under the yoke... (cotton breaves)

Don’t Add Wood

S ~ “Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭26:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

O ~ A fire goes out without wood. No firefighter required - just stop adding wood and it’s only a matter of time. 

A ~ Such a great perspective on Facebook - stop posting more ‘wood’. And in any relationship, stop adding fuel to to fire of quarreling. As someone who lives in a house where peace is such a high value, this verse fits us well. And when the fire goes out... relationship can be built.  The very least I can do is not continue to add to the problem.

P ~ Lord, please help me not to be a wood carrier.

A Sheepish Struggle

S ~ “Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

O ~ I am not my own. I am His. I have been bought with a price. Even though I am a shepherd (pastor), I am not thee Shepherd. I am a sheep (baa, baa, baa, baa).

A ~ Today I desire to be king. Not king like Trump, but perhaps like Saul. Not David, but Saul. I have my own way I want to do things. I want to force my way. I want to strike back, and strike out, and release years of frustration. Not only do I need to remember our fight is not with people, but I am not my own. I am a sheep. God made me, and God made others. And who am I to try and push my way? Not good. Don’t be a billy goat gruff - be a sheep.

P ~ Lord, please help me. Please change my heart, and my thoughts, and my attitude, and my imaginary conversations. I am not my own - I am Yours, and I really do want to honor You. There is only Your way - no highway option. 

Not Wise

S ~ “Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭26:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

O ~ Yup. Not wise. You gonna get bit.

A ~ My good friend Dr. Pastor Mr. Daniel posted a political post - and opened a firestorm. So many comments. So many opinions. So much ugly. He re-posted to explain. More of the same. He finally posted that he had mad a mistake. More and more ugly. I chose not to write. I wanted to support him - but stayed clear of the posts.

P ~ Lord, please strengthen Daniel, and may Your redeeming grace and power calm this storm.

I Feel A Song Coming On...

S ~

Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! 

Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, 

with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. 

Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King! 

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! 

Let the earth and all living things join in. 

Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! 

Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. 

He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭98:4-9‬ ‭NLT‬

O ~ Quite a symphony. Harps and trumpets and singing. And then that is not enough - all creation wants to get in on the action - seas, rivers, hills.  The whole earth is putting on it’s dancing shoes.

A ~ If creation - all living things - is ready to praise the Lord, how much more do we His people need to be ready - and leading parade.

P ~ Lord, may my life be a crescendoing song of praise.

A Dependable God

S ~ “But I will protect the orphans who remain among you. Your widows, too, can depend on me for help.””  ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭49:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

O ~ In the midst of God’s judgement upon Moab and Ammon, Jerry lets the most vulnerable know that God’s eye is on them, and they can depend on Him.

A ~ Jehovah Jireh  - the God who provides... especially for the widow and the orphan. Amazing. It’s said that God does not have favourites, but it sure seems like he does. What a great God.

P ~ Lord, please help me to show Your great love by caring for the widows and orphans too.

Prep Work

S ~ “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

O ~ Scripture is not only powerful and holy, but it is so very practical. 

A ~ Bible reading and Bible study are so vitally important if I am going out know the truth, recognize deception, and have what is wrong in my life corrected. The preparation and equipping it brings is essential to complete God’s assignment on my life. I can’t do it without knowing the Bible, and allowing His words, thoughts and ways to direct and correct me.

P ~ Lord, thank you for your unchanging Word. May it change me. Amen.

What to Do, Where to Go

S ~ Jeremiah the prophet. They said, “Please pray to the Lord your God for us. As you can see, we are only a tiny remnant compared to what we were before. Pray that the Lord your God will show us what to do and where to go.” Jeremiah 42:2-3

O ~ Those who remained after Neb invaded were so few, compared to the population that had left. And now, they pray for direction - but they didn't actually intend to listen to Jerry's answer.

A ~ We now have 40 people meeting in person, and I don't know how many online. Our building is most likely sold by this time next week. Then we have 4 weeks to be out. The people's request is a perfect fit - but my heart is to obey.

P ~ Lord, please show us what to do and where to go. Amen.

No Plague No Where

S ~ 'If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.'  'For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.' Psalms 91:10-11

O ~ How wonderful to know the protection of the Lord - at home, and wherever you go.

A ~ Covid. No plague will come near your home, or wherever you go. Chapters, Costco, Church, Life Together, Superstore, A&W, Vancouver, Canmore, Cochrane, Congo. No plague, no where.

P ~ Lord, thank you for your protection for my family.

Hold Tight, and FIGHT

S ~ Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

O ~ Fight. It is a fight. Not a waltz, or only a race, or a journey. There is a fight. Fight FOR the true faith. Hold on tight... and fight.

A ~ The enemy of our souls never forgets we are in a fight. Never. He is always attacking, or plotting, or waiting. He is always roaming like a roaring lion, looking for whom he may devour. So I need to walk in the protection of God, relying on Him, and using prayer and the Word of God as my weapons.

P ~ Lord, even though there is a fight for true faith, thank You for the victory you provide.

God’s Inability

 S ~ “Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.””

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭36:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

O ~ God was unable to forgive the sins of the nation without their repentance. His desire was to forgive, and that’s why He sent prophets, over and over, to proclaim the need for repentance and to warn of the impending consequences. Still, the people would not listen, and God was unable to forgive.

A ~ It’s not that God was unwilling, but unable. It’s just the way things work. He is so willing to forgive the entire world, but without repentance, it is impossible. The holiness and justice and righteousness of God is as much a part of Him as His love and grace and mercy. He can’t be Who He isn’t. He can’t just let things slide. If He did, it all falls apart. Everything. As Jesus understood in the garden fo Gethsemane, there was no other way. Sin had to be paid for, and the wages of sin is death. The wages of unrepentant sin is still death, but the gift of God through repentance is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

P ~ Lord, may I discover ways to credibly and wisely bring the welcome message of the Kingdom (you are invited), and the warning message of the Kingdom (you must repent), in ways that are effective and reach people before it’s too late.

Perfect Examples

 S ~ “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

O ~ Timothy was probably not that young - certainly not a teenager, as he led and pastored the church. Instead of his youthfulness being a deterrent, he was encouraged to let it be a strength.

A ~ My girls are perfect models of this scripture - examples to everyone in what they say, how they live, how they love, their faith, and their purity. So very, very proud.

P ~ Lord, thank You for my Robyn and Emily Dawn. May You continue to bless them and keep them, to make Your face shine upon them and be gracious to them, to lift up Your countenance upon them, and give them peace. Amen.

An Incredible Evil

S~ They have built pagan shrines to Baal in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and there they sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing. What an incredible evil, causing Judah to sin so greatly! Jeremiah 32:35

O ~ Sometimes we can think God was so harsh in the Old Testament - allowing His people to be captured and executed, and suffer terrible. Yet, it's verses like these, that give us some insight to the horrors that were being done to His people, by His people!  They themselves were involved in child sacrifice. It wasn't the enemy killing their children, but they were so depraved they were doing that themselves. The deepest sacrifice they could make, they were making to demonic gods. Child sacrifice NEVER crossed God's mind. Even in the light of Abraham and Isaac, we see that there was no way He would let that take place.

A ~ Abortion is still such a sorrow - as so many choose this to end the life of their child. I don't begin to comprehend what a struggle it must be to make that choice, or the pain and suffering after it is committed. The guilt and shame and forever weight that it carries. And yet it breaks the heart of the Father - the One who would never have this enter His mind. May I be a voice of choice, to choose life for both mother and child.

P ~ Lord, in our broken land, God heal our land. In broken lives, God heal our lives. May the conscience of a nation be changed, and we choose life.

Don’t You Dare

 S ~ “I will invite him to approach me,” says the Lord, “for who would dare to come unless invited?”  Jeremiah 30:21

O ~ Who would dare indeed? The children of Israel thought they would, right until the mountain shook and the lightning flashed and the thunder roared and the top of the mountain filled with smoke. They changed there tune, just like the gingerbread man. Who in their right mind would dare approach the Lord without an invitation? Nadab and Abihu did.  Ash in a flash.

A ~ The difficulty with the love and grace of Jesus, is that somehow the holiness of God was misunderstood. Jesus extends such grace and love and forgiveness, sometimes we forget that  without Him making a way - we dare not approach God. We dare not. He made a new and living way so we can boldly approach the throne of God  - but outside of that grace and His shed blood - fear and trembling. It’s not that God is mad - but He is holy.

P ~ Father God - thank You for showing such love to us, and making a way where we can be made holy - and accept your invitation to draw near.

Many Voices

S ~ When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.  1 Timothy 1:3

O ~ After just reading Jeremiah and listening to God rebuke those who were false prophets, it's discouraging to see that false teachers still existed 500+ years later. It's discouraging that they exist today.

A ~ There are so many people saying "The Lord says...", or "This is the biblical way..".  So many churches teaching different perspectives on the same scripture. So many 'churches' differing on LGBTQ2. There is a need for personal bible study, and solid biblical teaching - all of it being Holy Spirit led.  In a world of so many voices, I'm so glad that we no longer need a mediator like Moses, but we can go directly to God and His Word. 

P ~ Lord, please help my to correctly understand and teach Your word. Help me to hear Your voice as You would bring revelation to Your Word. Help me to hear Your voice each day - and throughout each day, to know how to walk, what to say, how to think, how to live.

Remember

 S ~ Then some of the wise old men stood and spoke to all the people assembled there. They said, “Remember..."  Jeremiah 26:17-18

O ~ In the midst of a trial, with the mob wanting to execute Jerry for his message, the old fellas are able to bring some perspective from the past, to bear on the present. There is nothing new under the sun, said Solomon. These men had 'been here before' and knew the way through. 

A ~ It's so important to listen to wise, old people. Sometimes people can just be old, and crotchety. Yet there are wise people who have lived life and ended up with no strength in their limbs, but strength in their wisdom. We need that kind of strength today.  Even in the midst of Corona, it's not just listening to the young guns, or the pop stars, or the politicians - it would serve us well to listen to wise old people who have lived through sickness, the Great Depression, war, economic boom and bust, life and death.

P ~ Lord, thank you for Dorothy Servage - and I pray as I spend time with her, that I would learn the lessons she has to share, that I would gain wisdom - even through the dementia.  God bless Dorothy, Doris and Ruth.

Source or Resource?

S ~ Therefore,” says the Lord, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me." - Jeremiah 23:30

O ~ The prophets were not hearing from God, but making things up themselves, and taking messages from one another. Instead of hearing from God, they only said they were hearing from God. LLPOF.

A ~ It's a very serious thing to say "The Lord told me", when in fact you read it on the internet, saw it in a book, heard in on a podcast. Preacher people today get messages from other places that from the Lord. Resources are great, but we must go to the Source.

P ~ Lord, thank You for the many people that you speak to, the many people that I can learn from, the many people that are so wise and helpful and bring insight to Your Word, Your Work and Your Ways. But I don't want to stop at the resources, I need to hear right from you, the Source of life. Give me ears to hear. Amen.

None Missing

S ~  Then I will appoint responsible shepherds who will care for them, and they will never be afraid again. Not a single one will be lost or missing. I, the Lord, have spoken! Jeremiah 23:4

O ~ When true shepherds are looking after the sheep, instead of looking after themselves, not a single one will be lost or missing!

A ~ This has been my prayer for so long - on the day we stand before the Lord, that there will be none lost or missing. Marstens, Tobins, Pawseys, Goodhews, Numrichs, Derings, Santins, Reiersons, Cummings, Roslers, Vidottos. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 

P ~ Lord, of all the things I have ever prayed, this is the deepest - that on that day, there will be none missing.

Mind The Gap

S ~ Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:10

O ~ Paul was so concerned about these young believers and the suffering they were experiencing since receiving Christ. Yet he has received good news -  Timothy has returned with a glowing report of how their faith remains strong. This encourages Paul, but he still wants to get to Thessalonica to strengthen the believers, knowing that even with their strong faith - there is room for growth.

A ~ Where were the gaps in their faith? Where are the gaps in my faith? I wonder if I can see them, or if I need someone else to point them out, and fill them in? Maybe that is what my role is in the life of our church right now - to help people fill in the gaps of their faith. 

P ~ Lord, please help me to encourage and strengthen Your church, and fill in the gaps of what is missing. It will be different for each person, but may there be continual growth for us all. And please bring people into my life (even via audiobooks!) to fill in the gaps of my faith. Amen.

Severe Suffering

S ~ So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. 1 Thess 1:6

O ~ The gospel message is good news, and even though it is free to receive, the consequences of living in this fallen world proved severe for early christians, like these in Thessalonica.  

A ~ So often we can focus on the benefits of receiving Christ, not often - if ever in North America, do we invite people to sign up for severe suffering. It's not really that we are choosing suffering, but we are keenly aware that severe suffering is worth it, for the good news far outweighs any suffering we can face in this life. Suffering is no fun, but suffering because of Christ is worth it. He died for me, I'll live for Him.

P ~ Lord, thank You that I have not had to experience severe suffering for the sake of the gospel - we have lived in a peaceful and blessed nation. And yet the days are undoubtedly coming when things will be harder for christians. I just want to go on record by writing I'm still in. You are worth it all!

Attractive Grace

S ~  Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

O ~ Paul is writing from prison, and is telling people outside to make the most of every opportunity - having gracious and attractive speech. From prison. Every opportunity. Gracious. So focused on those who are not yet believers. 

A ~ One of the largest audiences people can have is on social media, and one of the worst things people do on social media is be ungracious and unattractive, having the wrong response for everyone. There are a few people who use the opportunity well, but the loudest voices seem to be the worst. 

P ~ Lord, rather than me just being critical of those who post in ways that I see as being ungracious, help me to focus on my words - written and spoken - being grace filled and winsome. 'Be careful little mouth what you say..'  Careful.  Full of Care.  Amen.

Misplaced Boasting

S ~ This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord, have spoken! Jeremiah 9:23-24

O ~ There are a lot of things those in Jerusalem could boast in - but none of them made any difference when they were led into Babylonian captivity. Riches, wisdom, power - it all failed them. All of those things were taken away. Far better to know the Lord, and understand that He demonstrates unfailing love.

A ~ My dad knew this verse, and quoted it often. The first time I remember hearing it was when he was quoting it. Know the Lord - that's what is important. Not wisdom, power or riches - as they will all fail, but God will never fail, nor will his love.

P ~ Lord, thank you for your unfailing love, and for a dad who taught me to love you.

Thank you for the wisdom, strength and money you have entrusted me with - but it is all nothing apart from you. May I know you, and like the apostle Paul and old Jerry, boast only in knowing you. Amen.

Stop ~ Look ~ Listen

S ~ This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.  Jeremiah 6:16

O ~ The people of Jerusalem would not listen to Jeremiah, nor would they listen to the Lord.

They wanted to continue on their own way, not the way the Lord had for them. It wasn't complicated, but it did require obedience - and that was something they were not willing to do.

A ~ Stop, Look and Listen. It's what you do when you come to a railway track. It's also what the people of God needed to do, and what I need to do. I am at a crossroads - day 1 of a new year (if I don't count my actual birthday - for it was just a day of celebration!). Stop and look around - looking for the 'old godly way'. I think of devotions, SOAP, prayer, meditating on God's Word, listening to His still small voice, journalling - and waiting in silence. At the end of my sabbatical, the girls told me to 'Come unto Me, and find rest for my soul'. May I walk in that old way, and discover rest as I travel.

P ~ Lord, thank you that as I face a new year, I don't need to face a new way - but rather an old path, trod by many faithful followers. I am not alone. So many have gone before me, and the trail is easy to see - if I just stop and pay attention to where I am going. #followingJesus