What Matters

This question could be relative depending on whom and what is the subject.  I would like to consider you and I the subject, but leave providence as to what is considered.  Providence means God's protective care, divine intervention, predestination and timely preparation for future eventualities.  In the context of the cosmos, do we even matter… Continue reading What Matters

When It Bothers Us

For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5: 10). This is a troubling verse, one I would prefer to forget about.  It conflicts with some of… Continue reading When It Bothers Us

God Using Horses

I looked up and there beside my barn stood two large horses eating grass like they were starving.  I recognized them as my neighbor's horses, so I went out in the field to see if I could turn them around and head them back to his property. As I approached they moved off a little,… Continue reading God Using Horses

Our Thanksgiving

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalm 100:4. "Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms."  Psalm 95:2. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,… Continue reading Our Thanksgiving

God Instead

We all face circumstances in this world that are incomplete, deficient, and not what is normally expected or needed.  These range from missing a parent, even both parents, to not having a friend when one is most necessary.  I believe God is in process of restoring all things, where each believer will have everything that… Continue reading God Instead

God’s Gifts to Man

There is a lot written about identifying one's spiritual gifts.  Much of it centers around a description of the various gifts recorded in scripture. This is good and even so, there remains a considerable amount of uncertainty on the subject, principally regarding application.  Everything that pertains to God and scripture must be understood, experienced, and… Continue reading God’s Gifts to Man

Searching For Your Style

Somewhere I picked up the idea that an artist needs to acquire, develop, or create a technique, style, or niche that is unique and particularly theirs.  I think it is true regarding commercial success, but it may also be equally true for commercial failure, i.e. what one prefers instead of many.  It is undisputed that… Continue reading Searching For Your Style

A Song From God

I asked God to give me a song with which to praise Him. I wanted it to be deep and significant, rather than fluff. I realize I'm not a musician, but I have a love for music, worship, and God is not limited in His ability to give me a song for His glory. I… Continue reading A Song From God

The Bride of Messiah

The body of Messiah is united now in Yeshua and is born of the Promise and Spirit.  Every leading of the Holy Spirit is in perfect accord with each member of the body moving in a beautiful and elegant rhythm of motion toward Yeshua.  The body of Messiah is His bride and they will become… Continue reading The Bride of Messiah

That’s Hard to Believe

This is a phrase we have all uttered upon hearing certain tales.  My wife and I have discovered that movies based on true stories are usually our favorites because truth is stranger than fiction.  Men may be particularly interested in hearing and telling stories that make credibility difficult to attain, but I'm not talking about… Continue reading That’s Hard to Believe

Long Patience Quick Action

God is patient for ages, then suddenly fulfills His will and promise.  Many generations passed in the first age of men, while God's wrath built up, then suddenly the flood came upon the unsuspecting wicked and only Noah and his family were saved.  Abraham was one hundred years old and yet had a divine son… Continue reading Long Patience Quick Action

Children of the Devil

This is a dreadful topic, but it explains a lot of what is happening in our day.  Moreover, it is true and we need not ignore the designs, purposes, and plans of God.  "The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason… Continue reading Children of the Devil

Bad Things Happen

Today, I cut my finger pretty bad.  I'm thankful it was not worse.  I'm glad I was in a good place in my walk with the Lord.  I'm grateful that medical care was available and that I have insurance.  I'm getting to know the Lord better in a place of sorrow and personal loss.  My… Continue reading Bad Things Happen

Worship He Deserves

The heavenly beings surround God's throne and worship Him with the highest of praises, bowing in surrender before Him. (Rev. 4: 4-11).  Yeshua, the Son of Man and only human to know God fully said that He seeks worshipers who worship Him in Spirit and truth. (John 4: 23).  It is fitting that men worship… Continue reading Worship He Deserves

Hannah’s Anguish

Someone is in anguish now over a destiny they see passing away.  This person is distressed from waiting and taunts from rivals.  Nevertheless, hope is found in the Lord. Carry your burden and pour it out before Father God, He has compassion for the broken-hearted. This was the situation for Hannah and she prayed fervently… Continue reading Hannah’s Anguish

Hidden Motives

Do you ever question your motives?  At what point in the process of thinking, planning, preparing, initiating, working, and completing do you consider your motives?  Is your consideration an actual questioning of something uncertain or is it justifying the obvious.  It appears to me that our motives can be buried, one upon another, in a… Continue reading Hidden Motives

Recipe For Delight

In the middle of a dream, while I was still asleep, He gave me a recipe -"Blackberry jam on hot buttered corn on the cob".  It is as difficult as anything to eat without making a mess, so lay down any pride you have in your own self-respect.  It's the taste of summer all slathered… Continue reading Recipe For Delight

Return To Me

I must embrace humility for this is reality.  Pride blinds people so they can't see and they deny God.  Even many who acknowledge that He exists do not believe what He says. Some slander, accusing Him of injustice, apathy, or failure.  They don't know their creator.  God is eternal, more true and real than any… Continue reading Return To Me

Choice

The power of independence is often recognized by choice.  The phrase, "You are free to choose," means that you have a certain freedom of will.  It is undeniable that life is full of choices, so a presumption arises that our choices are unlimited, but are they?  Of course, we decide many things each day, from… Continue reading Choice

The Value of a Soul

People are everywhere and in the city they are often packed in like sardines.  We are all different, but also similar in many ways.  The inner most being of each person is a soul, which is hard to describe, but it is the essential part of each person.  You might say it is the most… Continue reading The Value of a Soul

Satan’s Teat

1 Peter 2:2-3 “Like newborn babies, thirst for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in your salvation.  Surely you have tasted that the Lord is good!” Scripture encourages us to study God's Word in order to grow in the Lord. Learning and applying God's Word to our lives,… Continue reading Satan’s Teat

Hope For The Downcast

There seemed no end to the oppression that plagued my thoughts.  Thick dark clouds of sadness moved endlessly above me.  The Lord's presence was nowhere to be found. Curses and bad memories, arguments presenting themselves one after another supported a conclusion that I was unloved.  Is anything more necessary than our need for love?  I… Continue reading Hope For The Downcast

Prophecy Clarified

Here are some prophecies about the Messiah's origin: - He is of the lineage of David, a son of David. (Micah 5: 2; Isaiah 9: 6-7; Ps. 132: 11,17; Jer. 23:5; Ezek. 37: 24-25). - He will be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5: 2-3). - He would come out of Egypt. (Hosea 11:1). - He… Continue reading Prophecy Clarified

What God Does Through Men

The Scripture says that Yeshua was fully man.  "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." (Heb. 2: 17).  Before… Continue reading What God Does Through Men

Fluff vs Substance

I was reading a book about writing in which the author described with her most descriptive language the passion and motivation she has for writing.  In her first chapter she said, write a draft without expecting perfection.  In the next she advised to write about what you know, feel, and see around you.  In the… Continue reading Fluff vs Substance