We’ve all been overwhelmed by the news of the past few weeks – for the past few decades as a matter of fact. We can sit back in our recliners and make snide comments about a particular person. We might even be so bold as to post our opinions on social media. I used to rant quite a bit until I realized it was non-productive. So, what’s the alternative? Do we sit back and watch our country fall apart? Do we continue to stress over political rhetoric, conspiracy theories, those running for office, or those who can’t make up their minds? Well, there I go again.
I take out my frustrations in my garden. It seems to be therapeutic for me to retreat to the weeds and rip them out with a fervor that is bent on destruction. This past week I started pruning a bush until it was almost a little stub growing out of the ground. I had all kinds of brush to dispose of, so I grabbed the wheelbarrow and started hauling things away. A little five-year-old neighbor must’ve seen me struggling so they came over to help. Between the two of us, we cleaned everything up and had a good conversation during the time we spent together. I told her that she should be careful, which is like telling a bird not to fly. We talked about my getting older and not being able to do the things I used to. She asked me if I was old enough to die. I told her I was. She wondered if she would die someday. I told her she probably would, but she would most likely go to heaven. She asked if I was going to be in heaven. I told her I was. She said she was glad we would be together there. Oh, my goodness. Out of the mouth of babes.
For a moment all the chaos going on in the world seemed to be very unimportant. Two separate generations had a chat in the garden that would make it all go away. Life is so short. We spend so much of it worrying about tomorrow or the next day or the next. In the process, we often miss the best of it. Some things will never change. We can sit and watch as our world crumbles or we can do something about it to make it better. All the negativity, division, and nastiness will continue. We can pray about it to the only One who knows the future. We can be confident that His plan is perfect and for our good. We can tear our hair out in despair, or we can ask God to heal our land. He loves having conversations with us. Go to Him in prayer today. He is the only answer, but it doesn’t hurt to talk to a five-year-old either.
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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
Isaiah 43:13,“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Knowing that God is with us, holding our hand and helping us through each day brings immense hope. Life is unpredictable, but this truth that He is holding our hand, walking with us through whatever we face, makes our steps steady.
We do not have to fear today or tomorrow because God is with us. There is not one moment in our day that He is not aware of. So don’t let the trials of this life cause you to give up on God or the promises He has made to you. Keep holding tight to His hand. He will help you.
Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand – Carlton Pearson
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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
It is one of the most quoted verses to encourage others in difficulty. You’ve probably heard some variations of it:
“God works all things to good.” “God makes all things good.” “It’s all good.”
I know that might seem helpful in hard times – but if we’re going to quote the Bible, we need to quote it correctly.
When Paul says that “God works for the good” he isn’t saying God’s going to make all bad things good. He is saying God is working for the good, even in the bad things. He may not change the bad thing to a good thing, but He will ultimately bring something good from it. But don’t miss the qualifier: “God works for . . . those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
God works on behalf of His beloved. Does that seem unfair? Hold that thought for just a minute – I’m coming back to it. It’s important to know that and let’s read a little further: “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers” (v. 29).
God works all things for one good purpose: that His beloved child would be conformed to the likeness of His Son. That explains the qualifier – God cannot fulfill His purpose in someone who does not love Him. Surrender is the mark of love – and God can only work in those who have surrendered to His Son. That’s what it means to be a child of God.
Do you see the greater picture and how it applies to your life? God is working in and through all things to bring about His one good purpose for you as His child – that you might look just like Jesus. Like a master sculptor, He looks at His Son and applies the hard blows of the chisel to shape and mold you into the image before Him. You must understand that God is not just working to make all your bad things into good things, He is working to make you into a beautiful reflection of perfection. That’s the purpose He has for you, Beloved. Now that’s an encouraging word!
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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
Psalm 86.11-12, ESV
Another year of school is starting soon. At home, I have two kids in high school, and one beginning the final year of middle school. My spouse is teaching the two oldest how to drive. I myself am preparing to begin teaching a class on quality writing, note-taking, and editing. I’m currently teaching 2nd and 3rd graders in Bible class. There’s a lot of learning and teaching going on around here, and I’ve only listed a small portion!
Having done a fair bit of tutoring in my lifetime, I’ve had plenty of experience in both being an instructor and being instructed. I’ve had the privilege to work with some amazing peers and delightful kids. I love seeing those lightbulb moments when something clicks. Even more, I love seeing the growth in those who really want to learn. To me, the biggest challenge in teaching is student arrogance. Occasionally, I’ve had a student who believes they have nothing to learn. They know it all (or so they want you to think). Sometimes it stems from insecurity; other times it’s just hard-headed pride.
When it comes to following Jesus, the Great Teacher, what kind of student are you?
Are you the student with a pen and paper at the ready, taking down His every word? Are you watching His methods and trying to imitate Him? Do you study diligently and participate?
Or, are you the student with feet propped on the table, leaning back lazily on two chair legs? (Be careful, those kids usually end up falling over onto the floor!) Do you think, “I’ve read that already,” or “Oh boy, here we go, He’s going to tell us to love God and love our neighbor”?
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been a Christian 30 minutes or 30 years, you will never know it all. (By the way, if I was teaching, that never would be underlined a few times and circled!) You will never know more than the Son of God, the One “through [whom] all things were made.” (John 1.3, NIV) You will never know more than God, the Creator of the Universe nor the Spirit through whom we have the scriptures. You and I have much to learn from God. We must have a heart that truly pleads, “Teach me, Lord.”
With that in mind, we are going to spend some time on scriptures in which someone is asking to be taught, when the Lord is teaching, or even our attitude towards being taught. I hope you’ll join us this month as we copy these passages. I frequently post each day’s verse on Facebook and Instagram (@elihuscorner). Please stop by and leave a comment or a question. I always love hearing your insights!
To download a printable PDF of this month’s plan, click the link below:
Elihu Anderson is a California refugee currently thriving on the West Texas plains. She is the founder of elihuscorner.com and is a contributor to Kirk Cameron’s website TheCourage.com. When she isn’t writing, reading, or teaching, she is sipping on some iced homemade chai and enjoying time with a good friend. Come by and say hi at elihuscorner.com or visit me on Facebook.com/elihuscorner View all posts by Elihu
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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
The phrase “Band of Brothers” has a military context where men become solidified in commitment to each other through the horrors and stresses of battlefield conditions. The Apostle Paul drew from this military context when he encouraged Timothy to suffer hardship “as a good soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3).
As the Apostle Paul, Silas, and Timothy passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region (Acts 16:6-8), they traveled over 400 miles on foot from Iconium to the coast of the Aegean Sea at Troas. The Holy Spirit was developing a “band of brothers” in the Lord. Those many hours walking the road and sitting around campfires allowed Paul and two committed believers, such as Silas and Timothy, time for Bible study, personal reflection, and prayer. The Spirit used this time to bond them together for kingdom work.
I love to be around believers who are committed to the Word and to the Lord. Why? All we talk about are Jesus, the Word, personal anecdotes of His provision, ministry, the future with Him, and so on. I leave this type of get-together encouraged and ready to work even more for the cause of Christ.
The body of Christ needs men and women who are solid in their faith and focused on their calling, as well as bonded spiritually and personally with each other. A biblically sound congregation committed to the Lord, to each other, and to God’s Word is a spiritually formidable force. Indeed, they are a “band of brothers and sisters“ in the Lord.
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
Written by bruce r. mills for “Gods group” [Revised from 11/16/2012]
“From Death to Life”
2 Corinthians 5:17… Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)
Yesterday, I wrote about the original sin of Adam and Eve, and how God kicked them out of His paradise known as the “Garden of Eden”, after they were deceived by the serpent (Satan)… This separation from God, cursed man with sin; and with this sin nature, is what is known as death…
Romans 5:12… Therefore,just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (NKJV)
The term, “in Christ”, in the opening scripture…means that a person has gone from being dead in their sin, to being made alive in Christ…
There is nothing a sinner can do in their own self-righteous efforts, to be forgiven of their lifetime of sins… We see this very clearly in the Old Testament, in…
Isaiah 64:6… But we are all like an unclean thing, And all ourrighteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. (NKJV)
There is only one way to get into heaven… Jesus tells us this, in…John 14:6… Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (NKJV)
We must go through Jesus Christ to get to heaven; but it is God who must first draw the sinner to Himself…John 6:44… No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (NKJV)
The sinner is drawn in by God, and sees for the first time that they can in no way save themselves… Their sinful rejection of God, is changed by God to see the truth… Salvation is a gift of God’s grace through saving faith alone in His Son Jesus Christ…
Ephesians 2:8-9… For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (NKJV)
The exact sequence and timing of being drawn in by God, repenting and turning from one’s sins to seek Christ, and God’s grace shed on the undeserving sinner by obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ…is for many (including myself), a mystery that may never be clearly understood…
Salvation is God’s gift of grace, as God reconciles the sinner to Himself through Jesus Christ… the Apostle Paul writes this, in…
2 Corinthians 5:18a… Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, (NKJV)
And this reconciliation happens when the sins of the recipient of God’s grace are imputed to Christ; and Christ’s righteousness, that the sinner doesn’t deserve, is given to them by God…
Here is the very heart of the gospel message, in the following scripture…
2 Corinthians 5:21… For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit is given to the new Christian as a Helper by God (John 14:26)… They have gone from being dead in sin to being born again (John 3:3)… The new Christian is made a “a new creation” by God; and is now alive “in Christ”, and sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
2Corinthians 1:21-22… Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (NKJV)
For anyone who has not been given the Holy Spirit by God, today’s writing may not be understood… The Apostle Paul reveals why, in the following scripture…
1 Corinthians 2:10 & 13-14… But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (NKJV)
I would urge anyone who wants to learn more about what God requires to become a Christian, to open the P.S. below, about God’s grace through obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Heavenly Father, why You chose to grace me, a poor wretched soul with salvation…is still a mystery to me… I thank You, Lord for Your grace and Your mercy, where neither was deserved… I pray Lord, that this truth from Your Word may be used by You, to open the eyes and quicken the hearts of those You don’t yet know as one of Your children… I pray for Your gift of grace for those in need…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
Blessings in Christ, bruce
P.S. When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
I will delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.
Psalm 119:16
How do you think we are doing as a nation in not forgetting the Word of God? How well do you believe we are doing in delighting in His statutes? I have a pretty good idea that if you analyze the questions, and answer them honestly and thoughtfully, you will conclude that we are failing in these respects. Because of our failure to personally delight in God’s statutes, and our failure to remember His Word as we live our daily lives, America is on a downhill path. It has been rightly proclaimed that America is just one generation away from paganism.
How are you doing in your circle of family, friends, and coworkers keeping the Word of God in its rightful place in our lives? Pick up a copy of the Bible today and start delighting in His statutes and remembering and not forgetting the Word of God. It will become a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path! And as you and I acknowledge Him and trust in Him, He will direct our paths. The key is to never forget His word.
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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
We have many things in our possession at the present moment that can be shaken, and it is not good for a Christian to rely upon them, for there is nothing stable beneath these rolling skies; change is written upon all things. Yet we have certain “things that cannot be shaken,” and I invite you this evening to think of them—that if the things that can be shaken should all be taken away, you may derive real comfort from the things that cannot be shaken and that will remain. Whatever your losses have been, or maybe, you enjoy present salvation.
You are standing at the foot of Christ’s cross, trusting alone in the merit of His precious blood, and no rise or fall of the markets can interfere with your salvation in Him; no breaking of banks, no failures and bankruptcies can touch that. Then you are a child of God this evening. God is your Father. No change of circumstances can ever rob you of that. Even if by loss you are brought to poverty and stripped bare, you can still say, “He is still my Father. In my Father’s house are many rooms; therefore I will not be troubled.” You have another permanent blessing, namely, the love of Jesus Christ. He who is God and man loves you with all the strength of His affectionate nature—nothing can affect that. The fig tree may not blossom, and the flocks may dwindle and wander from the field, but it does not matter to the man who can sing, “My Beloved is mine, and I am His.” Our best portion and richest heritage we cannot lose.
Whatever troubles come, let us play the man; let us show that we are not like little children cast down by what happens to us in this poor fleeting state of time. Our country is Immanuel’s land, our hope is fixed in heaven, and therefore, calm as the summer’s ocean, we will see the wreck of everything earthborn and yet rejoice in the God of our salvation.
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
Reading: Psalm 21:8-13 Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed. You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow. Be exalted in your strength, LORD; we will sing and praise your might(NIV). *
Reflection I have a confession to make. The overall title of my blog is I Love the Psalms! But there are some psalms where the fondness runs very thin. That’s the case with this psalm portion. The pacifist side of me gets very uncomfortable with all this talk of God’s wrath burning like a consuming fire. My reasoning goes something like this: If God gets angry with others, I might be the next one dropped in the toaster.
In this psalm, David paints a portrait of the LORD as a warrior. I’m not so sure I want to see the LORD as a fearsome warrior. I prefer to see Him as a gentle shepherd—the Good Shepherd—not a God of vengeance firing arrows at His foes. But if I have my way—if I see Him only as a meek shepherd—do I have a right picture of the LORD? Am I blind to an important side of His character? Is He both a warrior and a shepherd?
I can be guilty of shaping God according to my image—the likeness I prefer. But the god I create is not the true God. The true God is always greater, more awesome, fear-provoking, and loving than I can possibly imagine. Words on a page fall short—always fall far short—when we attempt to describe God.
As for this world, it’s inhabited by evil men. Some are heinous evil monsters in human skin. Others by the mercy of God are filled with kindness. A measure of the grace of God is extended even to those who do not know Him. If God refused to rain judgment on the perpetrators of evil, would He still be a good God? If this world were perfect, would we still long for heaven?
Who am I to judge God? Who am I to find fault with my Creator and His ways? Here is the conclusion: Ride on in the battle against evil, Warrior King. Shelter me in your arms, Good Shepherd.
Response: Heavenly Father, I confess I have an incomplete picture of You. I can never grasp or comprehend Your fullness. I bow before You, LORD Almighty. In humility I worship You, the magnificent and perfect, I AM. Amen.
Your Turn:Has your picture of God changed over time? Has it become more biblically accurate?
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
You know me, Lord. If I’m not careful my mind can slide into fear and worry, especially about the needs and struggles of loved ones. Or I can slip backward into hurts or regrets of the past. Release from such thoughts is not always easy.
But I’ve heard it said, “What is IM-possible is HIM-possible” (Unknown).
So when negativity seeks to pull me down, I want to be quick to remember who YOU are, your promises, and what you can do that make all things HIM-possible.
GOD:
Indeed, nothing is IM-possible with me (Luke 1:37).
Here are four important truths to keep in mind that make for HIM-possible-living:
I am greater than your fears.
Think on My sovereignty and might.
I am in control of all things. I have established My throne in heaven and My kingdom rules over all. Therefore, the one who fears Me need not fear anything else [1].
I am all-wise and all-powerful, always with you and ready to offer counsel.
I am your all-sufficient Father, able to provide everything and anything you’ll ever need.
ME:
I praise You, Lord, for equipping me to contend with whatever circumstances unfold. You are the Mighty Warrior who saves!
Romans 8:28; James 1:2-4; Matthew 5:16; Psalm 46:1)
GOD:
I am greater than your hurts.
Remember my love and tenderness, my grace and kindness.
I provide a solid foundation on which to rest, even when wave after wave of challenge sweeps through your life [2].
I am your Great Physician. Cling to Me by immersing yourself in My Word and find the cure for your heartache.
I am patiently transfiguring all the notes of your life into the song of My Son, Jesus . . . All is grace, as your hurts and heartaches become tools in My hands, to transform you into the image of Christ [3].
ME:
I praise you, Lord, for your devoted, attentive care.
Dwell on regrets and you’ll stir up a whirlpool of excruciating details. It’s an easy place to drown [4].
Leave the irreparable past in My hands, and step into the irresistible future with Me [5]. You’ll find joy replacing remorse and peace replacing agitation.
When thoughts of your failures do push their way into your consciousness, allow my total forgiveness to relieve your pangs of guilt. Then offer Me praise for accepting you just as you are, thanking Me for growing you into more than you were yesterday [6].
ME:
I praise you, Lord, for your mercy to forgive and your grace that meets me where I am but does not leave me where it found me [7].
I praise you that victory over fears, troubles, hurts, and regrets is more than HIM-possible with you!
(Psalm 103:8, 13; Romans 8:37)
[1]The fear of God in the original language doesn’t mean to be afraid. It means sustaining a joyful, astonished, awe and wonder before Him—Timothy Keller.
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
God's group 