Shalom, welcome to October 7^th


><//>--------------------Thought for the Day

Do I put too much reliance on any one member of the body of Messiah, perhaps a celebrity Pastor or Evangelist? That is do I make a tin god out of some one person? Do I set that person on a pedestal? If I do, I am building my house on sand. All believers have “clay feet”. We are all one sin away from a fall, no matter how long we have been in Christ. This had been proved to be true more than once. It’s not fair to any member to be singled out as a leader in Christ and to always quote that member of the word of God. If that person should fall, where would I be?

Can I afford to be tipped over by the failure of my ideal?


><//>--------------------Meditation for the Day

Rejoice at Weakness

Yes! I know all. Every cry for mercy. Every sigh of weariness. Every plea for help. Every sorrow over failure. Every weakness.

   I am with you through all. My tender sympathy is yours. My strength is yours.

   Rejoice at your weakness, My children. My strength is made perfect in weakness. When you are weak then am I strong. Strong to help, to cure, to protect.

   Trust Me, My children. I know all. I am beside you. Strong, strong, strong to save. Lean on My Love, and know that all is well.


><//>--------------------Prayer for the Day

Father, we pray that we may learn to lean on Your strength. We pray that we may know that our weakness is Your opportunity. Amen.


A Disciple's Reflections:  Hide or Fess Up

"Then David rose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of the LORD, and worshiped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate. Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died, you rose and ate food." He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me, and the child may live.' But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."
– 2 Samuel 12:20-23

Beloved, some things never change.

Remember what used to happen when we would get into trouble as little kids? Our parents would catch us and we would be faced with that age-old moral dilemma – do I admit it or do I deny it? Adam and Eve both chose to hide from God, blame the other and justify their sin... their choice runs deep within us.

No matter how often our parents told us that it is better to just admit it and face the consequences, there was something inside of us that tricked us into thinking that, as long as we denied it, it didn't happen. One would think we would learn... but some things never change.  

Denial is not just a psychological term; it's actually a rejection of the truth in a circumstance, usually concerning ourselves.  Since it's the knowledge of the truth that sets us free, then it is only fair to consider that rejection of the truth places us in bondage.  Interesting.

David didn't admit his sin with Bathsheba until Nathan caught him up in his own lie. He had stolen another man's wife, had caused that man's death. Perhaps Uriah's death seems drastic – yet death is the only word that describes the experience of a spouse who has been betrayed by his or her partner.

David, like so many others, was bound and determined to get away with it. But he couldn't hide his sin from God. So it is with us.

Perhaps we too have put ourselves into that position where we are telling one lie after another, always trying to hide something, always trying to make up that one last story that would explain our sin away.

Adultery is not the only sin that brings out the worst in us but it always takes on this pattern. It isn't our fault but our spouses. We tell ourselves that life is short and we deserve a little attention along the way. But they are just lies – lies that deliver compound interest with the guaranteed return of a long slow death.

How do we pick up the pieces and move on?

David was eventually confronted with his sin – as most adulterers eventually are. When that time came, he confessed. He repented. He grieved over the consequences of his sin, which in his case included the death of his child. He underwent a ritual cleansing and he went on with his life. He would always carry the scars.  So it shall be with us.

Yet again, God was merciful. David and Bathsheba would have another son, Solomon. Solomon wouldn't be a perfect child, or a perfect king, anymore than David was, but he would be the greatest king in the history of Israel. Although also a fallen sinner, Solomon would also be a man of God, responsible for building a wonderful house of worship.

Sin has inescapable consequences. Yet God, the God of the second chance, is merciful. "Go and sin no more" said Jesus to the woman caught in adultery. We can only hope that she... David... or anyone who has been caught up in adultery... will take full advantage of that second chance to live life differently.  It can also be hoped that in our new-found honesty and knowledge of our true condition that we would not repeat the same actions over again. 

Some of us have gotten ourselves trapped in one sin or another and it may take a little time before we are set free.  Those of us who have brought our sin problems to God, whatever they may be, have found that sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly we are set free, but we are always set free.

It is essential that before we move on that we become entirely ready to have all our selfishness diminished and our defects of character removed by the power of God in His Loving Grace.  We must admit that even when others are terribly wrong that we were wrong for entering into that relationship in the first place.

We must no longer concern ourselves with blame, but rather responsibility.  Certainly, whether for good or not, there's most certainly enough of that to go around.  It is time for us to proclaim to all that "We are responsible."  The good new is that we have a Savior and Lord to help us to meet that responsibility.

Our prayer:  Heavenly Father, while you call us to love our neighbors, our lives are often scarred by our vain attempts to use our neighbors for our own selfish purposes. Where our lives have been thus marred, we pray for your forgiving love. As we turn to you in repentance we pray for a newfound conviction to make our amends and move on. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Providence is The Hand of God

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
– Romans 8:18 (NIV)

One thing that I believe everyone will agree with is that life is unpredictable. Just when we think that everything is going our way... ZAP... something major comes along. And so it was with me a couple of years ago when I was suddenly unemployed. Under the circumstances I would not have thought it possible. But I know that God is sovereign and God ordains that EVERYTHING that happens in a person’s life. Whether it is good or bad, happy or sad, sick or well; God is in control. And we should always hold tight to the promise of Romans 8:18; no matter what circumstances surround our lives, it is nothing when compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. I find that to be profoundly encouraging.

Was I prepared, at the time, to be let go from my company? Certainly not, but I took joy in the circumstance anyway. For I know that God knows everything that I need and that my family needs. And the Lord is ever faithful to provide for those who trust in Him. You see, it is truly false security to trust in a job or anything else that relies on another human being to provide. This is not to say that people cannot be trusted; the fact is, no man, not one, can deliver any type of security 100% of the time. Simply put, that is the exclusive domain of God. If we want guaranteed disappointment in our life, seek a worldly solution to our problems. If we want real security, real joy, real strength, real wisdom, real love, real peace, then let us put our faith in God. Today, may we be able to find joy in any trial that you may face; for God IS real!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." – James 1: 2-3 (NIV)

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Please have a blessed day, be hopeful, be encouraged, and know you are not alone.

“God Calling” compiled by A. J. Russell.
"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" Hazelton – adapted.
Kerry Nelson writes Hide or Fess up.
Greg Candelaria writes Providence is the Hand of God.
Barry Gray writes A Disciple’s Reflections.