Banquet With The King

Thursday, November 11, 2021

New Bodies

Meditate.

But someone may ask, "How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?" What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory. It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:35-44

Paul wrote this in about 56 AD. That was a long time ago, but people even today have the same questions that Christians were asking him then. How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have? Paul wisely said…we are still going to have our same bodies…just spiritual, glorified bodies. We’ll be strong…not weak…and like Jesus when He was resurrected, we will be able to walk into a room without going through a closed door. The great thing is, like Jesus, we will be able to eat. Remember Jesus asked His disciples if the had anything to eat (Luke 24:41). Guess my focus is on food. You guessed it…I’m dieting again, but food is important. Both physical food and spiritual food are important for our existence. Reading God’s word is our spiritual food. Have you fed your spiritual self yet today? Dig into some scripture passage…or read more in the book of First Corinthians. There is plenty of food there for thought and spiritual growth.

Once again we see that God is in control. He gives new bodies…to grain or plant seeds buried in the ground…and to people. Our Heavenly Father restored Jesus to life—resurrected Him with a glorified body. That is the promise that we all have. We—all believers—will be raised from the dead.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 1 Corinthians 15:20-24

When Jesus was challenged about marriage and resurrection He said:

But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection. But now, as to whether the dead will be raised--even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him. Luke 20:35-38

Alive! That is what we are…alive! As soon as we repent of our sin and declare Jesus as our Savior—we are alive…forever. Our bodies may die—but those will be resurrected one day, just as Jesus was resurrected. Our souls live forever…and as believers we will live with Jesus…forever. Great promise!

Prayer ~ Dear God, Your word is always food for thought. Please give me wisdom to understand it and the boldness to share Your Truth with others.

Verses of Salvation and Thanksgiving…and Hope for Israel ~ "Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance--all who seek the LORD! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined. Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation." The LORD will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air. "Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm. Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end! Isaiah 51:1-6

Celebrate Veteran’s Day

Consider those who gave their lives for our country.

Thank a Veteran for his contribution to the freedom of our nation.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Answered Cries

Meditate.

In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers. Now I know that the LORD rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power. Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. Give victory to our king, O LORD! Answer our cry for help. Psalm 20:1-9

Rise Above!
Have Victory
Prosser Balloon Festival

Victory! You’ve won. Shout for joy! I’ve particularly liked the verse from this scripture passage… May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. We all want success…to have victory. Whether it is your High School football team or your fight against cancer…you want victory! David was encouraging his people…as they were encouraging him in battle. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers. My prayer for each of you reading this is…may the Lord answer all your prayers—then shout for joy when we hear of your victory. Another promise we see here is that the LORD rescues his anointed king. David was His anointed king…but as children of our Heavenly Father, the King of kings—we area also royalty. He will rescue each of us, keeping us from harm. That is a great promise. Claim it for yourself.

Are you a child of God? If not, seek to know Him more today—to become a child of the King. The time to make a decision to love the Lord as your God, as your Savior, is growing shorter with each passing minute. Jesus will return one day, possibly soon, and take His believers home to Heaven. Then it will be too late to decide. Choose today whom you will serve—where you will spend eternity. Heaven or Hell? Everyone will live forever—you choose where you will be.

Prayer ~ We belong to You, God. You have already won a victory over our enemies, because the Spirit who lives in us is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. From 1 John 4:4. Thank You for being our Savior and giving us victory.

Verses of Salvation ~ O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Verse of Thanksgiving ~ Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1:3

Happy Birthday, brother Joeske!

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Perfection

Meditate.

God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock? God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect. 2 Samuel 22:31-33

God’s way is perfect. …and He makes my way perfect. Perfect—without flaw—complete—with integrity. God is beyond any human boundaries or ideas. We cannot attain perfect—but God is already perfect. I like this verse in James that a friend used to describe her newborn child in her birth announcement many years ago. I thought it strange at first…but it is how little babies are viewed…perfect because they are from God who we can count on to always be the same. He never changes, He is perfect.

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17

Whatever God has promised, we can count on it to be fulfilled because His past promises have been fulfilled just as He said.

Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true. Joshua 21:45

So, Jesus said He would come back for us…and take us to Heaven where He is preparing a new home for us. We can trust Him, believe what He said…and watch for His return. It may be soon. Are you ready?

Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:1-3

Prayer ~ Thank You, God, for revealing Your plan—which is Christ Himself, our Lord and Savior. I trust You to do just what You have intended to do since You created the world. It is good that You don’t want anyone to perish. Along with many others, I am waiting patiently…and anxiously for Christ’s return. Come quickly, Jesus.

Verses of Salvation and Thanksgiving ~ Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods. Psalm 95:1-3

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Monday, November 8, 2021

No Fear When Earthquakes Come

Meditate. Feel the safety that the Lord provides. Be still and know....

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God's voice thunders, and the earth melts! The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Come, see the glorious works of the LORD: See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalm 46:1-11

I cannot imagine not having fear if a really big earthquake happens. When we lived in Okinawa we had a couple of small earthquakes—just rolling tremors really. It was sort of awesome seeing the ground roll and feeling it as it “rolled” through our house. Then at night, with a little tremor, the closet doors rattled and the house shook—but it wasn’t like the house was falling apart or things were falling out of the cupboards. I’ve seen the results of earthquakes lately on YouTube and it looks scary as the buildings toppled to the ground into a heap of rubbish. I can image that the people experiencing those earthquakes were feeling real fear as they were running to escape. But there was nowhere really to escape. I don’t know if they know God. He is our refuge and strength—so we don’t have to fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. That is a huge and powerful promise. I’ll remind myself and my family that if we ever have a real earthquake here. Jesus said that there will be earthquakes, as well as wars and rumors of wars, at the beginning of the end. But it is not the end, yet.

A sign in northern Israel telling us...
wars are not just rumors.

Are you any more ready today than you were yesterday for Christ’s return? Be still and know that I am God! Consider that verse as you prepare yourself spiritually. Sometimes we have to take time to just be still and listen for God…and to our Lord God. The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is among us. He is our refuge and our strength. No fear.

Prayer ~ Lord God…just as one of Job’s friends counseled him: From six disasters God will rescue you; even in the seventh, God will keep you from evil. God will save you from death in time of famine, from the power of the sword in time of war. You, Job, will be safe from slander and have no fear when destruction comes. From Job 5:19-21. I know You, Lord, love me and I feel protected by You…even when destruction or earthquakes occur.

Verse of Salvation ~ But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear (respect) him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! Psalm 103:17-18

Verse of Thanksgiving ~ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Sunday, November 7, 2021

Ready or Not…Here I Come!

Meditate. Are you ready?

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?" Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:3-14

Jesus also told His disciples, and us, to be ready...For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matthew 24:44. Be ready—always. What do we need to be ready?

· Be sure of your salvation – Repentance/Faith - "The time promised by God has come at last!" he announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!" Mark 1:15

Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." Luke 5:20

· Be holy - But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 1 Peter 1:15

· Share Jesus with others…"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19

· Be a servant - And the Lord replied, "A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. Luke 12:42-43

· Then watch for signs…Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. ... "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ... Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. Matthew 24:4-7, 9-13, 28

…Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:28-30

Is it a cloudy day? Jesus gave His disciples and us lots of things to look for before His return.

Wars. Rumors of wars. Earthquakes. Famine. Arrests. Persecution. False prophets. Sin.

Don’t be deceived. Endure. Share the Good News of Jesus with others.

Are you ready for Christ’s return? He will return as He said. Ready or not...here He comes!

Prayer ~ Holy Spirit, not only nudge my heart to remind me daily to “be ready” but show me specifically what I can do to prepare myself and help others to get ready, too.

Foaming Pacific Ocean
Oregon Coast

Verse of Salvation ~ God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalm 46:1-3

Verse of Thanksgiving ~ Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Saturday, November 6, 2021

Be Thankful and Please God

Meditate.

When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Hebrews 12:26-28

Here we are into November—the month of Thanksgiving. Give Thanks. Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. He is certainly worthy of our worship and praise—every day…not just on Sunday, Shabot or on Thanksgiving Day.

For what are you thankful today? Several people that I know make an annual ritual of giving thanks for something in particular each day of November. Good habit...that actually often flows over into December. I’ve always liked the custom of having three dry corn kernels on each person’s plate and passing a basket around the Thanksgiving Table with everyone adding their kernels to the basket and “giving thanks” for three things in their lives during the past year. Some years there seems more for which to be thankful…and other years people have just been so bent on getting to eat their favorite meal of the year that they can hardly wait and not be bothered with reflecting on the past year.

I think its hard to look at this past year—with the COVID tension and anxiety—but I am looking for ways to be thankful for COVID. It has been terrible for businesses and relationships—but I am hopeful that it has brought more people to the Lord than it has separated them from God. I say this because we now follow on YouTube at least four pastors who are good Bible teachers. We’ve been doing Bible studies on Daniel, Judges and Revelation, as well as a couple of overviews of Bible history. We don’t need to have a theology lesson…just truths taught and that is what we are getting. Our Small Group is studying the Jewish Feasts and with that we have delved into Leviticus, Deuteronomy and now chapter by chapter through the book of Esther. Sort of fun because a couple of our grandchildren were also studying Esther. They were surprised that we were studying the same stories.

Mt. St. Helens - Washington State
Will it shake and erupt again?

Note that our focus scripture mentions the “shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” Have you seen the number of volcanos erupting around the world? There were twenty-eight—yes 28—occurring right now! Google it to see for yourself. And while you are at it…look at the number of earthquakes that have occurred. There were 42 earthquakes above 6.0 magnitude in the just the first couple of months this year. There are generally between 200 and 300 over 2.0 magnitude that are recorded daily. My husband and I have been watching a YouTube video that daily reports such earthquakes around the world. The earth is doing a lot of shaking! Are the heavens shaking? Well, the sun certainly gave off some energy lately that created beautiful aurora borealis effect that was enjoyed by people here in the Northern Hemisphere. I’ll admit that I spent a couple of evenings trying to see the dancing sky…but to no avail. It just wasn’t visible on the nights that I went chasing it! I remembered seeing it as a teenager growing up on a farm in eastern Washington and my husband saw it in northern Alaska when he was on a remote assignment in the USAF at Cape Lisburne. It was pretty dramatic and we’d hoped to see it again…and share it with family nearby. Yes, God is shaking things up…on the earth and in the heavens.

Are you ready for Christ’s return? His Kingdom will be unshakable. Let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

Prayer ~ Lord, we worship and adore You. This whole shaking of the earth is an awesome thing—and technology allows us to see the power and literally the majesty of the volcanoes live as they are erupting half-way around the world. Amazing. But I am glad that I’m not there—for some of them are very dangerous. Please be merciful to those who are living close to any of those twenty-eight active volcanoes.

Verse of Salvation ~ You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15

Bible Trivia Answer to the Question: What is the “number of completion” in the Bible? Give several examples.
Seven is the “number of completion.” Seven is used hundreds of times in the Bible. Here are a few:
Seven days of creation.
Seven days after Noah entered the Ark it began to rain.
Seven years Jacob worked for Laban to obtain Rachel as his wife.
Seven years in Joseph’s dreams of fat and lean years…before the famine.
Seven Jewish Festivals or Feasts
Seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Seven churches.
Seven lampstands.
Seven angels, seven bowls of plagues.

Bible Trivia Question for next week: Which Gospel contains the “Sermon on the Mount” in which Jesus taught His followers on the hills above the See of Galilee?

Verse of Thanksgiving ~ Give thanks in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights eserved.

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Friday, November 5, 2021

One of Those Days

Meditate.

For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing. At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been very sweet. Jeremiah 31:25-26

Have you ever had one of those days? A day when you just felt like you should have stayed in bed…or gone back to bed? I didn’t get out of bed on the wrong side of the bed…I just didn’t sleep well and so my day was just off. I’d like to claim the focus verse of the day…obtaining rest for the weary. Additionally, it is such a sweet thought that God gives joy as well as rest to the weary. I love the Lord and the idea that His favor, His kindness, lasts a lifetime! An eternity! We are blessed—just to be loved by God.

Joy in the morning.
Hollyhock flowers near Jerusalem, Israel

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

One day at a time…so blessed. There are people around the world who have no place to lay their head at night…let alone an abundance of food on the table for each meal. I am blessed—so how can I feel that my day is off to a slow start…one of those days? How could I be so shallow to think that if my day is not off to a good start—so what? God is what…He is what matters in life—no matter what!

That’s what matters in life. God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. No matter what the day looks like—God cares. He gives rest to the weary….and joy to those who experiencing sorrow…as well as food and shelter for those desperately in need. Ask Him. Intercede for others.

Prayer ~ Lord God, thank you for getting me back on track with You…for providing me with rest and joy—but most of all for a renewed awareness of Your love and grace. “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5. For those who are in desperate need—those without safety, food, water and shelter around the world—please mercifully provide for them.

Verse of Salvation ~ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:5

Friday’s Feasting at the King’s Table
One of the herbal remedies that is popular this winter is a Fire Cider that is based on apple cider vinegar.

Fire Cider – Herbal Remedy for Prevention of Colds and Flu
Apple Cider Vinegar – have a quart on hand
Honey – add to taste at the end using 1/3 cup or more
Organic Lemon 1 whole – chop
Ginger root – peel and grate ½ cup
Horseradish – peel and grate in food processer ¼ cup
Turmeric root – scrub and grate ½ cup
Jalapeno pepper – 1 or 2 depending on desired hotness – slice, remove seeds if want less heat
Whole fresh garlic – 3 heads – peel and coarsely chop
Red onion – peel and coarsely chop
Fresh thyme – several twigs, peel off and use only leaves
Freshly ground black pepper

Chop and grate the roots, herbs and lemon. Place in a ½ gallon jar. Add ground pepper, as much as desired. Pour the apple cider vinegar over the other ingredients dto a depth of three inches above the ingredients. Cap with a plastic lid to avoid metal interaction with the vinegar. Place on a shelf at room temperature for three weeks. Shake jar every day.

Strain and add honey to taste using 1/3 cup or more. Store this mixture in a jar in your refrigerator. Use 1 tablespoon or more each day, adding it to a glass of water if you like. It can also be used to make salad dressings or small amount of marinade.

This mixture provides properties of antioxidants, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, Vitamin C, as well as Vit C enhancers, to prevent colds and flu protection with each dose.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Thursday, November 4, 2021

Do Not Refuse to Listen

Meditate.

…you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! Hebrews 12:22-25 (Underlined for emphasis.)

The author of Hebrews was writing here to the Hebrew people who believed in Jesus as their Savior. They are the firstborn of God’s chosen, His children. He is reminding the people that God is the judge and will be judging them. He is warning these people warning to listen. They should listen to God. for when God speaks, He expects people to listen to Him—just as He expected them to listen to Moses, His spokesperson.

Do you realize how privileged we are to be part of God’s family? If you are listening to God and obeying Him…you are especially blessed. Just like the Hebrews people, God expects us to listen. Listen and obey. That is a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible, beginning with Moses telling the Hebrew people about listening to God’s commandments and how they must obey.

And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Deuteronomy 4:1 (Underlined for emphasis.)

God is in Heaven…and offers us a home with Him if we believe in His Son as our Savior…saving us from sin—sin results in death and that endangers all of us…for all have sinned and not met God’s standards. (See Romans 3:23.) But there is hope since Jesus died on the cross for those very sins that plague our lives. (See Romans 5:8.) The hope is secured because God keeps His promises and because Christ rose from the dead. The power of death and the grave couldn’t keep Him there. Hope continues with the promise that because God so loved the world and gave His only Son as a sacrifice for our sin, those who believe in His Son will have eternal life. (John 3:16) Eternal life. Life forever with God the Father, worshipping Him in His heavenly home. He speaks to us from that home…from Heaven everyday as we pray and read His word.

Are you listening to Him? Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking.

Prayer ~ Lord, speak to me. I am listening. I understand that You, God, bless the one who reads the words of the prophecy to the church, and You bless all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. From Revelation 1:3

Verses of Salvation ~ While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Hebrews 5:7-9 (Underlined for emphasis.)

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Wednesday, November 3, 2021

A Day When We Least Expect It

Meditate. Consider your calendar—what day are you least busy? Are you ready all the time?

So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Matthew 24:42-44

What day is a “least expected day”? Not Sunday…or Saturday…those are Sabbath days…not a Friday—evening of preparation for Shabot. So, will it be…Monday…Tuesday…Wednesday…or Thursday? The Jewish Fall Festivals came and went—and those were not fulfilled with the Rapture this year. So, will it be another year? We don’t know the hour or the day…just that it will be when we least expect it.

Like a thief in the night. So many people have security devices on their homes now. They can even visually monitor them when they are away…and if there is any suspicious activity…like a thief in the night…they can call the police. What kind of warning systems do we have spiritually? Maybe we don’t need one. We have the promise that no one can snatch us away from Jesus or God the Father, if we belong to Him.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. John 10:27-29

Are you following The Shepherd? It doesn’t matter the hour or the day…or a time when we least expect it. Just listen to The Shepherd’s voice. Be obedient to Him. Trust Him to guide and protect you—that is what shepherds do. Remember the words of Psalm 23. He provides, leads, prepares, protects, rescues. The Lord is our Shepherd.

Just be ready.

Prayer ~ Lord—I am trusting You as I wait, watch and listen for Your return—Your call to come home. Thank You that You do provide, lead, prepare, protect and rescue me—as well as all others who love You with all of their heart, mind, soul and strength.

Verse of Salvation ~ For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

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Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Are You a Child of God?

Meditate. Believe. Love.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a chilDo d of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:1-5

God is Love.

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Love. That is the key to all relationships and the basis for life. Consider studies that have been done that show results of babies dying from lack of physical contact and love. Everyone needs love. That being said…and felt. God is the source love.

John wrote that loving God means keeping His commandment. I guess that obviously means that a person needs to know what those Commandments entail before they can keep those Commandments. Most of our laws are based on the Ten Commandments—but just in case you want to read them for yourself…read Exodus 20:1-17. They can be summarized, as Jesus did when He was asked about the greatest commandment.

Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39

There you go…love is still the key. Can you keep God’s commandments and love God and others? I find it a challenge sometimes…and I know that it is only with God’s help that I can do it?

Prayer ~ Lord God, your commandments are not burdensome—it is a joy to keep your commandments…and to bring glory and honor to You, defeating the evil in this world!

Verse of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!" As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay. Psalm 40:16-17

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Monday, November 1, 2021

New Month…Consider Your Thankfulness

Meditate. Consider your thankfulness.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Nothing can separate us from God's love.
No raging storm...or power from the earth or sky.
God love us...inseparably.

Beach at the Oregon Coast.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God…except our own selfishness—our own ego—our own desires. God’s first commandment is to have no other gods before Him. If people put themselves first, are they considering themselves a god unto themselves? That could certainly separate them from God. Would you do that? I wouldn’t, but it just occurred to me that it could happen and likely is happening when people reject Jesus as their Savior.

Have you chosen to accept Jesus as your Savior? He died on a cross about two thousand years ago—a common death penalty in the Roman empire at that time. What was unique about His crucifixion was that although He was sinless, He took the sin of mankind as His own and suffered to death on the cross. Jesus is known as the Son of God—He is God. The miracle of His resurrection three days after His death sets Him apart from any other religious figures. Other gods, like Buddha, just died…and were not resurrected. They didn’t have the power that our God has.

November is traditionally a month where people stop and give “Thanks” for things, people and events in their lives. So, today is a good day to continue that custom and give “thanks” for God’s love. Nothing can separate us from that love.

Prayer ~ Thank You, God, for loving the world so much. "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.

Verses of Salvation ~ All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don't believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life. 1 John 5:10-12

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

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