THE STRUGGLE

Real or perceived it's there. The struggle of time. The struggle of how to use it...time. The struggle with enjoying the time I've been giving in this life or not. The struggle of making the most of this life or not. The struggle of worrying about the outcome of things I have control over or not.

I believe the words of the Bible to be true. The Word asks me to consider if my worrying can add even one hour to my life. I'm currently sitting at a little more than 398,500 hours. The question is about 1 hour...can my worry add one hour. The obvious answer is no. At my current hourly age, one more hour would be an increase of 0.000250941029 of a percent. I just did that math on a calculator. All the worry and frustration in the world can't add a minuscule percent of time to my life.

So I have stopped with looking at the anger of Facebook, the worry of Facebook, and the worry of whatever political party one is involved with. I have been sent links from folks of the same faith who call one person a heretic and another link with the same person a saint. Silly...really.

Here is what I've done with my time. I've read a book of fiction that focuses on the end of time events. I enjoy it, because although it is fictional, it gets me thinking on things that are greater than this life. I've spent more time playing and enjoying video games with my son. I've had meaningful conversations with my wife. Significant conversations with her, because, frankly, our ability to communicate with each other is currently jacked up! I look forward to our growing in grace and trust in the Lord as we learn to be more like Him in the midst of this struggle.

I said I wasn't getting back on to Facebook until after the first of 2017. My wife told me about a friend that said I should blog. I was touched by my friends words, and I took them to heart.

So here ya go, Janean! Thank you for the encouragement!

Time is Funny...and so is Writing

I just read an article that said the one resolution to stick with this year is to journal.

I think I'll resolve to do that...only, I'll write it here.

What is new about 2016...other than its a new day? What does it mean to be a new year? The bills still arrive, I love my wife and children, and I still know the Lord is Lord of all! Life is worth living, loving, and caring, which requires demonstrating those things so that others experience the love and care you have for them. Nothing new there, but the 6 after the 1 in the "year."

I think my newness to my blog will be that I won't be so eat up with spelling and grammar. It will be mine to share, for me, and maybe someone will get something from it, including me. My intent will be to write my intent. Let me know if my spelling is off. I think I quit last time because I was so concerned about no errors in my writing, that it took too long to hit the POST button, it it took away the joy of the moment.

Happy New Day! Look for the goodness in your life!

Larry

Psalm 9 and John 1:23

Psalm 9: 19-20 Rise up, Lord! Don’t let men be defiant! May the nations be judged in your presence! Terrify them, Lord! Let the nations know they are mere mortals!

There are many nations around the world who are defiant toward the Lord. There are many individuals who are defiant toward the Lord. There are times when I am defiant towards the Lord. We should all know that we were made from the dust that the Creator created. We should also celebrate the fact that He breathed life into that dust and that He loves us.

John 1:23 John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) So they asked John, “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

So, I looked up the original language for the Old Testament and the New. Isaiah 40:3 is the verse being quoted from here. The Hebrew word “Lord” used in Isaiah 40:3 is the word for God. It is not used for any other meaning. The Greek word for “Lord” used in John 1:23, is always used in the New Testament when writing about God and also about Jesus, who is the Light, who is the Word, who is fully God.

So John denies that he is the Messiah, Elijah, and the Prophet as mentioned in the Old Testament, so they want to know who he is. He says that he is the one spoken of in Isaiah, who cries out in the wilderness to make the way straight for the Lord (God, Jesus, the Light, the Word). And this is their response, why are you doing this and that when you aren’t who we thought you were? Keep this in mind, he just told them he is the person in the Book of Isaiah, a very important prophetic book, he is the person mentioned in Isaiah who will prepare the way for God on this earth. This is not the reaction I would have imagined.

Lord, I thank You for waiting. I thank You for waiting long enough for me to get to know You, and to put my faith in Jesus. Lord I know there will come a time when You will terrify those on this earth who deny you. I ask you to prepare folks who have a heart to make the Good News of Jesus Christ available to those who do not know You, before Your day comes. Also, help me to see the errors of my ways, the errors of my beliefs about You. Prepare my heart to share the truth of Your Gospel.

Larry

PSALM 8 AND JOHN 1:19-22

Psalm 8:4 Of what importance is the human race, that You should notice them? Of what importance is mankind, that you should pay attention to them, and make them a little less than the heavenly beings?

What I find so amazing is that the author of this Psalm writes of the importance that the Lord has placed on the human race. He answers the question he poses. He has given us authority to rule over His creation. What would the world look like if we demonstrated the love that God has shown us to the world around us? Maybe the world is going bad at a rate that seems uncontrollable, but what am I doing to demonstrate the leadership and love of my Lord to the ones He has placed near me?  What we need to recognize is that He demonstrated our importance to Him throughout the life, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus our Messiah! He has given us the eternally important message of sharing this story, the Gospel, with others and discipling those with whom we share.

John 1:19-22 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed—he did not deny but confessed—“I am not the Christ!” So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No!” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

So now we start getting in to the story of John the Baptist’s role. The questions here all come from thinking he must be an “important” person who was written about in the Bible as they knew it. It would not have been the Old Testament at the time, because there was no “New Testament” yet. What kind of impact was John having on those around him? Why would the Jewish leaders send people out to ask him these questions…powerful questions that could give him authority in their eyes if he said yes, and yet he didn’t. He knew his role.

Why am I not proclaiming the coming of our Lord in a way that draws questions from the leadership and everyday people? And I do not mean in a wacky way, and I don’t mean in a way to draw attention to me. My point is, why am I not demonstrating the love that has been shown to me in a way that people want to know who this Jesus is? Am I too comfortable in my home with a tall fence? Might people think I am crazy for having faith in this Man? How well am I playing my role?

Lord, thank You for Your Word! I am so thankful that You cared enough for me to send Your son, Jesus! Lord I need your help to represent You to the world, the world that You have placed me in. Help me see the opportunities to reflect Your light in the areas that You have placed me. I know it is Your work, please, help me get involved in Your work!

I am trying to listen!

Larry

PSALM 7 AND JOHN 1:18

Psalm 7:9 May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

What a humbling thought; something I know, but to read it again…He knows my inner thoughts and motives, and yet He loves me! Sometimes I wonder if I even know my motives. What must it be like? What would it be like to have the purest intention in all of my thoughts and actions?

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.

Jesus, the only one, the Word, the Light, himself God, has made God known! Well then, I want to know more about Him. I want to know more about Jesus, and therefore God! I want Him to know me! I want to be His child! He has given me so much to think about and read about in His written Word, the Bible.

Goodness Lord, I know I need You throughout my day. Thank you for loving me in the midst of my selfishness. Guide me in my daily listening to Your Spirit, so that my motives may be pure. Lord I want to know You more. Help me to see You in my reading, in my daily living, in the glory that You say Your creation declares about You! I find myself at a loss for words, so I will be silent…

Larry

Psalm 1 and John 1:16-17

While I was having lunch with my wonderful bride yesterday, she asked if I had read Psalm 1 during my quiet time. My initial response was, “of course,” and then, “well, I’m not sure!” I went back and found that I had read Psalm 101, and then progressed to Psalm 2!

So, today I have the pleasure of reading Psalm! And so should you!

Psalm 1:1-2 How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers! Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night.

How blessed is the one who…finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; he meditates on his command day and night! I have to say that this quiet time in the morning is having a significant impact on my heart. What kind of difference might there be if I meditated on what the Lord has taught me day and night? The word that meditate comes from means “to recite quietly; to meditate” and refers to intense study and reflection. This is from a note from the NET Bible. That might be something for me to consider. Pick a verse from the reading of the day, and recite it throughout my day.

John 1:16-17 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.

So from the Word we have all received one gracious gift after another. What gifts are being talked about here? Are we talking about each and every breath and heartbeat, or daily blessing of home, food, and family? But what about the ones who don't have what others would characterize as earthly blessings? What about those in the margins of society?

Then the author goes on to write about the Law of Moses, which required work of the Israelites to receive earthly blessings from God, while grace and truth require faith alone. Have we finally put a name to the Light, who is the Word, who is fully God? Have I been reading about this Jesus Christ, who brought about grace and truth? The anticipation is very strong to get further in to this book!

Lord, I want to be characterized as blessed by You. Would you guide me daily in focusing on your commands and teachings? Help me to focus on what You have said, to know your promises, and to stand on your promises. And thank You for Jesus! My heart is overjoyed at the idea of getting to know Him, and therefore You, more during this time is Your Word!

Thank you!

Larry

Psalm 6 and John 1:14-15

Psalm 6  Relent, Lord, rescue me! Deliver me because of your faithfulness!

It seems as though the writer of this Psalm is undergoing some kind of hardship, and I do not know the reason for it. What strikes me here is the writer appeals to the Lord for rescue, because of the Lord’s faithfulness, not because of any works or any amount of human righteousness. He only appeals to the Lord’s faithfulness. That is the only reason I can call on Him as well, because of His faithfulness to His promises.

John 1:14-15 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’”

This seems like a new story line is starting here, like John 1:1-13 was an intro. The Word, who is fully God, became flesh and took up residence among us. There was a time when God in spirit dwelt among the Israelites. This was in the tabernacle, a tent, and also in the temple in Jerusalem. How overwhelming is it to read that He became a man and lived among them? They saw His glory! Who else on earth could be full of grace and truth? John the Baptist says, “He existed before me.” John acknowledges that the Word was in the beginning with God, was fully God, and was now standing before Him in the flesh! Look back at Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1. What an tremendous experience it must have been to see the Word in person. John 1:6 says that John’s roll was to testify about the Light, and now the Light, the Word, Who is fully God, was standing right before his very eyes! Wow!

Lord, help me to be full of amazement at the thought of you becoming flesh and living on this earth. You created everything and “the heavens cannot contain you,” and yet you became like me with skin and bones. Help me to be overwhelmed with the thought of this being a part of your faithfulness to your promises. Lord, apparently I need Your help daily in order to recognize Your faithfulness to You. I need your help to recognize that Your promises will be fulfilled to the glory of You, not me! Turn my heart from appealing to my work when presenting my prayers to You. Please, help me to glorify You in my time of prayer. Lord, will you show me what are needs and what are desires. Please, help me to be a part of your fulfilling your promises. I am so thankful that I receive the benefit of Your promises. What must it be like to walk with You and to see You face to face?

I look forward to that day!

Larry