Monthly Archives: September 2017

Saturday, September 30          A similar truth surfaced in the September issue of Guideposts.  Kate Merrick submitted this little gem.  “I have learned not to fear suffering, because it’s not my enemy but my teacher.”  Like all … Continue reading →

Friday, September 29                  When things are going smoothly, I’m happy.  But sometimes I’m a bit uneasy because I know that sooner or later there will be another problem to deal with.  I … Continue reading →

Thursday, September 28           My eternal life has already started. No, I’m not dead. We tend to think of the gift of eternal life in terms of heaven.  But the Bible says that eternal life begins … Continue reading →

Tuesday, September 26              Paul’s dealing with Philemon concerning Onesimus reveals a lot about Paul.  He loved all those that were involved and did not use his Apostleship to coerce people into what he knew … Continue reading →

Monday, September 25              If we love others the way God loves us, the whole world would take notice.  Unfortunately, we can’t do that.  On two counts.  One, we’re not God; we’re not sinless as … Continue reading →

Saturday, September 23            Now, the second bit of advice from Robert Murray M’Cheyne.  “A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.”  By “awful,” of course, he means “full of awe, not … Continue reading →

Friday, September 22         “It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus.  A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.”  Cited by Warren Wiersbe’s book “On Being … Continue reading →

Thursday, September 21                  There’s an incident in 2 Kings 2:23-24 that has long baffled me.  Elisha was on his way from Jericho to Mt. Carmen and had reached Bethel. “As he was … Continue reading →

Wednesday, September 20                 I often get a few bruises and scrapes when I’m working in the yard.  The other day I was cutting up a small tree that had rotted out and … Continue reading →

Tuesday, September 19              An article about neutrinos and antimatter recently appeared in our local newspaper.  It starts with “The universe as we know it shouldn’t exist.”  Then they raised the question “Are mysterious particles … Continue reading →

Monday, September 18 I turned 89 a couple weeks ago.  The older I get, the more I appreciate rest.  It used to be that I could work hard all day, play softball all evening and still be raring to go … Continue reading →

Monday, September 18              I turned 89 about six weeks ago.  The older I get, the more I appreciate rest.  It used to be that I could work hard all day, play softball all evening … Continue reading →

Sunday, September 17 We sang a hymn Sunday that I was not familiar with, “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us.”      One particular line caught my attention. “Why should I gain from His reward?”  Jesus paid for my sins by … Continue reading →

Saturday, September 16 One of the most dramatic moments in history occurred at that “Last Supper.”  Jesus deliberately made that enigmatic statement “but not all of you” when talking with Peter.  That phrase opened the door to the idea that … Continue reading →

Friday, September 15 For years I’ve pondered over what Jesus’ purpose was in washing the disciples feet.  The action itself is not difficult.  But what was he trying to teach them?  Peter didn’t understand it—at first.  And since he usually … Continue reading →

Thursday, September 14                    Gleanings from Pastor Doug’s recent sermon:  When Jesus wanted to wash Peter’s feet, Peter strenuously objected.  Peter was saying that he knew better than Jesus, whom Peter recognized … Continue reading →

Wednesday, September 13           Did the Jews of Jesus’ day understand that their Messiah would be God Himself?  Probably not.  Although their Scriptures hinted at Christ being God, it is not explicit.  Christ (the Greek equivalent … Continue reading →

  Tuesday, September 12                    God never “tries” to do something.  He decrees it.  Here is some evidence.  Isaiah 14:24.  “The Lord Almighty has sworn, ‘Surely, as I have planned, so it … Continue reading →

Monday, September 11                    “The Bible is the only book whose author is always present when it is read.”  David McCasland, Daily Bread, 6/6/17.  That’s a no brainer since God is everywhere, … Continue reading →

Sunday, September 10               Despite the gulf between an infinite all knowing God and limited capacity of man to understand divine truths, God is quite capable of bridging the gap.  Since he is omniscient, … Continue reading →

Saturday, September 9                Human marriage is an analogy of the spiritual relationship that we have with God.  This is not happenstance.  God ordained human marriage to populate the earth, but also to picture … Continue reading →

Friday, September 8                      The Bible says that we are to walk in God’s ways.  It also says that God’s ways are past finding out.   and Normally, I would have a … Continue reading →

Thursday, September 7              Getting the ark to Jerusalem was a big deal for David.  But he had another goal—building a temple for God to live in.  From the Uzzah incident he learned to enquire … Continue reading →

Wednesday, September 6               David was determined to get the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem.  After the fiasco with Uzziah, he was so fearful of God’s anger, he left the ark with Obed-Edom … Continue reading →

Tuesday, September 5                         Most of us think of Jesus being “lifted up” on the cross as being literal, that Jesus was put on the cross and then raised … Continue reading →

Monday, September 4              Conversion means that we accept Christ as Lord, that we will be dependent on him forever.  We are called servants, workmen, soldiers.  We are expected to obey God.  Paul says that … Continue reading →

Sunday, September 3                      Let me illustrate the value of poetry by using Psalm 19.  It is in verse form, but a bit different than what we are used to.  You … Continue reading →

Saturday, September 2                   Poetry is a special way of expressing truth.  While prose focuses on the mind, on rational thought and logic, poetry focuses on emotions.  Poetry puts facts in graphic … Continue reading →

Friday, September 1                  John 12:26.  Jesus told the crowd that his servants would follow him and the Father would honor them for following him.  Then (v. 28) Jesus said “Father, glorify your … Continue reading →