What God Has Been teaching Me Lately LXXIV (74)…

Greetings My Friends~

As a simple pilgrim
following the Lord Jesus
through the rainforests and deserts of this earthly life,

I would like to humbly share
some of what God has been bubbling up in my mind/heart lately
through the Bible.

I pray that these thoughts are

cushions in your shoes,
balm to your burns,
umbrellas for the rain,
and shade to the scorching heat

as you too follow the Lord Jesus each day.

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The Real Labor Day

If you have a day off from work on Labor Day,
remember the most amazing act of labor:

the Son of God dying on the cross to pay the sin-debt
of any who repent & believe. Isaiah 52:13-15

Health/Maturity

What does it mean to stay fresh & green & bear fruit in old age?
After all we endure, to still proclaim
the LORD’s goodness & faithfulness–Psalm 92:14-15

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God’s Promises

As the LORD transforms us to
love Him, acknowledge His name & call on Him–Psalm 91:14-15–
He promises to
rescue, protect, answer, be with, deliver, honor, satisfy &
show His salvation to His people.
Wow! Oh the undeserved favor of the LORD Almighty!!!

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Walk The Talk

Oh the importance of words & actions matching!

Psalm 91:9—“if you say, ‘the LORD is my refuge,
‘and make the Most High your dwelling…” Help us, LORD!

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Nourishment…or decoration?

A. God’s Word is the main entree of daily following Christ…
not the napkin folded to look like a swan
(i.e. entertaining but not essential)–Matthew 4:4.

B. Some meals give lethargy, some energy.
May the LORD bless the teaching of His Word at His local churches
so we leave, not drowsy, but driven…

C. The entire Old Testament points to Christ Jesus,
centers around Him, & promises the Gospel! Yes!
The whole Bible, not just parts! Romans 1:2-4

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What Is Your Lifeboat?

Clinging to earthly comforts during earthly stress
leaves us un-equipped to handle the stress of leaving earth.
We must learn to cling to Christ & His Word…

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Know God As He Is (not as we want Him to be)

Father please help us do both not just the first:

“Consider the kindness and sternness of God…
otherwise you will also be cut off”–Romans 11:22.

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See The Sickness To Seek The Cure

A. God shows us our sin’s terribleness
so we seek the Savior’s terrificness.

“Cover their faces with shame, LORD,
so that they will seek your name”–Psalm 83:16

B. Scholarships: earned by having much;
grants: received by having little.

Jesus’ blood = a free grant received only as we agree how undeserving we are.

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Both/And Not Either/Or

A. Some say–“It’s the Father, Son & Holy Spirit, not the Holy Bible.”

Please click below: to reject God’s Word is to reject Him: https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=reject+word&qs_version=NIV

B. Distance runners don’t wait to run until they get the “runners’ high”;
they only get that when they run.
Don’t wait to read Scripture until you are excited to…

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God’s Character Is Not Changed By Our Circumstances

A. 4x David declares the LORD’s righteousness (Psalm 71:2,15,16,19)
yet agrees that God has led him into many painful trials–verse 20.
God is good no matter what!

B. May we always say, “The LORD is great!”,
even before He rescues/delivers us from our trials & suffering–Psalm70:4.
Seek the Giver before His gifts.

C. Psalm 69:1-12–David describes his suffering
yet before the suffering ends he says:
“But I pray to you, LORD” (verse 13) &
“I will praise God’s name” (verse 30).

D. While David is in the middle of suffering–
the LORD hasnt delivered him yet–
David remembers his obligation to God & chooses to thank Him–Psalm 56.

E. David wants to run from his trial (verse 6-8)
yet he cries out to God throughout the day,
trusting that He hears & will sustain him (verse 16-17,22)–Psalm 55.

F. Even if the LORD doesnt give you a breakthrough or relief or new blessing,
let’s praise & hope in Him for what He has already done! Psalm 52:9

G. Like You did thru Paul in Acts 27:33-36,
in the middle of our storms,
please bless us to
give thanks to You,
encourage others &
instruct them with wisdom.

H. Heavenly Father, when the winds are against us,
when we make slow headway,
when we have difficulty arriving &
when the winds move us off course (Acts 27:4,7),
may we trust the Lord Jesus–“our Anchor holds within the Veil” & in the gale.
“On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”

I. Heavenly Father, open our eyes to see
Your kindness to us in the middle of our trials–Acts 27:1,3.
You truly are with us in the valley–Psalm 23.

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The Mundane Can Be Miraculous

Apple orchards are museums from the LORD
where we get to eat the artwork! 🙂 ‪#autumn

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God Cares More For Our Character Than Our Comfort

The Rock of God’s Word shatters the Prosperity gospel’s stained-glass:

Psalm 66:10-12–“For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver…”

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Repentance (Turning From Sin)

Oh this humbling Truth–
“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened [to my prayer]”—
Psalm 66:18.

Repentance is vital.

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It’s All About Him

The purpose of the LORD blessing us:
that HE would be known–His Truth & His Cross!

“May God bless us…so Your ways & salvation be known”–Psalm 67:1-2.

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Sin

Wickedness doesnt just deny/avoid Truth but suppresses it–Romans 1:18.
Sin doesnt want 2co-exist w/Truth but extinguish it like a black hole

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Real Christian Fellowship

A. Christians–together dig into God’s Word
dont just hang out in the world.
Fellowship = better than friendship;
koinonia = better than camaraderie.

B. May Christians be encouraged & made strong
by each other’s faith in Christ,
not just entertained by each other’s personalities–Romans 1:11-12.