Read the Book!

It's not uncommon for places to have a "Lost and Found." Our Dustin kept his school's "Lost and Found" in business! During the reign of King Josiah, a discovery was made: "Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.' And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. ... Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, 'Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.' And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king." (2 Kings 22:8, 10, NASB). We must not miss the tragedy amid such a good discovery: the Book of the Law (God's Word) is lost. I fear this sounds too much like today! The psalmist wrote, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your Word." (Psalm 119:9, ESV). Purity of heart comes with continual meditation on the pure and perfect words of God. Let's me clear: the Word of God is not lost. Rather, as a nation, a church and individuals, we have given priority to other things instead of that which is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path (Psalm 119:105, ESV). The neglect of God's Word always shows itself in our lives. Today - yes, right now - is the perfect time to open His Word and let It re-prioritize our lives. Do not delay - today ... read the Book!

Best View

The twins had never flown so Mister Bill planned a surprise flight from DC to home. Instantly, we recognized the apprehension on Dennis’s face! We boarded the plane – Dennis announced he would not sit next to the window, demanded the shade be pulled, refused anything to eat, then buried his head in a book. With twenty-five minutes left in flight, he settled down and even asked to sit next to the window. His final analysis was that flying was pretty cool! Besides God Himself, what do you suppose inspired the psalmist's words, “So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your power and glory.” (Psalm 63:2). As we flew above the clouds, looking down on them [rather than up], I considered our limited view of life here. The struggles often make us see and focus on the underside, shading and distorting the view. Almighty God, however, sees us and the design of our lives, knowing each one’s potential and purpose. Oh, that we beheld ourselves in His view, surrendering completely to His sovereignty in all our circumstances, and how He plans to use them as runways for our growth. Oh, to embrace such a view of life! We were happy to have feet-on-the-ground, and feet-on-the-ground is our calling until Christ returns. While we shouldn't live with our head-in-the-clouds, hope in Jesus gives us an unwavering and steadfast other-world (Kingdom) view. That is the always the ... best view!

Following The Shepherd

Since retirement, I’m often asked “what are you doing today?”  My best-loved answer is “nothing,” but that’s not always the case!  For the Believer, it’s good to consider who am I doing today with? Oh, how easy it is to zip right through the day leaving behind The One Who gifts us with and sustains our days.  Paul David Tripp writes, “So many people live with a great big gap right smack dab in the middle of their gospel, and they don’t know it.”  A hole in the Gospel – say it ain’t so!  Well, it ain’t so!  Jesus Christ came-died-rose-lives for our past-present-future [sins] and for that greatly anticipated future home [in Heaven].  Yay and Amen!  However, He also is The Savior of our our todays; Tripp calls it the “nowism of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Never in my years have I known of so many broken promises resulting in broken hearts and grievous sorrows from death and disease; I’m sure you can say the same! When Believers grasp the power of Christ and His mercy for our todays, we’ll turn from this self-help-pick-me-up-guruism that is so popular today, and actually experience “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1). Let us never live with a gap in our Gospel – live each day with The Savior - always ... following The Shepherd.

Fly Right

Several years ago, I walked into church with my sweater wrong-side-out. Laughing, I later mentioned it to Mister Bill. I wasn't quite prepared for his response, "yeah, I noticed it but figured you knew it." Really? Have you noticed how terribly mixed-up the world is? The word catawampus comes to my mind; that may be a new word to you but we know catawampus when we see it: a slightly tilted picture, a car parked crookedly between the lines, a disheveled book on the shelf. Those with an eye for catawampus know it  well! Too often I find myself gasping at the catawampus views of God's people. Paul reminds us, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2). I suggest we have lost sight of God’s Sovereignty, that He is the Supreme Ruler Who rules all the affairs of the universe including every smidgen of our lives. He IS the Place of Rest for Believers as well as the Center of our world and worship. “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods … Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:3, 6). The audacity and shame of man are easily summed up in the imagination that you and I are king and lord! My Mom used to say to me: “young lady, you better straighten up and fly right.” I knew exactly what she meant: change your attitude and misbehavin’ ways … or else! Scripture says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12). The world may be okay with catawampus thinking-and-living but those who love the Lord must not be! The measure of catawampus (misalignment and crooked) is God's Word - the Source of all Truth. Listen, don't "honk if you love Jesus" – just obey Him! Don't be deceived into thinking "God is my co-pilot" – He is THE Pilot! Like Joshua, let us "choose this day whom you will serve" ... fly right!

No Floating

This summer heat takes me back to a sweet time of floating on the lake! At a friend's s lake, Mister Bill would fish from the dock while I floated leisurely nearby. At some point, Mister Bill's voice would sound an alarm: "You're drifting out too far." Spiritual drifting is a real and serious danger. We must be ever mindful (attentive, conscious, watchful, alert) to God's Truth rooted in a personal relationship with Christ. The apostle Peter warned followers of Jesus how false teachings can quickly creep in without spiritual diligence to God's "exceeding great and precious promises." (2 Peter 1:4). When we nod-off spiritually, imitators of truth begin to chip away at the foundation of truth we have in Christ and; imitations such as moral living, good deeds, warm fuzzy feelings, do-it-yourself strengths, etc. There is, of course, an anti-toxin, a counter-agent to Satan's deceits – “add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge self-control; and to self-control endurance; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love." (v.5-7). We exist in a merciless, unkind, poisonous world and remaining close and holding to the teachings of Christ help us recognize Truth and identify that which is not [Truth]. Let me encourage you to live attentively and deliberately, and ... no floating!

Drink Deeply

Watching “hummingbird wars” can be entertaining: thirsty birds harassing even body-slamming one another! It’s sad how many Believers seem more interested in just hanging around rather than partaking of what Christ offers. The psalmist wrote, “For with You is the Fountain of Life.” (Psalm 36:9). To observe a fountain spring of fresh water in mid-day heat is one thing but to enter it and be be refreshed by it is very different. Even in fear of body-slams, those thirsty little birds keep returning to the source of sweet nectar. Why? Why? Because they have tasted its goodness! “Hope deferred makes the heart sick; a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12). Oh, why not “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16). If you have indeed tasted the rich and abundant and fulfilling sustenance of a personal relationship with Jesus, you know - yes, you know - there's no other so sweet nor soul-satisfying. Drink deeply!

The UnChangeable

There are few things that can be described as unchanging. Even things that are life-long guaranteed go through degrees of change in appearance or practicality. Unchanging sounds great but is it really a characteristic about which we care? Whether we are readily willing to admit it or not, the answer is ... yes, we do care! There is only one unchangeable: Jehovah - The Self-Existent One, The Great I AM. Thus says the Lord, "I the Lord do not change" (Malachi 3:6, ESV). In the short span of a few hours, I give God countless reason to change His mind about loving me and wanting to be involved in my doings. Another companion word to unchangeable used often in Scripture is "everlasting." God says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you" (Jeremiah 31:3, ESV). God's unchanging nature is also everlasting - it knows no beginning nor end; it just continues endlessly. Such an unchanging and everlasting nature is impossible [really] to comprehend but it is never  impractical. Perhaps right now you need a change, a reprieve, a relief, a respite from trusting in and relying on ever-changing, tossing-and-turning of life. God is the change you need … The Unchangeable!

It's What We Do

There is an understood expectation that what a thing is that will it do. For example, we expect our vehicle to take us to an intended destination because that is what vehicles do; we expect to eat a satisfying meal at a restaurant because that is what restaurants do; we expect the clock to show us the accurate time of day because that is what clocks do. It goes without saying, of course, vehicles fail, restaurants don't deliver, clocks malfunction; nonetheless, the expectation continues. What does Jesus expect of His followers? Perhaps we would answer to give to the poor and needy, to visit the sick and shut-in, to teach or to preach or to serve. What did Jesus expect of Himself? Jesus said, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of the One Who sent Me." (John 6:38). Jesus was not devoted to doing what the people needed, wanted, expected; He was solely devoted to The Father. What a profound principle for Jesus' followers today. God calls us not to devote ourselves to a cause but to a Person, and that person is The Person of Jesus Christ. In focused devotion to Jesus, like Him, we know and do as God wills us. What should we expect of ourselves? Please The Father - follow Jesus ... it's what we do.

Re:

Good day!

Here is the last warning.

Your system has been cracked. We have copied the entire information from your device to our servers. Besides, we have recorded the video from your camera with you watching a porn movie.

My virus has infected your device via an adult website that you recently visited.

I can share details in case if you don’t know how it works. A Trojan virus grants me entire access and control over your device. As a result, I can see your screen, activate the camera and the microphone and you won’t even know about it.

I have captured a video from your screen and the camera and have made a video where one part of a screen demonstrates you masturbating, and another part shows a porn video that you were watching at that time.

I can see the entire list of your contacts in the phone and the social networks.

I can send this video to all the contacts in your phone, the E-mail and the social networks in a single click. Moreover, I can send the data of your E-mail and your messengers to anybody.

This would ruin your reputation once and for all.

In case if you wish to prevent such consequences, do the following-

Transfer 1300 USD (American dollars) to my Bitcoin- wallet.

(If you do not know how to do this, write in a search string in Google: «Buy bitcoin").

My Bitcoin Wallet (BTC Wallet): 18qTeVDY4LwxjcwtGD76JuDj5fbhVRrpy

Immediately after crediting of payment I shall erase your video and shall not bother you anymore.

You have 50 hours (a little more than 2 days) to make the payment.

I receive an automatic notification of reading of this letter. The timer will also automatically launch right after you read this E-mail.

Don’t try to complain anywhere- my BTC –wallet cannot be traced and an E-mail that sent you the letter is created automatically-any response would be senseless.

Should you try to share this E-mail with somebody, the system will automatically send a request to the servers and they will start sending the entire information to social networks.

The change of passwords of social networks, an E-mail and the device would be senseless either as the whole data has already been downloaded to cluster of my servers.

I wish you luck and don’t do something stupid. Consider your reputation.

Our Warranty

Warranties can be a deal-maker or a deal-breaker! Few things come with a lifetime warranty but when they do, it's usually worth consideration. "As for man, his days are like grass - he flourishes like a flower of the field, but when the wind blows over it, it is gone, and its place is no longer known." (Psalm 103:15-16, TLV). Mister Bill often jokes that he should have considered my warranty more carefully some 49 years ago; truth is, none of us come with a promise of longevity. The psalmist prayed, "O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!" (Psalm 39:4, ESV). How wise we are when we live within the reality that our days are fleeting! "But the mercy of Adonai is from everlasting to everlasting on those who revere Him, His righteousness to children's children, to those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His instructions." (Psalm 103: 17, TLV). From everlasting-to-everlasting cannot be rightly imagined nor described as the span of [what we know as] a lifetime. I regret the opportunities I've squandered in my lifetime yet God never failed to use each otherwise wasted moment to prove Himself faithful in His love for and towards me. Because Adonai is self-existing from eternity-to-eternity, He alone warrants His goodness and faithfulness to all mankind. What a wonder and joy [as Believers] we know there is no one in whom to place every moment of our lives. He is our ... Warranty.

Mighty Words

Mirrors are something for serious “reflection” – how witty of me! In most bathrooms, the
mirror is a key fixture; we decoratively frame it, clean it to a sparkle-shine, and rarely ignore what it reflects. How often, however, do you consider your spiritual reflection? Unlike the attention we give to our physical reflections, we tend to neglect the spiritual. Jesus prayed for His followers: “For their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:19, ESV). While God's Truth is altogether sanctifying (making us holy), we first must know His Truth. It's interesting how followers of Jesus give so little thought nor devote such an minuscule amount of time to God's Word. Reading and meditating on His words isn't just a spiritual exercise, it must be a daily discipline; there's no other way to know Christ intimately. Furthermore, with all the lies that come at us [from all directions], we're left defenseless to recognize or defend against the lies unless God's Truth is in us! I encourage us all to be thankful and grateful for The Holy Scriptures - to recognize and remember and reflect on these mighty words ... "Thus saith the Lord."

The Father's Way

When we leave home for our favorite beach, there are several routes we can take. Mister Bill prefers the shorter less traveled route; and, although we have made the trip more than forty years, we must listen to the GPS woman for direction. Me, I would choose the more familiar route with its many stop lights and stopping-spots along the way. David wrote, "O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness ... make Your way straight before me" (Psalm 5:8, NASB). Do you routinely ask God for His way or do you make your own way? "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 18:12, NASB). When we do choose our own way, we can be sure it will not be God's way - the way of righteousness, the way that leads to life, to peace and joy and contentment. You know this: there are plenty of voices inviting and urging us to go this way and that way! Same was true for David - he writes of the alternative voices as unreliable, destructive, rebellious, boastful, flattering, selfish. I'm so very thankful I had an earthly father who not only taught me God's way but lived it before me. To walk in my Dad's footsteps was to follow the path less traveled. My deepest gratitude is that The Father's way has been shown to us through His Son, Jesus. His way is clearly marked - not always the shortest or fastest route, and with lots of stops and starts; nonetheless, it's the way to a settled soul and contented spirit. Choose ... The Father's Way.

Run To the Father!

As I understand it, we begin to retain memories around the age of three. Interestingly, there are certain things of which I have no "first" memory. For example, I don't remember the first time I dribbled a basketball or wore a softball glove; those "first" memories just aren't there! Where did you first learn to feel and show compassion? Perhaps it was by observing your parents' [or someone else's] love and compassion. In Psalm 103 David wrote of a father's compassion as he reflected on Perfect Compassion of his heavenly father. "Bless Adonai (The LORD), O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: He forgives all your iniquity. He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit. He crowns you with lovingkindness and compassions. He satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like an eagle." Psalm 103:2-5, Tree of Life Version). What a beautiful and welcome response of The LORD (Adonai) to His children in spite of their unfaithfulness, waywardness and repeated failures. "Adonai is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and plentiful in mercy" (V8). Here is true grace and compassion revealed - the ultimate type and measure we are to extend to one another! I realize there are many who have not known the compassion of an earthly father but Adonai has not left any of His children in desperation for a compassionate father: "The mercy of Adonai is from everlasting to everlasting on those who revere Him, His righteousness to children's children, to those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His instruction." (V17-18). Oh, how Adonai wants to be that everlasting-to-everlasting Father to the fatherless. Run to The Father!

A Good Name

Perhaps you'd rather not think about this but what would you like to be said of you when you're ... gone? Of all the kings of Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel), Hezekiah was known for doing what was "right in the sight of the LORD" (2 Kings 18:3). Furthermore, Scripture says King Hezekiah "Trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses." (2 Kings 18:5-6, NASB). I fear we live in a time when too little attention is given to a "good name" or one's integrity. God says, "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1, ESV). For sure, there are lots of ways to gain recognition and "make a name" for yourself - there's lots of folks that have done (and are doing) that! God also says, "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth." (Ecclesiastes 7:1, ESV). Why is a person's death sweeter than his birth? How else is anyone named among those who love God and known for doing "what is right in the sight of the LORD" than how they spend their life between birth and death! King Hezekiah loved the Lord and proved it by the life he led; he is named in the pages of God's Word as one who "clung to the LORD" ... who "did not depart from following Him" ... who "kept His commandments." What a testimony to a rich, favorable and precious life is ... a good name!

The WORD of Words

One of the many things I admired about my Dad was his gift of words. Watching him type-out his thoughts is a precious memory. A writer myself, I've learned something very important: words that are written [or spoken] without compassion can be dangerous! Proverbs 25:11 is great counsel: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." There is a timeliness and a condition in-and-by which we should speak. "A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment - how good it is!" (Proverbs 15:23, AMP). Oh, to be so wise - knowing the time to speak and the manner in which to speak. Isaiah describes the manner by which God's Servant (Jesus) speaks: "The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple." (Isaiah 50:4, NASB). Jesus, The Word, knew how to perfectly speak uplifting and sustaining words. In the same regard, we should know our words matter! There's no better place to learn how to speak words that lift, nourish,strengthen and nurture than ... the perfect words of God found in the Word of God. As we are nourished and sustained, so let us nourish and sustain others. Learn your words from ... The WORD of words.

Primed To Love

As I understand it, there are secrets to a good paint job - it begins with a good coat of primer paint to cover stains and such. Perhaps one of the toughest things to navigate in this life is ... relationships. While some find the drama entertaining and even relish being in the middle of it, the brokenness of relationships is unsettling and a drain on peace and joy of heart. In 1 Peter 4 the Apostle describes man's natural behavior, apart from Christ: unrestrained, shameless, resentful, critical, selfish, prideful (1 Peter 4:2-5). Just listen to the world's voices of reason and you will surely hear how we are to respond to relationship drama! In contrast, however, God gives specific and simple instruction to His children - His followers who love Him and genuinely seek to honor Him: "Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]." (1 Peter 4:8, AMP). Battered and beaten, the target of insults and mockery, Jesus hung shamefully between two thieves and said, "Father, forgive them" yet [even among Believers] we refuse to hold our tongues in anger while we grasp firmly a prideful and unforgiving spirit. "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." (Proverbs 10:12, ESV). There it is - the primer of all relationships ... love! Imagine if we looked on others and their unsightly behavior and attitudes toward us through the loving lens of a telescope instead of a microscope. Oh, what a world this would be! Oh, what a different view this world would have of the Saints of God. Let us love one another [and others] with the same passion and warmth by which we have been loved. Because God loved us first, we are ... primed to love!

Joy For the Journey

The things that bring us pleasure are literally endless: a sunrise or a sunset, toes in the sand and splashes at the ocean's edge, a good meal or coffee with a friend, an exciting ballgame. David wrote, "Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness" (Psalm 5:4, KJV). When we say "God is good," we speak of His very nature - not merely the good things He lavishes upon those who love Him. This we know and in this we rejoice: "no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11, ESV). When we truly believe this, we will acknowledge it - that is, we live it out! In times of sorrow and suffering, we will be unmoved about the Goodness of God. Do we really believe God is Good - that all the time God is Good? If so, there will be less and less whining, groaning, complaining; there will [instead] be more and more trusting in The Good God we know and proved Himself faithful in Goodness. In His Goodness, we find rest for our souls, the delight of being and doing good to others. Ultimately, in His Goodness, we find ... joy for the journey!