Music

I am checking in with you again this morning with my YouVersion devotion selection for today. It is really good and I think you will like it. You might even find it helpful as you interact with people who deny our faithful and glorious GOD.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

WHERE IS THE MUSIC?

A cynical French astronomer once bragged to J.W. Hawley, “I have swept the universe with my telescope, and I find no God.” To this, Hawley simply replied, “That is as unreasonable as for me to say I have taken my violin apart, have examined each piece, and I find no music.” Hawley’s words were wise and silenced the skeptic. Most of the time, we have to notice the subtle causes and effects of life to see God. However, there are times when He makes His presence known most dramatically.

Elijah had spent his life trying to convince a straying nation to come back to the one true God. Now it was time for a showdown. Gathered on Mount Carmel, the helpless prophets of Baal danced and chanted all day for a display from their god. After they exhausted their resources, Elijah told them to step aside. In his brief prayer, Elijah called on God to show Himself as the true God. God did so, and revival broke out (1 Kings 18:20-39).

In our day, God is again displaying His power in the world. These are times of great revival, and we are seeing dramatic miracles in ministry. Pray with us today that God will continue to move that men may know. Let it be known this day that You are God in Israel.

You Version Visiting

The devotion from my Reading Plan was too good to not share with you today.

NAIL HOLES

Seeking to make the consequences of careless living clear to his son, a father told him to drive a nail into the post every time he did something wrong. Then each time the boy did a kindly act, he was told to pull out a nail. The son did as instructed but soon found that although he could pull out the nail, he could do nothing about the nail hole. One might change his ways, but the scars of sin remain.

David blatantly disobeyed God by “numbering Israel.” The issue was not whether it was right or wrong to conduct the census. Rather, the issue was one of obedience. God had said “No,” but David insisted on his own way. One iron law of life is that evil will be punished, and David’s sin was no exception. Judgment came, and David was given alternatives for punishment. Of the choices given, David decided to take his chances with God rather than the cruelty of man (2 Samuel 24:10-14). It was a wise decision.

Two important lessons come from this major Bible prayer. First of all, we can never get away with evil. We will always suffer with the scars of sin. But, second, we also can rely on the mercies of God to restore us, if we come in full confession and sincerely seek His help. How much better it is if we obey in the first place.

Emphasis above is mine.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

A Busy Week

here at the Thompson house. Good things but not much time for writing here at The White Stone.

Tomorrow is final night for ACES, Fall Session. Luke is our Man for study.

Luke holds a very important verse for me.

Luke 24:50 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

via Luke 24:50 NASB – The Ascension – And He led them out as – Bible Gateway.

My Baby Girl is named from this verse. The place of JESUS’ Ascension to Heaven after His Resurrection.

And how about the following verses?

51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and were continually in the temple praising God.

via Luke 24 NASB – The Resurrection – But on the first day – Bible Gateway.

And Luke’s continues recording – penning of the WORD as dictated by the HOLY SPIRIT in the Book of The ACTS.

In the first chapter of ACTS, the LORD gives parting words and instructions and then it reads:

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

via Acts 1 NASB – Introduction – The first account I – Bible Gateway.

HE will come again.

Be encouraged. HE will come again!

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

HOLY SPIRIT, as they come here to read and as they read, I ask that You speak individually to them in these verses, speaking the WORD to each as they need. Open our eyes in a deeper way to the glory of Your Ascension, LORD JESUS, and Your Return for us and the commission You commanded until You return for us.

Ignorance

I am confessing my ignorance.

This morning I am finishing prep for tonight’s Bible Class at the Adult Continuing Education Series (ACES) being held at First Baptist Church Satsuma. And I have come across a word that truly I have no recollection of previously reading.

Comeuppance

And it means an outcome (good or bad) that is well deserved.

Good or bad.

Well deserved.

I am so glad I am not getting my comeuppance of hell and I have received JESUS comeuppance of HEAVEN.

Aren’t you?

Look for an opportunity today to tell someone about your comeuppance.

10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

via Romans 5 NLT – Faith Brings Joy – Therefore, since we – Bible Gateway.

I encourage you to read the whole chapter from which these verses came.

Comeuppance.

A good word.

ABBA, thank You for the glorious pleasure of learning. Keep me learning, I pray. Thank You for good outcomes. And thank You that for Your People You turn bad outcomes to good ones. Thank You for the happy, happy things I see You doing and thank You for those good and blessed things You are doing that I do not yet see. Thank You. The Baby. Praying for him to breathe strong and healthily. Praying for his ‘mothers’ to love You with their whole hearts and rely upon You for everything. Israel. Always my prayer, ABBA, for their peace and the subduing of their enemies – Your enemies. The election – You know my heart cry there. The humbling of Your People. Yes, LORD, help us humble ourselves and repent. The restoration of America. Yes, ABBA, do not remove our lampstand. Help us humble ourselves and allow You to raise us up to reflect Your glory again. Many folks. Kerri. Dori. Pam. Allie. Dawn. And families grieving. And hard-headed people we love. And sad and lonely people. Lost and wondering what to do people. We all know people as these, ABBA, and we pray for them; just asking for Your help to heal them, comfort, encourage them and show them You have a far, far, far better way for them than the path they are taking. Yes, ABBA, her too. Thank You. You are so good to me. I love You, ABBA, in JESUS Mighty and Holy name.  And, one more thought. Continued strength and blessings for Your many faithful servants. Those just quietly and some not so quietly :) doing the thing of loving You and people. I pray for their strength to be meet for this day.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!