Easy Isn’t Always Easy!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #486

23 Wednesday Sep 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Faith, Faithful, Faithful Follower, Faithful God--Faithful me!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Suffering With Jesus, Sunshine Or Rain, Take Up YOUR Cross, Testing and Trials?, Thankfulness with joy!

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Easy Isn’t Always Easy!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #486

We’re all familiar with the old saying, “no pain, no gain”; it can be traced back to the 17th century, and even Benjamin Franklin is credited with using the saying.  What does it mean to us as Jesus’ children and disciples?  Well, the “easy believeism” doesn’t take into account the whole counsel of God, for God warns us that following Him will cost us something of ourselves.  No, not a cost to be saved, or to keep our salvation, but when we come to Jesus, and identify with Him and His Word, there is a cost (a cost that many not only deny but refuse to align with—I’ll let God’s Word speak for me!)!  Let’s let Jesus speak first, then we’ll consider some other biblical teachings on this very thing.

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

 therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.”  John 15:17-21

 The question that we need to consider is, “Are we His servant?”  So much is taught today about what we have the “right” to demand of God?  I beg to differ, Jesus says we are not to be of the world but be as our Lord Jesus was; and Jesus made it quite clear what our focus is to be in the model prayer, let’s consider just the first few lines.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father

which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:9-10

A practice that helps me refocus my praying may help you too; as I quote this passage I pray “Father…”, Thy kingdom come, IN ME…Thy will be done IN ME!  My call, our call, is to seek God’s will and kingdom, Matthew 6 ends with an amazing imperative, may it bless and speak to you as it so often does to me!

“Therefore

take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat? or,

What shall we drink? or,

Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:31-34                                                  (Be sure and check out what the “therefore” is there for, see verses 24-30 at least!!!)

Peter also gives us some great insight to measure our heart by.

“Servants, be subject to your masters

with all fear;

not only to the good and gentle,

but also to the froward.

19 For this is thankworthy,

if a man for conscience toward God

endure grief,

suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if,

when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found

in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:18-25

And in closing a lengthy passage from the author of Hebrews, which is often left out of our confidence in the first part of Hebrews 11, about faith and those who prospered in it; it shows us the difficulty sometimes of simple yet strong faith in our Lord; hence our title, easy isn’t always easy.  But serving God is above and beyond the greatest gift I have ever received—the gift that cost Jesus His life’s blood—why are we so often hesitant to pay a price for following HIM?

“1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen…

…. 6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him…

…. 36 And others had trial

of cruel mockings and scourgings,

yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned,

they were sawn asunder,

were tempted,

were slain with the sword:

they wandered about in sheepskins

and goatskins;

being destitute,

afflicted,

tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:)

they wandered in deserts,

and in mountains,

and in dens

and caves of the earth.

39 And these all,

having obtained a good report through faith,

received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing

for us, that they without us

should not be made perfect.”                                      Portions of Hebrews 11:1-6 and 36-39

The phrase “without us”, meaning that they wouldn’t be the only ones to suffer!  May we truly follow our Lord where ever it may lead.  Easy or not!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

Dry Bones Or Life??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #485

21 Monday Sep 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Life, Life or Death?, Lifting up Jesus, Light In The Dark, Living TODAY!, Looking Unto Jesus, My Grace Is Sufficient, My Help Cometh from THE LORD

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Dry Bones Or Life??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #485

Let’s talk about life—real life—the life which Jesus promised that HE IS—was and ever shall be.  Let’s take a look at Ezekiel’s experience and see what we can learn from it.

“The hand of the LORD was upon me,

and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD,

and set me down in the midst of the valley

which was full of bones,

2 And caused me to pass by them round about:

and, behold, there were very many

in the open valley;

and, lo, they were very dry.

3 And he said unto me,

Son of man,

can these bones live?

And I answered,

O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

4 Again he said unto me,

Prophesy upon these bones,

and say unto them,

O ye dry bones,

hear the word of the LORD.

5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones;

Behold,

I will cause breath to enter into you,

and ye shall live:

6 And I will lay sinews upon you,

and will bring up flesh upon you,

and cover you with skin,

and put breath in you,

and ye shall live;

and ye shall know

that I am the LORD.

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded:

and as I prophesied,

there was a noise,

and behold a shaking,

and the bones came together,

bone to his bone.

8 And when I beheld, lo,

the sinews and the flesh came up upon them,

and the skin covered them above:

but there was no breath in them.

9 Then said he unto me,

Prophesy unto the wind,

prophesy, son of man,

and say to the wind,

Thus saith the Lord GOD;

Come from the four winds,

O breath,

and breathe upon

these slain,

that they may live.

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me,

and the breath came into them,

and they lived,

and stood up upon their feet,

an exceeding great army.”  Ezekiel 37:1-10

This is one of my favorite Bible accounts, and I even like the old gospel song that describes this episode.  The thing that I want us to consider is the likeness to our situations so often in our walk through this life.  How often do we feel like “dry bones”, and much like Israel we complain about our circumstances, our trials or our expectations?  Yet what God teaches us through Ezekiel (and understand this was a picture that God painted through Ezekiel to try to make the the people of Israel see, that only HE, God, could give them new life and He wanted to!) is that God knows how dry we are, and He is ready and willing to give us new life!  It’s why Jesus came!  So, where does the life come from?

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man

pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

Paul makes it clear for us that spiritually we are dead without Jesus, and just fyi, “quickened” means to make alive.

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy,

for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)”                   Ephesians 1:1-5

(I encourage you to read Ephesians 2:8-10, even better read all of Ephesians 2!)

When we receive Jesus by faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin, we receive new, eternal life and forgiveness, as Paul told the Colossians, Jesus is our life!

“And you,

being dead in your sins

and the uncircumcision of your flesh,

hath he quickened together with him,

having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting

of ordinances that was against us,

which was contrary to us,

and took it out of the way,

nailing it to his cross;”    Colossians 2:13-14

Paul also shares one of my favorite verses of confidence and hope and I pray that it will encourage you even in that valley of dry bones that may be surrounding you; and just as God told Ezekiel to prophecy to the dry bones, I believe that Paul is reminding us that Jesus is our hope, and it is HIS power that created life, and can also give us new life by the new birth given by faith in the sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary (life for the dry bones!).

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Are you living in Jesus’ power?  I pray that this post will remind you that the only way to life IS JESUS!!!  Have you received the new birth?  If not, you can call on Jesus today.  If you are born again, remember that you belong to the creator of all, The One who died for your sin and mine, and gives us real life , eternal life in exchange!!!  It’s Jesus’ power that enables is to have real life in HIM!  Paul makes this abundantly clear.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

Dry bones or life?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

 Amen and Amen!!!

Our God Is Ever Faithful!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #484

18 Friday Sep 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Faith or Entertainment?, Faithful, Faithful Father--heavenly and earthly, Faithful Follower, Faithful God--Faithful me!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness

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Our God Is Ever Faithful!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #484

I want to take a bit of time today to remind us of the faithfulness of our God—Father God, Jesus Christ The Son, and The Holy Spirit—even when we face trials, challenges, questions or things we just don’t understand, our God is still faithful—even when we don’t understand what’s going on around us, remember HE always knows!

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God,

he is God,

the faithful God,

which keepeth covenant

and mercy

with them that love him

and keep his commandments

to a thousand generations;” Deuteronomy 7:9

“O LORD,

thou art my God;

I will exalt thee,

I will praise thy name;

for thou hast done wonderful things;

thy counsels of old

are faithfulness

and truth.”  Isaiah 25:1

While we often wrestle with life and the things that happen in our lives and around us, God is ever faithful and always provides for His own;

“God is faithful,

by whom ye were called

unto the fellowship of his Son

Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:9

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth

take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you

but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful,

who will not suffer you

to be tempted above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.”                                      1 Corinthians 10:12-13

May we stand fast in this evil day, for our confidence ought to be in our God!  Peter tells us that Jesus is our example.  I hope these precious words will encourage you today.

“For what glory is it,

 if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins

in his own body on the tree,

that we, being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop of your souls.”   1 Peter 2:20-25

I take such great comfort from this message of God; it gives us direction, hope and confidence in this faithful God and our precious Saviour Jesus, who

“when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself to him

that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins

in his own body

on the tree”!  

May you find hope and help from these truths.

And how do we do this?  God gives us the answer through Paul’s letter to the Corinthian believers.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthains 5:21

Amen and Amen!!!

What Time Do You Have??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #483

15 Tuesday Sep 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Time, Time Is Grace!, Times and Seasons, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True

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What Time Do You Have??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #483

We live in a world of “time”!  I am a time person, are you?  I have at least one clock in every room; why?  I can’t really answer that question, without admitting that I am a time keeper.  How about you?  What we (especially me) often forget is that God created time—it makes the world go round, and by God’s grace He has given us “time” to live, and breath and have our being!  But what time is it, really?  It’s time to adjust our focus onto our Lord and King; Father God and Jesus Christ His Son—sitting high and lifted up.  But are we spending our time lifting Him up or are we so busy “keeping time” for other things that we have allowed ourselves to lose our focus on that which is of prime importance—Jesus Christ, our soon coming King.

“I will bless the LORD

at all times:

his praise

shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast

in the LORD:

the humble shall hear thereof,

and be glad.

3 O magnify the LORD with me,

and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD,

and he heard me,

and delivered me

from all my fears.”  Psalm 34:1-4

“The days of our years

are threescore years and ten;

and if by reason of strength

they be fourscore years,

yet is their strength

labour and sorrow;

for it is soon cut off,

and we fly away…

…12 So teach us to number our days,

that we may apply our hearts

unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:10 & 12

I pray that we will realize that our lives are totally in the hand of God Almighty; He Is The One who created us, gives us breath, time and HE keeps us!  Oh that I would learn to rest in His grace, love and total provision for me.  How about you?  Are you letting that clock run you?  Or are you working diligently to be where God wants you to be, doing what pleases Him and ministers to others as we go.

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness,

reap in mercy;

break up your fallow ground:

for it is time to seek the LORD,

till he come

and rain righteousness upon you.”   Hosea 10:12

God’s Word is replete with reminders of God’s gracious provision—oh that we would learn to be more diligent in our use of our time, energy, devotion and opportunities which God so often provides; yet sometimes we’re so busy watching the clock that we miss God’s direction. (You know, like those people we’ve all worked with who don’t accomplish much for watching the clock so they can leave!). So let’s consider some other scriptures that remind us of God’s sovereign control!  Help me Lord, to keep my eyes on the prize, Jesus, and not on this world!

“What time I am afraid,

I will trust in thee.

4 In God I will praise his word,

in God I have put my trust;

I will not fear

what flesh can do unto me.” Psalm 56:3-4

“My soul,

wait thou only upon God;

for my expectation

is from him.

6 He only is my rock

and my salvation:

he is my defence;

I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation

and my glory:

the rock of my strength,

and my refuge,

is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times;

ye people,

pour out your heart before him:

God is a refuge for us. Selah.”  Psalm 62:5-8

We live in a world that is becoming more and more hostile toward the Gospel, and those who share it.  May we ever keep our eyes on Jesus.

“Though an host should encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear:

though war should rise against me,

in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the LORD,

that will I seek after;

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of the LORD,

and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble

he shall hide me in his pavilion:

in the secret of his tabernacle

shall he hide me;

he shall set me up upon a rock.”  Psalm 27:3-5

And one of my favorite reminders from Paul, may we set our hearts on Jesus each and every moment of every day.  Not necessarily easy, but in Jesus a doable!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

And another reminder.

“I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me…

…19 But my God

shall supply all your need

according to his riches

in glory

by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God and our Father

be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  Philippians 4:13 & 19-20

As we pull all of this together, a word from Job and Jesus (to Martha at Lazarus’ grave.)

“If a man die,

shall he live again?

all the days of my appointed time

will I wait,

till my change come.”  Job 14:14

“Jesus said unto her,

I am the resurrection,

and the life:

he that believeth in me,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth

and believeth in me

shall never die.

 Believest thou this?”  John 11:25-26

Lord, “help thou mine unbelief”, see Mark 9:24!  May we be found faithful before Him and not just being busy clock-watchers.  What time do you have?

Amen and Amen!!!

A Friday Tidbit For You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #482

11 Friday Sep 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Wait on the Lord, Wait upon the Lord, Waiting for the rain, Walk in the Spirit, Weariness, Weather, Well Done Thou good and faithful servant!, What are you doing with your TIME?

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A Friday Tidbit For You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #482

“Hast thou not known?

hast thou not heard,

that the everlasting God,

the LORD,

the Creator of the ends of the earth,

fainteth not,

neither is weary?

there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power

to the faint;

and to them that have no might

he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths

shall faint and be weary,

and the young men

shall utterly fall: 

31 But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

 

they shall mount up

with wings as eagles;

 

they shall run,

and not be weary;

 

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:28-31

While this is a familiar passage, I want to take a new look at it from a perspective we may not have considered.  I want us to consider four things that we need to take in.

Recognition—verses 28-29, we see Isaiah reminding us of God’s faithful strength, power and sovereign knowledge.

Response—verse 30, the first response we see is that many will faint, fail and forsake God (as His people Israel were doing), yet God was sending this message through Isaiah to His people—some heard, some rejected, some turned to God. How will you respond?

Reliance—verse 31, regardless of where we are in life or location, God will help us as we hear, heed and harken to His will for us.  He tells us in this verse what we need to learn to rely upon—knowing that “waiting upon the Lord” is where we need to live; not just where we need to talk about being, but where we need to live!  I say that knowing that I am at the top of the list of those who hate hearing that “W” word—Wait!  How about you?

But what does God say—He says that we are to “wait upon the LORD”!  Wait on Him not time, not money, not circumstances, but rely on our Lord!!!  No matter how hard it is, no matter how hurried we have become, we are to learn to respond to The Lord and HIS timing.

Paul gives us such a beautiful reminder; I pray that it will encourage you today.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

Give it all to Jesus!  Today, tomorrow and each that He gives us, serve HIM!!!

Amen and Amen!!!