Bible Ballistics: BBs #217 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #7

I thank God for memory. And while that may seem to be a strange thing to be thankful for, I believe it is a valid principle. We can’t truly appreciate what God is doing today, without being aware of all He has brought us from and through!

Now I’m not talking about morbid, guilt riddled regret, but deep awareness of what God has delivered us from:

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:    

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:” Col. 1:12-14

Oh, the wonder and joy of “forgiveness of sins”! It’s what allows me to look back with total confidence in what God has done, is doing and will continue to do! Because I’ve been forgiven, the past is strictly that “THE PAST”!!! It should bring gratitude for what God has done for us, not guilt or condemnation, because we have received this wonderful gift of “new life” which transforms our lives and sets us free.

“There is therefore now no condemnation

to them which are in Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus

hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

And because I’m free –I can thank God for the memory of what HE has done for me. I can know that He used my past to bring me to Himself; to make me what I am becoming today; that when I look back it IS in gratitude, with regret that I didn’t see sooner, but not in guilt or oppression that grips me or holds me in the bonds of condemnation. Jesus death brought my redemption and deliverance from those bonds. I can now look forward with hope, joy and expectation of great things with God. I can look forward to great opportunities to serve my Lord, my God, my King, and walk in His love and grace. And I think that is what Paul is speaking to in Philippians—that we can forget the condemnation that was on us, and walk in the newness of life in Jesus Christ.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” Philippians 3:13-15

I can walk forward with joy in the memory of what God has done for me with absolute certainty of HIS work in me because He is always working in me, with one goal in mind:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Ro. 8:28

Bible Ballistics: BBs #216 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #6

I thank God for family; all those that God has placed in our lives through blood, marriage, adoption and love. Those we often call “kith or kin”, those we love by blood or choice, and are closely connected to. While I have many connections I’d like to do something I seldom do, name a few people that God has especially blessed me with, and I invite you to take time today and let someone know how special they are to you and that you are thankful that they are in you life.

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 (Or sister!)

A brother is born for adversity—as children we think they are born to give us adversity, but usually as adults we can see that our brothers are there to help us. I thank God for my brother—a godly man who is serving God, his family and others as he has opportunity. Thank you God for my brother Billy! I love YOU and am thankful for YOU!

This also applies to little sisters—you know the “tag-alongs” that we used to show off when they were little, try to avoid when they got to be old enough to tattle, and left lonely when we left home before they did. But as adults we become the greatest of friends, and God blesses us with someone who we can share the difficulties and triumphs with us, knowing our failures. Thank you God for my sister Myrtle Denise, a godly woman who serves God as a pastor’s wife, a mother and grandmother. She has ministered to others selflessly in ways that are beyond belief. I love YOU and am thankful for YOU!

I am thankful for my brothers and sisters-in-law, as we call them. Those who come along side our loved ones and have enhanced our lives with love and compassion. Thank you God for my “in-laws” who bless my life, both those who have gone on from this life, and those who remain, who share love and fellowship with us still. I love YOU one and all: Cecil, Cynthia, Lonnie, Dawn, Barbara, Jean and Francine. And you bless my life and soul.

I am thankful for those cousins that shared my life—those first friends in our lives. Thank you God for my dear cousins, many who have gone on from this world and those who remain. Many all over the country but for brevity sake, I’ll just say the Louisiana cousins, and the Virginia cousins. I love YOU and treasure you more than you can ever know—and a couple of you shine out like stars and you know who you are!!! Keep on shining!!! Where ever God has planted YOU!!!

And lastly thank you God for the ability to love all these precious ones that you send into our lives. I am so grateful that God made us creatures who can love and share goodness with one another. We are abundantly blessed and I challenge each of YOU to reach out and touch someone today who is special in your life. I myself am headed to do that today. How about you?

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:8-10

And most importantly, I thank YOU Father, Son and Holy Spirit for making me a part of YOUR family through the blood of Jesus. If you don’t know Him, join the family now!

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

Bible Ballistics: BBs #215 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #5

I thank God for the privilege of prayer. But what is prayer? Many think of prayer as a “heavenly slot machine” —drop in your request, pull the handle, and God “MUST” grant your request! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Prayer is not a “magic genie” mentality, but prayer is the privilege of intimate conversation with the Holy God of the universe. Not just having a “wish list” that we present to God, but true and intimate conversation to seek out His desires and do them.

And if you don’t already know, conversation is a two-way encounter. We talk to God about our deepest thoughts, desires, troubles and grief. And listen for His direction, comfort, reproof and love to speak to our heart. It is also best when exercised in unison with studying the Word of God, and devotion to and confidence in its author.

“Rejoice in the Lord always:

and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men.

The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests

be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts

and minds

through Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 4:4-7

All prayer must be through Jesus Christ.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me…. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”   John 14:6 & 13

Jesus is the ONLY way to God–

We must pray in the name of Jesus, and that doesn’t mean just rattling off a “wish-list” and sticking Jesus’ name at the end. It means that I am to pray in agreement with what pleases God, in union with the Holy Spirit of God/Jesus (who is dwelling in every genuine believer), striving for the fulfillment of Jesus’ purpose: “that the Father may be glorified in the Son”! Don’t miss this important fact; all we do is to be done for God’s glory through the Son.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”   1 Corinthians 10:31

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:57-58

Prayer is our being in tune with Jesus, and then through Him God gives us victory in our daily walk and life in this world of trouble and sorrow. And because we are victorious in HIM, we can be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”! It’s all about Jesus, not about my flighty and ever-changing lusts of this flesh. And we can only find God and His will through the Spirit of Jesus within us, sought out with prayer and the study of God’s Word. So dear friends—PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. It works, but only God’s way—in, for, through and by Jesus, and to God’s glory!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #214 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #4

I thank God today for friends. What a blessing to have friends, to be a friend and to be friendly. God says people who are “friendly” will find friends, and some even closer than blood!

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

To have a friend is such a blessing and a privilege, but they don’t come easy, nor do they come cheap—and they shouldn’t! Friends should be important enough to us that we are willing to invest ourselves into the lives of others. And while that investment may cost us greatly, the value and return on the investment is of immeasurable and consequential reward. I thank God for my friends, and also for the privilege that God has given to me to walk by their sides in gladness and in sorrow, to be the “picker-upper”, and sometimes to be the “picked-up” one. But through it all the joy of sharing life, love and caring with others is second only to joy of knowing God, who also calls us “friend”!!

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15

Jesus is making His Father “known unto you”—because that’s what ‘friends’ do! Friends open their hearts and share of themselves with one another. Friends care, they sacrifice time and energy to support and stand by one another. Friendship isn’t always convenient, in fact sometimes it may mean sleepless nights and long days; but a real friend is available in that time of need, often without even being asked. Have you been that one in need? Have you experienced the joy and satisfaction of being the one meeting the need?

As I told a friend, who had been going through a seemingly endless time of “need” and feeling bad because others were always helping her, “Your time to give will come, and you will know how much it means to receive love and help from those who care”! We must remember that people don’t always need us when it’s convenient, but when they have a need—that’s when they need us. In my opinion the cost of friendship is a sacrifice of love, and those who give it will always receive back more than they spend! That’s what friends do! God is my best friend! Am I His friend?

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:23

Do people see Jesus in you? Are you a friend of God? Do you spend time with Him? If God is our friend, then we can learn how to be a friend to others, and that is the desire of my heart. I’ve been privileged over the last few days to spend time with a friend of many years, and while we don’t get to be together often, when we are together it is such a joy and delight. We’ve each been in the need of help, and we’ve each been privileged to meet the needs of one another –and oh what joy that brings to our hearts when we can share all those “precious memories” of joys and sorrows shared.

Are you being a friend to the friendless? Have you been blessed with those real, precious and faithful friends? Then thank God today—and call that friend, that loved one and tell them so!! Don’t wait until it’s too late to share!

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

Bible Ballistics: Amazing Revelations-Part 2??? Vol. 6#26

As we continue on with our look at these last three chapters of Daniel, we will tie the action of chapter 10 to 11. We must remember that chapter and verse divisions were added for simplicity of use, but are sometimes confusing when we separate a flow by the artificial placement of a chapter division. And here at Daniel 11 we have that very situation. When we begin to look at chapter 11, it can be confusing to figure out who is speaking, but when we go back to chapter 10 we realize that chapter 11 is simply continuing the dialogue from chapter 10:10. So let’s dive in!

“Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. 2 And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.” Daniel 11:1-4

As we mentioned last week, Daniel’s heavenly messenger reveals that he has assisted Darius the Mede in the unseen realm, and also says that there will be four more kings in the Persian realm, with the last one antagonizing the new emerging king of Greece—Alexander the Great! He reveals in greater detail the things that Daniel was given in chapters 7 and 8. Verse 4 also mentions the early demise of Alexander and the fact that his kingdom would be divided into four less powerful kingdoms. And that is where we’ll jump in today.

“And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

7 But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: 8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. 10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand. 12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches. 14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.

15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.

16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. 17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. 18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. 

21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army;

and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. 26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.

27 And both of these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.

28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” Daniel 11:5-35

Without going into a lot of detail, what we have here is an accurate account of the history of more than 200 years, and so accurately to the actual events that the critics insist that it couldn’t have been written before hand—it had to have been written “after” the fact! But they forget that we serve the God of ALL creation, who wrote the end at the beginning!!! We have a conflict continuing several hundred years covered in this account that Daniel received and recorded for us. It is between two of the four kingdoms that came out of the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great. Conflict between the Syrian Empire and the Egyptian Empire—the Seleucids Dynasty and the Ptolemy Dynasty—and the import of this is there location. If you will look on a map, guess who sits right between these two areas? ISRAEL—God’s chosen people, and that makes this vision one of great import to Daniel, his people Israel and to we who believe the Bible to be God’s revelation of the ages.

One of the main portions of this account is of Antiochus Epiphanes in verses 21-35, one who would come out of the Greek Empire (I believe a pre-cursor of the Anti-Christ) and wreak havoc on Israel, and defying God while defiling His people, His land and His temple! This vile one, or despicable person as he is called in some other translations, is the epitome of evil, especially of evil toward God’s people. And when he comes through Israel, after one of his defeats, he will afflict them greatly. But we see great hope for them and for all of us who follow God and His Son Jesus Christ.

“…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel 11:32b

Like Ephesians 6:10 reminds us:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Our job is to follow Jesus, regardless of the opposition, and let God accomplish HIS purpose in, through and with us, by His presences and His power, even when it includes suffering. That is an often neglected part of the modern gospel, but it is part of what Jesus told us would come to those who followed him.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

Now I will simply share with you my opinion of the balance of this chapter: while some think that verse 36 reverts back to a general discussion of Antiochus Epiphanes, I think the introduction of “the king” is a change of character, one who is not Antiochus, but different, later “vile person” who will arise in the end. The one who is called by several names: anti-Christ, the beast, the wicked one, and the man of lawlessness. The one who will come in the end to deceive and lead the world against God, by the power of Satan. (See 2 Thessalonians 2; Revelation 12 & 13, 19; and Matthew 24 for more information)

“And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. 40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” Daniel 11:36-45

Here we see the chapter division dilemma again, we recognize that chapter 12 is a continuation of verse 11:45, which places this last “person” of chapter 11 in the end times, as I understand it.

“And at that time

shall Michael stand up,

the great prince

which standeth for the children of thy people:

and there shall be a time of trouble,

such as never was since there was a nation

even to that same time:

and at that time thy people shall be delivered,

every one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1

So what do we see here? “At that time” is the time referred to in the close of chapter 11, the time of “the king”—a future time, not more of the precious “vile person”. What will happen at that time?

Michael will stand up for Israel—

There will be a time of unparalleled trouble—

Israel will ultimately be delivered—

All those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life!

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:2-3

This time of “trouble” will bring the judgment of God as well as the rewards from God to His faithful servants. While this is still in the same time of trouble/tribulation, it is referred to by several different names in scripture:

“Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:” Jeremiah 30:6-8

–The “time of Jacob’s trouble”.

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.” Joel 2:1-2

–The “day of the Lord”.

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Revelation 3:10

–The “hour of temptation”.

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21

–The “great tribulation”.

We see that a time of great judgment is coming, and we must recognize that God will accomplish His purpose, and while we can choose to be on God’s side or not, we must recognize that consequences will follow the choice! It’s your choice but the consequences have already been set.

And in closing Daniel receives a commission to press on, even though there are things that he doesn’t understand about this last revelation he is recording for us:

“But thou, O Daniel,

shut up the words,

and seal the book,

even to the time of the end:

many shall run to and fro,

and knowledge shall be increased.

5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that

it shall be for a time, times, and an half;

and when he shall have accomplished

to scatter the power of the holy people,

all these things shall be finished.  

8 And I heard,

but I understood not:

then said I, O my Lord,

what shall be the end of these things?

9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel:

for the words are closed up

and sealed till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified,

and made white,

and tried;

but the wicked shall do wickedly:

and none of the wicked

shall understand;

but the wise shall understand.

11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away,

and the abomination that maketh desolate set up,

there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

12 Blessed is he that waiteth,

and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

13 But go thou thy way till the end be:

for thou shalt rest,

and stand in thy lot

at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:4-13

So? Daniel was told that a time period of 3 ½ years would unleash great tribulation for his people, but that he was to rest in His God, His faithfulness and the assurance of God’s eternal purposes. In other words—be ready NOW for THEN, and leave the rest to God. And no, I don’t know the answers to the 1,290 days or the 1,335 days—but God does, and I trust HIM. We know that the time, times and ½ time is equal to 3 ½ years, but after that I have found no “Biblical” answer of certainty to the other two numbers mentioned here. I’ve seen lots of suggestions, but no convincing proof from God’s Word, so like Daniel, I’ll just rest in the one who does know, and press on. I hope this has helped you to have confidence to dig into the Word of God and let God speak to your heart as you handle His Word with integrity

“Study

to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”    2 Timothy 2:15