Author Archives: Blanche

Pop Quizzes Happen!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #435

09 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Help Thou My Unbelief, Pop Quizzes Happen, TODAY, Trials

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #435    Pop Quizzes Happen!!!

 

We all remember those times (long ago for some of us!!) when we would go to school and the teacher would announce: “We’re having a ‘pop’ quiz!” And most of us would be like a deer in headlights! Why? Because we weren’t prepared! We knew that we had been given an assignment, yet we thought we had “time” to prepare, and the “time” had run out, and we had to put or shut up—well, in reality we had to put up or get a failing grade.

Well, there is something way more important than a school quiz, and that is the life that we are living. We all make choices daily, and often seemingly insignificant choices can lead us to ends that aren’t what we expected. As we often hear, “Life happens” regardless of our preparedness! But we can prepare by looking to and trusting in Jesus Christ The Lord! He IS the only right answer to every life test or trial!

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience

have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect

and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth

to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.”   James 1:2-5

James reminded us that those “pop quizzes” come to grow our faith, and if we will but trust God with what is going on, we will develop confidence in Him and spiritual maturity in the process. We can make it through because God has us in His hands, and He will supply our every need, when we call on Him for wisdom, grace and power to respond rightly and in ways that bring HIM glory, and see the pitfalls before us!

I recently had a couple of experiences that have reminded me that God is faithful to meet us at the “exam” station to help us pass those ‘pop quizzes’! Our goal is to keep our focus on Jesus, and listen as He guides our steps by His precious Holy Spirit! Oh What A Savior!!!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.“    Hebrews 12:1-2

“Looking unto Jesus” is the joy of my life, for when those tests come, and they’ll come, HE always meets my needs, even when I’m totally unprepared for the specific test that comes—even when they’re totally unexpected! And He will be there for you, as we prepare ourselves by seeking His face continually, and digging into HIS Word! Here are some scriptures to ponder as we prepare for the “pop quizzes” of life—for they are coming. As someone has said about every believer, “they are coming out of a test, going into a test, or getting ready for one”! And that’s a pretty accurate observation—because those “quizzes” will come!

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be

any wicked way in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”   Psalm 139:23-24

“The steps of a good man

are ordered by the LORD:

and he delighteth

in his way.

24 Though he fall,

he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him

with his hand.”   Psalm 37:23-24

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

And there are those times when we just have to cry out to Jesus as the father who asked Jesus to heal his son:

“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears,

Lord, I believe;

help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:24 Amen!

No Other Hope!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #434

07 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, HOPE, Jesus Is The Only Way!, The Word, Trials, Troubles

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #434    No Other Hope!!!

 

“Who hath saved us,

and called us with an holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to his own purpose

and grace,

which was given us in Christ Jesus

before the world began,……..

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded

that he is able

to keep that

which I have committed

unto him

against that day.”   2 Timothy 1:9 & 12

I love the old Hymn taken right from this song, and it reverberates in my heart even this morning as my heart is heavy for people that I love who are in hard places! We all have times in hard places—some more difficult and heart wrenching than we can even imagine or communicate to others, but our GOD is faithful and HE hasn’t forgotten about YOU! And my friends, that is one of the reasons that God gives us each other—to carry the load; to bear the burden; to lift up the prayers; to grieve with those who can’t bear the burden alone!

“Bear ye one another’s burdens,

and so fulfil the law of Christ.”   Galatians 6:2

We can only bear the burdens of others because God is carrying us—the living Lord Jesus Christ “who loved me, and gave himself for me”, who not only died for me/us, but HE lives for us, ever interceding for His own, especially those who are so burdened that they have stumbled under the load, and cannot carry their burden alone!

“Wherefore he is able also

to save them

to the uttermost

that come unto God by him,

seeing he ever liveth

to make intercession for them.”   Hebrews 7:25

Did you get that? Jesus is alive and is faithful to “make intercession” for YOU and me, my dear friends! Talk about a prayer warrior!!! The Prince of Heaven is ever making intercession for us! And because HE is who HE is—we can press on, knowing that He isn’t a dead savior, but our living Lord! Even Job had this great assurance!

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body,

yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

and not another;

though my reins be consumed

within me.”   Job 19:25-27

Job declared His confidence in God, regardless of how his circumstances seemed to contradict his relationship with God—Job knew who he knew, and who knew him!!!

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:1

We must simply decide where we will place our faith, our confidence! Will it be in men, in our circumstance, in doctors or drugs, in any other thing upon this earth? Or will we remember that our God REIGNS, and trust Him with it all, regardless of what our eyes behold or our ears hear?

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

neither shall fruit be in the vines;

the labour of the olive shall fail,

and the fields shall yield no meat;

the flock shall be cut off from the fold,

and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength,

and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet,

and he will make me to walk

upon mine high places……”   Habakkuk 3:17-19

We serve a faithful God, The Lord who is at work no matter how things may look. So, whatever you’re going through, no matter how dark the skies may appear, no matter how tired and weary-to-the-bone you may be—look up–your “redemption draweth nigh”, and cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear what man shall do

unto me.”   Hebrews 13:5-6   Amen!!!

God Is Still God!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 02

04 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.02 God Is Still God!!!

 

“I will love thee,

O LORD,

my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock,

and my fortress,

and my deliverer;

my God,

my strength,

in whom I will trust;

my buckler,

and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the LORD,

who is worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”   Psalm 18:1-3

We could stop right here with an Amen and Amen! God is still God, and the rules haven’t changed. God is The One who created us, and he delivers those who will come to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ His Son. And Jesus is The One who will Judge every man, woman, boy and girl! Jesus IS “The Word”—and “The Word” will ever stand as the plumb line of God’s truth—for He IS truth!

“There is a way

that seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”    Matthew 7:13-15

Every person is given a free will with which to choose to respond to God’s call, or to reject God, yet while we have the privilege to choose, we do not have the right or the ability to choose the consequences of our choices, for the consequences have been set by God! We can choose to hear God’s call, and respond in repentance and faith to Jesus, or we can follow that “broad is the way” to destruction! There is only One way—One truth—and One giver of ‘life’!

“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

Not only is Jesus “the way…the truth…and the life…” He is the very essence of God, HE IS God.

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.”  John 1:1-5

Just as Jesus was rejected by those to whom He came in His physical presence, men and women are still rejecting Him today!!! But every choice has a consequence—either the life that Jesus gives, by His own blood that He shed on the cross—or the destruction that is at the end of that “broad…way”! Have you chosen God’s way or your own? God hasn’t changed, He hasn’t moved, and His Way hasn’t been altered! Only The Son can give you life—eternal life today into forever!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8

And He is “the same”—the same Son of God who came to save us and to deliver those who will come to Him by faith!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 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 1:10-13 Amen!

Jesus came that we might be “born again” into life with Him!

“That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.” John 3:15-16

And Jesus can give us life, because HE IS life—HE IS God—then, now, and forever! Will you accept His gift of love for you? This God-Man came that you could have His life within YOU! That we could know Him and walk in confidence of what He is doing in HIS own!

“But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 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 10:26-30

So in closing, I simply have a few questions for you and me: ‘Are we letting God be God? Or have we taken His throne in our own lives?’ Who is your God? You need to be sure—because God is sure!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”    2 Timothy 2:19

And don’t forget, there is a judgment day coming—and Jesus is the standard—no exceptions!

“For the word of God is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things are naked

and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”    Hebrews 4:12-13

Remember God is still God. Always was—ever shall be!!!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8   Amen and Amen!!!

Jesus Loves Even ME!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #433

02 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Attitude of Gratitude, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Holy Spirit, I Will Never Leave You, Praise God Today!, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #433    Jesus Loves Even ME!!!

 

Praise God, He loves you and me—He loves us so much that HE gave us Jesus—and that is worthy of our praise and gratitude. I’d just like to share a little joy and praise for your day!

“Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh down

from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:” James 1:16-19

Slow to get angry (a seemingly foreign concept in our culture), but quick to listen and praise God—by the power of His Holy Spirit, we can live lives that please and praise our God! For “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above”, and Jesus is the greatest gift of all—as Fernando Ortega sings, “Just Give Me Jesus”! Oh, to ever live with that on my mind, in my heart and coming from my lips!!! May it ever be–because God saved me/you at the cost of His “only begotten Son”!

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.” John 3:16-17

Amen and Amen!!! All because HE loves us!

“This I recall to my mind,

therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the LORD’S mercies

that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning:

great is thy faithfulness.

24 The LORD is my portion,

saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in him.

25 The LORD is good unto them

that wait for him,

to the soul that seeketh him.”   Jeremiah 3:21-25

What a faithful God we love and serve!!! Truly we can praise Him and rejoice in HIS great faithfulness. Here’s some more food for thought for your day.

“We love him, because he first loved us.”    1 John 4:19

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3

Amen and Amen!!!

 

What’s Eclipsing You??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #432

31 Wednesday Jan 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Eclipse, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Let You Light So Shine, Salvation, The Only Way, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #432    What’s Eclipsing You???

 

Many people watched the “Lunar Eclipse” this morning as a shadow moved across the moon. It was an interesting sight and a rare combination of a “Blue Moon” (A blue moon is the appearance of 2 full moons in the same month!), an eclipse (generally speaking, an obstruction of light), and a blood moon (The phenomenon of an eclipse when there is a reddish hue on the moon due to atmospheric particles reflecting sunlight, causing the red hue during the eclipse.). As I watched the amazing sight this morning before daylight, my mind ran through so many things, the main one being the question, “What are we reflecting?”

As believers and followers of Jesus, we are to reflect HIS glory, not our own. Jesus is our “sun”, so to speak—HE is the light of our lives, and others should see Him in us.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,

I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me

shall not walk in darkness,

but shall have the light of life.”    John 8:12

Much as the ‘sun’ gives light and life to planet earth, Jesus is our “light of life”. Just as God set the ‘sun’ in the sky, HE sets the “Son” in hearts that are born again, imparting the power to live as HIS children, by His Holy Spirit within us—power to reflect HIS light and glory to a lost and dying world. Even as Paul testified of when he stood before King Agrippa, may we truly understand our calling?

“To open their eyes,

and to turn them from darkness

to light,

and from the power of Satan

unto God,

that they may receive forgiveness

of sins,

and inheritance

among them which are sanctified

by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:18

Paul took his mission seriously, and shared the Gospel everywhere God sent him that he might “turn them from darkness to light”! The mission hasn’t changed, yet to fulfill our mission, we must stay in a position to reflect the true light—Jesus, The light that saves and transforms lives!

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ

his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.”   1 John 1:5-7

It’s all about Jesus, ‘The Light’—the “light of the world”—whose light should be what others see in us! Just a few thoughts for us this morning, am I walking “in the light, as he is in the light”? Or have I been walking “in darkness”, dimming the reflection of my Lord? Have I ever been born again, and received the light of Jesus? Questions that we each must answer for ourselves, but questions that will make an eternal difference, not only in our own life, but also in the lives of those who are watching and following us!

The Lord gave me this picture many years ago, and I think of it often as I strive to be His faithful child and follower.

“If I am the moon and Jesus is the sun, then I will have an affect on the “earth” — the world around me. When I am in direct relation to the sun (the Son!), then His light will be reflected in all I do to the world around me. If I come between the sun (the Son) and the earth, then all that people see is me, and I block out the true light of my Lord—The Son/sun!

But on the other hand if the world/earth gets between me and Jesus—my sun/The Son—there is no reflection at all. For when I am out of direct relation to my sun/ The Son, I have no light to give! For as Jesus said of Himself, “I am the light of the world”, and my job is to reflect HIS light and glory, not my own. Yet when I stand in His way, there is no true light for others to see, just as when I let others—the world—stand between Jesus, and me I have no light to shine. And my job is to shine, and I can’t do that without my ‘source’.”

John records Jesus’ instructions to us in this regard, and may we all ponder His words today.

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word

which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit

of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:1-5

May we ever be found reflecting HIS glory—bringing “forth much fruit”! Ever being “doers of the word”—HIS Word!

“But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face

in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law

of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.”   James 1:22-25

Be blessed today!!!