Category Archives: A Father’s Love

Greater Than Your Need??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #563

14 Friday Jun 2019

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #563    Greater Than Your Need???

 

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he

that is in you,

than he

that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

I have a few things to share that I pray will encourage your walk with Jesus today.  I know some of you are facing dire circumstances, carrying heavy loads, lifting the weight of the world (or it sure seems that way!), enduring seemingly unending trials—yet we have a hope! One of my favorite phrases in the scripture is, “but God”!  Oh how grateful I am that God has it; no matter the difficulties I may face, or how my ‘feelings’ seem to waver, no matter the fear, or anxiety, or tears that often flood my soul–God is my safe place, my strong tower, and I’m so glad! May these verses encourage you to “look up”!  God’s got this.

“The name of the LORD

is a strong tower:

the righteous runneth into it,

and is safe.”  Proverbs 18:10

Jesus calls us to take His “yoke” upon us, simply referring to a harness that joins two animals together to pull the load with the strength of two sharing a load.  Jesus wants to share your load.

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus is a Savior who understands our every trial and promises to walk with us all the way.  I’d like to close with a few passages that I pray will speak to your heart today, whatever your burden is.  For:

              God is bigger than your problem—

              God is stronger than your heavy burden—

              God is greater than any load that you carry—

                     And HE has promised to ever walk with 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

“And when these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh.”   Luke 21:28

“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

Amen and Amen!

Still Faithful??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #560

31 Friday May 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #560     Still Faithful???

 

We talked the last time about staying focused on Jesus, and I thought it would be a good thing on this Friday, and the last day of the month to remember the faithfulness of our God.  We all have times when discouragement comes knocking at the door and we simply have to let God’s Word open the door—and we will find victory to overcome our enemy.

We have the choice to keep our eyes on Jesus or to let those momentary distractions become long-term and life altering!  The choice is ours, and we can choose to keep God’s Word on our tongues, coming out of the “abundance of the heart”!  Here are are few reminders that you might want to take note of, rehearse and memorize for future use!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist

stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.”  1 Peter 5:6-9

We are never alone—for God is faithful to be with us, and our Christian brothers and sisters are enduring the trials of life as well!

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore

to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.”  James 4:6-8

Praise God, HE is ever able and willing to help us see HIM!  So let’s humble ourselves before HIM—not the world; submit to HIM; resist the enemy; draw near to HIM; cleanse our hands (actions) and our hearts (our thoughts and intents…see Hebrews 4:12-13); and He will prove Himself faithful, for HIS grace “is sufficient”!

“If we believe not,

yet he abideth faithful:

he cannot deny himself.”  2 Timothy 2:13

And Isaiah reminds us:

“When thou passest through the waters,

I will be with thee;

and through the rivers,

they shall not overflow thee:

when thou walkest through the fire,

thou shalt not be burned;

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 For I am the LORD thy God,”  Isaiah 43:2-3a

And like Job, we can know our Redeemer will deliver—when He knows the timing is right for our good and HIS glory!

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:”  Job 19:25

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

 before him.”  Job 13:15

We must determine to maintain our own “ways before him”, and not be led astray by the false wonders of the enemy. For scripture tells us that sin can be enticing and pleasant—but only for a time.  The payment will come due sooner than we expect!

“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”    Hebrews 11:25

As the old adage says (Origin unknown):

“Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go-

Keep you longer than you wanted to stay—

 And cost you more than you wanted to pay!”

I pray that these words from God’s Word will encourage you today and remind each of us that HE is always with us and faithful in every way—every day!

And we can live victorious lives all because of HIM, keeping our minds thinking “on these things”: the true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praise worthy things (See Philippians 4:8)!  Press on dear friends—we win IN Jesus!

Amen and Amen!

Because He IS Able??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 08

07 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Comfort, Confidence, Encouragement, Every Knee Shall Bow, Faithful is He that has Promised!

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.08. Because He IS Able???

 

I started this article on a different vein but felt that I needed to share something that is on my heart.  There are times when we just “feel” discouraged, defeated, confused, or distraught over things that are out of our control.  There are the times that we must rise above our “feelings” and stand on what we know!  And what we know has to be grounded in God and His Word!

“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.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith

and love

which is in Christ Jesus.”    2 Timothy 1:12-13

Paul told his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, that his confidence was in Jesus—regardless of his personal suffering for the Gospel or his circumstances; and we can learn a lot from this truth!  I love the old hymn that reiterates this truth as well—because I do “know whom I have believed” and that’s why and how we can “press on”!

Job understood this principle in the midst of the tragedies that overtook him.  He understood it and proclaimed it to his misguided, if well-meaning, friends who insisted that he must have sinned, or these things wouldn’t have happened to him.  While this seems to have been the first of the “prosperity” teaching, Job knew that his relationship with God was sure; even though he came to understand with even more confidence that God has plans that are far beyond what we can comprehend—HE IS God, not us!

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked

forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man

his thoughts:

and let him return

unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways

my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens

are higher than the earth,

so are my ways

higher than your ways,

and my thoughts

than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow

from heaven,

and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed

to the sower,

and bread

to the eater:

11 So shall my word be

that goeth forth

out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish

that which I please,

and it shall prosper

in the thing whereto

I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:6-11

As Job so succinctly declared:

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will

maintain mine own ways

before him.”  Job 13:15

Job knew that his confidence was in God Almighty, yet he also knew that his responsibility was to live with integrity before the God to whom he would answer. His answer didn’t have to impress his friends, for he would answer to his God!  And so will we—every man, woman, boy and girl, will give an account to the God who created us, and has offered us the salvation that Jesus bought at Calvary! James talked about our need to draw near to Him when we have the opportunity; for that opportunity will not always be available.

“And the LORD said,

My spirit shall not always strive

with man,”  Genesis 6:3a

“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore

to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.”    James 4:6-8

God loves us and has given us His Son, Jesus, who paid for our sin, if we will but come to God through Him (See John 14:6).  And God is ever at work growing us into the image of Jesus (See Romans 8:28-29).  He hasn’t gone to sleep, or forgotten where you are, nor has He taken time off—but He is ever working in our hearts and lives through every circumstance!  And I trust Him!  He has ever proven Himself faithful, especially in those times when I simply had to cling to what I know to be true, and march through my house repeating to myself, “I’m not giving up!  I’m not giving up!  I’m not giving up!”  For just like Paul, I cling to the fact (not the fairytale) that God is God, and I belong to Him!

“Being confident

of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

 will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”    Philippians 1:6

He has me/you in His hand—we who have come to Jesus in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary (in my place), atoning (Paying the debt I owed), sacrifice for sin (because I owed a debt I could never pay!)!  God is ever at work on our behalf!  Always!

“When thou passest through the waters,

I will be with thee;

and through the rivers,

they shall not overflow thee:

when thou walkest through the fire,

thou shalt not be burned;

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 For I am the LORD thy God,”  Isaiah 43:2-3a

You can trust in HIS care!  I know that some of you are walking through the fire today; yet God Almighty has never lost sight of where you are!  He has you in His hand.  Just look up, walk forward and press on with Jesus!

“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.”   1 Corinthians 15:57-58

In other words—We Win!!!  So, tie a knot in that rope you’re holding onto, look up to the One who has the other end of that rope, and walk forward in confidence in HIM—not your feelings, or your circumstances!

And I’d simply like to close today with one of my favorite Psalms!

“I will lift up mine eyes

unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh

from the LORD,

which made heaven

and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot

to be moved:

he that keepeth thee

will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber

nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper:

the LORD is thy shade

upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee

by day,

nor the moon

by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee

from all evil:

he shall preserve

thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve

thy going out

and thy coming in

from this time forth,

and even for evermore.”   Psalm 121:1-8 

God’s got this—remember that you/I can “know whom I have believed” because we are “persuaded that he is able”, for HE IS always able!  Look up at The Lord—not around at the ‘lions’ nipping at your heels!

Amen and Amen!!!

God Is Still God!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #546

05 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Follow Jesus, Gospel, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #546       God Is Still God!!!

 

“In the year that king Uzziah died

I saw also the Lord

sitting upon a throne,

high and lifted up,

and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims:

each one had six wings;

with twain he covered his face,

and with twain he covered his feet,

and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said,

Holy, holy, holy,

 is the LORD of hosts:

the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved

at the voice of him that cried,

and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I,

Woe is me!

for I am undone;

because

I am a man of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst of

a people of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of hosts.”  Isaiah 6:1-5

 Isaiah had a life-changing encounter with God—and we can have the same when we come to Jesus.  Isaiah saw God in His holiness, which brought him to see himself in his sinful state!  And that’s what we each must do—come to see God for who He is—GOD—and to see ourselves as sinners with no recourse to fix our sin problem.  And SIN is the problem—you/I have it, you/I can’t fix it, but Jesus can and will if we will but humble ourselves before Him as Isaiah did.  Isaiah saw God as:

 “The Lord—                  High and lifted up—

  Holy, Holy, Holy—

  The Lord of hosts—   Full of glory—

  The KING—                The LORD of hosts–”!

Amen and amen!  And as Isaiah had his sin dealt with by a burning coal, Jesus dealt with sin at Calvary for all who will come to Him—the promise that Isaiah looked for, is the One we look back to.  As He invited people then, He is still inviting people to Himself today! (He who has ‘eyes like fire’, see Isaiah 6:6-9 and Rev. 1:13-15).

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

 and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek

and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus will give “rest unto your souls”—for HE is still God, HE is the Sacrifice for sin, The Redeemer of my/your soul.  Do you hear a knock at your heart’s door?  He’s waiting!

“Behold, I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Because Jesus IS Alive!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 07

31 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abundant Life In Jesus, He's Alive, Power of The Cross, Resurrection

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.07   Because Jesus IS Alive!!!

 

As we approach the season of celebrating the resurrection Of Jesus Christ our Lord, I thought we’d just take a few minutes today to simply rehearse the wonder of HIS victory.

“And the angel answered and said

unto the women,

Fear not ye:

for I know that ye seek Jesus,

which was crucified.

6 He is not here:

for he is risen,

as he said.

Come, see the place

where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly,

and tell his disciples

that he is risen

from the dead;

and, behold,

he goeth before you

into Galilee;

there shall ye see him:

lo, I have told you.”  Matthew 28:5-7

HE is risen—just “as he said”!  And Jesus did “say” he would rise from the dead and overcome sin, death and hell!

“And while they abode in Galilee,

Jesus said unto them,

The Son of man shall be betrayed

into the hands of men:

23 And they shall kill him,

and the third day

he shall be raised again.

And they were exceeding sorry.”  Matthew 17:22-23

And Mark also gave us a great insight into the way that Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for the coming night of despair that they would endure—but they just didn’t understand the morning of GLORY that would turn their despair into JOY!  Exultant, exuberant, JOY “unspeakable”!  They had no way of comprehending all that this Master, Rabbi and Messiah had truly come to accomplish—that what started (and seemed to end) on the cross—would bring in the fulfillment of all that God had promised for the redemption of man.

“Saying, Behold,

we go up to Jerusalem;

and the Son of man shall be delivered

unto the chief priests,

and unto the scribes;

and they shall condemn him

to death,

and shall deliver him

to the Gentiles:

34 And they shall mock him,

and shall scourge him,

and shall spit upon him,

and shall kill him:

and the third day he shall rise again.”   Mark 10:33-34

He told them that HE would “rise again”!  But how would you comprehend what you had never seen before; for even though Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead—it wasn’t to eternal life, for he would die again—Jesus was raised as victor over death and He not only overcame death, but He gives “eternal life” to those who come to Him in repentance and faith.

The book of Acts shows us the wonder of God’s plan for our salvation and deliverance from sin!  It was God’s plan from before the “beginning”—our beginning, not God’s!  As Peter proclaimed on the day of Pentecost.

“And it shall come to pass,

that whosoever shall call on the name

of the Lord

shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God

among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves

also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”   Acts 2:21-24

Jesus is the “power of God unto salvation”—God’s plan to deliver us!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God

unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein

is the righteousness of God

revealed from faith to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.”   Romans 1:16-17

Praise God and thank Him for His amazing grace that brings us life—abundant life, and keeps us unto salvation.

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which according to his abundant mercy

hath begotten us again

unto a lively hope

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

from the dead,

4 To an inheritance

incorruptible,

and undefiled,

and that fadeth not away,

reserved in heaven

for you,

5 Who are kept

by the power of God

through faith

unto salvation

ready to be revealed

in the last time.”   1 Peter 1:3-5

While we are saved at the point of our faith in Jesus and receiving His Holy Spirit, or hope is in our eternal, perfect, sinless future hope in Jesus.  And while we struggle in this world, we have a hope sure and certain in glory with our Lord!  Yet, we have an intercessor sure and certain in our Lord Jesus, and His Holy Spirit who takes our feeble thoughts and words and works God’s work in us and before the Father!  It’s what Paul describes in Romans 8.

“For we know that the whole creation

groaneth

and travaileth

in pain together

until now.

23 And not only they,

but ourselves also,

which have the firstfruits

of the Spirit,

even we ourselves groan

within ourselves,

waiting for the adoption,

to wit,

the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope:

but hope that is seen

is not hope:

for what a man seeth,

why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not,

then do we with patience

wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also

helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not

what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession

for us

with groanings

which cannot be uttered.”   Romans 8:22-26

Our risen Lord has accomplished the great work of redemption and sits at the right hand of The Father ever interceding for us!  Praying for you and me on the basis of the redemption that He bought for us at Calvary–because HE didn’t stay dead, but HE arose!!!

“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.

26 For such an high priest became us,

who is holy,

harmless,

undefiled,

separate from sinners,

and made higher than the heavens;

27 Who needeth not daily,

as those high priests,

to offer up sacrifice,

first for his own sins,

and then for the people’s:

for this he did once,

when he offered up himself.”  Hebrews 7:25-27

He gave Himself for us!  And for that I am eternally grateful!  How about you?  Are you celebrating bunnies or the Risen Lord!

“Grace be to you

and peace

from God the Father,

and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 Who gave himself for our sins,

that he might deliver us

from this present evil world,

according to the will of God

and our Father:

5 To whom be glory

for ever and ever. Amen.”    Galatians 1:3-5

And because He gave Himself for me, what less can I offer Him?  How about you?  May we truly take this season to focus on the real wonder of our redemption.

“Looking for that blessed hope,

and the glorious appearing of the great God

and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us,

that he might redeem us

from all iniquity,

and purify unto himself

a peculiar people,

zealous of good works.”    Titus 2:13-14

And finally, may we all pursue with Paul, the crucified life!

“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

Amen and Amen!