Category Archives: God’s Faithfulness

The Desire Of My Heart??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No. 05

20 Monday Feb 2023

Posted by in A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Delight of my heart, Faithfulness, Father's Way!, God Knows His Own, God of all comfort!, God's Faithfulness, God's Glory, God's glory NOT mine!, Holy Living

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The Desire Of My Heart??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No. 05

I have a simple word to share with you today.  I pray that God will touch your heart and mine and draw us close to Himself that we might be a reflection of HIS glory and not our own!

“O give thanks unto the LORD;

call upon his name:

make known his deeds

among the people.

2 Sing unto him,

sing psalms unto him:

talk ye of all

his wondrous works.

3 Glory ye

in his holy name:

let the heart of them rejoice

that seek the LORD.

4 Seek the LORD,

and his strength:

seek his face evermore.”  Psalm 105:1-4

The Psalms always encourage my heart and reading, rehearsing, and memorizing them is worthy of our time and effort, for they remind us continually of the faithfulness of our God and our need for HIS presence, grace, power, and love.  Jesus also reminded us that it is God’s glory we are to pursue not our own–oh, how far our culture has come–and usually in the opposite direction (due in great part to the media–social, broadcast, movies, and music!)!

“Jesus answered them, and said,

My doctrine is not mine,

but his that sent me.

17 If any man will do his will,

he shall know of the doctrine,

whether it be of God,

or whether I speak of myself.

18 He that speaketh of himself

seeketh his own glory:

but he that seeketh his glory that sent him,

the same is true,

and no unrighteousness is in him.”   John 7:16-18

Yet, where do we find ‘righteousness’?  Only in Jesus, through the blood that cleanses us “from all sin”!  Oh, thank you Jesus for the price that you paid for me, that I might have your righteousness, peace, and love.  It’s so hard to not just give you pages of scriptural evidence of HIS power and provision, but I pray that God will lead you to Himself through HIS Word, and one of the most powerful pictures of what God does in us when we come to Jesus is found in Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth!  Its context is amazing, and I pray that it will encourage your heart.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 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 5:17-21

Have you received the blood-bought righteousness of Jesus?  He came that we might “have life…more abundantly…”, all because “God so loved…” you and me!  Again Paul makes this so clear in his letter to the Roman believers.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope of the glory of God.…

….5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly…

…. 8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have

now received the atonement.”                        Portions of Romans 5:1-11

Even as Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15, that he could only share that which he had received–so it is for every genuine believer in Jesus–it’s all of God, and we are to praise Him, for HIS amazing gifts–

HIS glory–

HIS grace–

HIS love–

HIS peace–

HIS atoning sacrifice–

HIS joy–

HIS Holy Spirit–

HIS reconciliation–

How could we take HIS glory for ourselves?  I would like to leave you with a portion of one of my favorite Psalms, to ponder on and draw strength, wisdom, grace, and encouragement from, that we will be able to stand fast in this “evil day”, being a reflection of the glory of our God–not self!

“Trust in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;

and he shall give thee the desires

of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently for him:

fret not thyself

because of him who prospereth

in his way,

because of the man who bringeth

wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself in any wise

to do evil.”  Psalm 37:3-8

May your day be filled with the “joy of the Lord” and His sweet presence, glory, and grace; for if HE is my delight, His will and purposes will be a delight to me and the desire of my heart will be to walk with HIM today…and today…and today!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

What Can’t REvive??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No. 02

29 Sunday Jan 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Born Again, God's Faithfulness, God's ways are not our ways, Good News, Jesus Saves!, Restoration, REvival, Saved by grace, Saved by Grace Through Faith

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What Can’t REvive??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No.02

“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;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:1-6

I love God’s Word, it is so true, hopeful, and enlightening to help us see where we have come from, and to see how urgent it is to help others come to Jesus.  The thing I want us to think about today is what does “Revival” mean?  I have prayed for revival for many years and will continue to pray for it until Jesus comes, or HE allows me to see a real Holy Ghost, heaven-sent, knee-bending, sin-confessing, tear-stained altar (and sadly to me, many young people don’t even know what that is!) filling, life changing, church-altering, REVIVAL!  The kind of revivals that I knew and saw as a child and a young adult that brought conviction to bear on believers to the repenting of sin, the recommitment of hearts and lives, then a world that takes note of the change!

But there is a catch!

Revival: restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc. ….an awakening in a church….an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting of a religious (my word is Spiritual) awakening…

The key I want us to note is “restoration”, for to be ‘re’stored, something must exist first; and that is what Paul is pointing out to the Ephesian believers, and to us!  Only when we realize that we are “dead in trespasses and sins” will we see the need to come to Jesus to be “born again”, or as Paul says here in Ephesians 2, that God has “quickened us”, in Blanche’s paraphrase, “God has given us life from the dead”, or as the Apostle John wrote in his gospel:

“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

It’s like what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, we “must be born again” by the power of God through the Holy Spirit!  And my friends, if we haven’t received the new birth–NEW LIFE– from Jesus then we are still “dead in our trespasses and sins” and we can’t be “Revived”! Revival is for those who have received new life in Jesus.  It is for those who know Jesus, but have grown cold toward spiritual things, or have lost their ardor, or just become muddled and confused in the fray of life and need a rekindling of the fire in their heart.  Sort of like a fireplace where the coals are either close to the fire and glowing, or they have become cold with the distance between them and the fire!  Jesus IS our fire!

“Wilt thou not revive us again:

that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD,

and grant us thy salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak:

for he will speak peace unto his people,

and to his saints:

but let them not turn again

to folly.”  Psalm 85:6-8

God is ever at work conforming His own into the “image of His Son”; our job is to stay near to our “fire” –the fire of Holiness and truth! Jeremiah shared that he had a fire of God’s power in his life, we also have a call, a ministry, a life of obedience, and I think I understand what Jeremiah means, for God’s call is ever on my heart.  I would love to be the one God calls to write the “fluff stuff”, but God has called me to often speak the hard things, may I ever hear his call and like Jeremiah speak as God directs.

“Then I said,

I will not make mention of him,

nor speak any more in his name.

But his word

was in mine heart

as a burning fire shut up in my bones,

and I was weary

with forbearing,

and I could not stay.”  Jeremiah 20:9

So, as I pray for revival amongst God’s own, won’t you join me and seek revival in your own heart–for revival must start with “ME”!  How about you?  And if you don’t know Jesus and are just trying to play the game, use the right words, do the right deeds, be in the right church, or belong to the right group…God wants YOU and YOUR heart not your stuff or your abilities to get to heaven. HE wants you to come through Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice!

“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

 Jesus calls us to Himself for rest as well as life–take HIS yoke, and you’ll never walk alone!

“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

Amen!!!

Thank YOU, JESUS!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #45

26 Wednesday Oct 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, God's Faithfulness, God's got you and me!, Gratitude, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Jesus Saves!, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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Thank YOU, JESUS!!!   A Word from THE WORD!!! #45

“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:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created,

that are in heaven,

and that are in earth,

visible and invisible,

whether they be thrones,

or dominions,

or principalities,

or powers:

all things were created

by him, and for him:

17 And he is before

all things,

and by him

all things consist.”  Colossians 1:12-17

 This is one of my favorite prayers from the Apostle Paul to the Colossian believers, and it is so apropos for us today, for it is so easy to let the busy-ness of ‘life’ cause us to forget what Jesus has done for us, to forget how loving and amazing our God is who “gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall have everlasting life…”!

So, let’s rehearse some of the blessings and wonders that God has done and is doing for us—all in, through, for, and because of Jesus and HIS sacrifice for our salvation, and forgiveness of our sin!  And my friends, SIN is the issue.  We can pay for our own sin in hell, or receive the gift of God through Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice. (See Romans 3:23 & 6:23)

Remember, our salvation was and IS God’s idea, not ours.  GOD calls us to Himself, provides the sacrifice for our forgiveness, which Jesus came to BE, so that we could be “delivered…from the power of darkness…and…. translated…into the kingdom of his dear Son”!  Oh, how grateful I am for God’s truly amazing love and grace and what joy to know that our Redeemer, Savior, and KING is the creator of all things.  May we each take some time today to think on these things and thank God for His amazing gifts of love.  Think on this: Jesus, the Lord of all, the one who sits at the right hand of God The Father, LOVES you and me!  HE died to save us, if we will but come to HIM in repentance of our sin and faith in the sacrifice that HE made our sin, to “save His people from their sin…”.

Yet, we must remember that “today is the day of salvation”, and we have no guarantee of tomorrow, so won’t you call on the Savoir today, and if you are HIS, then remember what HE did and is doing for you and share it as God gives you opportunity!  How glorious to live a life of gratitude, shining an “attitude of gratitude” everywhere we go, and in whatever we may do.

“And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called

in one body;

and be ye thankful.”  Colossians 3:14-15

May God encourage your heart today with HIS Word, as you ponder His faithful care for us, and for Jesus, the only way!

“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 

“No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent

me draw him:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”  John 6:44

A final word from Paul, to remind us of God’s sufficient grace for every need, regardless of the burden or trial!  God can—yes, HE can!  Thank YOU, Jesus for loving me, the unlovely!  Hallelujah!!!

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,

that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me,

My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect

in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory

in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,

in reproaches, in necessities,

in persecutions, in distresses

for Christ’s sake:

for when I am weak,

then am I strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s Not About Feelings??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #43

19 Wednesday Oct 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Deceivers, Encouragement, For Such A Time As This, Forever, Forgiveness, God's Faithfulness, God's got you and me!, Good News, Gospel, Grace, Hearing God, HOPE, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, I Will Never Leave You, Listening To God

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It’s Not About Feelings??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #43

 

Maybe you can relate to this idea of “feelings” and how they have come to rule in our culture:  I don’t ‘feel’ like going to work; I don’t’ ‘feel’ like taking care of my family; I don’t ‘feel’ like getting out of bed’; I don’t ‘feel’ loved, or appreciated, or cared for, or able to cope….and the list could go on!  But God has given us clear truth in HIS Word that I pray will encourage you today that no matter how you “feel” right this moment, God Has not given up HIS sovereign control, or HIS love for you and me.

I understand that sometimes we become so overwhelmed with the circumstances that we find ourselves in, that we feel like throwing in the towel, so to speak—to let the lies of the enemy take our joy, our hope, our confidence in our God.  So, I felt that we all needed reminding that “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”!  (See Revelation 19:6)

Peter gave some great instruction to believers who were facing persecution and difficulty; and we can count on this same truth.  I pray that it will lift you up today.

“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

The enemy of our souls is ever vigilant, whether we recognize it or not, to devour those who aren’t aware or prepared to “stand fast in the evil day”!  May we truly come to stand on what we know about our Lord, not our feelings that are flighty and change like the wind (especially the Oklahoma winds which never blow the same direction two days in a row, and Satan is always coming in new and surprising ways when we don’t know what God says!)!  We must stand fast in confidence of the sovereign control of God Almighty—who sent Jesus “right on time”!

“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:” Acts 2:22-23

“But when the fulness of the time was come,

God sent forth his Son,

made of a woman,

made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law,

that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons,

God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son

into your hearts,

crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant,

but a son;

and if a son,

then an heir of God

through Christ.”  Galatians 4:4-7

We are sons and daughters of God, by the love and grace of God, through the blood that Jesus came to shed for sin, yours and mine!  We don’t have to let the enemy steal our joy, our confidence, or our assurance that God hasn’t gone to sleep and forgotten about us!  HE hasn’t!  He never will!  I must simply choose to believe truth NOT lies!

“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

We can stand in what we KNOW!  But we must dig into HIS WORD and find out what God says about us, not what our feelings may say on any given day!

“Whereunto I am appointed a preacher,

and an apostle,

and a teacher of the Gentiles.

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.

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 1:11-13

And two passages in closing, which are a great comfort and encouragement to me, and I pray that they will help you today as well!

“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

And Paul’s admonition to Timothy is just as necessary for us today!  May God’s blessings of hope, joy and encouragement abound in your heart today.  My heart has been lifted even as I write these words!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7

 Amen and Amen!!!  Today and every day!!!

To God’s Glory??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #34

02 Friday Sep 2022

Posted by in God Still Reigns, God's Faithfulness, God's Wisdom, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Wisdom, Praise Encourages our Heart, Praise God Today!

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To God’s Glory???  A Word from THE WORD!!!  #34

 

I would like to simply share a word from the 119th Psalm this morning.  Just some words of encouragement for your Friday.

“Thou art my portion, O LORD:

I have said that I would keep thy words.

58 I intreated thy favour

with my whole heart:

be merciful unto me

according to thy word.

59 I thought on my ways,

and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

60 I made haste,

and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

61 The bands of the wicked

have robbed me:

but I have not forgotten

thy law.

62 At midnight I will rise

to give thanks unto thee

because of thy righteous judgments.

63 I am a companion of all them

that fear thee,

and of them

that keep thy precepts.

64 The earth, O LORD,

is full of thy mercy:

teach me thy statutes.”  Psalm 119:57-64

And a closing word of encouragement from Jude’s letter:

“To the only wise God our Saviour,

be glory and

majesty,

dominion

and power,

both now and ever. Amen.”  Jude 1:25

Amen!!!