Category Archives: Today and Forever

What Is God’s Kingdom??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #370

30 Wednesday Jul 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, God's measure isn't ours, God's provision, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's Time, God's ways are not our ways, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Wisdom, Good Neighbor, Knowing GOD, Knowing God's Word, Knowing Truth, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, Time Is Grace!, Today and Forever, Today is the day of Salvation, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's following you?, Who's in your heart?, Who's Listening?, Who's Your Father?, Whom are you trusting?, Whose Sheep are You?, Whose Side Are You On?, Wise As Serpents

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What Is God’s Kingdom???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #370

This seems like a reasonable question, but we must keep our “reason” based on scripture.  Jesus calls us to keep our focus on spiritual things God’s way not our own.  Let’s consider some principles from scripture and then decide what “kingdom” we are living in.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom

come.

Thy will

be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.”   Matthew 6:9-10

Jesus calls us to pray to “Our Father”!  Who has this privilege?  Those who are born again and made children of God!

“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 1:11-13

Even as Jesus told Nicodemus, we must be born “of God” by being “born again”!   Only those who have been born again have the right and the privilege to call God Father; and when we call God father, we ought to behave like His children, and our prayer is to be made in pursuit of His Kingdom to “come”, and His will to be “done”!  To put it simply, whose kingdom are you pursuing, which “king” are you bowing before; kingdom, simply put, means the domain of a “king”!  Who is your king; yourself, the world, the enemy of your soul?  You are serving someone, be sure that it is The King of all, the almighty, sovereign, ruler, creator and Lord over all!  And that means just what it says—He is ruler over all; and you can trust in Him to save, keep and deliver.  Paul said it better than I can.

“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

Jesus began it and He will finish His work in we who come to Him in repentance of our sin and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice at Calvary—the sacrifice that sealed the new covenant for all who will believe in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection for our sin!

“Then said he,

Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

He taketh away the first,

that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ

once for all.”  Hebrews 10:9-10

Our assurance and confidence are in the completed work of salvation that Jesus accomplished as the sacrificial “Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world…”; and because of the great victory that Jesus accomplished and imparts to all who believe, we can have the victory!  You and me!  We who will recognize God as the King and choose to receive salvation in Jesus and joining His Kingdom!  That’s where victory is found, for those who respond to the call of God and build their house upon “The Rock”—Jesus!  Sing Rock of Ages to Him today!

“Beloved,

believe not every spirit,

but try the spirits whether they are of God:

because many false prophets

are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:

Every spirit that confesseth

that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh

is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not

that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh

is not of God:

and this is that spirit of antichrist,

whereof ye have heard

that it should come;

and even now already

is it in the world.

4 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 4:14

Where is your kingdom?  Who is your King?  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test!  Jesus made it plain.

“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.”Matthew 7:13-14.

Amen and Amen!!!

Reach Them Today??? Really!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #342

21 Monday Apr 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, TODAY, Today and Forever, Today And Tomorrow, Today is the day of Salvation, Today IS Today!, Tomorrow, Too Late To Call?, Touch them while you can?, Train up a child...., Transformed life

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Reach Them Today??? Really!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #342

I want us to consider time today—no pun intended—but I do pray that we will realize that we are called to live “today”; we’re not to be consumed with yesterdays over which we have no control, or even overly concerned about tomorrow!  I have a prayer that I wrote several years ago that I try to pray every day—I have it taped to my bathroom mirror (you can do the same) and it helps me remember who is in charge today—and the next today!

       Father—

              Your will for today IS mine—

              Your pleasure for today IS mine—

              Your work for today IS mine—

                      Tomorrow is yours alone to reveal—

                      Yesterday is ours alone—

                             Mine– to release to You–                       

                             Yours– to weave into the image of

Jesus Christ my Lord! 

              Amen and Amen!!!

Jesus reminded us of the importance of praying in the right mindset, and the first few lines of His model prayer tell it all.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day… ”                             Portions of Matthew 6:9-11a

Today is a gift from God and we are to pursue HIS will and HIS way, and for HIS kingdom to come; if I might interject a thought, we can rightly pray Hallowed be thy name to me—by rightly living His ways before a lost and dying world; we can pray Thy Kingdom come in me—by seeking His face through His Word, and walking in obedience to it; we can pray Thy will be done in me today and each today that HE gives us!  My heart grieves that I fail so much and so often, but I keep getting up each time, and Jesus helps me go forward.  You see my friends as we seek God, we can learn to focus on living today not yesterday or tomorrow.

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

 So what will we do with today?  We can choose to pursue Jesus—or something else.  We can choose to pursue a life of holiness, or we can live our own way.  The thing we often forget is that we may not have tomorrow.  Ever consider that even as Jesus told us to pray with today in mind, we can prepare for the future but don’t be so distracted by it that you miss today.  Children grow up way too fast! Life speeds by with no thought of what we are missing.  Don’t wait too long.  There’s an old hymn that haunts me even today, in the sense that we must, I say we must, realize that we may not have a tomorrow; the song was “O Why Not Tonight?”, by Eliza Holmes, and it pleads for the hearer to choose Jesus today. Have you bowed before Jesus in repentance of your sin, and faith/trust/belief in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice.  If not, why not now?   Caskets come in all sizes!  Are you ready to meet Jesus today?

“(For he saith,

I have heard thee

in a time accepted,

and in the day of salvation

have I succoured thee:

behold,

now is the accepted time;

behold,

now is the day of salvation.)”.   2 Corinthians 6:2

Even as God said in Genesis:

“And the LORD said,

My spirit shall not always strive with man,

for that he also is flesh…”. Genesis 6:3a

So what am I saying?  I’m saying that we must use today wisely and be ready to make a difference in this wicked world and walk in righteousness, grace, and peace as well as behave discreetly, wisely, modestly, respectfully, rightly and responsibly!  I pray that my life will never shame my Lord Jesus.  How about you, are you measuring your life by scripture or ‘Hellywood’?

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake,

happy are ye:

and be not afraid of their terror,

neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:

and be ready always to give an answer

to every man that asketh you

 a reason of the hope that is in you

with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience;

that, whereas they speak evil of you,

as of evildoers,

 they may be ashamed

that falsely accuse

your good conversation in Christ.”                            1 Peter 3:14-16

Oh, may we live for Jesus today; may we be found faithful and as Peter said, “ready always to give an answer”!  And remember God isn’t asking us to have all the answers, but to be equipped with His Word to respond to those who ask, “Why do you live that way?”; but most importantly we are to live a life that reflects our Lord not the world, or why would anyone notice unless there’s a difference!  We are supposed to be different.  Remember Noah, he preached about a flood when no one even knew what rain was; he was found faithful to preach truth to those who wouldn’t listen!  May we be called faithful too!

“And spared not the old world,

but saved Noah

the eighth person,

a preacher of righteousness,

bringing in the flood

upon the world of the ungodly;” 2 Peter 2:5

What’s your life preaching today.  What if this was my last “today”?  Oh, Jesus may we be found faithful “today”!  May others see Jesus in me.  Or we can choose to be like those in Noah’s day and Lot’s day!

“And as it was in the days of Noe,

so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat, they drank,

they married wives, they were given in marriage,

until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

and the flood came,

and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot;

they did eat, they drank,

they bought, they sold,

they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of

Sodom

it rained fire and brimstone

from heaven,

and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day

when the Son of man is revealed.”  Luke 17:26-30

What is Jesus saying?  Jesus is telling us clearly that those who lived with no thought of God, no thought that tomorrow held judgement, did nothing to get right with God today!  They lived as if today would never end.  Is your life a reflection of Jesus or the world that is “going to hell in a handbasket”?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely there is an end to today, and a test.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

 Use your todays wisely.  Judgment is coming.  Will you stand with Jesus today?  He’s coming soon!  Please look up today!  Live so those following you will be drawn to the cross!

Amen and Amen!!!

What Season Is It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #247

07 Wednesday Aug 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Seasonal or Steadfast?, This IS The Day, This is the Way, Thy Kingdom Come, Time, Time Is Grace!, Times and Seasons, TODAY, Today and Forever, Today And Tomorrow, Today is the day of Salvation, Today IS Today!, Tomorrow, True Knowledge, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?

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What Season Is It???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #247

As we think about times and seasons, many around us are counting that to mean ‘heat’!  It’s one of those really hot Oklahoma summers, and we praise God for the A/C and try to do what we can when it’s the cooler part of the day; which for a ‘scheduler’ like me it has turned my ‘schedule’ upside-down!  But I’m learning to adapt to getting up earlier to walk first thing in the morning, not the late afternoon; to get the outside watering done early as well; and more of it to keep my flowering plants alive through this heat wave!  But I want us to think of a different kind of seasons, and while we all deal with the changing seasons of the year, unique seasonal changes on the outside, yet we also face different and unique seasons of life.

That is what I want us to think about today; to remember that while God created the earthly seasons, He also sets our times and seasons of life; and when we learn to trust Him with our life seasons, it makes for a sweeter walk through this journey of life.  When we walk with God, we can be assured that He has us in His hand, and as a preacher friend says, “God never says, ‘ooops’!”   His timing is perfect!

“The LORD is the portion

of mine inheritance

and of my cup:

thou maintainest my lot.

6 The lines are fallen unto me

in pleasant places;

yea, I have a goodly heritage.

7 I will bless the LORD,

who hath given me counsel:

my reins also

instruct me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the LORD always before me:

because he is at my right hand,

I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad,

and my glory rejoiceth:

my flesh also shall rest in hope.”  Psalm 16:5-9

Our hope is in Jesus our Lord and God The Father; we can trust Him to care for us, to direct our steps and show us the way, if we will but draw near to Him, feed on His Word, and communicate with Him in prayer continually.  That’s what Paul meant when he called us to “pray without ceasing” (See 1 Thessalonians 5:17.)  For prayer is the lifeline of the believer, not just a rote request that God would “give us this day…”, or a quick “forgive us our trespasses” before we go to sleep.  Prayer without ceasing means keeping a mindset of dependence on God to direct our every step—every day—all the way!  After all He is the creator of all—the ruler of all—our soon coming King; Daniel proclaimed His character in one of the most concise prayers of praise in all of scripture; may we heed its truth and beauty today—every day.

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge

to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth

the deep and secret things:

he knoweth

what is in the darkness,

and the light

dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee,

and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2:19-23

God heard and answered Daniel’s prayer (along with his friends who joined him in the prayer vigil), and He will do the same for us when our hearts are set on God rather than set on doing our own thing, our own way; and when God begins to reorder our lives, our abilities, our surroundings, our times and seasons of life, we often balk, pout, stomp, cry and demand that God give us our ________ back (you fill in the blank).  And for many people my age (senior citizens) it’s hard not to want to be able to do what we used to do, to go where we used to go, to have the people, places and things that we used to have!  But the season has changed for us, and probably for many of you reading this post; but the test is, what we will do with the change: get mad, pout and drop out?  Or will we look up, stand fast, and press on with whatever ability, resources and time that God has given us? God hasn’t asked us to do the impossible, but to trust Him to lead us, use us and provide for us as we are faithful stewards of whatever time and season we may enter—be it temporary or permanent, Paul said it best.

“For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.”  Galatians 6:8-10

May we remember that Jesus is the One who leads us to those opportunities—sometimes as the giver, and at other times, as gracious receivers!  We will reap what we sow, and God keeps accurate accounts.

“When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh,

what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41 They say unto him,

He will miserably destroy

those wicked men,

and will let out his vineyard

unto other husbandmen,

which shall render him

the fruits in their seasons.”  Matthew 21:40-41

God is faithful to provide that which we need, yet there are those times when Jesus says, “Not now!”, or “Wait!” or as He told His disciples, some things are to be done “by faith without knowing the particular times and seasons”—we are to walk by faith in His timing not our own.  The power, times and seasons belong to Jesus, we are called to Go forth scattering the truth of the Gospel!

“When they therefore were come together,

they asked of him, saying,

Lord, wilt thou at this time

restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them,

It is not for you to know the times or the seasons,

which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power,

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses unto me

both in Jerusalem,

and in all Judaea,

and in Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things,

while they beheld,

he was taken up;

and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly

toward heaven as he went up,

behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said,

Ye men of Galilee,

why stand ye gazing up into heaven?

this same Jesus,

which is taken up from you into heaven,

shall so come in like manner

as ye have seen him go into heaven.

12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem

from the mount called Olivet,

which is from Jerusalem

a sabbath day’s journey.”  Acts 1:6-12

And one last passage that reminds us that we have a great task, for our Lord will return and He will call us unto Himself!  Will we be found faithful to the season that Jesus has brought us to?  Are we paying attention to the world around us, and sharing the truth of Jesus’ salvation as we are given opportunity?  Or are we running after the past?  A different future?  A different present?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren,

ye have no need that I write unto you.

2 For yourselves know perfectly

that the day of the Lord so cometh

as a thief in the night.

3 For when they shall say,

Peace and safety;

then sudden destruction cometh upon them,

as travail upon a woman with child;

and they shall not escape.

4 But ye, brethren,

are not in darkness,

that that day should overtake you as a thief.

5 Ye are all the children of light,

and the children of the day:

we are not of the night,

nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep,

as do others;

but let us watch

and be sober.

7 For they that sleep

sleep in the night;

and they that be drunken

are drunken in the night.

8 But let us, who are of the day,

be sober,

putting on the breastplate

of faith and love;

and for an helmet,

the hope of salvation.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath,

but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us,

that, whether we wake or sleep,

we should live together with him.

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together,

and edify one another,

even as also ye do.”  1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Walking with Jesus, we can have peace, joy and comfort knowing that our Lord is in charge—and He has our times and seasons in His hands—both the times and seasons of eternity and our personal times and seasons.  Give it all to Jesus—He knows; He loves you and He has your journey mapped out; so trust Him with it today, and each day!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

God is still God; God is still good; and I still trust HIM! And You?

What ‘Ya Doing With Today??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #181

02 Friday Feb 2024

Posted by in God Still Reigns, God Who Sees, God's Faithfulness, God's got you and me!, Sovereignty, TODAY, Today and Forever, Today is the day of Salvation, Today IS Today!, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?

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What ‘Ya Doing With Today???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #181

Just a brief Friday word of encouragement for “Today”!  I pray that you are looking up rather than around!  For while the world is totally unpredictable, our God is worthy of praise each and every day, and HE has total Sovereign Control.  Learn to rest in Him no matter what you see with your eyes!

Just a word about this passage from Psalm 118, for we usually only quote verse 24, but when you see it with the preceding verses which refer to Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and hell, we have a renewed hope, joy and purpose to press on.  May you willfully rejoice in JESUS today!  Today is in His hands, they were when the Psalmist wrote this, they were when Jesus paid for our sin on the cross, they were when HE rose up from the grave, and they are NOW—today, as we look to HIM in everything.  Don’t let the enemy and his “wiles” distract you!

“The stone which the builders refused

is become the head stone of the corner.

23 This is the LORD’S doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:22-24

Amen and Amen!!!

Hail And Farewell Challenge??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #170

29 Friday Dec 2023

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Living In My Season, Living TODAY!, Press ON!, Pursuing Excellence?, TODAY, Today and Forever, Today And Tomorrow, Today is the day of Salvation, Today IS Today!, Tomorrow

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Hail And Farewell Challenge???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #170

 

My father was a Navy veteran and my “little” brother (he’ll appreciate that, even though he prefers to use the term “younger” brother, for he is younger than me, and always will be…ha ha ha) was in the Army, as well as my brother-in-law, a Vietnam veteran.  So you can see the military has always been a big part of our family; and in the military, when there is a change of command there is a “Hail and Farewell” ceremony of some sort, to bid ‘farewell’ to the departing leader, and ‘hail’ (welcome and salute) to the incoming leader.  As we approach the New Year, we here at our house bid you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Well, you may be saying, Christmas is past, and New Year’s not here; but that’s the point I want us to see and understand, that we who are followers of JESUS celebrate Him and His arrival every day of the year!  I do!  How about you?  What do I mean?  I mean we are called to say farewell to the past failures and even our successes—for they are of yesterday, and we are called to live in the “today”.  Jesus said it Himself when He told us how we ought to pray, and part of that prayer says clearly, “Give us this day….”; but I think sometimes we are so focused on “bread” that we seem to forget that God is talking about life as well as “bread”!  We are to live and focus on today, and let the past be just that— “Passed” (memories to cherish but just that—memories!)!

Paul gives an amazing picture of this in his letter to the Philippians, and I’ll simply let Paul speak this truth!  I pray that each of you have an amazing day today…and today…and today into and through the New Year.  May you lay your regrets, sorrows, confusions, hurt feelings, successes, and whatever else may be a lingering hindrance to living “today” for Jesus.  We have an amazing Lord and Savior who is totally sufficient to meet our every need—whether it’s a ‘hail’ or a ‘farewell’!  Today is a gift given by God to you and me, let’s commit to use each day ‘today’, leaving our regrets before the ‘throne of grace’ (See Hebrews 4:15-16) and our successes at Jesus feet.  God has promised that HE is ever at work conforming His own “into the image of His son” (See Romans 8:28-29), and I’m convinced that God always does good work, even (if not especially) when we mess up, HE said HE would, and HE has proven Himself faithful in my life, and the lives of so many.  Look up my friends, not around at a lost and dying world who needs Jesus, but up to your Father and His Son Jesus who is ever interceding for us to be HIS hands and feet to those lost and dying around us.

“Who is he that condemneth?

It is Christ that died,

yea rather, that is risen again,

 who is even at the right hand of God,

who also maketh intercession

for us.”  Romans 8:34

So, let’s march confidently into each day—now and into the New Year (so called, for they’ve been coming and going since God set creation in place!  But that’s a study for another time!)!  Here’s Paul’s admonition and encouragement for each of us, “press on”!

“Yea doubtless,

and I count all things but loss

for the excellency of the knowledge

of Christ Jesus my Lord:

for whom I have suffered the loss

of all things,

and do count them but dung,

that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him,

not having mine own righteousness,

which is of the law,

but that which is through

the faith of Christ,

the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him,

and the power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

being made conformable unto his death; …

13 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, (mature)

be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,

let us walk by the same rule,

let us mind the same thing.”  Portions of Philippians 3:8-16

And if I might borrow Paul’s words of conclusion to this part of his call to the Philippian believers, may we be found faithfully standing “fast in the Lord”!  The prayer of my heart is that Jesus will find us so standing when He comes for us or when we go to HIM!  Ready or not here HE comes!

“Therefore,

my brethren dearly beloved

and longed for,

my joy and crown,

so stand fast in the Lord,

my dearly beloved.”  Philippians 4:1

May the blessings of God rain down on you, and your eyes, heart and mind be open to receive them, praising God for them all!

Amen and Amen!!!