Through Every Storm??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #439

25 Sunday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Self-sufficient or Dependent on Jesus?, Serve The Lord with gladness., Service, Still Will I Trust HIM, Storms, Strong Tower, Subtle Dependence

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Through Every Storm??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #439

We talked about literal storms the other day, but today I want to take that a step farther; reminding us that no matter the storm, whether physical, mental, spiritual, or some other attack on our peace, God has it!  Our God is the master of every storm, no matter it’s origin or it’s intended harm (from the enemy), God is faithful and sovereign over each and every storm.

“Then they cry unto the LORD

in their trouble,

and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29 He maketh the storm a calm,

so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad

because they be quiet;

so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the LORD

for his goodness,

and for his wonderful works

to the children of men!”  Psalm 107:28-31

I want to share a word of encouragement to you who are facing trials, disappointments, discouragement, wonder, confusion or any other storm real or imagined!  May we each remember that our God is sovereign over all!  Isaiah shares a most amazing truth about our place of safety—Jesus, Father God and the indwelling Holy Spirit, who will ever reassure our hearts regardless of our circumstances.  What is plaguing you today?  Don’t let the enemy rob you of your confidence in The Lord of all!

“O LORD,

thou art my God;

I will exalt thee,

I will praise thy name;

for thou hast done wonderful things;

thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth…

…. 4 For thou hast been

a strength to the poor,

a strength to the needy in his distress,

a refuge from the storm,

a shadow from the heat,

when the blast of the terrible ones

is as a storm against the wall.”  Isaiah 25:1 & 4

When Jesus is your Lord and Savior, my friends, you have a confidence that those who don’t know God will never understand; but that’s ok!  We are called to be His witnesses, allowing God to use our testimony as HE sees fit! All because God is ever at work to accomplish His purposes; even as Isaiah declares, God’s counsels are….” faithfulness and truth”!  Is our life a testament of God’s faithful truth?  As we overcome each and every storm, God is using that testimony in ways that we most often never see; and whether we see or not—God is still faithful to accomplish His purpose in and through our life!

So my question is, “Are you being a faithful, useable vessel for God’s glory, and your good?”; and very often the good of others as well, those who need to see Jesus in you and me!

We also find a word from the Apostle Peter, reminding us that we are the blood bought, redeemed; are you living like it.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought

unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb

without blemish

and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:13-19

I pray that we may we be found faithful before God and man—ever being a testament of the grace which we have received from God through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Are you living the new, redeemed and transformed life, trusting to God’s faithful provision?  It’s our calling!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

Remember, we win; so let’s lead others to our precious Lord that they may enter heaven with us!

Amen and Amen!!!

Shelter In The Storm??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #438

23 Friday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Faith, Faithful, Faithful Father--heavenly and earthly, Faithful Follower, Faithful God--Faithful me!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus-Wonderful Counselor

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Shelter In The Storm??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #438

I would like to share a bit of encouragement this morning as we in SW Oklahoma are hunkering down for a severe winter storm.  I thought a bit of a reminder that God is our ever-present help no matter the storm.  So whether you’re facing bad ‘weather’ or a storm of a different kind, I hope you will look up, knowing that help is always there-our Father God Almighty, Jesus Christ the Son, and the precious abiding Holy Spirit (to all those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, by faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—yours and mine!). So, I leave a word of God with you for today—and each and every day to know that Jesus never fails, no matter the storm.

“Hear my cry, O God;

attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth

will I cry unto thee,

when my heart is overwhelmed:

lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For thou hast been a shelter

for me,

and a strong tower

from the enemy.

4 I will abide in thy tabernacle

for ever:

I will trust in the covert

of thy wings. Selah.”  Psalm 61:1-4

I pray for our safety and yours in whatever storm you may be facing today!  God is ever faithful to be our high rock, a shelter, a strong tower, and a tabernacle over our heads, and the everlasting and covering wings!  Blessings on your day!

Amen and Amen!!!

Foolishness Or Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #437

21 Wednesday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Good News, Gospel, JESUS, Jesus is able, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, One Day Too Late?, One Foundation, Only One Way

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Foolishness Or Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #437

It seems that we live in a culture (the whole world) that clings to anything they want to call truth, yet Biblical truth seems to be excluded from acceptable conversation—in both interpersonal and public situations.  Well, I want us to consider what scripture says about the Gospel—scripture reminds us that the world will call preaching Jesus foolish!  What do you call it?  Do you know what the gospel is?  I would like to spend some time today sharing the Gospel from a scriptural perspective.  I hope you will find it helpful; and also that you will receive it to your heart, if you haven’t already been born again.

“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

Jesus shared this truth with His disciples as He was about to leave this world, and He assured them that He would return; and while they didn’t understand it as He spoke to them then, for the most part, they later gave their very lives in defense of this truth.  Jesus also shared truth with a religious leader named Nicodemus.

“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.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”  John 3:16-19

Jesus makes it clear—it’s your choice!  You can believe and receive His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that He made on the cross of Calvary, for He died in my place and yours—but only for those who see our sin and turn to Him with a repentant heart and receive His amazing gift of eternal life and forgiveness of our sin. (See Colossians 1;14) For sin, my friend, is the issue.  Will you receive Jesus’ gift of life and forgiveness, or will you pay for your own sin and be condemned to hell?  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test, and Jesus is coming again soon!  Paul made this most clear in his letter to the believers at Rome.

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life through

Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:22-23

The truth of the Gospel IS JESUS—His death burial and resurrection to pay for the sin of all who will come to Him.  The check has been written; the choice of belief and receipt is in your hands!  But you must choose!  You are choosing each and every day that you wait to decide, every day that you put it off until a tomorrow that may or may not come.  Will you be saved today?  Peter told a massive gathering in Jerusalem shortly after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, that they had to choose to be saved or stay lost! (the “man” who was standing before the crowd was a man healed in Jesus’ name.)

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man

stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought

of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name

under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:10-12

How amazing that Peter proclaimed the Gospel that Jesus is the only way of salvation—the only way to be saved; and Paul also gives us the Gospel in a nutshell (you might say!)

“For I delivered unto you

first of all that which I also received,

how that Christ died

for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred

brethren at once;

of whom the greater part remain

unto this present,

but some are fallen asleep.”  1 Corinthians 15:3-6

So, if we sum it up, what is the Gospel?  Simply put, that Jesus (the one born of a virgin that He might “…save His people from their sins…”) lived a sinless life, died a death which He didn’t deserve for your sin and mine, that He was buried and laid in the borrowed tomb for 3 days, then He rose on the third day victorious over sin, death and hell for all who will believe and receive Him.  All of this done “according to the scriptures” which God made known thousands of years before it was fulfilled!  For God always keeps HIS WORD, in His time!

So, how are we to get the message out?  Not entertainment, or catchy phrases, or any way of man!  Paul made it clear—and I still believe God’s way is God’s way!

“For Christ sent me not to baptize,

but to preach the gospel:

not with wisdom of words,

lest the cross of Christ should be

made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved

it is the power of God.

19 For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and will bring to nothing the understanding

of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise?

where is the scribe?

where is the disputer of this world?

hath not God made foolish

the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom knew not God,

it pleased God

by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:17-21

God chose preaching!  So what is that?  Telling the truth of the Gospel just as Paul shared above—that Jesus died “for our sins…according to the scripture…”; that He “was buried”; and that HE “rose again the third day… according to the scripture”!  Jesus IS the Gospel!  What’s your gospel?  May we go forth sharing the truth of what Jesus did to save sinners—the Gospel shared by “preaching”—that which the world (and oft-times even the church) disdains as ineffective!  But God chose this way!  May we be found to be faithful witnesses of the truth of The Gospel—and preaching means ‘telling forth’.

In closing, a portion of one of my favorite passages about what Jesus did!  I pray that you will be moved to trust God and His salvation which Jesus accomplished for you and me on the cross!

“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.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

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

(I encourage you to read this entire chapter—in fact the book of Romans would be a great way to start your year!)

May we be faithful to share God’s truth, God’s way!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

Evidence Or Cost?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #436

19 Monday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Come To Worship HIM, Satan's lies., Saved by grace, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, Seek ye first The Kingdom of God, Seeking Jesus, Self-sufficient or Dependent on Jesus?, Work, Worldliness

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Evidence Or Cost?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #436

As I think of the matter of our salvation, I would like to share a few thoughts with you.  Basically put, are our works the price of our salvation or the result of God’s saving grace?  Seemingly a simple question, but one of such import that I think it worthy of our attention, and the search of what scripture says!  And scripture is the authority, not my opinion or yours.

“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

God’s Word is the authority upon which we must stand, all else is lacking power, authority and usually comes from the enemy of our souls.  Jesus made this clear as He talked with the religious leaders of His day.  Who are you listening to?  The Word of God or sources that come from the ‘father of lies’?

“Ye do the deeds of your father.

Then said they to him,

We be not born of fornication;

we have one Father,

even God.     

42 Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.  

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer

from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

 ye believe me not.”  John 8:41-45

Jesus makes it clear that we have the choice to hear, heed and believe His testimony or reject it and cling to the lies of the enemy of your soul (and mine)!  There is a repeated phrase in scripture that we need to consider! (Also Rev. 2:7; 11; 17;29; 3:6; 13; 22.)

“He that hath ears to hear,

let him hear.”  Matthew 11:15

Jeremiah and Ezekiel also got the message from The Lord long before Jesus made His appearance on planet earth.

“Declare this in the house of Jacob,

and publish it in Judah, saying,

21 Hear now this,

O foolish people,

and without understanding;

which have eyes, and see not; which have ears,

and hear not:”   Jeremiah 5:20-21

“The word of the LORD also came unto me,

saying,

2 Son of man,

thou dwellest in the midst

of a rebellious house,

which have eyes to see,

and see not;

they have ears to hear,

and hear not:

for they are a rebellious house.”  Ezekiel 12:1-2

So, what can we conclude from these things?  That much like Israel who had the facts and missed the message from God of the salvation that He offered by grace through faith in God and His promised Messiah; we are in much the same state!  We live in the midst of a perverse culture, and yet, it’s no surprise to God—even Paul gave us instructions for our behavior in the midst of such.

“Do all things

without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless,

the sons of God,

without rebuke,

in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,

among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life…”.                               Philippians 2:14-16

What does this have to do with the ‘evidence’ or the ‘cost’?  Much, as Paul lays it out so clearly in his letter to the Ephesian believers.  Not my works, but the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary—the blood of The Lamb of God, who came to save us “from their sin”—notice “from” not in!

“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:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

 it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

And just as I couldn’t do anything to pay for my sin, I can’t do anything to add to Christ’s payment for my sin at the cross!  It’s by grace that I’m saved and just as works couldn’t purchase it, neither can they keep it, even as Jesus proclaimed publicly (in fact if you read on to verse 31, you’ll see that this declaration made the religious leaders angry enough to stone Him to death.)

“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 10:27-30

In closing, my question for us today is, what have you/I done with Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—yours and mine?  Can you pay for your sin apart from Hell?  No!  Neither can I, so I’ll close with Paul’s great truths from the Roman treatise!  (And you can see the angel’s message to Joseph before Jesus’ birth in Matthew 1:21!)

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”            Romans 3:23-24

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

So have you worked your way to God, by your own works?  Or are you saved by grace, and bringing forth works that God has set before His own purchased possession to accomplish as an expression of our salvation, not the price of it!  May God speak to each of us that we will be found in Jesus, receiving His payment for our sin—not trying to work our way to heaven!  As Jesus said in John 14:6 HE is “the way”!

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s Your Excuse Now??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #435

16 Friday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Joy of The Lord!, Judgment, Judgment Is Coming, This is the Way, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, What's In Your Heart?, Where are you leading those following you?

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What’s Your Excuse Now

??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #435

We live in a culture filled with ready-made excuses—I’ve been deprived, neglected, poor, sick, my parents didn’t do right, they are too strict, too lenient, to tight, to extravagant, I saw it on social media, all my friends are doing it!  I……fill in the blank________!  Jesus talks about our choices—it’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test coming!  And you don’t know when it will come.

“Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one

that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will

of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:20-23

Jesus continues on in this passage to give us an amazing example of the import of our choices.  There are choices we make that seem unimportant, and we often think if we make it look good, it doesn’t matter what our foundation is; but Jesus makes it clear that without a proper foundation life will fall apart when the storms come—and they will come!  And please remember that JESUS IS THE ROCK! (The Rock of Ages, if you would!)

“Therefore whosoever heareth

these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth

these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”Matthew 7:25-27

What foundation are you laying?  Is your confidence in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus for sin?  Or is your confidence in the world or anything other than the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord!  I pray that you will forsake the excuses and cling to Jesus!

“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

There is a day of accounting coming, I pray that you will take care of business with Jesus—HE is the only way to salvation!  Don’t excuse yourself right into hell.

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face

the earth and the heaven fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever

was not found written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15

Your choices matter—and there will be no excuses to give.  Please be ready to meet Jesus—He is coming soon!

“And, behold,

I come quickly;

and my reward is with me,

to give every man

according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end,

the first and the last.”  Revelation 22:12-13

Amen and Amen!!!

Remember, just saying so doesn’t make it so!!!

What’s your excuse?