"Well Off"?

"We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense the the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.  At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm."  (Jeremiah 44:7, NIV)

Okay, I think I get it.  When they served Satan, "we had plenty...and were well off and suffered no harm."  Okay, how did that work out?!?!?

This is the sad epitaph of so many.  It is like Psalm 73.  They look at how others live who reject Jesus, rail on Jesus, and how they were when they were living in sin, and bingo, a conclusion which will take them to the pit of hell.  I pray that you and I never be so stupid as to come to such a conclusion as those in our text.  The psalmist said when he was entertaining such blaspheme that he, "was as a beast before You."

The Bible shows us that there are no guarantees that we will escape trouble, never know hard times.  Yet Jesus, "The Word of God," does teach us that, "In the world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that by your mercies I have never succumbed to the life style of those in our text.  I can only pray for Your continued mercy and grace.  Amen.

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Please pray for the New York City Mission, June 3

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Does Your, "Soul Cling[] To the Dust"?

"My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your Word."  (Psalm 119:25)

The NIV says, "I am laid low in the dust...."  Have you ever felt like this?  My prayer for you is that these devotionals will help, in some way, to alleviate this.

I have been there--- dry, thirsty, "....laid low in the dust,...barely able to go on.  But our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, did exactly what our text declares, "....revive me according to Your Word."  I know I say this so often, but when your very life is "revived" in a certain "manner," how can you do anything but continually glorify and praise Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit, and thank our Lord Jesus Christ, Who Himself, "....revive[d] me according to [His] Word"?

Here another way of putting it from Psalm 40: "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."  This promise, as with all, "the Words of God," are rooted in and empowered in the Blood of Jesus, His Death, His Resurrection, His Second Appearing, His Eternal Kingdom Reign, sealed in the Holy Spirit.

When I "open the door" of my heart to Jesus, when I surrender my being, my very existence, my all to Jesus, "I am laid low in the dust," becomes, "He lifted me out....Gave me a firm place to stand."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You are my, "FIRM PLACE TO STAND."  Amen.

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Please keep praying Psalm 35 for President Trump and PM Netanyahu.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:

"If I Give You Advice"----------

"....If I give you advice, you won't listen to me anyway." ( Jeremiah 38:15c, HCSB)

These are words of Jeremiah to King Zedekiah.  I have had people over the years, as a pastor, tell me that if I saw anything in their life which needed corrected, I should tell them.  The first time I tried it our text played out.

I have done this in "my walk" in the Lord; how often, I dread to think.  Our text is an admonition to you and me today.  The Bible is God's, "advice," (of course we know it is so much more) to us.  Remember:  "To obey is better than sacrifice," which means, "....better than..," prayer, mission work, worship, giving to the poor.

Jesus' Prayer in the Gethsemane was/is thematic, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."  This "theme" must dominate me, everywhere, always, whatever I do.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "....not as I will, but as You will."  I pray that my will is Your will.  Amen.

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You can access the devotionals at our Blog:    apfdevotionals.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Regular Contributers To FHMP: All Over 60

"Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 'I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU...."  (Hebrews 13:5, NASB)

Probably many who saw the title hit the "delete" button; "He just wants my money."  Regardless, I noticed in this text from a few days ago that our Lord Jesus is speaking to His Followers here, not the world, when He says to be, "....content with what you have...."  Increasingly, more and more in the Church are not. 

The statistic are clear.  Each generation of Americans, from the Second War generation to today's, have seen not only a steady decrease in "Church attendance," but also a significant decrease in giving.  If people are not content with what they have, then they have to do anything and everything they can to enable them to get more, even as Malachi says, "....rob God."  

We were visiting with one of our regular monthly supporters not long ago, and realized that all of our contributions come from people over 60; most are over 70.  There could be a number of reasons for this, but as I have shared before, if this steady decrease in giving continues in the Body of Christ, and the Lord "tarries," the Biblical reference to, "a remnant," will be more than just an oft quoted Bible verse.  This will effect everything from local Church services to missions.

Jesus does and will have His Church.  The Church is founded, "upon This Rock"; ergo, is just as our Head, "from everlasting to everlasting."  The number of those who declare their love and worship, etc., of the Living Triune God and are giving less and less to Jesus' Church is growing exponentially.  I pray that you and I never be "in that number."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "keep me near the Cross."  Amen.

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"All The gods of the Peoples Are Idols"

"For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens."  (Psalm 96:5)

Cafepress sells bumper stickers for humanists.  One is a quote by Sinclair Lewis.  "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."  Another one says, "In God YOU trust.  The rest of us will decide for ourselves, thanks."  O, my, I just cannot get over such cleverness. 

"For all the gods of the peoples are idols...."  This means allah, budda, krishna, and all those "I'm-smarter-than-you" stickers.  Now I guess if I were to choose the "nice" route, and the politically correct route, I would not write such a thing.  But I choose neither.  I choose, "....But the Lord,"the Lord Jesus Christ, "made the heavens."  Serve The Maker, or the "made," it is humanity's choice.

The muslims accuse us Followers of Jesus as polytheists.  They have no concept that, "the Invisible God," has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, Who is referred to in Colossians as, "the image of the invisible God."  Now if Islam or any other of the idol-serving religions choose a god who is "invisible," unknowable, aloof, that is to their confusion.  Jesus is God "coming to" the human race, saying as Isaiah says, "Here I am."  Invisible gods are unknowable.  Our God, Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit, desires so very much that humanity knows Him, receives Him, "Adam, where are you?"

You have undoubtedly seen the bumper stickers with the symbol of many of the world's religions.  The only thing that tells me about the owner is that he/she believes nothing.  I repeat that great passage of Paul to the Corinthians, "For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are may gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things, and through whom we live."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Yet for me," is You.  Amen

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2