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Ezekiel
I’ve been reading the Book of Ezekiel this week, and because suffering has been such a topic in my Bible study class, I zoned in on one of Ezekiel’s trials.
In Ezekiel 24, the story of suffering reminds us that in our moments of pain, we should strive to pray for God’s deeper purposes to be revealed. Otherwise, we will drive ourselves crazy trying to figure it all out.
Ezekiel’s wife was suddenly taken from him by God, even though he cherished her deeply. Despite his loss, God instructed him not to mourn for her openly. This might seem puzzling, but it serves as an example of what God expected from Israel.
Death of Ezekiel’s Wife Is a Sign
And the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come.Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your shoes on your feet, and do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded (Ezekiel 24: 15-18).
The people were to face destruction and loss due to their sins, just as Ezekiel did, but they were not permitted to mourn openly. To clarify, Ezekiel’s suffering was not the result of any sin or wrongdoings. He was meant to show the people how to respond to their hardships.
God’s Deeper Purpose
Sometimes, God allows things to happen to us for a purpose, even if it’s difficult to accept. He often wants us to use those experiences for His purpose: to help others who are going through similar struggles.
I can relate to this on a smaller scale. For instance, during our home walk-through in 2021, the morning before we were scheduled to purchase a new home, I fell down fourteen wooden stairs headfirst! While in and out of consciousness, lying at the bottom of the stairs, I started declaring aloud over and over again, “God let this happen so I can help someone else who falls down the stairs.” The realtor must have thought I was a basket case. I haven’t helped anyone in the same situation yet, but I genuinely wanted to find God’s deeper purpose amid my scary time. It’s funny how the mind works!
Seek Him
God knows our situation and/or circumstance, and we should seek to understand His purposes. Life happens, and God desires us to trust Him in everything. And yes, I know it can be hard.
Praying, meditating on His Word, and fellowshipping with others are some of the activities that can help us find peace and move on.
Ezekiel’s experience reinforces my belief that in times of suffering, we should strive to pray for God’s deeper purposes to be revealed to us—no matter how long it takes!
I’m working on it! How about you?
Feel free to share this reflection with others. May it encourage hearts and remind us that we’re never alone on this path.
God Bless,
Prayer
My heavenly Father, I love you. I know You are always looking out for me. However, there are some things I can’t get over, but I want to. Help me, Lord, to daily have the confidence to trust You for everything. You are the only one who can help me to understand my former and present trials, thoughts, hopes, and dreams. From this day forth, let me consider Your DEEPER PURPOSES for my life and not my own. Thank you for reminding me that You will give me an understanding of Your purpose(s) in my life. I will keep praying.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Bible Verse
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
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TRAUMA
Many of us, especially as we grow older, carry the weight of significant trauma. I am no exception. These traumas often lead us through years of introspection and painful questioning: Why did that happen? What if I had acted differently? Why can’t I move past these memories?
It’s disheartening when these painful memories resurface unexpectedly, sometimes decades later. These recollections can intrude upon our thoughts startlingly, leaving us feeling helpless.
Some people and experiences we wish we could erase entirely, while others we yearn to reconnect with before our time is up.
It’s perplexing why these moments of pain reappear at the most inconvenient times, challenging our understanding. We might also wonder why such memories continue to haunt us.
While the reasons may remain elusive, one thing is sure: God understands the depth of our pain and the struggle these memories bring. But He is there to offer comfort and support against these relentless, intrusive thoughts.
The weight of these memories can lead to confusion, guilt, and a diminished spirit. We long to bury these painful experiences so that they never surface again, yearning for relief from the confusion and sorrow they bring.
Canva Photo
As I drove to a friend’s home today, I found solace in knowing that God is intimately aware of every hurt and thought I have now and have ever endured. He understands the impact of these past trials on us, even when they resurface unexpectedly.
But when the shadows of past traumas return, how should we respond?
In some cases, this is where spiritual warfare comes into play. When we’re overwhelmed by memories we’d rather forget or face heartaches and struggles we can’t share with others, we might be engaged in a spiritual battle. Discerning whether these challenges are from God, ourselves, or an evil force can be confusing.
In these moments, consider the following truths about spiritual warfare. Satan’s attacks are not new. As believers, we are engaged in a battle and must equip ourselves with spiritual armor. Understand that the righteous often face fiercer attacks because they are devoted to serving God and praying for others. We must sustain ourselves with prayer and daily immersion in God’s word. And obeying God’s guidance and will is crucial.
God’s work in our lives is ongoing until He calls us home. Progress can be difficult, but we must recognize our identity in Christ and trust that He will “help us” through every challenge. One of my favorite prayers in the Psalms, which I constantly pray, is, “Help me!”
Bible Verse
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeing whom he may devour; who resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Prayer
With faith and perseverance, please help me, Lord, to face what comes my way. You are my comforter when hard memories come into my life. Guide me to place my entire life, current and past, in your hands. I love you.
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I love seeing a package from Thomas Nelson on my doorstep. I know that is my next Bible to review. Viewing multiple Bibles throughout the year is an honor, privilege, and pleasure.
External Appeal
I recently received the NKJV Study Bible FOR KIDS. It arrived in an elegant box perfect for gifting! The Bible’s appealing blue leather soft cover attracted me immediately. The front cover would look extremely lovely with beautiful engraving imprinted on it. Its size makes it convenient to carry, and the tactile experience of this beautiful soft cover is pleasant to the touch. The shade of blue is appropriate for both girls and boys.
Two Concerns
Before delving into its contents, I must highlight two concerns I have about this Bible.
First, while this Bible is labeled “FOR KIDS,” there is a need for more clarity on the specific age group it targets. I seem to always be concerned when a Bible says it is for a particular audience; in this case, the box, the cover, and the title page all say it is for kids, but “kids” can encompass a broad spectrum from young children to adolescents, potentially affecting its long-term appeal. For those browsing a bookstore looking at this Bible in its boxed form, there would be no indication on the box for the purchaser regarding the Bible’s age or reading level.
Second, I strongly believe that promoting the Bible “FOR KIDS” may confuse a purchaser. If someone buys this Bible for an 11-year-old, it implies that as the child grows into a teenager, they may not want to use it due to the “FOR KIDS” inscription on the front cover. As an alternative, I suggest it would have been better to keep the “FOR KIDS” on the title page but leave it off the front cover to not embarrass teenagers if they want to continue to use this Bible.
Age
The book details on Amazon say this book is for grades four through six, which would most likely be ages nine through 11. However, customers rate the reading age as seven to 11, a discrepancy when deciding upon the book.
However, I understand that education has been dumbed down over the years, so defining who can read this Bible is difficult.
What’s Inside?
Setting aside these considerations, the NKJV Study Bible For Kids impresses with its comprehensive features and design. Although the font size could be slightly larger across its 1,582 pages, the layout is well-organized with ample half-inch margins and sturdy paper quality. A striking yellow ribbon bookmark adds a touch of elegance. The margins all around the text are 1/2.” The paper quality appears nice and sturdy.
Educationally, this Bible excels with distinctive features color-coded throughout, giving extra information kids (and adults) would enjoy.
Book Review: NKJV Study Bible For Kids
1. Action Feature (purple) covers topics such as Friendship and Giving to God.
2. Epic Ideas (blue) explores themes such as A Man of True Wisdom and Don’t Be Afraid.
3. Spotlights (red) illuminate subjects like God Watches Over You and Jesus is God.
4. In Focus (purple) provides insights on terms like Demon-Possession and Prophecy.
5. Timelines (yellow) trace historical events from Genesis to Revelation. The print size could be made more reader-friendly.
6. On Location (green) includes maps detailing journeys and locations crucial to biblical narratives.
7. Starring Roles (yellow) profiles key figures Biblical characters like Moses and Titus.
Extra Features
Additionally, this Bible concludes with valuable resources such as a dictionary—concordance, book abbreviations, and detailed lists facilitating more straightforward navigation through its supplemental materials.
This edition of the Bible is currently in pre-order status on Amazon. It is listed for $49.99. It is also available in paperback and hardback at lower prices.
Valuable Resources
Despite my initial reservations about its target audience labeling, the NKJV Study Bible For Kids is a valuable resource for children and parents dedicated to imparting Biblical truths – especially to homeschoolers. Beyond its “FOR KIDS” designation, its depth and educational richness make it a commendable choice for serious Bible study and spiritual growth at any age.
In fact, I can see myself using this Bible in my quiet time and for the Study Bible tips and information.
God bless.
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Chilling in the United Airlines Lounge (I got lucky this time), I realized how much the world has transformed.
Observing
First off, as I sit in the lounge — or club as some call it — phone chargers are like vines, everywhere you look. Folks are wheeling and dealing on calls, making the air buzz with business. And the restrooms? They’ve gone gender-neutral – “All-Gender” signs on all three restrooms. Then there’s the tech scene; video calls have taken over, with people chatting away as if they’re in their own private bubbles.
And let’s talk about the grub! I nibbled on some bread and veggies, waiting for my coffee to hit that perfect sipping temp. Meanwhile, the bar appears more expansive than the food spread.
Then, there were the overheard snippets from the tech crowd floating around:
“It’s the team that matters!”
“He’s nailing it remotely, so this chat’s only fair.”
“Guess it boils down to how you juggle the tasks.”
“Got summoned to cool off a hot-headed new manager in Corpus – he’ll settle in a few weeks, no sweat!”
“If they pull it together, let’s seal the deal – doubt they’ll kick up a fuss.”
“Time to touch base with the stakeholders.”
“Just nod along, then we’ll switch it up, keep things smooth.”
Thankfully, the lounge is free from the harsh language that peppered the check-in zone.
Everyone’s on a mission to prove their worth, except yours truly. I’m here penning this blog, pondering its purpose, how to wrap it up, and wondering why I am even observing the scene. Soon, I’ll dive into my paperback books on the Holy Spirit and Sodom. Holding them up might ruffle some feathers – or not.
I’ve already soaked up some Bible verses this morning, but now, my focus is wavering. The buffet’s getting a refill, and I’m torn… More food? My snooze-inducing pill? Or my books? I opted for the latter – the pill can wait until I’m yearning for it on the flight. I’ll grab a bite just before boarding.
To pass the time, I’ll share some gems from my reads – the blog’s theme is “Killing Time!” And hey, sometimes that’s time well spent, like now.
Gems
“The Holy Spirit is the ultimate church growth expert. He is not a liability that needs limiting but the only one who can make an eternal impact. We need to let him run our ministries and churches.”
“Without the Holy Spirit, a church is just a club, our preaching is just motivation, and our outreaches are just temporary acts of charity.”
“Let’s say that you are like a mobile phone. You can be plugged into the power outlet and then charged to 100%, but the moment you unplug from the source you begin to lose power. Your charge begins to drop. In order to keep the phone at 100% charge, it has to be charged up and then remain plugged into the power source.” Think Holy Spirit.
“Preacher, what kind of a gospel have we to present to such a self-condemning people? If our message lacks ‘the power of God unto salvation,’ dare, we call it the gospel?” Hmm!
And that’s a wrap! Boarding’s up next…
Bible Verse:
“You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words (Good News Translation).
Proverbs 18:20-21
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Please allow me to watch my tongue, both in what I say and in the attitude in which I say it. Let me honor You in all I say. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
Bibliography
I’m not saying, because some of you might think I’ve gone too charismatic for your liking! Ha.
The same article is printed below. If you are anything like my dad, he would not click on any links! So, I posted the article below.
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Aging does not have to mean reducing our service to the Lord.
As I recently filled out my health history at my new heart specialist’s office, I reminded myself I have gray hair and crepey skin, and my weight loss program is not cutting it anymore.
Richard Stefanacci defines aging in the Merck Manual as “a gradual, continuous process of natural change that begins in early adulthood.” He believes becoming old is answered by looking at our chronological, biological and psychological age.
But nothing is mentioned about our spiritual age, which I think is a significant matter.
Let’s consider why some believers discontinue working for the Lord as they age, and the importance of renewing a relationship with the Lord until one’s body or cognition completely disappears.
Reasons our service diminishes with age
Multiple factors influence why aging folks cease working heartily, grow weary or drop out of church altogether. Some are physical limitations, such as driving restrictions or change in living location. In other cases, medical reasons such as eyesight, hearing and mobility issues affect one’s ability to serve.
However, some offer frivolous “reasons” for spiritual inactivity. They may believe the pastor isn’t “feeding” them anymore or feel worthless or left out at church. Others lose focus and fall away from the one true path, instead enjoying a sinful lifestyle or becoming distracted by golfing, lake houses and stock investments.
These circumstances and interferences can make serving the Lord challenging. This is understandable.
Fortunately, many still can experience a godly presence where they are.
Hope and renewal
If you fit into the category of one who has lost the joy of your salvation but wants to experience God again, there is hope.
In Experiencing the Presence of God, the late pastor A.W. Tozer states, “When we lift our inward eyes to gaze upon God, we are sure to meet friendly eyes gazing back at us” (p. 58).
Praise God if you have served him faithfully your entire Christian life and continue to do so by serving, studying the Bible, meditating and seeking him.
But if you have been a “pew sitter” for most of your Christian life, or one who has strayed or drifted from the Lord, understand there is no age limit where you can’t seek God again.
Death is inevitable. One never knows when that final day will come upon us.
A few years ago, on the day a new season was to start in my life, I fell headfirst down 13 wooden stairs. A trip to the emergency room confirmed a concussion. I had read enough to know many such falls are fatal.
Deep in my spirit during my recovery period, the Lord revealed the experience was to show me he was not finished with me yet. I needed that word to keep going and not waste my life on triviality.
God is not through with you, either.
You may have messed up. However, the Lord wants you to kindle afresh your life, and it can be done. He will come along and pick you up right where you are. And he can and wants to do it today. It is not too late. Your age is irrelevant to God. He wants you to return to the fold.
How to renew your relationship with the Lord
Decide, today, you want your life to be pleasing in his sight. Surrender as completely as you can to the Lord. Decide to live righteously. Repent and confess specifically the sins you have committed.
Avoid things that seek to take God’s place in your heart. Pursue God in all areas of your life.
Ask God to give you a hunger for his word. Read your Bible, seek his will, and pray daily.
Allow the Lord to speak to you through his word and his Holy Spirit. Thank the Lord for a second, third or fourth chance for allowing his presence in your life.
Here I am, Lord
The prophet Isaiah said to the Lord: “Here am I. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8 NASB).
The Lord used Isaiah powerfully, pleading for repentance and a restored life for the people of Judah.
If God could use Isaiah during a time of profound sinning among the people, he also can use you.
As a restored believer, you may be surprised at the circumstances God may place in your life. Ask God to show them to you, and then act upon his direction.
In my life, I have seen how one act of obedience leads me to the next experience or training I need from him, and the process snowballs year after year. Gradually, you will notice the fruits of the Spirit emerging in your life (Galatians 5:22-23 NASB).
Paul wrote: “Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14-15 NASB).
As for me, I will continue using my age-renewing crepe-corrector body lotion, because the tube says it will visibly improve my skin, but that is for the external “me.” But I am more concerned with the internal, and I pray you will be, too.
Patti Greene is a graduate of Baylor University and Dallas Baptist University, a member of Second Baptist Church in Houston, and the author of seven books. The views are those of the author.
God has a path of life for believers in Jesus. Are you on that path of following Jesus or heading down a different one?
8-28-2023 – By Patti Greene
_____________________________
Do you feel you are on the right path of life, following your Lord as closely as you know how? Or are you slipping slowly down the wrong path?
God has a path for believers in Jesus Christ. The Bible calls it the path of life.
As a child, I used to grab 10 to 15 Little Golden Books at a time and read one after another. One that always attracted me is Scuffy the Tugboat by Gertrude Crampton.
Scuffy was an adventurous little tugboat who believed he was meant for bigger things. He leaves his home, the man with the polka-dot tie, and the little boy who cared for him and sets off to explore the world. After his daring and treacherous adventure down a brook and then a raging river, Scuffy realizes home is where he’d rather be.
Twice during his adventure, Scuffy said, “This is the life for me.” The first time, he was leaving the reasonable, sensible path of his prior life to seek adventure. The second time was when he realized he already had been right where he needed to be all along—at home, safe in the arms of the man and boy who loved him.
Our goal should be to reach the point where we say right where we are, “This is the life for me.”
God wants us to understand we can know our path. Hopefully, it is the one he has set apart for us, but we must choose it.
Choices
In Psalms 16, King David declares he wants refuge in the Lord. In his communion with the Lord, he writes:
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy: at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11 ESV).
What path does God want us to be on for him?
In his Tyndale Old Testament Commentary on Psalms 1–72, Derek Kidner defines a person on the right path of life asone whose affections are centered on God. This person finds satisfaction in God’s ways and does not pursue other gods. God’s protection and instruction bless him.
We have two choices we can make in life: (1) accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and (2) follow God’s path for us leading to total joy in his presence.
We know we have eternal life, but sometimes we experience spiritual struggles. David trusted the Lord would show him the righteous path of life.
Righteousness and unrighteousness
As believers, we continually must choose between righteousness and unrighteousness. We want to walk in victory, but sometimes we find ourselves desiring things God has proclaimed unsuitable for us. We have that struggle between our flesh and the spirit, so we must ponder the path our feet are on.
We cannot experience God’s true purpose for life when we travel the destructive path. We may find ourselves in a continuous cycle of repeatedly sinning and confessing. To break that cycle, we must deny ourselves, take up Jesus’ cross and follow him.
“And he was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me’” (Luke 9:23 NASB95).
“In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway, there is no death …” (Proverbs 10:28 Amplified Bible).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, so that he will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NASB).
Reroute and redirect
A navigation system is an instrument that determines the position of a vehicle and the route to a particular place. The car’s navigation system tells the driver to turn left or right at a specific junction. The navigation system uses GPS signals to determine the vehicle’s location and direction.
It is a valuable tool with many benefits, such as helping people reach their destination, guiding drivers through congested areas, tracking packages, locating vehicles and more.
It is similar to the way God directs us in our lives. He shows us which way to turn, signals us on which way to proceed, helps us reach the destination and call of our lives, and guides us continually through the rough times in our lives.
Our navigation system must take its orders from the Lord. He will reroute and redirect our thoughts or actions if we genuinely want to follow his path.
‘This is the life for me’
Scuffy’s path of life allowed him to travel in a way that was not good for him. In the process, he enjoyed some of life’s simple pleasures, but as he kept traveling along the river, he was jammed with logs and became scared of the river moving faster and faster. Then the flood waters came, and the little tugboat desired the warmth and safety of home.
God can do the same for us as we travel our path of life.
Just like the man with the polka-dot tie who scooped Scuffy out of the water after his journey away and brought him home, God will do the same for us when we choose to live for him, decide against following unrighteous living, and allow him to reroute us when we stumble.
Let’s live victoriously in his presence along the path he has prepared for us.
Patti Greene is a graduate of Baylor University and Dallas Baptist University, a member of Second Baptist Church in Houston, and the author of seven books. The views are those of the author.
Do you feel that you are on the right path of life, following the Lord as closely as you know how? Or are you slowly slipping down the wrong path?
God has a path for believers in Jesus Christ. The Bible calls it the Path of Life.
As a child, I used to grab 10 to 15 Little Golden Books at a time and read one after another. But one which always attracted me, and still draws me to this day, is Scuffy the Tugboat by Gertrude Crampton.
Amazon’s book description mentions that Scuffy was an adventurous little tugboat who believed he was meant for bigger things. He leaves his home, the man with the polka-dot tie, and the little boy who cared for him and sets off to explore the world. After his daring and treacherous adventure down a brook and then a raging river, Scuffy realizes that home is where he’d rather be.
After traveling through dangerous situations, his life became more complicated. Eventually, Scuffy arrives home to the man with the polka-dot tie and his little boy, and he proclaims, “This is the life for me.”
Our goal should be to reach the point where we say, “This is the life for me,” right where we are on the path God has provided us. Scuffy used the quoted phrase twice: once in leaving the reasonable, sensible path of his prior life to seek adventure, and again when he realized he had already been right where he needed to be all along—at home, safe in the arms of the man and boy who love him.
God wants us to understand that we can know our path. And hopefully, it is the one He has set apart for us, but we must choose it.
Life Choices
In Psalm 16, King David declares that he wants refuge in the Lord. In his communion with the Lord, he writes:
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Ps. 16:11 ESV).
What path does God want us to be on for Him?
The late British Old Testament scholar Derek Kidner defined a person on the right path of life as “someone who takes refuge in God and knows life and joy.” This person finds satisfaction in God’s ways and does not pursue other gods. God’s protection and instruction bless him.
As believers, we have two major choices to make in life:
We must decide whether to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and then
2. We must follow God’s path, which leads us to joy in His presence.
We know we have eternal life, but sometimes we experience struggles. Jesus is the light of the world, but He always uses our struggles and sufferings for His good. There is a purpose for all He does. Suffering causes us to depend on Him in ways we never have done before. David trusted that the Lord would show him the righteous path of life.
Some call the path of life a journey or route. David knew that he would find total joy by following God’s directions. His suffering led him to heed God’s instruction.
God’s Instructions for Us
Stay in communication with our heavenly Father,
Read His word daily and let His principles and examples saturate our minds,
Be obedient to what you read in the Bible,
Confess sins and ask the Lord to help you in both your thoughts and actions so that those sins will not have a stronghold in your life,
Decide not to visit places that lead you into temptation,
Believe the Lord will guide us to Biblical principles and Scripture so we can know the right things to do, and
Seek His kingdom above all others.
Following the instructions above is easier said than done. I have been there, working through each and every instruction listed above. I also know it takes longer to heed God’s instructions than He or I would like sometimes. However, God has always been available to hear my concerns, thoughts, struggles, and desires. I have also learned it is best to converse with God about our plans before depending on or requesting guidance from others. It is in Him we must confide our deepest longings.
He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray (Prov. 10:17 NASB95).
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; (2 Tim. 3:16).
Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41).
If you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach (Deut. 30:10-11 NIV).
Righteousness and Unrighteousness
“Wrong”, “Right” and question marks, Canva.
We will encounter testing and temptation on our path, but when we saturate our lives with God’s word and principles, we can be satisfied that we are following the right track. Even as believers, though, we must continually choose between righteousness and unrighteousness.
We want to walk in victory, but sometimes, we desire things God has proclaimed unsuitable for us. We have that struggle between our flesh and the spirit, so we must ponder the path our feet are on.
We cannot experience God’s true purpose for life when we travel the destructive path. We may find ourselves in a continuous cycle of sinning and confessing. To break that cycle, we must deny ourselves, take up Jesus’ cross, and follow Him.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me (Luke 9:23).
The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes (Prov.10:28).
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Results of Living Right—Joy and Heaven
Woman in poppy field, Canva.
Psalm 16:11 concludes by saying if we follow God’s path, we will have complete joy and pleasures forever.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Ps.16:11 ESV).
When the temple restoration began in Jerusalem during the time of the prophet Ezra, we can understand the joy and what kind of joy God has in store for us. The builders had laid the foundation of the temple.
They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid! Ezra 3:11 AMP).
When we lay a Godly foundation in our lives, we can experience joy in the presence of the LORD. God cares about the path of life we choose. And when we strive to be on his team, we can live joyfully in his presence. We can also experience everlasting pleasures in this life and the next as we lift our eyes to Jesus.
It is a beautiful gift from the Lord that we can experience pleasures forever when our lives are over here. Living with our Lord and Savior in heaven is a deep gratification and satisfaction we can look forward to.
In this earthly life, we fail often, but God is always willing to pick us up and reroute and redirect our path.
Reroute and Redirect
307 Redirect, Canva
What is the purpose of a navigation system? A navigation system is an instrument that determines the position of a vehicle and the route to a particular place. The car’s navigation system tells the driver to turn left or right at a specific junction. The navigation system uses GPS signals to determine the vehicle’s location and direction.
It is a valuable tool with many benefits, such as helping people reach their destination, tracking packages, locating vehicles, and more. It guides the cars by directing the drivers through congested areas.
It is similar to the way God directs us in our lives.
He shows us which way to turn—to the right or the left.
He signals us on which way to proceed or not proceed.
He helps us to reach the destination and call of our lives, and
God guides us continually through the rough times in our lives.
However, our navigation system must take its orders from the Lord. He will reroute and redirect our thoughts or actions if we genuinely want to follow His path.
I love the story about how God rerouted one young boy. In sharing with another, one older man said:
__________
It’s true. I have had some terrible disappointments in my day, but none stands out like the one that came to me as a boy.
And what was that?
That was the night I crawled under a tent to see a circus—and found myself at a revival meeting!
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God continually tries to woo us back to him. Relief may be found in a Bible verse that comes alive to us. It may be a friend directing us back to a godly life. It may come about after agonizing prayers to remove wishes or desires that are not beneficial to our spiritual health. But, no matter how God chooses to get our attention, it is up to us to choose His path.
We need to listen and obey Him. Live in His righteousness. Get on the path he has prepared for us. And if surrendering areas of our lives to His will seems complicated, remember to talk to the Lord about everything. We can ask for His help and protection to rid ourselves of untimely thoughts or actions.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6 NASB95).
A person’s mind plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps (Prov. 16:9).
This is the Life for Me!
After Scuffy’s journey away from his home, he says, “I wish I could find the man with the polka dot tie and little boy.” And soon, the man with the polka-dot tie reached out, picked him up, and brought him safely home. Scuffy learned that the grass wasn’t greener on the other side of the fence.
Scuffy’s path in life allowed him to experience adventures he initially enjoyed but became dangerous. He enjoyed some of life’s simple pleasures, but as he kept traveling along the river, he was jammed with logs and became scared of the river moving faster and faster. Then, the flood waters came until the little tugboat desired the warmth and safety of home.
And just like the man with the polka-dot tie who scooped Scuffy out of the water after his journey away and brought him home, God does the same for us when we choose to live for Him, decide against following unrighteous living, and allow him to reroute us when we stumble or get ahead of His will.
Let us live victoriously in his presence, along the paths He has prepared for us, because “this is the life for us!”
God bless you.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that I can be confident that You have a plan for my life. Thank you that I can trust that You will show me that plan in Your timing and in a way that honors You. Please give me the wisdom to acknowledge and follow Your plan quickly, without hesitation, so You can use me for Your glory before I meet You face-to-face. Why? Because Your way is the only life for me. Amen.
Bible Verses are located within this article.
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Notes:
Bible verses come from the New American Standard Bible 95, The English Standard Version, The New International Version, and The Amplified Bible.
Barry, John D., et al., Faithful Study Bible, Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.
Chinemerem, Barabas Iwuala. “How to Stop Navigation Using Google Assistant, Feb. 3, 2023. https://techqlik.com/how-stop-navigation-using-google-assistant.
Crampton, Gertrude. Scuffy the Tugboat and His Adventures Down the River. New York: A Golden Book, 1946, 1983.
The Speaker’s Desk Book, ed. Lawrence Hembree and the staff of Quote. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1967.
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As a result of the February 2021 winter freeze, while my husband and I were out of town, our home was drastically damaged by an unattended pipe, which froze and burst. Movers had to come quickly to salvage what they could, resulting in things being thrown in any old box and brought to storage in whatever condition it was found.
Now that school is over for me, and it is two years later, I am finally trying to locate, unpack, and organize what wild and reckless packing looks like.
I thought I had lost everything in the picture above but I found disarrayed boxes in our new home’s garage. [Yes, we moved after seeing all our home’s destruction.]
In unpacking boxes, I found essential certificates, house deeds, my childhood stamp collection album, MANY articles I have written and published, blogs started but not finished, multiple rejection letters, and more that I have yet to discover. But I rejoice because I thought I had lost all these things, but this week I found them.
Odds and Ends
Honestly, I have been distraught thinking I lost all my writing and compilations over forty years!!!
However, now that my most precious items (except for my wedding dress) have been found, the time has come to sort through, throw away, salvage, and/or reorganize what I have valued and sunk my heart into for years.
Going through these piles is NOT my cup of tea, but I am excited to see what I thought was lost is now found – maybe mildewed and torn but found.
Just like I found boxes of my stuff, Jesus Christ finds us—possibly finding us mildewed, torn, and disarrayed, and He wants us to become aware of His love for us and make us part of His kingdom. He will not disregard us or throw us away. He wants to salvage us and reorganize our lives.
God allows us to choose between Him and the world.
He truly loves us and wants us to call upon His son Jesus Christ by asking Him to forgive our sins and place our faith and trust in Him. That, my friend, is called salvation with the promise of the Holy Spirit’s presence coming to abide in us forever.
A parable in Luke 15:24 says, “This son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to celebrate.”
Patti Greene is a Baylor University and Dallas Baptist University graduate, a Second Baptist Church -1463 member of Houston/Katy, TX, and the author of seven books. The views expressed are those of the author.
Books by Patti
3 PRAYER JOURNALS – 3 BIBLE WORD SEARCH PUZZLES, AND A BOOK ON CHRISTIAN CAREGIVING.
To make a fabulous fudge cake, one needs shortening, unsweetened chocolate, water, sugar, vanilla, cake flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, eggs, and buttermilk in the prescribed measurements. If one ingredient is missing or mismeasured, the cake loses some scrumptiousness. When one blends the nature of God with an understanding of the gifts of the Spirit, one can experience supernatural unity and love in serving Christ through the opportunities He provides.
About the Apostle Paul
To understand spiritual gifts, one must look to the person primarily responsible for laying out the various gifts to humanity through his letters and preaching. Paul, formerly called Saul, was born into a Jewish family raised in Tarsus. He was a Roman citizen trained under rabbis. His education took place in Jerusalem. The Mishnah’s structure held that one was ready to learn the Scripture at five years old. (The Mishnah is a collection embodying the oral tradition of Jewish law.) They were ready for the Mishnah at ten years old, and one could study the Talmud at thirteen. (The Talmud is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law and theology.) Acts 22 mentions that Rabbi Gamaliel I, a high-ranking Sanhedrin, trained Paul. Paul was steeped in the Jewish culture. However, Saul mentions in Galatians 1:14 that he advanced beyond his contemporaries in Judaism and became zealous for the traditions held by his ancestors. This zealousness led him to persecute Christians until, in 35 A.D., on the Damascus Road, Christ appeared to him, resulting in a salvation experience. He was baptized into the Christian faith and followed God’s call to preach the gospel and travel from area to area, which became known as his three missionary journeys. During these journeys, Paul traveled from city to city, prison to prison. It was during this period that Paul wrote multiple letters to the churches. It is through these letters or visits that he shared about spiritual gifts. Paul’s single status is debated in many scholarly writings due to 1 Corinthians 7:7, where Paul states, “Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.”
Paul wrote to the Christian congregation in Corinth during the first century after receiving some unwelcome news of division and sin in their congregation. The best source to answer the following questions comes directly from some of the most famous Bible verses on Spiritual Gifts.
What are Spiritual Gifts?
Ministry Tools Resource Center defines a spiritual gift as “a special divine empowerment bestowed on each believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish a given ministry God’s way according to His grace and discernment to be used within the context of the Body of Christ,” i.e., teaching,
Moreover, we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. Let each exercise them according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith, if service, in his service, or he who teaches in his teaching: or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Rom. 12:6-8).
There are various gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and other gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and another the distinguishing of spirits, to other various kinds of tongues, and another the interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:4-10).
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, and third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues (1 Cor. 12:28).
Who Gives Spiritual Gifts?
But none and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills (1 Cor. 12:11).
And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons (1 Cor. 12:6).
For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ (Eph. 4:12-13).
How are Spiritual Gifts to be Used?
If I speak with the tongues of men and angels but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I have nothing . . .
But now abide faith, hope, and love but the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13: 1-13).
Love
1 Corinthians 13 is commonly known as the love chapter; it makes a claim to fame in many wedding ceremonies. Separating it from 1 Corinthians 12:31 would be unfortunate since it sets the context that love is a pivotal point and the “greatest” attribute connecting with one’s spiritual gifts.
This love chapter contains three major sections. First, Vv. 1-3 declares that if one speaks but does not have love, it sounds like a “clanging symbol,” which refers to the famous bronze products made in Corinth. Second, Vv. 4-7 describes an agape love, the self-sacrificing love God desires from His children. Third, Vv. 8-13, Paul stresses love in relationship to spiritual gifts and concludes by stating in the last verse in the chapter—”But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
American theologian and author Richard L. Pratt said, “If there is any similarity between the modern church and the ancient church, it lies in our failure to love. In fact, by most accounts, we are often worse than the Corinthians. At least the Corinthians had managed to remain united as a single church. They had not split their fellowship, even though they had abused it. Most Christians today tend to be self-centered. They do not place others first, and they certainly do not commit themselves to living the love of which Paul spoke.”
To be continued. . .
God bless.
Spiritual Gifts, Part 2 – Coming Next: Categories of Spiritual Gifts and Definitions
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I learn more about spiritual gifts, please open my eyes to see what you have given me to be used for your glory. I want to honor and serve you. Thank you. Me
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This article may not be reproduced except for written permission from the author. For the full annotated paper and bibliography, please get in touch with me through the comment section of this article.
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3 PRAYER JOURNALS – 3 BIBLE WORD SEARCH PUZZLES AND A BOOK ON CHRISTIAN CAREGIVING.
Eternity Now: The New Testament Series. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2022.
In August 2022, I received a complimentary copy of Eternity Now: The New Testament Series from Thomas Nelson publishers because I am a Bible Gateway Blogger Grid member who promised to read the books and publish an honest review of the series. My analysis is below.
The Series
This series consists of five books titled with a content description.
Volume 1: The Legacy—Matthew, Hebrews, James, Jude
Volume 2: No Going Back—Mark, 1-2 Peter
Volume 3: Grand Tour—Books of Luke: Luke, Acts
Volume 4: Death to Life—Books of Paul: Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians,
Volume 5: Now But Not Yet—Books of John: John, 1-3 John, Revelation
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Content
The books are formatted presentations of the New Testament using the New English Translation. The editors describe the series as books that reveal “the history shaping story of how Jesus Christ changed the world and what that means to you. The reader-friendly format presents the New Testament books across five paperback volumes, making it easy to carry anywhere and read anytime.”
Design Décor Description
The books arrived in a beautiful display box—so attractive that one would be proud to place the boxed set on any bookshelf as a lovely décor addition. All five books have coordinated covers using blue, orange, black, and two shades of green. When put together, the spines of the books create an attractive design when placed in the series box. Each cover describes the book as coming “From the #1 Bestselling Book of All Times” (a.k.a. The Bible) along with a title, subtitle, quotation, and an acknowledgment that what is inside comes from the New English Translation Bible (NET). When I first received the books, I had no idea the publishers were using a unique concept in designing them to make them look like small fiction or non-fiction books—great to fit into one’s purse or briefcase.
The Positives
The books are easy to pick up and browse through, easy enough for any late elementary or junior high student to read.
The “ministry-first” concept is impressive, meaning there are no restrictions regarding quoting or sharing any of the Scriptures when using them in books, magazines, newspaper articles, and more. One does not have to gain permission to use as much of the translation as desired.
Its simple format is excellent for seniors who might have problems holding a large, heavy Bible.
I enjoyed how the layout shows the chapter headings and accurate subtopics.
Another positive is that the books bold all prophecies from the Old Testament.
This innovative approach to Bible reading seems accurate compared to my usually read Bible—the New American Standard Bible.
The Drawbacks
The drawbacks listed below are all due to “my personal preferences,” which may or may not affect other readers.
All five books lack verse numbers while representing their story format. I understand that by not including verse numbers, one will experience more ease in reading. However for me, many times, as I was reading, I wanted to look up the Bible verse but could not find “the address” to do so.
The books did not create that sacred feeling of reading the Bible. While the editor’s intent is to read each book like a novel, reading them as a novel was bothersome.
Words referring to Jesus were in lowercase letters. My preference would have been to use the names of Jesus as He, Him, and Himself. Other words like scripture are also noted in lowercase.
I missed the red lettering of Jesus’ words prevalent in many Bible versions.
Book’s Purpose
The book’s primary purpose is obvious. It is to get the Bible into the hands of those who might never pick up a Bible themselves, making this set a lovely gift for any occasion for boys, girls, men, and women. Not everyone will appreciate the novel format, but many will find it the most enjoyable way to read the Bible. Therefore I recommend this book series.
God Bless,
New English Translation Bible Verses:
Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 NET
Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. Matthew 22:29 NET
For these things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.” John 19:36 NET
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures. Luke 24:45 NET
Prayer:
Lord, give me wisdom as I approach my Bible reading. Lead me to Bible verses You want me to read and learn from. Allow me to obey all Your sacred principles, which You have made available through Your Holy Scriptures. You are a mighty God, and I love You. Amen
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