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September 21st, 2025

9/21/2025

September 21, 2025 YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD

Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

If you live in a culture that is directly dependent on agriculture, when there are no crops and no sheep or cattle, you are in a dire situation. In our culture where there is an abundance of food, we may have difficulty understanding being in such circumstances; however, we can find ourselves in what seems to a barren land in other ways. To say that we can rejoice in the Lord in such times may sound far-fetched. Yet, because Habakkuk knew God and because of his faith in God, he could rejoice in the the Lord, no mater the circumstances; and yes, even if it meant death, he would still rejoice in the Lord. It’s all about knowing God; when we truly know God, we trust Him-always, in the good and the bad. Knowing God has a way of ridding us of fear and doubt; and knowing Him brings about His peace in us. There are many things that would distract us from a simple, child-like faith and trust in God who loves us and cares for us-even in dire situations. True life, and eternal life which we already have, is much bigger than the life we live here on earth. So, when things look bleak, when there seems to be no hope, when it looks like we have no provision, and when we see no way out of our pressing difficulties, let us make the choice to rejoice in the Lord because He is God and He loves us; God is not limited in any way. We hear it often ‘God works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.’ Whether we understand that are not, that it is true. May we rest in the goodness, faithfulness, and the power of God.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Blessings, Buddy

THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS

9/19/2025

September 19, 2025 THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS

Acts 14:21-22 “And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’”

This is another one of those verses that is not often preached on or written about. Paul says something in this passage we just don’t particularly like to hear. Let me start by saying that we have been so blessed to live in a time and in a country where there is little persecution of believers compared to the persecution of the early church; we are beginning to see more for sure. We do not like tribulations, and that is normal and I am not saying we should like tribulations. However, according to this verse, it is through tribulations that we enter the kingdom of God. It’s my opinion that this verse is not specifically about salvation, but about living in the kingdom of God here on earth-about walking out the gospel. I am using ‘tribulation’ is a broad sense; for this blog, I am referring to tribulations as troubles and difficulties in general. Let’s be clear; some, if not many of our tribulations are self-inflicted-if I drive my car with low oil, I will for sure have engine problems. Some tribulations are not self-inflicted and are beyond our control. But here is the point; no matter what difficulties and tribulations we face, we need to respond to them in a kingdom of God way. There is no need to come ‘unglued,’ fret, be impatient or angry when things are not as we want them to be. We have been given a new nature, a new mind and a new spirit; now, no matter what we face, we can respond in a way that is pleasing to the Lord-and that is what its all about. Tribulations give us the opportunity to reflect who we are in Christ. So, even though we do not like tribulations, they are necessary if we are going to be expressions the kingdom of God on this earth.
2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an
eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
James 1:2-4: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Blessings, Buddy

FINALLY MY BRETHREN

9/17/2025

September 17, 2025 FINALLY MY BRETHREN

Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The battlefield is much broader than we may think and the enemy is not of flesh and bones. We are in a spiritual war and to win this war requires more than physical weaponry and human effort. Even though we are at war with an enemy we cannot see with our eyes, we can see spiritual forces working through flesh and blood. In fact, it seems that this warfare is primarily fought in the hearts and minds of human beings. The devil is a deceiver-and he is good at it.There are spiritual forces of wickedness and rulers of the darkness of this world that oppose God and His followers. The good news for us is that God has given us weapons with which we can defeat our spiritual enemies. Yes, we can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Note; not our power, but His power. God has given us armor; the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit-the word of God, and prayer. We are also surrounded by other believers who stand with us in this war. The key is that we stand in the strenght of the Lord, refusing to yield to or fall prey to the schemes of the devil. It is important to see that our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual forces who use flesh and blood to bring about all manner of discord and strife; desiring to have people, even believers, turn from God. The enemy loves it when we see people, flesh and blood, as our enemies. So, do not fight the wrong enemy; know who you (we) are fighting. This does not mean that we ignore what people may do that is wrong; sometimes we have to deal with flesh and bones. Those who yield to the spiritual forces of wickedness very often suffer in a physical way the consequences of their action. So, after all said and done, finally, be strong in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Blessings, Buddy

WE HAVE A GOOD SHEPHERD

9/15/2025

September 15, 2025 WE HAVE A GOOD SHEPHERD

John 10:7b-11 “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

One thing for sure; sheep need a good shepherd-and so do we. Apart from God, man believes that by his own wisdom and determination he must find and secure the life he desires; he thinks he is independent, the captain of his own ship. We may not think about it often, but what a blessing that we have THE GOOD SHEPHERD as our shepherd. There are many voices and many philosophies that say that if we follow them, we will find what we want; but they are thieves and robbers. God has simplified life. He has shown us the way that leads to life. It is a huge blessing to have all the options, all the possibilities, and all of the ‘what if’s’ eliminated and to know that there is one door that leads to life and one Shepherd who knows His sheep. Sheep who are shepherded by a good shepherd find rest, peace, nourishment, and protection. It’s amazing, but under a good shepherd, sheep have all they need. For us, because He is our good shepherd, we do not have to fret, be anxious, be fearful, or feel insecure; we can simply be His sheep. Because we are His sheep, we recognize His voice. Verse 5 tells us that when sheep hears the voice of a stranger, they will flee. That’s a good word for us. Again, let us know and let us live, knowing that we have a good Shepherd. The good Shepherd laid His life down for us-that’s our Shepherd.
Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
John 10:14-15 “I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay My life down for the sheep.”

Blessings, Buddy

BE READY

9/13/2025

September 13, 2025 BE READY

Matthew 24:44 “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Matthew 24:42 “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”
Romans 14:11-12 “For it is written. ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.”

Thinking about Jesus coming again can be a wonderful thought or it can be a fearful or anxious thought. It all depends if we are ready for His return. We use to hear a lot about Jesus coming again, but from my perspective, today we do not hear that much about His return. If you believe the word of God, it is a settled matter; He is coming again, and He is coming when we do not expect it. The two greatest events of all time is Jesus coming as Savior, and His coming back to earth to take His people to Himself. There is a tendency for us to live as though this life and this world is what it’s all about. For sure we are to live this life as unto the Lord, but the overriding mindset we should have is that this life is momentary and that we are destined to be taken up and forever be with the Lord. The idea of His return defies logic; we cannot understand how such an event could take place; His return will be unlike anything the world has ever seen or experienced. The obvious question is how do we live in a ‘ready state’ for His return. We are ready for His return when our heart is turned to Him, when we hear and obey His word, and when out trust is in Him. We can look forward to that awesome day when He suddenly appears to take us to Himself.
Luke 21:28 “But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.”
Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.”

Blessings, Buddy

INCOMPREHENSIBLE

9/10/2025

September 10,2025 INCOMPREHENSIBLE

Ephesians 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him, in Him He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.”

Even though it is incomprehensible, can we believe that we were know by God before the foundation of the world? Yes-we can believe that by faith. The most brilliant among us cannot comprehend the greatness and the power of our God; it is beyond our reasoning. It is a spiritual giant-step to come to know that we are Fathered by God-that we have His DNA. Our earthly father and mother got us here physically, but God is our true Father. I well remember one starry night several years ago; as I looked up at the stars, I heard in my spirit in no uncertain terms God speak to me. The words that penetrated my total being were “The God that made those stars is your Father.” I was amazed at what I heard. Had you asked me many years previous to that night if God was my Father, I would have certainly said that I knew that God was my Father-but that night it became real from ‘head to toe.’ The first thought I had after hearing those words was “What is there to fear to worry about?” The immediate answer I had was ‘nothing.’ God has blessed His followers with every spiritual blessing; we have been adopted into His family and joined to Him-not that we earned it or was worthy of such blessings, but solely because of His grace and mercy. He has chosen you and I and He loves us with unconditional love. In Christ, we are favored by God! We tend to focus more on the physical or natural to our own hurt; as we discover what it means to have God living in us through the Holy Spirit, our focus will be more and more on Him and His spiritual blessings. We are more spiritual beings than physical beings; we are not a body with a spirit, but a spirit with a body. So, let us be disciplined and wise enough to turn our attention and our focus to the things of God and let us take steps to grow in the faith. Growing in the faith is more than attending a church service once a week and listening to a message from the minister. Our growth starts with a desire to know God in greater ways, by studying His word, by spending time with other believers, by obeying His word, and by prayer and worship. Above all, let us know that God knew us long before our physical birth and that He has called us to be a part of His family and to enjoy a relationship with Him.

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Romans 8:29-30 “For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.”

Blessings, Buddy

IF WE ABIDE

9/8/2025

September 8, 2025 IF WE ABIDE

John 8:31-32 “Jesus was therefore saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”

Many blessings come to those who abide in the words of Jesus. Abide as used in the scriptures is defined as “To remain in, continue in, and live by the teachings of Jesus Christ, letting His words become a fundamental part of one’s life, thoughts, and actions.” Occasional reading of God’s words is not abiding. God’s written word is unlike any other book ever written because it is written by God the Creator through inspired men, the God that is all knowing and the God who knows us better than we know ourselves. His word is not merely a source of information; His word is a living word, revealing eternal truths. His word does not grow old or become outdated. To abide in His word is to be shaped by and guided by the truths found in His word. Devotions are good, but if we have our ‘devotion’ and then go our way, and not be impacted throughout our day by the time spent in our devotion, we are not abiding. I say all that to say for us not to be guilty of reading God’s word only for the sake of knowledge; but let us view the word as what it is-the living word of God given to us that we might discover the truth that sets us free. It is a miracle that His words have a way of setting us free; we need to be set free from ourselves, and abiding in His word does just that. The big issue is whether we live according to our own dictates and understanding or according to gospel-the gospel of good news. God’s word is not just about salvation and about going to heaven, and His word is not just for theological discussions; His word is about life and how to live it to the fullest. It is a fact that our old nature-human nature-is not in agreement with the word of God. Just one example: human nature is about getting while God says it’s better to give than to receive; and sure enough, we feel good when we give. We often use the word ‘disciple’ in a light way; a true disciple of Jesus abides in His word. Let us be disciples of Jesus; it’s the only way to life abundant.
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the intentions of the heart.”
Luke 4:4 “But Jesus answered him, saying, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

Blessings, Buddy

RUN THE RACE

9/6/2025

September 6, 2025 RUN THE RACE

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Each of us have a race set before us; a race we must run. In a sense, there are many races to run, whether it’s a race to be faithful in our work, in our families and in our communities. But there is one over-arching race we as believers we are called to run; and that race is about fulfilling the purposes God has for us. In the word of God, we learn of the desires and plans that God has for us, and living out His plans and desires is THE race. Really, there are not many races set before us; the race we are to run touches every part of our lives. Whether it’s about our careers, our home life, our involvement in church, the race set before us impacts all we do. In whatever we do, the life we live is to reflect the life of Christ in us. This passage gives us a serious warning; if not careful, we allow encumbrances that would slow us down and hinder our running the race. There are many things that could be an encumbrance for us. Also, there are some sins that ‘so easily entangles us.’ For example, I have heard believes say that they are impatient people; for them that is the sin that so easily entangles. Each of us must be alert to the sins that would entangle us. The word is for us to lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us. Running our race requires endurance, and endurance implies that there will be obstacle to overcome. To run a race effectively, we must have a goal; we are to ‘fix our eyes on Jesus’ who ran His race and who gives us the strength to run our race. Jesus is the example for us. Running the race is not a cake-walk; it requires discipline, commitment, endurance, and the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. Running our race faithfully will be rewarded.
Philippians 3:13-14 “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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
PS: Do not let pass failures and bad decisions hinder our running the race.

Blessings, Buddy

OUR PROVIDER

9/4/2025

September 4, 2025 OUR PROVIDER

Matthew 6:30-33 “But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious, then, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ Or “With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your Heavenly Father knows you need these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you.”

For many, I am sure that what is said in this passage of scripture seems like a stretch or even a pipe-dream. Some translations say to ‘give no thought to what you shall eat….’. Surely in this competitive, uncertain, and high-price economy in which we live it is completely normal to worry about or be anxious about being able to secure what we need. Right? That seems logical. But yet, what God is telling believers is not logical according to the world’s viewpoint; He is not limited to what man considers logical and practical. The truth presented in these verses takes us to an entirely new way of living and a new way of thinking. A basic concept of the gospel is that God is our provider; one of the names of God is Jehovah-Jireh, which is translated as ‘the Lord our Provider.’ It may very well seem to good to be true, to not be anxious about our provisions, but indeed it is true. It is a matter of our having absolute trust in God as our provider. This does not imply that we are not to work and be diligent, but it does mean that it is God who gives us the ability and the opportunity to work. Seeing God as our provider is the key to not being anxious. There are some who are not able to work, yet, God provides for them as well. The key to all of this is for us to first seek His kingdom and His righteousness; when we do, He adds all we need! That’s the difference. It is another subject, but part of this is learning the secret of being content. We must reject the idea of our culture that is constantly telling us that more is always better. Living in contentment, knowing that God is our provider is the best possible life to live on this earth. If God provides for the birds of the air and the grass in the fields, surely He will provide for us.
Luke 12:24 “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet, God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

Blessings, Buddy

OUR PROVIDER

9/4/2025

September 4, 2025 OUR PROVIDER

Matthew 6:30-33 “But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious, then, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ Or “With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your Heavenly Father knows you need these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you.”

For many, I am sure that what is said in this passage of scripture seems like a stretch or even a pipe-dream. Some translations say to ‘give no thought to what you shall eat….’. Surely in this competitive, uncertain, and high-price economy in which we live it is completely normal to worry about or be anxious about being able to secure what we need. Right? That seems logical. But yet, what God is telling believers is not logical according to the world’s viewpoint; He is not limited to what man considers logical and practical. The truth presented in these verses takes us to an entirely new way of living and a new way of thinking. A basic concept of the gospel is that God is our provider; one of the names of God is Jehovah-Jireh, which is translated as ‘the Lord our Provider.’ It may very well seem to good to be true, to not be anxious about our provisions, but indeed it is true. It is a matter of our having absolute trust in God as our provider. This does not imply that we are not to work and be diligent, but it does mean that it is God who gives us the ability and the opportunity to work. Seeing God as our provider is the key to not being anxious. There are some who are not able to work, yet, God provides for them as well. The key to all of this is for us to first seek His kingdom and His righteousness; when we do, He adds all we need! That’s the difference. It is another subject, but part of this is learning the secret of being content. We must reject the idea of our culture that is constantly telling us that more is always better. Living in contentment, knowing that God is our provider is the best possible life to live on this earth. If God provides for the birds of the air and the grass in the fields, surely He will provide for us.
Luke 12:24 “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet, God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

Blessings, Buddy