I like going through cemeteries. My calling as a pastor takes me into them often but I go there regardless. It is an interesting and helpful place for me to visit for two reasons. First, it reminds me of the brevity of life. Unless Christ returns, I, too, will soon occupy a place in the ground in a cemetery. Walking through one awakens me to reality that I am going to die and such awareness should move me to live each day to its fullest as if it were my last. It could be.
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Old Testament
In today’s scripture, is a portion of the exodus of God’s people from their captivity in Egypt. Humanly speaking, they were between a rock and hard place. They stood on the shores of the Red Sea. Not the “reed” sea of a few inches of wade-able bog or marshland. This was the Red Sea as in deep sea, as in very deep sea, as in way over your head sea. Behind them was a huge cloud of dust and it wasn’t a sandstorm.
Malachi 3:16 – Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. THEME OF THE DAY: GOD-GIVEN DESIRES. Let’s face it. All believers experience the pain of doubt. We do have those times we struggle…
It is two days after Christmas. In some homes, the decorations have already been taken down. There will be once brilliantly adorned Christmas trees now lying on their sides at the curb waiting to be hauled away. Or if the “fake tree” was the choice, it might already be boxed up and stowed away for another year. Some people are diehards. They will cling to the last day of the “holiday season”, around January 2nd or so, to start the deconstruction process of the decorations in and outside their homes.
Today’s scripture is a profound prayer. Think about it. The God who is always present and knows all things is being addressed by the Psalmist with very revealing words. To be able to pray, “I love you, Lord” with confidence is a huge big deal and requires at least three things in one’s heart before this prayer may even be considered.
A regular reading intake of the Gospels is vital for Christian growth. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John allow us to “walk with Jesus” as He walked upon the earth. We observe His compassion in healing the sick. We listen to His profound preaching in The Sermon on the Mount. We stand awe-struck over His calming of the seas with just three words of command, “Peace, be still.”