One Minute with God

Oh the wonder
it will be,
when our faith
and sight meet.

And Thomas answered and said to Him, 
“My Lord and my God!” 
John 20:28 NKJV

Scripture focus: John 20:24-29

God’s sovereignty is the Christian’s great comfort,
and His goodness her joy, in a troubled world.

Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, 
When the Lord has not commanded it? 
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High 
that woe and well-being proceed? 
Lamentations 3:37-38 NKJV

Scripture focus: Lamentations 3:21-26

My best friend, Kare, was lost in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.  She had volunteered to take her friend for a cancer treatment. But now, all she wanted to do was get back home to rural Phillipsburg, Kansas.

Plugging in her friend’s oxygen was more important than plugging in the GPS. So they resorted to reading a map. But without success. A phone call to a family member, who lives in Kansas City, didn’t provide the directions they needed either. A policeman, on his way to a disturbance, could only offer a quick, “Turn around. You’re going the wrong way.”

Several times they nearly missed having an accident. Fear and frustration mounted as car after car whizzed by. Finally, Kare was able to pull into a diner. Desperate and determined to find someone who would help, she approached a police officer who happened to be walking out.

“I’m lost,” she pleaded. “Could I please pay you to take me to Interstate 70?”
“No,” he said, with a smile. “You can’t pay me, but I’ll take you. Just follow me.”

She returned to her car and the policeman patiently led her through the crowded streets. If a car got between them, he slowed, until she caught back up. Seeing that squad car up ahead made all the difference. Soon my friend was on her way home.

I can’t imagine living in a world without police officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect and meet so many other needs. I hate to imagine what criminals might do if they had no fear of being apprehended. The law, without enforcement, wouldn’t work.

Police officers take risks and suffer inconveniences to protect our lives and secure our safety. And they endure such risks and tolerate such inconveniences on behalf of strangers, like us (adapted from: http://www.theiacp.org).

Law enforcement is God’s design. It’s His idea for our good. The Bible is pretty clear about that:

• “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good” (Romans 13:1-4 NKJV).

Let’s pray for our nation and especially for the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting us.

WARNING: It is possible to sentimentalize the real meaning right out of Christmas.

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son,
and they shall call His name Immanuel,”
which is translated, “God with us.”  
Matthew 1:23 NKJV

Honor must begin in our homes–
our parents, our spouses, our families first.
If we fail there, everything else is hypocritical.

Honor one another above yourselves. 
Outdo one another in showing honor. 
Romans 12:10 NIV, ESV

Scripture focus: Ephesians 5:22-6:4, 1 Peter 3:1-7

There’s great danger in trusting anything
but the shed blood of Christ to save.
We kindle little fires of hell all around,
when we trust in religion or works
or prayer or penance
or spirituality or baptism,
instead of Jesus.
Trust in Jesus–only Jesus.

“Who among you fears the LORD?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD
And rely upon his God.
Look, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with sparks:
Walk in the light of your fire
and in the sparks you have kindled–
This you shall have from My hand:
You shall lie down in torment.”
Isaiah 50:10-11 NKJV

“For God so loved the world 
that He gave His only begotten son, 
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish 
but have everlasting life.” 
John 3:16 NKJV

God is the living God of living people.
All the great thinkers of God,
and writers of His wonders,
all of the men and women of faith who have died
are actually alive and well and in His presence.
God is not dead–
and neither is one person who put his trust in Him,
whether five years ago or five thousand.
What a wonder!
What a wonderful God we serve!

“But concerning the resurrection of the dead,
have you not read what was spoken to you by God,
saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead,
but of the living.” 
Matthew 22:31-32 NKJV

I will not post anything to exalt or draw attention to myself. Matthew 23:12, Romans 12:10, Psalm 115:1
I will post fun and interesting things about my life, and enjoy reading posts about my friends. Romans 12:15, Philippians 2:3-4
I will not complain about anything or anybody. Philippians 2:14
I will share my worldview, but won’t criticize those who differ. Philippians 4:5
I will share things that made me LOL. Proverbs 17:22
I will not post derogatory remarks about public officials. 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Romans 13:1-2
I will not participate in “chain letter” posts. Ephesians 5:11
I will try to be an encouragement to my friends with the things I post. Hebrews 3:13
I will not allow the amount of likes or comments I get to encourage or discourage me. Philippians 4:4, Psalm 43:5
I will not give Facebook all of my spare moments. Psalm 121:1-2
I will ask for prayer, when needed. Ephesians 6:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:25
I will pray for friends in need. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18
I will check in with God more often than I do my newsfeed. Psalm 19:14

Jesus was a young man,
thirty-three years old,
when He died for our sin.
Sometimes we forget
that He was
a young man–
fully God and fully man.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, 
He was bruised for our iniquities. 
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

When our goal is to always speak the truth in love,
every conversation has purpose.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, 
we are to grow up in every way
into Him who is the head, into Christ. 
Ephesians 4:15 ESV

Scripture focus: Ephesians 5:15-21

Be wary of any spiritual leader who is popular in the world today–
the ones who speak the truth usually aren’t so favorably looked upon.

“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” 
Matthew 24:11 NKJV

Scripture focus:
John 15:18-25
Matthew 10:16-26

Every problem finds its solution in God’s Word.
The solution usually comes in the form of
a command, to be obeyed,
a reality, to be accepted, and
a promise, to be believed.
The more we know the Bible,
the more help we will receive from it.
But don’t despair, for knowing even one verse
greatly benefits, as does Isaiah 41:10.

the command:
Fear not. 
Be not dismayed. 

the reality:
I am with you. 
I am your God. 

the promise:
I will strengthen you. 
I will help you. 
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Oh the joy of trusting God enough to love Him back.

We love Him because He first loved us. 
1 John 4:19 NKJV

Also: John 3:16

God could run the world and our lives,
perfectly well, without our input.
Our desires don’t help Him determine the future.
Our requests don’t change His plans.
We have never told Him anything He didn’t already know.
Yet, He loves our prayers–feeble as they are.
He desires them. He rewards them. He included them
in His design for our well-being and His glory.

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, 
and when you have shut your door, 
pray to your Father who is in the secret place; 
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” 
Matthew 6:6 NKJV

Scripture focus: Matthew 6:5-13

When Jesus came as Servant,
men rejected Him.
When He returns as King,
there will not be that option.
Praise God!

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! 
The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, 
and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, 
King of kings and Lord of lords. 
Revelation 19:11, 16 ESV

Scripture focus:
Isaiah 53:3, Philippians 2:5-11, Revelation 19:11-21

If not for Jesus, we would not know God.
And the Bible–it would be
an overwhelming book of laws
impossible for us to obey.
Jesus changed all that. Praise God!

He indeed was foreordained
before the foundation of the world, 
but was manifest in these last times for you 
who through Him believe in God,
who raised Him from the dead
and gave Him glory,
so that your faith and hope are in God. 
1 Peter 1:20-21 NKJV

May eternal matters always rule the moment and the day.

Set your mind on things above,
not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2 NKJV

Scripture focus: Colossians 3:1-17, Matthew 6:25-34

Faith fuels obedience.

By faith Abraham obeyed…
Hebrews 11:8 NKJV

Scripture focus: James 2:21-24, Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19

God has always protected His people,
and He always will.
That is our comfort.
That is our joy.
That is our confidence.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; 
The righteous run to it and are safe. 
Proverbs 18:10 NKJV

It’s good to know we have access to the safest place on earth.

Scripture focus: Isaiah 43, Psalm 18 and 91

There’s a beauty
that is attainable,
no matter our age
or appearance.

But let your adorning be
the hidden person of the heart
with the imperishable beauty
of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which in God’s sight is very precious. 
1 Peter 3:4 ESV

Scripture focus: 1 Peter 3:1-7, 2 Corinthians 4:16