Tag: Jesus

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Work

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.  (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, NASB)

Work.  Many of us (me included) consider work, or labor to be drudgery.  But that’s not what God intended it to be.  Adam and Eve were put in the Garden of Eden to attend to all the plants God had put there.  But when they sinned, God expelled them from the garden, and told them that they would have to do laborious work in order to plant and harvest their crops.  THAT’S when work became difficult.  But what does the wisest man who ever lived say about our work?  It’s there in the Bible passage above. 

In short, King Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes, says that one should “enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him.”  Yikes!  And why should we enjoy ourselves?  “For this is [our] reward.”  Later, the Apostle Paul wrote that in our labor, we should work as to the Lord.  The Lord is indeed our Boss.  (Old bumper sticker:  “My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter.”)  

Ecclesiastes 5:20 image.  Found at Biblical Foundations for Freedom, https://bffbible.org/parenting/view/gladness-ecc-5-20.

So God wants us to appreciate everything He’s given to us, including our labor.  When I pray for someone, I pray that God will bless him or her in their work.  That means that God will make them happy in their labor.  I’m at the age where many of my contemporaries are retired from their professions.  But our labor isn’t about just a paying job.  It’s any kind of toil.  If we drag a trash can to the curb; if we clean our house; if we cut the grass, that’s the labor in which we’re to revel.  Many of my friends from Sunday School are in hospital.  Their work is to recover and rehab. 

The wisest man who ever lived says that our work is “the gift of God.”  Through our labors, “God keeps [us] occupied with the gladness of [our hearts].”  Work, or labor, is one of God’s gifts to us.  We’re to appreciate all of our work, to treat it as a blessing.  We will be working in heaven.  Life for us who believe in Jesus is just a dress rehearsal for eternity! 

Worship:  “Burn In Me,” by Paul Wilbur
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Grandchildren

Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their father.  (Proverbs 17:6, NASB)

I can indeed attest that “grandchildren are the crown of old men.”  Sue and I have 12 grandkids, and each one is precious.  I’m not sure if King Solomon was a grandpa when he wrote this.  He probably was, else how would he have known what treasures they are?  And it’s possible if he had grandsons, that one could have been an heir to his throne, and an ancestor to Messiah Jesus! 

Our grandchildren, in order of their birth, are:  Luke; George; Jackson; Colleen; Wade; Michael; William; Samuel; Wyatt; Hadley; Westley; and Louisa.  (Didn’t think I could do it, huh?)  These are 12 of our 18 most precious earthly gifts. 

Proverbs 17:6 image.  Found at Knowing Jesus, https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/proverbs-17-6.

Dear Jackson, Colleen, Sam, Louisa, Luke, George, Michael, Wade, William, Wyatt, Hadley, and West, 

You are all so precious to us.  We love you all.  One of the things we dreamed of when we retired was to travel to see you all and spend as much time as possible with each one of you.  But then Pops got sick.  So we have to see you whenever you can visit us, and talk with you whenever we can, and do FaceTime.  We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you!

We pray every day for each one of you.  We pray that God will bless your Mom and your Dad (this is really important!) and your family.  We pray blessings on your home, and that God will keep peace in your house.  We pray that God will keep you healthy and that He will protect you.  If you’re sick, we pray that God will heal you.  We pray for you as you go to school and learn.  We pray for you as you work and play, and as you go to your activities.  We pray that you will learnmore about God, and grow to love Him more every day.  We pray that you will ask Jesus into your heart, if you haven’t already.  

Love God and love other people.  Honor your father and your mother, and God has promised you long life if you do.  Love your brothers and sisters, your cousins, and your aunts and uncles.  Love Jesus.  

With so much love, 
Pops 

Worship:  “Child of My Child–A Grandparent’s Prayer,” Artist Unknown 
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Holy Spirit in Us

Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.  (Acts 1:4-8, NASB)

Tomorrow, 28 May, is Pentecost Sunday.  We remember this day the appearance by the Holy Spirit into the lives of Jesus’ disciples.  After the Spirit came upon them, they were preaching about Jesus, Who was crucified, buried, risen from the dead, and had ascended into heaven.  Jesus had told His disciples that He would speak to His Father, Who would then send His Spirit to them.  I’m sure they didn’t understand just what this meant.  They also spoke in various tongues so foreigners would understand them.  The people who witnessed this display thought His disciples were drunk.  You can read this account in Chapter 2 of Acts. 

Acts 1:8 image.  Found at The Living… , 
https://wiirocku.tumblr.com/post/182178219570/acts-18-nkjv-but-you-shall-receive-power-when. 

The passage above is Dr. Luke’s account of Jesus talking with His disciples prior to His Ascension into heaven.  Jesus tells them not to leave Jerusalem, “but to wait for what the Father had promised,” that is, the Holy Spirit.  Jesus then tells them that “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Do you know that you are Jesus’ witnesses?  If you know Jesus, from the moment you believed in Him, the same Holy Spirit moved into your heart.  We Jesus-followers have the very same power within us as Jesus’ disciples displayed in Acts 2!  We must unleash the power of the Holy Spirit within so we can be His witnesses to the ends of the earth! 

Worship:  “Yield My Heart,” by Kim Walker-Smith

On this Memorial Day I’d like to remember loved ones and friends who have served our Nation, and have passed on.   

My Father-in-Law, Bob Brower, who served in the European Theater during World War II.  He crewed in B-17s as a radio operator and waist gunner. 

Neighbors:  Andy La Mar (Hedly), an F-15E Strike Eagle Weapons Systems Operator. 

Friends from our Germany assignment: John Davis, an F-4 Weapons Systems Operator.

Squadron/Classmates:  Kosta Asselanis, who flew C-141s; and Rod Williams, who was a B-52 navigator. 

Dads of USAFA Squadron/Classmates:  General Jack Catton, Sr., who flew bombers during World War II, and commanded Air Force Major Commands; and Colonel Cliff Birchman, who flew fighters in Vietnam. I got to meet both of these gentlemen when I was a Cadet.  They’re heroes of mine. 

Friends and squadron mates who were killed in training accidents:  Dave Mayer, USAFA classmate, A-7D accident in Turkey; Kyle Perdue, A-10A mishap in Kentucky; Joe Rayhill, A-10A accident in Arizona; Ross Mulhare, F-117A mishap in California; Mike Stewart, F-117A accident in Nevada;  Ralph Gardner, USAFA classmate, F-16C accident in Republic of Korea. 

Sunday School class:  Don Seymore, USMC, two Purple Hearts in Vietnam; Gene Cole, Army Special Operations (a Snake-Eater!), served in Vietnam;  Brigadier General Dick Abel, USAF, one of my mentors; Ed Blanks, U.S. Coast Guard; Rudy Davis, U.S. Army, Infantry. 

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God Answers

The LORD said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’”  (1 Kings 9:3-5, NASB)

For a second time, God appeared to King Solomon in a dream.  Solomon had just finished dedicating the Temple in Jerusalem.  It was a big deal!  All Israel was there.  Thousands of animals were sacrificed to the Lord God.  The celebration lasted for a couple of weeks.  When the dedication was complete, King Solomon mounted a platform built for the occasion, got down on his knees, lifted his hands to heaven, and delivered a great prayer.  He asked God to guide the people, and asked forgiveness beforehand for the sins Israel would commit.  The verses above contain God’s answer. 

First, God promises that “My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually” at the site of His Temple.  Forever is a long time!  And of course the first and second temples were destroyed.  God keeps His promises.  He is the Promise Keeper.  If the Temple is no more, what of it?  We know there’s going to be a New Jerusalem, to take the place of heaven and earth.  God will dwell there forever. If you’re a Jesus-follower, you’ll be there perpetually with Him! 

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“Solomon was said to have sinned by acquiring many foreign wives. Solomon’s descent into idolatry.”  Painting by Willem de Poorter, 1608-1668. 

God’s second promise:  “As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'”  

Unfortunately, Solomon blew it. The wisest man who ever lived had 1,000 wives, many of whom were foreign.  Solomon worshiped their gods, which the Lord didn’t appreciate.  Thus began a steady decline of the ancestors of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.  King Solomon’s son would see Israel split into two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.  There would follow a few godly kings, many evil kings, and finally, the defeat of both kingdoms.

God doesn’t like it when we’re disobedient to Him, when we refuse to obey His ordinances.  He wants us to believe in His Son Jesus Christ.  When we do, we can look forward to spending eternity with Him in Paradise! 

Worship:  “Perfect Wisdom of Our God,” by Keith & Kristyn Getty
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Bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases . . . The Lord performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed . . . The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness . . . For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him . . .  Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will. Bless the Lord, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the Lord, O my soul  (!Psalm 103:1-3, 6, 8, 11-13, 21-22, NASB)

Psalm 103 is a psalm of King David, “Praise for the Lord’s Mercies.”  It’s a wonderful poem, and it’s inspired many songs and hymns.  David pours his heart out, expressing his love for the Lord.  It also mentions many of God’s attributes. 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me . . . ”  King David knew the Law of Moses, which commanded the Israelites to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and might.  David’s descendant Jesus later repeated this instruction as the greatest commandment.  

Bless the Lord , O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Psalms 103:1 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.103.1.NKJV
Psalm 103:1 image.  Found at I Live for Jesus, https://iliveforjesus.in/bless-the-lord/. 

God’s attributes as recorded by David in this psalm:  God is merciful; He is Healer; He is righteous; He’s the supreme Judge Who frees the oppressed; He is compassionate and gracious; He’s slow to anger, but overpouring in His love for those who fear Him; He forgives our transgressions; and He’s compassionate. 

How much does God love us?  “As high as the heavens are above the earth.”  That’s really high!  How far has God removed our sins from us?  “As far as the east is from the west.”  That’s an infinite distance!  How much compassion does the Lord have for those who have the utmost respect for Him?  “Just as a father has compassion on his children.”  This makes me want to say, “Abba!  Father!”  

This is a wonderful love poem by King David to our God! 

Worship:  Psalm 103:1-6 song:  “Bless the Lord, O My Soul,” by Esther Mui
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Rest in Peace, Rudy Davis

A gentleman from my Sunday School class has just passed away, and was greeted by Jesus in heaven!  Rudy Davis has reported to heaven.  Prayers for his wife Barbara and their family.  Comfort, hope, and strength to them.  In Jesus’ precious name. 

Worship:  “Homeward Bound,” by Kristene DiMarco
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Praise God in All the Earth!

God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.  Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.  (Psalm 67, NASB)

Psalm 67 is so interesting to me that I highlighted the entire psalm.  It’s titled “The Nations Exhorted to Praise God.”  The author is not known, and it’s meant to be a song.  

What stands out most for me in this psalm is the desire to make known to the world of God’s salvation, and that the whole earth should sing His praises.  

No photo description available.
Psalm 67:3-4 image.  Found at Bible Answer Man, https://www.facebook.com/BibleAnswerManBroadcast/posts/let-the-nations-be-glad-and-sing-for-joy-psalm-673-4/10154992120677852/.

In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded His disciples to go out to the world and spread His gospel.  We’re taught that Jesus will not return to His earth to gather His elect until all people groups hear the message of salvation.  This psalm is prescient to me in explaining these things. 

Worship:  “Psalm 67–O God, Let All the Nations Praise You,” by Francesca LaRosa
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Thanksgiving for Life

O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me . . . Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning . . . “Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper.” You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.  O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.  (Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 10-12, NASB)

Psalm 30 was written by King David.  It’s titled, “Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death.”  This is a psalm of great contrasts, meant to display David’s moods when he was down, and when God dealt favorably with him.  Examples:  Anger/favor; weeping/joy; mourning/dancing; sackcloth (worn to mourn)/gladness; and silence/singing praise.  The above is my highlights from Psalm 30. 

King David begins this excerpt by stating that he cried to God for help, and that God healed him.  I’ve cried to God for help many times, and I’m still waiting to be healed from my ALS.  Can God heal me?  Yes He can if it’s His will.  But God doesn’t heal everyone who asks.  While I might not be healed in this life, I’ll surely be healed in God’s kingdom.  While my legs and arms are useless to me now, I know I’ll run again someday soon.  That’s my hope in Christ Jesus! 

Psalm 30:5 image.  Found at Heartlight, https://www.heartlight.org/gallery/3276.html. 

Next, David exhorts us to “Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy name.”  Why?  Because “His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”  I praise and thank God that His anger lasts but a short time.  He has forgiven me very much, and I have an Advocate before Him, arguing my case, in Jesus Christ.  

Finally, King David asks God for His grace.  God has delivered David from many tight situations, and certain death time after time.  For those situations, David is definitely grateful.  David is SO grateful that he makes a pledge:  “O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”  If you’re a Jesus-follower, you’ll have the opportunity to do just that:  Praise God forever in His Kingdom!  That’s my hope! 

Worship:  “Your Love Never Fails,” by Jesus Culture
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Folly

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one . . . Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people. Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.  (Psalm 14:1-3, 7, NASB)

King David wrote Psalm 14, “Folly and Wickedness of Men.”  Like the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans, David tells of the sin nature of all mankind.  We’re basically all sinners, and we all need redemption.  We all need reconciliation with God. 

The Bible passage above is my highlights from Psalm 14.  David lays it out from the beginning:  We’re all wicked, and we don’t measure up to God’s standards.  “There is no one who does good, not even one.”  What are we to do to reconcile with the Creator of the universe?  David laments, “Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people. Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.”

Psalm 14:2 image.  Found at Bible Hub, https://biblepic.com/50/psalms_14-2.htm.  

King David’s descendant, Jesus Christ, WAS the Salvation of Israel.  Jesus was to indeed come out of Zion.  The Lord Jesus restored the captive people, and He still does so today.  As for “Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad,” that remains for a day in the future.  Israel rejected our Lord, and crucified Him because they didn’t understand just Who He was.  But David’s prophecy will come true one day. 

King David understood how wicked people were and are.  He also understood that God is the One Who provides salvation.  David predicted that God would send a Savior someday Who would deliver His people, and that’s just what happened!  Do you know Him? 

Worship:  “Psalm 14 Song (The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of men),” by Psalm Musicals.
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Repentance

Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”   (2 Samuel 24:17, NASB)

King David alludes to his sin in the verse above.  What was his sin?  He ordered Joab, his army commander, to conduct a census of all the tribes of Israel to determine how many potential soldiers were available.  What’s wrong with that?  Joab knew this was wrong.  God wanted Israel to rely on Him, not on soldiers, horses, and chariots.  Indeed, when they entered the Promised Land, God performed many miracles against Israel’s enemies.  The Israelites merely had to show up to many battles to watch while God threw their enemies into confusion, literally destroying one another. 

2 Samuel 24:17 image.   Found at Knowing Jesus, http://bibleencyclopedia.com/slides/2_samuel/24-17.htm.

So King David ordered Joab to take the census.  When Joab finished his task, David knew he had sinned.  The Prophet Gad visited David with a message from God:  Pick your punishment!  Gad provided three options, all of which were painful.  David’s response:  “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”  (2 Samuel 24:14)  God’s response was to send a plague among all Israel, which killed 70,000 men.  David’s contrition is seen in the verse above:  “It is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”

God wants us to be obedient to Him.  When we go against His laws, He expects us to do what King David did:  Show contrition, and repent, or turn away from our sins.  The ultimate expression of repentance is for us to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.  We all sin, but God expects us to come to Christ for His forgiveness.  Have you decided yet?  Jesus is our only hope! 

Worship:   “Let God Arise,” by Paul Wilbur