Archive for the Read Thru The Bible 2021 Category

The Corinthian church was similar to many churches today. They were very worldly minded, arrogant about their wealth and power. Paul exhorted them to focus on Christ rather than on physical things. He wanted to shift them over from earthly views to eternal vision.

ALL things are ours through Jesus Christ — ALL THINGS — “The world or life or death or the present or the future — ALL are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” (v.22-23) Live in this truth, church! Stop running after temporary worldly things. Stop being afraid of a stupid virus. Stop worrying. GOD IS IN CONTROL and has won the victory over evil. HE wins and WE win through Him!

The timing of God’s plan for us is just as important as any other part of it. God had planned a very specific time for the building of His holy temple in Jerusalem. During that specific time, during the reign of Solomon, God granted Israel peace and quiet, freedom from wars. The same is true of our lives. When we follow God’s guidance, we don’t need to worry about our external circumstances. God’s plan for us includes our life situation. He will prepare a way for us and provide whatever we need in order to accomplish His will.

The closer I get to God, the more my faith burns like a fire within my soul. I can’t keep it inside. I’m very aware that some people think my posts are ridiculous but I don’t care one bit. God has chosen me, a poor weak fool, and blessed me beyond comprehension. I will gladly be considered a fool for Him and I am not ashamed!

Today I feel that one of my callings is to be a bridge between Catholics and Protestants. We are both Christian– following and worshiping the same Jesus Christ. I hope that some day we will be united as one church before Jesus Christ returns.

Pride is the most prevalent form of foolishness. Pride believes we control our own fate. Pride assumes we can make our own decisions and fashion our own lives. But wisdom understands how frail and fleeting our lives are. Wisdom recognizes that God is the only one who controls this universe.

The first half of this beautiful prayer (from my favorite Old Testament character, Moses “the man of God”) establishes our relationship to God. We are so small and weak compared to Him. He turns “people back to dust, saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals.'” (v.3) A thousand years in God’s sight are “like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” (v.4) Our lives are fleeting, maybe only “seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” (v.10) We are like “new grass of the morning; in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.” (v.5-6)

I had the benefit of a wise guide — the Holy Spirit — who gently shifted my hope from the physical to the eternal. He opened my eyes to a bigger truth and gave me eternal vision. I now enjoy a deep HOPE that nothing can destroy — neither moth nor decay, not even sickness or financial ruin. Because my hope is in my eternity with Jesus Christ. And NOTHING can take that away from me.

All we can manage is our OWN selves. If we, ourselves, focus on Christ, WE can become tiny harbingers of peace and love. That is all be can do. That is all we are called to do. FOCUS ON JESUS! HE will accomplish the rest. There is nothing good He cannot do through us when we only focus on HIM.

Only God knows the appointed days and hours. But I will say this. The prophecies in Revelation are now taking place all around us. Regardless of how much longer the Lord tarries before He returns (please come, Lord Jesus!), we should “wake up from [our] slumber… put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” !!