Do You Believe in God?

 

Matthew 6:33

". seek ye first the kingdom of God..."

Do you believe in God? I do! Do you believe the Bible is God’s written word? I do!

The following is part of an email I received last week, 3 August 2022. Since the author is well known and currently speaking at many conferences, I am not identifying the author.

“I’ve got a story to tell,” begins with the author’s credentials and extensive travel experiences. The author continues writing about visiting the largest Cathedral [gives the name] in the Middle East. Then the author continues “I proclaimed in that country that Christians, Jews, and Muslims are all children of Abraham.” The author continues, “What a marvelous message that God heals the deepest of wounds and brings people together, for we are all His children.” Yes, this is just part of the Bible.

As Paul Harvey used to say, “for the rest of the story…”

God has given each of us a different life plan, yet there is one God. God’s purpose for creating me and you, our main assignment, is to love God, part of Exodus 20, "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me."  In Matthew 22:36-38, Jesus replies, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

Let us also read: 

Galatians 3:26, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

2Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Believe the WHOLE Bible: Romans 9:1-15, "... Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed..." 

Please pray and ask God, the one true God, to speak to your mind and heart. Please, if we are called Christians, if we believe the Bible, speak in love about the whole scripture. We are doing the people of the world a disservice when we pick and choose!!!

scripture is from https://www.biblegateway.com/ the KJV

 

Encouragement and Instructions to Judges

 

After reading these few paragraphs this morning, hopefully this note will encourage and instruct our Judges.

2 Chronicles 19:6, 7, 9, 10

He [King Jehoshaphat] said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment.

“Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”

Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and wholeheartedly.

Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the LORD, and wrath may not come on you, and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty.”

 Judge, may this encourage you to look to God for wisdom and knowledge, PRAY!!!

 Psalm 82:

A psalm of Asaf:

⁽¹⁾ Elohim [God] stands in the divine assembly;
there with the elohim [judges], he judges:
² “How long will you go on judging unfairly,
favoring the wicked? (Selah)
³ Give justice to the weak and fatherless!
Uphold the rights of the wretched and poor!
⁴ Rescue the destitute and needy;
deliver them from the power of the wicked!”

⁵ They don’t know, they don’t understand,
they wander about in darkness;
meanwhile, all the foundations of the earth
are being undermined.

⁶ “My decree is: ‘You are elohim [gods, judges],
sons of the Most High all of you.
⁷ Nevertheless, you will die like mortals;
like any prince, you will fall.’”

⁸ Rise up, Elohim, and judge the earth;
for all the nations are yours.

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) © 1998 by David H. Stern. BibleGateway.com

May ALL Americans come together and pray for our country and our leaders!!! May we pray that our judges and leaders will seek wisdom, knowledge and integrity!! This was my heart after reading from The CharlesF. Stanley Life Principles Daily Bible, July 12. The daily reading also includes Life Principle 10, “If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will, 2 Chronicles 20:12. God always wants the best for us, and He is committed to showing us how to follow the specific plan He has designed for each of our lives….” Dr. Stanley continues with nine ways God may help us to take notice of His will.

May this be a blessing and encouragement to us ALL to pray and seek integrity in our individual life.

Who was my Aunt Eleanor Lena Schuler Boldt, 1910-1995?

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...

Matthew 6:33 NJK BibleGateway

1925 Schuler family Front row l-r Dorothy 1921, Mildred 1919 Back row l-r Eleanor 1910, Nettie Couch1884, William John Schuler 1871, Lloyd 1912

Who was Aunt Eleanor to me? Eleanor was my mother’s older sister, the first born of the family. Aunt Eleanor married Rev. William J. Boldt in 1943. He was pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Joliet, Illinois. She moved into the parsonage attached to the church. From about 1946 to mid 1950s, our family lived next door. Eleanor was my Sunday school teacher, summer Bible school teacher, Sunday night junior high school leader. Many happy hours of instruction came from my aunt in the form of flannel-graph stories such as the “stoning of Stephen” and chalk talks with the music and story of “Peter and the Wolf.” Many pleasant memories of “childhood family” time flood my mind. That’s a whole different blog.

In the years before technology, Uncle Bill and Aunt Eleanor traveled many miles supporting missionaries in EVERY country. The missionaries would share their plans, needs and how the mission boards could support their specific work. In 1959, my dad traveled with them to Africa to film their trip firsthand, so different from zoom meetings today.  When they came home, we enjoyed many hours of stories and photos.  Matthew 28:19-20.

By 1980, they moved to Evansville, Indiana. Uncle Bill died in 1988; Eleanor continued sharing their interest in missions.  This time, she would use the mail service. She would go to the library and copy notes of joy and encouragement; as she wrote letters, the envelopes always had poems and scripture attached, example, Romans 8:32, 2 Timothy 1:7. Also, Eleanor spent many hours in her living room at her prayer table. This glass top coffee table displayed photos as reminders to pray for families and friends by name. Eleanor loved Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. She daily shared John 3:16 and John 8:32.

This is how I remember Aunt Eleanor by love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, not the young child searching for the meaning for her life. Truly, Ella S. or Aunt Eleanor found meaning for her life.

This blog was written in two parts for Eleanor's view of herself read Who was Eleanor Lena Schuler Boldt, 1910-1995?

 

 

 

 

 

When You Don't Know WHAT TO PRAY

 

WHEN YOU HAVE A Battle to Fight

There is no wisdom and no understanding

And no counsel against the LORD.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But victory belongs to the LORD.

Proverbs 21:30-31

Father, haow greateful I am for Your protection, guidance, and strength. Thank you for being my Commander in Chief. Truly, there is no Defender, Warrior, or King like You-in heaven or on earth. Regardless of the enemies or challenges in my path, You easily overcome them. No matter the conflicts and trials I face, You are always triumphant. I am grateful for Your love and guidance.

   Lord, I recognize You observe the full battle before me and know exactly what to do. I also realize I perceive the conflict only in part-I see only what is immediately apparent. But You fight in ways that I can't even imagine, with both spiritual and physical armaments and strategies that are so much greater than my understanding or abilities. You are all-powerful and all-knowing, and everything is in Your presence. No one in heaven or on earth can help me more than You can. So I know I stand tallest and strongest when I am in submission to You. And I am safest as I walk in the center of Your will. Therefore, Father, You are my Leader, and I will follow you. I obey You, Lord, knowing there can be only one General deciding the battle plan.

   Father, help me not to become angry or defensive at those who attack, but to always be as forgiving and gracious as You are. Guard my lips, Lord. Help me always remember that so much of this battle is spiritual, and often people act as they do for reasons that are unknown even to themselves. My job is to obey You and represent You well. Thus, You call me to turn to You privately in prayer as conflicts arise-and not fight in public with words or actions. So that is what I will do, Father. Likewise, Lord, when I am hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, remind me of how vulnerable I am and that I need to take shelter in You. No matter what happens, I will not run away or give in to fear but will find my strength in You.

   Thank You for always being available and leading me to success regardless of the battle. Thank You for working through Your Holy Spirit to guide me strategically around the Enemy's traps, to empower me for the struggle, to overcome every obstacle, to heal my battle wounds, qnd to direct me to victory. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me and to others through this. Help me to wait on Your perfect timing, trust You every step of the way, and be willing to obey all You ask. To You be all glory, honor, power, and praise in every triumph.

   In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

Stanley, Charles F. When You Don't Know WHAT TO PRAY. "When You Have a Battle to Fight." Zondervan, USA, 2021. pg 71-72,       This book includes 100 essential prayers for enduring life's storms. As I am using this as a devotional, God is revealing more areas that I am not even aware need confession and work. Thank you, Dr. Stanley.

FOCUS . . . RELATIONSHIPS

  Matthew 6:33

 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  New King James Version   www.biblegateway.com

"JEHOVAH the relational God: You rule over all, yet You also seek a Relationship with your creation. You are worthy of ALL Praise and Worship." 1 John 4:10.*

Where is my focus? Where is your focus? May we encourage each other to focus on what is important to each of us RELATIONSHIPS. For me, I have finished reading Life Principles Daily Bible and look forward to reading in again starting tomorrow. Send me a note to let me know what is important to you, what is your focus?

The following examples of a few of the pages that have helped me through the year:

In Habakkuk, the prophet, we read about  violence, iniquity, plagues, pestilence and dissapointments. Yet, in Habakkuk 3, we read his prayer, "LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear, O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years..." This same day, 23 December we read, Psalm 146. "PRAISE the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!...Do not trust in princes, in mortal men,.." To continue on the depravity of mortal man, in Revelation 13 we read what will happen to people :18 "Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate..."

December 27, Psalm 147:12-18, reminds us to Never Give Up. 

Revelation 22:12, "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, To render to every man according to what he has done..."

How will you or I respond to the Lord's challenges upon life? Will we respond with anger, strife, hate or love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galations 5:22)? Let us focus on building relationships!!!

*Evans, Tony. Experience the Power of God's Names. Eugene, Oregon, Harvest House Publishers. 2017. page 14.

Stanley, Charles F. Life Principles Daily Bible: Bilical Principles for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Thomas Nelson. 2011. pages 1596-1640.

Merry Christmas & peaceful New Year

 

"When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13, NRSV

   Many Christmas cards show three kings walking toward Bethlehem. Yet the Bible doesn't tell us that they were kings nor that there were three of them! We're told that they were 'wise men from the East' and that they carried three different gifts, but that's all. The important thing is that they came-not what their status was or how many of them there were.

   In the church calendar, they arrived not on the 25th of December, but on the 6th of January, which is celebrated as 'the feast of the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.' As my birthday is January 6, I've always had particular interest in this part of the Bible story.

   The Wise Men come 'late,'-twelve days after the birth of the Savior-but they still come. They come from 'outside'-as Gentiles, not members of the people of Israel-but they still come. They come a long way-but they still come.

   They come to him because he came to them. He came first and formost in the newborn baby laying in the manager. But he also came to the Wise Men by means of the star that announced his birth and by means of their intelligence and courage which inspired them to undergo the grueling and hazardous journey.

   For Jesus is not only the Truth and the Life, he is also the Way. As we go toward him, we are already meeting him every step of the way. Unless he wanted us, we would not be wanting him.

   I once received a Christmas card that had no picture on it, but just the words: 'Wise men still seek Him.' May we be wise men, wise women, wise children this Christmas.

Continue seeking Him with seriousness.

Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him.

C. S. Lewis, letter to Genia Goelz, June 13, 1951

O God, who by the leading of a star revealed your Son Jesus Christ to the Wise Men: mercifully grant us wisdom to know that we would not be seeking him unless he was first seeking us. Amen.

Michael Ward, the author of Planet Narnia, is a Fellow of Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, and professor of apologitics at Houston Baptist University. December 25 - SEEK HIM. "The Grand Miracle, daily reflections for the season of Advent." Christian History Institute. Worcester, PA & Marion E. Wade Center. Wheaton, IL. 2019.

The Making of an Encourager

 

Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.

4 

Say to those with anxious heart,

“Take courage, fear not.

Behold, your God will come with vengeance;

The recompense of God will come,

But He will save you.”

Isaiah 35: 3-4 NASB 1995 BibleGateway.com

   Sometimes it takes only one word, a smile, or a grasp of the hand. Sometimes it means standing by someone during a particularly hard time and helping him or her not give up in despair.

   What does encouragement mean to you? Can you recall a time when someone came alongside you for the sole purpose of lifting your spirits or making you smile?

   Have you ever done that for a hurting person? It feels good to know you're loved. It feels especially good in those low moments when you can't see ahead clearly, when you don't grasp God's perspective and vison for your life. Isaiah 35: 3, 4 admonishes, "Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, 'Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.'"

   The Father has given each of us special tasks within the body of Christ, and those with the gift of exhortation or encouragement (Romans 12:8) can rejoice in their unique and tender ministries. But encouragement isn't strictly the domain of those to whom the Lord has given a special gift; it's not an activity exclusively for those with naturally bubbly or warm personalities. Encouragement is the wonderful, God given function of everyone who belongs to Jesus Christ.

   In the early days of the church, new believers badly needed encouragement. Societal pressures mounted, persecution multiplied, and few had access to the Apostle's teaching (1 Thessalonians 3:1-10).

   Very often, encouragement for the early church came in the form of a person, as it does today. Sometimes just the sight of a certain loved one can reinvigorate your spirits and remove your focus from yourself. Sometimes Paul sent Timothy. More than once, he sent his associate, Tychicus, as a special envoy of joy.

   The ministry of encouragement is indispensable, both to you and to the body of Christ. There is no such thing as a person who doesn't need encouragement.

   By seeking ways to daily encourage those with whom you interact, you further the potential for meaningful, Christ-centered relationships. As Paul told the persecuted Thessalonians, "Encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing . . . Admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone" (1 Thessalonians 5: 11, 14).

Stanley, Charles. F. Life Principles Daily Bible: Biblical Principles for Each Day of the Year. Thomas Nelson: Nashville. 2011. pg 1181.