TELL US HOW YOU REALLY FEEL, DAVID!

Posted on December 3, 2020 by randscallawayffm

David is angry as he writes this next song to sing.  This is not a sweet ballad, it is a story of righteous frustration over people who continually lie to him and to God’s people.  It is a righteous anger.  Knowing the back story explains why he is so upset.  Saul’s heart has turned against God.  Lawlessness has set in.  Those in charge left God’s principles and Law in the dust to pursue their own desires along with the pursuit of power. 

During David’s exile years, Saul led the nation down a path of political and spiritual ruin as he disobeyed God’s law and opposed God’s anointed king. Saul was surrounded by a group of fawning flatterers who fed his ego and catered to his foolish whims (1 Sam. 22:6ff.), and he put into places of authority people who used their offices for personal gain and not for the national good. I’m not saying politicians do that today, but I’m not saying they don’t either.

It is frustrating when the leaders who govern us and say they will uphold the law before we elect them and then once in power, ignore their promises and claims to work for the good of all.  The prophets often preached against the lawlessness of the leaders in Israel (Isa. 1:23-28; 5:22-25; 10:1-4; Amos 5:7-13; Mic. 3:1-4, 9-12; 7:1-6). Certainly nations, corporations, and even churches today need to take this kind of leadership crisis seriously.  We cannot see the heart of man like God can, but we can pray to God for guidance and discernment to avoid evil in men and women who aspire to lead.

David tells us what look for and be aware in those who lead. These unjust judges in Saul court were liars. Their words were like venom that poisoned society instead of like medicine that brought health. David compared them to snakes and lions, both of which are images of the Devil ( 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Peter 5:8). David cries out to God because He knows God vindicates Himself, His law, and His people; and He does it justly. So effective is His judgment that outsiders will say, “Surely there is a God who judges on earth” (v. 11 nasb).

God wins in the end when all is said and done.  Wait on the Lord. 

Worship and Wisdom, Psalm and Proverbs

Psalm 58, The Message

A David Psalm

1-2 Is this any way to run a country?
    Is there an honest politician in the house?
Behind the scenes you brew cauldrons of evil,
    behind closed doors you make deals with demons.

3-5 The wicked crawl from the wrong side of the cradle;
    their first words out of the womb are lies.
Poison, lethal rattlesnake poison,
    drips from their forked tongues—
Deaf to threats, deaf to charm,
    decades of wax built up in their ears.

6-9 God, smash their teeth to bits,
    leave them toothless tigers.
Let their lives be buckets of water spilled,
    all that’s left, a damp stain in the sand.
Let them be trampled grass
    worn smooth by the traffic.
Let them dissolve into snail slime,
    be a miscarried fetus that never sees sunlight.
Before what they cook up is half-done, God,
    throw it out with the garbage!

10-11 The righteous will call up their friends
    when they see the wicked get their reward,
Serve up their blood in goblets
    as they toast one another,
Everyone cheering, “It’s worth it to play by the rules!
    God’s handing out trophies and tending the earth!”

TRUTH: “It’s worth it to play by the rules.”  Even when leaders or others around us do not, we need to stay strong, focused and rely on God’s help through it all.  He wins every time.  Most times, God allows some liars and deceivers enough “rope to hang themselves”.  We reap what we sow, as Jesus told his followers.

What we learn…Leave the judgment and revenge to God.  David had a chance to kill Saul in his sleep but he did not.  David had enough respect for the law and for the leader that he waited and let God take care of Saul.  God did.  See 1 Samuel 24!

Proverb 19:22-29, The Message

It’s only human to want to make a buck,
    but it’s better to be poor than a liar.

23 Fear-of-God is life itself,
    a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises.

24 Some people dig a fork into the pie
    but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.

25 Punish the insolent—make an example of them.
    Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson.

26 Kids who lash out against their parents
    are an embarrassment and disgrace.

27 If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own,
    you’ll soon be out of your depth.

28 An unprincipled witness desecrates justice;
    the mouths of the wicked spew malice.

29 The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way;
    only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.

WISDOM:  It’s better to be poor than to be a liar.  Fear-of-God (awe and reverence) is Life!  Be a leader of integrity, continually seeking God and maturing in His characteristics.  Be a follower who loves like Jesus loves us. 

Abba Father,

Thank you for your wisdom that gives Life as well as skills for living.  Thank you for the lessons learned in David’s backstory.  Thank you for your Word that teaches us how to live.  You didn’t leave us on our own after saving us.  Your love goes even deeper than that!  You gave us Your Word to help us live in ways that are for our good and declare your glory.  I am eternally grateful.  I haven’t arrived but I know the path to where I’m going.  Thank you for Lighting the way to all that is right and good.  Help me this day to stay focused on that path that leads to Life forever with You!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE CAVE OF ISOLATION

Posted on December 2, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Isolation from the world, from your normal routines, from the freedom to do what you want when you want and go wherever you need to go is undesirable.  The minute we are told we cannot do something or have something we then want IT with all that is in us.  We humans who fall back on selfishness in these times seem weirdly wired at those times.  Our social behavior is jaded by isolation, too.  We post sarcastic memes that we laugh at but it doesn’t really help the situation of loneliness and left to our devices…or vices.  What if we turned this isolation time into productive ministry, using all the tech the world has to offer to help people find and follow Jesus who loved us enough to die for us?  What if our isolation turned to praise and thanksgiving with expectancy to see what God will do through it all? 

And, what if, we figured out that this isolation time might be ordained to be “such a time as this” that God will use to explode His love, grace, mercy in the lives of those who never knew Him before the pandemic, the earthquakes, the hurricanes, the tornadoes, and other calamities of this life here?  Mm…

David is hiding out, isolated in a cave from Saul who is trying to kill him. Saul is his personal “virus” he is trying to avoid at all costs because death is the only thing on Saul’s mind.  Maybe our crying out loud prayer should be like David’s prayer while peering out from his cave-home, “Cover the whole earth with your glory!”  Yes, Lord may YOUR glory, power and majesty be seen through all that happens here on earth.  That is my prayer this morning, that no matter what happens, may God’s glory be seen and souls come to Jesus through it all.

We can learn what to pray and praise from David’s song…

“I call out to High God, the God who holds me together.”

“I’m thanking you, God, out loud in the streets, singing your praises in town and country. The deeper your love, the higher it goes; every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.”

YES!  Praise God from whom ALL blessing flow…great is God’s faithfulness!

Let’s think more about praising God and encouraging His people and avoid the pouting.  Let’s stop whining, “When will this be over?” 

Ask instead, “What can I do that will help others through it, Lord?” 

“What do you want from me today, Lord? 

Then be ready to shout your praises out loud!  Be ready to listen, hear, and obey.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 57, The Message

A David Psalm, When He Hid in a Cave from Saul

1-3 Be good to me, God—and now!
    I’ve run to you for dear life.
I’m hiding out under your wings
    until the hurricane blows over.
I call out to High God,
    the God who holds me together.
He sends orders from heaven and saves me,
    he humiliates those who kick me around.
God delivers generous love,
    he makes good on his word.

4 I find myself in a pride of lions
    who are wild for a taste of human flesh;
Their teeth are lances and arrows,
    their tongues are sharp daggers.

5 Soar high in the skies, O God!
    Cover the whole earth with your glory!

6 They booby-trapped my path;
    I thought I was dead and done for.
They dug a mantrap to catch me,
    and fell in headlong themselves.

7-8 I’m ready, God, so ready,
    ready from head to toe,
Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune:
    “Wake up, soul!
Wake up, harp! wake up, lute!
    Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!”

9-10 I’m thanking you, God, out loud in the streets,
    singing your praises in town and country.
The deeper your love, the higher it goes;
    every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.

11 Soar high in the skies, O God!
    Cover the whole earth with your glory!

TRUTH: “The deeper your love, the higher it goes!”  Great and forever is God’s faithfulness!

Proverb 19:20-21, The Message

Take good counsel and accept correction—
    that’s the way to live wisely and well.

21 We humans keep brainstorming options and plans,
    but God’s purpose prevails.

WISDOM:  We make plans but God decides.  Go with the flow of God’s rhythm of grace.  He sees what we do not and cannot.  Listen to God; for what we do know is that God wants the best for us, provides for all our needs, and tenaciously and meticulously works good out of bad situations.

Abba Father,

There is NO ONE like you!  Great are you, Lord!  You know all because you created all.  You are the Master Designer of the universe who knows how all things fit together for our good.  You are our Savior who knew before the beginning of time that we would need to be saved.  You are our ever-present help when we are hiding out from trouble.  You are our Guide through good times and bad.  You are our navigator of rough waters, torrid relationships and other troubling challenges in this imperfect world.  You are the One and Only for me.  You are perfect.  Your ways are perfect.  Why would I trust anyone else?  Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do in my life.  May your glory cover the whole earth today and be seen by all who need you.  Show me my part and I will obey.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TAKE MY SIDE, GOD!

Posted on December 1, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Breaking News:  Not everyone will believe in Jesus and agree with God, the Father. 

Not everyone will see life God’s way.  Not everyone will hear God and want to follow in His ways.  As believers, we need to know this and be expectant of those who will not believe with you.  Be ready for those who will oppose the Jesus in you.  For if we are expectantly ready, armed, as Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, we will prevail without losing ground in our growing and maturing, developing the characteristics of God in our walk with God. 

“…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” 

Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV

Our daily battle with evil belongs to the Lord!  Notice the verbs in Ephesians that tell us our part in this battle;

Be strong

Put on God, wear God’s best fit armor, proclaim God

Stand your ground, God’s grounded belief and behavior

Stand firm—in Truth who is the Person of Jesus.

Put on right ways of behavior.

Be ready to proclaim the Good News of peace!

Take up the shield of faith that deflects the arrows of hate, gossip, divisiveness and unrighteousness that evil will throw at us.

Cover your head with salvation from Jesus, the One who died for you and won this battle for you.  Develop the mind of Christ.

Take on (lift up) the Sword, God Word, God’s Holy Spirit Handbook for winning the war with evil, not stabbing at others who do not yet know God.  Lift up this “sword” as Truth.

And the greatest battlefield strategy of all—PRAY!  The battle is the Lord’s! 

Nowhere in Paul’s God-inspired strategy does it say to attack at all costs!   

Yes, God’s Word prepares us for this battle between God and evil.  Every Bible hero had to face the opposition.  Every believer in the early church faced opposition along with daily persecution from the government AND the religious elite who crucified Jesus. 

What is important for us is to know God, know our true enemy, Satan, know ourselves and know God Message (His Word).  Our battles are the Lord’s as David pointed out when he fought Goliath in his youth.  Now David is being persecuted for being God’s Person for His people.  David is captured, kicked around, spit on, mocked and thrown into jail–like Jesus, our Redeemer!  Stop and think about that for as long as it takes to sink in. David writes as if he knew Jesus would suffer in the same ways.  

However, Jesus, sent by God, took on all the sins of the world and settled our sin account once and for all.  In this condition, God could not face His Son until the work was finished.  When Jesus cried out, “It is finished” from the cross, the battle was over.  Our debts paid in full.  After going to hell and back, defeating death, rising to Life forevermore, the battle was won.  But evil did not give up.  Evil still throws his limited evil schemes at us.  But Jesus, by the gift of His Holy Spirit living in us, makes us more than conquerors in our daily battles with evil.  Yes, the battle belongs to the Lord.  We pray.  God conquers.  Jesus knows just what we need in our daily battle.  I read the final pages of His Word—we win in the end.  So stand firm, In Jesus Name.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 56, The Message

A David Psalm, When He Was Captured by the Philistines in Gath

1-4 Take my side, God—I’m getting kicked around,
    stomped on every day.
Not a day goes by
    but somebody beats me up;
They make it their duty
    to beat me up.
When I get really afraid
    I come to you in trust.
I’m proud to praise God;
    fearless now, I trust in God.
    What can mere mortals do?

5-6 They don’t let up—
    they smear my reputation
    and huddle to plot my collapse.
They gang up,
    sneak together through the alleys
To take me by surprise,
    wait their chance to get me.

7 Pay them back in evil!
    Get angry, God!
    Down with these people!

8 You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn
    through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
    each ache written in your book.

9 If my enemies run away,
    turn tail when I yell at them,
Then I’ll know
    that God is on my side.

10-11 I’m proud to praise God,
    proud to praise God.
Fearless now, I trust in God;
    what can mere mortals do to me?

12-13 God, you did everything you promised,
    and I’m thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death,
    my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God
    in the sunlit fields of life.

TRUTH:  God keeps his promises.  Our confidence is in Him.  Trust in God.  In good times and treacherous times…trust God.  All battles with evil belong to the Lord.  God so loved us; He sent His Son to save us.  

Proverb 19:17-19, The Message

Mercy to the needy is a loan to God,
    and God pays back those loans in full.

18 Discipline your children while you still have the chance;
    indulging them destroys them.

19 Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger;
    if you try to make it better, you’ll only make it worse.

WISDOM:  God is merciful, loving and kind.  Leave paybacks to God.  We can’t handle revenge, it will only boomerang back and make life worse.  God knows.  Leave the battle to God.

Abba Father,

What a glorious day that will be when the final battle with evil is fought and we see the victory in Jesus for the last time!  Our daily battles do not compare with what you did for us.  We are mere mortals but you are the King of kings and Lord of lords who wins every battle we face.  Thank you for this armor of thinking, being and behaving today.  Thank you for always being at our side, in front of us and behind us in battle.  You are God and we are not.  We pray.  You conquer. 

In Jesus Name, Amen!

And we’re singing…

“The God of angel armies is always by my side!”

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“I SHUDDER AT THE MEAN VOICE”

Posted on November 30, 2020 by randscallawayffm

The pandemic has revealed the true colors of integrity, faith, kindness, gentleness, degrees of anger brought on by the selfishness in all of us.  When our lives are suddenly turned upside down, our routines disrupted and our independence temporarily hindered, we humans push back.  Even though people are dying all around us, (physically and spiritually), we don’t like being told what to do or when and where to do it.  We especially don’t like taking our precioius time to think about how to live life differently so we can cope and adjust to change.  No, we demand everything to be “as it was”, good or bad.  We want to live life on our terms and no one else’s. Anger sets in and takes up residence.

When anger over disappointments in life builds up over time, the result is a growing cancerous virus of bitterness.  One of the symptoms of COVID is the loss of taste.  Anger and bitterness will shade our taste for life, our gratitude for what is and will take away our peace.  Anger comes from fear and previous hurts unresolved and unforgiven.  We fear another hurt so we live expecting hurt.  When we expect hurt, we will get it because what we “sow, we reap” even in our minds.   We begin to think everyone is out to “get us” and wants us to fail.  So, it becomes easy to blame everyone and every situation for our failure.  We become paranoid and live in a state of unrest.  When we are discouraged, fearful and hurt, we begin to hurt others because our thought processes rely only on a negative narrative.  We think the worst, not the best of others while judging their thoughts presumptuously.  

Guess what?  God knows and He is used to this rebellious behavior.  He hears our anger when times get rough.  He grieves over our bitterness and unrest.  Sometimes He waits for us to get the anger out of our systems in our shouting and complaining before come to our aid.  Only when we become humble before Him, ready to listen, willing to trust will God speak.  David knows how to come to God.  He writes our next psalm to illustrate the character of God.

When God is silent, it doesn’t mean He isn’t there.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 55, The Message

A David Psalm

1-3 Open your ears, God, to my prayer;
    don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking.
Come close and whisper your answer.
    I really need you.
I shudder at the mean voice,
    quail before the evil eye,
As they pile on the guilt,
    stockpile angry slander.

4-8 My insides are turned inside out;
    specters of death have me down.
I shake with fear,
    I shudder from head to foot.
“Who will give me wings,” I ask—
    “wings like a dove?”
Get me out of here on dove wings;
    I want some peace and quiet.
I want a walk in the country,
    I want a cabin in the woods.
I’m desperate for a change
    from rage and stormy weather.

9-11 Come down hard, Lord—slit their tongues.
    I’m appalled how they’ve split the city
Into rival gangs
    prowling the alleys
Day and night spoiling for a fight,
    trash piled in the streets,
Even shopkeepers gouging and cheating
    in broad daylight.

12-14 This isn’t the neighborhood bully
    mocking me—I could take that.
This isn’t a foreign devil spitting
    invective—I could tune that out.
It’s you! We grew up together!
    You! My best friend!
Those long hours of leisure as we walked
    arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.

15 Haul my betrayers off alive to hell—let them
    experience the horror, let them
    feel every desolate detail of a damned life.

16-19 I call to God;
    God will help me.
At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh
    deep sighs—he hears, he rescues.
My life is well and whole, secure
    in the middle of danger
Even while thousands
    are lined up against me.
God hears it all, and from his judge’s bench
    puts them in their place.
But, set in their ways, they won’t change;
    they pay him no mind.

20-21 And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends;
    his life betrayed his word.
All my life I’ve been charmed by his speech,
    never dreaming he’d turn on me.
His words, which were music to my ears,
    turned to daggers in my heart.

22-23 Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—
    he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.
He’ll never let good people
    topple into ruin.
But you, God, will throw the others
    into a muddy bog,
Cut the lifespan of assassins
    and traitors in half.

And I trust in you.

TRUTH: “Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.  David has been betrayed by his best friend and advisor.  The anger and hurt is very hard to bear.  He needs God to help him.  He “shudders at the mean voice” of hurt and betrayal.  He humbles himself before God in complete trust.  And God is there. 

David reveals four possible approaches to handling the painful problems and battles of life; We can look within at our own feelings, look beyond to run for safe refuge, look only at the circumstances, OR, look to God and trust Him.

What will you choose?

Proverb 19:9-12, The Message

The person who tells lies gets caught;
    the person who spreads rumors is ruined.

10 Blockheads shouldn’t live on easy street
    any more than workers should give orders to their boss.

11 Smart people know how to hold their tongue;
    their grandeur is to forgive and forget.

12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs;
    the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.

WISDOM:  Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.

Abba Father,

Our feelings get out of control when we react and respond to changes in negative ways without first coming to you for help.  So, here we are humbly asking for Your help.  Nothing is impossible with You.  Nothing goes unnoticed by you.  We need you every hour.  Every hour of every day we need you.  My faith and trust are in you.  My life is in you.  My hope lies in you alone.  Thank you for always being there for me.  “Yet, will I praise you” in good times and bad.  Help us to adjust and grow in your character in challenging times knowing you are always there to help us through it all.  Thank you, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

*The “mean voice” is the voice of evil and his army.  Let us avoid being the voice for evil.  Be the mouthpiece for God’s voice!

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PANIC TO PRAISE IN AN INSTANT!

Posted on November 28, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Emily Litella is a fictional character created and performed by comedian, Gilda Radner in a series of appearances on Saturday Night Live.  Based on a person in her early life, Emily Litella was a popular character in Radner’s comedy repertoire.

Emily Litella is an elderly woman with a hearing problem.   Attired in a frumpy dress, sweater, wearing low to the nose eyeglasses, Litella was introduced with professional dignity by the news anchors, who could sometimes be seen cringing slightly in anticipation of the rebuttal they knew would follow. These sketches were, in part, a parody of the Fairness Doctrine, which at the time required broadcasters in the United States to present opposing viewpoints on public issues.

Litella would peer through her reading glasses and, in the character’s high-pitched, warbly voice, would read a prepared statement in opposition to an editorial that the TV station had supposedly broadcast. Litella would become increasingly agitated as her statement progressed. Midway in her commentary, it became apparent to the anchor, and the audience, that Litella had misheard or misunderstood the subject of the editorial to which she was responding. A typical example:

What is all this fuss I hear about the Supreme Court decision on a “deaf” penalty? It’s terrible! Deaf people have enough problems as it is!

The news anchor would interrupt Litella to point out her error, along the lines, “That’s death penalty, Ms. Litella, not deaf … death.” Litella would wrinkle her nose, say something like, “Oh, that’s very different,” then meekly turn to the camera and say, smiling, “Never mind!”

I have used “never mind” as a backup to my repertoire when I completely misread a situation in my life.  I have even said it to God when I totally didn’t get life as it was presented.  When I thought God had left me to fend for myself, He came to my aid, already at work on the problem before I asked for a solution. 

This Psalms reminds of a “never mind” moment in David’s life. It makes me smile to read it this morning knowing I have done the same thing…human panic first, then praise!  This little panic is brought on by our inborn “flight or fight” makeup that helps us evaluate quickly the danger that appears suddenly.  To linger in panic is unhealthy.  God also created a place in our souls for Him.  When panic brings us running to Him for help immediately, that is a very wise, healthy place to be.

“Oh, look! God’s right here helping!  God’s on my side”…Never mind!  God was there all the time.  Thank you, God!!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 54, The Message

A David Psalm, When the Ziphites Reported to Saul, “David Is Hiding Out with Us”

54 1-2 God, for your sake, help me!
    Use your influence to clear me.
Listen, God—I’m desperate.
    Don’t be too busy to hear me.

3 Outlaws are out to get me,
    hit men are trying to kill me.
Nothing will stop them;
    God means nothing to them.

4-5 Oh, look! God’s right here helping!
    God’s on my side,
Evil is looping back on my enemies.
    Don’t let up! Finish them off!

6-7 I’m ready now to worship, so ready.
    I thank you, God—you’re so good.
You got me out of every scrape,
    and I saw my enemies get it.

TRUTH:  We are human.  We panic first then discover quickly that God was there all along.  “I thank you, God—you’re so good.  You got me out of every scrape…”

Proverb 19:7-8, The Message

When you’re down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
    yes, even your best friends wish you’d get lost.
If they see you coming, they look the other way—
    out of sight, out of mind.

8 Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor;
    keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.

WISDOM:  When danger appears suddenly, “keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.”  God is there helping us when we need it most.  Count on it.  Great is His faithfulness!

Abba Father,

Thank you for your loving kindness and the calm you bring us in our panic.  Thank you for Your Holy Presence that goes before us, stands with us and follows behind us with protection.  Thank you for leading us and never leaving us when we are overwhelmed or the challenge is too great, at first.  Thank you for defeating our real foe that feeds on our panic.  Thank you for your gift of peace, no matter what is going on around us.  Sweet peace, the gift of Your love.  Continue to teach and transform me. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES

Posted on November 27, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Forrest Gump is a 1994 film about a mentally challenged man’s epic journey through life, meeting historical figures, influencing popular culture, and experiencing first-hand historical incidents while largely unaware of their significance.  Forrest Gump was not stupid.  The quotes are still recognized as simple yet profound to the world. 

“My mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” – Forrest

“You have to do the best with what God gave you.” – Mrs. Gump

“Have you found Jesus yet, Gump? – Lieutenant Daniel Taylor

“I didn’t know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir.” – Forrest

“Stupid is as stupid does.” –Forrest

This iconic film presents life lived unredeemed and completely on your own.  God is only “out there somewhere”.  We do stupid things in this life when we try to live life without the Creator of all, who is in all, and above all.  “The fool says in his heart, there is no God”, says the Psalmist, David.  Without God, we do stupid things.  I done my fair share.  With God, we see a new perspective on life.  With God we have wisdom to make better choices.  With God we learn from our mistakes.  With God, we learn how to love unconditionally like He loves.  With God, we are saved and made whole through Jesus, His Son.  With God’s Holy Spirit, we have help to live life expectantly, skillfully, peacefully, and courageously.  A fool lives life without God. 

“God is looking for someone who is not stupid–one man, even, God-expectant, just one God-ready woman.”  Is that you?  Is that me?

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

A David Psalm

1-2 Bilious and bloated, they gas,
    “God is gone.”
It’s poison gas—
    they foul themselves, they poison
Rivers and skies;
    thistles are their cash crop.
God sticks his head out of heaven.
    He looks around.
He’s looking for someone not stupid—
one man, even, God-expectant,
    just one God-ready woman.

3 He comes up empty. A string
    of zeros. Useless, unshepherded
Sheep, taking turns pretending
    to be Shepherd.
The ninety and nine
    follow the one.

4 Don’t they know anything,
    all these impostors?
Don’t they know
    they can’t get away with this,
Treating people like a fast-food meal
    over which they’re too busy to pray?

5 Night is coming for them, and nightmare—
    a nightmare they’ll never wake up from.
God will make hash of these squatters,
    send them packing for good.

6 Is there anyone around to save Israel?
    God turns life around.
Turned-around Jacob skips rope,
    turned-around Israel sings laughter.

TRUTH:  God turns life around.  Be still, let go and let God turn our lives around.

Proverb 19:2-3, The Message

Ignorant zeal is worthless;
    haste makes waste.

3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity,
    so why does God always get blamed?

WISDOM:  It’s not God’s fault when we go out on our own—and fail.

Abba Father,

You are God and we are not. You created us, know us inside and out.  You know what makes us tick for you knew us in the womb.  Because of your infinite, limitless, unconditional love you redeemed us through Jesus.  Thank you, dear Jesus.  While we were yet sinners, you died for us.  Forgive our fickleness as believers at times when we strike out on our own without you.  We learn that is stupid.  We need you ever hour, every hour we need you.  Cleanse our hearts. Shepherd us.  Change our minds. Fill my soul with Your Holy Spirit. Transform us to be all you had in mind for us from the beginning.  We ask for your wisdom, insight and understanding so we can live life expectantly and fulfilled.  Thank you, Lord.  I’m yours.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TATTLERS AND BULLIES

Posted on November 26, 2020 by randscallawayffm

There is nothing worse than working with or living around tyrants, bullies and tattlers who want the worst for you, not the best.  It has been said and observed in this life that hurting people hurt people.  This seems to be true but doesn’t resolve the problem of their skewed thinking.  Bullies and tattlers think that hurting someone else by bringing them down with words of criticism and spreading gossip of lies will resolve their own hurt and make them happier people.  But it doesn’t.  God knows our heart of hearts.  He doesn’t tolerate bullies for long.  God also uses bullies to teach us how not to live and how to peacefully cope with them.  See the lessons in our next Psalm along with the wisdom of Proverb 19.

When David wrote this psalm, he was angry, and rightly so. (For the reason, see 1 Sam. 21:1-9; 22:6-23.) Doeg was one of many men around Saul who catered to his whims and inflated his ego in order to gain power and wealth. He typifies all who promote themselves at the expense of truth and justice. Doeg was an Edomite, which means he was descended from Esau, the enemy of Jacob (Gen. 27–28; Heb. 12:16-17). The battle between the flesh and the Spirit still goes on.

However, it’s possible that David was also writing about Saul, who certainly fits the description given of the proud, powerful tyrant. There has always been a certain amount of evil in high places, and God’s people must learn to handle it in a godly manner. David paints for us three contrasting scenes.  See if you can figure it out…

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 52, The Message

A David Psalm, When Doeg the Edomite Reported to Saul, “David’s at Ahimelech’s House”

1-4 Why do you brag of evil, “Big Man”?
    God’s mercy carries the day.
You scheme catastrophe;
    your tongue cuts razor-sharp,
    artisan in lies.
You love evil more than good,
    you call black white.
You love malicious gossip,
    you foul-mouth.

5 God will tear you limb from limb,
    sweep you up and throw you out,
Pull you up by the roots
    from the land of life.

6-7 Good people will watch and
    worship. They’ll laugh in relief:
“Big Man bet on the wrong horse,
    trusted in big money,
    made his living from catastrophe.”

8 And I’m an olive tree,
    growing green in God’s house.
I trusted in the generous mercy
    of God then and now.

9 I thank you always
    that you went into action.
And I’ll stay right here,
    your good name my hope,
    in company with your faithful friends.

TRUTH:  Live in obedience to what God says is true and right.  “I trusted in the generous mercy of God then and now.”  Stay in the company of God and His people.

Do you see the three scenes David is referring to in his ballad? 

  1. The Sinners are Boasting
  2. The Saints are Laughing
  3. The Faithful are Serving

Sinners are Boasting:  The phrase “mighty man” is the equivalent of our “big shot” and was spoken derisively. Doeg and Saul were mighty in their own eyes but insignificant in God’s eyes; David was insignificant in their eyes but important to God. David depended on the mercy of the Lord, while Saul and his men depended on themselves and their own resources. Their words devoured people and destroyed them (see 35:25). It isn’t difficult to find people like Doeg and Saul in our twenty-first-century world.

Saints are Laughing:  Verse 5 is the central verse of the psalm and marks the turning point in David’s experience as he contemplated the wickedness of the human heart. He was confident that God would one day judge Saul, Doeg, and all who follow their evil philosophy of life. Let God take care of your bullies.  He will.  Sinners ultimately fall into the pits they dig for others.  The phrase, “give them enough rope and they hang themselves” applies to bullies and tattlers!

Faithful are Serving:  The contrast is clear: The wicked are like uprooted trees, but the godly are like flourishing olive trees that are fruitful and beautiful. Saul and Doeg would perish, rejected by the Lord, but David and his dynasty would be safe in the house of the Lord! 

David trusted God’s loving-kindness, and the Lord did not fail him, and he never failed to give God the glory. The phrase “I’ll stay right here” (v. 9) means to hope and depend on the character of God as expressed in His great name.

Meanwhile, though evil may seem to triumph, we must continue to obey and serve the Lord and not get discouraged. The “last laugh” belongs to the Lord’s people.  I read the ending of God’s Word…we win in the end!  God is the Victor!  Jesus is King forever and ever, Amen!

Proverb 19:1-8, The Message

Better to be poor and honest
    than a rich person no one can trust.

2 Ignorant zeal is worthless;
    haste makes waste.

3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity,
    so why does God always get blamed?

4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies,
    but poor people are avoided like a plague.

5 Perjury won’t go unpunished.
    Would you let a liar go free?

6 Lots of people flock around a generous person;
    everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist.

7 When you’re down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
    yes, even your best friends wish you’d get lost.
If they see you coming, they look the other way—
    out of sight, out of mind.

8 Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor;
    keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.

WISDOM: “Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.”  Avoid being a bully or a tattler, the very kinds of people you run from!  Run to God.  Grow in His character with His help.  Confess your mess.  Learn from life.

Abba Father,

You teach us skills for living from your word that is completely understood.  You don’t mess around with bullies and lie spreaders.  You know our hearts.  You tell us who we are in you, going over it again and again, when the world bullies and tattlers say otherwise.  You lift our thinking up to where you are.  You give hope and more hope when all our emotions feel is hopelessness.  You give mercy in our messes and grace in low places.  You are God and we are not.  There is no one like you.  So, that‘s why I trust you with all that I am and all that I am not—yet.  Continue to grow me as “an olive tree in your greenhouse” as David illustrates so well.   All my hope, faith and trust is in you.  Thank you for saving my soul.  Thank you for protecting me from bullies and tattlers then, now and in the future.  We are more than conquerors with You!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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RESTORED

Posted on November 25, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

A David Psalm, After He Was Confronted by Nathan About the Affair with Bathsheba

Psalm 51

1-3 Generous in love—God, give grace!
    Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
    soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been;
    my sins are staring me down.

4-6 You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen
    it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
    whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,
    in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out.
    Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
    scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
    set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
    give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
    or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
    put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
    so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
    and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
    I’ll let loose with your praise.

16-17 Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
    a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
    when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
    don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

18-19 Make Zion the place you delight in,
    repair Jerusalem’s broken-down walls.
Then you’ll get real worship from us,
    acts of worship small and large,
Including all the bulls
    they can heave onto your altar!

TRUTH:  God notices and listens to a broken, shattered heart ready to listen to Him again.  God hears the praise of honest, pure hearts that worship ONLY Him.  God forgives because of His infinite mercy and grace wrapped in His unconditional love for us.  But we must come humbly to Him, confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness and a fresh start…a “Genesis week” of the chaos we make of our lives.  A new beginning, a fresh start is what David is pleading for and receives for He knows the heart of God.  He is the “man after God’s own heart”, the “apple of his eye”. 

A relationship like David’s with our Creator is what we all desire when we really think about what we want from life here on earth.  We want someone to love us deeply and unconditionally.  God created that longing in us from the beginning but we have to come to Him wanting this relationship.  God does not force Himself on us.  God wants the decision to love Him back to be ours. 

We are not puppets in the diabolic scheme…that is Satan’s way that leads to the destruction of our minds, broken hearts and destroyed souls.  But if we believe in Jesus, the One and Only Son of God, with all our hearts, minds and souls, we are protected from evil’s plots.  God so loved, He had a Plan from the Genesis of time itself to save us.  He knew we would need a Savior after trying to do life by ourselves.  He sent Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16, NIV

Nathan, his wise confident and advisor over the years, had to call David’s attention to his sin.  He told a story so David could picture his own sins with indignation.  With clarity and seeing his sin through God’s eyes, he now saw himself for who he really was…a sinner, unclean.  He saw the sin he was committing against his family and the family of Bathsheba because of his lust and selfish desires.  He saw in the broken lives of those affected by his adultery.  Nathan convicted David of his sins. 

David, broken and undone, humbly came back to the God he loved and had three requests:

CLEANSE ME.  David admitted that ultimate his sins where against God.  It was only God who could cleanse him from his sins.  He wanted to turn from the sin and come back to God whole again.  David was broken before God.  He needed a complete cleansing from God.

RESTORE ME.  David’s sins had affected his whole person: his eyes (v. 3), mind (v. 6), ears and bones (v. 8), heart and spirit (v. 10), hands (v. 14), and lips (vv. 13-15). Such is the high cost of committing sin. David knew this, so he asked for more than cleansing, as important as that is; he wanted his entire being to be restored so he could serve the Lord acceptably.  He wanted the joy of the Lord within him and the face of the Lord smiling upon him once more. David knew that the inner person–the heart–was the source of his trouble as well as the seat of his joy and blessing, and he was incapable of changing his own heart. Only God could work the miracle of transforming his heart.

The Lord gave the Holy Spirit to David when Samuel anointed him (1 Sam. 16:13), and David didn’t want to lose the blessing and help of the Spirit, as had happened to Saul when he sinned (1 Sam. 16:1, 14; see 2 Sam. 7:15).

Today the Holy Spirit abides with believers forever (John 14:15-18); but God’s children can lose His effective ministry by grieving the Spirit (Eph. 4:30-32), lying to Him (Acts 5:1-3), and quenching Him by deliberate disobedience (1 Thess. 5:19). The phrase “willing spirit” in verse 12 (nasb) refers to David’s own spirit, as in verse 10. A “willing spirit” is one that is not in bondage but is free and yielded to the Spirit of God, who ministers to and through our own spirit (Rom. 8:14-17).

It isn’t enough simply to confess sin and experience God’s cleansing; we must also let Him RENEW us within so that we will conquer sin and not succumb to temptation. The Lord did forgive David but permitted him to suffer the tragic consequences of his sins.

Today, instead of sacrifice of lambs and bulls, God sent Jesus, to be sacrificed once and for all, for our sins.  Jesus, the One and Only, stands ready to forgive us of all our sins.  All sin confessed to God, in Jesus Name, is gone, washed away, nothing left behind, to be remembered no more.  Like Nathan did for David, we possess the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sins that need confessing.  The work of the Holy Spirit for believers is to help us keep our mind’s eyes on God, our souls clean, our Spirits renewed and our hearts restored.

USE ME.  David was God’s servant, and he wanted to regain his ministry and lead his people. He especially wanted to make careful preparations for the building of the temple. It’s interesting that Solomon, the child eventually born to Bathsheba, was chosen to be David’s successor and the one to supervise the temple construction. “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Rom. 5:20 nkjv). David wanted to witness to the lost and wandering and bring them back to the Lord (v. 13), and he wanted to sing the Lord’s praises (vv. 14-15). “Bloodguiltiness” refers to Uriah’s blood on David’s hands, for it was David who ordered his death (2 Sam. 11:6).  David was wealthy enough to bring many sacrifices to the Lord, but he knew that this would not please the Lord (50:8-15; see 1 Sam. 15:22) and that their blood could not wash away his sins. David wasn’t denying the importance or the validity of the Jewish sacrificial system; he was affirming the importance of a repentant heart and a spirit yielded to the Lord (Isa. 57:15). God could not receive broken animals as sacrifices (Mal. 1:6-8), but He would receive a broken heart! 

David destroyed much good when he sinned, but he also did much good during his lifetime and served the Lord faithfully.

“I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.  Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.”

When we sin, we sin against God ultimately.  God is One, because of Jesus, who will forgive us completely.  God will also help us clean up the mess we left behind because of our sins.  Sin affects not only us but everyone around us.  God knows that and will help us learn the lessons from it so we can “go and sin no more” like Jesus said to the woman ready to be stoned for her sin.  See John 8 for a beautiful story of forgiveness by our Lord.

Proverb 18:17-24, The Message

The first speech in a court case is always convincing—
    until the cross-examination starts!

18 You may have to draw straws
    when faced with a tough decision.

19 Do a favor and win a friend forever;
    nothing can untie that bond.

20 Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;
    good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.

21 Words kill, words give life;
    they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.

22 Find a good spouse, you find a good life—
    and even more: the favor of God!

23 The poor speak in soft supplications;
    the rich bark out answers.

24 Friends come and friends go,
    but a true friend sticks by you like family.

WISDOM: “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.”  Nathan was a true friend to David!

Abba Father,

Thank you for your story of the convicting, confessing, forgiveness and complete cleansing of David.  Your relationship with David was renewed and the joy of your salvation was restored in him.  Jesus is the joy of your salvation living in us today.  Your Holy Spirit, like Nathan, convicts us to stay on your path of what is right.  Thank you, dear Jesus, for dying for my sins.  Thank you, Father, for Your Holy Spirit who comforts, convicts, challenges, teaches, and keeps our focus on You.

In Jesus Name, Amen

And we’re singing…

Create in me a clean heart, O God
And renew a right spirit within me
Create in me a clean heart, O God
And renew a right spirit within me
Cast me not away from Thy presence, O Lord
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me
Restore unto me, the joy of Thy salvation
And renew a right spirit within me….

By Keith Green

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WORSHIP – HEARTLESS, HYPOCRITICAL OR HONEST?

Posted on November 24, 2020 by randscallawayffm

God the Judge summons the court (vv. 1-6) and confronts two offenders: the formalist, to whom worship is a ritual to follow (vv. 7-15), and the hypocrite, to whom worship is a disguise to cover sin (vv. 16-21). The psalm closes with a call to all honest worshippers to be faithful to God (vv. 22-23).

Who IS a true worshipper of God?  Who are we as worshippers of God?

HONEST

The honest and true worshipper has a proper fear of the Lord and seeks only to honor Him in his worship. He obeys God’s will (“orders his way aright,” nasb) and is able to experience (“see”) the salvation of the Lord. When you combine these characteristics with verses 14 and 15–gratitude to God, obedience, prayer, and a desire to glorify God–you have a description of worshippers who bring joy to the heart of God.

HEARTLESS

Worship is not about what I do in outward appearance, it is what is in my heart when I worship the God of all.  I am reminded of what God said to Samuel when choosing a king, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  (1 Samuel 16:7) We cannot  judge the heart like God can so we should not judge how a person worships God. 

Do we bring God down to where we are in our thinking, and proceed to humanize Him?  What a dangerous activity!  God is God whether we choose to believe Him or not.  We cannot and should not try to describe God in ways that satisfy our finite minds.  God is beyond all human thinking.  We should not humanize God with traits of darkness that God does not possess.  “He is Light and in Him is no darkness.”  See 1 John 1:5. Only God’s Word can describe Him in ways that give Him glory and honor.  Stick to God’s Word, for His Word is Truth.  God Word is unchanging, unlike our minds and viewpoints.

What the Lord wanted from His people was thanksgiving from their hearts, obedience to His Word, prayer, and a desire to honor Him in everything (vv. 14-15). What the Lord doesn’t want is ritualism or done only by habit. He wants our worship to come from the heart.

HYPOCRITICAL

This Psalm also addressed “the wicked,” the Israelites in the covenant community who were reciting the creed with their lips but deliberately disobeying God’s law. After breaking God’s law, they would go to the sanctuary and act very religious so they could cover up their sins. God is long-suffering with sinners, but these wicked people interpreted God’s silence as His approval. Their thinking was so confused that they ended up creating a god in their own image (v. 21). God was in the hands of ignorant sinners! They had forgotten God (Rom. 1:22-28) and didn’t want Him to interfere with their lifestyle. They had a false confidence that they could sin and get away with it. 

Time to confess and commit.  Which category do we find ourselves?  Heartless, Hypocritical, or Honest in our worship of God for Who He really is, God of all, in all because He created all.

The right choice leads to salvation and life forevermore with God!  “As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I’ll show you my salvation.”

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 50, The Message

1-3 The God of gods—it’s God!—speaks out, shouts, “Earth!”
    welcomes the sun in the east,
    farewells the disappearing sun in the west.
From the dazzle of Zion,
    God blazes into view.
Our God makes his entrance,
    he’s not shy in his coming.
Starbursts of fireworks precede him.

4-5 He summons heaven and earth as a jury,
    he’s taking his people to court:
“Round up my saints who swore
    on the Bible their loyalty to me.”

6 The whole cosmos attests to the fairness of this court,
    that here God is judge.

7-15 “Are you listening, dear people? I’m getting ready to speak;
    Israel, I’m about ready to bring you to trial.
This is God, your God,
    speaking to you.
I don’t find fault with your acts of worship,
    the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer.
But why should I want your blue-ribbon bull,
    or more and more goats from your herds?
Every creature in the forest is mine,
    the wild animals on all the mountains.
I know every mountain bird by name;
    the scampering field mice are my friends.
If I get hungry, do you think I’d tell you?
    All creation and its bounty are mine.
Do you think I feast on venison?
    or drink draughts of goats’ blood?
Spread for me a banquet of praise,
    serve High God a feast of kept promises,
And call for help when you’re in trouble—
    I’ll help you, and you’ll honor me.”

16-21 Next, God calls up the wicked:

“What are you up to, quoting my laws,
    talking like we are good friends?
You never answer the door when I call;
    you treat my words like garbage.
If you find a thief, you make him your buddy;
    adulterers are your friends of choice.
Your mouth drools filth;
    lying is a serious art form with you.
You stab your own brother in the back,
    rip off your little sister.
I kept a quiet patience while you did these things;
    you thought I went along with your game.
I’m calling you on the carpet, now,
    laying your wickedness out in plain sight.

22-23 “Time’s up for playing fast and
    loose with me.
I’m ready to pass sentence,
    and there’s no help in sight!
It’s the praising life that honors me.
    As soon as you set your foot on the Way,
I’ll show you my salvation.”

TRUTH: “It’s the praising life that honors me.  As soon as you set your foot on the Way,
I’ll show you my salvation.” –God

Proverb 18:13-15, The Message

Answering before listening
    is both stupid and rude.

14 A healthy spirit conquers adversity,
    but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?

15 Wise men and women are always learning,
    always listening for fresh insights.

WISDOM:  Listen, not to answer, but to learn and understand.  The wise are always learning.  Leaders are learners.

Abba Father,

You are God and I am not.  I come to you with praise and thanksgiving for all you have done in my life, all you are doing and all you will do.  My life is in You.  My heart is yours forever.  My soul longs for you each morning.  My mind loves to be filled by your thoughts that are higher than my thoughts.  I love you, Lord with all that is in me.  Continue to remove all that offends you and make me holy before you.  This is my heart and this is my song to you today.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TO DIE FOR…

Posted on November 23, 2020 by randscallawayffm

“Ooh, that car is to die for!”  “You have to get that dress, it’s to die for!”  “Your home is so gorgeous, it’s to die for!”  We often to use this phrase to declare that something is the best life has to offer.  But, is it? 

Our Psalmist has different ideas about what is to die for.  “We aren’t immortal. We don’t last long.  Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.”  I know these words are not what we want to hear at the start of a new day with our “Daily Manna” from God.  But read all the words.  He is trying to get people to understand the folly of self-help, self-drive or self-anything.  It all ends in self-death.  Just death.

What are you thinking about or doing now, right now, that is “to die for”? 

I have a friend, Mike, who I met at our church while serving on hospitality teams.  He faithfully stood at the east door and welcomed all who entered with a hearty handshake and hello.  He brought two friends from his motorcycle club to come help him.  He wanted his friends to know and follow Jesus, too.  That’s how he got them to come, he asked them to serve with him.  Mike, a nurse practitioner, worked during the week at our local hospital.  When COVID hit and families couldn’t go in with their loved ones, Mike offered to be a guardian angel and check on their person and report back to the family. “Just call me and let me know”, said Mike. Mike is larger than life, loving to all and flexible, willing to help in all kinds of ways.  He’s not about self, he’s about others.  He loves Jesus and we all know it.

Over the past few months, Mike has had two heart attacks.  One last summer and one in the fall.  His heart is now failing him to the point doctors can no longer help him.  Mike lays in hospice waiting for a natural passing from this life to the one God has promised.  He is assured of where He is going next.  BUT, while he waits, he is one of our best online greeters for our church.  BUT wait, there’s more.  Mike has been giving out “Your Best Life Ever” bracelets (our churches’ way of promoting salvation at the moment) to all who come to visit or care for him while he is in his last days in hospice.  He is still serving as Jesus’ representative here on earth.

I ask this question of myself, again, and hope you will ask yourself the same as you read this morning.

What are you thinking about or doing now, right now, that is “to die for”?

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 49, The Message

1-2 Listen, everyone, listen—
    earth-dwellers, don’t miss this.
All you haves
    and have-nots,
All together now: listen.

3-4 I set plainspoken wisdom before you,
    my heart-seasoned understandings of life.
I fine-tuned my ear to the sayings of the wise,
    I solve life’s riddle with the help of a harp.

5-6 So why should I fear in bad times,
    hemmed in by enemy malice,
Shoved around by bullies,
    demeaned by the arrogant rich?

7-9 Really! There’s no such thing as self-rescue,
    pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.
The cost of rescue is beyond our means,
    and even then it doesn’t guarantee
Life forever, or insurance
    against the Black Hole.

10-11 Anyone can see that the brightest and best die,
    wiped out right along with fools and dunces.
They leave all their prowess behind,
    move into their new home, The Coffin,
The cemetery their permanent address.
    And to think they named counties after themselves!

12 We aren’t immortal. We don’t last long.
    Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.

13-15 This is what happens to those who live for the moment,
    who only look out for themselves:
Death herds them like sheep straight to hell;
    they disappear down the gullet of the grave;
They waste away to nothing—
    nothing left but a marker in a cemetery.
But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death,
    he reaches down and grabs me.

16-19 So don’t be impressed with those who get rich
    and pile up fame and fortune.
They can’t take it with them;
    fame and fortune all get left behind.
Just when they think they’ve arrived
    and folks praise them because they’ve made good,
They enter the family burial plot
    where they’ll never see sunshine again.

20 We aren’t immortal. We don’t last long.
    Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.

TRUTH:  Know what Mike knows, “We aren’t immortal.  We don’t last long.” Self-rescue is futile.  Have you tried to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, it’s physically impossible!  God sent His Son to save us and to give us eternal life with Him in a place of peace where there’s no more tears, troubles, confusion, sickness or…death.  Jesus defeated death, once and for all, going to hell and back for us, because of a love that was to die for!  God’s love for us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  WE were to die for…

“But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death, he reaches down and grabs me.”

Mike knows this, I know this, do you?  If not, pray right now, don’t waste another precious minute! Ask Jesus to forgive you of all your sins.  Done.  “As far as the east is from the west”, your sins are gone, never to be remembered by God again.  You have nothing to lose and LIFE forever to gain.  Die to sin.  Live for Jesus.  That is to die for…

Proverb 18:10-12, The Message

God’s name is a place of protection—
    good people can run there and be safe.

11 The rich think their wealth protects them;
    they imagine themselves safe behind it.

12 Pride first, then the crash,
    but humility is precursor to honor.

WISDOM:  Run to God and stay there.  Ask God what He wants for what He wants for us is always the best.  Humble ourselves before our Father, God, the Creator of all, the God who saved us through His Son.

Abba Father,

YOU are God and we are not.  We can do nothing of significance without You.  You are the reason we live and breathe.  You want the best for us.  Only fools run from you. I do not want to be found among the foolish but to be found committed to you, in your care and keeping.  Thank you for helping me realize that I my soul was worth it to die for.  Thank you, Jesus for dying for me so that I can live forever with you. 

#forgiven  #forever

In Jesus Name, Amen

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