Sunday, January 31, 2021

REST STOPS

 

REST STOPS

Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. 

  Do you appreciate rest stops along the highway as much as I do? And have you noticed how different they may be? Some are just wide places with a picnic table or two. Some are shady. Some are not. Some have nice clean restrooms. Some have none. There are even some that provide fresh coffee or other refreshments, while others have coin operated vending machines.

  Mary and I enjoy the same kind of rest stops. Some of my spiritual rest stops are small and quiet. Others are places of release from worry and grief. Some I use to read and fill my mind and heart. Others are filled with praise.

  Thank God for both all kinds of rest stops!

Leslie Nivens (12/12/1928-3/1/2020)

Friday, January 29, 2021

REMEMBERING ISTVAN and the many others past and present

 

May be an image of 1 person
WeRemember 

“This photo shows 3-4 year old Istvan Reiner from Miskolc, Hungary, taken in the ghetto before he was deported to the Auschwitz death camp. He died in the gas chamber in 1944, a few days after the photo. In the short moment when the photo was taken, he did not yet know what fate awaited him, he happily posed for the camera, as any boy of his age would do.”

#WeRemember for all the children victims of Holocaust from Freundschaft Deutschland-Israel

LEST WE FORGET

  I cannot look upon this beautiful bright little boy, Istvan Reiner, without emotional upset, love and abhorrence.

  Love for him, children, and others.

  Loathing for the perpetrators of evil. Wickedness existent since post Eden when Cain murdered his brother Abel. Malevolence sans Biblically authentic belief in and reverence for Jehovah God Almighty. Iniquity reflecting the truth of His Word about mankind. That truth personal in that “But for the grace of God there go I!”

  I share some Scripture to ponder. Please prayerfully read and consider. 

  Deuteronomy [MKJV] 1:39 … your little ones, who you said would be a prey, and your sons who in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in there. And I will give it to them, and they shall possess it. 

  2Samuel 12:15-23  And [prophet] Nathan left to go to his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah's wife [Bathsheba] bore to David, and it was very sick. And David prayed to God for the child. And David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house rose up toward him, to raise him up from the earth. But he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And it happened on the seventh day, the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, Behold, while the child was still alive we spoke to him, and he would not listen to our voice. How then will he trouble himself if we tell him that the child is dead? But David saw that his servants whispered. And David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, Is the boy dead? And they said, He is dead. And David arose from the earth and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing, and came into the house of Jehovah and worshiped. And he came to his house, and commanded, and they brought bread before him and he ate. Then his servants said to him, What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the living boy, but when the child was dead you arose and ate bread! And he said, While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, Who can tell if God will be gracious to me so that the child may live? But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 

  Matthew 19:13-14 Then little children were brought to Him, that He should put His hands on them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Allow the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of Heaven. 

EBB4

 

Thursday, January 28, 2021

DECISION MAKING AND THE WILL OF GOD: By Passion or Provenance

 

DECISION MAKING AND THE WILL OF GOD: By Passion or Provenance

  John 17: God’s Word is Truth.

  2Timothy [MKJV] 3:16-17 Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God's approval. 

They equip God's servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things. 

  1Peter 1:24-25 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls out, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word preached as gospel to you.

  Family, especially Dad, school teachers, and then the Word taught me something that I still must be occasionally reminded of: wise decisions are made not by emotion, but by accepting facts. As it is with God usward concerning out personal lives. God does not determine. As from the beginning, He advises and directs. Moses, Gideon, Peter, Saul/Paul being examples of compliance though some of them were emotionally reluctantly so. (Serving God may be scary at times. This I know.) Then, as now, there are others that refused.

  God even leaving where we’ll spend eternity up to you and I. (Jn.3:1-21)

  God delights in revealing His will to those desiring and willing to do his will. His will clearly stated in His Word.     

  Read the Word, think, rethink as needed, please Him with authentic worship. (Rom.12:1-3)

EBB4

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

DECISION MAKING AND THE WILL OF GOD: STANDARDIZED CALIBRATION A MUST

 

DECISION MAKING AND THE WILL OF GOD: Standardized Calibration A Must

  2Timothy [MKJV] 3:16-17 Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God's approval. 

They equip God's servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things. 

  1Peter 1:24-25 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls out, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word preached as gospel to you.

  I taught novice employee a class on calibration and accurate product measuring, always emphasizing that parts of incorrect measure are useless as they won’t fit in assembly construction. Micrometers and calipers were most commonly used. Baseline zeroing instruments being of utmost importance.

  This went on for years until some novices complained that being graded pass/fail was too stressful.

  I was then instructed by management that completion of the class was the new trainee standard sans scoring

  I politely refused to teach the class anymore. Insubordination being a in the 1960’s previously dropped measure I suffered no adverse effect and was replaced by an eagerly compliant employee. Need I tell you of the staff and product quality results.

  In my observation this same social compromising of Biblical Truth began in the mid 20th century. In my history studies I see that it began at the beginning of that century. In my Bible studies I see it began by the serpent in Eden posing the question to Eve “Is it so that God said …” and has continued ever since.

  Let us beware neglecting, rejecting, or compromising what God says.

EBB4

 

++

 

Dear all,

  A word on Daily thoughts: Think not that I am brilliantly spiritually gifted resulting in Daily Thoughts (DTs). Spurgeon I am not. I love God and people. Under that heading something I like doing is reading, noting, outlining, sometimes charting, then compiling, culling, and honing sentences on what I’ve learned and sharing the conclusions through DTs and topical files available upon request. Since trusting Jesus at age 27 I’ve been blessed by and enjoy His “living waters”. (Jn.4:10-14; 7:38)

  Trust Him, drink, be blessed, bless others.

EBB4

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

DECISION MAKING AND THE WILL OF GOD: Part One

 

DECISION MAKING AND THE WILL OF GOD: Part One

  Decision making may be one of the most stressful areas in life. For the Christian it may be more or less traumatically nerve-racking.

  How less so? In following the Word living (Jn.1:1) and written (The Bible). (Ps.119; 1Pet.5:6-7)

  How more so than for non-believers? By wrestling and resisting the wise guidance of the Word living and written. (Pr.3:1-2; Jam.1:22)

  I stop here so as to let you enjoyably ponder or miserably process the above truth that I learned and still am being honed by.

EBB4

Monday, January 25, 2021

SNOW

 

SNOW 

  It was as usual dark but with fine wet snow misting my face as I fetched the newspaper while my one-a-day mug of coffee was brewing. Will the previous weather predication come true with 9-12 inches of white the biggest this winter? Yesterday upper office educators announced “Schools closed Monday due to weather.”, so the meteorologists must be correct, right?

  Now in the gray morning light it is visibly granular.

  Coffee is just about consumed. What to do now?

  My thoughts as a seasonal snow lover turned to fond memories . . . and the occasional frostbite.

  Then to wondering about “snow” in God’s Word.

  Utilizing e-Sword search I find the following in KJV:

Exo_4:6  And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

Num_12:10  And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

2Sa_23:20  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

2Ki_5:27  The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

Job_6:16  Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

Job_9:30  If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Job_24:19  Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.

Job_37:6  For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

Job_38:22  Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

Psa_51:7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Psa_68:14  When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

Psa_147:16  He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

Psa_148:8  Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Pro_25:13  As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Pro_26:1  As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

Pro_31:21  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Isa_1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isa_55:10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

Jer_18:14  Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?

Lam_4:7  Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

Dan_7:9  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Mat_28:3  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

Mar_9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Rev_1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

  Reading the verses we see what beyond and above “snow”? For one thing, not the clouding but the clarifying of our vision.

EBB4

Sunday, January 24, 2021

CONEY MONEY

 

CONEY MONEY

  Lonaconing, Maryland, 2010 population 1,214, in years past a very prosperous Appalachian community is the site of a historic local-stone local-coal fired iron furnace that operated 1836-1855. More importantly for me, it’s a sentimental place, the ancestral home of my mother’s family with a few dear cousins yet there. As with many such early American communities, there has been many changes since our McGee branch and others departed. The latest alteration being at this time an as yet unknown winner of the 731.1 million dollars Powerball jackpot. It, and the $100,000 selling award to the small Coney Market convenience store will definitely alter community life for better and worse, as happens due to the diverse nature of people. My personal question being If at all, how will it affect my family there? (As yet I haven’t heard whether one of them is the winner.)

  As with all such events, will the love of money (1Tim.6:10) or the love of God and people (Mk.12:28-31) prevail? This always being the present and eternal issue in these instances.

EBB4

 

For the history buffs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonaconing,_Maryland

Friday, January 22, 2021

EMPHASIS

 

IT IS A MATTER OF EMPHASIS

Matthew [MKJV] 16:25-26 [Jesus explained] For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever desires to lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? [Mk.8:36]

Matthew Henry commented “Here is the law of discipleship laid down, and the terms fixed, upon which we may have the honour and benefit of it, Mat_16:24. He [Jesus] said this to his disciples, not only that they might instruct others concerning it, but that by this rule they might examine their own security.”

  Yesterday I pondered and wrote of how we may, above godly character, impress the importance of worldly success standards on children (and adults!). Indeed, such achievement is important, but it should not be taught or exemplified above that which worshipfully pleases God and is eternal. (Rom.12:1-2) We can easily naively emphasize worldly living. Doing so resulting in “We don’t understand. We took them to church every time the doors were open.” or some such puzzlement.  It saddens me to openly write my observation of this happening.

  Some relevant verses to prayerfully consider:

Psalm_4:3  But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

2Corinthians_1:12; 7:9-11  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

1Timothy_1:4  Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Titus_2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Hebrews_12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

2Peter_2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

1Timothy_2:2; 4:7-8; 6:3, 5-6, 11  [pray] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

2Timothy_3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2Peter_1:3, 6-7; 3:11  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. … Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

  Prioritizing values presently is of the utmost magnitude.

EBB4