DECORATION DAY

I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you.
Philippians 1:3

For as long as I can remember, this day we refer to as Memorial Day was called Decoration Day. That day started very early for us. Mother had folks saving their tomato juice cans that were used as receptacles for flowers that would be left at each grave we visited. There were some flowers she purchased, but with some peony bushes, we had enough flowers for each container. We traveled to at least three cemeteries that I remember. Two were so far out into the country, being able to locate them was in itself a real task.

At the last cemetery we went to, the farm ladies had a spread of food put out that would shock anyone. The men had brought saw horses and boards to lay on them. That became a VERY long table. Each lady brought all of her home cooked specialties that would blow your mind. There was lots of hot coffee and sweet iced tea at anyone's desire. The meal usually started after everyone had decorated the graves of friends and loved ones. When you got a plate from one person, you could go anyplace at that table to get whatever you wanted. There were no paper plates or plastic glasses. I never saw a plastic fork or spoon there as well only regular metal utensils.

Decoration Day was a day to remember loved ones who had died. After some years, the day was renamed to Memorial Day that paid extra homage to those in the military present and past, especially those who died in the service of our country. When just a little thing, my Mother received a phone call that my Dad's best man at his wedding had been killed in the Battle of the Bulge in Europe. Both my parents wept over that and we made haste to go to the home to be with his widow. Many tears have been shed since WWII over so many who died on the field of battle as well as in the air.

So today we remember and some will do some decorating at various cemeteries. Remembering all those who have gone before us is a good thing. However, I don't think we do that just on one day.

In all of our remembering, we often forget One who died for all of us. We don't tend to remember Him on this day but why not? Jesus gave more on our behalf than any relatives or persons lost in military service. He died that we all might have life, and have it abundantly. His name is Jesus. His name isn't on a grave marker because there was no need of one. He died and rose again in victory over Satan and sin. He is ours for the asking...asking Him into our hearts as Lord and Savior. Let's spend some time today remembering Him, what He gave up to come to earth and all He did for us while here. Of all the ones we remember, there's not a one who has risen from the dead in some cemetery, but He did and did it for you and me. Lest we forget!!

Thank You Father for Your love and for sending Your loving Son to die for us all. We can never repay You or Him for newness of life. We remember You today with hearts of gratitude. We love You and we remember. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

EVERYTHING MEANS EVERYTHING

In everything give thanks; for this
is God's will for you in Christ Jesus
I Thessalonians 5:18

Sometimes I dislike words like “all” or “everything.” I've found those words used mostly when it comes to some kind of commitment. I find such words in a small cluster of verses written by Paul to the Thessalonians. In Paul's first book, in chapter 5, such a cluster with commitment verses are found in verses 15-22. Read them sometime and you will see what I mean.

I've centered on verse 18 for a reason. It may not be an issue for you, but it has been for me. In fact, I believe many Christians have, like me, a problem with ingratitude. I remember with young children in the home or at school that a well-meaning adult might say to a child, “Can you say 'thank you'?” We prompted our children all the time in those early days to be thankful all the time and not just at Thanksgiving.

Verse 18 is a little different from just expressing a general word of gratitude. It's the second word in the verse that throws me everytime....”everything.” Some translations use the word “all” but the urgency of thought is the same. The verse doesn't start with the second word in the verse...”Give thanks.” Giving thanks isn't something to do as it is to be...a consistent attitude.

Giving thanks in everything is a tall command. It's easy to give thanks for all the positive things in our lives. We live in a very prosperous era. We may not be wealthy as Wall Street would calculate wealth, but in comparison to many parts of the world, we are rich. Most folks have few worries about food to eat or shelter over their heads. In fact, counting our blessings may even be difficult in thinking up a list of all the blessings in our lives.

But what about the negative things in our lives? We have spent the last year feeling almost like prisoners with the virus going on and all the confusion regarding it. At the same time there have been upheavals in our country as well. Any of us of age cannot recall such goings on in times past. Oh, there have been demonstrations, but watching buildings burning, political crime and criminal events have been most disturbing. How can these things ever bring us before God with hearts of thanksgiving?

What I've found I can be thankful in it all involves two facts in my life. The first fact is that I love and serve a God who is Sovereign. Whether the worst of folks believe in Him or not has no bearing on who He is despite their attitudes. He is in charge of anything and everything in our world. If that's hard for to grasp, I look at the second fact and that is that God always has a plan. It's never a backup plan as God doesn't need such a thing. To me it all looks like a giant disorganized and evil world with everything out of control. God views His plan and how He's working it.

So that's my concentration in my “everything” of thanks. I can honestly and lovingly give thanks that God is Sovereign and still on His throne. Nothing or no one can threaten that fact. I can also be grateful that He has a plan in it all, but especially a plan for my own life. No matter what's going on, He has His hand on my life with a divine plan that is mind blowing if I could see how it all unfolds.

It's God's will that we be people of gratitude. We don't hear enough “thank you's” espressed. Thank you notes aren't sent .as in past years. It's not that we aren't grateful, but we just don't think to express our gratitude like we should. When we express gratitude in any setting, there is consistently one thing that happens...that is, we take our minds off of self. That in itself can be refreshing. No matter our present circumstances...our everythings...God still deserves our thanks in it all. It takes a personal mind set to be grateful in everything...it won't just happen.

Thank You Father God for how Your Word speaks so clearly. Give us hearts of obedience when we see clearly Your desire for our lives. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for us and for Your Holy Spirit that guides and directs us through these troubled times. We love and appreciate You more than we can express. THANK YOU! In Jesus' name...Amen 

IN HIM

There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1,2

This week, I was watching a travel program that took the guide to a small town in Switzerland. It's a neutral country in the world and one doesn't think those folks would have a care. However, to the guide's surprise, a local man who was showing him around, revealed that most houses in one small town had bomb shelters in their homes. The guide was shocked that a seemingly secure people would feel they required such.

We all want to feel physically and even emotionally safe. There are steps we can take to insure some of that, but not completely. The place we believers have come to know for ultimate security is being IN CHRIST. Those two words are found 70 times in the New Testament. Paul uses those words most in his epistles. They are words no one should take lightly as they indicate things so vital and comforting to ever be comprehended.

The most letters I wrote in my life was while attending a Christian college. I had seen letters my friends wrote home or to friends and saw they always closed their letters with: “In Christ, Sue.” “In Christ” was a very popular ending to many letters written by believing friends. For me, I consider now it was being pretty glib, with little thought. However it is said or written, “in Christ” is nothing to be casual about.

Jesus is many things to the believer. Our Savior is the major thing that can head our list, but He is so much more. He is our provider, protector, comfort, and yes, our spiritual bomb shelter. He through His Spirit can fend off Satan's assaults, but that's not always something on our prayer list. Paul tells us in Romans 8 of just some of the promises from God that are ours when we are “in Christ Jesus.” As believers we aren't condemned and we are free from the law of sin and death.

For it all to come together, however, there is an indication mentioned that shows evidence of how we are expected to function “in Him. The fact is that in this relationship, we will not walk in the ways of the world, but in the ways of the Spirit of God. That really is asking so little. Our salvation doesn't rest on our doing anything but accepting Jesus as Savior. The evidence, however of that relationship will be our spiritual walk.

What a blessing to be in Christ. He extends, in over abundance, His love and so much more including the assurance of eternal life with and IN HIM.

Father God, thank You for sending Jesus to die for the sins of mankind. Not a one of us deserved that act of love. Help us to be faithful in our walk and so live as to give You all the glory. Help us to rely on You for strength and guidance as we strive to walk in You. In Jesus precious name...Amen 

WRITING ON THE WALL

But ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, an holy nation,
a peculiar people; that ye should shew
forth the praises of Him who hath
called you out of darkness into
His marvellous light.
I Peter 2:9

During a revival service and during invitation time, I was surprised to see my Mother walking down the aisle with her arm around her mother. We called my grandmother “Mom” (she spelled “Mam”) at her request. She was not a church goer at all, but agreed to go just that one time with Mother. I don't know what all transpired that night, but do know that there were good, positive changes in Mam from that night on.

After that night, Mam never missed a church service. She was in church for Sunday school and all services of the week. She read the New Testament once and often twice each month. She was a tither. She joined the ranks of what we called the “Loyal Mothers.”

One thing I came to notice was the change of wall décor in her little apartment. She had on her walls the usual pictures from nature and a few family pictures. I went to the junior high school only a couple of blocks from her apartment so went by to see her often.One day I saw a real change that I would never have expected. On her walls were some new plaques huge, but with print that could be easily read.

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS

GOD LOVES YOU

...and there were others. It was later that she put the GOD LOVES YOU plaque on a wall because I made it at camp one summer for her.

Mam had few people coming and going from her apartment, but the messages were there on her walls for any visitor to see. They were an encouragement to her and hopefully to others who visited. I loved seeing those plaques even as a young girl. (In face, I have one of them even now hidden away.). I don't think she knew of it because I never mentioned it at the time.

All of this recently came to mind as I was viewing what is hanging on the walls of my own home. I was surprised to note such things from where I am presently sitting. On my walls are family pictures, copies of spiritual artwork, encouraging spiritual sayings and one small plaque that I hope keeps me humble...”I'M JUST A RAGGEDY ANN IN A BARBIE WORLD.” It doesn't sound very spiritual, but for me, it keeps me real and it's to the point. It also causes more comments than the other things.

When much younger, I can recall adults talking about negative incidents about to happen that for them were “writings on the wall.” This of course, indicated something, usually negative in nature, that could or was about to happen. That saying for them was an indicator of things to come.

There are other walls people pay attention to and that has to do with the walls of our lives that can be so easily read by people. Some folks will know us better than others. Strangers might also observe things in us for the good or evil. What is there to be read on our walls? What is the testimony of our lives that can be readily read, that can hopefully be a blessing in the lives of others. For some, what they read from the walls of our lives may be the only witness they will ever see of Jesus.

Dear Father God, may any message spread through our lives be a blessing and encouragement to others and a glory only to You. May we be aware that people are watching and reading us all the time. May they see You in us. In Jesus name...Amen 

LET'S PLAY TENTS

For we know that if the earthly tent
which is our house is torn down, we
have a building from God, a house
not made with hands, eternal in the

.II Corinthians 5:1

When of younger elementary age, my sister Kay and I loved making tents to play in. We could make tents out of most anything....sheets, quilts or bed spreads. We especially loved doing this on rainy days. We could do the usual turning kitchen chairs over or even putting sheets over the table itself. There was a chicken wire fence outside we would use by putting one end of a quilt on that fence and hold it there with clothes pins. Then we would pull the quilt out and put rocks on the edges. We were as creative as we needed to be.

After tents were made, out came our dolls, play dishes and pillows. I've often heard and believe that play for young children is just practice for the adult years. That's why the choice of toys is so important. For children, toys are work but they don't know it yet. Before my sister went to Heaven, we talked one night about our tents. Even as adults, there were occasional longings to crawl back into one of those tents if even sometime for a good cry.

Tents in America are nothing new. They were used by people for residences both permanent and temporary. Tents have been used for recreation. People still like camping using tents. Boy and Girl Scout camps many years ago used tents for sleeping. Military personnel during wars often lived in large tents. Some places in our country, there are still evangelists who hold evangelistic meetings in large tents. Wedding reception tents may be leased for after ceremony festivities that are lovely often with chandeliers provided.

Tents were very common in Scripture. The first one I recall is when Sarah standing just inside her tent, letting out a laugh when she heard the men Abraham was entertaining say that she would be having a baby. Those Israelites leaving Egypt lived in tents as they traveled to the Promised Land. They had to be ready to pack up quickly when God gave the signal to move on to another location. For those folks, tents weren't something to play in. They were necessary shelters.

The most precious and elaborate tent in the wilderness was the Tabernacle...the place of sacrifice, forgiveness and presence of God in the Holy of Holies . To even refer to it as a tent seems trite, but it was a tent fixture, quite large for the purpose it was designed for. It's properties were numerous, each with meaning according to God's plan. It was perhaps the most revered tent in the entire history of God's people.

As human beings, we have no need of tents as our permanent dwelling places. Those for recreation are fine, but most folks are happy to get back to their permanent residences with a roof, walls, floors and all things familiar. In days of Scripture, for many, tents were their regular habitation. The Apostle Paul was a tent maker. In fact, during his ministry, he often subsidized his own upkeep by the making of tents.

In Matthew 17:4, we find a very familiar mention of tents. The location was the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus appeared with Moses and Elijah. In that one verse, Peter said to Jesus:

...”Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish,

I will make three tabernacles (sacred tents) here,

one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Of course, Jesus took care of the situation as only Jesus could.

In our day, the most important tent we have is this body in which we presently dwell. The opening verse I used tells us that this tent (body) we live in is temporary. If truth be known, we play too much in these tents. However, Scripture tells us that like other tents, these physical tents are only temporary. God has a building for us in the heavens, not made with hands that will be eternal. Our tents here are only temporary, but in Heaven all will be permanent as God has planned for His children. Then we will be home like never before..no need for renovations, or moving. Meanwhile, these tents are all we have to use for God's glory in the present. As believers, we live in our “tents”(bodies), but we have company that will be with us until God calls us to our real home...that being the Holy Spirit. What more could we ask for...God with us, in our tents.

Father God, You have equipt us for Glory, our permanent home. Thank You for the way you love and provide for us. While here, help us to use our “tents” to bless others and glorify You. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

JOY IN THE LORD

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my
salvation.
Habakkuk 3:18

We're living in difficult times and those difficult times affect we of the faith just as much as anyone else. People are always looking for happiness, but it is a far cry from true joy. We know joy to be from the Lord and our relationship with Him. However, happiness and joy are no way near the same thing. Atheists can be happy people because happiness rests on circumstances. Christians can be happy also because of circumstances, but enjoy the permanence of true joythat comes only from the Lord.

I've wondered in everything going on in our land if we are losing some of our joy. We are very distracted these days, that can include our being distracted spiritually as well. We have God-given joy available all the time, but it's depth will depend on the depth of our relationship with our Lord.

Negative circumstances can cause us to think negatively even though we have access to Scripture and songs we have sung for years:

“I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart...”
“Joyful, joyful we adore Thee...”
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come...
“The joy of the Lord is my strength...”

It may seem at times like our joy is leaking, but that doesn't have to be. We must determine to stay focused on the things of God and not of the world. Satan knows how easily you and I are distracted and may not even have to work very hard in playing with our minds.

Distractions are going to be different for each of us, but we can determine to focus on more positive things. We are such blessed people. We may not have everything we want or even need, but can on a daily basis, look for those blessings that are all around us without too much thinking required. Most of those things will not involve money, but are God-given gifts to us for our enJOYment from a loving Father.

It must be added, as God's children, our Father feels such joy over us. That might be hard for us to conceive, but Zephaniah 3:17 tells us:

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee
is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice
over thee with joy; he will rest
in his love, he will joy over thee
with singing.

Just in those benefits from God we can be a people of joy. No matter what life or the world throws at us we have a God who is in the middle of our lives, who saves and rejoices over us with joy. His love is settled and He even sings over us with joy. Wow!

Father, thank You for Your being all we need. Thank You for Your gift of joy and for the way You love us. Thank You for singing over us as a mother would over her baby. You are too wonderful to describe and we love you. In Jesus name...Amen 

UP FRONT WITH GOD

Humble yourselves therefore under
the might hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time:
casting all your care upon Him;
for He careth for you.
I Peter 5:6,7

You may have heard a friend say of her teenage child, “My child tells me everything.” Hopefully you haven't been guilty of saying something like that. It's a statement for those who hear it, to choke on. That may be the way it is in the early growth years of a child where there is a simpler relationship, but when the“mean teens” set in, even the best of teens become more and more private. I will hasten to add that most moms I've known going through those teen years, are not stupid and probably know more about the goings on of their children than their children know.

There is something from my stand point that I would also have to say... “I don't tell God everything.” That statement may seem an odd one for a Christian to make. I have to recoil in shame just typing that statement. Just like children feel they can hide the simplest of things from their parents, I'm afraid at times we are the same with our Heavenly Father.

I wonder, if you're like me, that we don't share fully with God because we feel He already knows everything about us anyway. Other times, we may not share with Him those things we don't want Him to know. Sounds a little silly on our part. We have to know by now because of God's promise to be with us at all times, never leaving or forsaking us, even to the point of His holding us in the palm of His hand that He knows absolutely EVERTHING about us before we can tell Him ANYTHING. His Holy Spirit abides in us and God knows even the number of hairs on our heads. That's pretty precise. Who do we think we are kidding?

We hear a lot about transparency in our day. It indicates one being open and honest with no front presented. Why do we avoid being transparent with God on a voluntary basis? One reason could be that we just aren't people of prayer, unless an emergency comes up. Maybe something in our lives is too bad to even tell God, if that's possible. It must sadden our Father though, our lack of sharing with Him even the joys that come into our lives. I loved when my children shared positive things with me as well as negative ones. God our Father wants to be a personal and vital part of our lives no matter what is going on. After all, He knows everything about everything. He wants our fellowship and communication no matter where we are in our every day experiences.

We can hide nothing from our Heavenly Father. I doubt we even try most of the time because we understand the Sovereignty of God that comes down into the lives of little old us. The more we confide in Him, the more He loves listening to us. There is nothing we can hide from Him even if we tried. Most important, He wants us to be up front and honest with Him because it's an indicator of our trust in and love for Him.

Our Father doesn't need a lot of fancy words from us. He wants us to feel a freedom in talking with Him at any time for any reason. However, as we pray, we need to remember He hears our hearts the same as our words. He delights in our communication with Him no matter how big or small the feelings we have to express to Him. He wants us to be people of truth, especially with Him. Anything else is an insult to His glory and character.

Father, forgive my lack of prayer, just talking with You about ordinary things in my life. Too often I get busy and just ignore You. Forgive my being thoughtless and ungrateful. Help me through Your Spirit's prompting to speak to You freely because of loving You and not just because I feel I have to. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

LET THERE BE LIGHT

In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth.

The earth was formless and void,
and darkness was over the surface
of the deep, and the Spirit of God
was moving over the surface of the waters.

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and
there was light.

God saw that the light was good; and God
separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:1-4 (NASB)

Felt like doing some reading in Genesis today so started at the beginning. It's a place I don't go very often because it's quite familiar and I know all those things were created by God. What dawned on me as I read in the first few verses of Chapter 1 was the fact that God first created light, but also noting that in the beginning of it all, God was beginning His creativity in darkness.

In this process, He didn't do away with darkness. He knew we as human beings would need both light and dark in our lives for so many reasons we still don't understand. Darkness came to me dramatically one year at the bottom of Mammoth Cave where the tour guide with cautionary words to our group explained what he was going to do... turn out the lights. I've never felt a darkness like that. The group was restless and moved closer together. The darkness felt heavy on the body and we craved having the light. The guide only had the lights out for a minute but it seemed hours. When the lights came on, it was such a relief. I read later that in darkness like that, a person left in that darkness with no hope would go insane in a short period of time.

God left us with both. The only place where there will be all light will be in Heaven. Darkness won't be needed. Jesus is and will be the light. We need darkness now. For one thing it helps to provide for us a time of rest and relaxation. I don't know about you, but I can't sleep in broad day light like I can sleep at night.

Our earth has to have light for growth of plant and animal life. Plants won't grow without it. There are many things in our beings that require light. Our eyes are made in such a way that they can't see without light...physically speaking. All creation depends on light for warmth. Otherwise, without it, we are dead. Books have been written on all of this. I'm just sharing some thoughts from my reading.

The thing that struck me is how down later in years, Jesus would say, “I am the light of the world.” Think of what that means. He is our provision, our warmth, our strength, our guidance and dispels the spiritual darkness Satan would have us wallow in. In our darkest night of ill health, sadness, negative happenings or world events, His light overcomes it all.

Just like we turn on a light switch when we go into a dark room, He wants us to in a sense be willing to turn Him on in our lives, dispelling all the darkness life can hand to us. He does all with a love for us that we can never understand...He lights up our lives not just for now but for Eternity.

Thank You Father, for sending the light of Jesus into our lives. His light shines into our hearts revealing our sin and need for a Savior. His light leads and directs our every step as we abide in Him. Thank You too for physical light you ordained for our health and safety. Thank You for being You. We love you....In Jesus precious name...Amen 

ONE RACE UNDER GOD

And the Lord God said, It is
not good that the man should
be alone; I will make him an
help meet for him.

And the Lord God caused a deep
sleep to fall upon Adam, and he
slept: and he took one of his ribs,
and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
And the rib, which the Lord God had
taken from man, made he a woman,
and brought her unto the man.
Genesis 2:18, 20,21

I'm about fed up with all the racist talk going on in our country. When we get down to it, all the accusations of racism are ridiculous. First of all, from Scripture we find that God created man and then woman from man. For folks who have no belief in God or His Word, nothing matters anyway. Let me make my point.....there is only ONE race. Within our race that is the HUMAN RACE, there are too many ethnicities and cultures to count. Within those groups are also too many differences to be noted, but all are still a part of the one grand race...the human race as ordained by God.

Remember the little chorus we used to sing in Sunday school?

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world,
Red and yellow, black and white
All are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

We kids sang the song with great gusto perhaps not grasping fully the reality of the song. That little song is still a clarion call to love all people as God does. I add that Jesus also loves all the adults of the world, not just children. In fact, He died for each one that we all might be saved.

Today we are hearing from our right and left sides a dirty word...racist. It's a word that has become so out of whack that it's sickening. It doesn't change the fact that I'm very partial to my race, the race of everyone else...the human race. Yes, there are people I don't agree with and may not even like because of lifestyles and anti-Christian feelings. However, it doesn't change the fact that we are all members of one race as created by God Himself. I still remain partial to my race...the human race.

Within all ethnic groups no matter the color or culture, we all have the same bodily features in common as ordained by God. We all have two arms, two legs, one head upon which are two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and two ears stuck on either side of our heads. A brain is contained in the head that is used more by some folks than others. All bodily systems are alike. How wonderful that within our race we can even donate blood for each other. Organ transplants are even possible among us if certain physical criteria is met. We are all born with body, soul and spirit and we all have the same God whether some believe that or not. Failing to believe, however, makes no difference because He is our reality, and He must grieve seeing His creation at odds all the time.

All in all, we are all members of the human race despite ethnic/cultural differences. Nothing is going to change that no matter who creates conflict. The answer has always been and always will be individuals relationship with a Heavenly Father who loves them, an acceptance of Jesus as Savior who died and rose again for them and a Holy Spirit who desires to speak God's Word into their lives. There is no partiality with God. He has a plan for each life with a love that cannot be comprehended. We are all a part of one race...the human race.

Dear Father, only You can bring the people of Your designed race together. Without You in the lives of human beings, there will be no harmony and love as You desired from the beginning. All I know to say, Father, Is HELP US. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

SPIRITUALLY EQUIPT

Grace and peace be multiplied to you
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus
our Lord;

seeing that His divine power has
granted to us everything pertaining
to life and godliness, through the
true knowledge of Him who called
us by His own glory and excellence,

For by these He has granted to us
His precious and magnificent promises,
so that by them you may become
partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in
the world by lust.
II Peter 1:2-4

Perhaps you, like me in time past, have accepted a job you were more than qualified to do. However, arriving on the first day can be a real wake up. For some reason, in most places, a first-day employee, although qualified either by experience, degree or both, one is expected to jump in and do the job with not even basic entry information. Often, the simplest of introductions are left undone. Because of a lack of introductory information, it may take several days just to catch up to expectations and feel a part of the job scene.

Peter is one of my favorites of Jesus' twelve disciples. I think it's because in some ways, I can relate to him. He was a common, ordinary guy who was a fisherman. We don't know of his education. It may have been no more than learning in the home and learning the trade of his father. Peter wasn't a fancy kind of guy. I like that as I'm not a fancy kind of gal. He was a man of opinion and often found himself with a case of “hoof-in-mouth” disease with his impulsiveness. He was sure of himself as to what he would or wouldn't do. Despite weaknesses, Jesus saw something very special in Peter. In fact, Jesus stated clearly that upon that rock (Peter) He would build His church.

Despite his weaknesses, denying Jesus and other things, we see one type of Peter during his days of walking with Jesus and then we see him after Jesus ascends to Heaven and then sending the Holy Spirit into those waiting for that event Jesus spoke of. We see a new Peter with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. His first sermon during that beginning time is totally amazing. He then had the Holy Spirit working in and through Him.

Peter not only preached, traveled for ministry but wrote two letters that bear his name in our New Testament. He wrote to scattered Christians, people facing persecution and discouragement. His two letters are such a blessing and encouragement. The Scripture quoted above recently caught my attention, even though I've read these books more times than I can count.

According to the above Scripture, we see Jesus equipping us for the ability to live the Christian life. There in verse two, Peter emphasizes that we aren't on our own in this life. He says that God has made everything available to us that has to do with life and godliness. As Christians, God hasn't left us to flounder spiritually. He has equipt us through His Son Jesus to take on life and godliness with a power hard for even we Christians to ponder. I don't know about you, but at times I find I am a struggler in this life. That certainly isn't God's fault...it's mine for He has provided what I need to lead a happy and peaceful life, a life of growth in Him.

Peter went on to say what God has given us in the way of tools for fulfillment in our spiritual walks. He has given us true knowledge of Jesus who has personally called us by everything Jesus is...His glory and excellence. Much of this knowledge we know from verse 4 that we are granted this knowledge and fulfillment through His precious and magnificent promises...His very Word. Through that Word, we are built up in Christ and we are provided an escape from the evil influence the world has to offer.

We are too quick to fold our wings in defeat crying that the world is just too much for us. I wonder if God doesn't shake His head sometimes when He sees us yielding to spiritual defeat when His provision for us is to ensure victory. Let's refocus...eyes off of the world and it's politics and problems and onto our Heavenly Father who is greater that all the negatives we can experiece or think up. Let's get into the Word like never before, basking in the goodness and love God extends to us through Jesus and His Spirit. We must focus on the greater power in our lives...our Heavenly Father.

Father, the world demands our attention and would keep us discouraged and in despair. You are the greatest and most powerful we can ever know. In these days, You need a people who will stand and be an encouragement and may we be that for You despite the circumstances Satan throws our way. Thank You for equipping us. In Jesus' name...Amen