4 Mile prayers
April 2 As I once again finish the reading of GOD'S WORD, I am again reminded of my uncle Docs joke of "in the big inning" as you may remember. As I prepare to start again, I remember the times that I read and was confused and bored by the who 'begots' who and the other things that I didn't understand. Today, although somethings are still confusing, I can see that the heritage line of FAITH has traveled through murderers, prostitutes, swindlers, liars, and cheats. Who were, after their conversion, called people after GOD'S own heart. That linage shows us that we are just as capable at spreading GOD'S WORD forward as they were. Our names and father's names can be written down as great men of GOD, if we turn to HIM. Just as in ancient days there are many against HIS KINGDOM. We must move forward in a deliberate manner. We may watch the time, "When the earth is filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the GLORY of the LORD in our LIFETIME!" You are but a speck in the universe. We have HOPE for the future. May GOD'S WORD be passed on by you and the future records the wonders that result from YOUR transformation. GOD bless you.
April 1 If you watch the news and see how the world is acting, that alone would or should, make us think of GOD. The feeling that someone is manipulating the crowds to do things that they know are wrong, overwhelms me. There seems to be one common statement from the rebelling mass, no one has a mind of their own. It is a trying time. "I pray that GOD, the source of HOPE, will fill you completely with JOY and PEACE, because you trust in HIM. Then you will overflow with confident HOPE through the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT. "This world is lost in the confusion of LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST. Let a LIGHT shine through you. GOD bless you.
March 31 Another day passes and with the filling of the pill dispenser, another week is gone. Time flies by, sometimes with regret and others with complete satisfaction. Some days are empty others full, busy or drawn out. When reading this morning I see these words that need sharing. "Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone and the day of salvation will soon be here. So, remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes and put on the shining armor of right living. Clothe yourself with the presence of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Don't let yourself think about ways of evil desires." This is all the more urgent, for we know how late it is and time is running out. Don't let time pass away without coming to GOD, there is no other place to be, when time comes to an end. May GOD bless you.
March 30 We can do whatever we want. We say those words but often forget that there are consequences to our actions. GOD'S WORD tells us that we can indeed do whatever we want, we can be as evil as we care to be. But the result is GOD'S judgement. "Therefore, I will bring upon you these further evils. Prepare to meet your GOD in judgement. For you are dealing with the ONE who formed the mountains and made the winds and knows your every thought." We will stand before a judge that knows every part of our lives and thoughts! No matter how we may justify our actions, words and behavior, HE will know the truth. "Be good, flee evil, and live. Then the LORD of HOSTS will truly be your helper." Shame will be with the unforgiven and the justice is certain. May the choice we make be worthy of eternal life. GOD bless you.
March 29 These days we witness a lack of love for one another. We can see it in the marriage and divorce rates. We can see it in the words that people say as compared to their actions. Most people fear death because they know the result of the way they have lived and the penalties that will be charged against them, yet they will not change! Most worry about things they have no control over, yet realize that they have no control over what may happen tomorrow. These words from the Book of ROMANS can weaken or strengthen us, "Neither our fear for today nor our worries about tomorrow, nor even the power of hell can SEPARATE us from GOD'S love." Without that knowledge, fear and hell will quickly overtake us. By BELIEVING in the LORD JESUS CHRIST salvation and relief are given. Why would we trade such a relieving power for chaos? GOD'S GRACE will be received by all those who seek. GOD bless you.
March 28 The BIBLE tells us that we are not to be conformed to this world. Yet we are born into it and those born today may never see anything other than this worlds powers and control. Having been at the control of the worldly powers and then finding the way to the Heavenly Father, I can say that it is all but impossible, on our own, to change from one world to another. It takes the words that were spoken and the prayers that were offered by those who belonged to a higher power. That is why it is so important that we learn the WORD of GOD and speak it. That we pass on the WORD, that may not be truly accepted in our lifetime, but it will be accepted. For "The WORD of GOD will not return void." As a new dawn has broken upon our world, we can pray with certainty, BELIEVE with unfailing FAITH that our efforts will not be in vain, but will draw away those who were destined for doom from the clutches of this world. Will you aid in the salvation or contribute to the doom? May GOD'S BLESSINGS be with you.
March 27 Praying that GOD'S love can be seen through the emptiness. That HIS GRACE be felt in the pain. That HIS WORDS be spoken through our lips. We often turn and ask, WHY? when the unexplained happens. What we all too often fail to witness, is the things that we have gained in our sorrow. What we have lost is less than what we have gained. The future may seem uncertain and without GOD IT IS. But with a continued closeness the future will not be disastrous, but only a bump in the road as we travel toward our home. In this life we make wrong choices, do wrong things and fail. In the LIFE to come, with all forgiven we will see the GOODNESS that resulted from our actions. May GOD bless you.
March 26 We were born pure and sinless and from that moment satan has attacked our willingness to follow GOD. For years the battle rages. We see the results in those of the world. Those who act as filled with evil spirits and those who have accepted the HOLY SPIRIT. We give in a little at a time until the hook is set and we are drawn through life by a spirit of wrongfulness. Every day we have the opportunity to break free, the line that holds us to that wrong. We are born into heaven and then it all goes bad within us. But the line of satan is weak! It has been broken forever by the BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST! The trail that HE now uses is cobbled and broken, the line has been broken and knotted, we can easily break free, IF WE WANT TO. As we receive GOD'S GIFTS, we can see those glimpses of HEAVEN ahead of us. We CAN be born again into a world without the revenges of sin, forgiven and free. All we have to do is have FAITH! And with FAITH comes FREEDOM. We can leave this world as sinless as we entered. With the ONE who gave HIS LIFE for us. We can accept or reject, it's our choice. May GOD'S love be accepted today.
March 25 Yesterday, the Iowa girls basketball team lost in their game to advance to the sweet sixteen in the national NCAA championship. Then last evening our local NJCAA men's basketball team lost to advance into to the elite 8 in their quest for a 4th national championship. It brought to mind that there were people on both sides praying that their teams would win. Some were glad and others sad at the outcome. But just because one team lost does not make GOD'S WORD to be false. It just means that we need to live with the hand we are dealt. Our FAITH is not in a contest to see which is greater or who has a closer relationship with GOD. It is just a game and the team that played their best on that given day won. Our relationship with GOD is NOT a game, it most certainly is a matter of eternal life or death. We must not confuse games with eternal life. May GOD bless you.
March 24 Stories tell us how GOD delivers from lions' den and how HE rescues from flaming furnaces. The LORD of LORD'S, the KING of KINGS remains in charge yet today. There are so many that fail to give GLORY to HIS NAME even one hour per month or HONOR HIS SON for one hour a week! HIS GLORY is shamed into obscurity daily and too often no HONOR given. The men that stories follow are those that PRAISE GOD DAILY. They do not forget HIM in the morning or the evening of everyday life. HE is the reason for each day. The GOD who did those great miracles for men in the past has never gone away. No, we have left HIM. It takes FAITH to grow closer to GOD. Those who do not share time with HIM will not see the GLORY HE retains forever. Take time to join and relate with GOD and HE will bless you.
March 22 As I was reading in Ezekiel, in those days the priests were to offer animals as a sacrifice for the people's sins. Then after 7 days of sacrifices, "On the 8th day and on each day afterwards the priests will sacrifice on the alter the burnt sacrifices and thank offerings of the people and I will accept you. Says the LORD GOD." Wow, imagine the effort that would have to go into selecting an animal with no defects and doing that every day. While we, full of defects can turn directly to GOD and approach HIM at any moment! The BLOOD of CHRIST has been offered in replacement of those of animals or of our own. JESUS has opened that door that separates us from GOD. The access key is FAITH. And through FAITH is action. No longer do we need to sacrifice animals, we need only to BELIEVE. May we ALL turn toward the TRUE GOD and leave behind the sins of this world. GOD bless you.
March 21 I like to go to the Dutchman's Store. It is owned by a Mennonite family and they sell things in bulk and like a regular grocery store along with material, sporting goods, shoes and almost anything you could want. The trouble, for me is if I buy a bunch of something and don't like it, then it is a waste. However, sometimes when you get something you buy just a bit to try it and when you go back there's none left. That happens when it's really good. Incredibly the cost is a lot less, so when you get what you're after it is a bargain. I know the owners and they have a sign up that reads, 'You are not stealing from us, you are stealing from God." They don't even worry about shoplifting; they know that GOD will handle it. All too often we worry about such needless things, when we just need to LET GOD TAKE CARE OF IT for us. Those who believe in GOD have nothing to fear. May we trust in GOD for everything. GOD bless you.
March 20 I watched in total dismay as tv showed people rioting and covered their faces, as they would as if being ashamed and didn't want to be recognized. They were destroying property and shouting slogans that were as from foreign countries! What they fail to understand is, that the countries they are attempting to imitate hate them! If those people were in that country, they are thinking they stand for, they would be killed. Why? Because they are from the United States. Most of the world hates us because of where we live! We use more water just brushing our teeth that most people in the middle east can get for a day! Yet do we fall on our face and thank GOD? We appear as the 'poor' little rich kid that has everything to the balance of the world. So, if you are sympathetic to those nations that hate the U.S. you are welcome to move there. There are flights that can take you to your new home. If you want to live here, then we had better ALL get along together and thank GOD that we are where we are. Consider how GRACIOUS GOD has been to allow you to be where you are. Be THANKFUL. May GOD bless you
March 19 As yesterday's message came to me, I also remembered a day when I felt both sorrow and joy. It happened when I visited my uncle. When arriving I noticed that they had a lot of broken appliances. The stove was only partly working and others not working at all. With my cousin Denise's help, we bought new for them. It was so disheartening to see my uncle having to do without, knowing that they would never complain. It was also a great joy to be able to help them. CHRIST watches us as we attempt to use the appliances of this life. They are broken, rusty and becoming worthless. HIS JOY and PURPOSE, is to give us ALL that we may need through our FAITH in HIM. It pains Him to watch us wallow in our sin and HE is glad to give us HIS HAND to PULL us FREE of what we are stuck in. HE alone is our SAVIOUR! Without turning from our sin and grasping HIS, hand we are doomed. All it takes is repenting and willfully following HIS WORD. May GOD'S blessings be on those who choose to follow the LORD. HIS greatest joy is helping us, our joy is serving HIM. GOD be with you.
March 18 I remember one time, when my wife and I took my uncle Doc and Marge his wife out to eat. We went over the mountain to the Ivy Stone restaurant and had a great meal. Then back across the mountain to home. When we were going up the lane to the house Marge said "Oh, it's so good to be home." We laughed because we had only been gone less than 2 hours! Yesterday we were out shopping and it was so nice to get home and we had only been away an hour and a half! I guess we become fond of our surroundings and comfortable in them. Just think of the New Home awaiting ahead, for those who believe, the streets of gold and a new home prepared for us by CHRIST himself. There will be no willingness to leave for eternity! The home awaiting is far better than this earthly residence. When we get there, we will all say, "It's so good to be home." Take heart, as this world crumbles, our home in HEAVEN is being prepared. GOD bless all who are preparing for that trip home.
March 17 "But some of the people were jealous, so they gathered some trouble makers from the market place to form a mob and start a riot." These words from the Book of Acts have been reenacted many times. And over the years our nation has suffered the effects of these groups. Today our colleges have become the camping ground of those who disobey the WORD of GOD. "To them, the things of GOD are no more important than any daily task." It isn't right or wrong they are fighting but against GOD. The teachings of schools have left the principles of GOD'S WORD in its past and taught contrary thoughts that have bloomed into chaos! I have seen the cost per student rise to unbelievable levels. And I know how these students would compare to those from an Amish 8th grade level student that attends a one room school that is financed by their own community. No riots there! Yet unbelievable wisdom. What's missing in our schools? It isn't money, its GOD'S WORD. May GOD bless you with HIS WORD, and may we pass it on.
March 16 After a lovely day we went to Applebee's for supper. Then happily returned home to watch a finals basketball game that would forward a team to the final 24 in the NJCCA tournament. Our local team defeated the hosts in Montana that had not been defeated on their home court. Although both teams played a terrible game, someone must be the winner. I reminds me, that we play a terrible 'game' at this life. We try hard to do what we want and don't accomplish what the 'coach' would have us do. We stumble through and have ups and downs but we are into life's 'game' too far to realize we are doing it poorly. GOD has the plan, and if we aren't following that plan, we will become the loser! If we are at the beginning or the final seconds we should turn our lives over to our LORD. Everything else is just a game. May GOD bless you.
March 15 It's time to refill the pill container, another week has flown by. Time has a way of silently passing and we hardly notice. The Ides of March are upon us and with that another anniversary. Today makes 56 years of marriage. I believe that she did the better and I provided the worse. It seems like only a few weeks ago that we graduated high school! Imagine the days ahead, when a thousand years have passed and it is only the beginning. Those in HEAVENLY bliss looking forward to eternity, those who were judged unworthy, another day of eternal torture! Thank GOD that we are just here temporarily. It gives us a glimpse of what our eternal home can be. There are many things that can shape our future, but only one that can change it for eternity. Make sure that what we seek is what will last. GOD bless you.
March 14 We are a mighty nation. We can build anything that we can dream of. We walk on pavement that is smoothed out before us. If obstacles get in our way, we overcome them. We battle things we do not even see and stand before armies with a sword in hand. Yet we are too afraid of any man to tell them the GOOD NEWS that GOD has given each of us. The chance to believe in HIS SON and be rescued from the reign of the unholy one that seeks our attention. We are to weak to save ourselves, so GOD, in HIS WISDOM, provided a way for us to be with HIM. The strong are too weak, the wise are ignorant, the rich are to occupied, to witness in HIS FAVOR! Too consumed with the day-to-day tasks of enjoyment, we can accomplish near infinity. But without CHRIST we have nothing! Let us become strong beings that can do the things that GOD puts on our heart. Break the plans of the world and build plans on HIS WORD. That is what will remain when all has vanished. We are men, let us act like men. GOD bless you.
March 13 I see the SPIRIT of GOD moving across our nation. The demons and spirits running wildly with no place to go. They are lost, striking wildly and unable to gather their wits. The GLORY of GOD is in HIS people, they stand before microphones and say the WORDS GOD and FAITH! The ones that are the last to stand up and be known, are the churches that have drifted away and teach a view of the world, an not a view from GOD. The church seems to be the brakes to the process of the Church! Have we separated so far from GOD'S teaching that we stand dumbfounded as the SPIRIT sweeps over us? "Let anyone listen that wants to and let anyone refuse that wants to." Those WORDS that GOD has given us the example of our free will. Our children, towns and nation are governed by our free will. It is time to stand up for things other than satan's consolidated spirit of confusion and step out in FAITH to stand for RIGHT. The squeaky wheel may need grease but the whole nation needs the WORD of GOD. It is our responsibility to apply both. GOD bless you.
March 12 There are those who are suffering loss and those who have loved ones that have become ill and awaiting their appointed time to leave this earth. It reminds us how temporary our lives are. We ask, "Where has the time gone," as we approach the later years. It has flown by, soundless and without care. The hurt we feel can be lifted by the WORDS of GOD. "It is only the LORD'S mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is HIS faithfulness, HIS loving kindness begins fresh each day." Help us see the beauty that we are given each day, even through the gloom of night. May GOD bless you.