Marching Forth!

Like the churning sea is never at rest, our hearts can be troubled under a calm exterior.  We may not even realise the depths of our pains until we are brought to a breaking point brought on by stress, grief, rejection, physical discomfort or a myriad of other things.  The constant cares of this life can lull us into a sort of stupor that pain intensely felt--like the paddles of a defibrillator pressed to our chest--snaps us back to the reality we need God more than anything because He is truly our life.  In our happy moments when all seemed right in the world we imagined we were drawing near to God, but in reality we only basked in His goodness or how we felt at the time.  Those soul-crushing moments we experience can reveal this reality to us, how we have neglected to seek the LORD with our whole hearts and trust Him. At times I have felt so low I have desired to be done with living because I caught a glimpse of my own wretchedness and inability to do a thing to he...

" I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  5   And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was ." John 17:4-5 When Thomas asked Jesus to show them God the Father Jesus responded, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." ( John 14:9 )  Jesus previously revealed to all in John 10:30 , " I and my Father are One ."  Jesus was sent by God as a revelation of Himself in human form, the Christ who walked with men who beheld His glory.  The only begotten Son of God Jesus was tasked to seek and save the lost and lay down His life to redeem sinners, and as the hour on Calvary approached the LORD sought the Father in prayer. I find intriguing the ways Jesus addressed God the Father in the prayer found in John 17, during which He called "Father" many times.  In John 17:11 He called Him " Holy Father ," a title that should be reserved...

How good and fitting it is to magnify and extol God who extends grace to us!  By God's grace we live and have our being, and by His grace we stand.  Even when trials, troubles and temptations arise, by faith we are divinely enables to draw near to God. After assuring believers that God gives grace to the humble  James 4:7 reads, " Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you ."  Our submission to God provides strength and wisdom to resist the devil who is a murderer, thief and liar from the beginning.  God told Adam the day he ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree he would die, and Satan worked to achieve just that.  He enticed Eve by lies and appealed to the beauty of the fruit and how it could benefit her.  Adam and Eve lacked the capacity to resist Satan because they had not fully surrendered themselves in faith to God and His word. Satan tried a similar tactic with Jesus after the Holy Spirit led Him to the wilderness....

" I will praise the name of God with a song, a nd will magnify Him with thanksgiving.  31  This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, w hich has horns and hooves.  32  The humble shall see this and be glad; a nd you who seek God, your hearts shall live ." Psalm 69:30-32 In the Law of Moses God made provisions for people who did not possess great wealth to offer sacrifices acceptable to the LORD.  After the period of 40 days passed after Mary gave birth to Jesus, Joseph and Mary went to the temple in Jerusalem and brought two turtle doves or pigeons for Mary's atonement and cleansing ( Luke 2:22-24 ).  Leviticus 12:8 says these birds were acceptable if a lamb was too costly to afford.  God did not heap guilt upon those who could not afford a lamb, nor was it a gauge of spirituality and priorities.  By faith in Him through obedience God was well pleased. If Joseph and Mary could not afford a lamb, it is evident an ox would be ou...