“In case of emergencies (or in everyday life), tap into the Holy Humor of God.”~TB
The Divine Chuckle
God has to have the greatest sense of humor of all time. Just look at us, we are a funny bunch. I’m sure He looks down at us, and has a good chuckle from time to time. And if you learn how, you too can get in on the joke. The older I get, the more I’m convinced that when we endure trying times, in those moments we are able to experience the the kindness and humor of God. If you take a step back and look, you can begin to see God in His kindness and mercy, rather than the Old Testament look we tend to view Him as. Take the holidays and family, for example. Many of us in the Western part of the world are wrapping up the holiday season, which means time spent with your family– for better or worse.
Lighten Up
Family can bring the greatest sense of joy. They can also provide the greatest amount of strife as those closest to us know (consciously or otherwise) how to get under our skin. Family functions will always have a sort of dysfunction because we’re all flesh-bag beings who are severely imperfect, and no amount of strategically choreographed photos can change that. Be that as it may, the art of seeing the humor in discord serves two purposes. 1.) You learn not to pick up the sword and you can disarm a brewing battle. 2.) It’s a fun way to take the sting out of the situation. Like the gauge of a pressure cooker, Holy laughter alleviates the boiling pot of tension in family gatherings, safely dismantling a lethal weapon, repurposing it into a fun endeavor.
For Better or Worse
This life is full of hills and valleys, highs and lows. If you can’t find the humor or absurdity in situations, friends it’s going to be a long and arduous venture. So the next time Uncle Frank (no offense to the Franks of the world) makes an insensitive comment or your cousin asks to borrow a couple bucks from you, have a laugh with God, and let the moments float on by as punch lines of your Holy Comedy Routine. The more you learn to chuckle and roll with the punches, the less opportunities are available for the opposition to sow seeds of discord. Remember, when in doubt, have a chuckle with God and laugh it out.
Today’s Question
Are you able to see God’s Humor or are you the butt of the joke?
Enjoy the reading
Isaiah 58
1“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins!
2Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me.
3‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers.
4What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.
5You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD ?
6“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.
7Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
8“Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.
9Then when you call, the LORD will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
12Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.
13“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD ’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
14Then the LORD will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
“Your ability to see things from Christ’s ultimately depends on your vantage point.”~TB
Senses
We are all given senses and common sense to understand how to navigate the ways of this world. We are also given the choice to be in relationship with our Father in Heaven so that he can give us the Biblical compass to lead lives that bring honor to Him. Using Christ’s compass sharpens our senses, giving us the ability to see things from a Christ-like perspective. Alternatively, using your own vantage point will give you a finite and inaccurate understanding of a flawed world. But friends, just because we are broken does not mean that God’s perspective is. Understand this distinction.
Man’s Viewpoint
Man’s viewpoint is flawed and judgmental as we are unable to fully understand or practice mercy, grace and forgiveness in our own right. To the undisciplined and untrained, behaviors like submission and forgiveness seem foolish. That is because the ego and flesh tells us that our understanding of right and wrong is correct! From a legalistic standpoint, everything is black and white. In this mindset, it’s ok to judge and condemn your neighbors, family, and friends when they screw up or offend. It’s ok to rob and enslave the naive because they ‘should’ know better and technically you did not break the law. But don’t be fooled, the wicked may seem successful, but according to who’s vantage point?
Holy Perspective
Friend’s God’s ways are infinite and never fully understood by man. We lack the ability! Fortunately, what is true and what we can rely on is that this life is not as unpredictable as we like to believe. Look at all of the stories in the Bible. If you read them enough, you will see the behaviors and patterns from old have the same themes of your own. Just adopt God’s vantage point, and you will see that His people do the same good, dumb, shameful, repentant deeds since Adam and Eve. These are the same stories, just different people and different times. So in whatever you do, take His vantage point so that you can see the world and its people as God sees you.
Today’s Question
How does the view look from where’ you’re sitting?
Enjoy the reading
Isaiah 9
1Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
2The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
3You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.
4For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
5The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.
6For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
8The Lord has spoken out against Jacob; his judgment has fallen upon Israel.
9And the people of Israel and Samaria, who spoke with such pride and arrogance, will soon know it.
10They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone, and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.”
11But the LORD will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israel and stir up all their foes.
12The Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the west will bare their fangs and devour Israel. But even then the LORD ’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.
13For after all this punishment, the people will still not repent. They will not seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
14Therefore, in a single day the LORD will destroy both the head and the tail, the noble palm branch and the lowly reed.
15The leaders of Israel are the head, and the lying prophets are the tail.
16For the leaders of the people have misled them. They have led them down the path of destruction.
17That is why the Lord takes no pleasure in the young men and shows no mercy even to the widows and orphans. For they are all wicked hypocrites, and they all speak foolishness. But even then the LORD ’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.
18This wickedness is like a brushfire. It burns not only briers and thorns but also sets the forests ablaze. Its burning sends up clouds of smoke.
19The land will be blackened by the fury of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. The people will be fuel for the fire, and no one will spare even his own brother.
20They will attack their neighbor on the right but will still be hungry. They will devour their neighbor on the left but will not be satisfied. In the end they will even eat their own children.
21Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, Ephraim will feed on Manasseh, and both will devour Judah. But even then the LORD ’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.
“Being made new in Christ means rejecting your old ways and adopting the lifestyle of Christ”~TB
Change
Now that the Truth has been revealed to you, you are marked, cemented in God’s stable. This means that you have to reject previous sins, thoughts, and actions. The same behavior that got you into a turbulent lifestyle cannot remain when you are made new in Christ. You can try to cling onto your past life, but what you will find is the behavior of yesterday will never grant you the peace you experience in Christ. This is because the Holy Spirit within you can never find satisfaction in the fleshly sinful practices of man. No, it requires Biblical fuel to thrive. Save yourself some time and headache by adopting the principles and behaviors of Christ.
Exist
Freedom in Christ means existing in the Holy peace that a Christlike mentality brings. This can only happen when you let your guard down and allow Him to lead your life. If you can continually check your ego and pride at the door, you will eventually see that what you were trying to defend was not yours to defend at all! Allow God to handle your affairs. Live in peace among one another and do not let the judgments of man dictate your perception of the Lord. Focus on Him to learn how to Biblically move in this world and you will see that life isn’t as chaotic and random as the world would let you believe.
Today’s Question
Are you hitting your head trying to keep a dead lifestyle or are you reading to adopt your new life?
Enjoy the reading
Psalm 112
1Praise the LORD ! How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands.
2Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever.
4Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
6Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
8They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
9They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.
10The wicked will see this and be infuriated. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.
“Why waste time arguing with fools? If the message is falling on deaf ears clearly it’s not intended for them.”~TB
Burnout
This world is full of fools who are willing to believe stupid things due to their blatant disobedience. They seek any justification to stay in their stupor and will look for supporters high and low. Friends, let the wicked have this world, they’ve made their choice. When you fight with the willfully deaf, you are engaging in a battle that isn’t meant to be won. Instead, you’ve wasted your resources and energy on a futile effort. Focus your efforts on yourself and your service for God. He will instruct your steps if you allow Him to. Don’t let the evil one deceive you by distracting you with dumb people. It’s a trap, keep your eyes peeled and sidestep the noise.
Focus
It’s important to understand that we aren’t here to change hearts and minds. That’s God’s job. We are here to live and speak the Truth. Though we may be part of that plan, our job is the mirror the Truth to the best of our abilities and let God handle the God stuff. He knows how to handle that far better than humans, so let’s just stick to our holy occupations. When you focus your efforts and habits, you will see that your honest, Biblical deeds yield more fruit than arguing with an idiot who is souled out for the devil. Do not engage with them. If you practice kindness and humility, their own deeds will heap coals on their heads, without you having to do a thing.
Today’s Question
Are you wasting your time on stupid stuff or are you focusing on your personal holy employment?
Enjoy the reading
Psalm 91
1Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2This I declare about the LORD : He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
3For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
8Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
9If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
10no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
11For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
12They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
15When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
16I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
“Don’t root your faith in man, because the roots will not take hold. For a firmly rooted foundation, look to God.”~TB
Weak Roots
When you base your faith solely on the actions of your brothers and sisters in Christ, you will be disappointed time and time again. Humans are imperfect, prone to sin, and fundamentally flawed. Even the wisest will fall prey to their wickedness. So what happens when the wise fall? All of a sudden you begin to question your Creator over the misdeeds of your leaders. How foolish! It is arrogant and naive to hold God accountable for the actions of man. Free will gives us the choice to obey or disobey. When your faith is rooted in man, what you thought was firmly planted gets ripped away by the gentlest breeze. Plant your seeds accordingly.
Holy Roots
When you place your faith in God and God alone, He opens your eyes to the Truth, planting you firmly in His Holy Garden where you are permanently rooted. With that Truth, you begin to crave discipline and obedience. Forgiveness becomes easier and you give it as freely as He freely forgives you. When the wise fall, as they do, you understand that it happens and that the transgression is between them and God. You begin to experience the joy of minding your own relationship with God rather than rationalizing your shortcomings because “other people are doing it too”. Tend to your Holy roots by reading the Word and walking close to the Lord. Watch how it changes your world view.
Today’s Question
Are your roots planted in the Holy Garden or are they shallowly rooted in foolishness?
Enjoy the reading
Psalm 89
1I will sing of the LORD ’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
2Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
3The LORD said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant. I have sworn this oath to him:
4‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’” Interlude
5All heaven will praise your great wonders, LORD ; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.
6For who in all of heaven can compare with the LORD ? What mightiest angel is anything like the LORD ?
7The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.
8O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O LORD ? You are entirely faithful.
9You rule the oceans. You subdue their storm-tossed waves.
10You crushed the great sea monster. You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
12You created north and south. Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon praise your name.
13Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.
14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.
15Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD .
16They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation. They exult in your righteousness.
17You are their glorious strength. It pleases you to make us strong.
18Yes, our protection comes from the LORD, and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.
19Long ago you spoke in a vision to your faithful people. You said, “I have raised up a warrior. I have selected him from the common people to be king.
20I have found my servant David. I have anointed him with my holy oil.
21I will steady him with my hand; with my powerful arm I will make him strong.
22His enemies will not defeat him, nor will the wicked overpower him.
23I will beat down his adversaries before him and destroy those who hate him.
24My faithfulness and unfailing love will be with him, and by my authority he will grow in power.
25I will extend his rule over the sea, his dominion over the rivers.
26And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27I will make him my firstborn son, the mightiest king on earth.
28I will love him and be kind to him forever; my covenant with him will never end.
29I will preserve an heir for him; his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven.
30But if his descendants forsake my instructions and fail to obey my regulations,
31if they do not obey my decrees and fail to keep my commands,
32then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their disobedience with beating.
33But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him.
34No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said.
35I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie:
36His dynasty will go on forever; his kingdom will endure as the sun.
37It will be as eternal as the moon, my faithful witness in the sky!” Interlude
38But now you have rejected him and cast him off. You are angry with your anointed king.
39You have renounced your covenant with him; you have thrown his crown in the dust.
40You have broken down the walls protecting him and ruined every fort defending him.
41Everyone who comes along has robbed him, and he has become a joke to his neighbors.
42You have strengthened his enemies and made them all rejoice.
43You have made his sword useless and refused to help him in battle.
44You have ended his splendor and overturned his throne.
45You have made him old before his time and publicly disgraced him. Interlude
46O LORD, how long will this go on? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your anger burn like fire?
47Remember how short my life is, how empty and futile this human existence!
48No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave. Interlude
49Lord, where is your unfailing love? You promised it to David with a faithful pledge.
50Consider, Lord, how your servants are disgraced! I carry in my heart the insults of so many people.
51Your enemies have mocked me, O LORD ; they mock your anointed king wherever he goes.
“Great teachers have learned to buffer, package, and deliver difficult concepts, ideas, and standards from God’s Holy Word so that people, students, and families can understand why we all must follow, do, and teach the truth.”
Make
Too many people are making up their own fake math, logic, and things to discuss, implement, and disguise their evil intentions. They make up a new law to change the standards, hurt the poor, enslave their friends, and hoard life, liberty, justice, and freedom for themselves.
Shift
Shift your thinking and position to channel and challenge the youth in mastering the standards God has set before us.Then they will be able to discern the truth from injustice.Give age appropriate answers and guidance to the next generation to make better choices and decisions for the future.
Cover
Cover your wisdom with the buffer of love so that people, students, family, and enemies can receive God’s message of hope, charity, thanksgiving, and honesty.We have the liberty to choose right from wrong so make it plain for people to choose better answers and solutions to their own problems.You are the buffer of Hope.
Today’s Question
Will you allow God to use you as a buffer and beacon of light?
Enjoy Your Reading
2 Chronicles 36
36 1 And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.
Jehoahaz King of Judah
2 Jehoahaz[a] was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months.3 The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents[b] of silver and a talent[c] of gold.4 The king of Egypt made Eliakim, a brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Necho took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.
Jehoiakim King of Judah
5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God.6 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.7 Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon articles from the temple of the Lord and put them in his temple[d] there.
8 The other events of Jehoiakim’s reign, the detestable things he did and all that was found against him, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son succeeded him as king.
Jehoiachin King of Judah
9 Jehoiachin was eighteen[e] years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.10 In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the temple of the Lord, and he made Jehoiachin’s uncle,[f] Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Zedekiah King of Judah
11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years.12 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord.13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stiff-neckedand hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
The Fall of Jerusalem
15 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place.16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians,[g] who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials.19 They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.
20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.
22 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’”
“We can talk ourselves out of our blessings with a despondent attitude and mindset for stepping away from our work, choices, time, and money because our low spirit does not want to pay the cost of studying, learning, or improving with God’s lifecycle.” ~ Jon Barnes
Discouraged
We become easily discouraged by ignoring our responsibilities, studies, and daily chores that we must do to improve our personal standing with God, as we grow in our Parent / Child relationship with Him. When we don’t get our candy, toy, or way with Him, we act like little babies, who pout, cry, or become unresponsive to God’s Commandments. Then the rod of correction becomes necessary for the ones God Loves. He will spank you.
Correction
God will spank and correct you when your pride thinks that you are smarter than Your Heavenly Father. Many people fall within this category, unfortunately. When you are stuck, it is because you are not listening to the correction course that is set in your life and you are always feeling hopeless in your thinking and ways. Stop being despondent, get up, and get on it, so that you can move forward with God after He corrected your actions, thinking, and motivation. Step into correction, not away from it.
Rejection
You should feel hopeless when God rejects you. You should know that God has rejected you when He doesn’t spank you or correct your wicked, prideful, disobedient ways. His Holy Correction is your friend so that you can get right with God from within. Then and only then, others can see your improvement, as you help, share, and give love to other people all around you, who do not deserve your love, just as much as someone who deserves your love. Be the encouragement in your own environment.
Today’s Question
Did you get rid of your pride, poor self-esteem, and low spirit, by replacing them with God’s Holy Spirit of Love and courage?
Enjoy The Reading
Joshua 16
Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh
16 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel.2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz),[a] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth,3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea.
4 So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.
5 This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans:
The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon6 and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east.7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan.8 From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans.9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.
10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.
“God’s timing is strategic and purposeful, so enjoy the beauty and opportunity of today and forget the anxiety of tomorrow.”
In the Know
I’ll admit, my thoughts are usually geared towards the future, often oblivious to the blessings that each day provides. Fear of the unknown will do that to you, and if you’re not careful, it will rob you of the daily joy God provides. We try to arm ourselves with man-made knowledge and reasoning to give us a degree of certainty. Truth is, we don’t know what the future holds and we cannot plan as though we control our own destiny. Though we do our best to control our circumstances, we can’t forget that our lives are not our own, which is why faith is of the utmost importance.
In the Now
Trials require us to fully rely on His plan, leaning on His understanding and not our own. Today you may be facing uncomfortable circumstances that may have you looking anxiously toward tomorrow. Remember, He sees you and He hears you. He know’s where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going. Be present, patient, and hopeful in each moment, taking comfort in the fact that enduring tough situations brings resilience, steadfastness, and is the key to walking through the fire unharmed. Our faith is tested, strengthened and ultimately renewed when we pass our Biblical exams. When you maintain your peace and joy in turbulent waters, you find the answers to the test, moving you forward in your journey with God.
Question of the day
Are you focused on controlling the Know or on finding joy in the Now?
Deuteronomy 30 NLT
1“In the future, when you experience all these blessings and curses I have listed for you, and when you are living among the nations to which the LORD your God has exiled you, take to heart all these instructions.
2If at that time you and your children return to the LORD your God, and if you obey with all your heart and all your soul all the commands I have given you today,
3then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you back from all the nations where he has scattered you.
4Even though you are banished to the ends of the earth, the LORD your God will gather you from there and bring you back again.
5The LORD your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will possess that land again. Then he will make you even more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors!
6“The LORD your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!
7The LORD your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate and persecute you.
8Then you will again obey the LORD and keep all his commands that I am giving you today.
9“The LORD your God will then make you successful in everything you do. He will give you many children and numerous livestock, and he will cause your fields to produce abundant harvests, for the LORD will again delight in being good to you as he was to your ancestors.
10The LORD your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.
11“This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach.
12It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’
13It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’
14No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.
15“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster.
16For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.
17“But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods,
18then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.
19“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!
20You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
“I am becoming less sensitive to the things I hear and see and more sensitive to what God is showing and teaching me in all things with patience, kindness, long-suffering, contentment and thanksgiving.
Regrettable
There are no regrets when you learn from your mistakes.Take your path and turn it into gold with God’s discover card, that is located in the bible. Once you activate the holy credit card, don’t abuse the benefits and privileges so that your card will not become revoked. If you are habitually disobedient, your card will be deactivated until you become responsible and interested in God’s lifestyle and cardholder privileges. Otherwise, access denied!
Penalties
Penalties and fines are often associated with overdrawn accounts and fraudulent behavior of witchcraft and disobedience, with potential jail time sentencing. Before your sins get the best of you, you must master dealing with your sinful nature, honest mistakes, and repentance protocols. Caution yourself when you habitually and willfully disobey God by telling half-truths, lying, cheating, and stealing, by overspending with your holy credit card with the intention of sticking God with your indulgent overspending and high maintenance bills of foolishness. God is always fair and honest.
Rewards
God rewards points and benefits are honest and equally the same for everyone who has God’s card in their wallet.So what is in your wallet?Be sure that you get a card, pray, and read the instruction’s manual to make the best personal decisions and purchases with your time and heavenly credit. You will reap what you sow.Make sure you do your math based on God’s calculator and honest inventory practices. Line up your thinking with God’s respect and rewards system and become more sensitive to His truth and not your own thoughts. You will regret being dishonest if you think God is a fool, based on your thoughts and behaviors that are contrary to God’s Word.
Today’s Question
Why are you arguing with God and His principles of love with your evil words, lazy work ethic, and thoughts?
Enjoy The Reading
Deuteronomy 20
Regulations concerning War
20 “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!2 When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops.3 He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them.4 For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’
5 “Then the officers of the army must address the troops and say, ‘Has anyone here just built a new house but not yet dedicated it? If so, you may go home! You might be killed in the battle, and someone else would dedicate your house.6 Has anyone here just planted a vineyard but not yet eaten any of its fruit? If so, you may go home! You might die in battle, and someone else would eat the first fruit.7 Has anyone here just become engaged to a woman but not yet married her? Well, you may go home and get married! You might die in the battle, and someone else would marry her.’
8 “Then the officers will also say, ‘Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.’9 When the officers have finished speaking to their troops, they will appoint the unit commanders.
10 “As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace.11 If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor.12 But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town.13 When the Lord your God hands the town over to you, use your swords to kill every man in the town.14 But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the plunder from your enemies that the Lord your God has given you.
15 “But these instructions apply only to distant towns, not to the towns of the nations in the land you will enter.16 In those towns that the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing.17 You must completely destroy[a] the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the Lord your God has commanded you.18 This will prevent the people of the land from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God.
19 “When you are attacking a town and the war drags on, you must not cut down the trees with your axes. You may eat the fruit, but do not cut down the trees. Are the trees your enemies, that you should attack them?20 You may only cut down trees that you know are not valuable for food. Use them to make the equipment you need to attack the enemy town until it falls.
“What you feed your mind determines the fate of your mental health issues in the future, so feed and use as much biblical wisdom as you can, to avoid the potentialmental meltdowns in life.” ~ Jon Barnes
Issues
Personal issues can be devastating when God’s plan is not in place in your life because of disobedience to the truth and not following God’s path that good people and parents have set for us.When parents are not good role models, follow God’s examples and stories. Since listening to God and other good people early in life is not the case for many, major issues tend to develop and corrupt future lifestyles. Damage is normally caused by your own hands.Reaping what you sow can take some time to catch up with you and your deviant ways, as well. As a result, lifestyle and family functions can fall through the cracks, which is not what God planned for your life.
Brain
Mistakes and bad choices begin to add up and look like a mountain of dirt because eating the devil’s dog food and lifestyle choices did not have the proper nutrients for normal brain function and development, as a superior human being. Drugs, alcohol and other substances abuse fuel and aid in the deception, lies, and other Mental Health Issues, options given by the devil. By choice, your mind is working for the wrong team. Solutions and cures are available and will require the step by step JJJ Program called,Just Joined Jesus. God will help you rewire your hard drive, wipe it clean, and reboot your thinking. What other people say and think is not what’s at stake here. It is what God can see and know about you and your mental health plan.
Washed
We all must wash daily with God’s Holy Water, which flows through the Holy Ghost into us when we repent, walk, fast, pray, and live God’s lifestyle in our JJJ Program. Each day, say the Lord’s Prayer in your Heart to God, as a daily habit and take steps to get closer to the finish line into Heaven. Our mind, body, and heart will be tested and judged by God for fitness and duty. Being washed by the Blood of Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach and retrain your mind each day is the Mental Health Solution’s steps in the JJJ Program. God will award you with extra gifts as you improve the quality of your Lifestyle, faith, and work ethics.
Today’s Question
Did you sign up for the JJJ Mental Health Care plan, which is free for eternity or are you insured by the HHH plan, Hell’s Hot Hotel policy?
Enjoy The Reading.
Numbers 28 NLT
The Daily Offerings
28 The Lord said to Moses,2 “Give these instructions to the people of Israel: The offerings you present as special gifts are a pleasing aroma to me; they are my food. See to it that they are brought at the appointed times and offered according to my instructions.
3 “Say to the people: This is the special gift you must present to the Lord as your daily burnt offering. You must offer two one-year-old male lambs with no defects.4 Sacrifice one lamb in the morning and the other in the evening.5 With each lamb you must offer a grain offering of two quarts[a] of choice flour mixed with one quart[b] of pure oil of pressed olives.6 This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.7 Along with it you must present the proper liquid offering of one quart of alcoholic drink with each lamb, poured out in the Holy Place as an offering to the Lord.8 Offer the second lamb in the evening with the same grain offering and liquid offering. It, too, is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
The Sabbath Offerings
9 “On the Sabbath day, sacrifice two one-year-old male lambs with no defects. They must be accompanied by a grain offering of four quarts[c] of choice flour moistened with olive oil, and a liquid offering.10 This is the burnt offering to be presented each Sabbath day, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying liquid offering.
The Monthly Offerings
11 “On the first day of each month, present an extra burnt offering to the Lord of two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects.12 These must be accompanied by grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil—six quarts[d] with each bull, four quarts with the ram,13 and two quarts with each lamb. This burnt offering will be a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.14 You must also present a liquid offering with each sacrifice: two quarts[e] of wine for each bull, a third of a gallon[f] for the ram, and one quart[g] for each lamb. Present this monthly burnt offering on the first day of each month throughout the year.
15 “On the first day of each month, you must also offer one male goat for a sin offering to the Lord. This is in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying liquid offering.
Offerings for the Passover
16 “On the fourteenth day of the first month,[h] you must celebrate the Lord’s Passover.17 On the following day—the fifteenth day of the month—a joyous, seven-day festival will begin, but no bread made with yeast may be eaten.18 The first day of the festival will be an official day for holy assembly, and no ordinary work may be done on that day.19 As a special gift you must present a burnt offering to the Lord—two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects.20 These will be accompanied by grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil—six quarts with each bull, four quarts with the ram,21 and two quarts with each of the seven lambs.22 You must also offer a male goat as a sin offering to purify yourselves and make yourselves right with the Lord.[i]23 Present these offerings in addition to your regular morning burnt offering.24 On each of the seven days of the festival, this is how you must prepare the food offering that is presented as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. These will be offered in addition to the regular burnt offerings and liquid offerings.25 The seventh day of the festival will be another official day for holy assembly, and no ordinary work may be done on that day.
Offerings for the Festival of Harvest
26 “At the Festival of Harvest,[j] when you present the first of your new grain to the Lord, you must call an official day for holy assembly, and you may do no ordinary work on that day.27 Present a special burnt offering on that day as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It will consist of two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs.28 These will be accompanied by grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil—six quarts with each bull, four quarts with the ram,29 and two quarts with each of the seven lambs.30 Also, offer one male goat to purify yourselves and make yourselves right with the Lord.31 Prepare these special burnt offerings, along with their liquid offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying grain offering. Be sure that all the animals you sacrifice have no defects.
