Category: Insights

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.”

The Lord gave me this hymn for this Thanksgiving. Is is public domain and written by Johnson Oatman , Jr in 1897. I have posted the four stanzas first and the chorus at the end. I leave this as an encouragement for you when you are going through a season of uncertainty.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you overburdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy, your load to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you a wealth untold.
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high.

So amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort with you till your journey’s end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5, NLT)

“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit,. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:7, NLT)

According to Snopes.com, this article as been around since 1993 and they could not confirm then authorship. The article is supposedly written by a third grader who lived in Chula Vista, California who assignment was to explain God. It is definitely food for thought.

“One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes then to replace the ones that die, so that there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn’t make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. They want He doesn’t have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.”

“God’s second and most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of things goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn’t have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.”

“God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn’t go wasting His time by going over your mom and dad’s head asking for something they say you couldn’t have.”

“Atheists are people who don’t believe in God. I don’t think there is any in Chula Vista. At least there are not any who come to our church.”

“Jesus is God’s Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on the water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn’t want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to then and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind like His Father, and He told His Father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them and God say OK.”

“His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth. So He told him He din’t have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.”

“You can pray any time you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.”

“You should always go to church on Sunday because it make God happy, and if there’s somebody you want to make happy, It’s God. Don’t skip church or do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun don’t come out at the beach until noon anyway.”

“If you don’t believe in God, beside being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can’t go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He’s around you when you’re scared, in the dark or when you can’t swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.”

“But…you shouldn’t just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases. And… that ‘s why I believe in God.”

There is no doubt that we are living in uncertain times. The Russian/Ukraine war, soaring gas prices, and bare shelves of many items at the grocery store as well as increase in the cost of many items.

There are many ways that we can be frugal. Try to combine your usual errands and shopping to one day of the week in order to save fuel. When driving, do not accelerate fast and drive slower to increase your gas mileage. When possible, select store brands decrease the cost of your grocery bill. Lower or increase your thermostat in your home depending on the season conservatively.

But most important of all is to give your anxiety and worries to God. We are not in control of our situation, God is sovereign and is in the ultimate control.

“God is our refuge and our strength, alway ready to help in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, NLT)

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time, He will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares for you.

Say alert! Watch 0ur for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm agains him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going though the same kind of suffering you are.” (2 Peter 5: vv. 8-10, NLT)

The Ukraine crisis has impacted the entire world. Nations have joined together in support of the Ukraine people’s bravery and patriotism. Many of us have ties to someone in that country.

While looking for a suitable picture of the Ukraine flag to print. I was interested in what the colors represent. Blue over yellow. Blue represents the blue skies. and stands for freedom. Yellow is the color of wheat. A simple translation is “Freedom over Bread”. Further research includes other interpretations such as “Peace and Prosperity” and “Calm and Joy.”

“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NLT)

References:
https://worldpopulationview.com
https://youngpioneertours.com
https://en.wikiapedia.com

In Dr. David Jeremiah’s book, “Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World”, Chapter 8 is entitled, “Stay Consistent”, and it is based on the Book of First John.

With permission from Karyl Maiorana , she summarizes the principles of staying consistent.

Consistently Christlike – First John 2:6 – Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did.

Consistently Caring – First John 2:23 – Believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another.

Consistently Confident – First John 2:14 – And so I say to you fathers who know the eternal God, and to you young men who are strong with God’s Word in your hearts, and have won your struggle against Satan. Keep doing the will of God.

Consistently Compliant – First John 2:17 -And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Consistently Consistent – First John 2:24 – So keep on believing what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will always be in a close fellowship with both God the Father and His Son, stay ready to keep from getting ready.

Follow all of the above for the eternal life He has promised us.

References:

Jeremiah, Dr. David (2009) Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World. W Publishing Group.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God ‘s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another into acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His retun is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:vv. 19-25, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it give us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, people in the days of old earned a good reputation.

By faith, we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s commandments that what we see now did to come from anything that can be seen.” (Hebrews 11:vv 1-2, NLT)

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who want to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. ” (Hebrews 11: 6, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and and endurance.” (Hebrews 6: vv. 10-12, NLT)