SHUT MY MOUTH

Well,

 Shut My Mouth!!!

Proverbs 10:19 (NLT) 

19 Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. 

One of the challenges or struggles I deal with, every day, is mouth control. My tendence is to overstate a case or issue. Such becomes a frustration to me and an affliction to family and friends. But, I am full of it, I can't help it. It's just that I enjoy studying the Bible so much I just want to share what I am learning from the Lord. 

But enough is enough and too much of a great thing becomes overwhelming because it is to much to hear it all. The question come to me: "Is there end to it? My answer is no. But there can be control so that people can listen and be encouraged. The Bible clearly tells me, Don, how to do this.

First, one of the fruits of the Spirit is "SELF-CONTROL." 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, "23 gentleness, and self-control....." Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT

When I submit to the Holy Spirt here is the result: God is pleased, Wanda's Doctor is happy, Wanda, herself is thrilled and it gives great joy to my family and friends. Well, shut my mouth, what a blessing! So now I will daily consider the following verses:

Proverbs 17:27 (NLT) 

27 A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

James 1:19 (NLT) 

'19 Understand this, my dear (Don) brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak,......"

To God be the Glory!!!

APPROACHING THE THRONE OF GRACE

 PRAYER - Approaching the Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT) 14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us (Me) hold firmly to what we (I) believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us (Me) come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will (I) receive his mercy, and we (I) will find grace to help us (Me) when we (I) need it most. 

Approaching the Throne of Grace in this way makes our prayers personal, positive and practical. 

Romans 8:28 (NLT) 28 And we (I) know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those (Don) who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 

God never fails. He is always faithful to His promises. He will always do what is wise, best, and good for us. This is because we trust His word and seek His glory.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NLT) 9 Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. 

Deuteronomy 32:4 (NLT) 4 He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! 

However, for me there is a confusing aspect in praying. I do not doubt God, I trust God and know He will answer my prayer. As it says cleary in Psalms 15:35 " I trust you, Lord. You will answer, my Lord and God."

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NLT) 24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 

Here is what I know when I approach the Throne of Grace: I know that God will give me His peace in every situation. I know that God will give me His patience through all conditions. I know that God will give me His power to overcome all challenges. It is the ultimately reality of Romans 8:28, and I Corinthians 10:13.

Peace - God, the Father - Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) 

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT) 

3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 4 Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock. 

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) 

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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. 

Patience - God, the Son -Romans 8:33-34 (ESV) 

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 

1 Timothy 1:16 (NLT) 

"But so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience ..." 

Revelation 1:9 (NLT) 

9I John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us...." 

Power - God, the Holy Spirt - Romans 8:27 (NLT) 

27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 

Jude 1:20 (NLT) 

20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 

Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) 

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers..." 

Romans 15:13 (NLT) 

13 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. 

Here is what I do not know when I approach the Throne of Grace in prayer. I do not know the details of what God will do in anwsering prayer. I do not know how He will, in His providence, answer prayer. I do not know the means, the people or the conditions He will use in answering prayer. 

But, here is what I do know about God answering prayer. In His love, grace, mercy, wisdom, will, purpose, plan, time, and for His glory, He will answer my prayer. I know that God's glory always results in my good. How could I ask for more than that?

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) 

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 

Psalm 40:5 (NLT) 

5 O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. 

This is how I approach the Throne of Grace. This is how I pray for myself. And this is what I pray for my family and friends. Be encouraged! Have hope. God is good and faithful in all He says and does.

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) 

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 

AMEN!!!

A STROKE OF GENIUS

 A Stroke of Genius            

My greatest fear in life is not dying, To put it simply, bluntly and directly, it is a STROKE. The debilati1ng affects of a stroke is what I dreaded most. And then it happened. I so identify with Job.

Job 3:25 (NLT) 

25 What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true. 

My stroke is no way near to the suffering of Job. His suffering was excruciating and beyond human comprehension, and only God can explain what and why and He did at the end of the book. 

What I learned from the Bible was God's will and wisdom in all I experience is for His glory which results in my ultimate good.

Romans 8:28 is forever true in time and eternity. Through it all, this I know, in the words of the Psalmist: "God love me."   Wow! And that is enough. 

The results of what God my heavenly Father has done so transformed my life that I see it now as a stroke of genius.

My life was transformed by the love and discipline of my gracious and merciful heavenly Father. The relationships with my wife, children, friends and even foes were totally changed. In all of my 86 years, this the is best and most meaningful time of my life. I can't even begin to express the joy of life everyday with the LORD and all those I love. "It is joy unspeakable and full of glory." I Peter 1:8  

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) 

10 For we (I am) are God’s masterpiece. He has created us (Me) anew in Christ Jesus, so we (I) can do the good things he planned for us (Me) long ago. 

Romans 9:23-25 (HCSB) 

2And what if He did this to make known the riches of His glory on objects of mercy that He prepared beforehand for glory— 24 on us, the ones He also called......"

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NLT) 

24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 

Paul said it so well: " So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen."  2 Timothy 2:10 (NLT)

Sinclair Ferguson on a covenant with the Lord.

"A new year represents an opportunity to commit ourselves to the Lord. Today, January 1, 2024, Sinclair Ferguson invites us to express our commitment afresh to God and to pray for His help in the year ahead.

John Wesley borrowed the idea of a living covenant from some of the Puritans that he had read at an earlier stage in his life. 

So, I want to begin this new year by sharing that covenant with you, and to invite you, with me, to commit yourself to the Lord and to pray for His help through this new year.

"I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, place me with whom You will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low for You. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine, and I am Yours. May it be so. And may the covenant which I have just made here on earth be confirmed in heaven." End quote.

With Jude I am thrilled to shout: "All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen."  Jude 1:25 (NLT)

It is after all, "A Stroke of Genius."

Balance

 

                          Tristan on the Beam in perfect balance

I love this little, big man. He is demonstrating one of the most important principles in living. Life is about balance. One aspect of it, and there are many, is concentration and commitment. Let alone the joy of achievement. Way to go Tristan and will done. I love you and am proud of you. Grandpa

Proverbs 28:2 (NLT)

    "... But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability." (Balance)

As mentioned above, stability is one of the vital virtues that affect life, family or government. Another example is the balance between wisdom and knowledge that results in stability which brings peace and prosperity. Consider the balance of love and truth; work and rest; faith and action; trust and faithfulness. There are so many of these spoken of throughout the Bible. God gives us this stability or balance in the Gospel, the good news, of His love and sacrifice for us. How wonderful that in Christ and through our trust in Him we have an abundant life in the balance of God's purpose and plan for us.

The primary balance in life is our joy in God as our source of life and our gratitude to God for the goodness of life He so graciously gives us. That is the real balance of life, joy in God and gratitude to God.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Father, how grateful we are that in a world that is broken by sin, rebellion, disbelief and is totally unstable You, in grace, give us stability and balance. 

Thank You, in the name or Jesus, who is both the center and circumstance of our life, a perfect balance. Amen

A GOOD LAUGH

                                       

      "A time to laugh."  Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NLT) 

I love laughter. One of the joys of my life is to mess with people, kid them. joke with them and get then to laugh or at least smile. One of the things I do when on a doctor visit is to ask him when he enters the room "How can I help you today?  "How are you feeling?"  He usually laughs and I am sure wonders how he can help this ole man with one foot on a banana peel and the other on a grave. 

One of the many things I love about being in our family gatherings is that it is always party time. That is, a time to laugh and just enjoy each other. Laughter is a very delightful part of our sharing together. Laughter even to the point of tears. 

So, now I just want to share some verses on laughter and how important it is to our life, health and relationships with God and each other.

The healing of laughter. Stress may kill, but laughter will help heal you. It is personal, practical, physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and affects the whole person, body, soul and spirit. It is a key to good health and happy living. It is a laughing matter. No joke!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine..."  Proverbs 17:22 (NLT) 

Job 8:21 (NLT) 

21 He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

The sharing of laughter. Such fun to enjoy the life of others in which God is doing miracles things. 

Genesis 21:6-7 (NLT) 

6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. 7 Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!” 

Psalm 113:9 (NLT) 

9 He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. Praise the LORD! 

Luke 15:8-10 (NLT) 

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? 

9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” 

The benefits of laughter.

Proverbs 15:13 (NLT) 

"A glad heart makes a happy face;" 

The contentment of laughter - The joy of simply being satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 (ESV) 

24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy...." 

Philippians 4:11 (ESV) 

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 

The restoration of laughter. Happy days are here again in renewed relationships.

Luke 15:8-10 (NLT) 

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? 

9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” 

Luke 15:32 (NLT) 

32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’” 

Romans 12:15 (NLT) 

"Be happy with those who are happy....." 

The celebration of laughter. Enjoying God's gracious provision.

Psalm 126:2-3 (NLT) 

2 We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the LORD has done for them.” 3 Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy! 

The justice of laughter. The foolishness of sinful humanity in their attempt to defeat God is laughable. 

Psalm 2:1-4 (NLT) 

1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? 2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. 3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” 4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. 

Psalm 37:12-13 (NLT) 

12 The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. 13 But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming. 

Psalm 73:20 (NLT) 

20 When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

The hope of laughter. The best is yet to be based on God's promise.

Luke 6:21 (NLT) 

"....God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh." 

Jeremiah 33:11 (NLT) 

11 the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD....."  

The confidence of laughter - Working faith of a capable wife.

Proverbs 31:10 (NLT) 

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. 

Proverbs 31:25 (NLT) 

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. 

Proverbs 31:29-31 (NLT) 

29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. 

The eternal joy of laughter. Heaven is a happy place. Yes, filled with laughter and joy!!!

1 Peter 1:8 (NLT) 

8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 

Hebrews 12:22 (NLT) 

22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.

These are just a few verses on laughter and joy in living in fellowship with the Lord and each other. 

Psalm 16:11 (NLT) 

11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

 

Isaiah 61:10 (NLT) 

10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. 

It is not "let the party begin."  It is "let the party continue," daily in our life and laughter with the Lord, and all who will join us.

Psalm 23:6 (NLT) 

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live (and laugh) in the house of the LORD forever.