Truth Inspires

Jeremiah's Lament 1 How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street. 2 The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold , how they are regarded as earthen pots, the work of a potter’s hands! 3 Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. 4 The tongue of the nursing infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives to them. Lamentations 4:1-4 (ESV) To some this may seem to be an enigmatic passage. But I assure you, just as Jeremiah the “Weeping Prophet” penned it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is as meaningful today as it was when he first delivered it. Let me interpret: The times: Siege of Jerusalem 587 B.C. The passage cited above reflects upon the aftermath of the Babylonian invasion of Judah and Jerusalem—the exile of its i...

My wife loves to make chocolate chip cookies; I love to eat them—it’s no surprise. But more often than not, I find myself sifting through the batch to find the one that is softest and has the most chocolate chips in it. Depending on how they were cut out and how much time they were cooked makes a difference in the experience of eating the little treat. The longer cooked the harder the cookie and some simply have more chips. As I was pondering this it dawned on me that like the cookie, our life can also be a treat that becomes a blessing both to God and to others. Jesus spoke of Himself as the “Vine” and His church as “Branches of the Vine”. He likened Christians to branches that either bore no fruit (no chocolate chips), some fruit (some chocolate chips), or a lot of fruit (delicious and tasty). But conditions, by proxy, determine which type of branch we are. Here is what He said: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears...

Biblical hope does not mean to “hope” that God exists, but rather, because we know He exists we have hope! Brenna (my lovely wife) Daniel Knew his God ...do you? My wife and I were discussing daily devotions when out of nowhere she just blurted out the above. I was taken back because of the depth of what she was pondering. Isn’t it so!! There are so many who share their requests to the Lord beginning with “I hope.”  For instance, “I hope He hears me” or “I hope He is there” or “I hope I can be counted worthy enough for Him to see what I am going through.” Faith is the ability to believe God always hears an honest request because our “Hope” in Him is not wishful but sure. The Apostle Paul stated: 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 ...

In the Christian heart there are many things that make for war. Daily it seems we are met with many a covert affection that will relentlessly tug for our hearts loyalty. The Bible refers to this as the “Flesh lusting against the Spirit,” Rom. 13:14, Gal. 5:17. In the battlefield of the mind we say we would like to be close to God and His church but we also find that apart from Him and the fellowship of the church, there are other things we also enjoy. Some are harmless but others are not so. Some will simply pull you into their vortex to the point that you are so overcome by their captive magnetism you find yourself entrapped. The “Peace of God” no longer rules and emptiness begins to ensue.   So it is with all believers. On a regular schedule we are confronted with decision making that should really be made with the salving inner peace that Christ provides in mind. When chaos rules we live on the edge—we live with unnecessary stress that takes over our lives and directs ou...

I know the title sounds a little inauspicious for how can we, sinners that we are, possibly entertain the Lord of Lords and King of Kings? But that is just the question that seems to be relevant when we consider Abrahams encounter with the Lord in the field of Machpelah near a certain grove of terebinth trees at Mamre. The Scripture states: Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw  them,  he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant. They said, Do as ...

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. It’s a time of giving, sharing, receiving, and love. All over America and in many places around the world people are doing just that. Children are ecstatic wondering what is they will receive in the brightly packaged gifts and colorful stockings, while Mom and Dad, or Mom or Dad, Grandma or Grandpa, or a caretaker, or someone in authority (whew!)—joyfully watch as they tear the paper to shreds revealing the gift, or hopefully, the hope of their heart. In this is a valid scriptural truth and not to be sneered at that parents know how to give good gifts to their children. Jesus is well aware of this. In fact, he was quick to reference it in relation to the Father in Heaven being even more gracious than we! He stated, “ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11 (ESV) God our Father created us to have emotion. T...

The image of the Three Wisemen following the star of Bethlehem is one of the images that the Lord permanently placed in my heart many years ago. As a child I used to find an overwhelming peace in trying to draw and color different renditions of this image. Today a popular slogan is, "Wisemen Still Follow Him!" Maybe it is one of the reasons I titled my book " Those Who Are Wise Will Shine! " Because in the heart of true believers the light of Christ still shines! It is my prayer for all believers everywhere that they would seriously consider what a relationship to Christ really means. We have been given a gift that is so great--so far beyond human imagination, that when it is manifested through us to the world men are either drawn to it--like the wisemen--or they run from it--like Cain running from the Lord, (Jude 1:11). Why are so many turned away from the light of Christ? At the root of every excuse,it could be that we as Christians, are not truly allowing Chr...

Being a Christmas Elf myself, every year at Christmas time I always admire the families who display candles in their windows. They are so beautiful and the soft glow is reminiscent of warmth and peace. Even Alabama, that great country band also wrote of this in their song, "Just a Candle in the Window."   In their words, "It's like God's perfect light!"  But I must admit, Christmas Candles have become to onerous for me to deal with. I love their look, I love their light, and I love the mood they can cast. But, I can never keep up with them! If they are real wax candles I forget to light them or I forget to blow them out. I also worry about them burning down the house. Then there are the battery types. Oh boy, just another item I have to put batteries in or shall I say, forget to put batteries in. Then there are the corded types. Place them in the window and often the cord is so heavy it pulls the candle out onto the floor! So as you can see, I am not a ...

The Thanksgiving season is a blessed time for family gatherings, the carving of the turkey, and many other fun life building events. It is truly a time for us to pause and reflect upon the things that we are most thankful for. But, as is always the case, there are those who refuse to be thankful as they continue to live in cynicism toward the day and the blessings of others. Like the Christmas “Scrooge” they have become the thanksgiving “deluge” doing their best to rain on the parade of others! Well, I too can think of a multitude of things that I am not thankful for, but only if I wish to look at them as not having any reason or purpose. For instance: How can I be thankful for the cancer that takes a young mother from her adoring children? How can I be thankful for the children left behind who suffer a pain beyond all understanding as they spill forth rivers of tears? How can I be thankful for the orphans who wonder if there really is love in life? What about the homeless who...