Hollow Gestures - February 13, 2008

Good Wednesday morning to you. I found out this morning that the last living WWI veteran is a Buckles, that's with an "s", and he is 107 years old. In order to help memorialize the service of the WWI vets, someone has invited him on a national tour... at 107! Yikes, I'm not sure any of us will be up to a national tour at the ripe old age of 107. That sounds like the old, "we'll invite him to be nice, but he won't show at his age." Do we perform gestures of good will? Signs that we will do something, but have no intention of actually being called upon or having our gesture accepted. I think the Lord will not be fooled by that kind of hollow faith action. My faith will be tested soon. Is that a yawning, deep gulf before me, or a beautiful vista of possibility? My faith that the Lord has called me to write will require action, in the form of practice and in sending off manuscripts to publishers. Many people have thought to write, only to have their manuscript gather dust in a trunk. It is not enough to have faith and no action. We are saved by faith, but we don't want to just stop there do we? No, or as Paul would say, "of course not!" We want to grow in the faith, and as James reminds us, that requires action. Holding your hand up half-hearted in church with "please don't pick me" on your mind is a gesture of good will. Jesus told us to let our yes be yes and our no be no. We do not have to volunteer at every opportunity, even in church you and I are allowed to say "no". At your workplace, as it is in mine, I am sure they like to keep the plate overflowing. I am often overwhelmed at how much there is to do in our group and it never stops coming. God does not give us too much and sometimes it is up to us to let someone know that you cannot be there on Saturday, or that you will be attending your child's recital instead of some church function. I am not saying that we should say no to everything, but you do have a choice and, no, we are not condemned for missing a church function. Hmm, the sky is getting bright and I still need to get ready for work. One more sign of the life to which I am called, no dropping the devotional to run off to work!

Patience in the Lord, let it flow in me and you this day.

Bucky

Accepting the Gift - February 12, 2008

Good Tuesday morning! Today Pastor Rogers asked us to admit our sin before God and to admit that we are lost without Him. Does that seem hard to you? At one time it was quite difficult for me. Bowing before the Lord to admit that we are lost sheep is not an easy step. Salvation is easy and yet not so easy. The sin that caused Lucifer to be cast out of Heaven, pride, is that which makes it so difficult to accept the free gift of grace. Everyone, and you can see this in other religions, wants to have some regimen to perform or some Herculean task to accomplish, in order to earn their salvation. That grace and the saving of our life for all eternity could be freely given and accepted is alien to our earthly nature. However, in believing in Christ, we know that earthly nature is riddled with the holes of darkness caused by the curse, sin loosed on the world. While we do good works by putting action to faith in our Christian walk, to become a Christian requires and accepts no effort on our part, we can only accept that free gift.

In Pastor Rogers story, I always try to remember that the man could have refused and told the king that he wanted to serve out his sentence. However, you do not refuse a command of the king, and our King forgives our sentence of death. Do not refuse the command of the King by wallowing in the old sin! Accept the new life in Christ and share the Good News. What a glorious day it is in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Read the Bible - February 11, 2008

Good morning! It is Monday once more and time to go back to the work week. I think the major purpose of the work week is to remind us of how great the weekend is. Some might disagree with me, perhaps they would say something like making a living, earning loot or some such. Each to his or her own opinion. The work week also means that I write the devotional with an eye toward the clock, and that part I do not like.

This morning in my Bible reading, I was reminded once more of how graphic the Bible can be, and I am referring to sexually graphic. I am glad the Bible doesn't soften the blow of its words. We need to be jabbed now and again with graphic images to remind us of our need for God in our lives. Just as pain and trials remind us of our need for God, we need the occasional, "Yikes, that sounds too much like me!" to bring our view back to Jesus. Sex is not marriage, but it is a part of marriage. The Bible speaks to us as adults in Christ and we need not be squeemish about the graphic images. Read all of the Bible and learn to love God with all of your heart, body, and soul.

Praise God for His mercy and grace!

Bucky

Patience - February 10, 2008

Good Sunday morning to you! The weather folks predicted a warm day, but it sure is cold out and the clouds do not promise a sunny day. Have you ever mentioned something at work, perhaps to get it off your chest so to speak, and then had your coworkers make you sorry that you ever said anything? I suspect that all of us have enjoyed, sorry, endured that experience. As I grow closer to Christ, I also grow closer to Christians and would rather have their company than that of my secular coworkers. However, not only am I placed in my job to earn a living at this time, I also love my coworkers and want them to know the saving power of Jesus like I do. All of us will feel this separation from the world, even as we love them and yearn for their salvation. I would imagine that Jesus felt this most intensly during his time on earth. Why else would he care enough to even speak with the wicked teachers of the law in his time? Jesus knew they would eventually reject him for their own knowledge and love of the world, and yet he continued to explain, argue, and to pray for them. We may look at the Pharisees in the Bible and wonder that they did not recognize their Messiah, but for some period in our lives we were no better. As Jesus was patient with them, he is patient with us, and we can be patient with our coworkers and friends. Pray for your coworkers daily, just as your friends in Christ pray for you each day.
Let the glory of the Lord shine!
Bucky

Witness of Jesus - February 9, 2008

Good Saturday morning! I like Pastor Rogers' devotional message today. It would be so easy to run away and hide when presented with a note like that. No doubt the Accuser helped that person to gain that information. However, we are not witnessing about ourselves and our past sins; we witness about the sinless life and redeeming death of our Lord Jesus Christ! Like no other figure in history, religious or secular, our Lord rose from the grave to give a holy witness of his life-giving power. The mercy of the Father is gracefully given to us if we believe in the Son.

Wouldn't it be great if a congregation learned to forgive instead of being so quick to fire off their mouths? What if the next time a minister was caught in sin, he confessed, and then the entire congregation got up to confess their own sin, and then every one forgave every other one in that church. Wouldn't that be a wonderful change to what we hear in the media? That would be a wonderful witness to the world of the forgiveness of sins in our lives. I remember a story about a man from Nazareth who drew in the dirt while the accusers asked about stoning a woman caught in adultery. That man told the accusers that the one without sin could throw the first stone. In time, only the woman and the one without sin was left there. That one forgave the woman and threw no stones. We are to follow the example of our Savior. Remember that the next time a minister or church leader is caught in sin. Stones can fly from mouths as well as from hands; let us not forget the forgiveness we each have received from God.

God loves you and so do I,

Bucky

Shining a Light - February 8, 2008

Good Friday morning! Have you ever looked outside at night and noticed some light far away that you do not see during the day? Against the darkness, a small light can be seen for a long distance. Finding that light, it may surprise you how far away it is. Does this mean that the darkness is good because it makes the light shine further or appear brighter? No, in the same way that we would not want to be sick to show how well a medicine works. The world is both ill and in darkness. Our light may not seem very bright to us when we focus our own strength. However, it isn't our own light, but the light of Jesus shining through us. While bathed in that light, we cannot tell just how bright that light is to someone standing in the darkness. The light of Jesus shining through us is more than just bright to those in the darkness, it actually hurts them. Remember back to before you were saved. Do you remember how a minister, that is assuming you could stand to be in a church, would speak and put a verbal finger on those sore spots? I remember not wanting to attend church because it dumped a load of guilt on me each week and I didn't need that additional stress. Once I accepted Jesus into my heart, that stress went away and the guilt was left at the cross. Now there is an entity that likes to remind me of that guilt and shame, but focusing on Jesus takes care of that rascal! Standing in the darkness, the light of Jesus shining through those who believe is bright and painful to their hearts. There will be resistance to that light, just as you and I felt at one time. Please don't stop spreading the Good News with your own special talent and ability. God will use you and I to speak to and shine that light on those stuck in the dark.

Have a great Friday in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Strange Instructions - February 7, 2008

Good morning! Last night we studied a prophet that is often ignored in among the smaller prophets in the Bible, Hosea. The unusual, very unusual, thing about Hosea is that he was told by God to marry a prostitute or adulterous woman. The modern equivalent would be for one of the mega-church pastors to be told to marry a porn star. Church organizations are very quick to fire a minister these days, perhaps thinking that they must be the perfect ideal of pastor hood. We know in our own hearts this is not true, and yet we expect it from a minister. However, back to Hosea. He had no doubts in his mind about his wife; the Lord had already told him that his wife would be unfaithful. So unfaithful that some of his kids would be fathered by other men. Imagine what Hosea might say to our daydreams of marrying some famous or promiscuous person? I suspect it would he would think us a bit daft, out of our minds, loony, and other signs of a severe mental deficiency. He married in obedience to God; we need to do the same. However, marrying a promiscuous spouse is probably not in our calling. Pastors everywhere have probably counseled a young man or woman when they thought themselves very much in love with a potential spouse and blinded to very obvious promiscuity. At any age, we can have trouble listening to advice. Advice on marriage can be critical in our lives, but obeying God is more critical than that. No, I have not been called to marry a porn star or adulterous woman; rest easy on that! I do feel called to mention obedience, both for myself and for others. Sometimes God's instructions may seem strange to us, and we must then trust in His purpose and plan for our lives. Certainly Hosea may have felt a few doubts about his instructions, and yet he obeyed to the letter, even to the naming of his children.

God bless and keep you this day,

Bucky

Vote! - February 6, 2008

Good morning! A lot of vote counting went on last night, we may lose a few presidential candidates from yesterday's voting. As in independent, I just get to watch the primaries. It doesn't look like the Democrats can decide between two candidates, that could make it difficult for them. I on the other hand know exactly who I want to be leader of the free world... Jesus! Yup, I grow weary of the voting for candidates that are far less than ideal. Let's have the Lord Jesus as our leader. Wouldn't that be great? One day Jesus will return as King, but for now we must do our best to choose a leader. The very fact that someone wants the job of President is usually a warning sign to us. How do you vote for one among the many that are clamoring for the job, all of them far less than our ideal for the office holder? There may never be an ideal candidate. Think back upon your past or my past and see what might be drug out into the very worst of lights by a political rival. Isn't it great that God will not remember that when our judgement time arrives? We can seek and receive forgiveness. The political candidates must do the best they can in a very unforgiving world. After the choices are narrowed down a bit, I may write some things to consider in this forum. The choice of President is one of our more important rights in this country, not voting is not behaving responsibly.

Bucky

Presumption? - February 5, 2008

Good morning! We have a new blanket of snow to make our world a little brighter this morning. That pure, white blanket only covers over all the dirt. In Christ we seek more than a white covering, we seek and find cleansing of the heart. When we receive the grace of Jesus, the sin is not covered over with a thin coating of whitewash, but is completely blotted out. If God does not remember our sin, then the sin is no longer there!

One might ask how I, a sinner, could presume to write words of love and encouragement to others. What gives me the right to do this for you? Looking at the Bible, we see the words of many writers, all of whom sinned before God at some point in their lives. In those words we see a picture and testimony of the Word. Jesus spoke many words in his short ministry, but he wrote none. That gives nonbelievers a lot of trouble. How is it that Jesus wrote no words, yet wrote the entire Bible? We know that He worked through sinners, just like you and I. Sinners who received God's grace and trusted in Him to guide their hands as they wrote the Word that the Holy Spirit wrote on their hearts. Only through Christ Jesus can you or I share the Word with those in such great need of it. My own qualifications would fall short of those needed to speak with authority on the Word.

Paul is perhaps the greatest example of trusting in God to write to others. As Saul, he actively persecuted the early Church, seeking to destroy it utterly. Paul's conversion is one of the more dramatic stories in the Bible. From his conversion came a wealth of truth and wisdom that he wrote to churches and to all of us even in this day. Paul would be the first to tell us living in this day that he deserved no place in God's kingdom. Through our own qualifications, none of us deserve a place in the kingdom, and none would see it except by the grace of Christ Jesus. How do I presume to write to you? I trust in the Lord Jesus, just like every believer who has ever written, sung, or spoke their testimony of Jesus, the Son of the Living God.

God loves you and so do I. Have peace in Christ Jesus this day!

Bucky

Undefeated - February 4, 2008

Good Monday morning! How often do we see one team billed as some kind of juggernaut, only to watch them falter and stumble? Human teams are stoppable, no matter how talented they may seem. Congratulations to the New York Giants on their victory. Do you think that game will matter next year? Certainly it will be mentioned in the sports media for a while, but there will be another Super Bowl about this time next year. In all of history there are not many singular events; the Creation was one, the great flood of Noah another, and that ending battle that we call Armageddon. The events of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection stand out on their own, and will not be repeated. God's great works do not need to be played again next year, or next century. The sacrifice of Jesus happened once and is good for all time; that victory is permanent.

Last night we didn't get to see a football team leave the stadium at 19-0. What would Jesus record be over sin? Think of how many times each day you are tempted, and how many times you or I lose! Jesus grew up in a town, much like ours, and I am sure he faced all the temptations of growing up. Girls became women as he grew to manhood. An older kid probably offered him some kind of stimulant as kids often do. Jesus probably had to take a stand against theft more than once. All of these things, these temptations, were present in his life and he did not sin once. That is a record that boggles my mind. So what is my record or your record? Perfect, just as our Savior in Heaven is perfect. I am not saying that we do not sin, you and I both know that wouldn't be true. However, our record is the record of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He did not lose one of us, and that means that our record is perfect too! Saved by the Blood of the Lamb! I feel like a team that should lose 100-0, but suddenly someone says, "wait, our quarterback isn't here!" And Jesus then walks on to the field, undefeated and unbeatable, our Savior and friend.

Rest in that thought for today.

Bucky

Rambling... February 3, 2008

Good Sunday morning! I do need to get my school reports done before the big game this afternoon. Taxes are ready for filing too. This time of the year can get busy as we take care of the things we need to do before spring and summer. Some of you may be planning vacations, others may eagerly await some time outside in warmer weather. I plan to finish my class work. Yes, I couldn't resist throwing that in there too. The day looks bright and warm from my window, but the lack of melting I see speaks to a different story, cold. The thermometer says that it is just above freezing outside and it's almost 1100. Big elections coming up this week for the primary contenders. By Wednesday we will have a good idea of who our choices will be for President in the general election. Wonderful messages this morning in the church services, I hope that you were able to see one or more of them. Time is short, we need to get our Good News as much as possible these days. I pray that each of you enjoys a wonderful day of rest in Christ Jesus, even if you have duties or work to perform. Rest in our Lord today.

Bucky

No More Wishes - February 2, 2008

Good Saturday morning, and it's Groundhog Day too! Actually, I don't think that I will plan the remainder of my winter on what some furry rodents do or don't do today. What happens if the one you are watching gets up late today? "Oh, poo! I was supposed to be up at 0800 to see if my shadow appeared. It's too cold out, I'll do it tomorrow." Depending on a furry rodent does seem a bit foolish, much like wishing for things. Last night, I received a question that asked what three things I would ask for given three wishes. It suddenly came to me that since coming to Jesus, I had stopped wishing at some point. I don't mean that I do not have dreams and desires such as a college degree, marriage, kids, and other things that we all dream of, but the idle wishing that I once did like, "I wish I had a million dollars, or I wish I was married to [actress, singer, etc] Where did that go? I suspect that without realizing it, the Holy Spirit has guided me to put my faith in God and not in idle wishes to the air. Those who trust in themselves or the chances of the world will end their lives with regrets, "Well, I didn't get most of my wishes and it's almost over now." We, on the other hand, have all of the best things ahead of us in Christ. We don't need to wish for Heaven, Christ has already promised us a place in His Father's house, even now He is there preparing it for each of us. We don't need to wish for a million dollars, Jesus has promised us the riches of Heaven.

Praise God for the Promise!

Bucky

It will happen - February 1, 2008

Good Friday morning! Yes, I am enjoying the day off from work by getting up very slowly and being late in most everything. Today I must also load TurboTax, dig out the records and collect the statements for filing of the taxes. Not a light job by any means! The cats are glad to have me at home, but that's their opinion. In Ezekiel where did we get to? Today, I can tell you that I read the part where the Lord changes a proverb for the people of Judah. They had been using one that doesn't sound very good, "The days pass and the prophecies don't happen". However, that is rebellion toward the Lord if ever I saw it in print. The Lord sends Ezekiel a message for those people that says no more delays, the prophecies will start coming to pass right now. I am paraphrasing a bit, but the point still holds that just because a prophecy has not happened yet, we should never start thinking that it will never happen. The Lord answers them in this attitude also by saying, "I am the Lord, if I say it, it will happen." Short and to the point. We look forward with eager anticipation to the day when Jesus will return for us, and since the Lord said it, we can take it to heart, it will happen. Doubts will be whispered in our mind, or shouted at us from an unbelieving world, but we have the Word of the Lord to comfort us.

Praise God for His Holy Word!

Bucky

Believe and Obey - January 31, 2008

Good morning! There are two words that go hand in hand if you will in our daily walk with Christ. Believe and Obey. To grow in the Word, and to grow closer to Jesus we first believe, and then to show that belief, we obey. An example in the Word shows us a group who believed and then threw a big party because they thought Jesus was coming immediately. However, they were soon set back on the straight and narrow with a stern letter from Paul. We first believe, and then we obey. I don't think that either part is easy. The world aligns itself against our belief in Christ. Our lusts of the flesh rise up against our obedience. We do have one great advantage, the Holy Spirit in our hearts, the one named by Jesus as "the Comforter". I think that Jesus might have given the Holy Spirit many titles, but he chose the Comforter. This cannot be for His benefit and therefore must be for our own. We need a Comforter in this world. When the world throws out evidence that Christ was just a man or didn't really exist, the Holy Spirit will point out passages in the Word or even in historical literature that show Jesus is and was much more then just a man and that he did really walk the earth as a man. Trust in Jesus, the Comforter is very good at reminding us of who Jesus is, if we will listen. Our lusts of the flesh are powerful, but we are allied with the Creator of all things. Seek His peace and ask for His strength to overcome the lusts of the flesh.

Tomorrow I will be taking the day off from work to do my taxes. The day should be interesting!

God bless you all in Jesus name!

Bucky

Rebellion - January 30, 2008

Good morning! Have you ever felt a sense of rebellion? In this world, that is supposed to be "cool". To be a rebel is to have an independence that most people do not have. However, in Christ we are to be cleansed of that rebellion, although we have a bad habit of trying to pick up that old burden. I felt that sense of rebellion this morning, and I didn't like it at all. This sense of wrongness in rebellion will grow more acute as I grow in Jesus. Just as a spouse or child comes to know that he or she is in the wrong from that look, so we come to realize more quickly when we are in rebellion to the Lord. Rebellion is sin, and we know who the first rebel was and how badly he wants everyone else to rebel against God. To be in rebellion is to be turning away from God, and that does not feel "cool" to one with Christ in his heart. With the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we don't want to be independent, for that is the way to death and destruction. There will be a lot of lonely rebels in Hell. As for me, I want to be in Jesus and have Him in me, as promised to those who will believe.

Let the glory of the Lord shine in your heart today!

Bucky

That they will know... - January 29, 2008

Good morning! Have you spent a paycheck on Girl Scout cookies yet? I haven't, but it isn't for lack of trying. In this world, the buying comes too easily, the paying is the difficult part, and after eating all those calories, we really pay! I have difficulty saying "no" to a child, and this is exactly what Jesus points out when reminding us of how much our Father in Heaven wants to give us every good thing. If God says "no" to us, we can rest assured that it is with very good reason and for our benefit.

What theme runs throughout the prophecies of Israel's destruction? I noticed it this morning in Ezekiel. Yes, the cause was their idolatry, but many prophecies of destruction end with the same thought... "and then they will know that I am the Lord." We can read much the same thing in Revelation and other books of prophecy. Then they will know, even in meting out punishment the Lord desires that we should know Him. Only as a last resort does God use punishment to get our attention. It may be difficult, or perhaps not, but thinking back to before the time we came to believe, did you often glibly think that some problem or condition was punishment from above? Movies often speak jokingly of God hating some character, but what if they have it backward. Suppose instead that a loving God earnestly sought our or their attention in times of trial or punishment. I know, from the revelation of the Holy Spirit, that many times God sought to turn my attention to Him, gently at first and then with more effort. I think we all know, both from the example of Israel and from our own experience, that it is much better to turn when God gently reminds us as opposed to waiting for more drastic action. I love the Lord Jesus! We believe in Him, let the day shine brightly in Christ!

Bucky

The Unstoppable Word - January 28, 2008

Good Monday morning! The first weekend without football in several months, oh w.. I'm not going to use that woe word, it is much more serious than a weekend without football. This morning I had to wonder if the psalms were begun with early morning stretching. We seem to ask silly questions at times, alright I seem to ask silly questions at times, but we don't know for sure what the Lord used to trigger the writing of psalms or any other part of the Bible. Some of it may have begun as a journal, some as stories told around the fire in the evening, and some parts because the prophet or writer was specifically told to write it all down. Jeremiah dictated his prophecies more than once, one of the kings of Judah destroyed the first copy because he didn't like what it said. A person could set out to destroy every copy of the Bible in the world, and some have done just that, but the Word of God would live on. Many of us have read the Bible through, some have done it many times; if all the paper copies of God's Word were destroyed by some malevolent government, I suspect that all of us left would immediately begin spouting the Word by mouth, writing, and typing. God's Word cannot be suppressed, the news is simply too good to hold down. Every day a believer is risking a life to spread the Good News, often through copies of the Bible. We need to pray for them, even those we do not know about, so that the Word can spread.

By the way, why should we wait for someone to destroy copies of the Bible? Start spouting the Word now! Listen to the Spirit, read and memorize the Bible verses that touch your heart, and then repeat those words to those around you. Someone needs a pick-em-up word from God's Holy Word today, you may be in a position to start turning them around and away from the lust of the world. Use the unstoppable and powerful Word of God!

Have a great and faithful work week!

Bucky

Woe - January 27, 2008

Good Sunday morning! Today I wondered what is this "woe", a little word that comes up fairly often in the Bible. Searching for "woe" on Blue Letter Bible (http://cf.blb.org ) I see that it occurs 106 times in 98 verses in the King James version of the Bible. What does this little word mean that God should use it so often? Webster's says that woe is; 1. great sorrow, grief, and misery, or 2. a cause of sorrow; affliction; and trouble. While this is true from the world's point of view, to me in reading some of those 98 verses it looks more like a warning of the wrath of God. Certainly that wrath results in sorrow, grief, and misery, but God speaks of "woe unto..." in almost every case.

Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity... (Isaiah 5:18)

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; (Isaiah 5:20)

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes...(Isaiah 5:21)

If I be wicked, woe unto me... (Job 10:15)

In looking through those verses, I can see how we can substitute sorrow, grief, and misery unto... The little three letter word is a warning from God, and a sign of the impending wrath of God. Change, repent, turn to God, or woe will come to you and you kin. Such a small word, but full of terrible meaning in the Word of God. We know that at least one more warning of woe comes near the end, when an angel will cross the skies shouting for all to hear. Revelation makes it clear that no one will miss this warning, but that many will ignore it. When looking through the incidents of woe in the Old Testament, I pray for those who will hear that warning now and understand that turning to Jesus is the only answer. Woe, the word may not seem like much out of context, but I surely don't want it to come upon any of us. Praise God for His everlasting love!

Bucky

A Healing Touch - January 26, 2008

Good Saturday morning! Today, I read what God said to Ezekiel after the intial vision. Once more I read where a prophet is not just called to spread a message, but is given the tools to perform. Magical things happen in the Bible, but why are we not able to do magic? My first thought is that God reserves some things unto himself so that we do not fall into pride. If we could heal everyone in the world with a touch, any of us would immediately rush out to do just that. However, sooner or later, probably sooner, we would fall to the adulation of the world and start thinking thoughts like, "They love me, look what I have done for them!", while failing to give the glory and credit to God who granted that healing power. Pride would have taken over and destroyed us at that moment. We very keenly feel our limitations in this world. How much more do you think the Son of God felt His limitations while on this earth? It is good that we feel compassion and an earnest desire to heal suffering in this world. Pray that God will heal and that His will be done, not your will or my will. We may not see the reason for suffering right now, but God will not let anyone suffer without good reason.

I have been praying for someone's healing, a man who has suffered much on this earth. At times I feel the helplessness of not having the ability to heal when I want it to happen, and I am sure that each of you face similar situations. In a way it is good that I wish to walk over and heal this man with a touch, to ease his suffering immediately. It is also good that I don't have that power, that the power resides in God and not me. God does not succumb to pride, whereas I need the grace of the Holy Spirit to avoid pride in the least of things. Feeling down because you and I were not born with the powers of a superman? Well, praise God that we are not secure in our own super powers! All of us will do great things in Christ, but it will be under His authority and not our own. There is no sin of pride in telling God, "How Great Thou Art!"

God's blessings go with you this fine weekend!

Bucky

Stand Up! - January 25, 2008

Good Morning! What difference does belief make? Try reading the opening to the book of Ezekiel in the Bible, and then any fiction book. You can find fiction books that open similarly, even the visions of Muhammad start out in a similar vein. However, when we come to believe in Jesus, we also believe His Word, the Bible. Now when Ezekiel opens with "It was July and I was 30 years old, I lived with my kin by the river near Babylon, when suddenly the heavens opened and I saw a vision of God." You realize that Ezekiel had just come of age in Jewish society, he was going about his normal business and suddenly every thing changed for him. What is interesting is that Ezekiel is not special, just a 30 year old exile living in a foreign land with his kin folk. What happens to him is very special; he has been selected to be a prophet to his people. Many fictional works have copied this opening in some shape or form, but the character will be the special one, a hidden prince or king. Ezekiel was never special in that way; he was no hidden king, only a poor exile, a captive living because the conquering king allowed him to live. We don't believe fiction books, and while the stories may delight and entertain us, they do not hold the same meaning and feeling that the opening to Ezekiel does in the Bible. "I saw a vision of God..." Wow! How great and terrifying would that be? Reading on we see that Ezekiel fell on his face. Yes, I can understand that reaction completely. What does God say though? Did He lay out Ezekiel's sins and tell him to stay on the ground? No, God says, "Stand up, I want to speak with you." I am not quoting word for word here, only what I remember from my reading. However, the point is that God doesn't speak with him while he is groveling on the ground. We should understand that God doesn't teach us and impart wisdom to us while we are groveling in the dust; He will comfort us while we are doing that and certainly our sins will cause us to do that from time to time, but God wants to speak with us as friends and as students ready to learn what the Almighty Creator has to say. Who are we that we should deserve to speak with God while standing up? Would you want to speak with those you love while they are groveling on the ground? No, we want to see their faces and teach them gently, and that attitude comes from God. When God wants to teach us His wisdom and knowledge, He wants us standing in His love.

The love of Jesus goes with you this day,

Bucky

A Last Hope - January 24, 2008

Good Thursday morning! Ezekiel starts off with a vision that will catch our attention. Even today I have difficulty envisioning the four living beings. I wonder if Ezekiel felt a strong urge to flee when he first saw this vision. We read amazing things about the four beings; lightening flashing between them, four faces so that they moved forward in any direction, and four different faces at that. What are we to make of visions such as this? Each of us has dreams, but probably not like that. The Bible foretells that one day we will start having visions and dreams as the end times approach. That will be one sign that, if God is willing, we should rush to share with each other. When the dreams and visions arrive, we can rest assured they will contain important news and information, and not only should we share them with each other, but unbelievers as well. The end times will mean that for many, their last chance to believe will be upon them. We need to love them enough to share the Good News, you or I might be some one's last and best hope in Christ Jesus!

I realize that when you and I look at our lives, we find it hard to believe that any of us could be a person's best hope. However, we stand not on our own record, but on the saving grace of Jesus. The grace of Jesus is available to all, no matter how sin-stained they may appear to us, and no matter how good they might appear to our eyes. When the time comes to share the Word, remember that you and I do not stand alone, and it is not our skills or abilities that save anyone. Rest in Jesus and stand on His everlasting and unchanging love in your witness. Some are called to share what they know or can do in order to gain some one's attention, but all of us are called to share what Christ has done for each of us. Ezekiel had amazing visions and the endurance to suffer some difficult tasks, this was to gain the attention of many and pass on God's messages. We are called too, somewhere, sometime, we too will need to share a message of hope and salvation. Let God lead you to that place and rejoice in Him daily.

God bless you all!

Bucky

Promises Fulfilled - January 23, 2008

Good morning. Jeremiah ends with an account of the prophecies fulfilled, just as the Lord warned them. The tales are not comfortable, and not for small children, but they do show that God is as good as His Word. That gives me comfort, for there are great, terrible, and wonderful events prophesied in Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, and many other books in the Bible, that have not yet come to pass. We know that much of Isaiah came to be fulfilled in the New Testament with the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. However, Isaiah also foretold many greater events that have not happened yet. We can be filled with joy in reading the promises that Jesus has for us, and thinking on the great gifts that are still being prepared for us. We must warn unbelievers about Hell, but our future is not there. Many will face judgment, but our ransom has been paid. What does the world, and I will admit to it also, often do when faced with the future. Right, we or they are troubled. Last night I read an interesting passage in John: Jesus told them to not be troubled or afraid. Now I have read over that passage before and read like the many other times that Jesus said "Don't be afraid" However, this time He said "don't be troubled" also. There must be a meaning in that, for Jesus let now idle words fall in His ministry. This saying came just before Jesus was arrested and led away to die, and so I believe this is a message to be at peace about the future and our place in Heaven. Again when read in the full context we find that to be true.

"I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27

What a great verse, and you can read more comforting words from Jesus about the coming of the Holy Spirit and Jesus' own return in that same passage. As usual, we remember and quote one verse and it is wonderful, reading on it only gets better.

Praise God for His great promises!

Bucky

A Place for Us - January 22, 2008

Good morning! The outside air is very cold this morning and I didn't want to leave my warm bed. However, my work awaits me and I am blessed with a warm house with a furnace, at least once I get up and turn it up that is. In this life we often must put something in to get a return. To warm up the house, I must first leave the warm bed. To make money you and I must go to work and put in some effort. We hear sayings like: "nothing in life is free" and others. That is where the strangeness comes into play. Salvation is free, Jesus did all the work. So how do we reconcile that with the world? We don't and we cannot reconcile that with the world. Jesus came from outside the world to perform a miracle from inside the world. Without direct, personal help from God we would still be lost in this world. Let your joy overflow, for God took a personal hand in saving us from the crushing weight of sin in this world!

It isn't your doing, it isn't my doing, it is and was God's doing that saves us from our sins. Then there was more good news! Jesus was killed by the world, and then rose again. Just before leaving this world, He told us that a place would be prepared for us. By "for us", He said that this place would be readied to receive us when the time is right. We do not know the time, but we can rest assured in the promise. We may live for today, but we also live to be with Jesus in that holy place. Praise the name of Jesus!


Enjoy God's peace on this very cold day!

Bucky

Rest - January 21, 2008

Good Monday morning! Another very cold day dawns across the plains. Did you ever ask for more strength to hold Jesus tightly and not let go? I know that I have, and that shows how easy it is to forget that Jesus holds us, and nothing can remove us from His grasp. In seeking to hold onto Him, we can make the sin of placing ourselves in the superior position. Actually, we need the strength to fore go our pride and self-dependence in order to rest in Him. Our spiritual grasp will never be strong in this life; why should we want to depend on that? The Word tells us to trust in Jesus, not in our own ability or strength. Know that you and I are held in God, and that when Jesus saves us - we are saved forever.

Rest in Jesus today,

Bucky

Do Your Duty - January 20, 2008

Good Sunday morning! Feeling somewhat like a stranger, I did manage to go to the grocery store this morning, only stopping to empty the full mailbox down the street. A little less than a week of being inside my house left me feeling a bit out of place driving around town. The cold/flu bug that is going around here is difficult to shake this year, perhaps at least partly due to the quite cold weather we have experienced this winter.

One devotional last year that I wrote, spoke of the use of Bible verses out of context. Sometimes we get a message within a message and one verse will stand out from those around it. Yesterday, it was Jeremiah 48:10 that stood out from its peers. The first nine verses in the chapter speak about Moab, and the verses from 11 - 47 speak more about Moab. However, in between those verses is this one:

"Cursed be those who refuse to do the work the Lord has given them, who hold back their swords from shedding blood!"

An interesting message, and related to the verses around it, but yet not related. This verse brings some light into past darkness for me, and I would think for many veterans in every time and place. One of the big "things" that we remember from the Vietnam War era, was that of conscientious objectors. These were those persons drafted into the armed services, but that refused to fire a weapon at their fellow man. What this verse says to me, is that if we are called to serve in the armed forces, or even law enforcement, and we then refuse to shed blood in our duty, God will not be pleased. That is interesting and probably raises all manner of conflicting thoughts in all of us. We know that many of the stories in the Old Testament speak of tremendous violence. We also remember that Jesus did not come to bring peace on his first trip. The Second Coming will usher in a period of peace and prosperity, but not before more violence occurs.

All this violence! What does that mean when we look at the Sermon on the Mount? There is no conflict; the Sermon addressed personal ethics. Certainly we are not to grab our sword and go whack our neighbor. However, in a time of war we may be called upon to take up the sword to defend our nation. That may seem like a fine distinction to make at first. However, in the case of murder, the person must decide that on their own. In the case of serving your country, the person does not plan to take life. Police officers do not go on duty hoping to shoot someone, and few yearn for peace more than persons in the military, but each may have to employ a weapon with deadly force in the pursuit of their duty.

Heavy thoughts this morning to be sure, but it seems that the military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are sometimes forgotten for long periods. We do need to remember that they are over there defending our country and doing a difficult job. Pray for them daily and that peace will come to the Middle East.

God bless you and your families!

Bucky

Angels - January 19, 2008

Good Saturday morning! A title often used in Jeremiah and other places in the Old Testament is "The Lord of Heaven's Armies". Today, I couldn't help but wonder who makes up those armies. Anyone who has served in the military on this earth knows that armies and navies are made up of individuals, like you and me. Does that mean that heaven's armies are made up of believers who have died from this earth, or are they angels, cherubim, and seraphim? Are all angels the same? Do they all have the same abilities and authority? Only a few angels are named in the Scriptures, Michael and Gabriel are two that I can recall. When Peter takes out his sword in the Garden at Jesus' arrest, he is told by Jesus that twelve legions of angels could appear at His command. Do those angels have names or are they multi-purpose angels? We do not know the answers to all of these questions, and may not know until we see Jesus in Heaven. What we do know is that true angels of the Lord do not want any personal glory. If any do appear bearing messages in the Scriptures, they often say, after "don't be afraid", to worship only the Lord.

Pondering angels can be a fun Saturday activity, and I need to dig into the scriptures to find out more about them. An activity of this type is where a good Bible companion study, concordance, and dictionary can come in handy. There are many whom God has called to spend their lives studying the Scripture to produce these works that will help you and I in our Bible studies. I suggest that we make use of the service that God has provided and get some of these tools for our study.

Have a wonderful Saturday in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Who's Who? - January 18, 2008

Good morning! I am still recovering from this quite nasty cold thing that has a hold of me. Today's devotional from Pastor Rogers is one of my favorite. Most of us could probably make the "Who's Not" list, and it always gives me a chuckle to read that one. I remember the "Who's Who among..." lists that came out, for all I know they are still published. I didn't make the one for seniors in high school, or college, or any other Who's Who that I know of. My life has been just plain interesting without that and I suspect there are more interesting adventures in store for me. If I ever do make a "Who's Who" list, please forgive me, I can only say "It wasn't my fault!"

Reading today in Jeremiah, I came across a lengthy prophecy against Moab. The Lord had much to say against this people, but at the very end a couple of lines stand out. The Lord promises to restore a remnant of Moab. Just like that, after pages of testimony and judgment against Moab, there is a promise to restore the remnant. We don't know who this remnant was, perhaps a family devoted to God in spite of the idol worship all around them, or even a town who still believed in God. However it came about, and unlike other nations who were totally destroyed, someone in Moab was not forgotten by God. We can take comfort in the fact that God does not forget even one faithful person, no matter how surrounded by idolatry that person may be. Remain faithful and trust in the Creator of all. The Lamb's Book of Life contains the only Who's Who list that really matters!

God bless you this fine Friday,

Bucky

Built on Sand - January 17, 2008

Good morning! The air is cold outside this morning, and I am still fighting a cold inside. Speaking of fighting, the Lord does not seem to be overly concerned with what the military calls operational security. I read in Jeremiah this morning the prophecy to the Egyptians about their coming battles with the Babylonians. Nebuchadnezzar might have wished for surprise when he attacked Egypt, but the Lord speaking through Jeremiah, spelled out everything. As I am sure that Neb' came to realize, when the Creator of all promises victory there is no need to worry about keeping anything secret. We know that the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar did roll over the Egyptians and the last worldly hope of the Judeans was washed away like the sand on the beach. Do you suppose Jesus had this example in mind when telling us to build our hopes upon the Lord and not to be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand? The Judeans had been warned several times to trust only in the Lord and to return to Him. They trusted in the Egyptians, we can only wonder why, and they too were flattened by Nebuchadnezzar's armies. Neb was described by God as "my servant, Nebuchadnezzar" That is not a good sign when the Lord is speaking about your enemies on this earth! Yes, if the Lord is referring to a nation's enemies as His servants, that nation may want to be taking a good look at their relationship with God, because something isn't right. There are things in America that are not right at this time, we too might receive prophetic warnings if we don't continue to trust in God and obey Him.

I pray that you have a wonderful day in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Let it Go - January 16, 2008

Good morning. Today I will do something nice for everyone by staying away from them. Yes sir, it's cold time here in my household and this is one of those things that are not nice to share with others. Today I read the second installment of the Lord's message to those Judeans who decided to kidnap Jeremiah and bring him along for the trip to Egypt. As we have come to expect, with no repentance, the prophecy of disaster remained the same for those people. This example turns out to be one of the worst times of rebellion for the Israelites. This group not only intended to continue in their idolatry, but after hearing from the Lord one more time to lay aside their idolatry and worship only the Lord; they quite plainly stated their intention to continue their rebellious ways. A dark chapter in the history of Israel, telling God flat out that they did not need him. We must learn from this example. Oh, I don't expect that any of us have told the Lord to get lost in plain language, but it can be easy to try to retain control over one area of our life, in effect telling the Lord to not touch it. We are called to give up everything in our life, and only then will we find true life in Christ Jesus. Where in your life is the Holy Spirit putting His finger on a spot that remains unrepentant? We have been trained to be self-reliant in this life, giving up our efforts can be difficult. I know that if I give up my effort in one area, the Lord will provide another area to put my effort to better use. We need not fear that stepping out of the way of the Lord will leave us with nothing to do!

Praise God for the work and the Word!

Bucky

Accepting the Love - January 15, 2008

Good morning! It got me, yup, that old bug going around finally got ahold of me. I shall stay home today to get over it.

Today I read about Jeremiah's message to the remnant in Judah. They came to him, asked him to pray to God for them, and vowed to obey whatever the Lord told them. However, later in the book, we find that this group had no intention of obeying the Lord. Wow, coming to the Lord with a vow on their lips and a lie in their heart! It doesn't seem very wise to us, yet look carefully at your life and you and I may find the same kind of behavior somewhere. All through the story of the early Israelites we often read examples of what not to do, and we marvel at their disobedience and punishment. Later we read about them doing something similar, usually idolatry, and suffering for it yet again. We marvel and ask, "How could they?" and turn away from a close, and uncomfortable, examination of our own disobedience.

When we do finally face our own sin and disobedience, we find reason to marvel even more as the love of the Lord Jesus then becomes greater in our hearts. How could He love us in the condition that we often find ourselves, that of disobedient sinners? Jesus died on the cross for all those sins, we need not hold onto them. Bring them to the cross and leave them there. None of us are perfect, all are born sinners and all of us need forgiveness and God's grace. None who ask will be turned away by Jesus. His great love conquers the bad feelings of remorse, and brings us to a new day in this life. That day begins with the realization that we have been given eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ!

Share God's joy and blessings with those around you today!

Bucky

Our plans and His plans - January 14, 2008

Good Monday morning! Ah yes, the best laid plans and so on... My weekend of homework did not work out so well. That old on-call stuff caused me a lot of grief this weekend. There are times when our plans just do not happen, and we must then make adjustments. Jesus pointed this out to us by reminding us to keep God in our mind when planning something. Should I think that it was God's will that I not get my school work done this weekend? No, I don't think so. This would be a sign of the sin-stained world that we live in. Plans just don't always work out for us.

This morning I read a message from God to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian. "Because you trusted me, I will preserve your life and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!' (Jer 39:18) What does that remind you of? Yes, it sure looks like the blueprint for salvation. Read John 3:16 and note the similarity. Jesus stated quite plainly that He had come to fulfill the Law and the prophets. His plan of salvation exists to save us and that plan was prepared long before Jesus set foot upon the earth. This plan will not fail, it has the backing of the Father in Heaven and the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord Jesus to seal the outcome. While our plans may fail, His plans do not and will not fail.

Praise God for His great plan of salvation!

Bucky

Fingering my Heart - January 13, 2008

Good Sunday morning! The day is bright and sunny outside, but still on the cold side. Lately, I have felt the Holy Spirit fingering sore spots in my heart. This is not a bad thing, but it does hurt. In our pride we want to think that we are doing well in our Christian walk. A natural inclination of pride is to try to tell the Lord, "look what I have done!" We know intellectually from our Bible reading that all human effort is pointless in the end, and that only God can save us. I am not saying that working to buy a home, feed yourself and your family, and giving to charity is pointless work, but in the end none of that can save us. Many will come before the throne of God and be sent away, all the while saying, "but Lord, look what I did for you!" Do you tithe every week, taking care to give even ten percent of the herbs of your garden? The Pharisees did, and Jesus had nothing but harsh words for them.

What I am trying to point out in this is not that tithing or giving, or doing good is wrong, quite the contrary, but that thinking that I or you or anyone else can do something for God, or to save ourselves, leads to pride. God does not need my help, but I need His help every moment of the day. God grants me the ability to work, to earn money, to give generously, to help others, and the many other things that I can do. How is it that I should have any pride when all that I can do comes from God? Yet that pride sneaks up and I have found myself coming up again and again with plans to improve myself. "I gotta do this and that, and then life will be perfect." The first thing to do will be to step back out of the way of the Holy Spirit and let God shine His light on the real problem. After that the blessing will come when the symptoms go away through the light chasing away the darkness that causes those symptoms. This is deep, and will probably take some time, perhaps the remainder of my life on this earth, before the work is complete.

God loves you and wants to bring you closer to Him!

Bucky

Keeping Watch - January 11, 2008

Good Friday morning! That first full work week of the year is about to pass on by. Do you understand all that the Bible has to teach? I know that I do not, and I suspect that none on this earth have all the answers or wisdom from the Bible learned. This week I began reading an article about finding God in our hearts. The article tells us to watch, to step back from our turbulent thoughts and just watch. This method is at the heart of therapy for the mind. Journaling, keeping a diary, and noting the thoughts that cause trouble are methods of keeping watch on our minds. Watching involves both guarding against those bad thoughts and observing the effects of thoughts on our mind and body. It is too easy for me to plunge into a daydream where I imagine a very pressure-filled situation and then find the effects of anxiety coursing through my body. How did I get to that point? By not watching, and getting caught up in a destructive maelstrom of thoughts.

We may not realize at the time that we are doing this to our own self. Reading a book, even the Bible, on what to do in a situation is different from experiencing the situation first hand. Jesus and Paul both warned us to keep watch. As in anything that is difficult to do, we must practice and learn. Keeping watch on our mind and thoughts will improve with practice. That practice must come in the quiet times when the thoughts are not already too far gone into depression or anxiety. We may wonder why we are told to practice meditation, or finding a quiet place with God, every day. As with any learned skill, each of us will improve over time and become proficient at finding a quite place with our Lord, even in the midst of an intense storm of thoughts.

I pray that each of us will have time and take the time to have a wonderful and quiet weekend. God bless you!

Bucky

The Ripples of Sin - January 10, 2008

Good morning! You may notice a bit of tardiness in the devotional this morning. Yes, one more late night change intrudes into the morning routine. Even though a minor change, it still required me to stay up late. Last night we started into the study of Jonah, a short book in the Bible, but full of wisdom. Who among us cannot identify with Jonah? God called him to a mission in a far away city, exactly what many of us feared when giving our lives to Christ, and Jonah fled in the other direction. Last night I said that one of the reasons Jonah fled was fear. Perhaps that was part of it, but it certainly wasn't fear of travel. Jonah went to Joppa and bought passage on a ship to Tarshish. For those of us in the modern world that is now called Spain. In what we would call a small ship, or a large boat, Jonah took a great risk in undertaking a sea voyage of that length. Ships didn't always make it back to port in those days. At times we might fear a thing that is perfectly safe for us in the protection of God, and be unafraid where we should be. Jonah fled from the protection of God, and nearly caused the entire ship to be lost at sea.

The pastor pointed out to us how Jonah's story shows that many might suffer for one man's sin. A family could suffer when one of them disobeys God, a town might suffer from the sexual sin of one man and one woman, and a nation might suffer from the sins of only a part of the population. Sin is that way, it causes ripples of suffering to spread from the center. We should consider this carefully when in danger of falling to temptation. I have not considered it enough, I will confess that right now. Even the heathens decry the selfishness of today, and as Christians we should never be an example of selfish behavior.

Praise God for the power of His grace!

Bucky

What is your path? - January 9, 2008

Good morning, the light of a new day arrives once more! God's way is not our way. That may cause some to stop and wonder if my train stopped a bit short of the station. However, I will stand by that statement because the Bible confirms it. God's ways are as far above the ways of man as the heavens are above the earth. You may have read a statement very much like that in the Bible. I thought of this during my morning reading. In this world, children and adults are pressured to become something. Everyone seems to want their child to be a this or a that, to hold some title or job throughout their lives. God may not want a person to be one thing throughout his or her life, or He may want them to start at a young age and become the best they can be at one job only. We cannot say what our children will grow up to become and as adults we may not find only one career that suits us for 50 years. This world likes its molds; he is this, she is that, you are a plumber, and I am a blacksmith, and we must be that for our entire life. It is quite possible that any of us may find that our calling has changed in this life. The Lord may want a person to give up a particular career and take up a different plow for the remainder of his or her time on this earth.

You may have read the books about finding your perfect career that use a parachute as their metaphor. I chose the plow to illustrate that what may seem to be an image of drudgery, walking behind a plow, is not for the person called to be a farmer. What to you or I might seem a life of drudgery, is a life of joy for the one called to that career. If you feel great stress each day at work, it is possible that the Lord wants you to be doing something else. I use "possible" in the sense that you or I may also be going through a time of testing and that we will come out the other side with a renewed sense of joy in our current career. No one but God has all of the answers for another person. Prayer is the place to start if you feel that you are not in the right place in your life. Seek God's guidance in His Word and in prayer. Speak with trusted counselors and weigh their advice in prayer and meditation in the Lord. As always this advice goes for me too.

Trust in the Lord with your life, and as our friends down under like to say, "no worries, mate!"

Bucky

Time Passing Quickly - January 8, 2008

Good Tuesday morning to you! We seem to have missed out on the snow this time, but more is on the way. Today begins my final eleven weeks of school, and that is a view to the end that is not so unimaginably long, a season of school. Time seems to bend and flex each day, week, minute, or year. From one side it appears to be very long, but looking back to the past, time appears very short and to run by very quickly. However, the distant past again seems different from our past. Ours is very quick, the distant past is very long, a span that is unimaginable to us. Time might seem slower through some periods of the past and faster at others. Our lives contain those same periods, and yet every day is the same length. A person might take a notebook and try to track and plan that time; this may help them to have a sense of control. However, that time still passes and whether that person is more effective or not, the time is still gone quickly. During a time of great stress or danger, the time may seem to slow down, but in fact that time is still going by in a rush.

Time may seem to mock our efforts, but we know that God is in control of all things. Time does not pass our God by, nor does it slip up on Him. A new year may stretch out before us like infinity, but God knows every moment of it. God knows the moment of Jesus' return, and the moment when the next conception will occur. He knows the starting and ending time of the next great war, even if that next war is held at Armageddon. And most importantly, God knows the moment that each of us will arrive in Heaven. Trust in God, our Lord for all time and who is sovereign. Let Heaven and Nature sing!

May your joy be complete this great day of the Lord!

Bucky

Trust - January 7, 2008

Good morning! This morning I thought of trust. The Lord commands our trust in Him. Why do you think this is? The one sin that comes up repeatedly in the Old Testament is idolatry. This seems to anger the Lord faster than any other sin. The first commandment bans idolatry, and so does the second, and even the third commands us to keep the name of the Lord holy by not taking His name in vain. Bowing down to an idol shows that we don't trust in the Lord. The people of Israel and Judah heard it from the prophets, trust in the Lord, obey only Him. However, they continued to revert back to their idol worshipping ways and eventually the nations were lost. It appears from my Bible study in the Old Testament that we are called to trust and obey God above all else. A person will rebel against someone he does not trust, therefore obedience shows our trust in God.

The fourth commandment tells us to rest on the Sabbath and keep it holy. That too shows trust in God. Some of us think that we must work every day. "Things will fall apart without me if I don't go in on Sunday!" I have been guilty too, thinking that my writing practice, which will begin in earnest very soon, must take place on Sunday. It does not, and I need to trust in the Lord. We seem to take trust too lightly these days, much like the world takes the Lord's name too lightly. Trusting in someone that you cannot see, hear, or feel in the physical sense is difficult. Yet the very things that we can see, hear, and touch are those things that we know are not trustworthy, and that God has told us explicitly cannot be trusted. The sun, moon, and stars will not always be here, the Earth will pass away, even people and governments will pass from scene at some point. The list of things that we cannot trust can go on for pages, but we don't need to go over all of them. There is only one being to place our trust and hope in, God the Father and Jesus His Son. Jesus said it to His disciples, "You trust in God, now trust in me." and later "I and the Father are one." Placing our trust in God acknowledges Him as our God, the Creator who loves us and sent His Son to die for us. The world may tell us to trust in retirement funds, or governments, or a hoard of money and stuff, but we know that all of that will pass away, sometimes in a moment it seems.

Trust in the one true God,

Bucky

Believe - January 6, 2008

Good Sunday morning! What a glorious day in the Lord!

Believe

Jeremiah received a message, go to the king's ambassadors in Jerusalem wearing an ox yoke and tell them to submit to Nebuchadnezzar and then they would be allowed to stay in their land as slaves. At that same time there were false prophets in the land telling those same people that no one could conquer the Holy Land. We know from history that Nebuchadnezzar's armies did conquer and they destroyed Judah. The choice those people faced is the same as ours is today. Believe in Christ and be saved, or don't believe and you are already doomed.

Noah chose to believe God's message. He built an ark according to the Lord's specifications, and then he and his family entered into the ark and were saved. Jonah chose to run from God's command, but later repented and told the sailors to toss him overboard into a storm. Such a thing preceded certain death at that time, being tossed into a stormy sea was not a way to an extended life. However, the sailors and Jonah believed, and as soon as Jonah hit the water, the storm stopped and Jonah was swallowed by a large fish. Later Jonah was spat out by the fish and he took the Lord's message to Nineveh where a great revival took place. John wrote many incredible things down. He did not fear the judgement of the world, but believed in Jesus both during his time traveling with Jesus and in the great revelation given to him late in life. Tradition has it that John died of old age, the only disciple to do that. The other disciples believed and followed Jesus, and spread the Good News to the ends of the earth. A choice has been made; will we speak, write, sing, preach, share, and live the Good News of Jesus Christ? Yes, we will and may His name be forever praised!

God bless you on this fine Sunday morning. Believe, pray, and live!

Bucky

Foretelling? - January 5, 2008

Good Saturday morning. The clouds have moved in this morning, but I don't think we are expecting any snow today. The warm temperatures of the past couple of days have cleared the main streets of snow and ice. I told the cat that she might have some grass to walk on this weekend, but I may be wrong about that as there is still quite a bit of snow around. Did you ever try to foretell even the smallest thing, only to find that you do not have the gift of prophecy in that way? We are not given every gift of the Spirit individually. Instead, each of us has a gift, perhaps more than one, to share with believers and non-believers in our walk with Christ. These days it is easy to automatically dismiss a prophetic gift, there have been so many false prophets in our world. However, the Bible does remind us that in the last days the prophetic dreams and visions will return in force. That will be one sign to look forward to in those days.

Yesterday, I wondered if we do not have it easy, and are not able to realize it. We have the Holy Spirit in our hearts and, although we do have our fears and doubts, we do not know what it is like to be truly alone in this world. The Bible also speaks of a time when the Comforter will be withdrawn from the world. I think anyone on earth will know when that happens. I pray that all of us are taken out before that time, because that does not sound like a good thing! Jesus called the Holy Spirit "the Comforter" and that must be exactly what the Spirit does for us. For that reason, I think that those left here on this earth will know when the Comforter is no longer present. Frightening? You bet it is, and I don't think that we can imagine just how bad that feeling and knowledge would be. One example would be Jesus crying out on the cross, "Why have you forsaken me?" This is the same man who did not cry out through all of the terrible torture heaped upon him by the world. Yes, not having the Holy Spirit in this world should fill us with dread. Be comforted now and let that knowledge drive us to spread the Good News while the harvest is still ready in the field.

Hold tight to the Spirit of God in your heart today!

Bucky

Certainty - January 4, 2008

Good morning! The first Friday of the new year, and it is very welcome too! After a vacation it always takes a bit to get back into the work week thing. I am glad to see this work week come to a close... in case you hadn't picked up on that already. Our cold spell finally broke yesterday and the snow will be going away over the next couple of days. However, winter has barely begun and I am certain there will be more snow and cold yet this season. At least as certain as one can be on this earth.

With so much uncertainty, we can lean on the solid rock of our faith, Jesus Christ, to give us our sure hope for life eternal. When Jesus walked with the disciples, they did not go hungry, either physically or spiritually. We have that same assurance and need only to believe in Him.

I don't seem to have much to say this morning, and so it is time to be quiet!

Have a wonderful Friday in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Setting Goals - January 3, 2008

Good Thursday morning! The glory of God shines through us on this fine day. Goals, the favorite subject of a new year. At work and in our personal life we are encouraged and even commanded to set goals. Usually the personal goals are encouraged and the work ones are commanded. Some of us have trouble because we set unattainable goals, too ambitious or too difficult. This can cause us to give up in defeat. Like a bad estimate from management, the goal is where the problem lies and not the attaining of it. A person might set a goal of walking to the moon. If that is simply a measure of miles walked in a lifetime, then that goal is fine. However, if the person means to actually walk from Earth to its satellite moon, through space, that would be a goal that probably won't happen anytime soon. We were not created with the ability to walk away from the Earth's gravitational field and cross the airless void between the planets and moons. Our goals for the month, year, or longer, must be realistic and attainable. Some goals may need the help of friends to attain. We may need encouragement or even someone to walk with us in reaching for a goal. Opening a business on your own has some advantages, but it may be good to look into starting with a partner.

Pastor Rogers left some good words of advice on goal setting for us and there are other sources of knowledge on goal setting. Setting bad goals is discouraging, setting good goals is encouraging. We need the wisdom of our Lord when setting our goals for the year and our lifetime. "Where do you want to be in five years?" is a favorite question of managers and bosses. That is also a good question for our Christian walk. Where do we want to be five, ten, or twenty years from now? Those questions can be very difficult to answer. At the age of 25, I can recall that I did not know where I wanted to be at 30, 35, and 45 years of age. At that age, I know that I was not asking God to reveal His plan for my life, and that probably had a great deal to do with why I did not know where I was headed in life.

It may take some time for you to discover your purpose in life. I pray that you will discover, if you have not already, through God's guidance, His will and purpose for your life.

Have a wonderful day in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Starting a New Year - January 2, 2008

Good Morning! Today many of us begin the new working year, though it will probably seem little different from the old one. Jesus brought us the new covenant, and every moment we are renewed in Christ. Daily we ask for forgiveness, and daily God lifts us up and puts aside the sins from before, even the ones we bring up over and over. Starting a new year is a good time to put aside the sins of the past. We should learn from them and desire to never sin again, but forget the guilt and shame. Those sins are forgiven.

You will notice that this was dispatched at the regular time this morning, and yes, I too will be returning to work today. There is much to be grateful for at the dawning of this new year. Resolutions will occur and be put into action or discarded as we deem necessary, a new chapter will open in Bible study next week, and there will be someone new in our lives. Somewhere and at some time during this year, a new person or persons will come into our lives. What shall we tell them by our actions and words? At the very least, I want he or she to know that my life has been given over to Christ. I think a good start will be in a friendly greeting each morning. I know this can be difficult at work, but that is one good resolution for this new year. I bet keeping that one will help me as much as it does the other person.

May God keep you in His love this new day!

Bucky

New Year's Day - January 1, 2008

Happy New Year! Did you stay up past or until midnight to see the new year in? I did not, and I probably won't next New Year's eve. The new year looks much better in the light of a brand new day. This morning, I couldn't help but think that someone would be having a parade, and it finally and belatedly came to me that this is the day of the Tournament of Roses parade in California. Yes, I am not always swift of thought first thing in the morning. This is why I like to eat breakfast and do some exercise before trying to write the devotional in the morning. Should I take the opportunity to jump out of bed and run to the computer first thing, the devotional may have more than a few strange thoughts bounce through from time to time.

This new year, what will it bring for me? I do resolve to start my writing practice in earnest. This is due to the fact that I have 11 weeks of college left, which starts next Tuesday. Yes, that means that more time can be devoted to the many things that I have put aside to complete my degree. Way back in the day, or more than three years ago, this devotional started going out to just a few folks at the Cabela's corporate HQ. My vision is to work on the spam issue so that everyone who wants to receive this can do so. When college ends, I also want to put more research into the devotionals, and that includes adding more Bible study in small groups. I do apologize, but you will hear more about the college course work coming to a close this year. It has been a long and tiring journey!

God bless you this fine new year!

Bucky

New Year's Eve - Dec 31, 2007

Good Monday morning! Warming is in the weather forecast, but not until Wednesday or Thursday... maybe. I goofed off yesterday, but I couldn't let the final day of 2007 just go by. Tomorrow is the day for those resolutions. What must be improved about ourselves for another year. Is there anything? To be saved there is nothing about us that needs to be worked on or improved. God takes each of us just as we are at the time of repentance. Some arrive at that moment in the very bottom of the pit of life. Alcoholics, drug addicts, criminals, all can come to God and receive salvation. All are sinners, is anyone worse than another when we ask God to forgive in the name of Jesus? Others come to repent in what we might call the high place of life; they have it all, fame, money, family, and lots of stuff. However, they look and realize that none of that satisfies and none of the world's things will save them for eternity.

We do not need resolutions for improvement to come to Jesus. In our Christian journey, we will take the time to make, and then keep or break, many New Year's resolutions. None of them will affect our salvation, but some of them will have an effect on how closely we walk with Jesus. Resolving to put aside lusts of the flesh, giving up an addiction, or resolving to visit people in the hospital or prison can help us to walk more closely with our Lord. Make your resolutions and have a good time in the process, but remember that you are saved in Jesus. Your resolution might be simply to learn more in God's Word, from that all other problems might take care of themselves.

May the light of our Lord shine in our resolutions for next year!

Bucky

Potter's Clay - December 29, 2007

Good Saturday morning, and the last Saturday that we will see in 2007. I have enjoyed a great vacation and there remain a few days to enjoy it even more! There are roots to my family; I wonder about them and the information arrives. My roots may no longer remain a figmentation of my imagine, or something to that effect. :-)

I read the chapter in Jeremiah about the potter and his clay this morning. This famous passage has graced many a sermon over the years and is still direct and to the point. God is the potter, and although His example to Jeremiah concerned the nation of Israel, it can be applied to an individual, a church, a town, a different nation, or even the earth and universe. God can start over at any time, and we know that He did just that in Noah's time. That flood was so catastrophic that we may never know in this life just how advanced civilization had become before the destruction. No signs of that civilization have come to light as far as anyone can tell, and so it is assumed that no advanced civilization existed. However, we come once again to that choice. If you believe in God as the creator of all, then you shall have no trouble in believing that He could have quite easily wiped out every trace of those former civilizations in order to start over with a clean slate. Noah's ark rode across the water. Underneath the waves the earth may have been entirely remade, we don't know for sure.

I don't want us to go running around spinning tales of Atlantis, but thinking outside of the normal assumptions does allow for a little mind relaxation. There is so much that we do not know about the past, creation, and even each other. I am glad that none of us will run out of things to learn in this lifetime, and I look forward to meeting Jesus and finding out even more!

Have a wonderful weekend in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Groundless - December 28, 2007

Good morning! A clear and cold morning dawns over the high plains. In a class this fall, the students were tasked with writing a paper on their roots; the family heritage and ethnic history that contributed to who they are today. I do not know a lot about our family history, the genealogy, or what racial and ethnic roots we have in our background. It may be that our family is so ethnically diverse that we can only be described as American. What does come to me today is the great history behind the Word. Lately, I have been reading in Jeremiah. He foretold of the destruction to come to Israel and Judah. This places his life way back there, about 3,000 years ago. You and I can open the Word and read the thoughts, fears, and hopes of someone who lived in what seems to us a very long time ago. Looking for roots? The Word tells us of our Christian heritage, all the way back to the Creation. The founder and object of our faith, Jesus Christ, is there, along with Abraham, Paul, Mary, Peter, and many others. Gentiles is another way to describe us physically and racially, but in Christ we are all one family under God. If you are ever feeling cut off from your "roots", look no farther than the Word of God. There you and I can find all the roots that we need in Christ Jesus. It should be no surprise to us that Jesus spoke of our firm foundation in Him. We stand on a mighty foundation and our fears of being ungrounded are, to put it succinctly, groundless.

Rejoice in God the Father on this fine day!

Bucky

December 27, 2007

Good Thursday morning! We are expecting snow today and it does look like it will start at any moment. This year, a white New Year's will most likely accompany our white Christmas. Today, Pastor Rogers asked this question, "Are you looking at life with the eyes of the Lord and trusting that He will provide, not necessarily what you want, but what you need?" How would you answer that? I will share with you my answer, and that is, "Not entirely and not yet." That seems a bit wishy-washy, like there is some shortcoming in my spiritual life. However, I know the Lord has brought me a long way from where I was some years ago. I also realize that my journey in this life is not complete. That is no huge revelation; I am here writing to you this morning and not in heaven with Jesus, so it isn't too difficult to figure out that my journey is not finished in this life.

Each Christmas, millions of kids, and more than a few adults, are encouraged to write a list of what they want. The things or stuff that we want come very easily to our minds and change almost moment by moment. Those things that we truly need are more difficult to list. Few of us know every thing or situation that we need; almost all of us have a good idea what we want. The comforting thing to know is that God knows both what we want, since we usually tell him often, and what we need.

Remember reading about the rich young ruler coming to Jesus and being told what he needed? What we need may not line up with what we want or think we want, but it is what God knows that we need. That young man needed to get rid of some stuff and learn to give. Our needs may not be the same as his; you may not have anything to sell or give right now materially, we can all give the Good News to an ailing world. Some of us may need an education (that would be me!), some may need a different job, some may need a friend, and others may need a mate. We don't know all of these things because God doesn't always tell us directly what it is that we need. You or I may need to be in a certain situation or circumstance. If God told us that, we would immediately start trying to accomplish the circumstance in our own strength and knowledge, and we would probably make a big mess of things.

What do we, you and I, need? Each of us will spend a lifetime learning the answer to that question, and the Lord will provide not only the answer, but the needs as well. This learning and looking back will make for one interesting journey, with a wonderful reward at the end.

God bless you as you prepare for a new year in this life.

Bucky

December 26, 2007

Good morning! 365 days until Christmas! If I am off by a day either way, then I am not going to worry about it. I do know that next year will be a leap year and we will get that extra day tacked on to February. I have five new calendars; I wonder if all of them have leap day where it should be? Yes, one more year is passing and Christmas is over. Soon we will need to think about income tax filing, resolutions for 2008, getting back to work (there's a depressing thought), and changing to new calendars for the new year. What are we going to change about ourselves for the new year? Bad habits, addictions, bad attitudes, and other "bads", are all candidates for a resolution. However, we seem to skip resolving to eliminate bad thoughts. Many of our addictions or bad habits might fall away on their own if we first work on eliminating those bad thoughts. Elimination of bad thinking is not easy; we will need the strength and authority of Christ to accomplish this task. Store away some fond memories of Christmas, and then add Christ himself to those memories. Who gave you the strength to get up this morning? Who died for your sins? Who created the heavens and the earth? Jesus did and by placing Him first in our thoughts, we find the strength and joy to go on living.

Look with hope to the new year and trust in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Christmas Day - December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas! We are getting a new blanket of snow this morning and it is beautiful! A white Christmas and a new day in Christ. I pray that you are having a wonderful Christmas day. From the weather map, it looks like a lot of people will have wakened to a white Christmas, and after years of drought in the area, that is very nice to see.

The metaphor of the new fallen snow is used often in literature and poetry. I like the one for reconciling our sins. In Isaiah, "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." God gave us himself, in the form of Jesus, on this Christmas day many years ago. The greatest gift, and one that continues to give us hope to this very day and beyond. Oh, the great joy that lives in our hearts for those who believe in Jesus!

Good Morning America invited four Christian leaders to the show this morning to voice their thoughts on what Christmas means. I am glad that at least a few minutes can be set aside in the secular news media to remember why it is that we celebrate Christ's birth.

Well don't spend too much time reading this, you must get ready to celebrate Christmas! Have a merry, joyful, and wonderful Christmas Day in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Christmas Eve - 2007

Good Christmas Eve morning to you! It is a fairly cold morning around here, but bright and beautiful. I know that some of you will be going to work today; I am off on a vacation day. School will break after today; two wonderful weeks off from class! I did get to watch a couple of my Scrooges this weekend and that does help to get ready for Christmas. And get ready is right, tonight is Christmas Eve! It seems strange that Christmas should come so quickly; I have been mentioning it since about June or July.

Here is the problem that many run into around Christmas. The anticipation of the holiday doesn't match the reality. A materialistic person may not get enough or the right gifts, an emotional person may have someone reject or mock a gift, a social person might find themselves alone, and many other potentially depressing situations can come to a head at Christmas. The law enforcement community refers to this as the "silly season". To me, all of this points to depending upon someone or something other than God. If you worship at the shrine of materialism, then sooner or later you will be disappointed. If your emotional condition is dependent upon how well a gift is received, then you will be bound for despair at some point, for we cannot read another person's mind to find that perfect gift. Depending on others to be around you and make you the center of attention? Well, in this world almost everyone wants to be the center of attention and many think that they are at every gathering. Why do people go to a party and get silly drunk? To be the center of attention, at least in their own mind, for a brief time.

Did you know that you have the full, undivided attention of God? Yes, the creator of all the universe is fully attentive to you, and to me, and to everyone else who trusts in Him. As a human, I cannot do that. If I am listening to one person, I cannot pay attention to what another is saying. If two or more people try to talk to me at once, I will become overwhelmed. However, God is not like us in that way. He can and does pay attention, fully, to each and every one of us at the same time. Did I say two or more people? Try to imagine hearing - and answering - the prayers of millions of people at any one moment! Yow! How does our Lord do that? I am just glad that He does and I trust in Him to do that for us.

I just realized that I am like... two hours late in writing this today. Aren't vacation days great? :-) If I cannot have fun in writing, then I should not go into it for a career. New Year's resolutions are coming soon. What do you have in mind for 2008?

God loves you and so do I!

Bucky

Christmas Sunday - December 23, 2007

Good Sunday morning! What a blessing I received today. The guest pastor on the Hour of Power was none other than Max Lucado, author of 3:16, the Words of Hope. I learned that his last name is pronounced with the long "a" too. Never think that a ministry is without practical value! :-) This morning always starts the core of the Christmas season for me. The Sunday morning services before Christmas start a period of intense reflection and joy in the celebration of Christmas, and in what God's gift means to me.

Today we may lose some of our snow covering as it is already above 30° and the wind is blowing. I think God is cleaning the slate to give us a new blanket of snow on Christmas day. Those of you traveling this weekend may wish for clear skies and clearing roads; it appears the snow that missed us on Friday hit quite hard a little further east.

More good news, I hear that Jeff D. and family were able to take his grandmother home for Christmas. It is always a blessing to hear of someone able to spend Christmas at home rather than in the hospital. One day I expect all of us to celebrate Christmas together in Heaven with our Lord Jesus. Please don't be late!

I see signs of hope in America, signs of a great revival coming. Let us all be ready to do our part in this, in whichever way that God calls for us to serve. This may be the last great revival, as the signs point to the arrival of the great events that will close out this chapter of history. What a blessing it would be to see all of America taken up on that great day of the Lord. Why stop there? Even better would be all of humanity, but the Bible says that many will not believe. Since I have no idea who will believe and who will not, I will just keep on writing.

Have a merry Christmas in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

December 22, 2007

Good Saturday morning and may you have a fine Christmas weekend! Today has arrived, just as promised. Winter begins today and it feels like it outside as well. We received only a few flakes from this last predicted snow, but I am hoping that more will arrive on Christmas day. We, that is my fellow students and I, are still in class this weekend. To use a popular phrase, that really sucks. College continues to find new ways to annoy me, but it will have to hurry with just 3 months and a couple of days to go. Christmas is but three days away now, and the days will become longer as we move through the winter.

In proclaiming the word of God, Jeremiah learned of a plot to murder one of God's prophets, himself! Jeremiah didn't hear it through his intelligence network or from the king; God told him. Imagine having knowledge of Israel's coming destruction, warning everyone you could find, and then finding out their proposed solution was to shut you up...permanently. Jeremiah probably had a moment or two of panic, "they want to kill me?" However, Jeremiah was one of the few serving the Lord at that time, and he enjoyed the protection of the Almighty. We can learn from that story, for the world killed our leader and savior too. When speaking out for God, spreading the Good News and loving our neighbors, we too will incur the wrath of the world. Some of us may die for speaking out. To us the thought of dying for Christ is at once joyful and frightening. We would be honored to be counted worthy to die for Christ, but we are all afraid of dying. In Christ we are not afraid of death and what comes after, but we do rightly fear the pain of that transition. Even Jesus feared what was to come at Gethsemane; there is no shame in being afraid of a painful death, and He knew that His would be very painful.

Christmas is coming and here I am getting into the morbid again... but wait! Jesus death paid the price for our sins and His resurrection brings us the Good News of life everlasting! The bad news is not bad at all! Praise God for the life changing grace of Jesus Christ our Lord! Have a wonderful, merry Christmas!

Bucky

December 21, 2007

Good Friday morning! Have you eaten as much junk as I have these last few days? It seems that around every corner is a new treat or sweet to sample (sometimes two or three samples are necessary). For many of us, today is the last day of work for a bit as vacations will be in abundance over the next week or so. Children are out of school, some plants close up, and many just want to get away for a while. At Christmastime, we like to get away from the normal work and school. Some enjoy a quiet time and others like a good party. In whichever activity you like, remember to worship the Christ child. Our Father in Heaven sent to us a gift that cannot be bought with all of the money in the world. Sadly, a lot of celebrating will be done with too much alcohol or substances even worse. In a season of happiness and cheer, some one's life will be ended by a driver under the influence of some drug or drink. It does seem depressing to think about such things right before going out to enjoy some time off, but we have a responsibility to pray for those who have not seen the light of Jesus. Tomorrow, I will try to do better for ending on a cheerful note.

Christmas is here! Let the glory of the Lord shine on us!

Bucky

December 20, 2007

Good Thursday morning, and a fine Merry Christmas to you! The next couple of workdays will see a lot of what can best be described as non-work. Many places will see everyone take a bit of a break before Christmas and New Year's Day. How many workplaces are too scared of political correctness to celebrate the birth of Jesus? Probably almost all of them. That is a sad commentary on what began as a Christian nation.

Last night we held our annual Christmas quiz in Bible study. This is one where we try to spot the errors in the story of Jesus birth. No, not the real story, but the one with a stable, cattle, hay, three kings, a little drummer boy, and a few other "oopses" included in the story. The Bible doesn't say how many kings or wise men made the trip, nor does it say anything about cows, hay, or stables. It is interesting to see how many things have crept into the nativity story over the years from songs, poems, and stories. Does that make them wrong? No, just like December the 25th, we do not know that those things were not there and that God didn't guide someone to add them to the story. The manger could very well have been in a stable, and an innkeeper might have been involved in telling Mary and Joseph that there was no room for them. Praise God that the world can see Nativity scenes and the Baby Jesus, that is a great place for a non-believer to start. Perhaps somewhere on this Christmas, someone who does not believe will ask, "Why do they celebrate the birth of this particular child?" I am sure that God will have a Christ-one there to share the Good News that arrived with that birth.

Have a fine celebration of the birth of Christ!

Bucky

December 19, 2007

Good Wednesday morning! It's out there now! I had a meeting with my boss yesterday and let the cat out of the bag, if you will. For two or three years I have deflected the question, or avoided the answer, of "what are your career goals?" Now Cabela's knows that I want to retire in a couple of years and start a writing career. That is a burden that is off of my conscience. They know my plans now and will probably hold me to them. Praise God! Even a good secret can become burdensome if kept too long. However, I shall believe that this revealing, as with all of God's plans and purposes for my life, is at just the right time.

Merry Christmas! Let me say it yet again. Less than a week now and the excitement builds. This is a tough week in college, we all want to break for Christmas. It reminds me of the Christian walk. We anticipate that day when Jesus calls us home, or even better comes to take us up from this earth together. However, that doesn't mean that we can drop our tools and relax in spreading the Good News. The devil would like nothing better than for all Christ-ones to relax and goof off until Jesus comes. The Word must go out and each of us, in our unique God-given talents, is called by God to do some task in bringing in that one, ten, or twenty lost sheep. Some Christians are called to help bring in thousands or millions, such as Billy Graham, but others might be called to only bring in one. That one is just as important to God as each of the thousands, do your task with the knowledge that all of Heaven's saints cheer you on!

To God be the Glory!

Bucky

December 18, 2007

Good morning and Merry Christmas! The story of the woman caught in adultery, and Jesus words about he that is without sin can throw the first stone, are often used in teachings about the Word. I like reading that story as it points out many things about the people then and the people now. One thing struck me today while reading it one more time. The Pharisees refused to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, yet when he passed judgment in this case - they obeyed Him! The Bible records that starting with the oldest, the accusers all dropped their stones and left. Jesus did not accuse the woman and told her to sin no more. The new covenant had arrived! In forgiveness we are not "let off" to go do as we please, but to sin no more. Jesus said the same thing to the Samaritan woman at the well, sin no more. Jesus seemed to say this to many women at that time. Did they need it more than the men? No, I think those stories are recorded because the women listened and took His words to heart. Go, and sin no more. Mary Magdalene, the woman caught in adultery, the Samaritan woman at the well, and others came to Jesus, received forgiveness and then became believers in the Son of God. Women of the time were little more than property, even the smelly shepherds probably got more respect at the city gate than the women. However, Jesus ministered to all and He planted where the soil of the heart was fertile. Too many men and women at that time did not think they were sick at heart and in need of the physician. Today, so little has changed in many hearts. Pray for those who will not hear and will not see.

On a better note, say a great "Hallelujah!" for those who have seen the light and heard the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ! Today is one week until Christmas Day and the celebration of our Lord's birth. We, the undeserving, received a great gift from the Father in Heaven. We give gifts to each other to commemorate that gift. Enjoy the reason for Christmas!

Bucky

December 17, 2007

Good Monday to you! Yes, the morning is here, but I thought a little change of greeting to be appropriate. Merry Christmas to each of you also! In reading a devotional from Max Lucado this morning, I thought of all the pains in the world. Yours, mine, a person in China, another in Africa... all over this world people are hurting and dying. God knows each and every one, and as Max pointed out, He sorrows over each one. Our thinking might turn toward the, "God has forgotten me" self pity that comes from the whispers of our adversary, but as you will see in Pastor Rogers' devotional, that is never the case. We have a need to be reminded daily, and perhaps more often, that we are loved by God and by many other people. Self pity drove Elijah to comment that only he believed in God. To which God responded, "No, there are 7,000 others who still believe in me." Be watchful for that self pity, a sneaky feeling to be sure, it comes upon us when we least expect.

The state of self pity comes very easily during the holiday season. We often fail to think of those spending the holidays alone, especially in a hospital. Someone noted that in suffering we gain understanding of others and their pain. One place that is extremely difficult for me to visit is the hospital. Most of you understand the reasons behind that, but one more I time I shall try to visit someone this Christmas. I have been blessed with that understanding that comes from experience.

Have a wonderful Christmas, and please pray for each other,

Bucky