Rewired for the Journey

I once was asked by a priest if I did not have the church, the Holy Bible, and all the other Christian props we use in our religion, could I still have faith in God. I have to say, that was a very deep question I had to ponder. In the end, I thought to myself that just looking at all the stars and planets in the sky and how complex the human body is... there had to be a great Creator. Yes, I could still have faith, a naked faith, in God. Now we are very fortune that God does love us enough to give us His Holy Word that we may know Him with far more than just a naked faith. Romans 1:20 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 20  For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world,  being understood through what he has made.  As a result, people are without excuse. Prayer: O' Father in Heaven, thank you for giving us more than a naked faith, in Jesus name, amen.

As you grow older you realize how precious life is and so each morning when I rise I thank God for the gift of another day. I try to notice throughout my day how blessed I am in even the small matters of life. I do laundry and thank God I have the mental capacity to know how to put the clothes in the washer and dryer and having a body that allows me to fold the laundry at the end. I thank Him that I have clothes and food and shelter and a loving family. I thank God for loving me another day. This is what is called living a sacramental life.  Psalm 138:1 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 1  I will give you thanks with all my heart; I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings. Colossians 4:2 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 2  Devote yourselves  to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. Prayer: Father in Heaven, let our heart always be thankful in all our earthly circumstances, in Jesus name, amen.

As a Christian remember it is a constant journey where your faith and life in Jesus should always be growing and so stretch your faith. Do not be afraid to take a Bible Study class or an online Christian course on a topic that interests you. But grow and it will help you when you have desert times in your life. It will help you have a more solid foundation for understanding Christian doctrine. 2 Peter 1:3-5 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 3  His divine power  has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge  of him who called  us by his own glory and goodness.  4  By these he has given us very great and precious promises,  so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.  5  For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, Prayer: O'Lord, help us to learn and grow in our faith in You and understanding of the Holy

Pope Francis wrote in a 2016 encyclical, " "When media and the digital world become omnipresent, their influence can stop people from learning how to live wisely, to think deeply and to love generously." I agree with him.  I sometimes have caught myself spending way too much time on news and social media on the internet. This cuts deeply into my prayer time and Holy Bible reading time. Yet here I am writing a digital devotion on the computer. I wonder how Jesus would use the internet if He came at this time in history to save humanity? Maybe He would not use it at all and then again maybe Jesus would use it to share the love of God and to warn people to pay attention to what He had to share. Mark 1:35 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 35  Very  early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place;  and there he was praying. Prayer: O'Lord, may we never be too busy to pray and read Your Holy Word, in Jesus na

Everyone needs to be loved and to give love. But love is not a one-sided emotion or feeling. There are physical love and friendship love, family love, and love of sweet potatoes. But the greatest love is what is called agape love which is an unconditional love given to us from God. Jesus Christ is waiting for you with open agape arms. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 4  Love is patient,  love is kind. Love does not envy,  is not boastful, is not arrogant,   5  is not rude, is not self-seeking,  is not irritable,  and does not keep a record of wrongs.  6  Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.   7  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures  all things. 1 John 4:10 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 10  Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us  and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Prayer: O'Jesus, thank you for the unconditional love you give us, amen.

This year is exceedingly frustrating with all the deaths in the family. I struggle to say something of comfort. I start to sound to myself like a parrot, "Polly want a cracker." I know that just being present can be enough but I just wish I had a Harry Potter wand to wave and make it all better. But in the end, all I have to offer is prayer and being there in the moment with a hug. I can only hope they can feel the Christ Light that I try to share in a room wherever I go. Acts 20:28 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 28  Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock  of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers,  to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. Prayer: O'Lord, help me be the shepherd you would have me to be and fill me with the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name, amen.

Growing old is not for sissies my Grandmother used to tell me. I am now at an age where I understand very well what she means. I find as I have gotten older that I rely on God more than in my youth. When I was young my body was in great shape with no aches or pains but my soul was restless. Now that I am older I my body does have it's aches and pains but my soul is at peace. I have to say I appreciate the trade off to be living in the sweet peace of Jesus even if my physical body is not so peaceful. Psalm 71:9 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 9  Don’t discard me in my old age. As my strength fails, do not abandon me. Prayer: O'Lord, they you for always staying by my side even when I was not living in a way that pleased You, in Jesus name, amen.

I think to myself that someday it is going to be quite a magnificent moment when every creature in the universe will kneel down before the Lord and praise Jesus. Every Christian, Jew, Muslim, and Hindu will give praise and recognize that Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings. Romans 14:11 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 11  For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God. Prayer: O'Great Architect of the Universe, may your name be praised and honored, in Jesus name, amen.

Nowadays many people want a Jesus who is only a philosopher. But sadly looking at Jesus as a philosopher only will not save you from your sins and bring you into Heaven. Faith in what Jesus did on the cross and most importantly what Jesus did in the resurrection is the key to salvation from our fallen nature. Making Jesus out to be a guru is not what this fallen world needed because the world is full of gurus but they never died for your sins and certainly never rose from the grave. If Jesus had not risen from the grave then we who call ourselves Christians should be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:19 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 19  If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for the resurrection in that it makes our faith valid, in Jesus name, amen.  

Rehabilitation comes in many different forms and is  the action of restoring someone to health or normal life through training and therapy after imprisonment, addiction, or illness. I believe we also need restoring faith in our spiritual lives where our faith has been damaged. This takes prayer, time in reading the Holy Bible and having people to pray with and pray for you. I have to go to rehab every week to keep my legs in shape and my veins flexible and the proper flow of blood going through them. I need the Holy Spirit flowing through my faith life and so I have to have a spiritual rehab every week also. No pain, no gain right!  Acts 3:21 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 21  Heaven must receive him until the time of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through his holy prophets from the beginning. Prayer: O' Lord, help those of us who need a spiritual rehabilitation and other types of restoring, in Jesus name, amen.

The age old argument that the letter of James presents is about our faith and good works. People have confused this issue with an idea that good works are a part of being saved. But it is not at all what James was talking about. James was explaining that faith is the root of our salvation and that good works are the fruit of having been saved or an outward expression of our salvation but not what saved us. Now James was also explaining that once you are saved by faith alone you should be led by the Holy Spirit to want to do good works for God and others. If you ignore the Holy Spirit urging you on to do good wholesome things then you will bear no fruit (no good works) on the tree of your faith. All you will have are the roots of faith with nothing to show for it. James 2:20-26 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 20  Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?  21  Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 

I have researched countless Study Bibles and have found them slanted with bias and agenda driven. Many Study Bibles have the name of a particular pastor on them. Some are written to be gender neutral like the NRSV. I have found it much better to purchase a Holy Bible that does not have all the distractions of commentaries which are men and women's opinions of a verse or verses. Then when you go to study your Holy Bible pray first that the Holy Spirit will guide and teach you the meaning of what you are reading. Next, do some cross referencing to get a better understanding of the verse or chapter you are reading. Finally when you still are not sure and need assistance to get the proper meaning out of the Holy Bible take a look at the Matthew Henry Commentary and the Moody Bible Commentary for extra help. I will add you can get quite a lot of understanding and help from Vine's Expository Dictionary and the Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Just remember that the Word can

 If you are a journal writer or blogger there are times you look back at your younger writings. I find there is some interesting growth from where I once was. In our Christian walk with Jesus, we hopefully should be growing in our faith and understanding about ourselves and Jesus. Looking back can be a good teaching tool so long as we do not stay fixated on the past. Romans 15:4 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 4  For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction,  so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. Prayer: O'Lord, may we learn from the past to live in the present and to move forward into the future, amen.

Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! After two days of emptiness and feeling lost now, there is a victory cry, Christ has risen! Hope returns, joy returns, and faith in Jesus as the true Messiah returns and we celebrate this highest and holy news in the birthed Christian religion. Hallelujah! Through faith in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven and we now can have eternal life in Heaven with Him. My faith and your faith is not in vain, praise the Lord! John 11:24-25 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 24  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25  Jesus said to her,  “I am  the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me,  even if he dies, will live. Prayer: O"Lord, we thank you for the resurrection and all that it brings to us, in Jesus name we pray, amen.

It is now the day after Jesus has been killed in the mortal flesh. This is now  Sabbatum Sanctum or Holy Saturday and some call it Black Saturday. Right now it seems there is no light or hope and that the last three years of Jesus ministry was for not. Rome is still in power ruling over Isreal. Nothing has changed and now it is time to go back and fish for a living now that Jesus is gone. Matthew might be thinking about returning to tax collecting. What will John and Mary do now?  Best to hide until everything settles down here in Jerusalem. I really thought Jesus was the Messiah, I guess we will have to wait longer and continue the search for the true Messiah of Isreal. Luke 23:50-56 Christian Standard Bible CSB 50  There  was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin,  51  who had not agreed with their plan  and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.   52  He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body.

Good Friday is when Jesus is crucified and all appears dark and lost. The Disciples at this point are afraid and wondering if they had been deceived in thinking Jesus was the Messiah. Now they are worried if Rome will hunt them down and kill them also. Mother Mary is in her deepest sorrow as a mother and probably inconsolable. When I go to a Good Friday service I always feel emotional at the stripping of the altar at the end. No Jesus, no Christian religion, nothing to believe in, all is dark and lost for now... Luke 23:46 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 46  And Jesus called out with a loud voice,   “Father,  into your hands I entrust my spirit. ”   Saying this, he breathed his last.   Prayer: O'Lord, it is hard for me to even comprehend the agony You endured for Your children, in Jesus name, amen.

Well, the time for another Lent season is coming to a close and I always ask myself, "Did I make the most of my reflection time?" If I analyze it too much the answer will always be no. But remember this is a journey and with any journey, there will be mountains and valleys and deserts to cross. Keep striving and when you fall down then get right back up and dust yourself off and keep moving toward the light of Christ. John 8:12 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) The Light of the World 12  Jesus spoke to them again:  “I am  the light  of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” Prayer: O'Father, thank you for this time of Lent to ponder where I am at in our relationship, in Jesus name, amen.

I remember in Sunday School being taught about the heroes and heroines as a figure of that person was placed on a flannel board. I learned and remembered a lot about those people of the Holy Bible. I find it sad that with all the fancy technology we have today to teach with in Sunday School that the children do not learn as much as what our generation did on a simple flannel board. Maybe because we understood we were there to learn and not there to be entertained. Contrary to progressive thoughts that want to tear down the heroes and heroines of the Holy Bible they were in all reality truly men and women of God and are still on that flannel board as heroes and heroines of God and for us to learn from their lives how to live for God. Judges 14:5-6 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 5  Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,  6  the Spirit of the  Lord  came powerfully upon  him, and he tore t

I am an extremely picky eater and so it is no surprise I rarely enjoy leftovers. Some people enjoy leftovers all the time but I am not one of them. Leftovers are used at times when we are too lazy to prepare and cook a fresh meal. I find even though I do not like a leftover food I at times give God leftover time, commitment, and love. I indeed get too lazy to spend more time in His Holy Word. At times I do not want to prepare a teaching lesson or write a blog of inspiration so I give God a leftover of commitment. A very short and trite prayer is another leftover of love I give God. Yes, it is human nature not to always be on top of our game but may we make an extra effort for our dear Savior to prepare a warm and inviting heart for Him to enjoy and not a cold leftover heart of lukewarm apathy for our Savior and His Kingdom. Romans 12:11 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 11  Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Revelation 3:16 New American Standar

During Holy Week we read about the last week of Jesus mortal ministry here on earth. Starting with Palm Sunday and ending on Resurrection Sunday. Most churches have a Maundy Thursday service commemorating the night Jesus washed the disciple's feet and instituting the Last Supper. Then Good Friday is the most solemn service of the year where we feel the pain and loss of Jesus dying on the cross due to our sins. Thank the Lord that is not the end of the story but on Sunday morning Jesus Christ has risen from the grave to conquer sin and eternal death. Thanks be to God. 1 Peter 2:24 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 24  He himself bore our sins  in his body  on the tree;  so that, having died to sins,  we might live for righteousness.   By his wounds   you have been healed. Prayer: O'Lord thank you for Your great sacrifice to save us from ourselves, in Jesus name, amen.

Many times as a homeowner you have to decide if you should repair that old door or replace that old door. You can repair it but it is still the same old door. If you replace the old door with a new door then it should look new and nice and clean. It should keep out the elements of the weather better and keep the inside of your home warmer. When you give your life over to Jesus to be your Savior you are not just repairing your life, you are replacing your old life with a new one. You will have a Heavenly makeover! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Christian Standard Bible (CSB) 17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;  the old has passed away, and see,  the new has come! Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank you that You do not just repair our lives but You give us a new life, in Jesus name, amen.