Ramblings

No verses immediately come to bear. No nugget of wisdom to share. Just dullness of mind and spirit.  Whose fault is that?  To be honest, it is all mine.  If God, who is faithful and promised "never to leave nor forsake me" is all that, why would this blogger be so dull?  

Sure, it could be onset Alzheimers but more likely it is my lazy mind.  Just as the body gets weary and tired, so the mind.  Daily I pray and daily I entertain scripture but without much conviction.  Prayers of my heart are constant but rarely does this believer slow down enough to "absorb" thoughts of Him. Only occasionally are words, songs or wonderful truths pondered upon.  Daily life gains ground and all this believer cares to do is a quick devotion and to bed.

The mind attempts to "relax" while viewing various internet content.  No TV in the home but there is access to programs via internet and constant browsing to try and "unwind" at the end of the day, even when "browsing" spiritual things.  All this leads to spiritual and mental dullness.  It is upsetting and discouraging.  What to do?  Maybe "browsing" is the problem.

The days when moving thru the darkest trial were the days when this mind seemed the quickest.  The strongest. The most teachable from scripture.  

Would dark trial be desired to get back to this level of mental acuity?  Not desired but maybe warranted.  However, I wonder if the current pattern would continue.  I do believe "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. (I Jn 4.4) Yet, how would this believer's heart react to a terrible trial?

So weary, so weary.  Prayers are desired. 

Humbly submitted, Ps 57.7

P.S.  It does occur that the mind of this blogger is happiest when busy.

Hang in there, dear believer

Sorry to be a downer today but must give what is given to this heart.

Today, I am weary.  Weary of the day to day. Weary of the burdens of house and home that are mine to bear. Weary of waiting on prayers to be answered.

First, I am reminded of Galatians 6.9; "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall
reap, IF we faint not."  You mean, "Paul got weary?"  Of course he did.  Yet in this bloggers current devotion in I Corinthians 7. 4, 5, Paul states, "...I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation...(even though)  our flesh had no rest...we were troubled on every side;...(with)  fightings, (AND) fears."

How could he be "filled with comfort" when he was so weary?  When we look further in I Cor 7.9, 10 we discover his impetus to carry on.  He said, "I rejoice...that ye sorrowed to repentance...(because) godly sorrow worketh repentance..."  The believers in his care repented and began living "more" godly.  That is indeed encouraging.  

Matthew 5.4 says, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."  There is hope for such weariness.  We are promised "comfort."

With so much wickedness in this world, it's difficult to watch loved ones "avoiding" all things good and godly.  While we are to "work out our own salvation with fear..." (Phil 2.12), it is reassuring to see loved ones walking the "straightest, narrow" path, spritually.  When they don't, whether they see it or not, it is sad and wearisome to see them suffer because of walking away from "the things they once knew."  

To conclude, this believer is hopeful that the promises given above will come to fruition.  So, I'll "tie a knot and hang on!"  You can too.

Prayerfully submitted,  Ps 57.7

Sorry, there will be no "roll call"

It's a great song but the truth is not in it's message.  Bear with this blogger who only seeks the truth.

The entire song is this:  

        When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more. When            the morning breaks eternal bright and fair.  When the saved of earth shall                gather over on the other shore. When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

Refrain

        When the roll, is called up yon-der,
        When the roll, is called up yon-der,
        When the roll, is called up yon-der,
        When the roll is called up yonder I'll be there.

        On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
        And the glory of His resurrection share;
        When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
        And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

Refrain

        Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
        Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
        Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
        And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

PLEASE, WAIT!  There's more...

A bazillion verses about the church going "up" but NONE indicate a "roll call."  This blogger is not trying to be disagreeable but honest.  " (Jn 8.32)

Verses stating otherwise to a roll call:

1 Thes 4:16, 17  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: THEN we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Mk 3:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 

 1 Cor 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 Dan 12:1, 2  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Matt 24:31  And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

I Thes 5.2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Matt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 

Mk 13:32-37 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.   

Matt 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The most important thing is to know one's name IS IN the book of life!  (Rev 20.15) 

No further explanation is needed.  The truth for a believer is to be thankful that you know "you are one of them!"

Light out of darkness - no excuses

 How is it so?  What happens when the smallest light enters a dark space?  Vision!  Faith to "walk towards the light." Hope that all is not dark.  What does light mean to you?

All these questions are worthy of our attention but the verse in 2 Corinthians 4.6 says this: "For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness..." takes things to a whole new level.

We understand the light being referred to is "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."  However, the heart of this blogger is directed to the word "commanded."  It was not a suggestion, a recommendation or a proposal, it was a command!

Webster's 1828 dictionary defines command this way: to bid; to order; to direct; to charge; implying authority, and power to control, and to require obedience. to govern, lead or direct; to have or to exercise supreme authority over. To direct; to send.

There should be no mistaking the authority in the word "command."

So, this blogger would direct attention to another verse to further expound on the "command of light to shine out of darkness."  Romans 1.20 states, "...being understood...so that they are without excuse."

A sad statement to those who continue to walk in the darkness of their sin.  There is "no excuse."  God "commanded light to shine out of darkness." Is the Judgement Seat real?  Will we be judged for acts done here on earth that were "dark" instead of according to His will?  If one believes 2 Cor. 5.10, then the answer, of course, is yes!  AND if one walks without the Lord Jesus then the end is sad indeed.  No return from the regions of the damned. 2 Peter 2.4 and Luke 16.23

Simply concluded, 

• Will you come out of darkness? 
• Will you answer the command?

Prayerfully submitted,

Moderator

Able Ministers

So, moving on with personal devotions in II Corinthians. After determining this bloggers life is to be lived with "godly sincerity," what's next?  After understanding "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world," (I Jn 4.4), how am I an "able minister?" (2 Cor 3.6)

Continuing verse 6 of second Corinthians 3, "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."  Then, Paul begins to explain that all Israel could see when Moses came from the mount was the "glory of his countenance...which was to be done away." (v8)  Further, the Apostle clarifies in v 14 "their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament;...is done away in Christ."  Reading His Word is a guide but the Holy Spirit must give life to "the Word." God's chosen earthly people never understood the glory was not ON Moses but from WITHIN from God.  Luke 2.9 reveals "the glory of the Lord shone round about them."

While the advent of the Lord Jesus was of external observation per the written Word, we know the parallel could be demonstrated the same way in a believers heart.  "The glory of the Lord" was all around them.  So, His "glory" should abound from within the spirit and heart of a believer.  In Christ, "all things become new." (2 Cor 5.17)

Bottom line,  a believer is "enabled" from within by "the spirit (that) giveth life."  What goes in comes out.  Good in, good out.  Bad in, bad out.  (Phil 4.8) What is good?

• Salvation:  belief on the Lord Jesus Christ, blood, death, burial and resurrection
• Worship: daily prayer, bible reading, meditation on Him 
• Regular church attendance
• Obedience to His Word and voice regarding His will

    (All these things could be backed up with scripture, however, it is up to the individual to dig it out and     study 2 Tim 2.15)

All the points listed above will make a believer an "able minister" of the things of Christ.  Much more could be said and quoted about the way the Spirit of the Lord works  in a believers life.  It is sufficient to know that He makes us able to do His bidding and carry out "His plan." (Jer 29.11)

God bless as each reader of this blog is made "an able minister of the new testament..."