Dog eat dog world

Just a picture of dogs, isn't it? Yet, somehow I see a reflection of something more here. Humans act like this too, don't they? They force their will on one another, attempt (and sometimes succeed) to control one another and do all kinds of things that are less than wonderful. In short, sometimes humans act like animals. I like this passage of Scripture because it says something to me about control.


Galatians 5:1-18 WEB (R)
(1) Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don't be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
(2) Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
(3) Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
(4) You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.
(5) For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
(6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
(7) You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?
(8) This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
(9) A little yeast grows through the whole lump.
(10) I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
(11) But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.
(12) I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
(13) For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
(14) For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
(15) But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don't consume one another.(16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.
(17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
(18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.


Rules; nobody likes them, but they ARE NECESSARY! But what if they were NOT NECESSARY? With love, they are superfluous! Extra baggage to those who really love God; those who are led by the SPIRIT to do what is right, regardless of the circumstances. Law may rule, but LOVE CONQUERORS! As human beings, we break LAW, but with the LOVE OF GOD in our hearts, we overcome our natural tendencies and do HIS WILL without reference to LAW. It may be a "dog eat dog" world out there, but thanks to God; we have a helper to guide us from the path of sin. Something to think about on this cold January day....

Something to remember

Niagara Falls; now that is a place I will always remember! We went there on our honeymoon (several years after we were married) and this picture reminded me of its beauty at night. Funny how the mind works; sometimes a memory is triggered by a sound or a smell, but most ofter for me it is something beautiful. God gives us beautiful little signposts like a rainbow or a smile on a young child to bring joy into our lives. For the Jews, there were many of these and the following verses tell us of just one.


Numbers 15:37-41 WEB (R)
(37) Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
(38) Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of each border a cord of blue:
(39) and it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it, and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, and do them; and that you not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to play the prostitute;
(40) that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
(41) I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Yahweh your God.

The law was given in order that God's nation Israel was to be pure and HOLY; every single one of them. To help them remember, a blue cord was to remind them what God had commanded them. Like the law, this cord was to be with them all the time, triggering obedience to the perfection within its precepts and the result; a HOLY LIFE! If a mere picture like the one above can evoke memories after only one look, imagine the power of the words of an Almighty God before you all of the time. Now, that is really something to remember!!

Hidden

This is a somewhat dark and imposing picture, but I like it anyway. Not because it is on the dark side, but because it reveals something within the darkness. If you look carefully at the picture, the pink (or Rosy Red if you will)in the clouds is not caused by shadows but by something within them; lightning.

John 3:1-9 WEB (R)
(1) Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
(2) The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."
(3) Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God."
(4) Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
(5) Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God!
(6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(7) Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.'
(8) The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
(9) Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things be?"

This paragraph is the stuff of faith. We can't know or understand everything. Even the most brilliant among us can't KNOW EVERYTHING! The world is too big and human knowledge is so monumental that omniscience is impossible (For human beings at least)! But, what we can know is that we can start our lives anew with God and even though we may not understand exactly HOW God does everything, we still can accept what he says and does by faith. So it is with this picture too; I can't see the lightning, but I know that its there; and I don't even need Rose colored glasses!

Go for it!!

Remember the Road Runner? ACME mean anything to you? These two things came to mind when I saw this picture. It seems bad weather is pointed right at this island and if the Road Runner is there; well, he is GOING TO GET IT!! The Road Runner may have been the eternal optimist, but he winds up slammed in the end. Elijah must have felt like the Road Runner after Jezebel threatened him. Read this passage from 1 Kings to find out more.

1 Kings 19:1-18 WEB (R)
(1) Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
(2) Then Jezebel send a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don't make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
(3) When he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
(4) But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
(5) He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat.
(6) He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and laid down again.
(7) The angel of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.
(8) He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the Mount of God.
(9) He came there to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?
(10) He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(11) He said, Go forth, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake:
(12) and after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
(13) It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
(14) He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(15) Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;
(16) and you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.
(17) It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill.
(18) Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.


I like Elijah; a worker of miracles, a strong proponent of Yahweh and overall a real man's man. BUT, he had his limits; he was not without fear and doubt. In short, he was human! But God encouraged him, guided him and directed him. Elijah listened! No, the world is not out to get you; things happen, but with God on your side things happen! Wait, what's that noise? Sounded something like a beep, beep????? Go for it!!!!

'round the corner

This is a picture of Plumbago road. It is a dirt road (sand mostly)that exits onto old state road in Dade City. Since I can't see around the corner, I go very slow and continually look to the right to detect oncoming traffic. This road is a lot like life; you just have to be careful and watch where you are going. Consider this passage from the book of Matthew:


Matthew 6:31-34 WEB (R)
(31) "Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?'
(32) For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
(33) But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
(34) Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.


Every time this year there are those who make predictions about what will happen in the next twelve months. All sorts of wild speculations abound. Most do not come true; although a few may. I already know what is going to happen this upcoming year; God has told me in verse 33. I am going to be taken care of; if there is something I really NEED, like food and shelter, God has been and always will be there. Oh, I still will wonder how HE will do it, but I know that HE will. Eventually, the future that lies around the next corner will take me to HIM, but so what; I will go to someplace better. Don't get me wrong, I still will look around the corner, but I won't be worrying about what's on the other side.

Rare

On the last day of 2009 there was a blue moon. No, the moon did not change color, but we did see two full moons in a month; something rare. How often this happens, I don't know, but perhaps the term rare will give us a clue. In the old testament, there is the story of something rare and although some of the important parts occurred at night, it had nothing to do with the moon. Read on to find out....


Daniel 2:1-24 WEB (R)
(1) In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.
(2) Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
(3) The king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.
(4) Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live forever: tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
(5) The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if you don't make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
(6) But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.
(7) They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
(8) The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
(9) But if you don't make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
(10) The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man on the earth who can show the king's matter, because no king, lord, or ruler, has asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean.
(11) It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
(12) For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
(13) So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.
(14) Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon;
(15) he answered Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
(16) Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
(17) Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
(18) that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
(19) Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
(20) Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
(21) He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding;
(22) he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
(23) I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king's matter.
(24) Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus to him: Don't destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.


Daniel is one of my favorite Bible characters; he is in exile, but exactly where God wants him to be. And God gives him knowledge through dreams and visions in order to reveal HIS WILL. I enjoy the rare and unusual, like the Ripley's believe it or not because of its shock factor. Daniel's knowledge must have really shocked those around him as he told something he shouldn't have known. God has a way of making his will known in ways that would never occur to us, and even though dreams and revelations were rare, they still happened; you might say... once in a blue moon.

Be careful out there!

Today is the last day of the year! Wow, its almost gone!? I have been thinking a lot about all the things that have happened over the past twelve months and frankly it has not been one of my top ten years. But, so what? In this world we experience both good and bad things, so be happy anyway!!! But not TOO HAPPY! I know tonight is a night when a lot of people are out to carouse, get drunk and generally cut up. Who knows what will happen tonight, so be careful, you don't know what the future. Jesus talked a lot about the future and this passage is one of those times.

Luke 21:29-36 WEB (R)
(29) He told them a parable. "See the fig tree, and all the trees.
(30) When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.
(31) Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.
(32) Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.
(33) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
(34) "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.
(35) For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.
(36) Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."


Recently, I saw one of those "then and now" picture collections for hill street blues police drama show. I was saddened to see that the robust looking Sergeant had died, but death does come upon us all. He will be remembered for his daily charge to his fellow police officers: "Be careful out there". For many of us, tonight will be a night to howl, but remember his words and "Be careful out there". Keep an eye out, you never know when judgment may come upon you!!!