The Daily Scroll - God Rests

 As I read the first chapter of the book of Genesis, I am struck by the fact that the entire universe, and planet earth, was silent from all human contribution. No speech, no arguments, no battle cries, no sounds of industrialization, no car horns, and no man made music. Nothing. Just the sounds of nature created by God. 

I can imagine Him as he sits back in His celestial chair and surveys all that He had made. He must have enjoyed His creation because He said that it was good. And everything that He made, from stars in distant galaxies, to a frog in a Louisiana bayou, pleased Him. It was all good. And it was all mane for His man.

I wonder if He’s rested much since, as his finest creation, mankind, has never stopped since. And yet God breathed His own breath into man to finish His creation. The Hebrew word for breath used is in Genesis 2:7 is “neshamah” which means spirit. Some experts have said it also means blood. Imagine this, if in fact the blood and the Spirit of God were breathed into Adam, our great grandfather many generations removed, then our blood and our spirit comes from the same place. God! One day we’ll learn everything about all these mysteries. The Bible says…

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.“ (Genesis 2:1-3)

The Daily Scroll - Read It

 So I read my Bible most every day, and when I finish reading a particular version all the way through, I change bibles to a different version. For the last few years I’ve been reading it on my Kindle which is programmed into my iPad.  It’s cool because I can copy and paste scripture out of the Bible in my iPad, and paste it right into my article I’m writing on my blog. I’ve been reading the Life Application Study Bible but I just finished it. My dilemma was what do I read next? 

So I decided on the ESV. That’s the English Standard Version. The intro tells how they made it from different ancient translations etc, which I found very interesting. Today I start with Genesis 1:1. It might take me a year to a year and a half to complete it because I take my time to study and think about what I read. That way there’s no pressure to read a chapter a day or whatever. I take my time and enjoy it. I’ve done different reading programs, like “read in a year some Old Testament and some New Testament,” or other programs. 

One of the most surprising challenges was to read the Bible through in 90 days. The pastor of our very large church at the time, gave the challenge one Sunday morning and most of the church was enthusiastic about doing it. At the end of 90 days there were only 3 or 4 of us who completed it, including the pastor. I used a new King James Bible with no notes to distract me. So I read that through in 90 days. It was wonderful, like a transfusion of the word of God into my brain and my spirit. 

I recommend anyone to try it. Put it on your bucket list. It will Bess and enhance your life. However whatever the version, and however you proceed, read it! A new year…a new challenge.

The Daily Scroll - Thanksgiving Day is Ours

 There is a friendly debate among historians as to when the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in America. Some say it was in Virginia in 1610, and others hold fast to our traditional first Thanksgiving celebrated in Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts, in 1621.

Whichever side of the debate one chooses to embrace, the fact remains that Thanksgiving Day is ours.

Before America existed as a nation, the hardy souls who persevered to found this great country made the effort to thank God Almighty for His provision and grace.

Giving thanks in Virginia, Massachusetts, and many other settlements across the new world was a spontaneous act by grateful people. They experienced a life so rugged, that without the providence of God they would have surely not survived. They were grateful for God’s favor and blessing.

Our first President, George Washington, a man acclaimed to be the Father of our Country, acknowledged God as the source of our Nation’s strength and very existence. He felt so strongly about this that he made a proclamation for a national day of thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26th, 1789.

President Abraham Lincoln made it an official national holiday on Thursday, November 26th, 1863. He believed in the importance of setting aside a day to honor God and give thanks individually and corporately as a people.

Thanksgiving day has become a tradition, which like other traditions, has developed, grown, and transitioned from being a simple spiritual act of acknowledging God’s blessings, to a national event of unbridled proportions.

Ball games, shopping, days off from work, and travel are just a few of the Thanksgiving activities that can encumber us and help us to forget the true meaning of the holiday.

This day is meant to be a time to stop, take notice of our blessings, and acknowledge God with a grateful heart. Lest we forget, there have been Thanksgivings in the past that were very trying and somber, days of prayer and fasting.

Today, one could say that we are too busy enjoying our blessings to pause and be thankful. We all share in the responsibility for the national event that Thanksgiving Day has become because it is our day.

I am so thankful to God that He has given us the freedom to worship Him with our thanks. And the blessings that we enjoy over this holiday are truly from Him.

I believe He continues to bless us in part because we do take a day, our day, each year, and as a people tell the whole world that we thank Almighty God for His provident grace.

The Bible says: “Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” (1 Chronicles 16:8 NLT)

This Thanksgiving as we share our feast with our loved ones, plan our shopping for Friday, and our Christmas decorating for Saturday, give a nod to our forbearers whose grateful hearts made this all possible.

Enjoy taking part in a celebration uniquely our own, individually and corporately. Pass on to the next generation the knowledge of how blessed we are as individuals, families, and as a people.

Speak of the mighty and wondrous things that the Lord has done, and share our thankful hearts one with another.

“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.” (Psalm 145:4 NLT)

The famous author O. Henry wrote, “There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Daily Scroll - Come

 In 1978 a twenty five year old young man stood in front of a live TV camera in a small town in North Carolina, and encouraged viewers to turn to Christ. There had been testimonies of people who had accepted Christ as their Savior and now the invitation was given. Would anyone respond? There were telephone counselors ready to take the calls. Would anyone call? That really was up to the Holy Spirit to draw them and draw them He did. 

As he gave the invitation he read the following scripture, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.“ (Revelation 22:17)

Yes, anyone means you. So as I approach my 70th birthday, I’ll repeat the invitation that I made on local TV 45 years ago, to the more than 108 countries where this blog is read today…

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.“ (Revelation 22:17)

The Daily Scroll - Be Thankful

 Gail was going through turmoil in her life. Her aging mother had a chronic disease, her husband had recently left her for another woman, her oldest boy Jeff was called into the principals office for fighting in school, and she got a notice from the bank that she had three bounced checks. When Gail got up this morning and looked in the mirror wondering how she was going to face another day, she saw a gray hair. 

That was it. Today is thanksgiving and she was anything but thankful. However, like so many people she went through the motions, cooked thanksgiving dinner and prepared for the event. When the meal was ready and everyone was gathered around the table, she finally sat down with a sigh of relief. Time for the prayer. 

Everyone bowed their heads and held hands. A moment before she led the prayer, Gail looked around the table and saw her loved ones waiting. Suddenly all the turmoil was lifted as it dawned on her how blessed she was to be gathered with her kids, her parents, her aunt, and a friend from work. She began to cry, and her son asked her what was the matter. She said, “I just realized how very blessed I am to be here with all of you. I am so thankful to God for His many blessings. In spite of everything I am truly blessed and rejoice in these blessings from God.” It was a great Thanksgiving day.

The Bible says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

The Daily Scroll - Have Thine Own Way

 So few are the people, yes even the people of God, who in these last days will look to heaven and pray, “Have thine own way.” These days we want God to conform to our ways, to our will. They say, “ I will serve you Lord, now here’s what I want you to do.” Why are so many prayers unanswered? Simply because we pray in our will, not in the will of God. Now He will bless us, but only within reason and not always will we get an affirmative answer. Sometimes the answer is no. 

The words of this song by Jim Reeves pretty well sums it up.

Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Thou art the potter I am the clay
Mold me and make me after Thy will
While I am waiting yielded and still

Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Search me and try me Master today
Whiter than snow Lord wash me just now
As in Thy presence humbly I bow

Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Hold over my being absolute sway
Filled with Thy spirit till all can see
Christ only always living in me

Click below to see and hear. Think about it.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiu8dPm3dKCAxW7L1kFHWUQBTsQsPgBegQILhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DegkZLsDG1E0&usg=AOvVaw2t0SALY_uVZGEOXJB-UBKG&opi=89978449

The Daily Scroll - Coming Attraction

 Gary woke up in a cold sweat from a nightmare. In his dream he was standing in line at the grocery store with bread and milk in his hands. When it was his turn to pay, the cashier held a portable scanner over Gary’s right hand. It emitted a loud low buzzing sound. He tried the other hand but got the same result. Then he asked Gary to kindly remove his hat and then held the scanner over his forehead. Same result. That loud low buzzing sound. 

Suddenly two security guards appeared and ushered Gary from the store. They told him that he needed to go to the administrative office to get marked. Then he could come back. Gary thanked them and went on his way. However he didn’t go to the administrative office. He went home to try and figure out how to feed his family. He knew that with receiving the mark he had to pledge allegiance to the so called World Wide Eco System and renounce Christ with a blasphemous oath. The Bible prophesied this as the Beast system. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Could you?

The Bible teaches of the coming attraction.

“He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.” (Revelation 13:16-18)

The Daily Scroll - End Times

 Many people, Christians and non- Christians alike, believe that we are living in the last days. Troubles and conflicts in various parts of the world point to it. Let me ask, why do men think that they can rule the world? If any rational thinking person reads the Bible prophesies and half-way believes them, then what is the point? Satan himself thinks he will, but he only has a short time in power such that it is. Jesus is coming. 

I was reading the book of Revelation in the Bible, and it shows two hugely different facts. First, that God loves His children very much and has a glorious future planned for all the believers in His Son Christ Jesus. Secondly, the devil has plans to enslave the world with cruelty unknown to modern man. He’ll take no prisoners. His power and evil ways will wash across the globe in madness like an over flowing sewer.

Read the book of Revelation for yourself. The events are more chilling than any horror novel ever written. Sadly, it’s not fiction, it’s coming. Be ready for the return of Christ to rapture His people home before it’s too late. Be ready.

The Daily Scroll - Deliverance

 So many suffer and die from war. Around the world conflict after conflict continues. In some places God’s people suffer the most. Many are martyred for their faith in Christ. But they have  hope that’s real. They will enter heaven in the realm of Jesus Christ and His Father almighty God. The apostle John wrote what he saw in the Spirit…

“These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. “That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:14-17)

So if you are a Christian in danger, know that your Heavenly Father knows, and cares. He will give you strength to bare it, and welcome you home afterward. 

The Daily Scroll - Lead It

William was a young worship leader trying to do his best in a church unaccustomed to extravagant praise and worship. They were very conservative, formal, and low key. They produced beautiful music but it all seemed too professional, and without a lot of heart. 

One morning while he was preparing for service, he paused and prayed. He confessed to the Lord that he, as well, was holding back his true feeling and exuberance. Then suddenly the Holy Spirit gave him a vision, a glimpse of heaven, and the worship around the throne. William had read about it in the Bible, but never could he imagine what it was really like until that moment. 

Something changed within him and he had a totally new outlook on the praise and worship service. Later that Sunday morning, the service began slow and methodical as usual, then the Spirit hit William, as he led and sang, and he began to dance. He jumped off the stage, into the altar area, and danced like King David going to the Temple. Soon others in the choir couldn’t contain themselves either and joined William off the stage dancing and singing unabashedly before the Lord. Others joined from the congregation and that church would never be the same! 

What William saw in the Spirit was described by the Apostle John in the Bible.

“Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” (Revelation 5:11-13)

The Daily Scroll - Worship

 The Apostle John saw heaven while praying in the Spirit. In the throne room, in heaven, there were those who gather around the throne while continuously offering praise to God. He saw and heard this…

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” (Revelation 4:8,11)

Pure worship to the pure and Holy God. When offering praise and worship to God in our earthly services, we add to, and join, those in heaven offering their praise to God. How wonderful to be part of such a grand gesture. 

The Daily Scroll - Kept

 Freddie was an orphan who was shuttled from one foster home to another his whole life. Every time he had to leave he asked himself, “Why won’t anyone keep me?”

When he became an adult and married, he and his wife searched foster homes and orphanages to find a boy like himself. A boy who had been shuttled around and was all alone. They found little Freddie, seven years old, and knew immediately that he was to be their son. After lots of paperwork it became true. Little Freddie was kept by his new dad big Freddie. And so it was, both Freddie’s kept one another for the rest of their lives. 

“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.“ (Jude 25-25)

The Daily Scroll - Don’t Go

 Don’t Go

From the time I was a young boy I attended church with my family. I still remember the Sunday school classes, the vacation Bible schools, the music and singing, and the many admonitions from the pulpit. 

I remember the Wednesday night services before Thanksgiving. Often we, as a church, celebrated the Thanksgiving Holiday with a play, (Once I was a Pilgrim), and a time of giving thanks to God for the many gifts and blessings He had given us. 

Sitting in that same church many decades later, I look around and the memories flood my mind. I especially remember the people who were there but now are gone. So many family and friends have passed and gone on to be with the Lord, whom we worshipped together, and I know they are happy now in heavenly bliss. But I ask myself the question, where are the others.

Where are all the kids and teens who I grew up with. Some have moved away and live their lives elsewhere, but many have simply fallen away. The cares of this life, and family situations have taken them from us. Some would still claim a strong belief and love of the Lord, but yet they leave and don't come back. 

I believe it’s heartbreaking to the Lord to have so many of His children living lives of solitude away from their Christian family. I know a man who is a very devout Christian, but has one excuse after another to not attend church, and if you knew him you'd be shocked. 

Many who leave do not make a firm decision to not come back, they just drift away. We live in such a fast paced and busy world that we just don't take the time. The Bible warns us in Hebrews chapter two not to drift away.

It reads in verse 1, “We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.”  

Verse 3-4 reads, “What makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.”

The same Lord who welcomes us into heaven welcomes us into His Church. There is so much growth that takes place in Church. There's blessing and rejuvenation that takes place in church. And there's family. A church family.

I have a friend who had severe chest pains and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance on a Sunday. Immediately as one person learned of the situation, Social media posts went out for prayer in a spontaneous prayer chain. Later, several members of the church left the Sunday night service and rushed to the emergency room for support and prayer. 

After test results showed that he was fine, the Doctor discharged him into the care of his church family. They returned with him to the church service and the congregation erupted into applause and praise to God for a miracle in their presence. Afterward the Pastor had him pray for others which he did one by one for nearly an hour! God brought him from the ER to the altar!

Please don’t  miss out on your blessings. If you have been disappointed or hurt by something or someone at a church in the past, try and put it behind you. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 2:18 spoke of Jesus this way, “since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.”

He will help you and he does want you. The Bible says, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17)

The enemy of your soul, the devil, says “DON’T GO…to Church.

The lover of your soul, Lord Jesus, says “DON’T GO…away from Church.

Which voice will you listen to?

The Daily Scroll - Get Jesus

 Two teenage boys were sitting outside on the church steps looking at the moon and the stars when one said to the other, “You think he’s coming tonight?” “Who?” Asked his friend. “ Why, Jesus,” he replied. The preacher in there said He could come any minute and that we he’d better get ready. How do I get ready?”

His friend asked him, “ Do you know Jesus?”

“Not really.” He answered. “So what do I do?”

His friend turned, looked him dead in the eyes and said, “Get Jesus!”

“How do I get Jesus?”

His friend said, “Pray this prayer with me.”

And so his friend led him in the sinners prayer and he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Today there are many false teachings about how to get to heaven. The most egregious is the belief that there are many gods and many ways to heaven. Wrong. There’s only one way to heaven and Father God…GET JESUS!

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” (I John 5:11-12)

The Daily Scroll - Keep Away

 Here’s a tricky one from the Bible…“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” (I John 5:21)

Now on the surface that statement seems simple and straightforward. But if we sincerely check our hearts, and our life actions, do we really keep away? I’ll confess that there have been times in my own life where the competition for my heart from the world has snuck up on me. Beware because it can be gradual and seemingly innocent. Then suddenly it’s got you. 

Keep short accounts with God. Don’t let sin and the love of this world sneak in. As it has been said, we are in this world but as born again believers we are not of this world. Not any longer. Heaven is our home, God is our Father, and the Lord Jesus is our Savior and friend. And yes, the precious Holy Spirit is our comforter and guide. We are over-comers, so keep away. He’s coming soon.