The Daily Scroll - Uncertain Certanity

 In a world where evil is called good and good is called evil and standards of truth are seemingly dissolved, truth is optional, so how do we stand? How do we get our bearings? Where is our firm foundation? The only firm foundation that I have found is in the word of God, the Bible. God’s word never changes, he never changes, and it brings about the truth that I may not know about tomorrow, but I know who holds tomorrow. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

As I said, God‘s word never changes and he never changes. Ira Stamphill penned these words in 1950 in his song that says, 

Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.

The Bible tells us in Malachi 3:6, “I am the Lord, I change not.” 

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus is the same “yesterday, today, and forever.” 

Hebrews 7:24 says, “But He [Jesus], because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

Now friends, in this world of uncertainty, we may still stand on the foundation of the certainty, of the Word of God.

Song, I know who holds tomorrow, by Ira Stamphill, American songwriter.

https://youtu.be/dNN1Z342Iao

The Daily Scroll - Passing the Test of Liberty

Reading today’s headlines, we learn of constant challenges to our liberty. Terrorists’ threats against our nation, economic turmoil, and political struggles are on our minds. But hasn’t that been a constant in the history of our country?

From the very outset of our nation’s birth, our forefathers passed the test of liberty in places like Bunker Hill and Valley Forge. But there has come a steady stream of trials and tests to our nation that we have had to pass in order to remain free. We mustn’t forget the Alamo, the battle of New Orleans, or Gettysburg, and our current heroes who fight a war against global terror.

There has been a test that each generation has had to pass for liberty. And these tests are always given to the individual. A woman, who we’ll call Maria, had always wanted to become a United States citizen, but could not pass the test. Well, after praying with a CBN prayer representative, Maria passed the test of liberty and became a United States citizen!

There once was a young boy named Tommy who was brilliant at an early age. Born and raised in a rural area, he read all of his father’s books by the age of six and had a hunger for knowledge that was unquenchable. He was tested many times in his life but at the age of 14, his father passed away, leaving him to assume the role of head of the house.

In spite of life’s circumstances, he entered college at the age of 17. Maintaining his home with his mother and siblings, at the age of 24, Tommy passed the bar exam and became a lawyer. When he was 27 and away working in another city, his home burned down and he lost all his prized possessions, including his extensive library. In time, he rebuilt his library, had an illustrious career, and passed the test of liberty.

Harriet Powers, a woman freed from slavery after the civil war, suffered hardships and struggled to pass the test of liberty. She was an expert seamstress who made quilts to help support her family of nine children. Few black women could write in those days, but Harriet told the stories of the Bible with the figures she sewed into the panels of her quilts. To see Harriet’s quilts was to get a visual of the great stories of the Bible. She passed the test of liberty and led her family into the free world.

The greatest test of liberty, however, came in a garden in Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus passed the test of liberty for all mankind when He submitted Himself to His Father and said,

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Luke 22:42 ).

 He sacrificed His liberty for ours, even to His death on a cross. Now we have liberty in Christ, eternal life that no man or devil in hell can take from us. When we accept Christ Jesus as our savior, we are free!

The test of liberty is an individual test, which we must pass daily. Our struggle, whether spiritual, physical, or financial, is not in vain. Just as we reap the rewards of those who have passed the test before us, we pass the rewards of our tests on to those who come after us.

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good” (2 Thessalonians 3:13 ).

So, pass the test of liberty and be an over-comer like Harriet Powers, the freed slave whose Bible quilt hangs in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC today. Or Maria, who passed the test of liberty and became a United States citizen at 96 years of age! And finally, let’s not forget Tommy, who at the age of 33 passed the test of liberty when he penned these words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Thomas Jefferson, July 4, 1776).

The Daily Scroll - The Warp and the Woof

 I was reading, in the Bible book of Leviticus, the instructions concerning lepers and the cleansing of the lepers by the Priests. It gave instructions concerning the cleansing of the lepers’ garment. 

It says, “the garment, or the warp or the woof, or any article made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and be clean.” (Leviticus 13:58)

I asked myself what is the warp or the woof? I found that in a woven cloth, the warp is the thread that runs lengthwise and the woof is the thread which runs horizontal across and through the warp. Christian writers compare this to the Bible, in which the woof is the word of God, the foundation in the fabric of truth. The woof is like the Spirit of God which weaves in and out of scripture giving it life, and the power of God.

I learned long ago that the Bible, the written word of God, is the only book which is alive. It’s because the woof of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, gives it life. Never underestimate the reality of the Word of God. So like a coat or garment with which we cover ourselves, let us cleanse and cover ourselves with the Warp and the Woof of God.

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The Daily Scroll - Through The Maze

 I am totally amazed at how God will lead those, who trust Him, through what seems like a maze, yet bring you out to the correct destination in the end. My own life has been in that maze many times and I can testify that He has brought me through each and every time. I could tell you of times I’ve been in utter darkness walking by faith. Many are the times when seemingly complete impossibility stood staring me in the face, yet with my simple childlike faith, the Lord protected me and held me up with His strong right hand. 

The Bible says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Rejoice for He Will guide you, even in great darkness. For the Bible says,  

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 105)

I can testify to his truth for even now I must walk and trust our Lord every day, and He has never, And I mean never let me down yet. Keep trusting dear Reader. gene

The Daily Scroll - Father

 I’ve held many positions with various titles. Some have been professional, some spiritual, and some just for fun. But of all the positions I’ve held, none compares with Father. When you are young, you assume you will become a father one day, because most every man does. It's the way of nature. And when you marry, you assume it is just around the corner because now you can become fruitful and multiply as the Lord commanded.

Yet, you still haven't a clue how your life will change, how you will change. For me, it was a long wait. Nineteen years we waited, then one day our prayers were answered and the miracle of life happened for us.

Seeing the precious face of our baby girl was as close to a divine experience as one could have on this earth. We fell totally and completely in love with this little stranger, whom we felt we had always known. We held our dream in our hands for the first time.

Yes, we were crazy about our blessing. We bought her everything we dreamed of, took her every place we dreamed of, and took great care to plan her future. That was to be expected. But the love I felt for my child, was something I never expected. I had experienced nothing with which to compare.

I remember my godly grandmother, when she visited, upon seeing dozens of pictures of my baby daughter on the walls warned, "Now son, be careful not to worship that child, we are only supposed to worship the Lord."

I explained to her, "Grandmother, my love for her is so great, I can't help it. God understands."

I know she meant well, but as far as I was concerned, my love was God given and I didn't consider it worship, just the highest, most pure love one could have. That love has never wavered or waned. It continues to grow with time. It is unabashed. And as far as I am concerned, it is the closest a man can understand the love that God, our heavenly Father, has for us, His children.

The Bible says, “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, 'Abba, Father.'” (Galatians 4:6 NLT)

Our Heavenly Father has a love for us, His children, that is unmatched. All the heavens and earth were created with us in mind. He wanted a beautiful place for His family of mankind. He provides everything we need and much of what we want. He cares about every aspect of our lives: our health, our family, our life’s work, hobbies, dreams, and even our desires.

Father God not only loves us in church, He loves us wherever we are. He loves what we do and what we become. He watches over us while we sleep and wakes us up every morning to start a new day in His love!

He scrutinizes our every move, and every thought. The Bible says that we are so valuable to God,

“even the hairs on your head are all counted.” (Luke 12:7)

His love is so deep that we can never fully comprehend its depth. When our granddaddy Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, Father set about to place a plan in motion to win us back. It took a miracle. It took love. It took a Savior. Our Father’s love for us compelled Him to sacrifice His most precious possession.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)

With our heavenly Father as our role model, we earthly fathers can glean inspiration from Him, even if our experience as sons was with a bad father or no father at all. Though we may fail in one area or another, the love of a good father never fails, as our heavenly Father helps us to share His love.

The title of Father comes to some men through biology, marriage, or adoption. The love of a Father solidifies and confirms the right to that title. It is the highest title a man may hold. It is a title most solemn, conferred and blessed of God. My child is and will always be my cherished blessing, and I will always be her Father.

The Daily Scroll - Ahhhh

 Peace, peace, wonderful peace. Coming down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit forever I pray, in marvelous billows of love.

The Daily Scroll - Happy to Be Here

 The last ten days I’ve been in a great hospital in my hometown, Virginia Beach, Virginia. I fell and broke my right ankle in six places. I’ve had two operations, so far, and am now facing another one in three days. If I still have infection in my ankle, then I’ll be facing yet another one in a few more days. So how, do you say, could I possibly be happy to be here? It’s because of who is here with me…my Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus, and of course, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit! 

I could stop right here and leave it at that, but I can’t. I want to testify that it is so precious to have a time, a time out of my normal life to sit back and enjoy my God. 

Psalm 73:28 tells us, “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

“I love you Lord…and I lift my voice…to worship You…oh my soul…rejoice