April 18, 2021

With all that is going on in our world what the Apostle Paul tells the church at Corinth, in 16:13-14, we should all do. “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love”. Amen to that.

I Corinthians 15-16

April 17, 2021

In 9:30-32 we see the second of 3 times that Jesus tells the disciples about His impending death. (The first was in 8:31, the third 10:33-34). We see in verse 32 that the disciples didn’t understand it and were afraid to ask. In the passage right before this we see a man ask Jesus to help him with his doubts. If we can ask to have our unbelief removed, can’t we ask Him for understanding? The answer of course is yes. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God (James 1:5a). Never be afraid to ask God anything. Even if you are afraid of what His answer will be. It is better to have His wisdom than to walk in ignorance.

The Gospel of Mark 9 & 10

April 16, 2021

There is a difference between Jeremiah and Job. Jerry knows God lets him talk to Him about anything (12:1). And there is a difference between Jerry and the wicked. He talks to God and they only talk about Him (12:2). God is in the wicked persons mouth but not in their minds. Mind here is actually “the most secret parts” or kidneys. This is where Jewish people believed the soul was. To put it in our words they talked like they knew God but He wasn’t in their hearts. Every Christian cult talks about Jesus but they do not teach salvation through Him. They may be nice people but unfortunately they will still be counted with the wicked if they do not ask Jesus into their hearts. Good thing we can talk to God like Jerry. If you haven’t already done so, ask Jesus to be your Savior today.

Jeremiah 12-16

Pastor Roger Dean

April 15, 2021

In chapter 29 we hear Job telling of the compassion that he has had on others. He delivered the poor, the orphans and widows, helped the blind and lame (12-16). And now look at him. All that compassion he gave, and he can’t find any for himself (chapter 30). We have all had pity parties. They are never pretty, and no one wants to hear it. Sometimes we give and give, and it seems we never get back. Usually when we are in this mode, we are self focused. If you catch yourself feeling this way change what you’re looking at. Look at those who are in need. There are others worse off than you. And look to the Almighty, El-Shaddai, The One Who Is Enough. He will do more for you than you will ever do for others.

Job 29-30

Some believe that Psalms 42 & 43 were originally one Psalm. They say this partly because 42 verses 5 and 11 and 43:5 all say “Why are you cast down O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance”. Regardless of whether they are the same or not the point is clear. If you are down lift yourself up by remembering to hope in God. Prepare yourself to praise Him for the help that He will give. Speaking faith in God to yourself is a good idea anytime. But it is especially good when you are troubled.

Psalms 42-44

April 13, 2021

I Samuel 21-25

April 12, 2021

“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty but by my name Lord I was not known to them” (6:3). God Almighty in the Hebrew is El-Shaddai which translates as “The God Who Is Enough”, The All-Powerful” and “The One Who Is Self-Sufficient”. Lord, here, in the Hebrew is YHWH (Yahweh) or traditionally Jehovah. The point for us is that a person could know about God and not know God. They could believe there was a God but not have a personal relationship with Him. In the New Testament Yahweh becomes in the Greek Kurios or Lord which means Master (John 6:68). Today we can know God personally and by His name Jesus. And if we know Jesus as Lord, we should know Him as Master.

Exodus 5-8

April 11, 2021

“When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child. I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (13:11). Children think about what they want to be when they grow up. Professional athletes or singers, a famous actor or an astronaut. Reality sets in as they get out of high school. Maybe they didn’t make the grades they needed. Maybe they were not blessed with athletic ability. Maybe they couldn’t sing a lick. Some dreams are childish, but some are not. Some only require determination and hard work. For Christians we also have faith. If the dream is God inspired, believing God will help us to get it done.. “For with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27b) and “If you can believe all things are possible to him who believes’ ( Mark 9:23).

I Corinthians 13 & 14

April 10, 2021

A Syro-Phoenician woman asks Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter (7:24-30). Jesus says, “Let the children be filled first, it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to little dogs”. The woman responds, “Yes Lord, but even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs”. Because she answered this Jesus sets her daughter free. My thought for today is, we who know Jesus are part of the family of God. We are His children. But how many of us are eating the crumbs instead of the bread intended for us?

Mark 7 & 8

April 9, 2021

Chapter 7 is titled “Trusting In Lying Words” because the Israelites believed that they were protected simply because the temple was in Jerusalem. But God is letting them know that isn’t the case. From 7:1 to 8:3 He condemns their sacrifices and calls His house a den of thieves. It will not end well for them. This makes me pause to wonder what untruth am I believing? Do I believe that America is protected just because we SAY one nation under God? Are we, as a people, blind to the increasing acceptance of sin in our country? Our only hope is the same that God offered the Israelites. “Amend your ways and your doings and I will cause you to dwell in this place” (Jer. 7:3).

Jeremiah:7-11

April 8, 2021

“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” ( 28:12). Interesting questions. According to Proverbs 1: 7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction”. Wisdom begins with God and our reception of Him. But wisdom often contradicts our thinking. Fools therefore reject it because it corrects them. Prov. 1:20 “Wisdom calls aloud in the streets”. Wisdom is looking for us, but we have to be looking for it to recognize it. Prov. 2: 4-5 ” If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasure, Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God”. Seek and ye shall find.

Got Wisdom?

Job 27 & 28