PREMONITIONS!

 

Saturday, February 28, 2026

 

PREMONITIONS!

 

Deut 29:29

29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

Heb 1:1-2

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.

 

1 John 4:1

4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 

          Merriam-Webster defines premonition as: a feeling or belief that something is going to happen when there is no definite reason to believe it will. If you sit long enough, and listen carefully enough, to older people you will sometimes hear stories of near-death premonitions. I have heard many of these stories as a pastor while sitting with the old and sick. Perhaps they were visited by a long dead relative or loved one and have even been beckoned to “come over.” There is not enough evidence to believe or to doubt.

 

          Acts 2:17 quotes Joel 2:28 which says that: “it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” However, our primary means of determining God’s will and direction is through the written Word – The Bible. Any other revealed information is not only suspect but should be subjected to the scrutiny of the Bible’s clear teaching.

 

          Stories that make your skin crawl – especially when they come true – are the stuff of campfires and ‘smores.  We dare not build our frame on such a shaky foundation.

 

John 5:39

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

 

Dear Lord, when my spirit is troubled and uncertain, let me resort to the clear teachings of the Bible. Lead me in a clear path today by faith. AMEN

 

EVEN THERE!

 

Friday, February 27, 2026

 

EVEN THERE!

 

Ps 139:7-10

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

 

 

There are two aspects to God being everywhere at once. On the one hand we cannot escape from him and on the other hand he will never leave you alone. We are the difference. Our own current set of circumstances makes his presence either a precious thing or a problem for us.

 

If there is sin in my heart, and I want to run away from God’s piercing gaze, I learn quickly that I can’t. I speak from experience. He is everywhere convicting me of my sin and wooing me back again. I cannot be comfortable sinning because He is there.

 

If I am disappointed with my God and want to leave him like a pouting child, I find that I can’t. Oh, yes, we often become disenchanted with a God who does only as He wishes. Our plans are cut off, and our expectations are dashed because they are not HIS plans for us. We pout and whimper and try to run away but we can’t find a place where God is not. There is no place to hide. We are forced by His presence to reconcile.

 

On the other hand, He is the friend that sticks close. We feel him in the gentle breeze upon our cheek. We hear Him in the robin’s song. He wraps his huge arms around us when we are afraid. He is always there. Both are blessings, the God I can’t escape keeps me clean and the God who will not leave me alone keeps me safe.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for being with me today. AMEN

 

MAKING IT PERSONAL!

 

Thursday, February 26, 2026

 

MAKING IT PERSONAL!

 

Gen 22:6

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

 

Matt 27:32

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

 

Mark 15:21

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

 

 

Isaac was a type of Christ; he carried the wood on which he was to be sacrificed. This type was fulfilled when our Lord was led forth carrying His cross.

 

Cyrene was a city of Libya, in Africa, lying west of Egypt. There were many Jews there, and they were in the habit, like others, of going frequently to Jerusalem. Little is known about him, except that he had two sons named Alexander and Rufus. But his name was Simon and that makes carrying the cross very personal.

 

We are forever inviting people to make Jesus their “personal” savior and yet the word “personal” is found nowhere in the Bible. The concept is certainly present, however. If I say that “God so loved the world” as we see in John 3:16 then I can easily discount the personal nature of it. But if, with the Apostle Paul, I say that “Jesus died to save sinners of whom I am chief” then I can not avoid the personal implication of salvation.

 

Indeed, the difference between Jesus preaching to the thousands and sitting on the lip of a well talking to a single woman is glaring. As far as we can tell by the stories the multitudes were not greatly changed but the woman at the well was never the same. Indeed, the whole of Samaria was never the same. It was personal.

 

The personal nature of close contact with Jesus challenges and changes all our other relationships. One of Simon’s sons was perhaps well known to the believers at Rome.

 

Rom 16:13

13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

 

Dear Lord, carrying your cross removes me from being a spectator to a player. I feel the weight of it; I smell the scent of it and the drops of blood fall upon me. It is personal – and I am glad. AMEN

 

EXPERIENCE MATTERS!

 

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

 

EXPERIENCE MATTERS!

 

1 Tim 3:2-6

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

 

          The word “novice” in verse 6 is the Greek word neophutos and literally means “newly planted.” New plants are tender and have not weathered the storms and trials of a more mature plant. Their “systems” are not functioning as they eventually will. Their fruitful season is still ahead of them.

 

          Experience and proficiency are demanded of us. Teens who long for their drivers’ license are tested to assure that they know the rules of the road and are able to handle a vehicle. They are frustrated to see the question of experience on employment applications. They are eager for experience, but they don’t have much. They quickly learn that experience matters.

 

          Today, experience and age are dismissed as irrelevant in a world that is rapidly changing. Things no older than yesterday are considered antique. Everything is made of shine and plastic. Even the ministry comes packaged in slick smiles, bright lights and positive affirmation. Pastors grizzled with age and churches weathered by time are often shunned, but we instinctively gravitate to experience when we are in trouble. We want our doctors to be not only experienced but experts in their fields of medicine. We don’t want a neophyte cutting into our bodies. When our lives and our homes are falling apart, we want a pastor who is mature. Experience matters.

 

          Experience is the knowledge and wisdom derived from long practice and observation. If you are newly planted, the first thing you must learn is patience and the next is to pay attention. If you are an aged old sage, then find a young one to mentor. Pour yourself into him so that experience comes more quickly because experience matters.

 

1 Peter 2:2

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

Dear Ancient of Days, thank you for being patient with me while I have grown. Let me pour myself into others that they may become fruitful. AMEN

 

WINNERS AND LOSERS!

 

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

 

A Classic previously presented.

 

WINNERS AND LOSERS!

 

Phil 3:7-8

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

 

          The word “loss” is the Greek word zemia [pronounced dzay-mee’-ah] which means “that which is lost by way of violence.” The word “to win” in verse 8 has the idea of winning by way of a successful contest.

 

          When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), his whole value system was reversed. He was highly educated, spoke several languages, and was a respected teacher. He enjoyed political influence and friendship with powerful friends. He was a craftsman and tradesman. He was a firebrand for his faith, albeit misguided in its application. He was probably wealthy. Jesus replaced those valuable things with things of even greater value.

 

          Winners are those who, when they encounter Christ, embrace the changes He wants to make in their lives. They welcome the new and let go of the old. They move forward. They go on without becoming bitter at the circumstance or their God who allowed it.

 

          Losers are those who, even in the face of yet unknown gain, cannot get past the pain of a temporary loss. Losers change the way they view themselves and distrust the image that God sees in them. They know their bitter, vindictive feelings are unfruitful, but they can’t get past them. Losers keep losing until they can let go of the loss.

 

   I quote from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “IF.” If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

 

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   

    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

 

 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

 

Dear Lord, comfort those who think themselves losers, and make humble the winners. Show us the great gain in knowing you. AMEN

 

CHANGE MY HEART!

 

Monday, February 23, 2026

 

CHANGE MY HEART!

 

Ps 51:9-12,17

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 

          David had sinned with his neighbor’s wife. Instead of being a brief journey into immorality and pleasure, it set in motion a chain of consequences that included murder. Because of the illicit intimacy with Bathsheba, his intimacy with the Lord was broken. New characters had entered his life but there was a huge hole left by his departure from the Lord. We can only imagine the condition of his tormented emotions.

 

          When Nathan, the prophet, came to reveal all of David’s sin, it must have been a relief! Like a boil that had not been expressed, the release was both painful and soothing. He was caught but it was also an opportunity to restore his broken relationship with God. In his prayer for forgiveness, David prayed for three specific heart changes.

 

          Renew a right spirit within me! The word “right” in verse 10 literally means “erect” and stands in contrast to the slumped shoulders of the smitten king. Erect also indicates the sure confidence of the soldier at attention. David wanted his life to be characterized by stability, faithfulness and firmness. This would be a cooperative venture of both David and Jehovah.

 

         Uphold me with Thy free spirit! The word “free” means “voluntary; grand or noble.” The crown upon his head made him a nobleman but it was the crown upon his heart that made him truly noble. David asked that he might once again feel good about himself.

 

          David asked for a “broken” spirit. The word literally means “to burst” and is often used in giving birth. Like a woman ready to be delivered of a child, David prayed that his spirit be delivered of his burden. The word “contrite” means “to fall down” as in worship. David had a heart that wanted to worship once again. He was tired of pretending and rebelling. David wanted to feel the release of repentance. The essence of real revival is to be found in the first two verses of this Psalm.

 

Ps 51:1-2

 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

 

Dear Lord, restore to me the intimacy that sin and straying has destroyed. AMEN

 

DON’T CAGE MY SONG

 

Sunday, February 22, 2026

 

DON’T CAGE MY SONG

 

Acts 22:27-28

27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

 

Under the Roman law the "freeman" (ingenuus) was one born free; the "freedman" (libertinus) was a emancipated slave and did not have equal rights with the freeman. (from Easton's Bible Dictionary.)

 

The Texas Mockingbird is a slender-bodied gray bird. They pour all their color into their personalities. They sing almost endlessly, sometimes even at night. They go on learning new sounds throughout their lives. The song is a long series of phrases, with each phrase repeated 2-6 times before shifting to a new sound; the songs can go on for 20 seconds or more. These are the joyful sounds of freedom!

 

   Archibald Rutledge tells the story that as a young boy he was always catching and caging wild things. He particularly loved the sound of the mockingbird, so he decided to catch one and keep it so he could hear it sing any time.

 

   He found a very young mockingbird and placed it in a cage outside his home. On the second day he saw a mother bird fly to the cage and feed the young bird through the bars. This pleased young Archibald. But then the following morning he found the little bird was dead.

 

   Later young Arch was talking to the renowned ornithologist Arthur Wayne, who told him, "A mother mockingbird, finding her young in a cage, will sometimes take it poisonous berries. She evidently thinks it better for one she loves to die rather than live in captivity."  --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 225.

 

          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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. (The Declaration of Independence)

 

Dear Lord, having been set free from the cage of sin by thy mercy, let me sing my song long into the night. AMEN

 

STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS!

 

Saturday, February 21, 2026

 

STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS!

 

Heb 11:13

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

 

1 Peter 2:11

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

 

           Is is time to call the Mother Ship to come and pick us up! The world has gotten strange, and we are strangers.

 

          Only twice do we see the word “pilgrim” in the New Testament. In Hebrews the Greek is parepidemos which means “‎an alien alongside, i.e. a resident foreigner.” In First Peter the word “stranger” is paroikos which, in the Greek, means “having a home nearby; a by-dweller. Think of one who lives just across the border! He is an alien.

 

          The message is clear to me! If the world seems strange to me, it means that I am an alien in a foreign place. My citizenship is in heaven (See Philippians 3:20). I should not expect to feel at home here. I am a “by-dweller.” My true home is across the border in a land so far yet so close at hand. One day the Father-ship will come to pick me up.

 

Heb 11:16

16 But now they [we] desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

 

Dear Lord, it seems the world is becoming increasingly strange to me. I anxiously await your return to take me home. AMEN