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Friday, June 19, 2026

ABUNDANT LIFE!

 

Friday, June 19, 2026

 

ABUNDANT LIFE!

 

John 10:10

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

Eph 3:20-21

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

 

The English language is sometimes incapable of describing the bounty of God. The word abundantly which is used in these two verses has so many shades of meaning. In one case it means “violently” like the rushing of water in a waterfall. Generally, we understand the word to mean “much more than enough!”

 

More than enough – IN QUANTITY!

 

As it relates to LIFE, Jesus brings more than enough. We not only have existence, which might be described by sitting in an empty room, but we have abundant life, which is like a child bouncing off the walls in play! Life is colorful and eventful. It is abundant. It overflows.

 

As it relates to STUFF, God provides much more than we personally need. Can you see the bare basics of the following verse? “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Tim 6:8). Most of us have much more than the basics of food and clothing. Some of us rent storage containers to hold the stuff we have long ago forgotten that we own. We have stuff in abundance.

 

More than enough – IN QUALITY!

 

God does not give his children junk! That which He gives is superior in quality to anything the world or the Devil might have to offer. When Jesus turned common water into wine at the wedding feast the common water became uncommon wine. Here is what the wedding guests said about it.

 

John 2:10

10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

 

God gives us the good stuff. This is what the prodigal realized as his reasoning returned to him in the pig pen.

 

Luke 15:17-20

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

 

He had life while he was away from the Father; in fact, he thought he was “living it up.” But the one who had lived like a prince in the world longed to return to become a servant in his father’s house. Why? Because in the world there was scant supply and want while in the father’s house there was abundant life!

 

Dear Father! Two things I pray for today. I pray that I may understand how very much I have. Next, I want to be a channel of blessing for others. AMEN

 

Thursday, June 18, 2026

MOSES’ THREE REQUESTS!

 

Thursday, June 18, 2026

 

MOSES’ THREE REQUESTS!

 

The true believer’s heart can’t be satisfied with the hog pen husks of this world’s philosophy. No, the true believer’s heart never rests until it has feasted on the milk and meat of the Word. It longs for the manna from heaven. Moses throughout his long life consistently asked God for three things.

 

Ex 33:13-18

13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

 

1. SHOW ME YOUR WAYS! Unlike Moses, our minds are often focused on how we may improve our position, pamper our comfort, or preserve our safety. God wants us to understand that His ways are unlike our own.

 

Isa 55:8-9

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

2. SHARE WITH ME YOUR PRESENCE! If one of the horrible aspects of hell is separation of the soul from God, then it is a little bit of hell to not sense His presence. Moses did not want to lead these people alone. He knew the task at hand was a God sized challenge and, frankly, he wasn’t up to it. Better to not start such a job without the presence of God.

 

Ex 33:14

14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

 

King David prayed…Ps 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

 

 

3. SHOW ME THY GLORY! That God keeps Himself invisible is a benefit to us now. He said, “no man hath seen God” and that no flesh could see Him in all His glory and still live. Yet, it is the great desire of our spirit to behold His glory.

 

Rev 1:13-17

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I [John] saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

 

1 John 3:2

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

Oh, yes! We shall see Him, but when we see Him, we will be like Him; that is we shall not be flesh but spirit.

 

“And Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.

The trump shall resound – and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.”

 

Dear Lord, show me your ways – share with me your presence – and give me today a glimpse of your glory! AMEN

 

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

FORGOTTEN GLORY

 

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

 

FORGOTTEN GLORY


Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us

 

          Being a retired pastor gives me perhaps too much time to think. Removed now from the pressures of denomination and congregation, I can now focus upon my relationship with God.

 

          Verse 16 reminds me that the Holy Spirit constantly assures me that I am a child of God. Earthly pressures try to rip me from the peace of knowing that. The Spirit repositions me at the center and comforts me.

 

          Verse 17 reminds me of my inheritance as a child of God. The treasure and benefits are shared with Jesus! I cannot think that I am worthy of it all. Neither did I earn it.

 

          Verse 18 reminds me that any suffering will be soothed, and any discomfort will be forgotten and any tears will be wiped away.

 

          The Cross is two thousand years behind us, and we have forgotten the Glory. Miracles have become fantasies to be doubted because we are so far removed from them. Worship, once demonstrated with broken alabaster boxes and tears, has mutated to entertainment. We have forgotten the Glory.

 

Lord, please forgive me when, in the midst of suffering, I forget the Glory. AMEN