A DREAM COMETH!

Sunday, November 3, 2019

A DREAM COMETH!

Eccl 5:3

3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

           Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, is also the writer of the proverbs. That truth gives this verse the ability to stand alone even while it is connected to the context. It also gives it the possibility of at least two meanings.

           The strict meaning is that a hard day’s labor might cause dreams which are a compilation of the day’s activities. That being the case, I have had some “doozies!” Some can’t even be repeated here! Without a Daniel to interpret and make sense of them, most of those dreams are dismissed.

           The other meaning is that any worthwhile venture, a dream, only becomes a reality through careful planning and hard labor. If you pass any large or successful venture you can be assured that it began as someone’s dream or vision.

           What is your vision for yourself, your career, your family, and your church? Are you satisfied with the way things are or do you dream of something bigger and better? If you are a dreamer, God can use you if you apply the labor and patience to bring those dreams about.

Acts 2:17

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,[to tell forth truth or foretell events under inspiration] and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [be given insight while sleeping]

Dear Lord, help me to be a visionary! Give me the strength to add the labor that is necessary to bring those dreams to pass. AMEN

Saturday, November 2, 2019

UNAVAILABLE!

John 20:24-25

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

           Thomas may have been guilty of no more than being genuinely and innocently occupied with other business when the disciples met together. John simply said he was not there; he did not say he was unwilling to come. Nevertheless, his absence had consequences. He missed seeing the Lord with the others and continued in his doubt and disappointment. Thomas provides an example to all of us who are unavailable to God for one reason or another.

           Many are unavailable because they are unwilling to give up their comfort and safety in order to follow Christ. The following verse shows that the excitement of the moment may inspire one to hastily volunteer but Jesus explained that there would be hardships.

Luke 9:57-58

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

           Others are trapped by family expectations. I remember the struggle and conflict that I had with my well-meaning parents when I told them I was going to quit my job, leave home and prepare myself for ministry. They thought I had lost my mind and had no problem telling me so. Family expectations dictated that I follow a certain path. Had I done so; I would have been unavailable to God.

Luke 9:59-60

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the [spiritually] dead bury their [physically] dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

           Following Jesus requires a single focus. All other plans are filtered through His plan for my life. All other opinions are superseded by His principles and either added or dismissed. In this way the early followers came to be known as Christians; literally Christ-ones.

Luke 9:62

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

James 1:6-8 "The man who trusts God, but with inward reservations… cannot hope to receive anything from the Lord, and the life of a man of divided loyalty will reveal instability at every turn." (Phillips Translation)

Dear Lord! Let me follow so closely as to occasionally step on your heels. AMEN

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION!

Friday, November 1, 2019

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION!

Luke 6:47-49

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

How Firm a Foundation is a Christian hymn, published in 1787 by John Rippon in A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns, known as "Rippon's Selection". It is attributed only to "K", which probably refers to Robert Keen(e), precentor (choir and music leader) at Rippon's church, though other names suggested include Richard or John Keene, Kirk­ham, or John Keith. It is most often sung to the tune "Protection" (or "Foundation") by Joseph Funk from A Com­pil­a­tion of Gen­u­ine Church Mu­sic (1832), though the original tune may be Keen(e)'s "Geard". This was the favorite hymn of General Robert E. Lee and has been played at the funerals of several US politicians. (Information from Wikipedia.)

The hymn is born just eleven years after the Declaration of Independence. The ashes of the Revolutionary War still hung in the air and the foundation of the nation was being laid. But much more than the foundation of a nation is in view.

           Your peace is not due to the lack of storms in your life but the firmness of your foundation. Let the winds blow and the storms rage! In the words of the hymn: “That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake.” Of the seven verses of this hymn, the following provides me with great encouragement.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

Dear Lord, be very near to your children who are going through fiery trials and deep waters today. AMEN