Daniel 2:27-28a “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets.”

Faithfulness runs throughout Scripture as a common theme. The stories of the many men and women who relied wholly on the Great I Am come to life within the pages of our Bibles. One of these superheroes of faith was Daniel.

Young Daniel was snatched from his life and groomed in service to a foreign king, yet Daniel remained faithful to the Great I Am. So when King Nebuchadnezzar demanded his wise men reveal the secrets of his dream or die, Daniel felt no panic. Instead, Daniel turned to God, the keeper of all secrets.

Daniel boldly approached King Nebuchadnezzar and brought it to the king’s attention that the secret he demanded could never be divulged by humans. Then Daniel uttered one small word and the impossible turned into all things possible – “BUT.”

Yes, the king had demanded the impossible, “BUT, there is a God in heaven,” Daniel said as he stood before the throne.

Those three little letters, B-U-T held the power to turn the story around and rewrite the ending.

What the king would learn was that the impossible just happens to be God’s everyday routine. So God through Daniel revealed the king’s secrets. Then with all assurance, Daniel said, “The great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain and its interpretation is sure.” Daniel 2:45

If Daniel were onstage before an audience, he could have ended this speech with a mic-drop and a standing ovation exit. Mighty God was so certain and sure, Daniel was willing to stake his life on it.

It is easy to stand in awe of what God did for Daniel, but friend never doubt the same God in heaven remains certain and sure in our lives also.

When hurtful words and deeds strain precious relationships and leave us broken, remember there is a God in heaven. He holds the power to change our hearts, redeem our souls, and heal our wounds.

When feelings of insecurity consume us, when self-esteem doubts creep in, and when anxiousness leaves us paralyzed, remember there is a God in heaven. His immeasurable love for us was evidenced when he was nailed to the cross. Yes, we are precious to Him.

And as was seen in the story of Daniel, when our future feels scary and we cannot see what lies ahead, remember there is a God in heaven who holds our destiny in His hands and promises to direct our path.

So friend, when you, like the king, seek answers, there is a God in heaven. He remains certain and sure. Another mic-drop!

Father God, help us never doubt you to show up in our lives.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

Thanksgiving: When you say grace, say this!

It’s Thanksgiving week as you read. I hope it is the beginning of a holiday season that will bless your heart with warm memories for many years. For some, though, the holidays will bring painful memories of abuse or loss of a loved one or long days of mental torture or longer nights of physical pain. Even with the challenges that come to all people in a fallen world, the church of God, the redeemed, have constant cause for joy and thanksgiving. We are gathered around his banquet table every day of every year as we walk in His light.

Psalm 103 is a great place to go on this Thanksgiving week to be reminded of the depth of the Lord’s mercies on His spiritual Israel. Here is David’s list of the blessings, from that chapter, showered by the Father on the Old Testament nation. How many of these are just as real to the church, the people of God, today? I challenge you to go down this list and check off the ones that are applicable to you, personally. How many of these are very real and tangible in your own life in 2023? As I made this list, I realized, at once, the inconceivable worth of His blessings and my own worthlessness. There is some realm or area of my life and of His mercies in which I can check off each one! Here’s the list:

• Forgiveness of iniquities
• Healing of diseases
• Redemption from destruction
• A crown of lovingkindness and mercy
• A mouth satisfied with good things
• Renewed youth
• Execution of judgement for oppressed
• Ways made know to Moses
• Acts made known to Israel
• Mercy
• Grace
• Slowness to anger
• Dealing NOT according to sins
• Removal far from transgressions
• Pity like a Father
• Remembrance that we are dust
• Everlasting mercy
• Righteousness to grandchildren
• A prepared throne
• A kingdom that rules
• Angels that excel in strength

I love to contemplate every one of these. But the one I love the most is that He deals not with people (me) according to their sins. There are no words for the gratitude that swells in me when I understand that he will not treat me as I deserve to be treated. He will look on me and not see sin in its blackness. He will reach to me and not touch the filth of sin. He will listen to me and never hear the wretched voice of sin that anguishes in my pleas. He will savor the sweet smell of my worship and not smell the stench of guilt. Surely if David could extol His mercies and claim his deliverance in the days of animal sacrifices, how much more can I bask in the blessings of forgiveness; living, as His child in the shadow of the cross! “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name” (Psalm 103:1)

Cindy Colley

Judges 2:10b-12a “. . . another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord God. . .”

My family admits to being dressing-snobs, meaning we tend to turn their noses up at all Thanksgiving dressing and stuffing except our family’s own, unique recipe. I am at least a third generation dressing snob who raised a fourth generation of snobs, with a fifth generation emerging.

It is believed our Mama Watts crafted the recipe, but who knows. Perhaps she received it from a relative hanging high on our family tree. What we do know is if the generations to follow are to enjoy Mama Watts’ dressing, the intricate process of adding just the right amount of sage and balancing the ratio of cornbread to white bread must be handed down. Otherwise, the recipe will be lost and those coming after us will be destined to “take-out” stuffing.

Scripture speaks of passing down to the next generation something much more precious than a recipe. Throughout the life of Joshua, God’s loud voice and strong arm had been ever present. But following Joshua’s death, a new generation appeared who knew nothing of God, nor His mighty works and loving protection. Consider Israel’s epic failure when it came to teaching the next generation.

• They failed to share the story of creation, so the next generation knew nothing of God’s power and forethought.
• They never told of Noah, so there was no understanding of the importance of faithfulness to God.
• The story of the Tower of Babel was not uttered, so there was no awareness of how God detests prideful hearts.
• They never heard of Moses, the Egyptian bondage, the ten plagues, nor the parting of the Red Sea, so an understanding of God’s love and covenant fell by the wayside.
• They spoke nothing of Joseph’s unwavering faith in God, nor his generous forgiveness.
• They had no knowledge of Rahab who bore evidence of God’s desire to redeem broken lives.

Because of this, scripture records, “They did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. . .They forsook the Lord God” (Judges 2:10).

Friend, if we fail to teach the next generation the stories of our holy, sovereign, and loving God, history will repeat itself. Then sadly, a new generation will rise who knows nothing of our Lord (nor how to make Mama Watts’ Thanksgiving dressing).

Father God may our faith run deep and may we share you through all the moments of our life.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

Mark 4:19 “These are the ones who hear the Word, but the worries of this life, the false appeal of wealth, and the desire for more things break in and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.”

The arena hosting the conference filled with participants all anxious to hear the highly acclaimed keynote speaker and be filled with spiritual encouragement. I arrived early, prepared with my Bible, a large notepad, my favorite pen, and even a snack in case I got hungry. I settled in, excited for this opportunity. But as the speaker took the stage, I realized I needed Chapstick.

I rummaged in my bag, but no sign of it in the front or back pockets, nor main compartment. Not in my jacket either. By this point, everyone around me was spellbound and intent in notetaking. Not me. I was searching for Chapstick. I fought the urge to shout out, “Wait a moment. I can’t hear you. My lips are chapped!” Suddenly, what had been so paramount took second place. It was all about my lips!

Oh, the weakness of the human spirit. It takes so very little to distract us from what is truly important. I suspect we all have something (perhaps not chapped lips) that draws our attention away from God. Mark 4:19 lists these diversions as the worries of life, the glitter of wealth, and the quest for material possessions. Each prevents us from rooting our hearts in the Word and becoming godly fruit-bearers.

Many worldly concerns separate us from God’s desire for our lives. In the pursuit of a promotion at work, do we close the door to God’s spirit living within us? As we rush from ballfield to drive-thru dinner, from overseeing homework to bedtime tucking, do we fail to incorporate the goodness of God into discussions with our children? In our local congregations, are we content to be pew-sitters, turning down involvement opportunities because they would detract from our weekly activities? It seems the gospel writer, Mark, was right on point with the ease of smaller things distracting us from those of eternal importance.

In case you are wondering, no, I never located my Chapstick that day. My focus was diverted from what was most important. But if I can find anything positive in my unfortunate example, it is that I am forever grateful the clothing tag in the neckline of the woman sitting in front of me was not sticking up from the back of her shirt. Had it been, I simply would not have heard a single word!

Father God, help us to realize our worldly pursuits are secondary to our pursuit of Your Spirit.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

Have you ever been in a situation and thought, “I have got to run away!”? Maybe it was some kind of danger you encountered or an aggressor was approaching and running is all that you could think of at that moment. Some view running away as cowardly and think that one must always put up a fight. When we think of fight or flight, regarding spiritual matters, there are times for both. Christians are in a spiritual warfare, and thus must be hard, fighting soldiers (Ephesians 6:10-17; 2 Timothy 2:3-4), but at the same time, there are situations in which those in combat just need to run!

The New Testament is full of warnings and admonitions for Christians to guard against going back to the old life of sin (Romans 6:5-14; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:16-21; Colossians 3:1-11; Hebrews 10:19-31; James 1:21-27; 1 Peter 4:1-3). In so doing, the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul used strong terminology at times. He directly told the church at Corinth, “flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18). This command came after rebuking Christians there for not disciplining a brother for this very sin (1 Corinthians 5). We see that there were sexual addiction problems in the 1st century similar to what we see today in society. (It is seemingly worse today due to the fact that TV and the Internet have allowed people immediate and private access in their homes.) Fornicators in the church! May it not be! Sadly, we know all too well that even God’s people do not run from this sin. Those who give into fornication have made themselves members of harlots. They forget that God, in adding them to His church, has made them members of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15). They forget that they belong to the One Who purchased them (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). They forget God will bring judgment on fornicators (Hebrews 13:4)!

What is the answer to avoid fornication? Continue reading in 1 Corinthians 7 about marriage! Of course, it must be marriage God’s way to keep one from fornication. Faithful, loving husbands and wives give the affection, love and respect due one another, and they do not deprive one another of sex (1 Corinthians 7:2-5; Ephesians 5:33). Marriage, God’s way, is for life (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).

Likewise, to Timothy, Paul instructed to “flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV). As Christians in this spiritual battle for souls, we cannot give into the idea that it is all right to get really close to sin without partaking of it. In our self-gratifying and entertainment-seeking culture, we are tempted to think, “I can watch this movie, show, etc. and fast-forward through the sex scene” or “I know she always dresses immodestly, but I enjoy being around her and talking with her.” Sadly, many have let themselves be overtaken with lust and do not attempt to guard against sexual sins. This has resulted in the destruction of souls, many marriages ending in divorce and children being raised without two committed parents. We must remind ourselves with constant and diligent Bible study that God wants us to run away from “every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Let us be like courageous Joseph in Potiphar’s house and flee from “this great wickedness” (Genesis 39:6-12).

 In 1 Timothy 6:11, Paul said to “flee these things.” He just discussed the desire to be rich and the love of money (1 Timothy 6:6-10). Verse 10 is sometimes misquoted by stating that money is evil, but the Scripture says, “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Pursuing wealth and gain from an attitude of discontentment is covetousness – not godly living as Paul described (vs. 6-8). The deceitfulness of riches has caused many to stray from the faith. The Lord gave the image of a plant being choked out by thorns (Matthew 13:22) and said that it is very difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom (Luke 18:24-25). He warned “to beware of covetousness” and proceeded to tell the parable of a certain rich man whom God called a fool (Luke 12:15-21). In this very materialistic world, we all must take heed and diligently escape the temptation to lay up treasure for ourselves on earth, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34; see also v. 21). We must be wise and remember that material possessions (and our physical lives on this earth) are like the flowers of the field – pretty for a while, but soon they perish (James 1:9-11; 1 Peter 1:22-25). What remains is the Word of God and that imperishable crown He promises to those who are faithful (1 Corinthians 9:25; James 1:12).

Paul further told the Corinthian Christians to “flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14). This was right after he reminded them of Old Testament Israel’s sins after God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. It is interesting that 1 Corinthians 10:6-13 could be an outline of this very study. Notice the sins Israel committed in the wilderness: lusts, idolatry, fornication, complaining and discontentment with God’s provisions (covetousness). Paul penned in Colossians 3:5, “covetousness, which is idolatry.” When we are not content with God and do not fully trust Him, we seek and put our trust in such vain and dumb things like pleasure, power, lusts of the flesh and material wealth (1 Corinthians 12:2). Everyone in the world is influenced by these idols, but God’s people should be actively running away from such worthless endeavors. Sadly, many Christians today need to turn from idols to serve the One, True and Living God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). They profess Christianity, but their hearts are in fellowship with demons (1 Corinthians 10:20-21). Again, they have forgotten that, as the church, they are the temple of God in which there is no communion with idols (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). God’s people should be seeking “first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” remembering that He will take care of our needs (Matthew 6:33). Let us not be like old Israel, who did not flee idolatry, but remember 1 John 5:21, which reads, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

We have seen that there are times in a Christian’s life when one must run! As we are tempted in this evil world, we must look for that way of escape and have the conviction to flee through it (1 Corinthians 10:13). When we run from sin, we draw near to God and resist the devil – causing him to flee from us (James 4:7-8)! As we fight the good fight of faith, may we remember to “…be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love… But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints… For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:1-7).

Emily Fisher

If you lived in the early seventies, you may have seen a comedy show staring Flip Wilson. One of his memorable  expressions was, “The devil made me do it!!!”  This has long been a standard part of the blame game, going all the way back to the garden of Eden. Adam blamed his disobedience on Eve, and Eve blamed it on the serpent. She may as well have said, “The devil made me do it!”
The blame game continues to this day. Have you watched the news? No one wants to admit they have done something wrong. “It’s not my fault. I never would have done it if I hadn’t been provoked.” And they proceed to justify their deed. It is always someone else’s fault.
Scripture is filled with examples of those who either listened to the wrong person, or decided their way was better than God’s way, or went down any number of roads that took them down a dark path.
When Cain murdered his brother, I wonder if he was prepared for the consequences. God said to him, When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth. And Cain said to the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear!  Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground (Genesis 4:12-13). He was personally responsible for Abel’s gruesome death and reaped the consequences.
Then there is the account of the deluge of water that covered the earth, destroying all but eight people. Noah preached for a hundred years while building the massive vessel (2 Peter 2:5). The people could have listened and turned to the Lord, but they did not and paid a tragic price for their wickedness.
One of the classic accounts of casting blame on another is the first king of Israel, Saul. At the beginning of his reign, he was little in his own eyes, as Samuel described him. We might say he was humble. God told him to attack the Amalekites and utterly destroy them, do not spare man or woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey, Saul attacked the Amalekites, but he took King Agag alive, and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good.
God came to Samuel and said, I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments (1 Samuel 15:11). Samuel went to King Saul and said, Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord? Saul said, But I did obey the Lord. I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.
Samuel said, You have done a foolish thing. You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command (verses 19-21). Saul then confessed to Samuel that he had sinned, that the reason he did it was because he feared the people, so he obeyed their voice. He asked for pardon for his sin, but it was too late. Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death (verse 35).
James lets us know that the devil doesn’t make us do anything. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death (James 1:14-15). We have control. We can choose to run from that which tempts us, or we can choose to give in to our own desires. We must take personal responsibility for our actions because there are consequences. Paul wrote, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (Galatians 6:7-8).
Our God is long suffering with His children when they violate his will and with sinners who have not yet obeyed Him. But do not be fooled, there certainly will come a day of reckoning! (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Today’s Verses: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

By Teresa Hampton

It was recently brought to my attention the power of possessing settled conviction. The Bible is literally filled with hundreds and thousands of statements of settled conviction from those who were devoted to Almighty God and those who were diametrically opposed to Him.

Daniel 3 gives us the account of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the three Jews – Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. The king made an image of gold, “whose height was sixty cubits [about 90 feet] and its width six cubits [about 9 feet]” (Daniel 3:1 NKJV). The king ordered every official with any standing in the province of Babylon to fall down and worship the image when the symphony of all kinds of music played. A herald cried aloud that whoever did not fall down and worship would be cast immediately into the midst of a burning, fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were reported to the king when they refused to bow down. The king in rage and fury commanded that they be brought before him. He stated the ultimatum once again, and the three Jewish men once again refused. The king even asked them who was the god who would deliver them from his hands. Their response is one of true settled conviction. Daniel 3:16-18 declares, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.’”

In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asked His disciples, “…Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” There were four different responses. In verse 15, Jesus said to them, “…But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:16 records Peter’s declaration of settled conviction. “…You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus followed this declaration by saying how Peter gained this divine knowledge. “…Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (v. 17).

John 20:24-29 records the account of the apostle Thomas having his first encounter with Jesus the Christ after His glorious resurrection. Thomas was not with the other apostles when Jesus came. They told him they had seen the Lord. In verse 25, Thomas said, “…Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” After eight days, the apostles were together again, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, saying, “…Peace to you!”  (v. 16). Verses 27 and 28 are indeed dramatic! “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” Indeed, this was a declaration of settled conviction.

Acts 21 gives the details of the opposition Paul faced on his journey to Jerusalem. Verses 10-14 record the specific danger Paul would encounter if he persisted in going to that city. A certain prophet came and told Paul and his companions what was ahead. He took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet and said, “…Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’” (v. 11).

When Paul’s companions heard this, they pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Note Paul’s declaration of settled conviction. Acts 21:13 records for time and eternity, “Then Paul answered, ‘What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’” Verse 14 records, “So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, ‘The will of the Lord be done.’” This is the expected submission of all dedicated followers of the Lord Jesus.

Shortly before Jesus was to face the reason for Him being sent to this sin-cursed, fallen, dark world – which was the redemption of mankind – He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew’s account in Chapter 26 is most riveting! He took Peter, James and John with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed (v. 37). “Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me’” (v. 38). Verse 39 reveals what only God and His Son could feel and know. “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’” Verses 40 and 41 reveal just how alone Jesus felt. He came to His disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Verse 42 records our Savior’s ultimate declaration of settled conviction. “Again, a second time, He went away and prayed saying, ‘O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.’” Verse 43 reveals Jesus “…came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.” Verse 44 tells us, “So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.”

God put forth King Solomon to show us that wealth, honor, long life, power, possessions, pleasure, gratification of all human appetites and anything else this world has to offer only results in vanity and vexation of the spirit. Life is empty apart from God. Solomon concluded Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 with this most sobering, settled conviction. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”

King Nebuchadnezzar stands as one diametrically opposed to God. For his high-handed arrogance, he incurred God’s wrath in a way perhaps no other human ever had experienced for not believing that God was God! When God’s day of reckoning was poured out on this pagan, he was brought to his knees. Daniel Chapters 3-4 contain the dramatic account. When God returned Nebuchadnezzar to his senses, he stated forthrightly in Daniel 4:35, “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” Verse 37 concludes with him saying, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”

Unwavering settled conviction for God’s revealed Word – do we have it?

Marilyn LaStrape