Creating Thought

The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? Psalm 118:6 What can man do to me? Good question. If we think along our normal temporal plane we would say "Man can do a lot to me." After all, have we not seen the Christians who are beheaded because they would not reject Christ and convert to Islam? Have we not seen the reports of women and children being raped with impunity? Have we not seen those who have be caged and burned alive because they did not agree with the militant Islamists?  Yes, we have, and it is natural and normal to react to these things with fear.  We fear that this will be us, it will come to our door and sooner rather than later. We fear that our government does not have a plan or strategy to protect us. We fear that we are looking at a future that is in control of the evil one and there is little we can do about it.  But the Word of God is this; "The Lord is for me; I will not fear;" whatever man can do to me is of little consequ...

Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not   envious toward wrongdoers. 2  For they will   wither quickly like the grass And   fade like the green herb. Psalm 37:1-2 Do you believe this?  In view of the increasing violence and acts of terror in our country and the world, is this piece of the Word of God something you can take refuge in?  I know that it is difficult for me to not fret because of evildoers. First of all I have a black belt of many degrees in fretting.  I don't find myself being very envious toward wrongdoers - that caution is given for those who wish they could be rich like the wrongdoers are rich. No, that's not really me. But I do fret the doers of evil, the ones that walk into a concert hall and kill nearly 100 people against whom they have no specific complaint.   But we know they are coming our way. It is only a matter of time and over that time we will see a progression of evil that will come closer and closer to our s...

"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?" Psalm 56:3-4 November 14, 2015 Where were you on this day? Where were you the day before in the afternoon when the news of the terrorist attacks in Paris came your way? How were you five minutes after you first heard the news compared to before you had heard them?  If you were like many of us, one of the feelings (among many) was probably fear. Fear that that can happen in our country. That has actually happened in our country so you probably did some mental comparisons with 9/11 and a few mass murders in our country. How about now?  Are you still afraid? Did you do as I did and say something like; "Well, I'm never traveling to Europe, that's for sure."?  Maybe you are not afraid, or at least you are not willing to admit it even to yourself. But you realize the when this kind of attack comes closer to...

Be of sober spirit , be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB) If anyone was qualified to make this statement based on personal experience, it was certainly Peter. Peter, who had, of his own accord falling down under the attack of the devil and failed to keep his bold promise. Peter had promised in the most explosive terms his unfailing allegiance for Jesus Christ.  At their last supper together Jesus spoke to Peter about what he (Peter) was going to go through and they had this exchange. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has  demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”   But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!”   And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that...

If you are a Christian.  If you have believed and placed your faith in the words of Christ. If you have accepted the free gift of eternal life that was purchased for you on the cross by the death of Christ and secured through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Then the path of your life will include testing of your faith. It is simply a promise given to us by Jesus and in His Word, the Bible. And it is not always easy to understand. When your speak out about your belief, you will encounter disbelief - sometimes in the form of ridicule and hate. But be encouraged. God is your refuge. He will never fail you or forsake you. You can believe this.  "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.  (John 16:33) A great truth is this: No matter how difficult life becomes in this world, it will be overcome in an instant. Present difficulties will be repla...