- MONDAY -

Good morning forever family,

I have a weight problem. Specifically a food problem. I like it too much. I have a problem with many of the meals Jackie cooks... I can't eat just a little. Her meals are just TOO good. Moderation is hard for me. I have tried Keto diets and carnivore diets. They both work for me but I don't feel well when on them. I also don't feel that is the way I was intended to eat. This was made more evident to me when I looked at Genesis 1 while reading a devotional this morning. It's like God was reminding me that a protein only diet wasn't His intention! He has provided all things good.

²⁹ And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. ³⁰ And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. ³¹ And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.  Genesis 1:29-31 ESV

I feel I must go for less processed food and smaller portions. I particularly like fruit and fish. I stop for now as I'm making myself hungry! 

Be blessed, be a blessing,
Randy

- TUESDAY -

Good morning forever family,

John 3;16 is perhaps the most famous verse in all of Scripture. “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."  It is a verse filled with hope and promise,and reveals God's love for His people.

Verse 17-21, however, explain the other side of this provision. Verses 19-20 are especially evident lately. Going out in public and being a people watcher tells the story. I already mentioned in a recent post how disturbing it is to hear young people talk. Their language is course to the extreme. They are addicted to their phones and social media rules their lives. Sin is their candy and they flaunt it when they can.

Lately going to church and hearing a good sermon is more and more like taking a good hot shower. I leave feeling clean. It's as if the world gets us dirty. It truly feels that way. Spending time with God's people in God's word is like breathing fresh air after being in a dust storm.

 A close study of these verses today tell us a lot... 

¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹ But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”  John 3:17-21 ESV 

All the more reason for the Christian to let his or her light shine for Jesus' light can shine through us best when we live His way.

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

- WEDNESDAY -

Good morning forever family,

I love reading Acts chapter 8 and the account of Philip. Acts 8 starts off with Saul (later Paul) who was in his time of persecuting God's church (before the Damascus road experience that changed Saul into Paul the missionary). The disruption Saul had caused sent scattered Christians and Philip ended up in Samaria where he preached the gospel and baptized many. One of the reasons why I love this chapter so much is that God directed Philip, by His Holy Spirit, to do marvelous things... like this... 

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. ²⁷ And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸ and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” ³⁰ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶ And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.  Acts 8:26-31, 35-40 ESV

There is such a good message here for all of us. That is prioritizing God's work and being open to His Holy Spirit's guidance. I'm convinced that we can all be like Philip was. we just need to put God first as Philip did. He will use us and it'll be quite the ride!

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

- THURSDAY -

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- FRIDAY -

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