Thursday Verse

  I well know, O LORD, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.

– JEREMIAH 10:23

What a year this world has had. We have seen human rulers under the spotlight as never before. We have seen some who seemed more motivated by economic concerns than the value of human life. We have seen rulers who are too weak to be respected or too slow to act. We have also seen some rulers working tirelessly, and clearly caring deeply about protecting life.

We have seen arrogance and mistakes, we have also seen some humility and modesty. But what is the future of human rulership? Can humans on their own successfully care for the earth and all of it’s creatures?

On their own, humans do not have the ability to care for the earth, and any effort they make will have limited success at best. More than ever it is clear, we need God’s Kingdom!

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Thursday Verse

Whoever trusts in his own heart is stupid, But the one who walks in wisdom will escape.

PROVERBS 28:26

Often when we are reading information we tend to focus on what supports our prior held views or beliefs.

When we use the internet to search for information, news and social media services start to tailor our feed, presenting us with information based on our browsing history.

But there is a danger in only reading or trusting what we want to believe. We can be misled, we can fall victim to misinformation, including conspiracy theories and political propaganda.

Thursday Verse

From the beginning I foretell the outcome, And from long ago the things that have not yet been done. I say, ‘My decision (or purpose) will stand, And I will do whatever I please.’

– ISAIAH 46:10

This verse fills me with confidence. How many politicians make pledges and promises to secure votes into office, but then later abandon them when it seems inconvenient or impossible to honour them?

Yet the true God is able to say thousands of years of advance that He will end wickedness and He will establish a clean earth full of healthy creatures. There is no obstacle to the fulfilment of God’s purposes that He cannot overcome. Indeed, whatever pleases Him will take place.

It is clear from the scriptures that we are living deep in the time of the end of wickedness. Soon we will see the fulfilment of God’s Will on earth.

Friday Five

I love reading the posts other bloggers have published. I have decided to share with you some of my favourites from the past week, and a little of why I enjoyed them.

There are such a wide variety of posts from other bloggers, and I love the variety of subjects and the styles of different bloggers. But I know some posts I remember because of the motivation within them. I like to be inspired.

DEBRA MARY – Week Of Midnight Meals: April 2021

How could I not choose my favourite foodie post of the week? The chicken dishes Debra suggested really had me drooling, but there is plenty in Debra’s post for vegetable lovers too. Debra’s food looks delicious and healthy – what more could I ask?

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JIM ADAMS – Willing To Adapt

Jim’s post about change really got me thinking. I know at work, we sometimes find change alarming at first. We have had to be so flexible and adaptable throughout the past year especially. I love Jim’s discussion of how regards change.

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DOMINCA MAY – The Job Hunt Process And Lessons In Networking

I was so impressed by Dominica’s energy and organised approach. The way she discusses challenges and solutions, and is so determined – it is truly inspiring.

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CARAMEL – More Of A Purpose Than A Plan

Another very inspirational post. Caramel’s post highlights resilience when things don’t go according to plan in our life. I loved the comparison to taking a journey and coming across obstacles on our route. We don’t just give up and go home. If we really want to get to our destination, we find another route. She shows why having a clear purpose is so much better than being tied to a a plan.

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SYDNEY ROSE – The Way God Leads…

I found reading the way Sydney expresses her faith truly uplifting. It reminded me of a special scripture that has so much meaning in Genesis 48:15: “…The true God who has been shepherding me during all my life until this day.”

Thursday Verse

And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army.

REVELATION 19:19

Throughout the book of Revelation we see Jesus in his role as a conquering King, riding for true justice. Some people think of the book of Revelation as bad news. But it is in fact forecasting the end of “those ruining the earth”, the Devil and other spirit creatures who have sided with him, corrupt rulers, hypocritic religious leaders, greedy merchants and the organizations that they sponsor who are meant to appear enlightened and noble, but often behave destructively.

Up to now, God has allowed the challenge raised in the garden of Eden to be answered. Are humans qualified to rule themselves? Thousands of years of history record the results of human rulership. To do this day, human rulers are allowed to rule over the rest of mankind. What is the state of mankind today? You can decide for yourself how successful human rulership is.

But in the near future, the scriptures predict momentous events as human rulers desperately try to cling to their power. How will they gather to wage war against Christ Jesus? Jesus is in heaven. The scriptures indicate that as never before we will need to trust God’s ability to protect His people.

Thursday Verse

He will have pity on the lowly and the poor, And the lives of the poor he will save. From oppression and from violence he will rescue them, And their blood will be precious in his eyes.

PSALM 72:13,14

It is vital to remember that God sees the suffering of people in all corners of the earth and He intends to do something about it!

God’s Kingdom is the instrument that will be used to rid this earth of wickedness and oppression. Just think how life will be when all on earth can thrive under the loving care of the God who views people as precious in His eyes!

Thursday Verse

How long, O LORD, must I cry for help, but you do not hear? How long must I ask for help from violence, but you do not intervene? Why do you make me witness wrongdoing? And why do you tolerate oppression? Why are destruction and violence before me? And why do quarrelling and conflict abound? So law is paralyzed, And justice is never carried out. For the wicked surround the righteous; That is why justice is perverted.

HABAKKUK1:2-4

When you watch news reports featuring shocking acts of violence and the distressing effects of crime and political corruption, how do you feel? Have you ever asked inwardly, how long will God allow these disturbing events to go on for? How long will wickedness go on for?

How does God feel about us asking those questions? Is it not remarkable that God has recorded the sincere questions of righteous men and women who were distressed about the conditions around them! The fact is that any peace loving individual ought to feel deep concern about the state of the world today. When we ask “how long?” it is not a sign we lack faith, but a sign that we long for the fulfilment of God’s purposes on this earth.

God not only preserved this honest hearted question in his Holy Word, but He also dignifies humans by answering our questions. Anyone who has read God’s Word will know that we are living in the time of the end. The end of wickedness. Soon we will see a clean earth and true peace ushered in as God’s Will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

Thursday Verse

For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.

ROMANS 15:4

Throughout the scriptures there are examples of God’s dealings with people who experienced joys and challenges similar to our own.

Have you read a passage of the scriptures and identified with a Bible character? Have you been amazed as you read on the page the very feelings you have struggled with, and realized that a man or woman who lived thousands of years ago felt that same way?

Why would God go to the trouble of preserving the experiences and expressions of people and have them translated into thousands of languages? We today need to keep our hope strong. The practical advice and comfort God imparts to us by the examples of his people is like a great crowd cheering us on to the end.

Thursday Verse

“With you is the source of life”

– PSALM 36:9

When I first read this verse years ago, I felt a tingle inside. It is such a profound meaningful statement. Some Bible translations render this verse as “the fountain of life”. That conjures up a beautiful image.

I find it fascinating that so much attention is being given to searching for evidence of life on Mars, when we live on a planet so abundant in life. I can imagine that scientists would love to fully understand the jump between amino acids, proteins and living cells…and then onto conscious life. Although we can reproduce, and scientists can clone living cells and are learning about the possibilities of engineering DNA, they do not know how to create life from scratch.

It is humbling to think of our dependence on our Creator for life. He provides everything we need to sustain our biological life.

As fascinating as the source of life, the miracle of life is, what often causes us more reflection is why we humans die and if there is any hope for those who have died. The verse above points to the answer to those questions. We know from the scriptures that not only is God the originator of life, but he can restore life to those who have died. There are nine accounts in the scriptures where that occurred which stand along with the promises that soon God will resurrect people asleep in death. That is something no scientist can achieve.

Thursday Verse

Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his life as a ransom in exchange for many.

MATTHEW 20:28

This weekend is a special weekend for many millions of people who long for the fulfilment of God’s purposes. After Adam spurned God’s love, he was allowed to have children. It is only because of God’s love that we have a hope for the future.

God sent his firstborn to the earth to provide the legal basis for mankind to be able to enjoy what Adam gave up. All our hopes – all of them – the removal of sin, the healing of mankind, the end of disease, crime, wars and terrorism, the resurrection of the dead, are all guaranteed because Christ was willing to give up his perfect human life in exchange for what Adam lost.

In a world where so many people seek their own glory and fame, one man stands out as the greatest man who ever lived – the one that ministered to humans, gave up his human life for them, and will soon have the joy of extending the benefits of his ransom sacrifice to all mankind.