n0klu's Rants

  March 10, 2022 at 12:01 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Peace Amongst Believers Peace Amongst Believers "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! For there the LORD bestows His blessing, even life forevermore." Psalm 133:1, 3b     Scripture Focus: Ephesians 4:1-6 My friend was     a sports coach at a nearby college. At his first practice he gives a talk on unity. He speaks about building, preserving, and protecting unity. He warns that talent doesn't go far without it, having seen some of the most skilled but divided teams fall apart on the court. He tells his athletes to expect problems but then gives instructions on how to "plead a case with integrity" (Isaiah 59:4) since many a sports team (or business, church, or family) has been dismantled due to a lack of unity.   Often problems that develop between people are misunderstandings which can be resolved when we speak respectfully and truthfully with one another. When there is ...

  March 9, 2022 at 2:25 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Peace While Waiting Peace While Waiting "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."     Psalm 27:13-14   Scripture Focus: Psalms 37:1-7 What a precious assurance to know our Creator cares about us. When our faith grows and we share the longings of our heart with Him, we become certain that He will address our desires in time according to His perfect will. Waiting, though, can be hard. We tend to grow anxious; we want what we want, and now!   Too many times I have spent my energies entertaining anxious thoughts. I can testify that     it does me no good to fret; "it only leads to evil" (Psalm 37:8). Corrie ten Boom said, "Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." Psalm 8:2 reminds us that we can come to Jesus like a child.   "From the ...

  March 8, 2022 at 1:00 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Peace for 2022 Peace for 2022 "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." Psalm 77:11-12     Scripture Focus: Nehemiah 9:5-15 Following Ezra's reading from The Book of the Law, the Levites led Israel in an act of praise and remembrance honoring the Lord's might and faithfulness over the years. It was a looking-back time.   I spend a portion of 2022 looking back at the calendar from the previous years. I am reminded of     joyful days noting birthdays of loved ones, music and sports events of our children and grandchildren, and gatherings of family and friends. I also see dates of past doctor appointments that indicate health battles, meetings which had disappointing outcomes, and funeral dates marking the departure of     those we'll no longer be able to enjoy this side of heav...

  March 7, 2022 at 12:01 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     None of Us Forget None of Us Forget "Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking."     2 Peter 3:1   Scripture Focus: 2 Peter 3:1-18 How quickly my mind wanders! Even when I'm trying to focus on one task, I find my thoughts fleeing in whole new directions. Other times, I walk into a room only to forget what I came in for! Daydreaming can distract study; selfish thoughts can destroy meditation. Your thoughts and mine need to be guarded continuously.   Everyone seems to have something to say about Jesus. Many don't know Him; others don't care; some even mock Him and use His name in vain. But things are not much different from Peter's day when he encouraged the church to remember and focus on truth. He also pointed to the last days when scoffers would come to distort and deny the truth of Jesus' return.   Even though...

  Mar 1, 2022 at 12:19 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     God Save You God Save You "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."       Isaiah 9:2 Scripture Focus: Matthew1:18-25 "God save you" was the greeting Fred gave to his Uncle Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Although Scrooge did not receive it well, Fred's cheerful message drew Scrooge's attention away from his work.   Joseph also received a greeting to address his greatest concern at the time-how would he handle Mary's pregnancy? As he pondered what to do, the Lord spoke to him in a dream. The right words at the right time proved to be a "God save you" greeting that changed Joseph's course of action. He trusted the Lord and continued with God's wonderful plan. That greeting made a huge difference in the lives of both Mary and Joseph.   How easy it is to focus on all the holiday preparations. The decorating, shopping, ...

  Feb 28, 2022 at 1:55 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Gift of Prayer, Pt. 2 Gift of Prayer, Pt. 2 "Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel."       Genesis 35:15 Scripture Focus: Genesis 35:9-15 One part of coming to know someone better is through conversation. What a gift it is to be able to communicate with a person, and in so doing grow closer together. Prayer is like that. When prayer becomes the breathing in and out of the moments of your day, you know Jesus better.   "Thank you for prayer, for it reminds us that we are a part of each other's lives, bearing one another's burdens and edifying each other.   "Thank you for prayer as it helps us to see the good in the lives of others and so humbles us that we may esteem others better than ourselves.   "Thank you for prayer that allows us to know you are sovereign and have control over the details of our lives, that you even count the number of hairs on our heads. No one but you k...