SPIRITUAL WARFARE The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. —Psalm 37:12-13             Plain and simply there are wicked people who actually do plot “against the righteous.”  They hate who God is and they hate God’s people, but they do not leave it there.  These wicked seethe with hatred and are actively against those who seek to live right before our Lord God Almighty.             Who are these wicked?  It is those who promote abortion.  It is those who promote sexual perversions.  It is those who seek to destroy God’s design of…

HE IS LIFE AND LIGHT For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. —Psalm 36:9  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. —John 1:4-5             We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12-13).  Paul’s commission from our Lord Jesus was “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith…

HE TAKES NO PLEASURE IN THE WICKED’S DEATH Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? —Ezekiel 18:23 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live. —Ezekiel 18:32 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.’ —Ezekiel 33:11             God does not take any pleasure in the death of the wicked.  His desire is that the wicked would…

REDEEMED! The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. —Psalm 34:22 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” —Romans 10:11             Are you a servant of our Lord?  If so, He has redeemed you (I Peter 1:18-19).  Are you taking refuge in our Lord?  Then you will never be condemned (John 3:18, 36; 5:24; Romans 8:1; I John 5:11-12).  Have you believed in our Lord? If you have then you will never be put to shame.             Let us rejoice that we are able to serve the King of the Universe!  May we…

HIS WORD COMES TO PASS Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD. —Ezekiel 12:28 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. —Psalm 33:11 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! —Revelation 10:6             Whether the Lord through Ezekiel telling of Judah going into…

SAFE IN HIS TIMES My times are in Your hands. —Psalm 31:15 He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. —Acts 17:26             Your life will not end or extend beyond what our Lord God Almighty has planned for you.  He has marked out life’s race for you and you are to run that race, keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith run (Hebrews 12:1-2).             Take comfort in this.  He knew our birth date from eternity past and He also knows your death date.  Our brief and momentary race is the dash between those two dates.  So today,…

BE STILL… You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. —Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. —Psalm 119:114             Have you ever felt like just getting away from it all?  You know, like imagining some island paradise where the weather is perfect, the water temperature is perfect, the food is perfect, no conflicts exist, no troubles exist— everything is perfect!             There is a place!  “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (II Corinthians 4:17).  “However, as it is…

OUR LORD REIGNS FOREVER! But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations. —Lamentations 5:19             Our Lord reigns forever and we are His servants!  What greater joy can there be than that?  We get to serve our Lord forever.  He alone is perfect.  He alone is totally good.  He alone has our best interests in mind.  He alone loves us like no other.  We are fortunate to know Him!             All earthly rulers’ reigns last but a moment.  Their thrones are so temporary and their power wanes and vanishes, never to be again.  Ungodly rulers think themselves to be powerful when ruling, but they do not know…

WAIT PATIENTLY The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”  The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. —Lamentations 3:22-25 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? —Lamentations 3:38 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”  He replied, “You are talking like a…

MY STRENGTH The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. —Psalm 28:7             We go through life generally feeling pretty good, but then sickness hits us and our weakness is magnified.  Only to feel good again is our heart’s desire when we are not well.  To be able to attend to the basics of life again becomes our hope.  During those times we think of when we were well and appreciate those times and hope to return to them.              Sin sickness saps away the spiritual strength of our lives. …