3.4 Million in the Dark…Is that all?

Isa 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. 9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. 10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

A major storm along the east coast of the US has left 10 people dead and almost 3 and a half million people without power.

In Colorado, 35,000 residents have been forced out of their homes by wildfires. Add to that the folks across the nation suffering from bankrupt cities, numerous other wildfires, drought and you have to wonder when we are going to hit our knees and call out to God almighty for mercy. Minnesota has just experienced the worst flooding ever.

We will soon be affronted in our own living rooms by nudity and profanity (even worse than what has already been allowed) thanks to recent rulings concerning the Federal Communications Commission.

Numerous states have legalized gay marriage. Perversion slaps a person in the face at every turn. The Supreme Court just put its stamp of approval on Obama’s unconstitutional socialized health care program. Municipalities are requiring that chaplains not pray in Jesus’ name at official functions. Naval chaplains have already been ordered not to do so. Bibles distributed to service members may no longer bear military insignia on the covers.

51% of our citizens work hard and pay exorbitant taxes so 49% can live off the government.

God continues to be marginalized in our increasingly secular society in which tolerance is demanded for every kind of lifestyle and belief except biblical Christianity.

America’s next choice for president will be between a man who many believe to have been born in Kenya and who is dangerously deferential to Islam and another who believes that he is destined for godhood on another planet.

The world is on a collision course toward Apocryphal disaster and Americans continue to entertain themselves to death and spend themselves into oblivion.

How blind can we be that we don’t see our need for a revival of godly righteousness in our nation? How many more disasters must we endure before we finally humble ourselves before the God of heaven, seek His face, pray and turn from our wicked ways?

Only 3.4 million are in the dark? I would say that number is just a drop in the bucket.

The Abundance of God’s Grace

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

You may have to be a senior, or be closely related to one to understand what I am about to write:

GOD’S GRACE HAS NO DONUT HOLES!

Amen!

Those on Medicare and Medicaid understand that they get only so much to spend on meds per year, when those funds are maxed out, the cost of skyrocketing healthcare comes out of their own pockets. That period until the end of the year is called the Donut Hole. One of my friends made it to the donut hole by June first. Just one of his meds, U-500, I think he said, is right at $600 per month. Whereas many are able to get help from different agencies or even the drug company itself, he falls into that pay grade with his pension where there is no help from him. He falls through the cracks. So every year about now, he ends up singing, “Hi-ho, hi-ho, it’s in the hole I go!”

And so, I repeat, GOD’S GRACE HAS NO DONUT HOLES!

We don’t fall between the cracks when it comes to His love and grace. There is never a shortage. It is always abundant and free, as well as undeserved. And you will never fall into the donut hole with the Lord! Praise God!

Meddling Minions

Luke 4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

These must have been demoncrats who bedeviled this poor man. They do their dastardly deeds and then, when they are confronted, say, "Leave us alone; we have nothing to do with you."

Fact is, they had plenty to do with Jesus. They followed the dragon in rebellion against Jesus and the Father and were cast to earth. Now they are messing with his creation, a man who is a recipient of God's love and potential grace and mercy. These hellish minions were meddling where they had no legitimate business.

Furthermore, they showed no respect due to the One Who held their eternal dispostion in His hands.

You would think those who were once eye-witnesses to God's majesty, power and glory would show some deference and give honor to their eternal judge, Jesus. Yet they showed impish insolence.

The devils of hell...they are going to get theirs!!!

What a Word is This!

Luke 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

How admirable when the Lord gives a friend, a loved one, a pastor or an elder the wisdom to speak to your situation with such profundity that it boggles the senses as it ministers to your need. It behooves us to act upon these nuggets of knowledge and understanding.

There are those folks whose words are very wearisome. It is hard to be around them because they are so full of words but have nothing to say. You know some of these people, I am sure.

But then there are those who are like, E.F. Hutton, when they speak, people listen.

I have a friend who speaks with such wisdom and authority that his words are entirely captivating to all within earshot. People literally hang on to his every word longing for more wisdom from his experience.

I have another friend who has a social network ministry. She studies hard and garners much wisdom from the Lord and other godly sages and then shares her heart with her cyber friends. After reading her posts, I have often thought, "What a word!"

Jesus never uttered a word without imparting profound wisdom. The quips of Christ have mended fences, changed lives, healed broken hearts, encouraged the downtrodden and impacted the world.

Ministry is all about speaking to the hurts and hearts of others. May we glean greatly from God's Book today so that we may give a wonderful word to some needy soul.

A New Day

Luke 4:30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way, 31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. 32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

For the Lord, it was a new start in a new town. Nazareth's loss was Capernaum's gain. Because Jesus grew up in Nazareth, the people there had little faith in His messiahship. So Jesus moved His ministry headquarters to this bustling little fishing village setting on a great crossroads. From this town, He would select most of His disciples and here He would do great miracles.

At the age of 30, Jesus got a fresh start in a new ministry in a new town. He gained new friends who would eventually give their all for Him. This chapter describes His new neighbors as astonished and amazed at Him. From this place His fame spread into every place of the country round about.

Aren't we glad for new starts? The Lord gives us new life in Christ. Every day is a brand new day with a new outlook, new opportunities to seize and new people to minister to.

Jeremiah, in Lamentations tells us, It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Oh, believer, cherish this blessed thought this morning. You have a fresh new day to love, live and serve God. Enjoy and make the most of it.