PISMIS 24 — LOBSTER NEBULA
James Webb Space Telescope – NASA
“The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven”
Psalm 11:4
Hi Men:
With everything going on in the world, I would imagine with many of you a good portion of the week was spent staring at screens, headlines, and ground-level problems. Scripture repeatedly calls us to do the opposite—to lift our eyes. When we do, we don’t just see stars; we see order, purpose, and a Creator who reigns far above the noise.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” — Psalm 19:1
Of course, I’m not saying we should ignore what’s happening in the world, but we need to be careful not to let it take hold of us in unhealthy ways—creating anxiety, a knot in our stomach, or even anger. I have to watch my own heart in this too, because it’s easy for me to become frustrated or upset. When that happens, I try to pause and remember that apart from the grace of God, I could just as easily be the person I’m reacting against.
I guess I’m back to: …
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” — Philippians 4:8
In addition, we all need to be praying for these issues. Especially for the people of Iran right now! Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus – the Author and Perfecter of our faith! (Heb 12:2)
PHOTO ABOVE
I was having cosmos withdrawal and needed to reflect on our amazing universe.
NASA Released 20 Jaw-Dropping New Images – to watch them:
Watch Them On YouTube: (17 min)
Creation Is Not Random — It Is Structured
God does not create chaotically. He creates with order, layers, boundaries, and purpose—from the oceans, to the land, to the heavens above. That same intentional design exists directly over our heads, even though we rarely stop to think about it.
The Layers Above Us
Human life exists only because God engineered layers of protection we never see:
- Troposphere – Where life happens: breathable air, weather, and clouds.
- Stratosphere – Home of the ozone layer, filtering deadly solar radiation.
- Mesosphere – Where meteors burn up before reaching the ground.
- Thermosphere – Absorbs high‑energy radiation that would otherwise destroy life.
- Exosphere – The outer boundary, fading into the vastness of space.
Heaven Is Real — and It Is Above It All
Scripture presents heaven not as a metaphor, but as a real place—distinct from creation and ruled by God Himself. Christ ascended upward. Our citizenship is not here. Above all the visible order is an invisible throne that is never shaken.
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Colossians 3:2
If God can hold the universe together—layer by layer, boundary by boundary, He can certainly hold your life together.
IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Earlier this week, I had an appointment with my dentist. I didn’t have much opportunity to talk with the new dental hygienist, she was working in my mouth most of the time 🤠 and then headed off to another patient once we were finished.
Since I hadn’t eaten that morning, I stopped afterward at a breakfast restaurant I’ve visited before – Peg’s! One of the servers there was a young woman I had briefly spoken with almost 2 years ago. As I sat there, I asked the Lord if He wanted me to speak with her again.
As I was getting ready to leave, she came by my table. I said, “I have something for you, if you’d like it.” She asked, “What’s that?” I pulled out Steps to Peace with God and said, “This saved my life. This is the gospel.”
I had a brief opportunity to explain it to her, to share a bit of my own testimony, and how my life was radically changed by Jesus when I was 40 years old. I also showed her some of the other gospel tracts I keep tucked inside. She wanted all of it.
Before I left, she asked my name. I told her, and she told me hers, Heather. She thanked me again and said, “I hope I see you in here again.”
It was a simple moment and a profound reminder that we have no idea where people are spiritually or what they are dealing with. Divine appointments are all around us………
Amazed by His creation and anchored in His Word,
Dan
(Galatians 2:20)
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Men:
People in the Bible wanted to be healed, but did they want what Jesus really had:
Eternal Life?
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:16
God Is In Control – Day 23 Red Book
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
1 – John 11:25-26
Born to Reproduce –
Early History of The Navigators
~ Dawson Trotman – Founder of the Navigators
Men: It’s been some time since I have included this short video. Take a moment to hear more on “Spiritual Reproduction.”
Watch this short video. You will like it! (YouTube 5 min)
Note: In Skip Gray’s book, Insights (page 33), he states, “All it costs to invest in someone else is your life.” Isaiah 43:4, “I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.” Due to Dawson Trotman, Skip Gray discipled many men, including Walt Henrichsen.
January letter from Lee & Miltinnie Yih. Their faithfulness to the Lord has touched and shaped countless lives. I love what Lee said:
“After returning, Lee said his only regret was that he never actually pastored a church, but after seeing these pictures and videos, it is clear that he has been the pastor of a church for all whom we have spiritually invested in.”
Contact me if you wish to see the photos.
Men: A dear brother sent me this story by Max Lucado. I think you will like it………. If you have read it, what a great refresher……..
The Woodcutter’s Wisdom
Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse………… Open this PDF to read the rest of this story)
One of the brothers shared this a few days ago:
Sharing the Gospel
“Three things silence a man when he ought to speak: cowardice, indifference, and believing that what he says will make no difference. Only God knows his motives and why he is not more bold to speak. Sharing the Gospel is not only the privilege of Christ’s “slave;” it is also his duty. The “slave” is indifferent to what happens to him as a consequence of his being obedient to his Master, not indifferent to the message of his Master.”
After reading that paragraph, I thought of this verse.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Rev 21:8
Look at what word it begins with: The Cowardly
That doesn’t mean timid personalities. It refers to those who:
- Know truth
- Feel conviction
- But refuse to stand with Christ
- Choose safety, approval, or comfort over faithfulness
This is the full quote. Below, in the image, is what we read most of the time……
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
“The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with His death—we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise God-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”
Luke 9:23
“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”
As you guys know, a cross is an instrument of death
Well, have you?
