Hurricane Ian from the ISS 9/28/22
“I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity.
I, the LORD, do all these things.”
Isaiah 45:7
Hi Men:
Due to who you are “IN” Christ, I pray this week you were able to exemplify the words in Phil 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say: Rejoice!” Please note the ending exclamation mark (in most versions of the Bible). So just like the 2 words in 1 Thess 5:16, “Rejoice always” ….. God wants us to rejoice all the time, even when bad things happen. It doesn’t mean that we don’t….. “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15) and of course we “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17). Yet, since we are one with Christ, we can “rejoice always.”
Hurricane Ian
I light of the verses above, let’s talk about Ian for a moment. Reflecting on the photo above taken by the ISS (International Space Station) helps me maintain my “Fear of the Lord.” Our God that can direct with perfection a huge hurricane right into the Ft. Meyers area and across Florida, is a God to be feared. Flashback: Remember Hurricane Harvey? By the time it dissipated, it dropped about 33 trillion gallons of water! More water than flows over the Niagara Falls in a year…….. wow!
Check out these Before and After photos of the devastation in Ft Myers:
Is He also a God that we should love and be in awe of? Absolutely! But He is a God that we should fear. [ Note: In the KJV, you will find the word “AWE” mentioned only 3 times in 3 verses, but the word “FEAR” 400 times in 385 verses.]
“The FEAR of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All who OBEY His commands will grow in wisdom……” (Psalm 111:10)
Remember what we have discussed many times and by now you should be able to quote this:
The 2 biggest problems in the church today:
(1) They have lost the fear of the Lord, and
(2) They want to serve God on their terms and not His
A Word About Peace
Let’s not forget what Jesus shared with his disciples, “In this world you WILL have trouble, but take heart; I have overcome the world. I have told you these things, so that IN ME you will have peace” (John 16:33).
Isn’t it interesting that our true peace comes from being IN Christ! Something to truly meditate on and pray about. Often I hear people desiring world peace and some Christian congregations pray for world peace. Then along comes Jesus and He spoils the fun:
“ Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39)
Grateful slave to King Jesus,
Dan
(Gal 2:20)
PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for the men and the speakers at the Southwest Men’s Retreat that starts tonight in Arizona (Sep 30 – Oct 2)
Men: It seemed most appropriate to insert Day 272 – September 28, the day Hurricane Ida made landfall in Florida. Please take time to reflect on this important devotional. Here are a some statements from Day 272 to ponder:
- Disease, natural disasters, or an accident will not kill you; only God will do this
- You have no enemies. God alone controls your destiny. He never delegates it to others
- Major on being his obedient slave
If you have problems with these statements, you’re not thinking Biblically.
God Numbers Your Days – Day 272 Red Book
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
Men:
All we have to do is open our eyes. There is so much suffering. Not only in Florida and the Ukraine, but all around us………
A buddy sent me this video…….. wow!
Vaneetha’s Joy In Suffering
Click Here to watch it from her website on DesiringGod.org
(YouTube 9:50 minutes)
One of the brothers sent this yesterday. What a great analogy!
“I was reminded of an analogy this morning you may have heard before. In aviation, a pilot may fly by VFR (visual flight rules) or IFR (instrument flight rules), if so certified. IFR is safer and more reliable because weather conditions can obscure obstacles revealed by instruments and there are instances of pilots flying a plane into the ground because of disorientation to the surroundings instead of relying on the instruments (if someone out there is a pilot, I hope I am representing accurately). Some pilots prefer IFR. I would suggest the Word is our IFR and infinitely more reliable than our surrounding circumstances or culture (VFR) in giving us orientation for our path. I know for me it takes constant reference to and checking of my Instrument so that I don’t veer off due to my observations of what is going on around me, both near and far.”
Then one of the brothers that is a pilot replied with this comment:
“I agree with your illustration. To give you another illustration I would add that when flying on IFR the pilot is in constant contact with air traffic control and must pay much closer attention to what they are doing and where they are going. Promoting living with an eternal perspective?”
Good stuff men!!
None of Self and All of Thee
Theodore Monod – 1875
Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow
That a time could ever be,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on th’ accursed tree,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Higher than the highest heaven,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
One of my favorites….
A Call to Anguish – David Wilkerson – (YouTube 7.5 Minutes)
Quick Question: Are you an effectual laborer for Christ? If you are, then:
- You know and live the Scriptures…….. You apply the truth openly to all of life.
- You live with a generational mindset……. Reproducing the character of Jesus in others.
Zion Boot Camp 2022
Men, please register today
Verses we would rather skip over………….