hang on

Don't be afraid or discouraged,

for the Lord is the One Who goes before you.

He will be with you..

He will neither fail you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:8



This is what Moses said to the children of Israel right before the Jews entered the Promised land, to conquer it & the people living there.


It must have scared them to death to invade Canaan with the mandate to conquer the people living there.


Of course, we find their fears silly - but then , we know the end of the story - they didn't.


The same assurance God gave the Jews through Moses' statement applies to us, too.


We live in perilous times - when haven't we?


But these days at least seem to be a heck of a lot more perilous than usual.


It seems that each day more & more people get up each morning & take a crazy pill.


And those who already seem to be crazy must get up each day & take at least a double dose of crazy pills.


The word here is "don't be afraid".


I don't think that means everything will be just hunky dory.


I do think that God is saying to us, no matter what happens, don't be afraid.


"The Lord is the One Who goes before you."


iow, He's out there in the immediate as well as the long term future, preparing the way.


"He will be with you."


iow, we won't be alone.


There is nothing more frightening or bone-crushingly lonely that going through the seasons of life feeling you are by yourself.


There's nothing worse than thinking or knowing no one is walking with us, maybe not so much making things easier, but just to be there to walk with us.


It's horrendous to feel alone in life.


And God will "never fail us or forsake us."


iow, He's never going away, & never leaving us out on a limb.


We've never gonna look up & realize we're alone.


We have to hold on to these basic truths as we pass through these crazy, insane times.


If we don't, we will become just as crazy & insane as we seem so many, many people around us becoming each day.


Let's hold on to the first 3 words of this verse as we walk through these perious times...


"Don;t be afraid..."

weak / strong

2 Corinthians 12

1 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. 

I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.

2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. 

Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don't know—only God knows.

3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. 

But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.

(dan note: I don't know what to make of what Paul experienced, but one of my sons professes to have had a similar experience. All I know is all I know...)



  5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I'm not going to do it. 

I will boast only about my weaknesses.

6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, 

because I would be telling the truth. 

But I won't do it, because I don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. 

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.


  8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

9 Each time he said, 

"My grace is all you need. 

My power works best in weakness." 

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, 

so that the power of Christ can work through me.

10 That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, 

and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. 

For when I am weak, then I am strong.



"My power works best in weakness."

I know that must sound crazy.

But if we think about it, it makes sense.

If we acknowledge our weakness & our inability to do anything to strengthen them or eradicate them, then that opens the door for the Holy Spirit to come in & infill & empower us?

At least that's how it's work with me these 50+ years of following Jesus.

Think about it...


Like Paul, when we are weak, then we are strong, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

please...!

This is Paul speaking here in his second letter to the followers of Jesus in Corinth...

2 Corinthians 11 16 Again I say, don't think that I am a fool to talk like this.  But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little. 17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. 18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. 19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you,  takes everything you have,  takes advantage of you,  takes control of everything,  and slaps you in the face. 21 I'm ashamed to say that we've been too "weak" to do that!   But whatever they dare to boast about—I'm talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I.  Are they Israelites? So am I.  Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more!  I have worked harder,  been put in prison more often,  been whipped times without number,  and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods.  Once I was stoned.  Three times I was shipwrecked.  Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys.  I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers.  I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles.  I have faced danger in the cities,  in the deserts,  and on the seas.  And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights.  I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food.  I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.   28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness?  Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?   30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. 33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

We white middle class evangelicals in America love to whine about how "persecuted" we are.


Please....!

while on his way...

John 4

43 At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee.

44 He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown.

45 Yet the Galileans welcomed him, 

for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration 

and had seen everything he did there.



  46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. 

There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick.

47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.


  48 Jesus asked, "Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?"


  49 The official pleaded, "Lord, please come now before my little boy dies."



  50 Then Jesus told him, "Go back home. Your son will live!" 

And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.



  51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well.

52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, 

and they replied, "Yesterday afternoon at one o'clock his fever suddenly disappeared!"

53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." 

And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.



The government official took Jesus at His word & believed If Jesus said his little boy would live.


Did you catch that it wasn't until the next day while the government official was walking home that his servants arrived & told him his son was alive.


iow, the government official left Jesus, walked until dark, slept through the night, got up, got breakfast, continued walking toward home, & met up with his servants.


I wonder what the official was thinking all during that time from the hour he left Jesus until his servants met up with him?


Maybe some times Jesus needs us to simply take Him at His word... 

maybe believe what He says... 

maybe move out in faith...

when confirmation comes that He did what He said He would?


Think about it...


Where & when does Jesus want you or me to take Him at His word about something, or someone? 

prophetic words

Psalm 37

1 Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.


2 For like grass, they soon fade away.


  Like spring flowers, they soon wither.


3 Trust in the LORD and do good.


  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.


4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.


5 Commit everything you do to the LORD.


  Trust him, and he will help you.


6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,


and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.


7 Be still in the presence of the LORD,


  and wait patiently for him to act.


Don't worry about evil people who prosper


  or fret about their wicked schemes.


8 Stop being angry!


  Turn from your rage!


Do not lose your temper—


  it only leads to harm.


9 For the wicked will be destroyed,


  but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.


10 Soon the wicked will disappear.


  Though you look for them, they will be gone.


11 The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.


12 The wicked plot against the godly;


  they snarl at them in defiance.


13 But the Lord just laughs,


  for he sees their day of judgment coming.


14 The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.

15 But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.


16 It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.


17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,


  but the LORD takes care of the godly.


18 Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent,


  and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.


19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;


  even in famine they will have more than enough.


20 But the wicked will die.


  The LORD's enemies are like flowers in a field—


  they will disappear like smoke.


21 The wicked borrow and never repay,


  but the godly are generous givers.


22 Those the LORD blesses will possess the land,


  but those he curses will die.


23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly.


  He delights in every detail of their lives.


24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,


  for the LORD holds them by the hand.


25 Once I was young, and now I am old.


  Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned


  or their children begging for bread.


26 The godly always give generous loans to others,


  and their children are a blessing.


27 Turn from evil and do good,


  and you will live in the land forever.


28 For the LORD loves justice,


  and he will never abandon the godly.


He will keep them safe forever,


  but the children of the wicked will die.


29 The godly will possess the land


  and will live there forever.


30 The godly offer good counsel;


  they teach right from wrong.


31 They have made God's law their own,


  so they will never slip from his path.


32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.

33 But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.


34 Put your hope in the LORD.

  Travel steadily along his path.


He will honor you by giving you the land.


  You will see the wicked destroyed.


35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.


36 But when I looked again, they were gone!


  Though I searched for them, I could not find them!


37 Look at those who are honest and good,


  for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.


38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;


  they have no future.


39 The LORD rescues the godly;


  he is their fortress in times of trouble.


40 The LORD helps them,


  rescuing them from the wicked.


He saves them,


  and they find shelter in him.

life verse

This is Moses speaking to the children of Israel right before they going into the Promised Land without him.


Don't be afraid

or discouraged,

for the Lord is the One Who goes before you.

He will be with you.

He will neither fail you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:8


This verse in Deuteronomy is the verse that is the basis of this verse in Hebrews...


I will never leave you or forsake you.

Hebrews 13:5b


Hebrews 13:5b is my life verse, the pivotal verse I hang on to for my life.

I've come to consider both of these my life verses since one is the basis of the other.


Do you have a life verse?

If not, have you considered asking God to show you one?

Just be prepared for what He might show you!  ;-)

Word

John 1

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.


  The Word was with God,


  and the Word was God.


2 He existed in the beginning with God.


3 God created everything through him,


  and nothing was created except through him.


4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,


  and his life brought light to everyone.


5 The light shines in the darkness,

  and the darkness can never extinguish it.


  6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,*7 to tell about the light 

so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.

8 John himself was not the light; 

he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.


  10 He came into the very world he created, 

but the world didn't recognize him.

11 He came to his own people, 

and even they rejected him.

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.



  14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. 

He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. 

And we have seen his glory, 

the glory of the Father's one and only Son.



  15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, 

"This is the one I was talking about when I said, 

'Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'"



  16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

17 For the law was given through Moses, 

but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God. 

But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. 

He has revealed God to us.



Ain't no wiggle room there as to who & what Jesus is & is all about...

SO persecuted

This is Paul writing in his second letter to the followers of Jesus in Corinth...



2 Corinthians 6

23 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, 

and no one will find fault with our ministry.

4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. 

We patiently endure troubles 

and hardships 

and calamities 

of every kind.

5 We have been beaten, 

been put in prison, 

faced angry mobs, 

worked to exhaustion, 

endured sleepless nights, 

and gone without food.

6 We prove ourselves by our purity, 

our understanding, 

our patience, 

our kindness, 

by the Holy Spirit within us, 

and by our sincere love.

7 We faithfully preach the truth. 

God's power is working in us. 

We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.

8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, 

whether they slander us or praise us. 

We are honest, 

but they call us impostors.

9 We are ignored, 

even though we are well known. 

We live close to death, 

but we are still alive. 

We have been beaten, 

but we have not been killed.

10 Our hearts ache, 

but we always have joy. 

We are poor, 

but we give spiritual riches to others. 

We own nothing, 

and yet we have everything.



This passage makes me chuckle.

Here's why...

It seems one of the favorite martyr-esque themes among white American evangelicals is how persecuted they are.

(Is "martyr-esque" a word? ;-) lol)

Whenever I hear that sentiment by my uber-privileged brothers & sisters, I think of the passages Paul wrote like this one.

Now THAT is persecution.


I wonder how many of us in America would be such ardent Christians if we had to endure one tenth of the turmoil Paul described & endured in this passage?


I think we all know the answer to that question...