- MONDAY -

Good morning forever family,

In the ministry that we do Jackie and I have learned that many of those we minister to not only struggle with hurts, habit's and hang-ups but many also struggle with strong doubts.  They have lived destructive lives where everything is temporary and they are not used to seeing positive things last.  Much of what they have partaken in ends badly.  Human nature tells them to "hold on to your hats"; good things will be taken away quickly.  Their fears are real and debilitating.  Lately when presenting lessons to them I have been teaching the permanence of salvation in Jesus work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.  In these teachings I have been using the verses we are going to look at today among others.

This Easter Sunday Pastor Brandon also mentioned them.  This morning when I opened up my Biblegateway app to study John 10, I see that they are using John 10:28-29 as their featured study verses for the day!  Affirmation that this is an important truth that we all need to focus on today. 

²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and My Father are one.”   John 10:27-30 NKJV 

I've been seeking to instill in these hurting people that Jesus wants to help them to forever be set free.  Not just a temporary thing.  The cross represents  permanence. Permanent love!

Can you imagine the joy that our people have when they realize that the believer rests in security in the hands of God?  It is a great thing to behold.  What joy!

We have also discovered that these people, who have been forgiven much, love much.  When they come to church they bring that inexpressible joy with them.  There's a genuineness about them that rubs off on the rest of the church body.

We serve an AWESOME God! 

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

- TUESDAY -

Good morning forever family,

We read Scripture for many reasons.  As it says in 2 Timothy 3:16, we read Scripture for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.  Today let's read from Luke 7 to simply see the heart of Jesus.  Some days it is heard to navigate through this world of worry and woe.  I call it walking through Satan's mill and I feel that is actually accurate.  It can get even the most focused Christ follower a bit down.

I must admit that at times I read Scripture for a another specific reason... for reassurance.  I know when I think of the cross I'm reassured of His love for all of us.  When I read from Psalms I see the same love and provision.  And, when I read passages like this from Luke chapter 7 I see the heart of my Savior.

Oh the heart of Jesus.  How reassuring it is to me to read verse 13 below... 

¹¹ Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. ¹² As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

¹⁴ Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

¹⁶ They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” ¹⁷ This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.   Luke 7:11-17 NIV 

This Savior we worship counts all the hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30).   And, He clearly sees our pain and our needs.  Take comfort in that folks.  He has come to help His people (vs 16 above).  We too are His people!

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

- WEDNESDAY -

Good morning forever family,

A bill called the "Kelly Loving Act" is making its way through the Colorado legislature. It is actually now in the left controlled senate and soon will be likely headed to the desk of our leftist governor for signing. This "law" would pave the way for parents to lose their children to the state if they "mispronoun" their children. It follows the Canadian model where this has already become law of the land. According to the Deseret News one Canadian dad has already spent 6 months in prison and had to pay a $30,000 fine for not going along with his daughter's gender change.

Just an example of wrong doing by sinful people. Here in Colorado it is primarily the Christian population that opposes the way our local schools teach innocent children that they can be a girl if they're a guy and vice-versa. If the parents get concerned they have no say. This law will allow the state to simply take their kids away and place them in foster care.

So basically it is this. We have people in control who are deeply opposed to God and God's word. They are bent on doing sinful things. They now know that they can force others to do sinful things. If you don't believe this to be true check out how much Federal tax money has been used to fund Planned Parenthood. In fiscal year ending in 2023 it was just south of $700 million dollars! This after discovering the sale of baby body parts!

Now please realize what I am saying this morning. I'm saying there are evil people doing evil things, especially to Christians and it is because they want to sin and they want to blame Christians because such things are mentioned as sin in God's word. It all boils down to unrighteousness and following Satan and not Jesus.

Jesus Himself was mistreated for doing good. We are no different. It's all to the delight of Satan. God will deal with Satan at the correct time. For now we go on being Christ followers. Evil will never win. It will just fuel the lake of fire of Revelation 20. 

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father as well.   John 15:18-23 NIV 

We follow Jesus. Only He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! All this evil in the reminds me that God is coming soon. I'm also reminded that time is short. God has been so very gracious to us all. 

Be blessed, be a blessing, we must be busy lovingly, yet urgently, sharing the good news of Christ. While it is still daylight. 

Randy

- THURSDAY -

Good morning forever family,

Paul's letter to the church at Colossae contains some very good news and great instruction that we must adhere to. It also contains the reason why cults have mistreated this portion of Scripture. The enemies of God literally hate Colossians 2:8-10. They strive to foul the teaching presented there. All through the New Testament we are told that Jesus and the Father are as One (see John chapter 17). Yet cult leaders and false teachers try to get us to believe that Jesus was just a man. This certainly doesn't align with the truths found in Colossians 2. In Christ Jesus all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form! When we look at the totality of Scripture we see such verses as John 14:6 ( Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life... NO one comes to the Father but through Him) and we now see it clearly.

We believe in the Triune God, God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each a unique part of One God. We more clearly see why false teachers are so anxious to take away the Deity of Jesus.

So, we see the importance of understanding Colossians 2:8-10. Verses 11-14 also contain good news that we must not miss as a result of understanding the prior verses. This Jesus brings us to fullness of children of the King of Kings. Literally heirs to the Kingdom! We must live out verses 6-7. Praise Him with all thankfulness!

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹ In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.  Colossians 2:6-12 NIV 

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

- FRIDAY -

Good morning forever family,

Recently I was reminded of something that had happened just after the birth of my oldest son. This was many years ago in 1985. I'm 69 years old now. When my daughter was born it wasn't common practice that the father to be let into the delivery room. So my wife had to be alone for my daughter's birth. That always bothered me. When my son came along nearly 12 years later times had changed. I had taken Lamaze classes and I was going to be allowed to be with my wife during his delivery. I was pretty excited about that. The Lamaze instructor was the daughter of a good friend and she wanted me to do an experiment during my wife's pregnancy. She asked me to put my throat on my wife's stomach each night and speak. I actually sang an old Irish ballad called "Song for the Mira" to him each night. It's a soft and slow beautiful song about a beloved place.

When Jeremiah, "nicknamed "Miah", was born he came out screaming. As soon as I spoke he grew silent and craned his neck around to find me. The doctor was amazed. As a baby whenever he would get troubled I could easily calm him by singing that song. Now, as a grown man he still loves that song and Irish music!

All this reminds me of this Scripture... 

⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. ⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—  John 10: 4-10, 14 NIV

We get to know His voice by praying to Him everyday. We know His ways by reading and studying Scripture everyday!

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy