From Mourning... To Morning
1. "Joy Cometh In The Morning"
Pastor Tripp recently used Psalm 30 as his scripture reference for a sermon titled, "From Mourning To Morning." His references were verse 5, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" and verse 11, "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:" It was an uplifting and encouraging sermon. David went from a sad time of mourning to a joyful time in the morning. Let's look for some encouragement in this little Psalm.
"4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." (A Portion of Psalm 30)
2. Salvation Takes Us From Darkness To Light
We had a cookout at my Mom's Saturday to celebrate Mother's Day. It was for lunch, and we were thankful that the storm held off since we were enjoying the time outdoors. Dark clouds gathered quickly overhead as we drove home and the garage was dark when we got home. The blue skies had suddenly turned dark. That can happen just as quick in life, also. We may be going along, all is well, and suddenly the storms come and cast a shadow around us. Looking out the window I can see that the clouds have rolled away after the rain, and the sun is shining again. God can give us light while the world is in darkness. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, Pharaoh and his army followed them. God gave the Children of Israel light, while the Egyptians had darkness. "And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night." (Exodus 14:20) Isaiah prophesied, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." (Isaiah 9:2) How can we go from a life, dark with sin, to the shining light? Put our trust in Jesus! "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) Just as the darkness of night turns to the bright light of the morning, Jesus can turn our darkness to light! "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:" (Ephesians 5:8)
3. From Despair To Hope
My son, Joshua, called me late Saturday night and asked me to pray for him. He was going to the hospital. I stopped everything I was doing and Michael and I prayed for Joshua. I sent texts to our family and asked them to pray. Some tests were done on his heart and the doctor is supposed to discuss the results on Monday. (Please pray for Joshua and the doctors.) When we get news of sickness it can bring thoughts of despair. I don't know how people cope with the problems of life who don't know the loving care of our Lord Jesus. Because I can go to Jesus in prayer, I have hope, a hope that is stedfast and sure. "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,..." (Hebrews 6:19) Because I talked to my Lord after I talked with Joshua, I was able to sleep last night. The Apostle Paul proclaimed, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (II Corinthians 4:8-9) Trusting Jesus takes us from despair to hope! "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" (Titus 2:13)
4. From Bearing Our Burdens Alone To Giving Them To The Lord
A devotional memory came up on facebook from 2018 and I want to share that for our devotions today. We went to the hospital to see Joshua and it broke my heart. The doctors told him that he has AFIB and that is common after having covid. (He tested positive for covid twice, and maybe had it a third time.) They can't treat the AFIB until they get his pulse regulated, which is jumping up over 185. Please pray for Joshua and his wife, Michelle, as she sits with him. I know how hard that can be, to sit and watch one you love going through so much sorrow.
"Giving God My Troubles
When I talked the other day about things we can give, each one was something that can help others in one way or another. I am looking today at giving God our troubles. That is something we can do to help ourselves. When my youngest son, Joshua, was still in college he wrote a Bible verse on the board on my refrigerator. "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." (Ecclesiastes 12:12) He left that one for a while and then he wrote another one, which is still there, even after all these years. "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." (Ecclesiastes 1:18) I have been thinking about the truths of this verse since reading through Ecclesiastes last week. When I was younger we had the local and national news that we could watch on television each evening. There was some bad news, but I didn't think about it very much. Today, it seems as though everywhere I look I see some type of bad news. And the more I hear about all the evil things that are going on, the more my heart is troubled. I don't think the answer is to close our eyes and ears to all the problems in the world. What can we do? Most of the situations I see are beyond my help. But, I can pray to God. And I can say with Jeremiah, " Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:" (Jeremiah 32:17) There is nothing too hard for our God. Another thing we can do is give our troubles to the Lord. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (I Peter 5:7) Whether it is the sin of this world that has burdened you down, or the trials and tribulations that you or your loved ones are going through, the Lord can help you bear your burdens."
5. From A Great Storm To Peace And A Great Calm
There are many types of storms. In addition to weather related storms, they can come against us physically, financially, and mentally. They may be small little storms that only last a short while, or they can be mounting on the horizon and become great storms. We all have storms. My recent storm revolved around the health of my youngest son, Joshua. I asked my family and friends to pray. After our distressing visit to the hospital on Monday evening, God answered our prayers. Tuesday morning Joshua sent me a message that his pulse became regular at 4:17 am and the AFIB was gone. He said that the doctor didn't know how the problem just went away. Praise the Lord! I know! My Lord and Savior answered our prayers! At 1:30 Tuesday afternoon Joshua was able to leave the hospital and go home. My heart was troubled in this storm, and just like Jesus said in Mark 4:39, He spoke these words to my heart, "Peace, be still." God can take us from a great storm, to peace and a great calm. He doesn't always answer in this way, but He is able to give us peace in the midst of our storms.
"37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:37-41)
6. From Ruined To Revived
I am reading in the book of Nehemiah, and I always enjoy this little book. Nehemiah asked his brethren about the condition of the Jews who were in Jerusalem.
"3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven," (Nehemiah 1:3-4)
He got permission from the king to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. He went around the city to assess the damage. The city was in ruins.
"17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." (Nehemiah 2:17-18)
They worked hard and as they began making progress they had great opposition from their enemies who threatened the Jews and mocked them. "And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?" (Nehemiah 4:2) We can look around and see how things are ruined. We begin working to find a solution, but it doesn't come easy. We will have opposition when we try to do what's right. How did they go from ruined to revived? To begin with, they prayed. Then they looked at the damage to see what needed to be done. They worked, as they watched for the enemies. "So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared." (Nehemiah 4:11) They didn't give up. "So the wall was finished..., in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God." (Nehemiah 6:15-16) Don't quit. God can help us go from ruined to revived!
7. From Rags To Riches
As I was thinking about the devotions for today I remembered a phrase from a song that we used to sing, and how we go from rags to riches. "The Family Of God" was written by Bill Gaither in 1970. In the second verse the song says, "From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong, I'm not worthy to be here, but, praise God I belong!" The prophet Isaiah reminds us, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6) When we trust in Jesus to save us, our filthy rags are done away with and we are born into the family of God. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10) "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:21) We trade in our filthy rags for the riches of Christ. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
"15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:15-17)
The Family Of God by Bill Gaither
CHORUS
I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God;
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family, the family of God.
You will notice we say “brother and sister” ’round here,
It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear. (CHORUS)
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I’m not worthy to be here, but, praise God I belong! (CHORUS)
8. From The Weak To The Strong
I am looking again at the song, "The Family Of God" by Bill Gaither. The song continues, "From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong." After my daughter and her family moved into their new house, she started building on her dream of having a little farm. She has been adding horses, and pigs, and chickens, and enjoys living her dream. She said yesterday that she had felt weak, but she feels like carrying the 50 pound bags of feed and hay bales is making her stronger. I feel that way about working in my garden. We used a hand tiller to break up the ground and planted with a hoe, and I am tired! But, I hope that working these muscles that haven't been used in a while will give me more strength. Exercise builds our strength. In the spiritual sense, exercising our faith, makes our weak faith, stronger. The more that we believe in God, the more we will continue to believe in God. There is another way to look at moving from weak to strong. When we reach the end of our own strength, and can't go on, then we cry out to the Lord, and put all our hope and trust in the Lord, and we rely on His strength. When we trust in His strength and not our own, then we are strong!
"7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (II Corinthians 12:7-10)
9. From Bitter To Better
Have you ever noticed how people change as they get older? I know some who used to be kind and sweet, and as time goes by things have happened in their lives, and they have become cold and bitter. They are not happy in life, and they pass the blame to others, and take it out on everyone around them. There are others who have had a hard life and the tribulation has worked patience in their lives, and they have grown sweeter, and are very pleasant to be around. We can not be sweet and bitter. "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth." (James 3:11 & 14) Our title today is, "From Bitter To Better." In the fourth chapter of Ephesians the Apostle Paul exhorts us to put away the bitterness, and forbear with one another in love. Paul was in prison, and he could have been very bitter, but I believe that his love for the Lord and the church helped him get through all his trials and tribulations with great compassion for others. If we follow his advice to the church, then we will be able to become better as we grow older, instead of growing bitter. Here are the first two and last two verses of that chapter.
"1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:1,2 & 31,32)
10. From Barren To Fruitful
Last year would have been my seventh year of gardening, and the garden hadn't been very fruitful the sixth year, so I decided not to plant and let the ground rest as God had commanded the Children of Israel. I really enjoy working in my garden and fresh vegetables are so good! I also enjoy canning some, and sharing with my family and church family. I was a little behind in planting this year, but I am so excited that it has all been planted and so much of it is coming up. I am praying that my garden spot will go from somewhat barren to fruitful this year. Working to get the ground ready to plant reminded me of the parable Jesus told. We have the space marked off so that our good seed won't be planted by the way side. I carry a bucket through the tilled ground to pick up the big rocks that would hinder the seed. We don't have thorns in the garden, but I do have weeds and after the inch of rain we got Saturday, the weeds are coming up strong. I like to hoe and keep the weeds from taking a hold on the tender plants. I enjoy my garden so much. I plant flowers throughout that are good companion plants and good to attract pollinators, such as zinnias, cosmos, nasturtiums, and marigolds. We need to remember to sow the seed, the Word of God, to those around us and let our lives be fruitful for the Lord.
"3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred." (Mark 4:3-9 & 14-20)
11. From Depressed To Blessed
I hesitate to write this devotional because some think that Christians are always living on the mountain top without any problems. My life is not always like that. Sunday I felt a little down. I have been working so hard to get the garden started, and working inside the house to get it cleaned, and keeping grandbabies (which I truly enjoy), and cooking meals, well, you know how it is. And I just didn't feel well Sunday. After we ate lunch and washed up the dishes, I laid on the couch and slept almost three hours. I even slept Sunday night. I was tired. And that is why I didn't feel well Sunday. Elijah sat under the juniper tree, tired from his mountain top experience and weary from his long journey, and I would say that he was depressed. "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat." (I Kings 19:4-5) He also went on alone, but we will save that for another time. God let him sleep and fed him. When I was feeling down Sunday, I started thanking God for His blessings on me. I thanked God for giving me the strength to plant the garden, and for the rain and sunshine, and that it was coming up. I thanked Him for supplying my needs. Michael's birthday was Saturday, and I thanked God for giving him another year with me. As I counted my blessings, I went from depressed to blessed. If you are feeling a little down, don't count the things you don't have, but count the things you do have. Take care of yourself. You can't take care of others if you are not taking care of yourself. A big one for me is, don't look so much at the things you need to do, but look at some of the things that you get done. Something else that Michael tells me many times, "Don't let the perfect, ruin the good." I can accomplish so many things, but if one little thing isn't right, it makes me feel like I failed. On days that you feel a little down, try to count your blessings and you may be able to go from depressed to blessed!
12. From Day Of Birth To Counting Birth Days
We have four birthdays in our family in the month of May. With the addition of Mother's Day, we had cake every week in May when the kids were growing up. Elsa and Lici wanted to spend the night on Monday, so I let them make a birthday cake for Annie before she came to pick them up Tuesday. We never had big, elaborate birthday parties in our family, but we always tried to make birthdays special. We count the years, one by one, to celebrate our day of birth, but there is something more important than these special days. Jesus told Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again." Do you know that you are born again? The only way to be in the family of God, and be sure of heaven for eternity, is to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin and put your trust in Him to save you. Many put a lot of emphasis on their birthday, but the most important day of your life is the day you accept Jesus as your Savior, the day you are born again!
"1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:1-18)
13. From Lost To Found
Michael and I went out to eat lunch and as we were leaving, we saw an elderly man standing and staring at an emply parking space. I asked him if he was okay and he said, "Where did they take my car?" We asked him what kind of car he had and he said he didn't know. Then he asked us where he was. Michael told him where we were, and he remembered what type of car he had. We helped him find his car and waited until he was in before we left. I feel so sorry for those whose minds are leaving them. It would be sad to feel so lost, even around places that should be familiar. We wanted to do whatever we could to help him find his way. We should feel the same about those who are spiritually lost in this world. Many are seeking for something to satisfy, and they find no help from the world. We have the answer. Jesus came to give His life to save lost sinners. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) We need to help those who are lost to find the way. When I was young my Sunday School teacher taught us the Romans Road to Salvation. These verses can help you share the gospel message to those who are lost. It can be remembered as A, B, C. Acknowledge, or Admit that you are lost. Believe in Jesus. Confess to Him.
Acknowledge that all have sinned.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
Believe that Jesus is the only Way because He paid the debt for our sin on the cross.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Confess your sin to Jesus and trust in Him to save you.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
14. From The East To The West
I don't like to give directions to get somewhere. I can drive places because I can see my surroundings. But, I have trouble seeing it in my head. When I pull on to Main Street from a side road, it takes me a little while to know if I should turn left or right to get where I am going. And the only way I can determine east and west is if I can tell which way the sun came up and which way it is going down. When we think about our title, "From The East To The West", we know that those directions continue infinitely from each other. When we ask the Lord to forgive us of our sins, that's how far He removes them! His mercy reaches from heaven to save us, and we don't have to worry about our sins anymore.
"For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:11-12)
Micah 7:19 tells us that He cast our sins into the depths of the sea. "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." Sometimes we remember past sins in our life, but we can put it all behind us, because Jesus paid that debt and we can rejoice in our salvation! We have this promise, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 10:17) Praise the Lord for His mercy!
15. From Top To Bottom
When Lici comes to spend the night with me she loves to play in a bubble bath with toys. To help speed things up a little I give her a bath while she plays. I begin with her face and hair, and end with her feet and toes. We shower from top to bottom. When I do spring cleaning I go from top to bottom. I start with ceiling fans and work my way down to end with floors. If I am going to paint a room I start at the top and work my way down in case there are runs or drips of paint. So, we see there are some things that we do, from top to bottom. When Jesus died on the cross the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom. Only the Great High Priests could go into the holy of holies. When Jesus paid the final sacrifice for our sins the veil was broken, from top to bottom. Yesterday I read Job 9:32-33. "For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both." Jesus is the Redeemer who can reach the hand of God in heaven, and hold my hand on earth. Praise the Lord! God reached down to man!
"50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." (Matthew 27:50-54)
16. From Winter, To Spring, To Summer, To Fall... Then Begin Again
In about five months people will be posting on facebook that fall, or autumn, is their favorite season. They will be talking about the cooler weather, pumpkin pie spice, and Thanksgiving. I like fall, too, but I don't really have a favorite. I like spring because we celebrate Easter and see signs of new life all around us. I enjoy working in my garden. And I even like spring cleaning, after the house has been shut up over the long winter months. I also like summer. We get to eat from the garden and enjoy the fruits of our labor. I enjoyed having the kids home from school in the summer, and going on vacation. I enjoy fall, for all the reasons and more, listed above. I even like winter. Most of all, for our celebration of Christmas. The days are cold and the nights are colder, but we have a warm home and since Michael teaches school, we don't have to get out when the roads are icy or covered with snow. I am thankful that God let me live in central North Carolina where we can experience all the seasons. God has blessed us with the seasons and has promised that we have this promise, "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." (Genesis 8:22)
17. From Beginning To End
I was reading in the book of Job, and even in the midst of all his loss and suffering he wanted to tell his story, and that gave me the thought for this devotional.
"23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:" (Job 19:23-26)
I have read that the book of Job is thought to be the oldest book, one reason being that there is no mention of the law of Moses. Job's desire was fulfilled and his words are printed in a book, and we have his story, from beginning to end. I am thankful for the Bible. It starts in the beginning of creation. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) And we can read all the way through to the book of Revelation to see how it will end. God has given His Word to us and we can read it from beginning to end. But, unlike other novels which require reading from beginning to end to follow the understanding, we can read the Bible, a book at a time. God can speak to us when we read a chapter, or a few verses. We don't have to read the entire Bible, from beginning to end to learn and grow in wisdom and knowledge. You may feel that reading the Bible in order is too much of a challenge right now. What about one book of the Bible? That's a good beginning. Can I encourage you to take the challenge to read from God's Word each day? God has given us His Word to lead us and guide us, and during these troubled times we need His help each and every day. My Great Aunt Eva only went through the third grade, and she couldn't write, but she read in her Bible every day.
Here are a few verses which give more examples of beginning to end.
"A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." (Deuteronomy 11:12)
"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" (Hebrews 3:14)
"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." (Revelation 21:6)
18. "From The Rising Of The Sun Unto The Going Down Of The Same"
Some verses in the Bible are so poetic. Our verse today is, Psalms 113:3. "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised." The Psalmist could have said, From sun rise to sun set, and that would have stated the same idea. But, this verse paints us a picture. As we read it we can see the brightness of the sun appearing ever so slightly, and then rising in the sky. After the day is done we can see the sun slowly going down on the horizon. This verse covers the whole, entire day. And it tells us that we are to praise the Lord all day. We are to begin our day praising the Lord when we wake up in the morning, praise Him through the day, and still be praising Him when night falls. David said, "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." We are to praise the Lord with our whole heart. (Psalm 9:1) We can praise Him in song. (Psalm 28:7) We are to praise the Lord with thanksgiving. (Psalm 106:1 and 147:7) While Psalm 113:3 includes our whole day, Psalms 146:2, covers our whole life. "While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being." The book of Psalms is filled with praise to our Lord. And it closes to include all. "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 150:6)
19. From The Presence Of The Lord To A Whale's Belly
When our children were small, part of our bedtime routine was to tell a Bible story. I think David was about three years old when Michael was telling the story of Jonah and he said, "You can't hide from God." God told Jonah to go and preach at Nineveh. These were the enemies of Israel. If you search on the internet you can read about the atrocities of these wicked people. So, instead of going and preaching to them, Jonah decided that he would go as far as he could in the opposite direction. Twice in Jonah 1:3 it tells us that Jonah went to "flee from the presence of the Lord." "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD." Jonah went "down" to Joppa, "down" into the ship, "down" into the sea (Jonah 1:15). He was swallowed by a great fish and continued his journey downward. "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God." (Jonah 2:6) Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord and spent three days and nights in the belly of a whale. "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:40) We may not feel like we have tried to run from God or deliberately disobey Him, but there may be times when the Holy Spirit tried to guide us in one direction and we decided to go in a different direction. I don't think we will end up in a whale's belly like Jonah did, but our noncompliance will take us down, down, down, just as it took Jonah. I just finished reading the book of Job, and Elihu said that God sees all our goings, and there is no darkness where we can hide from the presence of God. "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." (Job 34:21-22)
20. From The Manger To The Cross
I always enjoy singing Christmas songs. I really could sing them all year through, because I love celebrating the birth of my Savior. One year, I heard a Christmas song that looked ahead from the Baby in the manger, to the Savior on the cross. "It's About The Cross" was written by Jamison Stateman and Daniel Ball. The message in this song is wonderful.
"It's About The Cross"
It's not just about the manger
Where the baby lay
It's not all about the angels
Who sing for him at day
It's not all about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star
It's not all about the wise men
Who travelled from afar
It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It's about the cross
It's not just about the good things
In this life I've done
Its not all about the treasures
Or the trophies that I've won
Its not about the righteousness
That I've find within
It's all about His precious blood
That saves me from my sin
The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
But it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate
It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about God's love
Nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from
Him when it should have been me
It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
So that you and I could have real life someday
It's about the cross It's about the cross
21. From A Crown Of Thorns To KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
When Jesus came down from heaven to be born as a man, the wise men knew who He was. "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2) Jesus came to give His life as our sacrifice, but the Jews rejected Him. "And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews." (John 19:19 & 21) Jesus rose from the dead, and He is coming back. He will not wear a crown of thorns because His sacrifice was finished! He is coming in all power and glory as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS and will wear many crowns!
"11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11-16)
22. From A Lost Sinner To A Child Of God
I get inspiration for these devotionals from many sources. Sometimes the ideas come from sermons or songs. At other times scriptures will speak to my heart as I read my Bible. They even come from things I see and hear. But, you would be surprised where I get most of the ideas... moving from pew to pew when I vacuum the church. I talk to the Lord as I move the vacuum through the sanctuary, and He often brings thoughts and scriptures to my mind. Friday afternoon I had not gone very far when I asked the Lord how I should close this chapter. I thought, "What is the greatest "From... To... " in my life?" The answer came quickly, when I went from being a lost sinner, to a child of God. I thought about different Biblical examples. What would make Saul go from persecuting the church, to Paul, a pillar in the first church? God's love and mercy! What would make Zacchaeus return all the money he had taken wrongfully? "And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." (Luke 19:8) God's love and mercy! How would a young shepherd boy, named David, become king over Israel? God's love and mercy! God loved us and gave His only begotten Son to die for our sin. God spoke to my heart when my Grandfather Beasley was preaching on Lazarus and the rich man, and He showed me that I was a lost sinner. I didn't want to go to hell like the rich man. I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and I believed on Him. I went from being a lost sinner, to a child of God through His love, and mercy, and grace.
Preacher Tripp preached a sermon on, From Dust To Dust, on June 5, 2022.
