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SEPTEMBER 4
MILES CLINGING TO HIS COMFORTER
Well, Papa (Yours Truly), had another great experience with one of his Grandchildren. Miles is our youngest and at the time of this writing he was 1 1/2 years old (as of 2017 ). He’s a special little man that I call, ‘Billy Sunday’ (another little Preacher man – I like to speak Blessings over those kids).
This day, Miles and I, got to play together outside. We gave Mommy a break and we sat in the beautiful green grass and played (it was a great time of bonding). I say, BONDING . . . But there was a BOND that I couldn’t break. It was MILES ATTACHMENT to his COMFORTER (his baby blankie). He would cling to it with no intentions of letting it go . . . EVER!!!
I ask my wife ‘Why are kids attached to their blankie?’. Well, we decided to research a little:
* At a web-site called, ‘SleepyTot.com’ it says that, ‘Studies have shown that babies and toddlers who use a baby comforter are SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO SLEEP through the night than those with no comforter (Better Sleep – I like that).
When your child forms an attachment to a comforter (such as a blankie) he/she is able to use it to SELF SOOTHE, which is essential if he/she is to learn to sleep through the night without calling for you. (Able to be Comforted when alone – Interesting point). The difference is that the baby can use the COMFORTER INDEPENDENTLY, without calling for you.
You currently rock, cuddle or feed your baby to sleep, you are probably finding that you need to do that several times throughout the night to help your baby go back to sleep after he/she awakes. Baby comforters work in the same way as rocking and feeding your baby because they AID THEM TO SLEEP. The Comforter will provide REASSURANCE during times of STRESS, CHANGE, OR SEPARATION. Comforters play a major role in helping children to cope when ANXIOUS OR CONCERNED. It REDUCES any moderate distress in babies.’ Special thanks to SleepyTot for the valuable insight.
MILES AND HIS COMFORTER REMIND ME OF ANOTHER COMFORTER
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, that he may abide with you for ever . . .
John 14:26 But THE COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
How much like little MILES are we?
Jesus knew we needed a Comforter. He said, ‘I will not leave you Comfortless! (John 14:18).
We SLEEP BETTER, helps us when ALONE, helps with STRESS, ANXIETY, and DISTRESS. Gives REASSURANCE –
Today, I learned a lesson from:
MILES CLINGING TO HIS COMFORTER
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SEPTEMBER 3
WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING UPON?
HEARING and DOING the Words of the Lord are an absolute NECESSITY for having a SOLID HOUSE (A SOLID LIFE) built that will withstand all storms (SAVED/ HEAVEN READY). NOT HEARING and NOT DOING the Words of the Lord is an absolute NECESSITY for NOT HAVING a SOLID HOUSE and NOT being able to withstand storms! (A Soul Lost). READ:
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever HEARETH these sayings of mine, and DOETH them, I will liken him unto A WISE MAN, which BUILT his house UPON A ROCK:
Matthew 7:25 And the RAIN descended, and the FLOODS came, and the WINDS blew, and beat upon that house; and IT FELL NOT: for it was FOUNDED UPON A ROCK.
Matthew 7:26 And every one that HEARETH these sayings of mine, and DOETH THEM NOT, shall be likened unto A FOOLISH MAN, which BUILT his house UPON THE SAND:
Matthew 7:27 And the RAIN descended, and the FLOODS came, and the WINDS blew, and beat upon that house; AND IT FELL: and GREAT WAS THE FALL OF IT.
We have a WISE BUILDER and we have a FOOLISH BUILDER. To be WISE is to FEAR (Reverently Respect) and OBEY the Lord. Foolishness is NOT RESPECTING and NOT OBEYING the Lord.
Before a House can be Safe and Secure . . . The Builder has to find the ROCK and MUST then Build thereon.
1 Corinthians 10:4 ‘THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST.’ Until Jesus is found – all building therefore is in vain.
1 Corinthians 3:11 There is no other Foundation!
In the Scripture there is a THE THREEFOLD TEST –
1. RAIN tries the Roof –
2. FLOODS try the Foundation –
3. WIND tries the Whole Structure.
Compare this to the Three-Fold Enemy of the Soul –
1. The World –
2. The Flesh –
3. the devil.
It seems that all men have understanding to know that they need a place of shelter. Yet, many are Foolish enough to believe that they can have Safe Shelter without getting in touch with the Solid Rock (Jesus). This Foolish Builder is only concerned with APPEARANCE and is not concerned with the FOUNDATION. They show no concern for what is out of sight. Opposite of Moses:
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as SEEING HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE.
Their life may appear Right and Beautiful in the sight of others, yet they have no connection to Jesus (No Foundation). This house will FALL in the time of GREATEST NEED. The Foolish Builder hopes that his house will SAVE HIM, but HOPING, without Christ, is Building in Vain!
YOU AND I ARE BUILDING A HOUSE . . . MY QUESTION IS:
WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING UPON?
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SEPTEMBER 2
ADVANTAGE – CHILD OF GOD
Joshua’s people found the opposition of the enemy Canaanites to be much too strong. That’s not to say they were UNBEATABLE . . . No . . . Here are the Facts: They were much too strong with the circumstances being as they were. Sometimes our approach has to change and be different than what maybe it was initially – and as long as we can have enough WISDOM – to realize – that we must have a change of plans – then we may still have a chance at VICTORY.
The situation was that the Canaanites were occupying the valleys. The valleys were running over with the Canaanites. The Canaanites were armed with iron chariots and they were successfully withstanding any progress the Israelites could make. God spoke with the plan:
Joshua 17:15 And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then GET THEE UP TO THE WOOD COUNTRY, and cut down for thyself there . . .
Joshua 17:16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron . . .
Joshua 17:17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph . . . THOU ART A GREAT PEOPLE, and hast GREAT POWER: thou shalt not have one lot only:
Joshua 17:18 But THE MOUNTAIN SHALL BE THINE; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.
(Sometimes you have to start with the mountain)
Many times we hold out for the EASY LAND (the easy victory). Sometimes we have to change strategy to throw the enemy off guard. God’s Plan was to get up into the hills, occupy the upper spaces. Guess what? The enemy can’t drive Chariots on the mountains and through the trees. This One Move – successfully TAKES AWAY the enemies offense! You gotta love it!
The Eagle fights a snake: The snake, while on the ground, may have the advantage. The Eagle, with WISDOM, takes the serpents’ offense away. You ask how? By putting the squeeze on the snake and going airborne. The snake cannot maneuver in the air. Advantage Eagle!!!
If you cannot move earth by your speech or actions, you may move Heaven by your PRAYERS. If the development of life on the lower slopes is impossible, through limitations of service, let it break out toward the unseen, the eternal, the Divine. PRAY, take on HEAVEN’S ATMOSPHERE where Satan cannot win. ADVANTAGE – THE CHILD OF GOD!
Faith can conquer forests. Faith can move MOUNTAINS! Even if the tribes had realized what treasures lay above them, they would possibly think it too hard or even impossible to rid the hills of their dense forest-growth. This is when we must Realize – Impossibilities are presented to us, like those forest-covered hills, not to mock us, but to inspire us to spiritual exploits.
The impossible becomes possible when God Gives the plan. Go!
Move your battles Heavenward:
ADVANTAGE – CHILD OF GOD
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SEPTEMBER 1
GOD IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE
The Daily Grind of life can leave us feeling as if we are not really doing anything for Christ. We can feel that unless we are in Full-Time Ministry (like preaching or a Missionary, etc.) then we- somehow – do not count as much or we are just not that important. We ask, Do we really matter?
When these thoughts enter your mind – consider – The Life and Times of Jesus. He (Jesus) spent the first thirty years of His life in the carpenter shop at Nazareth, swinging the hammer, covered with sweat and sawdust, physically weary as we often are. Because of that . . . He is more than able to understand all our experiences of tiredness and labor. He relates because He did it!
I find that Jesus loves to share our common tasks and equip us for our purpose. Our work should be a part of that purpose. Work in a sense is MINISTRY.
Colossians 3:17 And WHATSOEVER YE DO in word or deed, DO ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, GIVING THANKS to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:22 . . . not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Recently, I helped an Elderly Couple get a roof put on their house. Their reply, ‘We didn’t know who to call? . . . Who we could TRUST? . . . Who will not take advantage of us?’ As I helped them . . . To my surprise . . . Many more came out of the neighborhood saying the same thing. No, I’m not a Contractor by trade, however, that day, God gave me a message for Contractors. Use your job as a ministry. You do matter because people need your ministry.
I stopped to thank a Nurse: Do you realize that faithful Nurses are needed? Poor elderly people cannot TRUST everybody. Many do this work for a pay-check (it’s only a Job) but many also take it as a Life-Calling to help service Humanity. That’s when God truly gets Glory.
Thank God for the HONEST Mechanic, Because of his relationship to God, he tells the Truth, and protects the client instead of taking advantage. He does a little extra so he can sleep at night with a Peaceful Heart. On and on, the TRADES need to be filled with people who Glorify God!
The God we serve is not only the Creator . . . He is the God of Providence . . . the God of Nature . . . He is the Author and Director of the whole mechanism of human life. There is no place, nor time, where He is not able and willing to walk by our side, to work through our hands and brains, and to unite Himself in loving and all-sufficient partnership with us as we serve our purpose to this world.
To the common worker, I say, ‘Make your work – your Ministry.’
Let us then Walk with God in Partnership in all that we do in our human life. Our ORDINARY LIFE is important to God and We REALLY DO MATTER.
Fulfill your purpose and keep:
GOD IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE
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