Last Days; March 17, 2026


Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.”

In the verses following, Jesus really lays it on the line. No believer can honestly say, “This isn’t what I signed up for.” This fits perfectly with the very succinct warning Jesus gave in the Upper Room Discourse: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Here, He specifies some of the “trouble” we can expect: wars, natural disasters, persecution to the point of martyrdom. That’s no picnic! This verse, and verses 5 and 11, indicate that we have to be careful to listen to the Holy Spirit, rather than to what people around us are saying. Right now, many people seem to have a heightened expectation of Christ’s return. That’s not at all a bad thing, but the problem is all the “prophetic” voices that are popping up on the Internet, forecasting specific times and supernatural events. If they give a specific date for Christ’s return, we can be absolutely certain it won’t be then, because Jesus already stated that clearly, in verse 36! The point is, we are to be ready spiritually for Him to return today, even, but be focused on personal faithfulness in whatever He has told us to do. Jesus also said, “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns,” in verse 46 of this same chapter. We need to take this whole chapter to heart and eagerly look forward to Christ’s return, without trying to specify in our own minds when and how it’s going to happen.

This has essentially been my attitude for as long as I can remember. I have told people for many years that we are to plan and live as though we will live to 100, and at the same time be prepared, emotionally and spiritually, for Him to take us home today. I would not be surprised in the least if Christ returns during my natural lifetime, but I would also not be surprised if He takes me home before His return. Paul said that’s no big deal! (1 Thessalonians 4:15) Right now there are people tied in all sorts of knots over Iran, which has made them forget Ukraine, which was the last thing they were upset about. We aren’t to take wars and natural disasters lightly, but we are to see them all in the perspective of eternity, and our almighty, loving God. Some people have thought I was callous, but I am sharply aware that our time on earth is limited, and it is to be used to draw closer to our Creator and to lead others to do the same. Whatever else happens is merely incidental.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You are doing throughout the world, whatever Your timeline or schedule might be. Help me be faithfully obedient, whatever You lead me through, so that Your plans for me may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Status; March 16, 2026


Matthew 23:12 “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

It’s interesting how much trouble we have following what Jesus says here. The Catholic practice of addressing priests as Father is in direct violation! Politicians in particular seem to be in Jesus’ target grouping, but they aren’t alone in that. We all tend to like the approval of others, which in itself isn’t a bad thing, but when we place people’s opinions and words above those of God, we get into real trouble. The thing is, none of us is as good as we could be, much less as good as God is. The better we recognize that and focus on getting God’s help to be more of what He wants us to be, the better off everyone is. We have various terms for someone who is “stuck on themselves,” but we tend to overlook our own tendency to be that way. That’s not to say that we are to think or feel that we have no value. I once saw a picture of a shirt that was grammatically incorrect, but right-on in meaning: “I know I’m something, cause God don’t make no junk.” The thing is, He also made every other person on the planet, and we are of equal value in His eyes. Our job is first to improve ourselves, and in the process, lift up those around us.

Every verse of the first 12 in this chapter is painfully on-point for someone in my position. Japanese society is very hierarchical, with different forms of address used depending on whether the target is below, equal to, or above the speaker, to a degree that can get quite confusing for anyone who wasn’t raised in it. I was raised in Japan, but didn’t attend Japanese schools past kindergarten, plus, my father was very high-status, so my social errors were overlooked or excused. However, I’ve been both a pastor and a school teacher for most of my life, and both of those are addressed as sensei, teacher, in direct violation of what Jesus says here. I haven’t tried to buck that in my secular teaching, because it would have been needlessly disruptive and even offensive, but in this church I have tried to get people to just call me Jack. Even so, it often comes out as Jack Sensei, or Pastor Jack. Again, making a big deal of it doesn’t seem to benefit anyone. That said, I do my best to help each person understand that they are valuable and necessary in God’s plan, so that together we may grow to be what God wants us to be.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You did in the service yesterday, as well as in the meal and teaching time afterward. Thank You for the healing and growth I see in various individuals. May we all continue to grow as You desire and intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

God’s Truth; March 15, 2026


Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.

Thinking about this from our perspective, this has got to be a “time to pop the popcorn” moment, because it’s going to be very entertaining. You can’t trap the Son of God with word games! Today’s reading is the Pharisees’ attempt, which is then followed by the Sadducees’ go at it. Jesus very artfully destroys their arguments, that had been so carefully constructed to trap Him. If we didn’t know that they would eventually resort to murder at the hands of the Romans, this would be purely amusing. It all comes back to the fundamental sin of pride, that these men thought they could outsmart Jesus. From their perspective, it was a reasonable expectation, because He had never been to one of their rabbinical schools, and was just a carpenter-turned-itinerant-preacher, a hick from Galilee. There were some, like Nicodemus, who recognized the divine truth in what He said, but the others were jealous for their systems, and their position in those systems, and refused to see Jesus for Who He was. A similar thing happens today, with people looking at Christianity as “just another religion,” getting distracted by the human trappings and failings and not recognizing the truth of God. Even from a strictly logical standpoint, the Bible stands up to analysis far better than any other “holy book” known to mankind. Even Thomas Jefferson, who denied miracles and “edited them out” of his Bible, knew that the truths stated were above and beyond anything man on his own could have come up with. Genuinely objective analysis can only lead to the incredible conclusion that Jesus was who He said He was, God made flesh, for the purpose, not just of teaching us truth, but of taking our sins on Himself, with their penalty of death, and then demonstrating the reality of atonement by rising from death. Few people analyze the Bible that carefully, but there are some beautiful testimonies of people who have done so. Jesus is God, and the Bible is the Word of God. When we have the humility and honesty to accept that, we’re in good shape.

One of the members of this church, a doctor who is retiring, finally, at the end of this month, attended an English Bible class I was leading about 40 years ago. After about a year, he came into the room and told me he wanted to be baptized. I was delighted, but I asked him why he had made that decision, and his reply has stayed with me all these years. “This book was not just written by people, and if God caused it to be written, then I had better believe it.” That was so intellectual that for a while, I wondered if there was an emotional component to his faith at all, but I was later reassured on that score. For myself, I was raised by a man who earned his PhD degree at 23, and was totally sold out to Jesus as Lord. His famous phrase was, “Give all you know of yourself to all you know of Christ.” That is an example I am honored to seek to emulate. Logic and intellect in no way conflict with faith, when we understand the greatness of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that I need no excuses for my faith! Help me share that faith with others on every level, not by my strength and wisdom, but by Yours. You alone can save, and cause people to be reborn by Your Spirit. May I be increasingly effective as Your agent, today and every day, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Authority; March 14, 2026


Matthew 21:23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

Authority is an issue in virtually every area of life, and it is closely related to rights. A vitally important distinctive of the US Declaration of Independence and Constitution is the assertion that our rights are given to us by our Creator, and not by the government we happen to live under. There are those today who are openly mocking that principle, because they want to be on the side of those doling out those rights, but they are forgetting the whole matter of authority. They don’t have the authority to do such things! Human society tends to operate on power, of one sort or another, as in the saying, “Might makes right.” However, even by that standard, God is omnipotent by definition, which makes Him right in any and every circumstance. In the situation here, Jesus was clearly operating in great authority, and the human “authorities” knew it didn’t come from them, so it made them very nervous. They wanted to be in control, and Jesus was totally out of their control. That, ultimately, was why they crucified Him, but their actions in no way diminished His authority or power. After His resurrection some repented and believed, but the majority clung to their delusions of authority and power, and so went to eternal destruction. For everyone lower than God, authority is always delegated, in some fashion. That’s why Jesus explicitly gave His disciples authority to drive out demons. (Luke 9:1) It is also why, before issuing the Great Commission, Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) It follows that when we are obedient to Him, we are operating in His authority, and that is a position of power indeed. We are never to think that the authority originates with us, but at the same time, we are not to doubt His authority that operates through us. That can be called humble assurance, and those who operate in it are more powerful than any human government or agency.

I have always been somewhat uneasy with authority, and that hasn’t been a good thing. On the one hand, I have had the conceit of feeling like if I thought something should be a certain way, that was the way it should be. On the other hand, I have recognized that authority includes responsibility, and I have wanted to avoid that. Being the one in charge also means being the one responsible! At the moment, I am literally the Elder Christian minister in this city, and in Japanese society, that automatically confers on me a level of authority. Concurrent with that, I realized years ago that God had given me spiritual authority over this city, and to a degree, over this nation. The question arises, how have I exercised that authority? I do pray blessing over each of the churches in this city every week, but that’s a very small expression. I need to be actively seeking the will of the One who has given me every bit of authority that I might possess, because only then will that authority operate properly in and through me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me recognize Your authority in me in full humility, so that indeed, Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your rule and reign be established as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Childlike; March 13, 2026


Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew was deeply impressed by Jesus’ attitude toward children. He had been a tax collector, which is an “adult” job if ever there was one, and he heard the man he was convinced was the Son of God saying things that seemed to elevate children above all the “important” adults. We would do well to pay attention! Children can be demanding, but they don’t seem to be consumed with self-importance. There’s a reason we speak of innocence and simplicity as “childlike.” It’s also important to note that Jesus trained His disciples through what they encountered each day. This statement about heaven belonging to those who are childlike wasn’t part of a sermon or a teaching series, it was a comment on something that happened that the disciples were part of. To a degree, it was a rebuke of their trying to “protect” Jesus from the “interruption” of dealing with children. Jesus continues to teach all who would be His disciples, in countless ways. Sometimes it is through formal settings where we expect to be taught, but often the bigger, deeper lessons come simply along the way, in things we experience just getting through life. We need to be paying attention, so we’ll learn quickly and not have to keep repeating painful lessons!

I have commented many times that I had been in the place of God, I would have given up on me long ago. Some lessons have had to be repeated so many times that I’ve lost count! I need to consider what makes a child “childlike,” and consciously cultivate that in myself. I want to have an expectant faith that stems from complete trust in my Daddy, who always knows what is right and best. As a father myself, I know that merely human fathers are far from perfect, and I need to be willing to hear and learn from my own children, both biological and spiritual. I’ve experienced some of that recently! I am a pastor, and as such, have many spiritual children. Some of them bring joy, some of them bring exasperation, and some bring sorrow. I am not to reject or write off any of them, but extend to them the grace, mercy, and love that have been poured out on me. That said, I am never to stop speaking God’s truth to them, whether they want to receive it or not. A child does not cease being a child just because they are rebellious! I am to focus on my own faithful obedience to our heavenly Father, and point everyone to Him as He gives me opportunity.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for this training season You’re bringing me through. Thank You that all of life is a training camp! Help me learn Your lessons and pass them on as You desire, so that You will have more and more children who delight You, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Humility; March 12, 2026


Matthew 18:3-4 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

People like to be praised, to be thought of as great. They like to have first place in all sorts of things. You can say that’s the natural state of things, but it’s exactly what changed Lucifer from heaven’s choir director to the devil. In his pride, he wanted God’s throne. We see that impulse in the disciples in several places in the Gospels, so we aren’t to disqualify ourselves for feeling it, but Jesus here makes it very clear that we aren’t to yield to it. There’s a world of difference between being tempted and actively participating in sin, as Jesus actually touched on just before this. We need to be aware of our own weaknesses and make use of the “way out” (or escape) that Paul mentioned. (1 Corinthians 10:13) That said, the whole subject of humility can get very complicated. It’s all too possible to be proud of being humble! That’s why every one of us is urgently in need of the grace of God. Only Jesus was both perfectly competent and assured, yet perfectly humble. Genuine humility doesn’t deny abilities, but it puts them into context, knowing that we are all different, but one person isn’t more valuable than another. The humble substitute for pride is gratitude: gratitude that God enables you to do things, but knowing that it is God doing them through you, and He can use others, too. My biggest problem with Donald Trump is his braggadocio. God has given him some unique abilities and traits, but he needs to give God the credit! We all need to learn, from good examples and bad, and that’s another characteristic of little children, whom Jesus holds up to us here as examples: they are constantly learning. We need to have it clearly fixed in our minds and hearts that we don’t know everything, but we should have the assurance that Paul mentions: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

This has been an issue for me all my life, and it has practically done me in. With a high IQ and an exceptional home environment, I learned a lot at an early age, reading the encyclopedia for fun in the 4th grade. I was never athletic, so I made intellect my fortress, so to speak, looking down on others and using my verbal gifts as weapons. Bad move! I was already a married father when the Lord in His mercy showed me a mirror, for just an instant, and seeing the depravity of my own soul, I was crushed. I hate to think of how things could have gone had He not done that! Today, I still have a wide variety of abilities, but every time I use one correctly, I know that it is the Lord who has done it through me, and not something for which I should take personal credit. There are far more good things I might have done that I didn’t, than I actually followed through and accomplished. Most of those I can’t go back and re-do, but I can seek to focus on my Lord and faithfulness to Him, for as long as He keeps me here. I really don’t know how all He wants to use me, but I am to stay open to Him in humble expectation, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s a reminder of my own weakness that I need such reminders so frequently! Help me indeed stay humble before You, listening obediently to whatever You say to me, so that all of Your purposes for me may be fulfilled, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Martyrdom; March 11, 2026


Matthew 16:25 “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

This is a powerful and important statement by Jesus. It is the glorious hope of every martyr, and a rebuke to every nominal Christian who “plays it safe.” Some martyrdoms are quick and simple, such as that of Charlie Kirk. He probably felt only a brief sting before passing out from loss of blood, and then he woke up in heaven. The ultimate in a painful martyrdom would be Jesus Himself, who underwent a scourging that in itself was often fatal, and then was literally nailed to a cross, to hang suspended from those nails until he died. Every time I consider this issue I think of the sons of Zebedee, James and John. In Matthew 20 it tells how their mother asked Jesus if they could sit at His right and left in His kingdom, and He asked if they could drink the cup He was going to drink, meaning His martyrdom. When they replied in the affirmative, He said that they would drink it, and indeed, James was the first of the apostles to be martyred. (Acts 12:2) However, tradition says that John was the only one of the 12 to die a “natural” death. Some people would say he wasn’t martyred, but they overlook the fact that in Greek, “martyr” just means “witness.” The point is that we are all to give our lives for Christ, whether it is in a moment, like James, or over a long lifetime, like John. After all, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would give us power to be His witnesses! (Acts 1:8) Japanese distinguishes between biological life and lifestyle, but I think it’s good that English doesn’t. Many people draw back from full commitment to Christ simply over the matter of their lifestyle, not wanting to be inconvenienced for their faith. That’s really pathetic, and Jesus said it leads to losing it all. We need to stand firmly as Christ’s witnesses, regardless of what it means for us personally, because, as Paul said, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Since I’m already 77, I guess I’m in John’s grouping! I have had some difficult moments in my life, but I can’t complain, certainly not after considering what Jesus went through for me. Most recently, I was awake for three hours in the night, thinking about a situation that had resulted from my procrastination. I tried to release it to God, but that didn’t come easily, even though the song, The Battle Belongs to the Lord, kept running through my mind. Then yesterday, the Lord resolved the issue beautifully, and it’s all as clear as if I’d never procrastinated. That’s grace! I don’t know what the rest of my earthly life will bring, and I’m not to be passive about it, but I am to actively offer every bit of it to Christ as His witness, whether He takes me home in an instant or leaves me here past 100. My body, my soul, my life, belong to Him, for His purposes and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and this assurance. Thank You for Your continuing, overwhelming grace toward me. Help me give every moment of my life to You, in full, loving obedience, for You to work Your will in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church; March 10, 2026


Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

This is a very famous verse, for good reason, and it has also generated a lot of controversy. Some people think it says Christ will build His church on Peter, and some people rebel strongly against that idea, pointing out that “Peter” and “rock” are here two different Greek words, with the “rock” one indicating a much bigger boulder. The Japanese specifically uses a term that indicates a very big rock, or even cliff face. Rocks can break off of the cliff face, and are thus the same material, but the scale is entirely different. That lends weight to the idea that Jesus will build His church on the confession that He is the Christ, the Son of God. I certainly lean toward that interpretation, but to me, the most important point is that it is Christ who will build His church. Matthew is the only Gospel that includes the word, church, and only in two places, here and in chapter 18, where Jesus is talking about dealing with people who persist in sin while claiming to be believers. It’s important to remember that the word, ecclesia, never refers to a building, but to an assembled group. In modern usage, the majority of the time, “church” is used to refer to a physical structure, and that misses the point. The Japanese term for “church” is literally, “learning meeting.” I’m not sure I like that completely, since faith isn’t just a collection of facts, but it does seem better than calling it a building. That said, even in Japanese, the word is most often used to refer to a building, which seems ironic. The thing is, the devil desperately wants to confuse us about what the Church is, because as Jesus says here, the gates of hell cannot stand against the assembled people of God. We need to grasp what Jesus means by His Church, and rejoice to be used by Him in building it up. Peter himself confuses the picture a bit in his first letter, where he says, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) However, he was referencing Isaiah 28:16, which he quotes in the next verse, which calls Christ the cornerstone. The point is still that we are the Church, not some physical building.

This is very applicable to our situation right now. We have a nice building, that is universally referred to as a church. However, the actual church is the people who gather here. I think we have a general idea of that, but each one of us has a different slant on it. That’s not surprising, since each of us is differently gifted, as I’ll be teaching on again after lunch this coming Sunday. However, most of the people have a subconscious, at least, image of this church as “Jack’s church,” and that’s a problem. Yes, I started the gathering that grew into this body, and it has persisted for over 40 years, but if it is simply my church, then everything is in vain. I belong to this church, not the other way around! That is going to be taught and exercised in another month, when my wife and I will leave for three weeks to visit the US. Many things I do each week will need to be done by someone else, or else recognized as non-essential. That’s a very good thing! We’ve all got to remember that it is Christ who builds His church, even though He sometimes uses us in the process. I’m not to be anxious about what will happen in my absence, but rather rest, relax, and rejoice in God’s perfect plans for us. I am to be sensitive and obedient to whatever the Lord tells me to do, but not feel that I’ve got to carry the load. It’s His Church, and He will build it.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the experience of wrestling with what to do about the interdenominational prayer meeting that meets here each month. I agreed to take responsibility for it, but so far I haven’t done a very consistent job. I ask for clear guidance, because Your Church certainly isn’t limited to this congregation. May we all be built up as You desire and intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Provision; March 9, 2026


Matthew 15:34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

Jesus was teaching His disciples something very important, even though the passage says nothing about teaching. That was, whatever they had was enough for whatever God wanted them to do, regardless of what society or even logic might tell them. Jesus had previously fed a large crowd from one boy’s lunch, and here He was about to do it again. The point wasn’t how much they had, but whether it was fully given to God. It isn’t that supplies and logistics are unimportant, but that our focus needs to be on God and what He’s telling us to do. Many projects have been abandoned because of human, materialistic thinking, when we serve the God who created the universe with a word. If He says to do something, He will supply everything necessary for the task.

This applies to me in several areas right now. In the first place, my wife and I will be going on a trip that in dollar amount will cost close to our annual income when we were first married. Of course, inflation over 57 years has drastically changed the practical value of a dollar in that interval, but it’s still a significant amount. However, God has made it clear that this is His plan for us, and He is providing the funds and everything else necessary. In the second place, just before we leave, the church will be holding its annual business meeting, and some in the church who are from a denominational background are very concerned about a budget and project planning. I love them, but that has never been the way God has guided this church. We do need to ask the Lord if He has specific events for which we are to plan, but He has always provided what we needed, sometimes in shocking ways and sometimes later than we wanted, but always perfectly. I am to be aware of what we have on hand, as in the bread and the fish, but I am never to hold back from what God says to do because what we have, as the world sees it, seems insufficient. As the saying goes, “Where God guides, He provides.” I am to walk in peace in that assurance, focused on listening obediently to my Lord and trusting Him with everything.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I ask for wisdom in dealing with all the people and expectations around me. Help me share Your love with them, not rejecting anyone or anything, but allowing You to grow us all as You see fit, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

True Religion; March 8, 2026


Matthew 15:3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”

Religion is a funny thing. It claims to be about connecting man to God, but it quickly devolves into man controlling man. Nowhere is that more clear than in Islam, which very name means, “submit,” or “submission.” The thing is, such a tendency is hardly limited to specific religions, but is common to all mankind. God puts out rules for our good, to keep us from hurting ourselves or each other, but we twist that around to control others. As the saying goes, “Rules for thee but not for me.” That is abundantly clear in politicians, who trumpet, “No one is above the law,” but then ignore the law themselves whenever it seems convenient. We are rightly disgusted at such behavior, but sadly, swallow it whole when the shoe is on the other foot. And of course, that is doubly true when it comes to religion, as in today’s passage. When Jesus was asked which rule was most important, He really stripped it down to brass tacks: “ Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” We quote that, and at the same time, ignore it. Life is about relationships, first of all with our Creator, and then with the people around us. If we get those right, everything else falls into place, just as Jesus said. If we mess those up, nothing else is right.

Of course, this applies to me as much as it does to anyone else. As a “religious professional,” it applies especially to me! I have always hated legalism, but that doesn’t mean I can ignore the things God has stated clearly. Likewise, I get into patterns/habits/ruts that can feel like they’re essential, but I’ve got to focus first on my Lord, and let everything else flow from there. Three weeks of traveling, from the 14th of next month, will play havoc with my devotional/blogging schedule, particularly with crossing the International Date Line both directions, so I’ve got to let God show me when to do what, and value the people around me in the process. There are all sorts of ramifications to the “rest, relax, rejoice” that He’s told me to do!

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. Thank You for the practicum on what You have me preaching this morning! Thank You for the clear awareness that my faith, trust, and obedience aren’t perfect. Help me keep growing in all those areas, to be Your agent to all around me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment