Doses of Faith

     My journey of faith has not been easy.  God does not promise us an easy life.  He does not promise us riches.  There will be times of temptation.  There will be trials and sorrows.  Through our journey, we will fill those hard times with doses of faith learning how to keep our eyes on God and becoming stronger with our hope and faith in God.  There are two things I've learned, forgiveness and love.  I must forgive those who hurt me, and I must learn to love those who deceive me and lie.      In the Lord's prayer we are taught to say, 'Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also will forgive everyone who hurts us." (Luke 11:4)  This is my interpretation, and when we pray, we must truly forgive and not just in words.  God forgives all our sins, so we are expected to forgive others.  In Matthew 5:44-48, we read.   "L ove your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be sons o...

      When Joseph brought his family into Egypt, he brought his brothers and father before the Pharaoh.  As I'm reading Genesis chapter forty-seven, I'm attempting to imagine the shepherds standing before the Pharaoh.  In verse seven, Joseph brings in his father, Jacob, and Jacob sits before the Pharaoh.  Then, Jacob blesses Pharaoh.  I'm thinking, 'How did he get away with blessing the Pharaoh?  Is it because Pharaoh believed in the God of Jacob?       I believe Pharaoh believed.  In chapter forty-one, Joseph had interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams and suggested that Pharaoh appoint 'a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.' (33)  Pharaoh responded by saying to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" (38)  The rest is recorded in following verses and chapters.  Joseph was appointed to rule over Egypt.  Then, around ten years later, Joseph bring...

      The sermon at 3BC this morning using Psalms 72 was centered around God's promise to David that from him will come a king who will rule the world for eternity.  This king is the Messiah.  The scripture used in the sermon ranged from Genesis to Revelations.  I was challenged from this sermon of my own responsibilities of the urgency for evangelism.  As time passes, so many of us are failing to share the gospel.  As the pastor read verse 13, I looked at what I have done to help others - not enough.        Psalms 72 verse 13 challenged me, ' He will have compassion on the poor and needy,  And the lives of the needy he will save."  This verse is referring to the king's compassion for the poor and needy.  This king is our Messiah, and ' He will rescue their life from oppression and violence,        And their blood will be precious in his sight.' (14)  As I think about the poor, I thi...

     Life speeds by fast.  The world is full of things to keep us busy - too busy to stop and pray.  I've heard people say that they are in a constant mind of prayer.  I understand, because there are days I devote to prayer, and in my mind and soul I'm constantly praying and seeking God's direction.  Those are good days.  Even, in the rush of my job, I made moments to talk to God.  Prayer draws me closer to God.  Prayer clears my mind and helps me to make good decisions.  Then, there are days where I wonder what did I do with my time.  Where did the time go?  Why didn't I make more time to meditate in the scriptures and pray?      What am I doing?  I'm now retired.  I don't want to get lazy and stay in bed, so my alarm is set for six thirty.  I start the day with three glasses of water and meditation with the scriptures and prayer.  I started this 'habit' in my mid twenties.  With th...

      Where am I today?  It is 12 June 2020.  It is an election year with not a decent candidate for president.  We have been quarantined due to a viral pandemic with businesses closed and stock market hitting bottom.  Then, as quarantine is lifted and businesses open, we hoped for fresh air to breathe, dining out with friends, returning to work, and sitting in church with our church family.  These things are happening, but a tragedy has struck our country.  A man was murdered by a police officer.  The gruesome death is live on video for all of us to watch the hate crime against a black man by a police officer with no heart.  Now, some protests have turned to violence.  There are those using this event not to help the cause of a black man unjustly murdered by a police officer, but to push their socialist agenda.  So, where am I?  Are we forced to take sides?  For me, there is one side, stop the hate and unjust tr...

I Can't Breathe      by Rose Ellen written June 1, 2020  Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe.” With a knee on his neck And pressure on his back, His life blown to the ground With no help - no mercy!   Folks watching, film rolling With the sound, “I can’t breathe.” Not a one tried to stop Or break Floyd from the hold Of despair – no mercy!   With these words, “I can’t breathe.” Shame overwhelms my soul. Seeing a life, loving life Snuffed silently away. No Mercy!  No Mercy!   Forgive me! My heart breaks. Too many unspoken words. Too many silent years; For years I could not breathe, Fear to shame – have mercy.   For many years, I didn’t breathe In silence I did not speak. Prejudice around me, While my soul disagreed. Me! Silence – Oh! Mercy!   From this time on let’s break Brutal chains binding all. Together let’s protest Holding hands united. Take off hate - for mercy. ...