Musings and Nuggets

  2 Chronicles 7:13 NLT At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Photo by Andres Simon As I w atched the footage  of the drought coupled with the infestation of grasshoppers in the West---Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado & Nebraska--I could not help but be reminded of when God sent plagues (10 in all) to Egypt to “motivate” Pharoah to let the Israelites go. (Exodus 10:4) . In the news report, one farmer lamented that he was afraid that his livestock would be dead by September because the swarms of grasshoppers were leaving very little for the livestock to eat.  The average grasshopper eats 7 times its weight and eats almost all day ravaging their crops.  In a desperate attempt to save his crops, another farmer fashioned some type of netting to try to capture some of the grasshoppers. On one side of the country there are droughts and wildfires.  On the other side, there is

  Focus Scripture:   Acts 9:15 (NLT) 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. In order to understand the context, please read Acts 9: 10-15.  It will put Verse 15 in proper perspective. If you are familiar with the life of Saul as he was one who because of his hatred for Christians made it his mission in life, to hunt them down, bind them, and drag them back to Jerusalem, to “feed them to the lions” (my term).  (Verses 1,2)  The turning point was his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus while on the way to hunt for more Christians.  It is understandable that Ananias, a disciple of Christ,  would be hesitant to go to Saul to lay hands on him so that his sight would be restored and he be filled with the Holy Spirit.  (Verse 17)  It was fear and an understandable trust issue for Ananias because of Saul’s well deserved reputation. Ananias’ fears were put to rest as the Lord r

Matthew 7:12  (NLT) Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.  This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. This is how the Bible teaches those of us who are Believers to conduct ourselves in our daily interactions with others.  Some people believe that what is called the “Golden Rule” , “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” is an actual Biblical scripture quote, but it is not.  Consider the following quote from Norman Rockwell published in 1961 in the Saturday Evening Post. “I’d been reading up on comparative religion.  The thing is that all major religions have the Golden Rule in Common. ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’  Not always the same words but the same meaning..”   Although it is not an actual Biblical quote, its sentiment is reflected in our key scripture. The thing we have to remember is that although we may treat people the way we would like to be treated and it is the Godly way to live, we cannot a

                                                 Luke 6:45  (ESV)  The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. The Word lets us know that what comes out of our mouths actually comes from our hearts.  So, if we are reactionary and things fly out of our mouths without a filter, then we will find that our words/conversation reflect the kind of person we were in our “BC” (Before Christ) days.                                                                               If you spill grape juice on your counter, no doubt your immediate reaction is to grab a paper towel or sponge to quickly wipe it up.  When you attempt to rinse/wash the grape juice out of the sponge, what you will get is grape juice.  Not orange juice.  Not pop.  Why? When it is squeezed and under pressure, only what is  in it will come out. The same is true of us from a spiritual s