Sunday’s Blessing – 11/02/2025 – Random Thoughts

Sunday’s Blessing – 11/02/2025 – Random Thoughts

If you have ever seen the movie, Men In Black (the first one), the outro of the movie shows aliens playing marbles with, what is understood from the context, galaxies. Strangely enough, I had a very similar thought years before the movie was ever made. Sitting on a beach as a young teen this thought occurred to me: What if our solar system is actually an atom in a much larger existence? What if all the various galaxies are part of some being much larger than we could ever comprehend?

After seeing the movie, I realized I’m not the only one with a strange imagination. The reality, however, is we are actually part of a much bigger something. This something is what we call God. God is not found in nature. Nature is found in God. You and I are not “islands” unto ourselves. We are intrinsically part of a whole.

The early Church knew this. They used the word, ekklesia (Greek – meaning called out ones), when speaking of the Church. It was not until Constantine that “church” was used to describe a building. THE Church is not a building. It is a people who bear the name of Christ. Jesus was Head of The Church. He was not “our personal Lord and Savior” as many in the West describe Him. That terminology was first used after North America was being populated by those coming here looking for religious freedom. Jesus does not come into us as individuals. We are actually baptized into Him!

Until we (The Church) get a proper perspective on our connectedness to other Christians we will never be “a single body” in the earth, “with parts in particular.” If we continue to see each “church” (local fellowships) as autonomous from all the other Christians, we will continue to struggle for identity and miss our opportunity to BE Jesus in the earth.

Today’s Blessing:

May you get the revelation of the Headship of Jesus to the whole Church

So you can discern the Lord’s Body, as commanded by Paul in Corinthians

And in doing so, realize that you are a part of something much larger than you

Which will allow the world to see the Kingdom of God

May you gain perspective in the reality that the Holy Spirit brought you into Jesus

As opposed to you deciding to “join” The Church

Which allows you to lose your identity in this world

And prepare you for living in the World to come – The Kingdom of Heaven

May you develop true humility, like John the Baptist

Who declared to the world, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness”

Accepting your purpose, as John accepted his, will lead to your fulfillment

And the expansion of the Kingdom of God in the earth

Sunday’s Blessing - 10/25/2025 - Retreat

Sunday’s Blessing - 10/25/2025 - Retreat

A retreat doesn’t always mean giving up. In the midst of an intense battle, a strategic retreat can be just what is needed to regroup, restock, and replan. A new assault can then be launched with a rejuvenated force against the enemy. 

Our modern culture uses the same word, retreat, to mean a purposeful time of training, team building, and relaxation by going to a neutral location where interruptions and distractions are minimal. When used effectively, these times of pulling away from normal schedules can boost morale and reenergize a team. 

Jesus did this regularly in the years spent with His disciples. He tried to show them a major key in living a life dependent on the Creator. We must pull away from our routine life to hear His Spirit speak to our spirit. When done effectively, these timeouts can make a marked difference in the outcome of every situation we face. 

Today’s blessing:

May the Lord of the Sabbath help you find rest

So you can learn how to relax

So you will gain perspective of your purpose 

And be able to show others how to discover their place

May the God of peace reveal to you The Prince of Peace

So in stressful times you will seek refuge in Him

And allow peace to repel the pestilence 

So you can absorb His presence 

Sunday’s Blessing – 10/19/2025 – Familiarity

Sunday’s Blessing – 10/19/2025 – Familiarity

In our study of King David, we looked at the aftermath of killing a giant. However, there were still a couple of things to look at from last week when we read about the encounter between David and Goliath. First of all, when David went to see Saul before facing Goliath, King Saul tried to convince David to wear the king’s armor. Before rejecting it, David actually tried it on. There is something to be learned from this. Before going out to meet the giant based on his own experience, David at least took time to consider some new information.

Once the armor was on his body, David knew he could not fight effectively because the armor did not fit him. It was made exclusively for King Saul, who was much larger in stature than David. But that was not the reason David rejected the additional protection. He said, “I cannot wear these things because they haven’t been proven by him in battle.” David had been in battles but never while wearing armor; much less someone else’s armor.

He went with what he knew had worked for him in the past. He then headed out to meet Goliath and on the way he stopped at the stream nearby and picked up some rocks. Samuel comments, “He (David) placed them in his bag, even in his pouch.” For some reason, this caught my attention. It reminded me of something Ray Hughes shared about the “bag” which Judas carried.

Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. John 13:29

Moneybag in this verse comes from the Greek word “glóssokomon”, which means “a case to keep reeds for wind instruments.” Judas was likely a musician and used his reed bag to carry money for Jesus’ ministry.

I then remembered David was also a musician. So, I looked up the meaning of “bag” David carried it found it has many interpretations, one of which was “psaltry”. In I Chronicles 23:5 the same word is used to describe the 4000 instruments which David made for the gatekeepers to use for worship in the Tabernacle of David.

This is what I think David was carrying with him into battle with the giant: his bag which he carried everywhere which contained his harp (which he played for Saul) and the rest of his “stuff”, like his slingshot and a pouch for the stones. These things were familiar to David because he had “proven” them out in the pasture tending sheep. These were the same “weapons” which he used to battle wild animals attempting to take the sheep under his care, and also tamed the evil spirits which tormented Saul, his king. David was not unarmed when he left Saul’s tent with armor or weapons. He was simply going with what was familiar to him so he could focus his attention on his Lord, whose strength he confessed would help him defeat the enemy, and the tools which fit his hand well.

Now, for today’s blessing:

May you come to know the Lord’s presence as Mary, the sister of Martha, did

So when trouble comes (death of Lazarus) you find comfort at the feet of Jesus

Because you have already spent time there before trouble came

And welcome the Lord’s presence in good times and bad

May you practice the Presence of the Lord (as Brother Lawrence wrote)

By acknowledging God’s presence even when you don’t “feel” Him there

And also when you know the Lord is near

So others will realize the source of your strength is from above

May you be conscious of the indwelling Spirit promised by Jesus

So you may hear His still small voice when He speaks

So you will follow the path He illuminates for you to follow

And act from the place of knowing you are fully within the purpose of God

Sunday’s Blessing – 10/12/2025 – Fear is Crippling

Sunday’s Blessing – 10/12/2025 – Fear is Crippling

In the study of the life of David, this past week we looked at the confrontation with Goliath. The biggest mystery for me in this story was why Israel chose to listen to Goliath’s challenge day after day, as though they were bound to fight the way Goliath made the challenge: one man from Israel come and fight the one man from the Philistines – Goliath?

There was no obligation on the part of Israel to fight in this manner. The clear motivation for them to not attack the enemy was fear. King Saul, who had previously led Israel in many battles where they were always victorious. But something had changed. Because of Saul’s disobedience, God had withdrawn His Spirit from Saul, leaving him dependent totally upon his own ability, which he knew was not sufficient to lead a nation.

This fear left him paralyzed, unable to move, because he was the clear answer to Goliath’s challenge. Saul was the warrior of Israel, or at least, he had been. Now, he was a powerless king without the ability to even suit up in his armor and face the enemy.

In comes David, the antithesis of fear, placing his complete trust in God and in God’s ability. “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” You can read the rest of the story in 1 Samuel 17. David took on the giant and prevailed.

There are so many obvious differences between Saul and David – their size, their experience, their popularity – but the one thing that mattered on this day was their level of trust in their God. Saul was unable to move because of fear. David could not be still because of his trust in God. Which one are you?

Today’s blessing:

May the God of Peace impart to you the grace which dispels fear

So you may gain inner tranquility which will bring the ability to rest

So you may find strength in Him to move forward

To reveal the character of God to your world

May you realize, like Paul, that the God in you is greater than the god of this world

Which gives you reason to hope for a better outcome than what you may now have

So you may quell the voices keeping you afraid

And hear the call from the Father to “jump and I’ll catch you”

May you accept the forgiveness of God for not pursuing your purpose

So you may know it is not too late for you to complete your mission

So you may see the fulfillment and satisfaction of God’s presence

And truly rest in the peace and presence of God

Sunday’s Blessing – 10/05/2025 – Seeing

Sunday’s Blessing – 10/05/2025 – Seeing

The phrase “to see” has many different meanings. It can mean to literally view with our eyes or perhaps experience something, and even to validate current state, as in “I’m going to see about …” I was reminded how important vision is to a human. I had my annual eye exam this week. Everything was great. My vision has not changed significantly in about six or seven years for which I am very thankful.

But “seeing” is more than vision. Our eyes take in many images every second our eyes are open. Our brain processes them and we only “notice” the things we are interested in seeing.  To say, “I didn’t see it,” may not be the correct reply. A more accurate term would be, “I didn’t notice it.”

It’s curious the way the story is told of Moses wandering about tending his father-in-law’s herd when he “noticed” a bush on fire, yet it wasn’t being consumed. He could have been so absorbed in thought about his storied past, growing up in Egypt, leaving his family behind when fleeing after killing an Egyptian, or even something positive like thinking about his wife. Regardless of all the thoughts running through his mind, he placed them all on hold to “see” the sight of the burning bush. His life changed that day.

I know thinking back over my life of possible instances where I didn’t take notice of things which I encountered, and instead wandered on by, potentially missing a life-changing encounter with God. I hope I keep an open door (and mind) to “see” the things God has for me every day. It’s a frequent part of my prayers, “God, let me see you in everything I experience today,” or, “God, show me what you want me to see today.”

The saying goes, “Seeing is believing.” Perhaps it should be, “Noticing is convincing.”

Now, for today’s blessing:

May the Lord show you His wonder as you wander though your day

So you may embrace the things He has prepared for you

So you may grow into the image of His Son, Jesus

So you may flourish in your purpose

May you have a mind set on things above

So you may notice the opportunities you have to BE God’s hands, arms, and voice

So you may leave a deposit in the lives of those needing what you have

So the glory of God will be experienced by your presence in the moment

Sunday’s Blessing – 09/28/2025 – David, King of Israel

Sunday’s Blessing – 09/28/2025 – David, King of Israel

The Bible study group I meet with has just started going through a book on the life of David. It’s one of my favorite people in the Old Testament. There are so many things which makes the life of David such an interesting study. The state of Israel was in flux, being led by judges. The majority of Israel demanded a king. Instead of waiting on the timing of the Lord, they elected Saul as king. He didn’t even want to be king, “the lot” fell on him.

In like fashion, David didn’t want to be king. When Samuel went to Jesse’s house to anoint one of his sons to replace Saul as king, David wasn’t even invited to the party. After being anointed by the prophet, David returned to the field to watch after the sheep.

Saul was full of pride. David was full of love for his Lord. God Himself said of David, “He is a man after My own heart.”

I’m looking forward to the retelling of the story of David; how he served Saul, fought Goliath, how he ruled a united Israel, returned the ark to Jerusalem, built a new tabernacle for worshiping the Lord, and introduced music as a primary tool for exalting God among the people.

The best news we learn from David is that you do not have to be perfect to have a desire for the heart of God. You do not have to be flawless to be used in representing the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. You do not have to be sinless to be a vessel God can use. You only have to be willing to say “Yes” when God calls.

Now for today’s blessing:

When God comes to you with His anointing, receive it

So you can have what you need for the journey into your purpose

So you can live aware of where your strength comes from

In order to manifest the glory of God wherever you are

When opportunities arise for you to represent God, do it

So you can bring peace to troubled hearts, like David did for Saul

So you can defeat enemies (like Goliath) which rise up against your purpose

Which allow you to simply “be to the praise of His Glory” (Ephesians 1)

When your heart leads you down unknown paths, go for it

So you can introduce new things to those in your sphere of influence

So you can fulfill your purpose as only you can

To bring honor to the Most High God in your lifetime

Sunday’s Blessing – 09/21/2025 – Fellowship

Sunday’s Blessing – 09/21/2025 – Fellowship

I have two opportunities for fellowship with family and friends the next few days. On Saturday, I’m attending a shower for my grand-nephew, Bryant Harris and his fiancé, Kaiana, who will be married in November. In addition to the shower, my siblings and some of our children will gather for a meal. I’m glad we still get together.

Then, on Monday night, I’m hosting a gathering for the members of a music group I was part of for several years from 1978 – 1982 (approximately). Those years were some of the best of my life. I greatly enjoyed making music with them, and building relationships that have lasted a lifetime.

One of the primary directives we have from the New Testament is for fellowship. The reason is simple. We need each other. Without someone in your life who can speak the truth to you – regardless – you are at risk of getting off course. In order to be that transparent requires trust in the other person; trust to see things clearly and willing to not speak of them with anyone else. That, in my experience, has been very hard to find.

I’m getting back to a place where I have some men with whom I can share from my heart without risk of being the topic of conversation with others. It is so liberating and essential to my wellbeing.

If you do not have such people in your life, look harder. Pray harder. Without them you are living your life at risk of being shipwrecked

This week’s blessing:

Discover the level of accountability that God expects from everyone

So you can live without walls and without dread of being exposed

So you can also be a sounding board and source of help to others

So each of you can grow in maturity as you follow after the Lord

Become a trustworthy friend and God will lead you to others

So you can grow through giving

And in return, receive more than you could ever give away

Bringing joy to both as you learn the Christian life