Good morning, dear ones.
Becki is engaged this weekend in the annual Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon Conference. She didn’t make it last year surrounding our 3-month mission trip to the Pacific. The director very much depends on Becki to oversee the administration side of it. So I’ve been without a live-in wife since Thursday eve. However, I ran up there last evening and we had a nice meal together—kinda like a date. She’ll be returning home late this evening.
In regards to becoming more aware of the part Israel plays in current international affairs as well as her place in Bible prophecy, may I suggest this website that features the overviews of a Messianic Jew named Amir Tsarfati. http://beholdisrael.org. I believe we are fast approaching the BIG BANG. Keep your Bible belt fastened!
Have a great day. Blessings. Ray.
For me, this little story is about as fun as it gets! It once again underscores absolute sovereignty of The Almighty—demonstrating how flimsy and futile are man’s attempts to outwit or over-power Him and His purposes. I’m reminded of Proverbs 21:30—“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” (NIV) But there is also some mystery involved—that is, why does the Sovereign Lord not choose to rescue James (translated as “Jacob” in TPT) from being beheaded by Herod, but then performs this spectacular rescue of Peter from the designs of the same tyrant?! And yet I quite like the fact that I can’t fully figure out God. You should be thankful He does not operate by my terms. I want to be quick to “AMEN” Romans 11:33—“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (KJV)
As a modern day counterpart, you are most likely aware that a little tiny nation called ISRAEL is a hot topic in current news. Strangely, there is still a huge volume of anti-Semitism (hatred of Israel) on display for the world to see. Stranger yet is the fact that Israel still exists with all the efforts to annihilate her over the centuries. On the other hand, it really should be no surprise for anyone who really believes the promise God made to ancient Abraham as being still valid and true today—“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3, NIV). Therefore I conclude that any nation or people group who wishes to do harm to Israel is to be pitied—it will not go well for them! Since Sovereign God is her protector, I believe the safest place to be living on the entire planet right now is in Israel! And I believe that we are on the verge of seeing these things dramatically proven.
The bottom line devotional point I glean from this is like a simple “no-brainer”: IF SOVEREIGN GOD IS SO SOVEREIGN AND ABSOLUTE, I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING I REASONABLY CAN TO BE HIS FRIEND—TO PLEASE HIM—TO COMPLY WITH HIS TERMS. That is at the heart of the encouragement Jesus gives in Matthew 6:33—“So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly” (The Passion Translation).