Wishing for a Beach

Day 251:  A warm day, but no beach.  I was there mentally this evening, so I quickly sketched out a shell.  When I'm at the beach, I am constantly amazed by the beauty of the sand, the water.  It's a lovely thing, indeed!

Please, God, bless!

"To him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;" Psalm 136:6 ESV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Battle Hymn

Day 250:  I confess I've sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic, but I've never really paid attention to the lyrics.  Astounding!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:

His truth is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,

They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:

His day is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:

"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal";

Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,

Since God is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat;

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,

While God is marching on.

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

While God is marching on.

Please, God, bless!

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV 

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

What are the Odds?

Day  249:  What are the odds?  I found this on the net, and thought it was pretty interesting.  Take a look!

• Chance of American man developing cancer in his lifetime: 1 in 2 
• Chance of dying from heart disease: 1 in 3 
• Chance of suffering from asthma or allergy diseases: 1 in 6 
• Chance of getting breast cancer: 1 in 9 
• Chance of getting the flu this year: 1 in 10
• Chance of being audited by the IRS: 1 in 175 
• Chance of having your identity stolen: 1 in 200
• Chance of dying from any kind of injury during the next year: 1 in 1,820
• Chance of dying from a car accident: 1 in 18,585
• Chance of dying in an airplane accident: 1 in 354,319 
• Chance of winning the California lottery: 1 in 13,000,000  
• Chance of dying by a shark attack: 1 in 300,000,000
• Chance of a meteor landing on your house: 1 in 182,138,880,000,000

So often we worry about the wrong things.  Many people think sickness won't happen to them, so they avoid going to the doctor.  But that would be foolish, as it is very likely one will suffer from cancer.  If someone's house was obliterated by a meteor, many would think how unlucky the owner must have been to have been impacted by such a freak accident. Let's look at another statistic:

• Chance of 2000 biblical prophecies being fulfilled to the letter with NO ERRORS:  1 in 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Wow!  The odds that 2000 prophecies many years, in some cases centuries beforehand, were fulfilled with laser-point accuracy is ~1 in 10²⁰⁰⁰....that is staggering!  Yet, the reality is, they WERE--to the letter! Not only that, the Bible has proven historically accurate over, and over, and over again.

The Bible has been, and continues to be,  the most scrutinized book in all of history, and yet time and again it is proven infallible.  I know some would debate me on this (that might be fun if it was a civil discourse, actually), but I would contend that one would need to do the proper homework first.  It's easy to repeat a sound bite--the Bible was written after the fact, or the text is not accurate, etc.  But those arguments have been shredded by exceptional scholarship.  The ability to see past our own presuppositions is key to learning, as Edmund Spencer said,

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is condemnation before investigation.

Going back to the odds, let's look at it this way.  If offered $100M to drink randomly from 1 of 2 cups, knowing one was poisoned and would kill you instantly, would you do it?  How about if you were going to die and 1 of those 2 cups would offer you healing, but the other immediate death, would you then reconsider?

The chances of dying in this lifetime is 1 in 1.  The chance of  being right on the accuracy of the Bible is 1 in 2.  If the Bible is what I say it is, then what it says must be true. And if its content is true, everyone has a simple decision to make--

Do you entrust your life to Jesus or don't you?  

The odds of being wrong may be 1 in 2, but the result of being wrong differs.  If I'm wrong, I've lost nothing.  I will die hopefully a better person than I was the day before, learning how to love and to serve.  But, if I'm right, those who believe otherwise lose everything. Why take the risk?

Please, God, bless!

"And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 ESV 

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Moment to Love

Day 248:  I keep finding the pups to be a good object lesson.  I can be too busy doing what I'm doing, and the pups will come over and insist on some attention.  Thinking I'm doing them a favor, I'll stop and force myself to give them some love so maybe they will go and lay down and I can finish my task.  What I find is that they actually are doing me the favor by forcing me to stop, take a moment, and share some love.

Please, God, bless!

"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."  Phil 1:9-11

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Bold

Day 247: I was listening to a podcast, and I heard the statement, "Be bold for Christ".

I thought about that, and I tried to picture what being bold really meant?  The first thing that came into my mind was a picture of someone wearing their Christian gear.  Remember the WWJD phase? I'm not sure that's what was meant.

Than I thought about some Christian figures on the scene being bold, but also obnoxious, condescending, and downright rude.  I figured that wasn't it.

So who, I wondered, typified being bold, yet gracious?

I listened to a segment of a radio clip where Alan Colmes interviewed Anne Graham Lotz.  Two people, completely opposite perspectives, having a conversation about the end of days. Yet, as Anne talked of her faith, her belief in Jesus, I was amazed. He would question her statements, and she would respond very simply. "The Bible says...", or "Jesus said..."  And her responses were not filled with pride, nor were they self-righteous or intending to incite. They were plainly spoken and to the point.  She spoke to Alan like a friend, and I was amazed to see the courtesy he granted her (as opposed to others' I've heard him interview).  

Being real, being honest, and being unashamed about Jesus,  Now THAT is being bold for Christ. 

Please, God, bless!

"And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel," Ephesians 6:19 ESV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Shepherd

Day 246:  A quick perusal of the headlines is enough to make me want to run and hibernate for a very long time.  So, I was comforted when I saw Psalm 23 in my daily devotional.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

     He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

     He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

    for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

    I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

    your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

    all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.

Please, God, bless!

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Freedom is NOT Free!

Day 245:  Sharing part of a poem I read today written by Kelly Strong called Freedom Isn't Free.  He wrote this in 1981 in honor of his father.  For the complete poem, please see this link.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,

When everything was still;

I listened to the bugler play,

And felt a sudden chill;

I wondered just how many times

That Taps had meant “Amen”

When a flag had draped a coffin

Of a brother or a friend;

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea,

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No. Freedom is not Free!

Please, God, bless!

"He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire." Psalm 46:9 ESV 

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Sweet Daylight

Day 244:  The weather was spectacular and the day full of joy and good company!  Good food, good times, games, playing with the pooches...there is something to be said for long weekends.

Memorial Day is definitely a time to reflect, remember, and honor those who so bravely fought for our freedom.  But it also has become synonymous with barbecues and long weekends.

Some may think that the "memorial" part gets lost in the BBQ translation, but I don't.  I think the freedom to spend time with family and friends, enjoying each other's company has been preserved for us by our nation's heroes.

So, please, do remember and say a prayer of thanks for those who willfully sacrificed to allow us our freedom, and prayers of comfort for those who have lost so much.  And when you have your parties, be sure to relish the time with loved ones, be grateful for what you have, and honor those who have served.  Be thankful that you get to enjoy the daylight a free person.

Please, God, bless!

"How sweet is the daylight, and how pleasant it is for someone's eyes to behold the sunshine!" Ecc 11:7

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

The Coastlands

Day 243: I was reading in Isaiah tonight, and I was struck by the following verse:

"He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law." Is 42:4

I know I have mentioned a lot recently how helpless I often feel when staring at the face of the world. When I read this, I am reminded that my Lord was not overwhelmed by the evil that would encompass Him as He took on the sins of the world.  He did not wallow, He did not sit idly by.  He went out among the hurting.  He healed.  He comforted.  He helped.

What I love about this verse is the mention of the coastlands.  The coastlands are first mentioned in Genesis in relation to the nations, and then again in Esther when King Ahaseraus taxed the land and coastlands.  In Revelation 21:1, there is no longer a sea--the land, covered by the dark waters for a time, is now restored. Isn't it compelling, then, that the coastlands-the believers from shore to shore, nation to nation--await His coming to see restored what was lost to darkness?

Just as our Lord did not sit idly by until His Victory, but went out with Truth, neither should those who await His coming. There are great needs, the greatest being the God-shaped hole in every person that longs to be filled. Do not be disheartened or crushed when evil abounds.  Do not be idle as we wait.

Please, God, bless!

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.

Bruised Reed

Day 242: There are so many whose lives are a mess, so many who are hurting.  Life can be crazy, overwhelming even.  Just look at the headlines and you see the desperation, the sorrow, the anguish.  So many people are hanging on by a thread....

My faith is in the one who gives hope, who can wipe every tear, who loves unconditionally, who comforts and gives peace, who gives strength when weak--Jesus Christ.

Please, God, bless!

"A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice."  Is 42:3, ESV

Inspired by "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" I decided I should be more conscientious of my creative side. I chose to modify this one year challenge (9/23/14-9/24/15) to create something each day that would also force me to focus my perspective on a Godly world-view.