Don't Be A Dope

Ecclesiastes 4:13, “ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.”
A sister said to her brother, “Do you know how to keep an idiot in suspense? No how, asked her brother? I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
An ornery man was giving a cashier a difficult time as she tried to checkout his purchases. “What kind of a dope do you think I am?” he snapped. “I don’t know," she replied, “How many kinds are there?”
There is no greater fool than he that refuses to be taught. Wise Solomon said that a child who has a desire to learn has far greater potential than one who has risen to the deceiving position of the un-teachable. Some, because of age, perceive they have learned all they need to know and refuse to be taught. Others, because of some prominent position, become obstinate to truth that may be received from sources outside their own sphere of knowledge. Some consider their experiences in life to be unique and like none other and become inconsiderate of others.
We must never forget we are fallible creatures and that God alone is infallible. We will never arrive at omniscience, even throughout all eternity. Ephesians 2:7 says, That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
We must be teachable today or foolishly squander today and tomorrow. Regardless how brilliant a mind might be, it must receive knowledge and information and then be able to process it to make wise application in life. It matters not how big the computer. It must have data put into it to be affective or else, it has no greater use than the smallest computer chip.
An excellent prayer for each of us to pray every day is Psalm 27:11, “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path…”
Yes, dear Lord Jesus, this is my prayer today, in your name I ask, amen.

Abiding and Abounding

Abiding and Abounding

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58) ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Teacher (lecturing on perseverance): “He drove straight to his goal. He looked neither to his right nor to his left, but pressed forward, moved by a definite purpose, driven. Neither friend nor foe could delay him or turn him from his course. All who crossed his path did so at their own peril. Class, what would you call such a man? Student: “A truck driver!”
Apostle Paul stated that being assured of a victorious destination; we need not suffer defeat in the journey. Like the truck driver behind the wheel of an enormous rig, we need not be intimidated by smaller obstacles or little, deviant drivers who want to hog the road or discourage our progress. Through Jesus Christ we are in a very “big rig”. We cannot be defeated in reaching our final destination. He has given us the victory!
There seems to be contrasting terms in the above verses. We are to be steadfast and unmovable yet abounding in the work of the Lord. The harmony of these two phrases is this: we are to progress in the work of the Lord being unmoved and persistent in our purpose. In other words, we are to abide in our purpose in Christ and we are to abound (supersede) in the accomplishment of the purpose. The confidence that we have is not necessarily in our ability in driving but the size of our “big rig” (the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.)
There is no reason to merely sit in our “Big Rig” and idle the fuel away. We should put the “pedal to the metal”. We have a mighty cause. We are driving for the biggest outfit. When we reach our final terminal, may we hear our superintendent say, “Well done!”
Dear Lord thank you for the promised victory. Give me clarity in my purpose to day to deliver the goods undamaged and on time. Give me the strength and courage to persevere, in Jesus name, amen.

Opposing Purposes

Zep 1:4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; 5) And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; 6) And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
Two men were riding a bicycle-built-for-two up a steep hill. Finally, they reached the top, perspiring heavily and breathless. “That was a steep climb, I didn’t think we were going to make it!” gasped the first man. “I know! If I hadn’t held the brake on, we would have slid down backward!” said the second man.
That is a funny story, but when we have a double allegiance to the world or our flesh and God we are as guilty. In the above passage of scripture, the nation of Judah had dual allegiance to idolatry and the LORD. God promised to bring judgment upon all those who “…worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham.” To attempt to serve God plus anything else is cross purposes. We become very frustrated in our struggles and get nowhere.
Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24 To hold to any other cause than serving the LORD, would be like trying to paddle up hill with the brake on. As for God, to give him half of your heart, He will have none of it. As for Satan, to give him half of your heart, he will take all. Until we surrender our hearts completely to the Lord, we will find our path an uphill climb, paddling with the brakes on! If we find ourselves struggling going nowhere, It may do us well to stop the bicycle were on and make sure all on board is surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, forgive me for the displaced loyalties that I have at times in my life. I know that you purchased my life with your life. I am yours and yours alone. Amen

Joy In the Morning

Ps 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5) For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Someone said you know you are going to have a bad day when the bird singing outside your window is a buzzard; when your birthday cake collapses from the weight of the candles; when your pet rock snaps at you; when your horn gets stuck while following a gang of “Hell’s Angels” on the freeway, you know it is going to be a bad day!
Several years ago, I was complaining to my dad about some of my problems in the ministry. After a few of my complaints, dad said, “Son, you need to just, praise the Lord! If you don’t feel that you have anything to praise the Lord about, then, just praise him on credit, for the Lord is good!”
There have been so many times that I have thought about that statement when I was tempted to be discouraged. Yes, I have found that God’s credit is good. In fact, God is good all the time and he is good to his children. Even, when trials, burdens or needed chastening has come my way, I have found that God has done everything for my good and for his glory.
It takes faith in God, to praise him when the clouds hide the face of the sun. Nevertheless, the sun is shinning ever so brightly though I can’t see it. Difficulties may overshadow me, yet, I know that my God sees me and he knows my every need. I have found that it pleases him when I trust him in the shadows and praise him. He turns the trials into triumphs every time. 1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
As the psalmist has admonished, Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks… and yes though, …weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. I believe that is, “praising the Lord on credit!”
Heavenly Father, forgive my complaining and lack of praise. You are good and worthy of my praise. Thank you for all of your grace toward me. I praise your hallowed name. Thank you for the gift of your only Begotten Son and in him I praise you, Amen.

Lonnie has been working on a devotional book for a couple of years. Several different ones , hopefully will be posted on here. We hope everyone enjoys reading them, is inspired to do more and is encouraged in your walk and service for the Lord, by a scripture verse, an inspirational thought and a joke or funny story to go along with it.