learning DAILY



Hosea 6:4, “O Ephraim, what shall I do to You?  O Judah, what shall I do to you?  For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like early dew it goes its way.”

Have you ever been so frustrated with someone that you stated you just did not know what you were going to do with him or her?  I bet you had a few ideas!  I remember a Middle School boy who had been sent to my office quite a few times.  He certainly did not want to be there and I was frustrated that nothing I had done seemed to keep him coming back.  It was at this point of frustration, I took out my paddle board (appropriately name Ritalin), slammed it on a book on my desk and told him the next time he came to my office, the board would be used on his bottom.  The point was well received.

I do not believe God is asking these two questions because He is did not have an answer.  The divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah were not living according to the ways God desired them to.  He had sent His prophets to correct them; judgment would come if they did not repent. The words of the prophets had been intended to convict them of sin, to “cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of My mouth.” (Verse 5).   God had tried to warn His people because He did not want to go to severe methods.  But Israel turned a deaf ear.

The people’s devotion to the Lord was temporary, not lasting.  What lovely worship they gave; what good appeared disappeared again.  It was like the morning fog or mist that can appear and disappear as the day goes on.   God desires more than the sacrifice we give by going to church; He wants mercy to accompany any sacrifice we make.  He wants us to acknowledge who He is, to really seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6 say that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  That is a moment by moment relationship with Him.  Without living the way He desires our sacrifices become rituals, a form of godliness. 

So, I end with two questions.  What is God saying about the worship and devotion in the churches today?  What is He saying about your worship and my worship?

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Isaiah 40:31, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

There are those times our strengths and abilities are just not able to get us through situations we face.  Our attempts to take care of the situation, our self-sufficiency have failed.  What do we do then?

To wait upon the Lord is to trust fully in Him with our lives.  It involves looking to Him as our source of help and grace in a time of need.  In the journey of faith, we exercise faith to rely on the Lord to guide us through what we are facing.  Those who wait on the Lord are promised the strength of God to renew or revive us in the midst of trial, temptation or fear in one’s life.

Trusting the Lord fully gives us the ability to rise above the difficulties as an eagle to ascend into the sky toward heaven.  It is necessary to understand that this does not mean God takes us out of the difficulty.  There is much to learn and growth (maturity) occurs in the midst of difficulties.  No, this is a time we “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).  We are promised the ability to run spiritually without becoming tired and walk steadily without fainting at God’s delay(s).  We do so according to God’s commands, cheerfully and in perseverance with the knowledge that at some time we shall reap the benefits God has intended for us.

Apply this to the situation you face today.  Are you worried about today and the future?  Or are you placing your faith in the Lord who has promised to always be with you in everything you face.  Are you looking to the One who gives you the strength to walk with Him in the peace that only He can give?  Your strengths, abilities, and wisdom compare little to the One who created the universe and everything in it; place your trust in Him and rest assured all is well when you do.

Read 1 Peter1:3-5 and be encouraged.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Matthew 6:33, 34, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

My dad worried about things.  I used to laugh at him and say things to him that I knew would make him worry.  Shame on me!  God has a sense of humor; I worry about things.  When I hear sirens and Charlotte is not home my first thought is about her being in an accident.  I should not have teased my dad.  I don’t worry all the time about everything – just things like that.

There is a lot of worry today.  I bet you have been to the stores that sell food and seen all the empty counters.  Fear for what might happen drives people into a panic mode and causes them to act in ways that are beyond common sense and the normal way of doing things.  Selfishness and greed take over and buying more than what is needed happens.

If you look at the verses before the verse above, Jesus is talking about people being more valuable than the birds and the lilies of the field.  Go back and read these verses.  The Lord feeds the birds and lilies grow without worry; He provides for them.  The Lord Jesus asks if worry helps anyone in their situation.  The answer is no!  He is telling us life is more than things, more than the food we eat and the clothes we wear - verse 32b says, “For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things.”  We trust Him during these times.

What do we do?  The Lord Jesus said to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  Bible reading and study, prayer, sharing what we have with others, being an encourager to others, are ways to seek His kingdom, His righteousness.  By giving hope to others we share His love.  This does not have to be any great theological event.  No, its just sharing the love of God with others.  Check up on family and friends to see how they are doing.  Are your neighbors in need of help of any kind. 

Seeking God is a condition for His blessing.  When you do “all these things (the necessities of life) shall be added to you.  When we earnestly seek the Lord, seek to let God reign in our lives and are entirely yielded to Him, then we can be sure He will assume full responsibility for us.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Psalm 42:2, My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When shall I come and appear before God?
Water is essential for physical life.  Several years ago, I was feeling really bad; it was to the point that I went to a medical facility to find out the problem.  I was dehydrated and required three bags of fluid to be put into my body before I was allowed to leave.  I was given instruction to drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day.  I was told a gallon of water would be better.

As water is essential for our physical well-being so is a hunger and thirst for God essential in our journey of faith.  Walking in the water that Ezekiel did, desiring God’s blessing and expanded borders like Jabez is what the Psalmist said, My soul thirsts for God”.  “To stop thirsting for God is to die spiritually, thus we must not allow anything to diminish our intense desire for the things of God.” (Commentary from The Life in the Spirit Study Bible).  The Psalmist’s desire is to have God’s presence in his life strengthened; to see a greater working of the Holy Spirit through him.  He compares this desire to a deer panting for water, perhaps in a drought.  The Psalmist is longing for water that compares to nothing else – communion with God.

The Psalmist seems to have a desire for God not His laws and regulations.  He wants to be in the presence of the living God not the gods of the idols being worshipped.   In God’s presence there is life, joy, peace, hope, and love.  He wants to be in the presence of the living God because there can be no greater joy and happiness.  God has promised to bless those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6).  This is an on-going process.  Do not settle for anything less!

The rest of the Psalm tells us not to despair in times of trouble.  Hope in God.  When God is silent, continue to press on to know God. 

What are you thirsting after?

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Philippians 4:6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We are told to search for understanding as if it were precious silver.  When understanding is found and is applied to our heart, Proverb 2:5 states, “then we will fear the Lord”.  We are told in the Bible to not lean on our own understanding because God’s way is higher than ours.

Paul, in this verse, speaks about not being anxious in any given situation.  Today, there are so many people giving us so much information that it is difficult to know truth from fiction.  Is the slant given by these individuals their opinion; are those reporting trying to create a particular point of view as truth?  Does the point of view of the owner of Amazon really matter, is it truth? My friend D. C. Adkisson (irapaine.com) wrote yesterday “Instead of binge television, or binge movie watching, or binge eating, why not a "binge" of reading and studying God's Word?  Ahhh, the water is so refreshing.”  “Be anxious for nothing”!  Read God’s Word; it is certainly refreshing in these times.

If you are anxious, why not take time to pray to the Creator of the universe to take the anxiety away and replace it with His peace.  The Apostle Paul includes being thankful when we pray.  There is so much to be thankful for if we just take the time to consider what God has done for us.  Thanksgiving must be included when we pray.  It helps all that anxiety to slip away because your concentration is on the goodness of God.

The peace of God begins to replace all real or imagined fear that has become apart of so many people’s life right now.  Notice that Paul tells us that the peace that God gives is beyond all our understanding.  It allowed Jesus to sleep in a boat when the storm caused the disciples to fear for their lives. It is the peace that enabled Christians to be martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.  It is the peace the body of Christ must exhibit to give hope to a world that certainly needs it, needs to see true belief in the one who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”.

The peace of God goes beyond our understanding; it guards our heart and mind.  It protects our heart (the breastplate of righteousness) from evil in order for us to remain pure and holy; we are protected by the blood of Jesus.  It protects our mind (the helmet of salvation) so our focus is kept on Jesus Christ and Satan will not get a stronghold on our thoughts.

I guess it is our choice – to be anxious or to go to the Lord in prayer to give our anxiety to Him.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



John 14:6, Jesus said to Him, “I am the way, the truth, the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

My entire purpose for writing this blog is to be an encouragement to all who take the time to read what is written.  All of us need to be encouraged and be reminded of the hope we have in Jesus Christ, especially in the times we currently find ourselves in.  We all need the hope we have in Him each day, coronavirus or no coronavirus.  If you have been encouraged by this blog, you might know others who might be encouraged by it as well. 

One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs is titled Way Maker.  It reminds me that the Lord is always faithful.  We may not “feel” His presence, not “feel” His hand upon us but remember walking with God is not a feeling.  It is a walk of faith!  He is with us through every situation we are in.  Like Daniel in the Lion’s Den, like the three Hebrews in Nebuchadnezzar’s fire, like He was with the Apostle Paul through out his life, God is always with us. 

Jesus Christ is the way to God the Father, to eternal life in heaven.  No one can do enough good things to merit heaven.  Jesus Christ provided the way by His death on the cross for our sins and through His resurrection on the third day.  When we accept that He took our place on the cross the Holy Spirit lives within us leading into a deeper walk with Him cleansing and purifying and helping us to do good works for Him.  Jesus Christ is the Way Maker.

He is the Way Maker when we need guidance and wisdom that only He can give – when we do not know what to do.

He is the Way Maker when we need to know the difference between good and evil - when it is not evident.

He is the Way Maker when fear and uncertainty want to control our thoughts and actions.

He is the Way Maker when jobs are lost and we do not know how we are going to meet our financial obligations.

He is the Way Maker when illness comes or coronavirus threatens.

He is the Way Maker when we place our trust in Him to protect us and keep us from evil.

He is the Way Maker when __________________________. You fill in the blank for your specific need.

Regardless of how long you have walked with the Lord, be encouraged this day that Jesus Christ is with you.  His promise is to never leave nor forsake you (Hebrew 13:5); He is the hope of all Believers. 

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY - Saturday



1 Chronicles 4:10, “… and that You would keep me from evil, that I might not cause pain.”

According to verse 9 Jabez means He will cause pain.  There is pain in the process of birth; from what I have seen it is soon forgotten when the mother holds that beautiful baby in her arms.  But for some reason the pain of giving birth to Jabez remained because of the name he was given.

It is interesting that he asked to be kept from evil and asked not to cause pain.  What does this mean to so many great men of the Bible who God was with when they faced evil?  Perhaps Matthew Henry’s commentary can help us understand Jabez’s request: “That he would keep him from evil, the evil of sin, the evil of trouble, all the evil designs of his enemies, that they might not hurt him, nor grieve him, nor make him a Jabez indeed, a man of sorrow: in the original there is an allusion to his name. Father in heaven, deliver me from evil.”

There is evil around us all the time.  It is constantly tempting us to give into that which causes us to stumble.  Temptation is not sin until we give into it.  James 1:14-15, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin….”  Is this what Jabez is asking - to be kept from giving into temptation so he would not sin?   I know that one’s sin causes others to be hurt by it.  Isn’t this the desire of evil?  Isn’t evil trying to destroy every Christian’s testimony and their life?  Was Jabez asking to be kept from evil so he would not cause pain to God, himself, and to others?  Was he asking to change the curse of his name into a blessing?

We all have sinned; the Bible is very clear about that.  The Bible is very clear that the Lord walks with every Christian when they walk through difficult times.  When I read about the Biblical men and women and those who have been martyred for their walk with Christ, the Fourth Man in the fire with the three Hebrews was with them all.  Didn’t He keep them (and us) from the evil designs of the enemy, keep them (and us) from the evil of sin.

I do not want to read more into the words of the Bible than what are there.  I am not smart enough to do that.  I usually have more questions than anything when I read the Bible. So, I am going to keep asking God to keep me, my family, and friends away from evil.  I am going to pray that God direct our thoughts to think pure thoughts.  I am going to pray for protection from deception in this world full of lies.  I am going to pray for more time to be spent in the Bible and time in prayer. 

I am believing God will grant my request – just like Jabez.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



1 Chronicles 4:10, And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

I have always been amazed at the little things in the Bible.  So often I have just read over them, giving them little thought.  Then someone writes a book or a devotion about them and I become angry for missing the meaning of these quick but powerful statements (could be a new adventure to examine in the days ahead!?).  Jabez’s prayer, for instance, is only two verses of the Bible; yet, its significance for us is important as we have a desire to walk deeper in our journey of faith.

Jabez concluded his request to be used more by the Lord by asking Him to “keep me from evil”.   Anyone who has walked with the Lord for any length of time and wants to be used by Him knows that evil is nearby to try to keep him or her from doing so.  To ask to be blessed, have your territory enlarged and to do so with God’s power is eventually going to be challenged by the devil.  Jabez showed us that in our prayer we must ask to be kept from evil.  He did not ask for God to be with him through evil. 

Challenges will come as you experience any success in this journey.  The deeper you get in the water the greater the pull to get you back to shore.  Distractions will come.  Opposition will come. The challenges are there to get you to drop your guard.  Bruce Wilkinson in his book, The Prayer of Jabez, states “Your danger is not being on the edge of the precipice, but in being unwatchful there.”  How do you keep evil away? Ask God.  In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”.  God wants us to ask and gives His favor when we do. 

There is evil all around us.  But that does not give us reason to be a part of it.  I pray that God keeps me from evil; the Bible has shown me a life that is better – beyond my imagination! Wilkinson said, “Stay out of the arena of temptation whenever possible,” he (Jabez) would advise, “but never live in fear or defeat.  By God’s power, you can keep your legacy of blessing safe.”  My choice; my desire!

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



1 Chronicles 4:10, And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

Ezekiel was taken into water that was above his head and where he could not touch the bottom; he was totally dependent on the Lord to guide and protect him.  This the walk of faith.  It is the understanding that a person can accomplish for the Lord only when “His hand is with him”.

Jabez had asked to be blessed and for his territory to be enlarged.  He knew that asking for God’s supernatural power to be in him and to ask for God to work through him to touch others, he would need God’s hand to be upon him.  Living by faith means one must be dependent on God.  Jabez prayer was asking God to release His power to accomplish His will and bring Him glory through him.  Jabez was not asking God to make him great; he was surrendering to God and desired to be used in unlimited possibilities to serve Him.

Serving God in this way is surrender and worship.  It is not just words but action as God begins to give you opportunities to be used for His glory.  Right now, people need encouragement.  As times become more difficult, they might need hope that only Jesus Christ can give them.  Jabez did not limit God on who to help, how to help them, nor when He would send the opportunity.  Like Jabez, we must be ready when the Lord places someone in our way to help. 

Bruce Wilkinson, in his book The Prayer of Jabez, states, “If asking God’s blessing is our ultimate act of worship and asking God to do more is our utmost ambition, then asking God’s hand to be upon us is strategic to sustain and continue the great things He has done”.  2 Corinthians 3: 5,6 confirms this stating, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant”.

Let me finish this morning by quoting Wilkinson’s summary of this in his book.  “You and I are always only one plea away from inexplicable, Spirit-enabled exploits.  By His touch you can experience supernatural enthusiasm, boldness, and power.  It’s up to you.  Ask every day for the Father’s touch.  Because for the Christian, dependence is just another word for power.”

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

1 Chronicles 4:10, And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

I believe as one goes deeper in their journey of faith, the desire to do more for God increases.  I believe that each believer has their thoughts about how God should use them.  You know what I’m talking about, right!?  For a number of years, I told Him how He should be using me to increase His Kingdom; I even believed He was agreeing with me.  It did not work out when I tried to implement my plan.

Jabez prayed for the Lord to “enlarge my territory”.  He was asking the Lord for more influence, more impact, more opportunity to further the Kingdom of God.  The only other thing that the Bible tells us about Jabez is he was “more honorable than his brothers”.  That could mean that he had risen to a place of prominence among the people as a land owner or as a leader among men; he had distinguished himself in some way.  By his prayer, he is known as one who prayed to the God of Israel and not foreign gods or idols. 

Jabez asked for God to take what he had and use it to have greater influence for Him.  If he was doing things that God approved, he was asking for more, more opportunities to serve Him.  The question becomes how each of us can apply this to our own life.  Wilkinson states in his book, The Prayer of Jabez, “When in faith you begin to pray for more ministry, amazing things begin to occur.  As your opportunities expand, ability and resources supernaturally increase too.”   I believe as the days we are in become more difficult, more fearful, God will place people in our path who need to know about the hope we have in Jesus Christ.  This does not need to be any great theological discussion.  We just get to explain what the Lord has done for us, to explain our trust in Him.

Wilkinson gave this formula: My willingness and weakness

                                            + God’s will and supernatural power

                                            = my expanded territory

If you want your territory expanded, the key is to ask and to seek, believing that He wants to grant your request.  Remember, He will do it in His time, and in His way.  It is a great adventure!

learning DAILY



1 Chronicles 4:10, And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.

Prayer has been so misunderstood.  The words of the Bible have been twisted so often to mean what man wants it to mean.  We have been told by too many preachers that if we are really Christians, we can ask God to give us anything we can’t get on our own and He will give it to us.  When we ask for a new car or a new _____ (You fill in the blank.) and don’t receive it, we become confused.  So what does this request by Jabez mean?

Jabez prayed, “Oh that you would bless me indeed”.  Bruce Wilkinson states in his book The Prayer of Jabez, “it is to ask for supernatural favor”.  He wrote, “It is the crying out for the wonderful, unlimited goodness only God has power to know about or give to us”.  What Jabez asked for had nothing to do with material things; it had everything to do with the presence of God in his life.  It was about being so deep in the water that you go where it takes you (Check out the page on Ezekiel 47:5). It is about allowing the Lord to decide where, when, and how He wants to use you or what lesson He wants to teach you each day.  It is the desire to want nothing more and nothing less than what God wants from us each day.

The key to this is to ask.  Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  James 4:2b, “Yet you do not have because you do not ask”.

James 4:3, You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures”.  We need to ask and keep asking; we need to ask for what blesses God.  Jabez asked for God to bless him.  He received because he asked God to bless him in order to bless others. 

Bruce Wilkinson said that he began praying this prayer every day.  As he did, God began sending people into his life that needed to have someone listen to their “story”.  I believe that God wants His people to walk with Him in this way.  It is a focus on how you can help others in this hurting and fearful world.  It is caring enough to take time to listen, to let people know you care.  I have seen that when you do, it can have a great impact on the life of another person. 

“God’s bounty is limited only by us, not by His resources, power or willingness to give.   Jabez was blessed simply because he refused to let any obstacle, person, or opinion loom larger than God’s nature.  And God’s nature is to bless.” Bruce Wilkinson

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



1 Chronicles 4:10, And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

When Charlotte and I went on our cruise I took a book from my book case with me to read during down time; I read it twice.  The book has been on my shelf for many years and it was time to read again.  The Prayer of Jabez written by Bruce Wilkerson is about the verse above, a request Jabez made to God and a request God granted.  The next few days I want you see what the author had to say and why I believe this prayer should be the desire of every Christian.

In his daily writing called Echoes from the Campground my friend D. C. Adkisson stated today, “This world is a mess!”  (Check his writings at irapaine.com).  All you need to do is look around and you have to agree.  This is a time for Believers that are walking in the deeper water (flowing from the temple of God) to be a testimony to those on the shore and those in ankle deep water.  Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:14b “…. But the water I shall give will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”  In the days we are living, the body of Christ must be a light to this dark world.

Bruce Wilkerson’s opening statement in this book: “This little book you’re holding is about what happens when ordinary Christians decide to reach for an extraordinary life – which, as it turns out, is exactly what kind God promises.”  It has been my desire to be the Christian who is fully submerged in the water flowing from the temple of God, one who is fully obedient to where the Holy Spirit is wanting me to do.  The challenge I have faced is trying to help the Lord in that.  Too often I have tried to tell Him what I thought He should be doing.  You know God has to have a sense of humor.  But, “My thoughts are not your thoughts. Nor are My ways your ways, “says the Lord (Isaiah 55:8).  For quite some time I have been praying Jabez’s prayer – just with different words.

Jabez prayed a one-line prayer.  The only other statement about Jabez in the Bible is that Jabez was honorable, more honorable than his brothers.  It was a prayer from Jabez’s heart that matched the desire of God and God granted his request. 

The man led Ezekiel into deeper water.  Are you willing to go deeper?  As we examine Wilkerson’s thoughts on the prayer Jabez prayed, I am going to pray that his prayer becomes yours.  Together I believe we will used to further the kingdom of heaven on earth.
If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY- saturday



Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

We just got back from the grocery store; it was a normal trip for groceries.  We picked up what we wanted and headed to the checkout where we waited in line for forty minutes.  What and who do we believe about this coronavirus?  The mayor of the city has said no more than 500 people are to be gathered in one place so this virus is not spread.  Churches are closing their doors and using on-line programing.  Other churches are spreading people around to different parts of their campus to view church on media.  Schools are closing another week to see what happens; they are using on-line programs to continue the classroom experience.  I’m sure there were more than 500 people at the grocery store – there may have been close to that in the line we were in (ok, maybe not!). 

My question is why have these precautions not been taken any other year when flu has caused so many to die?  Why the panic now?  What is the difference?  Obviously, I do not know.  Something is different this time.  Is it media hype?  We have always been told to wash our hands frequently and carefully.  Is it not common sense to stay home if not you are not feeling well, or not to shake hands with those sick, and don’t we cover our mouth when we sneeze?

We have spent some time discussing wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and know that this leads to the fear of the Lord and to knowing Him.  During a time like now, this comes even more into play.  Trust in Him with all your heart, knowing and understanding who He is and that He is in control of every situation at all times.  It will keep decisions made to be careful and sensible ones.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Ezekiel 47:5, Again he measured one thousand and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.

Ezekiel was led into water where he could no longer walk on the bottom and wade through the water; he had to swim.   What does this mean for us?

This is total commitment, total surrender because the water or current will take you where it wants to.  Many around the world have had to give up family, friends, careers, their lives because of their faith in Jesus Christ.  I have known families to give everything to go on the mission field in order to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  To do so they left careers, had to raise their own financial support, and went to areas of the world to serve in conditions far less secure than what they had.  In water this deep you allow the Lord to take you where He desires to serve as He desires.

This should be the place every Christian needs to desire.  It being soaked in the presence of God, willing to be used by Him.  It might seem like a challenge, but you must remember that the One leading you loves you so much to allow you be there alone. 

What’s that?  You’re not there yet?  I’m not sure many are.  But it is the desire of our Father in heaven that we keep moving in the knee deep, the waist deep water to get there.  Enjoy the journey!  Know that others are seeing your place in the water and watching – that is your testimony.

Next, I will put all this together with a story.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Ezekiel 47:4b, Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist.

Ezekiel is being led through the water.  He is not alone as he walks through the water; the man is with him.  You and I are not alone as we walk this journey of faith.  On our own we would not be able to stand as the water gets deeper.  Let me explain.

Ezekiel is led through water that is now waist deep, three thousand feet from shore and there is water all around him.  This is significant to our walk with the Lord as you see more water than yourself.  What?  At this point you are dying to self, understanding what the Bible means when it says, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”   Being waist deep in the water, you notice that the water is beginning to control you. If you have gotten this far in your journey of faith, you are growing strong in your faith and allowing Him to direct more and more of your life.  Your abilities and strengths are beginning to be used by the Lord for His purposes.  You are reflecting more of the Lord’s presence in your life by letting the light of Jesus Christ shine through what you do and say.

There is danger in the waist high water.  It is not so deep that you cannot turn around and go back to the shallow water.  There are also unseen dangers in the water around you; there are challenges to your faith that you cannot defeat on your own.  That shark, the devil, is constantly around (The Bible calls him a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  1 Peter 5:8. I took liberty to make him a shark.).  He hates you.  He wants to destroy you and your Christian testimony.  The Christian walk can be very difficult because of the traps the devil sets to ensnare you or, in this situation, get you to return to the shore.  But that is why you are not alone; the Holy Spirit is right with you to see you through every trap set by the enemy.

Yes, there are unseen dangers the deeper you are in the water.  However, the rewards of faithfully walking through the water are so much greater.  To be used by the Lord to help another find salvation, or to help another grow in their faith are exciting and worth any difficulty one faces.  Obedience learned and put into practice will be worth the prize to come.

There is still more water ahead….

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Ezekiel 47:4a, Again he measured one thousand and brought me through waters; and the water came up to my knees.

The man showing Ezekiel the temple has led him to see water flowing from under the threshold of the temple, led him into ankle deep water representing the beginning of one’s walk with the Lord. The man measured out another one thousand cubits of water and led Ezekiel into knee deep water.  What does this mean to us?

Our Father in heaven desires us to move on from the “milk of God’s Word”.  The Holy Spirit is constantly leading us to grow in maturity, a “deeper” walk with the Lord.  As you walk in ankle deep water, you see others further out in the water and where you are walking is no longer enough.  It is time to move into deeper water; it is time to move out of your comfort zone.

As you move into knee deep water you notice the pull of the water right away.  It seems it is pulling you in.  You are beginning to think about what Scripture is saying, understanding it and applying it to your life.  You are no longer reading just words on a page but vital words to you.   Your prayer time has become different because the time you spend with the Lord is becoming essential to your walk with Him.  People are noticing the light of Jesus Christ shining in you as you allow it to be seen more.  Bible study, both individual and group study, is now a necessity.

You are also feeling a different pull from the water.  The enemy does not want to see this growth because you have become a threat to him.  The temptations of that old life – the life you left on the shore when you stepped into the water – seem to be drawing you back to the beach.  But, your study of God’s Word has shown you that you are to resist the devil and he has to flee.  You have learned that the devil was defeated at the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And, you are learning about the armor of God.  So, resist!

I wonder about the meaning of the one thousand cubits.  Does it refer to a period of time we spend in each aspect of our growth or walk with the Lord?  If so, the time spent in ankle deep or knee deep water depends on the individual and the desire to move into deeper water.  If you are still in ankle deep water, I want you see those who are in knee deep water and desire what you see in them. 

But wait!  For those in knee deep water, there is still more!

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Ezekiel 47:3, And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured 1000 cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles.

Ezekiel is led to the edge of the water where the man measures this portion of the water to be about 1000 feet wide.  A point of interest here is the water continues to get wider and that there are no tributaries feeding into the water.  The water being added to the river is directly from God.  When Ezekiel gets into this portion of the water, the water is ankle deep.

All of us are led to the water, many never take the first step of getting into it.  Reasons for not doing so might be the busyness of life, wrong expectations from you if you do, and you will do it another time when _______ is accomplished.  This first step into the water is accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord.  It is a step of faith because it is contrary to what the world teaches; it is placing your faith in God who has never been seen, in a heaven who has not been seen either.  Hebrew 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.”   Eternal life begins here on earth with our decision to make Jesus Christ our Savior.  Once again this is done by a belief that God will take us into his family without works; it is done by a heart full of belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

By taking this step into the water you find yourself ankle deep.  What does that mean?  This is the time you might be called a baby Christian because you begin to feed on the very basic teachings of the Bible.  It is a time you begin to learn about trust, obedience, surrender.  You are happy to be ankle deep in the water but the cares of life still consume too much of you.  You have a Bible but it is not read every day.  You are praying before meals and before bed; it has more meaning than before. 

Part of my responsibilities as a private school principal was to take seniors on their senior trip to the coast.  While there I would walk along the shore in ankle deep water.  I really enjoyed doing that.  I was content with being there; I could see others well out in the water, but I would not venture further out.

Too many Christians are content to stay in ankle deep water.  However, it is only the first step in one’s walk of faith.  There is so much more.  I believe that God wants every baby Christian to grow up and become mature in Him.  If you are only ankle deep in your faith, what is keeping you there?

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Ezekiel 47:1, Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, 
water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for 
the house faced east.  And the water was flowing down from under, from the
right side of the house, from south of the altar.

Ezekiel, in a vision, is being shown the future temple in Israel.  At this point in the vision he sees water flowing out from under the house of God.  It is living, pure, and holy water because it comes from where God dwells.  This water is the “living water” that Jesus Christ offered the woman at the well (and to each of us).  He said, “Whoever drinks of this water shall never thirst again.” (John 4:6).

It is the living water that the prophet Zechariah says, “shall flow from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea.”  Is this a reference to the message of Christ being preached to the world as some believe?  Jerusalem was the center from which the teaching and revelation of Jesus Christ came.  So, this could very well be what the prophet was prophesying about.   

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul told men to love their wives as Christ loved the church “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:26, 27).  This water is pure and whoever allows it to flow over them is cleansed; this is the process of sanctification.  It is an on going process that will not end until one enters the glory of heaven.

First and foremost, one must enter the water for this to happen.  We will examine this more as the man leads Ezekiel to the water’s edge.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Isaiah 45:7, “I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.”

Okay, this is one of those times I would toss out a question to a brother or two to see what they thought because I needed to formulate my thoughts.  Respond to me what you believe!  I welcome the feedback.  I welcome the thought that someone is reading this blog.  Here goes….

One of the events that had to occur as birth pains or the beginning of sorrows was pestilences (notice the word is plural!).  Remember Jesus was answering the question His disciples were asking about the sign of His return.  Pestilence is defined as an epidemic disease that is contagious, lethal, and devastating. “The God who protects and blesses is also the God who sends disaster and pestilence when it accomplishes His righteous purposes on earth.” (A statement I found on the internet – so it must be right.)  Look back at the statement out of Isaiah, “I make peace and create calamity!”  So, if the statement from the internet is correct, my question pertains to God’s righteous purpose on earth.  What is His righteous purpose?

What about the coronavirus?  Is it sent by God and why would He do that if He did?  If He sent it, He sent it as a warning or it is judgment against sin, or both.  God’s desire is that we give up idolatry and place Him first in our heart and worship only Him.  If that is not done, He brings judgment just as Hosea’s object lesson showed us.  This virus is a world-wide happening that needs to be taken seriously.  Our Heavenly Father desires that no one perish without a personal relationship with Him.  This seems to be another wake up call for people to turn to Him for their salvation; He is the only way to eternal life in heaven.  It seems to also be a wakeup call for those who have given their life to Him to get serious about their walk with Him.

What do you need to do?
If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Hosea 4:7, “The more they have increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.”

I know that Hosea is an object lesson for the nation of Israel.  As I have been studying this prophet, I have had God’s Word jump from the pages and speak directly to me about our responsibility as individual followers of the Lord. It is pretty easy to put God aside as we pursue work interests, pursue educational interests, as we get so busy with family and activities, and those things we just enjoy doing.  Isn’t placing God behind our desire for these things idolatry; don’t we reject knowledge when do?

If that is true, we have sinned against God.  I have seen in my life the truth that God is longsuffering in His dealings with me.  But there comes a time when He is done with the idolatry in our life.  When that happens, He gives a warning and a choice to continue in that idolatry or to repent and follow Him.  He is willing to change our glory, that which we hold important (our position, reputation, etc), into shame. 

What He wants is for His people to repent of pushing Him behind the things we do.  No matter what your position in life is, God must occupy the most important place in your heart. He deserves it; He demands it!

Keep your focus on the Lord today.  Read His Word and meditate on it today!  Why not take some time right now to give thanks and acknowledge Him for what He has done in your life.  While you are doing that, why not ask for forgiveness for putting whatever you have pursued before Him?  You might be surprised at the relief that brings to you.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the Law of God, I will also forget your children.”

Knowledge of things is not the problem, nor is the knowledge obtained through experience.  Lack of knowledge of God is the problem.  Consider how the enemy has gotten prayer, the Bible, and God removed from the schools.  Consider the ridicule college and university professors give a Christian student.  Consider how successful attempts to remove God from all governmental and public places has been. Finally consider the changes found in so many churches today – the music, what the sermons are and the lack of reverence shown God.  Are we much different from the day of Hosea?

The people did not have knowledge of God. Remember the emphasis on knowledge found in Proverbs.  Their lack had gotten so bad that God was rejecting them.  They followed the teaching of the priests and they were not teaching about Him.  Because of that the people were lacking in their duties toward Him.

What were the priests teaching that had caused the people to not have knowledge of God?  Were they preaching or teaching the “feel good” messages that are so prevalent today?  Were they making sure the people brought their offerings to the temple in order for the priests to get fat and lazy?  It is obvious that they were not teaching about God because He was rejecting them.

Understand that when people forget the Word of God, or do not know it, that lack is picked up by their children.  If parents do not care enough about the Word of God, or go to a church where the Word of God is not taught (or taught incorrectly), the children will also lack knowledge of God.  That is why the verse made the statement that God would forget their children as well.

Here is the solution.  Get into your Bible every day!  Learn daily what it says and allow the Holy Spirit of God to teach you, be like the Bereans (find earlier pages of this blog) and study to be sure the pastor of your church is preaching the whole Word of God!  Taking a particular verse and making doctrine of it can lead to wrong thinking and wrong actions.  These days are evil; they are not getting better!  It is your responsibility to have knowledge of God – do not let others tell you what it says.  The word spoken to the people by Hosea is a sad statement about how far the people of Israel had fallen from God. 

The people of this nation better wake up!

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Hosea 1:6b, “Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away.”

Hosea 1:9, Then God said: “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.”

The children born to Gomer were given names that foretold of terrible things to happen to Israel.  What could they have done that would have caused God to be so angry with them?  Israel had rejected Him to follow other gods; the result was God left Israel.  What was going to happen to Israel was a natural result of their sin. 

The children’s names were to show the people God would have no more mercy on them because He had rejected them.  They had not acted the way His people should act; they had worshipped foreign gods.  Idolatry puts foreign gods before God.  As a result, He would not deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.

For us today, being in covenant with God is only because of what Jesus Christ accomplished at the cross.  His death and resurrection forgave ours sins – past, present, future.  Whoever believes this becomes part of His family.  Our responsibility in this relationship is to act the way God’s people are to act.  We Learn Daily in order to think and act the way His people are to act.  You are not given a license to do whatever you want because you can ask for forgiveness.  No, you are to allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through you each day.  Truly you might be the only Bible someone “reads” today.  Placing idols in your life may cause God to disown you as He did the people of Hosea’s time.

Read the rest of Hosea 1.  It is certainly possible that your actions have caused God to allow you to have your way; you may have found that your way has led you into some bad stuff.  Here is the Good News – there was mercy in the midst of God’s wrath toward Israel.  He promised their numbers would be as “the sand of the sea”.  Eventually, Israel would be called God’s people again; He did not remove the difficulties they needed to go through.  There are consequences for what you do and those consequences do not go away because one has called on the Lord to save him.  The knowledge that He is with you through those consequences, however, brings tremendous help to you as you go through them. 

Are there idols in your life?  Get rid of them – God hates them.  Remove them from your life and ask God to forgive you.  Then, do not go back to them!  He will forgive you and welcome you back as a father welcomes home a prodigal.  How do I know?  Because I have experienced it!

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY



Hosea 1: 2, When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord.”

Israel at the time of Hosea was outwardly experiencing a time of growth and prosperity; but inwardly, moral corruption and spiritual adultery saturated the people.  God instructs Hosea to marry a prostitute by the name of Gomer in order to be an object lesson for the people of Israel.  Prostitution was symbolic of the Israel’s unfaithfulness to God.  Israel, like Gomer, had been an idolater, become “married” to Jehovah, and then returned to idolatry.

Idolatry must be defined.  Idolatry is the worship of an idol or cult image, being a physical image, such as a statue, or a person in place of God; the worship of something or someone other than God as if it were God.  That is a formal definition.  The emphasis must be on anything we put before God; this could be a thing, a person, a desire of some kind.  This is sin.  It is against the Second Commandment given to the people by God Himself – “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3).  Idolatry is turning away from the Lord and all of Israel was polluted by it.  Their spiritual adultery caused God to turn from His people.

Hosea was to marry Gomer to show the people their lifestyle was dishonorable to God and they were to turn away from it in order to return to Him.  How patient He was with them that He did not just cast them away.

Okay, what is the point?  Does this relate to us in any way?  Of course it does!  Think of the blessings of this country; we are blessed so much greater than so much of the world.  But, in those blessings people have begun to think their ingenuity and intelligence is the reason for it.  In return for the blessings of God, we have turned to idolatry, immorality and believing we can determine who can live and who cannot (among so many other things).  In essence, we have become gods, who desire to be worshipped as we desire to worship that which we have created.  Have we become any different from the people of Hosea’s day?  Absolutely not!

If that is true, should we expect the God of creation, the One who deserves our true worship, to sit back and do nothing?  Or, should we be on our knees asking for the people of this nation to seek Him and to repent of our sinful actions and attitudes.  Do we really expect God to ignore the spiritual adultery of our day?  That is not His nature.

Tomorrow we will look more into what Hosea’s prophecy has to do with us today.  Stay with me!

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.