Wandering In A Strange Land 

DECEMBER 18 & 19, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 137:4 How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    I know the Bible tells us to rejoice always. I know we are told to be full of praise always. However, sometimes we just do not feel like it. At least I hope I am not the only one who ever feels this way. What is it that causes this feeling in the life of a God-fearing, born-again Christian? Well, I believe there can be a number of things. It could be a medical condition or medication, which has you in a state of depression. It might be a family issue bringing you down for a period of time. However, what about those times in life when it is not something like that? What then? It could be you are in a strange land! By this, I mean you might be somewhere other than exactly where God wanted you to be.

    It might be a strange land of sin. There might be some area in your life that is not right with God, and God is trying to point this out to you. It might be the strange land of disobedience. God has told you in His Word how things should or should not be done, but you are living according to your desires and not God’s Word. You are in a strange land. It could be that the strange land of being out of the will of God. Maybe God was leading you one way and like Jonah, you walked another. God went the direction He wanted you to go. You walked off into a strange land. It might be the strange land of being at odds with a Christian Brother, Sister, or spouse. No harmony in the church and at home can have you standing in a strange place with God. You find yourself out wandering in a strange land. There are many strange lands out there and all it takes to get there is getting off the narrow path that leads to joy and happiness. Holding on to the Master’s hand and following Him guarantees safety from the strange lands.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    There is a song in many Hymnals. It says, “Come Home, Come Home, Ye who are weary Come Home.” Do you feel you might be in a strange land today? Is something hindering your joy? Turn from it, repent of it, reconcile if necessary, and come home. The Lord of all is reaching out and saying, come home. Can you hear Him as He sings that chorus to you, “Come Home, Come Home, Ye who are weary Come Home.”

GOD TALKING TO ME: DECEMBER 18, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Zechariah 8-10     /     Psalm 137-138     /     Proverbs 18     /     Revelations 2-3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Obadiah           /       Revelation 6

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Hello: God Is Calling! 

DECEMBER 17, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Zechariah 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    Several times in Zechariah we hear this priest / prophet says something like, “the word of the LORD came unto me.” WOW. Can you even imagine? God, either by voice or by angel’s voice coming and speaking directly to you? How grand of a day that would be. Yet, it may also be somewhat scary. You might begin to wonder what would be so important that God would want to talk with me personally. What is He going to ask me to do? God speaking directly to you would be rather miraculous and a bit overwhelming.

    We too often get the idea that when God speaks to people it is only to scold or punish. That He only comes when things are going wrong. Therefore, we begin to think it to be a frightening experience when He speaks. However, did you ever think of this? In the Old Testament while they had very little of the scripture put together, God often chose to communicate through angels and prophets.

    Today, just as in Zechariah’s time, God is speaking directly to you. You read that right, God is speaking right to you. He does it through the pages of His Holy Word. We now have 66 books written in the binding of the Holy Bible, which contain God breathed Words written for you and me. The majority of it is not about scolding or punishing. Most of the Bible shares just how much God loves you and wants to help you.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    So, as you go through your day today you might just think, as did the Zechariah, “moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying…” Well, what did God speak with you about today through the pages of His Word? He is still speaking. Are we still listening?

GOD TALKING TO ME: DECEMBER 17, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Zechariah 4-7     /     Psalm 136     /     Proverbs 17     /     Revelations 1 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Amos 7-9           /    Revelation 4-5

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

He Keeps Me 

DECEMBER 16, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Jude 1-2 & 24 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied…. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

  I always wonder as I read the pages of God’s Word what people do with certain Bible verses when they believe you can somehow lose your salvation. Jude 1 says I am preserved in Jesus Christ and called. If I am preserved in Christ, how can I lose that preservation? Not only preserved but also called or assured of it. It is obvious then Jesus would have to somehow be weakened and allow me to slip through His protection.

    Jude 24 says; “unto Him that is able to keep you from falling.” This person would be Christ and the Holy Spirit who then are able to keep me from falling. However, it does not stop there. He will not only keep me from falling, but it goes on to say, “and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory.” Therefore, if He can keep me from falling, He will preserve me, and He will present me, how can I lose this precious Salvation?

    The only explanation for someone who constantly walks contrary to the Word of God, for someone who has little or no remorse for their sin, and a person who will not yield to the chastising of the Holy Spirit is…THEY WERE MOST LIKELY NEVER SAVED TO BEGIN WITH! We cannot break free from God; we are not that strong. A person cannot be un-preserved. God’s Word says Christians are preserved. The only explanation is they were never preserved, never kept, never truly in Christ.
   

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

  The Bible tells us often to examine ourselves to see if we are in the Lord or not. It is not because we can slip out of His Almighty grip, but because many people never place themselves in His grip to begin with. They never believed in Christ; they just do not want to go to hell. When you give Christ your all, He will preserve you.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  DECEMBER 16, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Zechariah 1 – 3     /     Psalm 135     /     Proverbs 16     /     Jude

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Amos 4-6           /     Revelation 3

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Truth Be Known 

DECEMBER 15, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    When I was a little boy my mother would tell me, “don’t tell lies, because you will have to tell another lie to cover the first lie, and then yet another to cover that one. You will end up telling so many lies, you will not remember the original lie you told. Then, when you get caught in your lies, no one will believe you nor like you.”

     Those might not have been her exact words, but they are close enough. She could have just as easily quoted the commandments written in Exodus twenty, which says we are not supposed to lie. However, my mom knew there was more than just one reason written in the pages of God’s Word for telling the truth. In fact, she knew God’s Word is the truth.

    She was simply taking Proverbs 15:14-15 and putting it into her own words. “The mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness,” and, “all the days of the afflicted are evil.” A lie told will have to be covered with more lies. A lie is an untrue story, the imagination of a sinful heart. It is the opposite of the truth and becomes foolishness. Every day that follows the lie becomes another twenty-four hours of trying to remember the lie, and living, or exaggerating its folly.

    By exact contrast, the heart of them who understands that God is all about the truth, will seek the wisdom, and knowledge only God can give. Then, a clear conscience, not trying to remember lies, will bring about days of joy and contentment. It will be a continual feast of enjoying the Word of God and living by its principles. The truth really does set you free.  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

  Seek the truth. Tell the truth. Live the truth. Obey the truth. And let the Truth of God, His Son, dwell in you.  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  DECEMBER 15, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Ezra 9, 10     /     Psalm 133, 134     /     Proverbs 15     /     2, 3 John

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Amos 1-3           /  Revelation 2

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Our Eternal Kingdom

DECEMBER 14, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 132:11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    God has promised to David an eternal, never-ending kingdom from his heirs. Now how could that possibly be? There is no kingdom that lasts forever. Even David had to be smart enough to realize that. All he would have to do is investigate the past and see how kingdoms rise and fall.

    This is one of the many prophecies we find given of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was through the line of David that baby Jesus came. He would be David’s successor and rightful heir to the throne. However, the throne referred to in today’s verse is not an earthly kingdom’s throne. It’s the Everlasting Kingdom of God.

    When thinking about the frailty of earthly kingdoms one might wonder how long our country can last. Looking back, we see no governments nor kingdoms last forever. Most had their downfall when they began to allow blatant sin to rule. It has been said the fall of the Roman Empire can be linked closely with their tolerance and acceptance of homosexuality and sexual promiscuity. If true, what might God think of our nation today? We have so-called Churches ordaining and placing into leadership openly practicing homosexuals in what they think is God’s House. I have sad news for them. God does not bless a mess. He will not be mocked. God does forgive sin, but never condones its practice. Therefore, I would repeat a question, which should be echoing in the hearts of all true believers. How much longer can this country last on the path it is going.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    We need to look to and seek after an eternal Kingdom. Set our sights on things above. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His RIGHTEOUSNESS. I just love the song that says, “This world is not my Home, I’m just a passing through….” Let’s do our best to help this world while here, knowing we are not here forever. As true Christians, we are citizens of an eternal kingdom and Christ is our King forever.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  DECEMBER 14, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Ezra 7, 8     /     Psalm 132     /     Proverbs 14     /     1 John

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Joel           /    Revelation 1

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12