The Simple Life

"To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." Isaiah 28:9-10 (ESV) God teaches us slowly, through His Word, as we are in a position to understand what is taught. His teaching is slow and methodical, and quite effective. We do not take toddlers who are showing an interest in a musical instrument and teach them music theory. Instead, we provide them with an instrument that can be "abused," and allow them the chance to learn how to respect, handle, use, and experiment with it. As time passes, we begin to teach beginners how to organize notes into patterns and lay the foundation for a time when they can become accomplished musicians.  No matter how accomplished one becomes, the basics of music theory will still apply, for it is the precept upon precept, and line...

These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed by wine, they stagger with strong drink, they reel in vision, they stumble in giving judgment. For all tables are full of filthy vomit, with no space left. Isaiah 28:7-8 (ESV) A young mentally challenged boy was asked about alcoholic drinks, and he immediately responded that he would not touch them because alcohol is a "solvent." When the questioner had a puzzled look on his face, he replied, “It dissolves marriages, friendships, ability to work, and more.” There are many warnings about alcohol in the Scriptures, yet "believers" tend to look at passages that mention "wine" in passing, and they try to make it proof texts for their own drinking habits. The downside of alcohol is enormous, as would be indicated by the amount of health care, law enforcement, and emergency services that are dedicated to the effects of its abuse. Satan h...

The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous. In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:7-9 (ESV) A righteous person does what is right. In many cases, right and wrong are very clear. In some cases, right and wrong are mysterious. It seems to me that our loving God and Father is the one who makes things "level," and that the most critical aspect of our responsibility is to want to please Him. As a child, I may not always know what is right, but I can always have the desire to do what is right, and that makes all the difference. God can make it so that one who has a pure heart can avoid the rugged peaks and valleys of this life. I need to trust in Him. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV) When I am not at peace, it is because my mind is not dwelling on God, but it is dwelling on the circumstances of life. If I lack peace and look to God, then I really do not know God, and I am really looking at a God I have created in my mind. Knowing God and choosing to be close to Him, and to listen to Him, yields a peace that passes all understanding. Peace is a barometer, and barometers do not cause conditions or even predict conditions. They inform you of the existing conditions, allowing you to prepare accordingly. The lack of peace tells us that our priorities are off. When my focus, my mind, is on God and how the circumstances of this life point to Him, and the fact that He loves me and has a plan for my life, I am at peace. When I focus on the problem, I am overwhelmed, and I become the problem. https://www....

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. Isaiah 25:1(ESV) For one to say, "You are my God" and truly understand what that means is incredible. Some circumstances make no sense to us. Having God as our God is the only hope we have.   Those who have no God can only talk of circumstances and hope that those circumstances change, so they may endure the day. Those who know God can obtain a rest, a "faith rest" life, that He alone gives to those who dwell in His presence. Those who are experiencing the "faith rest" life are fine, regardless of the circumstances. If Satan cannot use the circumstances of this life to destroy his enemy (those who love and walk with God), then his arsenal is severely limited. Our proximity to God matters at all times, and our proximity is not accidental. God is worthy of our praise, for He, today, as in all days, has done wonderful ...

“In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 22:25 (ESV) What is thought secure, is not. What is safe is secure, even when you feel it is not. It may never rain on the person who has saved money for the rainy day. Retirement may never come to one who has lived their life for such a time. Health can change in a moment, accidents can easily alter plans, and natural disasters can render life as we know it today no longer available. When we place our hope for security in things that are not secure, we abandon reason. Reasonable people put their hope in something that gives them cause for hope. This world and the things of this world cannot offer hope, for all of the components of this life are to be used, not loved. It is only that which can be legitimately loved that can give hope. For now, the choice is ours. https://...