Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” -Matthew 14:27 HCSB

Most of us know the expression where there is fear, there is no faith or some variation of it. Jesus told His disciples to have courage. But how do we acquire it?

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10 HCSB

I have lots of things going on in my life that could easily lead to fear and dscouragement. However, they don’t necessarily have to. For me to do that would be both self-destructive and render me ineffective for the kingdom. The reality is that, as a believer, I have a toolkit at hand to combat such things. The enemy would have me forget that or not know it at all.

What are those tools I am referring to? First and foremost, we have the Bible. The Scriptures are where we can find God’s directions to us on how we should maintain both our relationship with Him and with our fellow human being. Secondly, we have fellowship with other believers from which we can draw encouragement, direction and knowledge from those who have more experience walking the Christian walk and studyng His word. The Bible specifically enourages us to assemble as believers. Corporate worship and study is invaluable to us as His children.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. -Hebrews10:24-25 NIV

So let us live today, mindful of the hope imparted to us by our precious Savior’s sacrifice for us and His resurrection to eternal lfe. He goes to prepare a place for us (as He is quoted in the Bible). Will you be ready to move into that place at the appointed time? It is my hope and prayer for you that you may be able to say with confidence that you are. It makes dealing with the pressures and assorted things that we face in this life. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. -Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB77

For starters, the Bible is explicit that we are to get together for worship, fellowshipping and encouraging each other in growth. Finding a local congregation of believers to join and contribute to is simply being obedient to the LORD and will reap many blessings.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. -James 2:14‭-‬17 CSB

I love my church. If you go to church, I hope you love yours too. Church is so much more than just studying God’s word and singing a few songs, it is an important avenue for fellowship and thus encouraging each other to work for the goals of our Father’s kingdom. The people at my church are warm, loving and show their caring through deeds — not just nice words and prayers.l

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. -James 2:18 NIV

Before we started attending and eventually joining the church my wife and I belong to now, we checked out a couple of different churches to see what would best fit for us in our Christian service. We have come to appreciate a more traditional style of worship and found a church that reminds us more of a Baptist church in style and theology. The bottom line is that we think the Holy Spirit has drawn us to the church we joined. For the record, the church my wife and I belong to is the Preston City Bible Church in Preston City, CT. It is fundamentalist in doctrine and practice (although not KJV-only). I find it to be Spirit-filled (NOT to be confused with Charismatic or Pentecostal). The church has grown, is active in the community and various forms of outreach. The people are great and we have come to love many of them as the family they truly are.

It is my hope and prayer for you the reader that you too may find a local fellowship of believers to help strengthen and encourage you in achieving the kingdom-minded goals our LORD has for you!

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” -NIV84

Too often, we act as though God owes us healing whenever we demand it — like He is our personal butler, delivering whatever we want when we ‘ring the bell.’ Sorry, but it doesn’t quite work that way.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NIV84

Quite often, dealing with physical ailments is the catalyst that propels us closer to Him. The sweet relationship we may have with our Lord is worth so much more than material success, physical health or anything else we may think is of value in this world.

Karen and I went to see the new movie “Jesus Revolution” at our local AMC Theater this evening with some friends from Calvary Chapel. The theater was filled and, perhaps most importantly, the movie was well done! We highly recommend it. Perhaps the revolution is beginning again, as we see young people in a university south of us holding a revival and others following in their footsteps. Praise the LORD!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. -John 3:16‭-‬17 NIV

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. -Matthew 6:34 ESV

When I first stopped drinking and using other drugs, I repeatedly heard and thought about the phrase “one day at a time.” I clung to that as a strategy to survive in this new sober life. That same adjustment to attitude also worked for other things, such as quitting smoking.

Clearly, Jesus knew this attitude was essential in one’s faith, as it is discussed in more than one place in the gospels. Planning for tomorrow, whether it involves overcoming an addiction, battling illness, financial distress…whatever the issue, it is pointless. Living in today allows me to focus on what I know I have to deal with. God has never failed to provide for my needs in any given situation as He provided daily sustenance for His people in the wilderness in the form of manna (Exodus 16). It is important to note that they were instructed to take only what they could eat for that day. Again, the message is clear: we must trust God to give us what we need for each individual day. As it says in Lamentations, His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Have I learned to trust God enough to live in today?

In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. -Psalms 18:29-30 NLT

Not much more to say that these two verses from the 18th Psalm don’t clearly state. I have reached a place in my life with the potential for me to suffer serious anxiety — should I forget who the Lord of my life truly is. What a wonderful place to be at in one’s life when they get there! Do you look to the Lord for protection?

Father, please remind me always that the only true protection I have in my life does not come from man or his various inventions, but from you in your majestic and graceful glory. Amen.

As I sit here at my kitchen table drinking coffee on New Year’s morning 2023, I cannot help but be reminded of the year that has passed and the one that has begun. This year I seem to have a greater sense of hope as it begins from the ashes of a tumultous 2022 that I would love to forget much of but which is engrained in my memory. Rather than live in that particular past, I choose to look forward to what this year can bring. I am not thinking right now about material gains or even improved health (mine leaves much to be desired), but how I may better serve Christ in ministering to the needs of those around me. At the moment, I am focused on what really and truly matters.

There is a sense of freedom to be gained by leaving it all in God’s hands and finding a place within where I am confident that whatever happens in okay because God is sovereign and it is all part of His plan. Truly nothing happens that He does not allow in the first place.

Let us reflect for a moment on the well-known statement made in Lamentations: His mercies are new every morning. Just pondering that importance for a few moments can leave one awestruck. Here is Lamentations 3:23 quoted directly from the Bible:

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:23 NLT

Being renewed and becoming a new creature are explained and illustrated throughout the Bible. When we acknowledge receipt of our Savior Jesus Christ, we start to become transformed into the beings God intended us to be. Romans 12 says:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. -Romans 12:2 NLT

How quickly we change or how much progress we make in this world toward that goal are directly dependent on how much prayer, meditation and study of God’s Word we are willing to undertake. I know that the more I put into practice those things, the better my life is (regardless of my present circumstances) as I strive to become more like Him each day. Are you making such effort? This is a question I must answer each day as I walk the road with Him. Happy New Year!

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. -2 Corinthians 5:8 (ESV)

It has been a while since I have posted anything in my blog. Perhaps I have been feeling a little sorry for myself and have avoided it with a “what’s the use” attitude. As my friends and associates know, I suffered a heart attack last year and have had a year of battling heart failure and now other health issues that may have arisen from the plethora of ‘specialists’ I have to see and the drugs they prescribe. I must confess it has left me a little angry with Hartford Healthcare and bitter with the medical field in general.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -1 Thes. 5:16-18 (ESV)

Somewhere along the way I strayed from the practice of giving thanks in all things. Not only must I be thankful for the things I find not so pleasant, but also remember the many things I have to be grateful for that I have learned and experienced along the way this year.

God has chosen to give me another year of life that did not seem like it might happen at the time. December 17, 2021 I was rushed to Hartford Hospital, had stents placed within my heart and spent a week there mostly in I.C.U. — not exactly getting a lot of optimism from the doctors. Mostly it was “I don’t know yet” or “I’m a little surprised you are still alive.” I’ve come some distance from that time and place and have had more time with my wife, filled with reminders of the things of greatest importance that have been obscured from my sight (in a spiritual sense). I also continue to work, being blessed to have the opportunity to do so because of the flexibility the museum has afforded me.

Sure, I have several challenges to deal with from day to day and a bevy of doctors I see to assist with those issues, but the alternative would be an absence from this life that God has not chosen to subject me to yet. The thought of my departure leaves me sad, but only in the sense that I would be away from my wife and friends. It is hard to think of letting go of earthly things and embrace only the precious things of God. One of those precious things is the fact that I will be in the presence of Jesus when that time comes and will see her and my closest friends (who are believers) again. I can only imagine how all consuming that will be. It is doubtful I will concern myself with any earthly things when I am in His presence. If anything, I will likely think of my loved ones here only with eager anticipation of the joy that they too will experience with Him. As the Apostle Paul was inspired to write so long ago, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). I must hang on to that fact and strive to replace that fear with faith.