Heavenly Father, I praise You for blessing me as I grew up. You allowed me to play sports, and even though I grew up in a very rural village in western Michigan, I was able to play against at least four athletes who would go on to play professionally. I praise You for the years You have allowed me to work with teens, fill in for pastors, speak and write prayer books, coach basketball, and be a principal as well as a teacher. I praise You for the people I have met in life and whether they were famous or not I have enjoyed the walk and all the stories I have learned, I have been privileged to meet a President, musicians, scholars, farmers, factory workers, teachers, correction officers, truck drivers, carpenters, shop owners, waitresses and waiters, etc… All people are important to God and James warns us not to see distinction between people.
Jesus said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things I say?” There is a difference between knowing of God, or Christ, and knowing Him personally. Just like we can believe there is a God, but only those who believe in God
will be saved and see eternity. Jeremiah wrote, “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls, but they said, 'We will not walk in it.” [Luke 6:46; Jeremiah 6:16] How sad that they decided that because they would lose their homes and country for a very long time. I fear that our Country is headed down the same path if we turn from walking down the proven paths established by our ancestors and God blessed them, but why should he bless us? Our country is like those Israelites who said in their hearts they would not walk it. I hope that this little time of reawakening that is going on around our country will turn hearts and minds back to God, but there is a strong element of people and evil that is boldly defying God, and I fear for our country. I will take my stance like Joshua and say that for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and
the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:10-15&18H