Meat for the Hungry

  FLAG robert-linder-fcFEnjBmm14-unsplash Heavenly Father, You did it! You gave A m e r i c a 2 5 0 Y e a r s o f B l e s s i n g ! Thank You!   Thank You not only for the physical freedom of this land, but also for preappointing our time and the boundary of our dwelling, so we should seek You, [1] and celebrate this amazing country.   Holy, holy, holy, LORD, You alone deserve glory, honor, and power, but above all, our worship. [2]   LORD, when I think about the history of A m e r i c a , it wasn’t just deciding to break from Great Britain and signing our Declaration of Independence. It was these heroic men backing up that decision with action, a willingness to die to make men free, which became the Battle Hymn of OUR Republic . [3] And why? Because it was exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us. [4]   I know You, O God, placed that determination within the hearts of each founding father, each officer, and soldier who fought in t...

Fall leaves anthony-lee-zZ-G8iQOwa8-unsplash   Wind whips. Leaves swirl. And just like that, we’ve arrived at fall—the season for pumpkins, cornstalks, multicolored mums, and trees displaying God’s handiwork in the most glorious shades of reds , golds , oranges , and browns .   And…it’s the time of year believers are more keenly aware of evil swirling around us. I’m not talking only about the creepy Halloween decorations, but also the evil we can’t see but know is there. You know, the thing horror movies use to saturate patrons with fear.   Yet writers and producers have no idea what they’re really dealing with—they think it’s all in fun—Oooo, ghosts and goblins and ghouls! Oh my!   Still, fright creators and those who attend for the thrill seem to be taunting the devil and his minions. Why—to force a paranormal event? Do they think it exciting to see a disembodied spirit? Or maybe they need to prove Satan doesn’t exist?   Horror enthusiasts ...

     www.dreamstime.com free stock photo    Do you ever think life is hard? Goodness, I do. There are days, even weeks, where everything goes well. I feel God’s presence, hear His voice, learn from His Word, and life flows along like a deep, smooth river. And then there are times I slip on a rug and crash to the floor blindsided by a situation so confusing I just throw up my hands and shout, “What in the world is going on?”   In those moments, I tend to focus on the situation. What did I do to cause this, and how can I fix it? But after a while, I get irritated. If I hurt someone’s feelings by giving my opinion, why am I not entitled to my opinion? And why am I always the one punished? Why can’t that person just shrug it off and forgive?   The Lord allowed me to wallow for a few minutes, and then He said, “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” [1]     “Yes, Lord, I’m listening.” ...

T h a n k s g i v i n g —an expression of gratitude given in many different ways—an action gushing forth from heartfelt emotion. Daily we extend or receive kindnesses , and t h a n k s g i v i n g seems to flow naturally . Effortlessly we thank our fellow man, but when it comes to God, sometimes it’s not so easy. And even on the day our nation has set aside to thank God for His bountiful blessings, thanksgiving becomes a strained endeavor.   Why?   Perhaps the reality of our crummy situation slaps us in the face. Maybe the ups and downs of family relationships or gyrating current events have us on a merry-go-round , and we’re not feeling very thankful. I’m right there with you. In fact, I found myself shouting, “Lord Jesus, stop the world I want to get off!”   But at that moment, God’s still small voice penetrated my soul. “Rejoice always,” He said. “Pray without ceasing, and in everything give t h a n k s ; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” [...