THE GOOD SHEPHERD

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. -[1Pe 5:4]

[Joh 10:14] "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, [Joh 10:27-28] "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; (28) and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

Sheep. What do we know about sheep? Why do you suppose the Lord elected to use the sheep as His relational example or emblem of you and I? Let's take a look at what we can discover about the character and behavior of sheep. CAUTION: This might get a bit uncomfortable for some.....Just keeping it real!

SHEEP 101: Sheep are FOLLOWERS. If one sheep wanders off somewhere, you can bet others will follow. No matter if the place they roam is good or bad, safe or dangerous. They think they are bright. Reality is that they are not. Sheep are hard-wired from birth to be followers. Once in a while a leader sheep can rise to the top. (did you catch that?--Leader Sheep vs. Leadership?) Most do not do well in that realm. Leaders-in-the-sheep often get the flock into trouble, the outcome is generally bad.  Once in a while, a Leader-sheep will excel but generally are few and far between. These successful Leader-sheeps follow the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Sheep are social animals, they flock together, they need companionship. They don't do well alone. Sheep never walk a straight line. Sheep are scared of just about everything that moves, are easily influenced and panic quickly.

Sheep like routines. They don't react well to sudden change. Sheep will always move toward other sheep, or, things that look like sheep!

Sheep have no depth perception, and they fear new visual objects. They have blind spots in vision that can be problematic. They like things to be unchanging. Sheep are not very discerning, if it looks like a sheep or smells like a sheep they will probably follow it. (right off a cliff)

If they fall onto their backs in an indention of the ground, they cannot get back up on their feet. If not discovered and helped, the sheep can die, or become another animals lunch.

Sheep know the shepherd who constantly leads them. They will follow his voice. If there is trouble to be gotten into, sheep will be there.

We, you and I, are the sheep. That is why we need a shepherd.

[Psa 23:1-3] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. (2) He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. (3) He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. [Isa 53:6] All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

The Lord God made us. He knows our ways. He knows if we are left to our own devices, we will fail. Sin does that. We are born with the curse of sin. The Chief Shepherd is the only antidote, the only door.

[Joh 10:11] "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. [Eze 34:16] "I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment. [1Pe2:25] For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Do you know your Shepherd's voice. Do you follow HIM? Will you follow HIM?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Psa 91:14 "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

                                     MEMORIAL DAY

The photo above may well be disturbing but necessary to show with clarity what Memorial Day represents.

So often we see only the flags, the festive, the solemn ceremonies isolated from the horror of service. The graphic end result of one man or woman placing themselves in harms way in service for you, a citizen of the United States of America.

Two people in history freely agreed to give their lives for you when they were called upon. The first was Jesus Christ, who was called by Almighty God to die in your place that you might live. The other is the brave Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.

In my 23-years of service wearing the uniform of the United States Army, many dear brothers-in-arms went to their final rest. God allowed me to be direct witness to a few, and on the perimeter with others. Each of them were true, loyal, honest, hard charging professionals doing what they all were trained to do. Defend with their lives, this great nation. They each were warriors. Fathers, sons, brothers, friends, servants.

Here is the list of my heros, my fellow active duty members, who, while in the performance or result of their service to each of you, they were taken home to eternity.

Senior Airman Mike Sutton, Specialist Four Bruce Scott, CSM John West, LTC Eric Jowers, SMSG Emory Frank Mortensen, SGM Larry Law, LTC Fred Odom, Air Force Sgt Bob Mathis, Army Air Corps Sgt Vincent "Bud" Miller, Army Master Sgt Bill Boyd, Navy SeaBee Dennis Lorance, Navy Chief Ron Hester, Air Force Sgt Michael Webster, Army Sgt Michael Stackpoole, Air Force Lt. Deeann Ray, Army Sgm Clay Lacey, Army SSG Jason Darnell, LTC Arthur Jones, LTC Harold Roeder.

May God continue for all eternity to bless and keep them in HIS presence, AMEN.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Psa 91:14 "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

                                     MEMORIAL DAY

The photo above may well be disturbing but necessary to show with clarity what Memorial Day represents.

So often we see only the flags, the festive, the solemn ceremonies isolated from the horror of service. The graphic end result of one man or woman placing themselves in harms way in service for you, a citizen of the United States of America.

Two people in history freely agreed to give their lives for you when they were called upon. The first was Jesus Christ, who was called by Almighty God to die in your place that you might live. The other is the brave Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.

In my 23-years of service wearing the uniform of the United States Army, many dear brothers-in-arms went to their final rest. God allowed me to be direct witness to a few, and on the perimeter with others. Each of them were true, loyal, honest, hard charging professionals doing what they all were trained to do. Defend with their lives, this great nation. They each were warriors. Fathers, sons, brothers, friends, servants.

Here is the list of my heros, my fellow active duty members, who, while in the performance or result of their service to each of you, they were taken home to eternity.

Senior Airman Mike Sutton, Specialist Four Bruce Scott, CSM John West, LTC Eric Jowers, SMSG Emory Frank Mortensen, SGM Larry Law, LTC Fred Odom, Air Force Sgt Bob Mathis, Army Air Corps Sgt Vincent "Bud" Miller, Army Master Sgt Bill Boyd, Navy SeaBee Dennis Lorance, Navy Chief Ron Hester, Air Force Sgt Michael Webster, Army Sgt Michael Stackpoole, Air Force Lt. Deeann Ray, Army Sgm Clay Lacey, Army SSG Jason Darnell, LTC Arthur Jones, LTC Harold Roeder.

May God continue for all eternity to bless and keep them in HIS presence, AMEN.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

RAISED UP WITH HIM

Biblical teachings from scripture reveal that we are saved by grace through faith. That there is no work we can do, or action that we can initiate that will result in our salvation. It is the work of God. Having said this, I must tell you that there is a prerequisite; You must believe!

Your belief shakes hands with faith, and through this strong bond, His grace is bestowed on you. Our Lord is so very merciful, so much so that He gave His own Son to be crucified and His blood shed so that we might be set free of the prison of sin and the sentence of eternal death. From death, God raised Jesus up from the grave, and as it is written in Ephesians 2:6...and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Just before Jesus went to His earthly death for us, He prayed to the Father of all, a prayer on our behalf;

Joh 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

In the eyes of the Father, each one of us is hidden in the body of Christ Jesus. God no longer sees us individually, He sees instead His Son - Eph 5:30 because we are members of His body.

Col 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Col 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.

Heb 2:14-15 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Our mortal flesh has an expiration date. The piddly little 70, 80, or 90 years we tread the earth is insignificant when compared to eternity! God gives us seven, eight or nine decades to get our acts together and realize that He created a path for us to overcome the sentence of death caused by Adam's fall.

1Co 15:53-54 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.

John, the Apostle that "Jesus Loved" recorded the following when The Lord Jesus began to give him HIS Revelation to be shared with His servants;

Rev 1:17-18 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, (18) and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

RAISED UP WITH HIM

Biblical teachings from scripture reveal that we are saved by grace through faith. That there is no work we can do, or action that we can initiate that will result in our salvation. It is the work of God. Having said this, I must tell you that there is a prerequisite; You must believe!

Your belief shakes hands with faith, and through this strong bond, His grace is bestowed on you. Our Lord is so very merciful, so much so that He gave His own Son to be crucified and His blood shed so that we might be set free of the prison of sin and the sentence of eternal death. From death, God raised Jesus up from the grave, and as it is written in Ephesians 2:6... and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Just before Jesus went to His earthly death for us, He prayed to the Father of all, a prayer on our behalf;

Joh 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

In the eyes of the Father, each one of us is hidden in the body of Christ Jesus. God no longer sees us individually, He sees instead His Son - Eph 5:30 because we are members of His body.

Col 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Col 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.

Heb 2:14-15 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Our mortal flesh has an expiration date. The piddly little 70, 80, or 90 years we tread the earth is insignificant when compared to eternity! God gives us seven, eight or nine decades to get our acts together and realize that He created a path for us to overcome the sentence of death caused by Adam's fall.

1Co 15:53-54 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.

John, the Apostle that "Jesus Loved" recorded the following when The Lord Jesus began to give him HIS Revelation to be shared with His servants;

Rev 1:17-18 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, (18) and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

EVEN UNSEEN, YOU LOVE HIM

1Pe 1:8..Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.

This is not a difficult concept. To love someone without having to actually see them. Believing by faith that someone exists.

A soldier deployed to the "Sandbox" receives news that his daughter has just been born back in the U.S.. The soldier has not yet received even a one dimensional photo, yet, he loves her. He loves her even though he has never seen her tiny body. He believes because of the words of his wife. He continues to believe because he has faith in the truthfulness of her words. FAITH. 2Co 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— The soldier loved his daughter even before her birth, he loved her FIRST. So it is with Jesus. 1Jn 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

1Jn 4:16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Eph 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, Col 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The Apostle Thomas (Doubting Thomas) had great difficulty coming to grips that the Lord really did rise from the grave and return to life, by the mighty hand of God the Father. For Thomas, he has to see in order to believe; Joh 20:27-29 Then He *said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." (28) Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (29) Jesus *said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

Do You Believe?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

EVEN UNSEEN, YOU LOVE HIM

1Pe 1:8..Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.

This is not a difficult concept. To love someone without having to actually see them. Believing by faith that someone exists.

A soldier deployed to the "Sandbox" receives news that his daughter has just been born back in the U.S.. The soldier has not yet received even a one dimensional photo, yet, he loves her. He loves her even though he has never seen her tiny body. He believes because of the words of his wife. He continues to believe because he has faith in the truthfulness of her words. FAITH. 2Co 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— The soldier loved his daughter even before her birth, he loved her FIRST. So it is with Jesus. 1Jn 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

1Jn 4:16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Eph 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, Col 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The Apostle Thomas (Doubting Thomas) had great difficulty coming to grips that the Lord really did rise from the grave and return to life, by the mighty hand of God the Father. For Thomas, he has to see in order to believe; Joh 20:27-29 Then He *said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." (28) Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (29) Jesus *said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

Do You Believe?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

BLAMELESS BEFORE THE LORD

Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, (26) so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

The marriage metaphor being painted here describes the intimacy of the relationship between our Savior and His church. I can hardly imagine a more beautiful picture of mutual love, caring, and sharing. Each bringing into the bond their individual gifts and talents that together, strengthen the whole. To give one's life for the other.

Christ Jesus looks upon His church as "HER", a pronoun that makes most guys want to quickly think about hunting or fishing. The point is that Christ, our Lord, desires the most intimate and protective betrothal with us. Mat 19:6 "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."

In Him, we are viewed as pure and blemish free by Almighty God. That is a very good thing since we, still in the flesh, are far from that picture. It is through Jesus Christ, Our King, that we have been set free of the death sentence of our sinful ways and viewed perfect by God.

Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -- Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

To be one with Christ, to be beneficiary of His promise, and co-heir in the Kingdom of God, is truly, truly the greatest of all gifts!

2Th 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, (17) comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. -- 1Co 1:8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

AMEN and AMEN

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

BLAMELESS BEFORE THE LORD

Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, (26) so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

The marriage metaphor being painted here describes the intimacy of the relationship between our Savior and His church. I can hardly imagine a more beautiful picture of mutual love, caring, and sharing. Each bringing into the bond their individual gifts and talents that together, strengthen the whole. To give one's life for the other.

Christ Jesus looks upon His church as "HER", a pronoun that makes most guys want to quickly think about hunting or fishing. The point is that Christ, our Lord, desires the most intimate and protective betrothal with us. Mat 19:6 "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."

In Him, we are viewed as pure and blemish free by Almighty God. That is a very good thing since we, still in the flesh, are far from that picture. It is through Jesus Christ, Our King, that we have been set free of the death sentence of our sinful ways and viewed perfect by God.

Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -- Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

To be one with Christ, to be beneficiary of His promise, and co-heir in the Kingdom of God, is truly, truly the greatest of all gifts!

2Th 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, (17) comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. -- 1Co 1:8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

AMEN and AMEN

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

THOSE WHO HONOR ME I WILL HONOR

1Sa 2:30 "Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, 'I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever'; but now the LORD declares, 'Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.

Mat 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. -- Mat 10:37-39 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (38) "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (39) "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Rev 2:10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

2Co 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, -- 1Pe 1:7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

THOSE WHO HONOR ME I WILL HONOR

1Sa 2:30 "Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, 'I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever'; but now the LORD declares, 'Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.

Mat 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. -- Mat 10:37-39 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (38) "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (39) "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Rev 2:10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

2Co 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, -- 1Pe 1:7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

DANGER-- SPIRITUAL RELAXATION AHEAD

I do so love my time with God in the early morning hours. Actually, I truly love and cherish ALL of my moments with Him because I LOVE HIM, I am IN LOVE with HIM. Every beat of my heart from the time I was being formed in my mother's womb, every breath, every thought, every second of this earthly life, HE has been right there. I Love YOU my Lord, my King, my Creator.

Early morning brings the sunrise; The Lord's unique, one of a kind gift heralding the start of a fresh day. In the peaceful pre-dawn calm the Lord invites me into a dialog, a teaching, an overview of what pleases HIM and what is expected of me this day.

Most of the time, I talk out loud, but as I talk and hear the words as they return to my ears, through HIS mighty grace HE inserts HIS desires and directions, and expressions of love to me. When I turn to the Bible, awe consumes me as the scripture comes alive and really big dots get connected. [ Those who know...know what I'm saying ]

In these quiet moments, HE fills me with HIM. HE Points me in a direction. Some mornings as I pray, I sense HIS hand on my shoulder giving me confidence and often pointing me to HIS message to guide me this day. HE knows how truly weak I am, HE knows my fears.

Following is where HE lead me this morning:

The Patience To Wait for the Vision

By Oswald Chambers

Though it tarries, wait for it… —Habakkuk 2:3

Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration.

Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God. “…he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27).

A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue— he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it.

Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God. He may give you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see God.

“Though it tarries, wait for it….” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually.

The psalmist said, “What shall I render to the Lord…? I will take up the cup of salvation…” (Psalm 116:12-13). We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, “Now I’ve got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure.” Instantly we are on the road to ruin.

Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on…” (Philippians 3:12). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing.

But if we have the inspiration of the vision of Jesus, we have more than we can experience.

Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation.

Father GOD, Lord JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT, thank You for LOVING me, for teaching me, for speaking to me in the most amazing and awesome ways. Earthly words cannot begin to describe how much I am in love with YOU, JESUS, May it be always your will. Hallelujah and AMEN.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

DANGER -- SPIRITUAL RELAXATION AHEAD

I do so love my time with God in the early morning hours. Actually, I truly love and cherish ALL of my moments with Him because I LOVE HIM, I am IN LOVE with HIM. Every beat of my heart from the time I was being formed in my mother's womb, every breath, every thought, every second of this earthly life, HE has been right there. I Love YOU my Lord, my King, my Creator.

Early morning brings the sunrise; The Lord's unique, one of a kind gift heralding the start of a fresh day. In the peaceful pre-dawn calm the Lord invites me into a dialog, a teaching, an overview of what pleases HIM and what is expected of me this day.

Most of the time, I talk out loud, but as I talk and hear the words as they return to my ears, through HIS mighty grace HE inserts HIS desires and directions, and expressions of love to me. When I turn to the Bible, awe consumes me as the scripture comes alive and really big dots get connected. [ Those who know...know what I'm saying ]

In these quiet moments, HE fills me with HIM. HE Points me in a direction. Some mornings as I pray, I sense HIS hand on my shoulder giving me confidence and often pointing me to HIS message to guide me this day. HE knows how truly weak I am, HE knows my fears.

Following is where HE lead me this morning:

The Patience To Wait for the Vision

By Oswald Chambers

Though it tarries, wait for it… —Habakkuk 2:3

Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration.

Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God. “…he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27).

A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue— he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it.

Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God. He may give you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see God.

“Though it tarries, wait for it….” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually.

The psalmist said, “What shall I render to the Lord…? I will take up the cup of salvation…” (Psalm 116:12-13). We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, “Now I’ve got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure.” Instantly we are on the road to ruin.

Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on…” (Philippians 3:12). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing.

But if we have the inspiration of the vision of Jesus, we have more than we can experience.

Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation.

Father GOD, Lord JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT, thank You for LOVING me, for teaching me, for speaking to me in the most amazing and awesome ways. Earthly words cannot begin to describe how much I am in love with YOU, JESUS, May it be always your will. Hallelujah and AMEN.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?