Are You A Literal Believer?

Holy Land Picture of the Day

Kidron Valley Today's picture is of the Kidron Valley, which runs along the eastern edge of Jerusalem. It reminds  us of 2 Chronicles 29:16; "So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of the LORD to  cleanse it, and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of the LORD they brought out  to the court of the house of the LORD. Then the Levites received it to carry out to the Kidron valley"    “Some fell by the road and birds came and ate them up, some on rocky ground when they had no sustaining soil, some fell among thorns, and were soon  choked out BUT some fell on good soil and yielded a crop” (Matthew 13:3-9). Hey Gang: Confession time – I enjoy doing Gramps Morning Thoughts.  I haven’t a clue if they are penetrating to the depths of each reader's heart – I pray they are, but they certainly are to the depths of my heart.  I pray diligently each morning as I hit the send button that it is God’s message going out and not mine.  I am but the recorder, I pray He is the author. The reason it is such a joy to prepare the blogs and emails each day is it keeps me in the Word.  I love to take a word and trace the road that God would have me traverse.  My biggest problem in preparing the final draft is I want to share so much more than space allows. As most of you who receive these epistles know, I have always been a teacher of the seed planting principle “That God is not mocked, we are going to reap what we sow” (Gal. 6:7).  I have learned, throughout the years of being in the Word, that all of God’s precepts, statutes and commandments are not only irrevocable but are also based on “common sense”.  It does not take a brain surgeon or rocket scientist to understand that if we beat up our bodies with booze, cigarettes, drugs and whatever else, we are going to pay the  Piper ‘big time’  down the road. Peter addressed this very thing in chapter 5 of his first epistle, “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God”. Why?  “That he may exalt you at the proper time.”  He follows this with a word of reassurance for those of us who struggle, “...casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Now notice Peter describes why good people have problems “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  But, thank God for the “but”, “resist him, be firm in your faith …for one day Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you”.   If that does not set your excitement meter rotating at a zillion revolutions a minute, perhaps you need a second touch from God, this morning. Soooo,  lads and ladies,  keep in mind that no matter how clean you keep your house, the evil one continues to look over your shoulder and look for a tinny-weeny opening to not only move into your  house but also to bring his cousins along.  Remember when Satan finally gave up trying to test Jesus in the wilderness he departed but only for a “more opportune time” (Luke 4:13) to implement the sinister plan he has for each of us. Blessings,  Gramps