Isaiah 36,37; Psalm. 76; 1 Peter 1

So often we wander around this world being shaped by our surroundings. If we look carefully at what sort of things develop in us based on the surroundings we grow up in, one of the things so many of us see is “FEAR”, more specifically the fear of man. It is easy to be shaped by our hurts and even to see a world with so much injustice and to speculate how God can let it happen or to question if it will ever stop. Sometimes when we see things happen for an extended period of time we might ask, “Will God make things just and right? Will He step in?” These thoughts are some of the seeds that allow fear to grow in us. Thankfully, He is always faithful…..

“At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep.
You, Yourself, are to be feared;
And who may stand in Your presence
When once You are angry?”
(Psalm 76:6-7)

When we read through Psalms 76 we see a God who fears nothing and who looks out for us. Sometimes it is just a matter of time before God steps in. Just as a father might stand by for just a moment to see how his child is going to react in the face of opposition. Our Father in Heaven is slow to anger but is still watching with a sharp eye. He will always step in and when he does everyone will know it. When we look at the “BIG PICTURE” it brings an understanding that we must trust God and recognize He has everything under control and He will deal with the good, bad, and everything in-between in His time.

I encourage us all to look to Him who is just and true while we thank Him for the grace we have been given in our lives.


Be Blessed,
Pastor Jason



NEXT READING: 2 King 20; Isaiah 38,39; Psalm 75; 1 Peter 2

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 7; I Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

“Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish [in] the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all those who put their trust in Him.” Psalm 2:12

In the final verse, we read the theme of this Psalm. We can defy God and perish or surrender to him and be blessed. It sounds so straightforward and simple doesn’t it? I wish it were that easy. David seems mystified at the nations and people who rage against God. They have no reason to rage against God—it is in vain. In verses 4-6 the Lord laughs at them, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion." I guess it is sort of like us looking down at ants. Can you imagine an ant defying us? “Hey, you, move out of my way, I’m going to my ant hill?” “Really, really, I mean, really, Mr. Ant, you are going where?’ It is so obviously silly-but isn’t that the way it is with us when we try to tell God I am going to do it my way? God is not laughing at us because He is sitting on the throne, He is laughing because He is God and the King of the Universe. He is not walking back and forth in heaven biting His nails and trying to figure everything out—because, well, He is God. "This derisive laughter of God is the comfort of all those who love righteousness. It is the laughter of the might of holiness; it is the laughter of the strength of love. God does not exult over the sufferings of sinning me. He does hold in derision all the proud boasting and violence of such as seek to prevent His accomplishment of His will." (Morgan) God sits in perfect peace, assurance on the throne and with all authority. What does heaven have to fear from earth? Be comforted today, know that God is God and He holds all things in His hands—even you!

Thanking God for His peace, power and presence,

Carol Danna


Next Reading: 2 Samuel 8-9; I Chronicles 18-19; Matthew 21

I Samuel 13, I Chronicles 2-3; 2 Corinthians 12

“So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Paul discovered that this thorn in his flesh had a divine purpose; it was something that God had allowed. He recognized that in God’s sovereign plan for his life, all things would work together for good. This ‘thorn’ was not a small thing; it was really more like a tent stake, the type that the Bedouins used to set up their homes. So when Paul was talking about this thorn in the flesh—he was talking about a large, irritating and undeniable thorn. When I trim the roses or even just cut some to bring inside, a small thorn can prick you and at first it doesn’t seem so bad, but imagine that thorn if you couldn’t remove it? Ouch…each day it would become more and more painful and irritating. This is how Paul lived every day. We do not know what the thorn is and perhaps the Lord did not want us to know so we could all relate to Paul’s experience. Paul uses the word ‘infirmary, infirmity’ to describe the thorn in the flesh. An infirmary is a hospital, a place where sick people go. This is what Paul calls his thorn, an infirmity, a weakness, an ailment. Now I don’t know about you but I don’t like to admit I have weakness, can you relate? I mean, who wants to admit weakness? Admitting we have a weakness just goes against nature? Apparently, Paul’s weakness was evident to others and he accepted the fact he just had to live with it and allowed God to work humility in him through this process. Three times Paul asks God to deliver him from this weakness, this thorn, but the Lord speaks, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians. 12:9) We don’t know if Paul asked again but we do know that he was able to experience God’s grace in this process. Paul goes on to say that not only does he receive God’s grace but he glories in it. He is saying, if this is what brings God glory, than so be it. What a wonderful place to be, a great place of trust and rest in the purposes God had for Paul. When we come to this place of accepting our weaknesses, than God is able to become our strength. It is a simple but complex principle that we even sang about in Sunday School, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me….the Bible tells me so!”

Be strong in the Lord!
Carol Danna

Next Reading: I Samuel 14; I Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13