When the sludge of life becomes infectious, it’s important to spot the difference between water and sewage in the waste pipe of human experience…
READ JUDE Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
I wonder if human experience on Planet Earth isn’t – as most of us subconsciously hope for – a fun water-shoot ride, down which we slide happily through life. Instead, the penetrating, saturating existence of “wrongness” seems to contaminate even my own heart, mind, actions and dreams, as I encounter negativity, rubbish, and (dare I use the word) “crap” of some sort, at every turn.
Perhaps the reason for the urgency in Jude’s letter to “contend for the faith” [v3] is the fact that without a good understanding of my environment (that I’m “bob about in” every day), I can give up on faith completely! Many have become disillusioned by what they see, hear and experience – especially the “holy crap” that seems to seep from the church! My job at every bend, is to distinguish between the water and the waste. If so, then Jude’s letter, written almost 2,000 years ago, is a perfect sieve for that job. But here the bizarre thing: instead of lifting us out of the muck of this world[a], the Creator God sent Jesus in…
Read More? … CLICK to follow “21 December – Additional Notes”
But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.
Wanting to speak directly with the Master Planner? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help.[b]
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
1. Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”
Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God! How pleasant and fitting to praise His Name! [Psalm 147:1]
2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”
The World: God Grace for the Republic of Yemen[c]
Your Country’s response to the needs of Africa
Yourself: Spiritual Insight
Your concerns for today
“The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord. [Isaiah 59:20]
3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”
Lord, in my thoughts and actions, I’ve set myself up against the Lord of heaven. I’ve not honoured the God who holds in his hand my life and all my ways. [Daniel 5:23]
4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but delivers us from evil.”
Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” [John 6:51]
“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”
When Jesus was questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, He always spoke things that were previously written in God’s Word.[d] Following these memory verses from ten topics, will help you learn 52 verses from the bible in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Topic = Spiritual Conflict
“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” [Ephesians 6:18]
[a] John 17:15
[b] Matthew 6:5-15
[c] http://www.operationworld.org/country/yeme/owtext.html
[d] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31