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Clickety-Clack Life

July 17, 2020 8:49 pm

Clickety-clack, clickety-clack goes the train down the track. Places to be, stations to see, switches to choose, choices to make.

Ok, so I’m not a poet, but you get the idea. We are on a journey just like a train, just like the Israelites were during the 40 years in the wilderness. Traveling here, staying there. Making stops and then continuing on clickety-clack down the track, making many choices like a train when it encounters a switch enabling it to change tracks.

We all start life the same—we are born. Then there are enumerable stops or stations along the way such as learning to walk, school, rites of passage, careers, marriage, spirituality… and on and on. Our train may stop briefly at some stations and then move quickly on. It may pass some by, not stopping at all as the platform whizzes by. Or, it may stop and stay awhile, like a train on a siding.

In reality, the train analogy breaks down a little because, while a train can follow only one track at a time, our lives can follow several concurrent tracks. We have the track of marriage and family, the track of career, the track of interests/hobbies, etc. We also have the track of our spiritual life, which can be likened to the center rail on some model trains. Our spiritual life, or lack thereof, is the center track of every other track we follow.

But where is our train (my train, your train) headed? Throughout the years, it follows many different tracks, taking many switches, making many choices. Just as switches are the mechanism by which a train changes tracks, our choices determine which track of life we follow and where we end up. Sometimes, we get to choose which track we follow, sometimes the choice is made for us. We all hope that our train is never switched to the wrong track by choice or circumstance. But unfortunately, or fortunately, some do end up on the wrong track. I say unfortunately because we all make wrong choices that we have to live with. I say fortunately because, though the track may seem to be the wrong one at the time, it often proves to be the best one when we reach the next station.

Sometimes, the switch takes us down a sidetrack. These sidings can be good or bad. Some are for rest and rejuvenation, some are for growth, and some are mostly of our choosing and represent fleeting temptations and desires that can damage us spiritually and physically. Some of these sidetracks have a dead end, just like some train sidings. In that case, we have to back up to the switch to resume our travel. But they all work together to make us who we are and to prepare us for the rest of the journey (Rom. 8:28).

When we all reach the end-of-the-line, our train will have one more switch to traverse. That switch is pre-set by one important, life-changing, choice you make during your life – whether to employ Yeshua, the Son of God, as your train engineer (director, manager, Lord). If you chose Him, your switch will be pre-set to take you on the final correct track.  If it is not…

With Him as your train engineer, your train may still go down some tracks that you’d prefer not to travel, but He is always taking you through life to a higher calling (Heb. 11:1-16; 13:14-21; 1 Pet. 2:11; 1 Jn. 21:15-17) and He will always ensure that you still end up at the correct destination station.

If you have never accepted Him as your Lord, or need to recommit to following Him, do so now, today, this very moment. Just talk to Him, tell Him that you are sorry for the wrong actions and attitudes in your life (called repentance) and that you want to make Him your train engineer for the rest of your life. Then, get a Bible, start reading, and learn how He wants to direct your train.

Until the next time…May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Bill

A NEW KIND OF CHRISTIAN LEADER

June 20, 2020 4:06 pm

I agree with what Mario Murillo says in this post (https://mariomurilloministries.wordpress.com/2020/06/20/a-new-kind-of-christian-leader-3/). I have felt from early-on in this COFID-19 mess that 1) HaShem is trying to get our attention, and 2) that He want all followers of Yeshua to come out of this with new vision and action. I haven’t found mine yet, but I’m seeking. I also believe that denominational and non-denominational Christian churches, Messianic congregations, and other believing assemblies will fall by the wayside if they don’t “do business differently”, which includes being WC (Word/Bible Correct) and not PC (Politically Correct).

Until next time, May HaShem bless and keep you!

Bill

A Blank Check for You

August 7, 2017 8:51 am

When Your heavenly Father said that His name is “I am that I am” (Ex 3:14), He gave Moses and you a blank check.  You can fill in the blank check with “I am guidance!”, “I am bread!”, “I am victory!”, “I am revelation!”, “I am your need!”

Whatever life may bring to you,
“God” will ring true to you:

Star in your sky–
Food in your store–
Staff in your hand–
Friend by your side–
Light on your path–
Joy in your heart–
In your ears music–
In your mouth songs.

Yes, rapid as your race may run,
And scorching as may shine your sun,
And bitter as may blow your blast,
And lonely as your lot be cast–
Whatever life may bring to you,
“God”  will aye ring true to you.
(Charles Herbert) 

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.” (2 Pet 1:3 ESV).   “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19 ESV). If we have not received something we desperately want, we can assume that God does not want us to have it for now. Trust Him with your entire being because “Father knows best!”

Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Bill

My Brethern?

July 13, 2017 4:50 pm

I felt this blog post by a friend was on target and worth sharing with my readers…

My Brethren?

by Frank Gruber, www,jerusalemintercessors.blogspot.com

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right hand, ‘come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in or naked and clothed You? Or when did we see You sick or in prison and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'” Matthew 25:31-40.
The above section of God’s Word has been shared from pulpits repeatedly with the theme of, We as Christians are our brother’s keeper and we should help in any way we can the poor, the widow and the orphan. Certainly, this is one interpretation of Matthew 25:31-40 but there is another which is often overlooked.
The past couple of years I have studied the book of Revelation with commentary by four different authors. The two commentaries I valued the most were written by Messianic Rabbis from a Hebrew perspective and by Dr. Raymond Culpepper who was a Pastor for 25 years and then General Overseer of the Church of God.
What was different and extremely important about these commentaries? Chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew illustrate Jesus talking with His disciples after they asked Jesus in Chapter 24:3, “What will be the sign of Your second coming?” Matthew 25:35-38 shows Jesus telling His disciples that you fed Me when I was hungry, you gave Me drink when I was thirsty, you clothed Me and took care of Me when I was sick.
This confused the disciples and they wondered  and asked when did we see You in these conditions? Jesus answered in verse 40, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” The key question here is, who is Jesus calling My brethren? Jesus’ brethren is Israel! 
 
This whole section of God’s Word is titled, “Judgement of the Gentiles.” At the Great White Throne Judgement described in Revelation 20, seven judgements by Jesus will take place. One of these judgements will be for the nations and will raise the question of how have they treated the nation of Israel? The answer to this question given by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will determine whether that nation enters the Millennial Kingdom.
We have just received a very important message from our Lord and Savior. The question now is, “How Do We Respond?”
 
May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,
Frank

Thought for June 23, 2017

June 23, 2017 8:57 am

“Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent.” (Sherlock Holmes)

“For just as the sky is [heavens are] higher than the earth, so my deeds [ways] are superior to your deeds [ways] and my plans [thoughts] superior to your plans [thoughts].” (Isa 55:9 NET)

Life may seem strange, but Adonai is in control and we do not need to be concerned with understanding His ways.  His design and desire are for us trust Him, saying with the Psalmist:

“I constantly trust in the LORD; because he is at my right hand, I will not be upended [shaken]. So my heart rejoices and I am happy; My life is safe. You will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful follower [one who does what is right in GOD’s eyes] to see [experience] the Pit. You lead me on the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.” (Ps 216:8-11 NET)

When our trust is in the LORD through Yeshua the Messiah and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can have joy and peace no matter how crazy it gets around us.  We can confidently pray Rom 15:13: “Thank You, Father, that You are the GOD of hope.  Fill me with all joy and peace because I believe in You.  Give me boundless hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Bill’s paraphrase)

Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Bill

Thought for June 9, 2017

June 9, 2017 9:05 am

“God calls us to serve Him, not because He needs us, but because we need Him.” (Jerry Bridges, Holiness Day by Day)  and while we should not serve Him just to receive a reward, He does reward us out of all proportion to our service.  This is what the story of the generous farmer in Matt. 20:1-16 is all about.  The farmer didn’t pay according to his own need, but according to the need of the workers he hired.  He wasn’t concerned with paying the going hourly wage rate.  He wanted to meet their need, which was to receive the wages they needed to support their families for a day.  Our Father does the same for each of us.  His concern is meeting our “needs” for the day, but not necessarily our “wants”.

Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Bill

 

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