We have names for our days of the week based on old Nordic deities. Here’s a new way to look at your week.
The American evangelist Billy Sunday once said, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” The only church that Jesus founded is a spiritual one. Men and women may do their best to form fellowship units within the body of Christ, but our true spiritual unity comes from ABOVE, not by pulling ourselves up by our own denominational bootstraps.
The END IS NEAR! Yes, 2025 is almost over. It’s often good to look back and reflect on things.
One day over a year ago, I was sitting with our granddaughter and she began to sing a little tune: “Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow.” I’d never heard it before, so I looked it up online. I found it among a half-hour video with lots of fun songs. Eventually that song collection became one of our favorites, even playing it when driving to and from her home in our car [yes, we have our very own car seat just for that purpose].
That reminds me of finding joy in the Lord and singing in our hearts each day. Jesus was full of joy and wanted us to have that joy too.
I have a copy of the “unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united states of America” on my desk. Being a Latin teacher, I like words like “unanimous.” As you can figure out from unicycle, “uni” means “one” [the universe, verto means “turn,” turns as one]. The Latin word “animus” means mind or life [“animals” are “animated” with a mind]. So, these thirteen different states were of “one mind” on overcoming the political oppression they faced and moving ahead as one new nation. What about those of us who are “one new body” in Christ? Can we be unanimous?
Our greatest joy in life is to know our heavenly Father through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. There is so much we can learn from our spiritual fellowship, full sharing, with our Father through Christ. There is also a lot we DON’T know.
God made dogs, and they can be a great education. Taking care of a 5-year-old schnoodle [Schnauzer and Poodle mix], has been teaching me a lot. One thing I thought of is worship. The New Testament word is proskuneō, which is related to kunos, meaning dog. It is said that worship is like a dog licking its master’s hand.
Here are a few things I learned on line about dogs licking people’s hands.
Licking is a natural instinct in dogs. It releases endorphins [that make dogs feel calmer and more relaxed] and dopamine [pleasure and motivation]. Dogs can lick people for affection, communication, grooming, exploration, and attention. Mother dogs lick their pups to clean and stimulate them and they learn very early that tongues are useful tools in communicating and interacting with the world around them. Puppies lick to appease older dogs and clear the way for safe social interactions. We do a lot with our hands and they are like a roadmap for dogs that tells the story of our day, and they want to taste and smell every “destination.” The palms of your hands also sweat, leaving a salty residue on your skin that dogs enjoy.
This schnoodle likes to lick our hands. It gives her pleasure. Worshiping our Creator also brings pleasure. And we want to know more about our Father’s business for us. We also want to be “salted” and obey God’s commands. And this schnoodle has learned to listen to Sherry and my voices and respond. That’s because we know better than she does and have a greater ability to think and reason. God’s thoughts are much higher than ours and we should trust Him, not our own limited understanding [Isaiah 55:9; Proverbs 3:5,6].
The dog also just wants to be around us. Even though we don’t let her in bed with us, after a few nights of crying outside our door, we allowed her in. She is content to sit UNDER our bed, just to be near us.
Psalms 84:10:
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper [outer threshold] in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
And she doesn’t take her eyes off of us. She is always ready to please, and seems to just want to love us.
Psalms 123:2:
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
Today, we have access to the Father through Christ. Christ is the vine and we are the branches. We should keep our eyes on what Christ has done for us. We need to look to Jesus in his ascended position as Lord over all, at his Father’s right hand of blessing.
Colossians 3:1:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
When we go through life’s challenges, we can look to our risen Savior, knowing that he overcame the adversary’s world and even death itself.
Hebrews 12:2:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Here’s an old hymn that I still love.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Let’s keep our eyes and hearts where they are supposed to be. On God’s goodness through our Lord and Savior, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 13:14:
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
The Bible has plenty to say about everything since God had it written, and He knows all things—past, present, and future. Here are a few thoughts on current events and eternity.
While working on the structure of the gospel of John, I saw a scripture verse that astounded me.
John 18:2:
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
That’s the Time We Should Be HumbleEver notice, when your heart
Isn’t feeling well, you start
To let your thoughts, begin to grumble—
That’s the time, we should be humble.
Thinking how that, I can do,
Everything, to get me through,
“Don’t need help,” I start to mumble,
That’s the time, I should be humble.
Taking on, my every care,
Don’t acknowledge, God is there.
All I carry, my hands fumble,
That’s the time, I should be humble.
Trying to figure everything,
As my brain begins to zing,
All my thoughts are one big jumble,
That’s the time, I should be humble.
Paths before me, much to choose,
Without God, I’ll sadly loose,
Do it my way, then I stumble,
That’s the time, I should be humble.
Building up, facades of pride,
Fear still lingers, at my side,
All my structures, soon will crumble,
That’s the time, I should be humble.
Boldly speaking, without love,
Thinking I’m, God’s gift, above
Others, shouting my words rumble,
That’s the time, I should be humble.
Ever notice, we forget,
God’s work, isn’t finished yet,
Let His grace and mercy tumble,
Overflowing, when we’re humble.