The Devotional

Papa “J” says

I think that the slide rule was invented for one relative reason. It gives everyone the ability to measure righteousness according to their own standard. Deuteronomy 12:8 and Judges 21:25

Any sailor will tell you that when a ship returns to a homeport that it takes more than pointing the ship in the direction of the compass that pinpoints the harbor. Weeks before the arrival the ship begins preparing. Replenishment of supplies is usually first, replacement of parts next, then equipment replacement orders. Then, seven days (one week) before arriving the requests for supplies, the work orders and the replacement calls go out to the homeport. Also, permission to enter the harbor and the assignment to a specific pier, the specific arrival time. The ship can do only prepare to arrive. But the time, the place and the arrangement is all in the hands of the Harbor Master. No ship enters the harbor or docks until the Harbor Master gives the “Okay”! Today the church of Jesus Christ is preparing to enter the kingdom of God. The church follows Jesus Christ who prepares to receive His church. He now intercedes for the needs of the church and when the last need is filed in the homeport. Our Father; The Harbor Master will give orders to enter the Kingdom. In the meantime for you and for me it is Acts 1:7-8

Psalm 13

Psalm 13:1-6 Seasons in the wilderness, if you have been saved for any length of time then you've had one or two journeys into the the wilderness. David makes a clear statement of something very important. A person cannot say to God; “will you forget me forever” or “for how long will you hide your face from me?” That is of course that there was a time in David's life that David knew that God knew him and that God's face was not hidden from him!

Times such as these are dangerous for any believer in Christ. When Christ's presence seems elsewhere. But I should tell you as you already know, it is not God who has gone anywhere, it is us who make the decision to play the harlot and move into the deserted places of life. We counsel our soul, but there is no comfort, we experience sorrow of heart daily and feel as though the enemy is closing in.

Then we can take it no longer; “O LORD my God, strengthen the light in my eyes, lest I go down in the sleep of death and the enemy rejoices. Hear me LORD and revive my soul, I seek your mercy and I trust You will provide. Then my heart shall rejoice once again and the songs of deliverance will fill my heart again. Certainly not because of who I am, but because You are bountiful in Mercy and Love. It is better to have a singing heart, then one full of sour notes!