Sunday, April 30, 2017

WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT THEE?

Photo provided by Kelly Ann Gray 

 Whom have I in heaven but thee? 
and there is none upon earth that 
I desire beside thee. My flesh 
and my heart faileth: but God is 
the strength of my heart, and my 
portion for ever.  For, lo, they that are 
far from thee shall perish: thou hast 
destroyed all them that go a whoring 
from thee.  But it is good for me 
to draw near to God: I have put 
my trust in the Lord GOD, that I 
may declare all thy works.

Psalm 73:25-28


Friday, April 28, 2017

YOUR WAYS!


For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are my ways higher than your ways, 
and my thoughts than your thoughts.  For as 
the rain cometh down, and the snow from 
heaven, and returneth not thither, but 
watereth the earth, and maketh it bring 
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the 
sower, and bread to the eater:  So shall my 
word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: 
it shall not return unto me void, but it 
shall accomplish that which I please, 
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto 
I sent it.

ISAIAH 55:9-11

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

THEY SHALL FEAR THEE

P
Photo provided by June Ormesher

They shall fear thee as long as the sun 
and moon endure, throughout all 
generations, He shall come down like 
rain upon the mown grass: as 
showers that water the earth.
In his days shall the righteous 
flourish; and abundance of peace so 
long as the moon endureth.

Psalm 72:5-7

Monday, April 24, 2017

WHAT DO YOU WISH?


What do You Wish? A Devotion by Steve Long



“What do you wish?” Caleb said to his daughter. How a father delights to bless his child. Caleb’s daughter didn’t go to Joshua for the blessing, she went to her father. She didn’t go to the government (Elders) of Israel nor did she go to her new husband’s parents. She knew exactly where to go and ask. She asked her father.

Caleb’s daughter was not afraid to ask land of her father even though he had already given her some land in the south of his portion in the land of Israel. Many would have said, “I don’t have the heart to ask anything of my father since he has already given me what I now own. I don’t want to trouble him for more.” But she knew her father, and she knew that he wouldn’t be bothered in giving her more as well.

This young woman was not afraid to ask for the best from her father. She didn’t ask for anyone’s rejects and did not ask for someone’s hand-me-downs. Rather she asked for springs of water. She was not satisfied with the stale, stagnant sludge that might be more easily accessible. That would be an affront to her father’s dignity and generosity!

Caleb was probably just as delighted to give his daughter an extra portion of land as he was in receiving his own portion previously (Joshua 14.6-15).

Not only so, he actually seems to have given her even more than she asked for, because we’re told in the text that “Caleb gave her the upper springs, and the lower springs. (emphasis mine).

God, our Father in heaven, loves to bless us too. Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7.11)

Jesus said to his disciples; “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” James tells us, “You do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4.2) Let’s not be afraid or unbelieving about asking God, our Father, for the things we desire in the name of Jesus.

Sometimes we might think, “what if I ask but don’t receive?” I understand, but we may never receive that blessing if we don’t ask.

God has given us plenty in the past and he will continue to provide for us in the present and in the future.

Whenever we pray to God, we must not settle for the easy things that almost any human source could provide. We should ask him for the kinds of things that only he could give. This is an expression of our faith when we pray for God to do the impossible, knowing that nothing is impossible with him. (Luke 1.37; Matthew 19.26)

God wants the best for us, but he must decide what is good and best, for often we don’t have the discernment to know. But the bible does say, “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84.11) Caleb was happy to grant the springs of water, because he knew that it was good for his daughter. I think sometimes that God grants to us Spiritual springs of water, but we might reject those blessings, thinking that we know better what we need. We might be interested in the physical blessings and disinterested in the Spiritual ones. But God’s word says that he has “blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenlyplaces in Christ:”

Finally, just as Caleb blessed his daughter with more than she ever asked for, so God does for us.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3.20-21)

I am reminded of an old song:

I wandered in the barren land of sin and shame
Where nothing satisfying there I found
But to the blessed cross of Christ one day I came
And springs of living water did abound

Drinking of the springs of living water
Oh, happy now am I
My soul they satisfy
Drinking of the springs of living water
O, wonderful and bountiful supply!

Saturday, April 22, 2017

BLOOM IN THE FIELDS OF FAITH



Today, following my grandson's soccer game,
driving home, I noticed a field of beautiful 
flowers on the side of the road.  This was no
small sighting of flowers, it was a strip that
took up half a city block.  For those of you
who know me, you know I love beautiful
flowers.  An example of this was made
evident while teaching at a private school
many years ago, as some of the new
students would ask, "Why are we walking
to the playground this way?" There was
one little boy in the class that would chum
in and say, "Don't you know we have
to walk this way to see the pretty 
flowers blooming."  He would go on to 
explain if those flowers died and some
new ones were blooming in a different 
location then the whole class would be 
re-routed to view the freshly blooming
flowers in the other location.  

As the wheels of my truck began to turn 
in the direction of the sighted flowers on
the side of the road, my eyes began to scan
the field of vibrant, purple, pink, white,
and red flowers blowing in the breeze.
Once around the corner, I spotted two
other very large fields of flowers close
by.  My eyes on the first set of flowers
but the wheels of my truck seemed to 
move past the smaller field of flowers,
past the group of flowers my eyes and
heart was set on and onto the third set
of flowers.  I did stop to ponder when I
pulled into the parking spot as to why I
had chosen that specific field of flowers but
none the less, they were beautiful and
I set my heart and mind, to enjoy the
beauty of the display, right before my eyes.
  
After viewing all the beauty I noticed
a lady about my age that had her
daughter and grand daughter with her. 
I asked her if we could take a photo
of her grand daughter for my blog and she
was elated.  She then decided to submit one 
of the best photos taken today by her 
daughter, so we can post it with a scripture,
with the little girl in it later this month.  

She asked what I wrote about and 
when I told her, tears began to 
roll down her face.  She is preparing
to have surgery this next week and had 
been crying out to the Lord and just 
needed assurance that he would be with
her.  She said, "I never expected that 
assurance to come in the way of standing
out in the middle of a flower patch full of
beautiful blooms, but here it stands
right in front of me.  

As I began to speak with her further, she 
stated one of her daughters does ministry 
in the prisons so this became a double 
blessing to her as I told her we could 
donate books for her daughter to take into 
the prisons and assist her with her ministry
at no cost to her.  

The blog today is titled after the little girl as
her middle name is Bloom and her
grandmother had prayed in faith and the
Lord answered her prayer.  Isn't it a beautiful
thing to see, when we see the Lord upfold
such a beautiful display of his power as,
"The Bloom in the Fields of Faith."

Friday, April 21, 2017

EXHORT ONE ANOTHER DAILY

Photo created by Steve Long 



Devotional by Steve Long

God tells us to exhort one another daily. The Greek word translated "exhort" is παρακαλειτε from parakaleo meaning to call to one's side, exhort, entreat, encourage, comfort, or instruct.

Jesus called the Holy Spirit "another Comforter" (parakletos). This means that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are exhorters.

The word παρακαλειτε is also imperative. God is telling us that it is imperative that we talk to each other regularly, even daily, about the dangers of falling away from the faith. This was a very real problem among the Hebrew believers of the first century A.D. There was great persecution of the believers at this time and a great deal of pressure to abandon the exclusivity of the gospel of Christ and just wander back into Judaism (meaning that the law and sacrifices and the religious activities of Israel were sufficient). It would have been easy to just say, "Well, we all live in a society of diversity and we should just coexist."

Many Christians are feeling that same pressure today. We see a large number of young adults who have abandoned the faith of Christ. I am in constant prayer about how to reach or rereach this generation.

The key must be to reach them before they stray. God's word says it is imperative to exhort one another daily so that the other may not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. How deceitful sin is! We must not succumb to its snares.

We must learn again to love others one on one, taking time to talk to that single individual before he or she approaches the precipice of the danger of falling. When we do, we are most like our Lord.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

GOD! THE BUILDER OF ALL THINGS

Photo provided by Kristy Gray Long

For every house is builded by
some man; but he that built 
all things is God.  And Moses 
verily was faithful in all his 
house, as a servant, for a 
testimony of those things 
which were to be spoken after;
But Christ as a son over his 
own house; whose house are 
we, if we hold fast the confidence 
and the rejoicing of the hope firm 
unto the end.  Wherefore (as the Holy 
Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear 
his voice,  Harden not your hearts, 
as in the provocation, in the day 
of temptation in the wilderness:

Hebrews 3:4-8

Monday, April 17, 2017

BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN



And seeing the multitudes, he went up into 
a mountain: and when he was set, his 
disciples came unto him:  And he 
opened his mouth, and taught them, 
saying,  Blessed are the poor in 
spirit: for theirs is the kingdom 
of heaven.  Blessed are they that 
mourn: for they shall be comforted.  
Blessed are the meek: for they shall 
inherit the earth. Blessed are they 
which do hunger and thirst after 
righteousness: for they shall be 
filled. Blessed are the merciful: 
for they shall obtain mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart: 
for they shall see God.  Blessed 
are the peacemakers: for they 
shall be called the children of God. 
Blessed are they which are 
persecuted for righteousness’ 
sake: for theirs is the kingdom 
of heaven. Blessed are ye, 
when men shall revile you, 
and persecute you, and shall 
say all manner of evil against 
you falsely, for my sake.  
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: 
for great is your reward in heaven: 
for so persecuted they the prophets 
which were before you.  Ye are the 
salt of the earth: but if the salt 
have lost his savour, wherewith 
shall it be salted? it is thenceforth 
good for nothing, but to be cast out, 
and to be trodden under foot of men. 
Ye are the light of the world. A city 
that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 
Neither do men light a candle, and 
put it under a bushel, but on a 

candlestick; and it giveth light unto 
all that are in the house.  Let your 

light so shine before men, that they 
may see your good works, and glorify 
your Father which is in heaven.  
Matthew 5:1-16

Sunday, April 16, 2017

THE LORD IS MIGHTIER

Photo provided by Kay Rowe 

The LORD on high is mightier than 
the noise of many waters, yea, 
than the mighty waves of the sea.
Thy testimonies are very sure: 
holiness becometh thine house, 
O LORD, for ever.
Psalm 93:4-5

Saturday, April 15, 2017

THE LORD ON HIGH IS MIGHTIER THAN MANY WATERS

Photo provided by Kaye Rowe 

 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with 
majesty; the LORD is clothed with 
strength, wherewith he hath 
girded himself: the world also 
is stablished, that it cannot be 
moved. Thy throne is established 
of old: thou art from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD, 
the floods have lifted up their 
voice; the floods lift up their waves.
The LORD on high is mightier than 
the noise of many waters, yea, 
than the mighty waves of the sea.
Thy testimonies are very sure: 
holiness becometh thine house, 
O LORD, for ever.
Psalm 93: 1-5


Friday, April 14, 2017

THE DAY HEAVEN AND EARTH WAS FINISHED

Photo provided by Katie Peace

And God said, Behold, I have given 
you every herb bearing seed, which 
is upon the face of all the earth, and 
every tree, in the which is the fruit 
of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall 
be for meat. And to every beast of the 
earth, and to every fowl of the air, and 
to every thing that creepeth upon the 
earth, wherein there is life, I have 
given every green herb for meat: 
and it was so.  And God saw every 
thing that he had made, and, behold, 
it was very good.

Genesis 1:29-31

Thursday, April 13, 2017

WHO BEING THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GLORY

Photo provided by Wendy Poindexter Contreras

Who being the brightness of his glory, 
and the express image of his person, 
and upholding all things by the 
word of his power, when he had 
by himself purged our sins, sat 
down on the right hand of the 
Majesty on high; Being made so 
much better than the angels, as he 
hath by inheritance obtained a more 
excellent name than they.

Hebrews 5:1



Monday, April 10, 2017

AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE

Photo provided by June Roberson Ormesher

And if it seem evil unto you to serve 
the LORD, choose you this day 
whom ye will serve; whether the gods 
which your fathers served that were
 on the other side of the flood, or 
the gods of the Amorites, in whose 
land ye dwell: but as for me and 
my house, we will serve the 
LORD. And the people answered 
and said, God forbid that we 
should forsake the LORD, to serve 
other gods;  For the LORD our God, 
he it is that brought us up and our 
fathers out of the land of Egypt, 
from the house of bondage, and 
which did those great signs in our 
sight, and preserved us in all the way 
wherein we went, and among all the 
people through whom we passed:
And the LORD drave out from before 
us all the people, even the Amorites 
which dwelt in the land: therefore will 
we also serve the LORD; for he is 
our God.

Joshua 24:15-18

Sunday, April 9, 2017

AND GOD SAID THAT IT WAS GOOD

Phoro provided by Tara Cook Bruce

And God said, Let the waters bring 
forth abundantly the moving 
creature that hath life, and 
fowl that may fly above the 
earth in the open firmament 
of heaven.  And God created 
great whales, and every living 
creature that moveth, which the 
waters brought forth abundantly, 
after their kind, and every winged 
fowl after his kind: and God saw 
that it was good. And God blessed 
them, saying, Be fruitful, and 
multiply, and fill the waters in the 
seas, and let fowl multiply in the 
earth.

Genesis 1:20-22

Saturday, April 8, 2017

FLOWERS BY EMMA LONG

Photo provided by Debra Martinez
Poem written by Emma Long 
7 years old



I am the rose of Sharon, and the 
lily of the valleys. As the lily 
among thorns, so is my love 
among the daughters. As the apple 
tree among the trees of the wood, 
so is my beloved among the sons. I 
sat down under his shadow with 
great delight, and his fruit was sweet 
to my taste. He brought me to the 
banqueting house, and his banner over 
me was love.
Song of Solomon 2:1-2

Thursday, April 6, 2017

BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE

Photo provided by Cricket White Green

Behold, what manner of love the Father 
hath bestowed upon us, that we should 
be called the sons of God: 
therefore the world knoweth 
us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons 
of God, and it doth not yet 
appear what we shall be: but 
we know that, when he shall 
appear, we shall be like him; 
for we shall see him as he is.

I John 3:1-2




Wednesday, April 5, 2017

MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY

Photo provided by Tara Cook Bruce 

Heaven and earth shall pass 
away, but my words shall not 
pass away.  But of that day and 
hour knoweth no man, no, 
not the angels of heaven, 
but my Father only.  But as the 
days of Noe were, so shall 
also the coming of the Son of 
man be.  For as in the days 
that were before the flood they 
were eating and drinking, marrying 
and giving in marriage, until 
the day that Noe entered into the 
ark,  And knew not until the 
flood came, and took them 
all away; so shall also 
the coming of the Son of 
man be.  Then shall two be 
in the field; the one shall 
be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding 
at the mill; the one shall be 
taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know 
not what hour your Lord doth 
come.

Matthew 24: 38-42

Monday, April 3, 2017

WHAT SETS THE CHRISTIAN FAITH APART

Devotion by Steve Long

What Sets the Christian Faith Apart from All Others?

Everyone has faith in something. If anyone says they don’t believe in God, they probably believe in themselves which actually sets themselves up in the place of God.

What sets faith in Christ apart from the many faiths of this world?

Is it our unique experience? Having trusted Christ, most all believers have felt a peace that passes understanding. There is nothing quite like knowing that Jesus died for our sins and that all has been forgiven. He removes our guilt of sin and we are free at last to follow him without the dark cloud of judgment hovering above our heads. So, yes, Christians do initially and often experience great peace.

But there may be days when the peace is lacking. Whenever Christians get busy in life and don’t take time to give thanks to him, the peace may be sorely missing. When we find ourselves walking outside of God’s revealed will, choosing to sin, we lack peace then too. When we wrestle in prayer over a son or daughter, we may not feel great peace. Sometimes Christians may experience unexplained depression, thus reducing peace down to almost nothing.

Is it our changed life that makes Christianity unique? Christ does make a big difference in the believer’s life. The bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

What happens though, when a believer in Christ backslides and falls into sin? I know some non-Christians who seem more morally upright than some who call themselves Christians. I am a Christian and have seen some non-Christians conduct themselves better than I did at times. Does this prove the gospel to be untrue? If this were all that our faith is about then, yes, it might cause many to doubt what they’ve been taught from the bible. In fact, many young adults are leaving the faith by the droves right now – partially because they became disenchanted with what they have seen from Christians. A famous man is purported to have said, “I would be a Christian if it were not for Christians.”

There is one very unique thing which truly sets faith in Jesus Christ apart from all other beliefs. This truth, having been verified, will be a solid rock upon which all those who are in the faith of Christ can continue to stand. It will never change or be disproven. That thing is the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ resurrection is a fact that was historically testified to by hundreds of eye witnesses. The four gospel writers wrote about the historical veracity of his resurrection. Paul (whose given name was Saul) the apostle went from Christianity’s greatest persecutor to its most powerful defender after he encountered the resurrected Jesus. (See Acts chapter 9). He was himself one of the most persecuted individuals ever to walk on this earth, all because of his newfound faith in the Lord Jesus.

In fact, all the disciples and many thousands of early Christians gave their lives for this truth – that Jesus had indeed risen from the grave.

If Jesus had been merely a good man, merely a prophet, merely a founder of a new religion, merely a great teacher, this belief would be no different than any other. But because he is risen indeed, he can indeed save. Because he is risen indeed, he did indeed die for our sins. Because he is risen indeed, he did ascend to heaven and he will indeed come again. And because he is risen indeed, he can indeed give us peace and make us a new creation in him indeed.

For more blogs by Steve Long visit: http://stephentlong.blogspot.com/2017/04/what-sets-christian-faith-apart-from.html

Sunday, April 2, 2017

ACCESS BY FAITH INTO THIS GRACE

Photo provided by Kristy Gray Long 

Therefore being justified by faith, 
we have peace with God through 
our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom 
also we have access by faith 
into this grace wherein we 
stand, and rejoice in hope of 
the glory of God.  And not 
only so, but we glory in 
tribulations also: knowing that 
tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and 
experience, hope:  And hope 
maketh not ashamed; because
the love of God is shed abroad
in our hearts by the Holy Ghost 
which is given unto us.  For 
when we were yet without 
strength, in due time Christ 
died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:1-8

Saturday, April 1, 2017

COME UNTO ME!

Photo provided by Tara Cook Bruce 

Come unto me, all ye that labour 
and are heavy laden, and I will 
give you rest.  Take my yoke upon 
you, and learn of me; for I am 
meek and lowly in heart: and 
ye shall find rest unto your 
souls.  For my yoke is easy, 
and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30