Daily Devotional – A Look at the Book #447

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Ever feel as if you have been surrounded by lions, or maybe fallen into a pit? If you are honest this moment you will say yes! But if you are being dishonest, you may be one of the lions or be holding the shovel.

A PLAN FOR THE DAY

Volkswagen Beetles were just gaining popularity in the U.S. as 1960 rolled in. The Captain of the ship brought a new Beetle and he made it a point to park away from the rest of the cars and also did not use his parking spot on the pier since it was too close to the salt water. A few blocks from the ship was an abandoned storage building so the C.O. decided to park next to the loading dock of the building. About a half dozen sailors coming back to the ship from the Enlisted Men’s Club (a nice name for a bar) decided to see if they could pick up the Volkswagen and place it on the dock. After a couple of tries they succeeded, of course when the Captain decided to go home later in the day, he was so surprised that he took away the liberty (time off) for the whole crew of the ship, including his officers until the two things happened. One: The VW was placed harmlessly back from whence it was taken, and Two: That the men who did this dastardly deed owned up to it! Immediately, the car was placed back from where it had been taken, but nearly a week went by before us sailors came forward and as a punishment we were restricted to the ship for the remainder of our stay in port; about 3 weeks.  The weight of sin in a person’s life is far heavier that any man made object. When that weight is lifted you will find joy through the Blood of Christ resulting in God’s forgiveness. Psalm 32:1-11

James 3

James 3:6 – Some of us make good investigators; we listen, we search and we walk to and fro. In the midst of this behavior, there is little wrong as there is nothing wrong to investigate, to hear, to search or to walk about. However; when this is done in a motive of ungodliness it is a flame of burning desire from an evil heart. Solomon says that the lips open and the tongue wags and that the best of friends are separated forever. Do not use your tongue to destroy, since it is more destructive than a bullet in the heart. Proverbs 16:27-28.

James 3:7 – As humans we do very well in controlling animals and other beasts of the wild, and yet no one seems interested in controlling the tongue! It never fails too; that whatever I build up with my hands or in conversation, someone always comes from behind with another view and sets it on fire with their tongue. We put out burning buildings at the local fire department and while the blasé is being quenched, you can hear the critical voice of some ignorant firefighter’s tongue. Really, so who is the one who will put out that fire from the evil tongue?

I like what the writer of Hebrews has to say about Christ who was offered to bear the sins of many in Hebrews 9:28. But it is the verse before, which will stop the tongue of those who like to use it as an arsenal of uncontrollable fire.  This judgment is coming and no one will escape it. Hebrews 9:27.

Daily Devotional – A Look at the Book #446

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

We should do well to know that God; His Son and His Spirit are not a concept of mankind. “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, I was there. And now the LORD God and His Spirit have sent Me”. Isaiah 48:16 and Hebrews 10:5-10

A PLAN FOR THE DAY

Sea stories; some people like to read from a sailor’s point of view with all the salt. You will not read the salt here; but here is the story. After a few months on board the Searcher; all of my shoes were riddled with paint, even my so called, dress shoes. The leading Boatswain Mate who held his own clothing inspection most every morning decided to have us wear our dress shoes for inspection. All of the sailors around me had nice shinning shoes. Mine were shinny but had grey and white poke-a-dots here and there. When the Boatswain looked down at my shoes I watched his jaundiced face turn red and when his normally yellow eyes became narrow and piercing, I feared the worst. With a long discourse of words that only make sense to a sailor he said a few understandable words that went something like this. “I ain’t throwing you in jail sailor! If you don’t get a better pair of shoes on, I’m throwing you under the jail. Now get below decks and put on some better shoes” Some day soon we will be presenting our soul to the LORD for a final inspection. God is not a Boatswain and He will not curse the cursed, but is long suffering, in that you and I should repent. 1 Peter 3:9. Another interesting verse in Matthew 25:41 tells me that it would be better if God were a Boatswain Mate. Under this jail would be a better place to dwell in; rather than the eternal state of everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Better explained in 2 Peter 3:9-13.

James 3

James 3:3 – One of the ways that I am encouraged by the Holy Spirit’s use of the writers of the Holy Bible is the way they explain the absolute truth of God to their readers. Truth is literal and should relate to you and me examples that are understandable to our everyday exposure to God. If we are cowboys or cowgirls and know how to ride a horse; then from that point of knowledge we should be able to understand the stewardship of living a life under the blessings of godly living.

James 3:4 – Of course if we have more understanding about ships, rudders, winds and oceans and while the literal truth of godly stewardship does not change; since God remains immutable. Thus in His wisdom, He can use men and women of all walks of life and all nationalities to communicate His message of love, hope, joy and forgiveness. It is said, that Jesus is the best story teller the world has ever had the blessing to hear speak and just reading the epistle of James, makes me understand that some of this rubbed off on His half-brother.

James 3:5 – Ever notice that the tongue bleeds into the pen and that the pen bleeds onto the paper below it. If there is fire in the tongue, it will find the way to the paper. One small spark from an evil tongue will burn up several reams of paper. You might want to think that this is just a game with words, sort of a gimmick one might use to sell car. But look; look at the volumes of literature that seeks to destroy God, yet the Holy Bible IS; and does not change and God IS; the Rock that will not fail. Isaiah 44:6-8

Daily Devotional – A Look at the Book #445

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

If you really want to create a dead moron instead of a living genius; just set the child on a chair and give him or her something to do with their fingers. Then when they are old enough, give them the keys to your car!  Proverbs 22:6

A PLAN FOR THE DAY

I was able to obtain a copy from the web of the Christmas Day; December 25, 1959. Friday: Plan of the Day for the USS Searcher – AGR 4. I tried to copy and paste it to this section of the devotional, but that did not work. I reported on board in September 1959, this was my first trip at sea and my first Christmas away from home; I was nineteen years old and unmarried. Also was a copy of the ships Christmas Menu that contained the following: Cream of Tomato Soup; Virginia Baked Ham; Roast Turkey; Candied Sweet Potatoes; Mashed Potatoes; Buttered Peas; Buttered Corn; Raisin Sauce; Giblet Gravy; Lettuce Wedges; Sliced Tomatoes; French Dressing; Mayonnaise Dressing; Assorted Olives and Pickles; Mixed Nuts; Fruit Cake (leftover from WWII); Coffee; Milk; Tea; Cigars and Cigarettes. Why should you be interested in this? This was sixteen years before Jesus got my attention and saved me. Truly I could wish that I had known Him then since that Christmas would have had more meaning than just making sure that I got my share of cigars and cigarettes that day fifty two years ago. It seems to me that if you do not know your Creator personally that you will burn a path to your grave and leave no evidence of ever having lived. The evil counsel of life in the world leads away from God. Proverbs 1:8-19.

James 3

James 3:1 – If you are a teacher of the Living Word of God this verse of scripture is like thunder in you mind. It is a stern warning from this disciple and half-brother of Jesus. Jesus who did not stumble, who was obedient even to His death was sinless. The observation of James is first hand and his awareness of his own failures will unfold here in these two verses. Remember when Jesus was ridiculed by His half-brothers; James and Jude during the Feast of Tabernacles John 7:1-9

James 3:2 – Teachers must fully comprehend that the doctrine we share with others is not our own. Even Jesus obeyed and taught the Father’s Will, under the Father’s Authority. Notice the following passages in John 7:16-19. Of course you know that in reading the whole seventh chapter of the gospel of John will explain even more about our Savior’s teaching ministry; remember too He is the LORD. Many leaders in our so called realm of Christendom teach the Holy Word of God with a humanistic agenda. This is madness and it is evil.

Daily Devotional – A Look at the Book #444

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

The necklace symbol hanging from the neck gives outward evidence of what might be going on in the heart even when the one wearing the necklace denies it. Evidence; that will one day, demand a verdict. Lamentations 1:14.

MORE THOUGHTS

The USS Searcher was one of about twelve ships that were purchased by the Navy and redesigned to accommodate large radar and detection equipment. The historical record of the these ships is interesting in that the average length of time to build one before the war was 230 days from the time the keel was laid. About 7.6 months. During World War Two the ships were produced and outfitted at one every 42 days. The ships were called “Liberty Ships”. The ships were built by various shipyards within the United States; eighteen in fact and over 2,500 of these ships were produced. During the war, these vessels were used to send military cargo to the war front in Europe, the idea was to build a ship that could make one trip and if it made it across the ocean and was not sunk by German U-Boats then it was a success story. About 850 of these ships were lost to the U-Boats. Another interesting fact is that most of the engine room scenes of the 1997 film Titanic were shot aboard the museum Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien in San Francisco Bay. Scott Sigler's book Nocturnal also has several scenes that take place on the Jeremiah O'Brien. Now why do I explain all of this to you? History has interesting events that present one object in various phases of use and development. When mankind uses his wisdom and talents for good; good things happen and history never fails to tell the truth. If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

James 2

James 2:24 – We teach and preach that in order for one to stand before God as JUSTIFIED that he or she must believe in Jesus Christ (John 1:11-13; Acts 16:30-31 and Romans 10:9-10). True justification then has historical evidence of various works. You know; like taking a fisherman who does not depart from this basic talent to catch fish. Yet by the grace of God will learn or reshape that trade to include the spiritual talent of fishing for man. Matthew 4:18-22. Justification does not accommodate the works of man; justification glorifies God who redeems life.

James 2:25 – Well, do we say once a mere fisherman always a fisherman and once a harlot always a harlot? History again does not change a ship of the sea into an airplane in the sky, but history does reveal that an object of disrespect or of lower rank can be made into an object of glory. Even as a marriage between what one might be titled as common to another who might be titled royalty. God has taken the common sinner and by working justification presents him or her to His Son; Jesus. Resulting in a royal wedding called the Marriage supper of the LAMB. Revelation 19:1-10

James 2:26 – What if your vile body has no spirit for this kind of historical process, oh friend; my heart cries for you to repent. This tells me that you are dead to life. Not the life that you are living, which is empty and without the truth that history reveals, but like the idols of your idolatrous nature. You have eyes but you do not see, ears but you do not hear and a mouth but you do not speak. This is simply but profoundly dead works and you do not need me to tell you, because in your heart of hearts – you know this is true since it is your historical moment! Isaiah 44:9-20.

Daily Devotional – A Look at the Book #443

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

The body language of the sinning person is a communication of walking, sitting or standing in a conversation of scorn. The chatter within a room full of scorners cannot be understood, but are like chaff in the wind. Psalm 1:1; 1:4.

MORE THOUGHTS

My first ship in the Navy was like a huge bowl in the water that barely had enough power to get out of its own way. Eleven point six knots was the top speed. For you land acquainted folks (lubbers) that is eighteen point five miles per hour. So when the ship would be off duty and heading for home it was always nice to have a patrol pattern that was near to Newport, RI. Most of the patrols were in the North Atlantic, but some were in the South. Those southern trips were nice and warm but usually a thousand or more miles from home and at full speed which could not be maintained all the time, it would take at least ten days of travel to get home. As sailors we would complain; “we will never get home at this speed, let us throw stuff overboard and make the ship lighter. Of course a sailor would have no problem adding a little spice to his comments. If we are to know wisdom, the wisdom that comes from God, then it would be very important to ask God to teach us how to number our days (Psalm 90:12) rather than to burn the days up with a tongue of scorn. The thief of life stands at the door and with little warning he will rob you of your rewarding countenance toward God; Genesis 4:1-15. And there is a coming of the Day of the LORD, that some say it will never come. These are complainers and slackers of faith and the apostle Peter explains that these folks have willfully forgot that the promises of God are “YES” and “SO BE IT” (yea and amen). 2 Peter 3:1-13.

James 2

James 2:19 – Religion, or the expression biblical faith is the theme of this epistle. The outward expression of faith in God is considered by most of the world to be proof of faith. James is putting it bluntly here in this verse. It is useless to say that you believe that God is One God, even the devils believe this and they tremble.

James 2:20-21 – He says that this faith is foolishly empty, a reference to the power of this sort of faith. The faith that God is looking for in us is the same faith found in Abraham and Jesus Christ. A sacrificial faith, the faith that allows God the Father to present His Son to us as the LAMB and a father like Abraham who was willing to present his son Isaac to God as a sacrifice. “My son, God will provide for Himself a sacrifice… Genesis 22:8.

James 2:23 – Faith in God goes beyond the personal effort of one to make themselves pleasing to God. Faith is a two way communication. First, in that God proves Himself to be faithful through His work of creation; Psalm 19:1-6; the assurance of His Word; Psalm 19:7-11; and by His total forgiveness of our lack of faith; Psalm 19:12. Our work of faith then; which is very small but sufficient if found in Psalm 19:13-14. In other words, we must be willing to see that God is faithful, before we can produce works of faith pleasing to God.