“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

To help us understand what King David meant when he said, “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” we need to consider the story of his life. He was living with an end in mind. In David’s day, the official place of worship was still the old tabernacle, dating from the time of Moses which was no more than a tent. When David set up his capital in Jerusalem, he was bothered about living in a house of cedar while “the ark of God dwells in a tent” (2 Samuel 7:1). He decided to build a temple for the Lord, but this was not God’s plan. His response to the king was in essence, “No, you won’t.”

David meant to honor God with his building. However, the Lord made it clear that it wasn’t David’s idea He was rejecting—it was the circumstances. David’s role as a warrior made him unsuitable for the role of temple builder (1 Chronicles 28:2-3). In God’s plan, David’s son Solomon would build the house for His glory.

However, David’s thinking as we see here and in other Psalms was focused beyond the idea of a temple in Jerusalem. His mind went to a house not made with human hands in the heavenlies (John 14:3).

If someone asks you where you live, you could pinpoint them the exact location of your house or apartment. But if someone asked you where you will live forever, would you understand that question and what would your answer be? I cannot pinpoint the exact location on a map, but Jesus says it’s a place he has gone to prepare just for me.

Bro. Larry

“Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.” John 20:18

20. Austin Miles wrote the beautiful hymn “In the Garden” in 1912 after reading his favorite Bible chapter, John 20. It seemed he had become a part of the narrative as if he saw a vision and became a silent witness of the scene near the empty tomb of our risen Savior when Mary Magdalene saw the resurrected Lord. It was as if he heard Jesus say, “Mary!” He immediately took out his pen and wrote the poem as the words came to him, and later the same day he wrote the music.

The language is simple and intimate in the hymn as it describes a believer hearing the voice of God and responding with the words.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

Do you have that kind of intimacy with Christ? You can. He will not only walk and talk with you but He will dwell within you in the Holy Spirit. He is as close as the mention of His name. It is clearly stated in James 4:8 that if you draw close to God, He will draw close to you.

Dear Lord, walk with me today. Show me the right way to follow the paths you have laid out for men. Shine your almighty courage and strength into me. Bless me, my family and my friends. Guide me through life especially my hardships so that I may succeed in everlasting happiness.

Bro. Larry

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7

You’ve most like have heard about the seven deadly sins. The movies have taken it in as subject numerous times.  They are clearly spelled out Biblically in Proverbs 6:16-19. They are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. Allow me to share seven deadly thoughts for the Christian that can lead to serious damage for the individual, his family, and his church.

“It won’t hurt to compromise.” – Christians are not only accused of being narrow-minded, which we are. But when we compromise our beliefs, look out.

“Everyone else is doing it.” – The majority never has been right morally and never will. Just because others are doing something, does not make it right. Check out the book – God’s Word.

“Just once wouldn’t hurt.” – Many families have been destroyed because of one act of adultery. Many lives have been lost as a result of one drink or one shoot up. Many Christians have taken the road to spiritual destruction following one wrong decision.

“No one really pays attention to what I do.” – Christians are called ambassadors (representatives) for Christ. Others watch to see if we are good ambassadors or bad ambassadors.

“I can put off the spiritual until later.” – I’ve got a family to raise, a career to achieve, wild oats to sow, then I will give my heart to the Lord. Remember that the Lord’s Spirit will not always strive with men and today is the day of salvation.

“That person messed up five years ago. He doesn’t deserve a second chance.” – We have to be thankful God doesn’t think that way. He is a God of restoration, giving us another chance.

“My main goal is money.” – The Bible clearly states that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil and to seek the kingdom of God first and other things second.

Most failures don’t occur overnight, but they have a beginning in a thought then an action.

Bro. Larry

Most likely you’ve watched a movie where a large amount of treasure was found in some Egyptian tomb. As the group were escaping a disaster, one would fill his pockets with gold, diamonds, or some other treasure and would end up not making it out because he attempted to carry too much stuff.

That reveals much about life. Many people attempt to accumulate too much stuff and it weighs them down. The 1950’s led to a new type business venture known as the self-storage industry. Today, it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry. 65% of those renting long term have a garage and 33% have a basement. There must not be enough room in these. There are more storage units in America than McDonalds and Starbucks combined.

Material stuff costs us money and can complicate our lives. We have to insure it, clean it, repair it and be accountable for it. We refuse to let go of the stuff. Stuff can hinder our lives physically and spiritually. There is even spiritual stuff we carry around that weigh us down. We carry around unforgiveness, hurt feelings, bad relationships. We even carry around our hobbies, sports, money, recreation, leisure, and many other things that rob us from a close relationship with the Lord.

Nurturing stuff of all kinds will never satisfy the intimacy that comes from obeying God’s direction for us. We are just passing through this world. Give some thoughts about the things you are self-storing in your life. Are they slowing you down? There is too much to miss out on by carrying too much around with us.

Bro. Larry

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” Hebrews 5:12

If you are familiar with the comic strip “Peanuts” you probably know about Linus. Linus is always walking around carrying his security blanket and never gives it up to anyone for any reason. There are people in our churches who are like Linus carrying around their security blankets. They need to hold onto something because they think Jesus isn’t enough. They want Jesus plus something else. But, Jesus plus anything else is nothing.

These are people who may hold onto their good works to determine if they are good enough. They hold to their denominational ties, their family heritage, pride and personal preferences thinking that is what it takes – plus Jesus.

Giving up these security blankets is similar to a child giving up their pacifier. One father said he talked his daughter into giving up her pacifier when she was two and they threw it in the dumpster hoping to never see it again. A week later at the mall parking lot there was a dumpster by one of the entrances. She quickly cried thinking her pacifier was in there.

If we are going to be grow up spiritually, we will have to give up our security blankets and pacifiers. As we do, we need a stronger desire to move from milk to meat that we might grow in the Lord. If we ask many of our Christian friends if they are stronger in their walk for Christ than they were five or ten years ago, many would have to honestly say, “No.” They just might be holding on to their pacifiers.

Bro. Larry

“I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1

The convenience of purchasing fast food makes for an easy dinner decision at the end of a long and sometimes stressful day, especially during the summer months. It takes no planning, provides no stress, and seems to make everyone happy. There’s no need to plan a menu, spend time cooking, or spend time interacting with family and friends. We tend to do the same with our spiritual food.

In the mornings, we rush out the door on our way to work, school, or some other venture and having no thought of godly things. In the evenings, we’re tired and worn down. It’s easier to settle down with the television, the laptop, or some video game instead of a healthful diet of God’s Word, prayer, and meaningful conversations with the family. It’s more convenient, less stressful, doesn’t take much planning and requires minimal interaction with others which can sometimes provide minimal conflict. We just sit and let the media develop our minds or we dose off into a trance.

Think about weekends. It’s easier to spend late nights at the movies or in front of the television or some other technical gadget than to develop a spiritual menu of church attendance, Bible reading and study, Scripture memorization, prayer, and meditation. It’s no wonder many so-call good Christians miss Sunday services on a regular basis or come with blank looks, sleepy eyes, and cold hearts unprepared to worship.

Take time for God, His worship, His house, and your personal spiritual health during the lazy crazy days of summer.

Bro Larry

When I was a child in school, my friends would get in trouble for passing notes in class. Since no one could read my writing, it was not an issue for me. My trouble was talking in class. Now with the technology of cell phones, many teens and even smaller children are text messaging each other in class and occasionally even sending each other photos.

Parents need to think about how their teens are using their cell phones and I’m talking about more than just minutes used. According to recent reports, many teens are using their cell phones to circulate nude photos of themselves. With much of the news about the immoral actions of the movie & television stars as well as athletes sending & receiving nude and nearly nude photos, our youth is following the example.

Rather than just writing this off as a new trend and something that will pass with time or age, parents, youth leaders, and teachers need to stop and take time to address this with their children and classes. The Bible states that we are not only “created in God’s image.” We are also “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Young ladies need to hear about the beauty in chastity and not giving in to a few moments of what they may consider fun or fame. Also, young men need to hear about how to have respect for the young lady that may sit beside them in class. And all need to hear about the righteousness of Christ lived out in the lives of Christians.

Say, “No thanks, I’m much too valuable to give myself away!”

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” (Psalm 101:3)

Bro Larry

P.S. As adults we may want to watch the example we are sending at home, work, public events and at restaurants constantly being on our phones in front of our children.

“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” (John 14:21)

“In The Garden” is a beautiful and meaningful hymn written by C, Austin Miles in 1912. The poem and song has stood the test of time and has the same meaning today it had over 100 years ago when it was written. After reading from John 20, Miles got so caught up in the text that it seemed to him he had become a part of the narrative. He sensed himself as a silent witness in the garden experience at the empty tomb. He heard in his mind the words of Jesus as he addressed Mary Magdalene with the simple word, “Mary.”

Miles grabbed a piece of paper and began to write a poem as quickly as the words would come to him and later the same day he wrote the music. The words reveal that a personal relationship with Christ is not only longed for but possible.

“And He walks with me, and he talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known”

You never go alone in this life as long as Jesus lives in your heart. The Bible lets us know that Jesus’ presence is with us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Thus, He does walk with us and talk with us along life’s road. And the best part is that He always will. “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)

Bro. Larry