Some days are a great chance to trust God, and today was one off them. Our internet has been down for two days (I didn’t realize how much I used it!), but we managed with the hot spot on my phone.

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” Psalm 73:25

To you, O Great One, belongs praise and honor, glory and strength.

To you belongs awe, amazement, reverence and surrender.

To you belongs fear (of God), denial of self and taking up of our cross daily.

We can submit to you because:

• You know what is right,
• You know what is best,
• You know beyond the moment,
• You know all that will be.

Therefore:

• You are the One to be trusted,
• You are the One to be honored,
• You are the One to be obeyed.

As I look at today, it is wonderful to know that you are going to work all things out for good, leading me through the maze of events, the succeeding challenges and adventures and the battle against the evil one. In all I can rest in you, in your goodness, in your love and in your power.

Picture: Our God who loves beauty, also loves us and is trustable

Following the example of the Psalmist

“I have considered my ways
and have turned my steps to your statutes.

I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.

Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
I will not forget your law.

At midnight I rise to give you thanks
for your righteous laws.

I am a friend to all who fear you,
to all who follow your precepts.

The earth is filled with your love, O LORD;
teach me your decrees” (Ps. 119:57-64).

What a powerful picture of a man’s willing response to the revealed Creator and His Word:

full,

complete,

wholehearted,

enthusiastic

surrender

and commitment to obedience.

May we do the same.

Picture: To surrender is to trust the One who loves us

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” Psalm 73:25

More on the idol in my trophy case. Here’s a clue: it showed up on February 3 when the Patriots football team, after a perfect season, lost their final game, the Super Bowl.

I was amazed at how it affected me: I had trouble sleeping that night and every time I thought about it, which was often, sadness came over me.

So what was my idol? It was not being a Patriots fan. Nor was it following the football outcomes.

No, my mistake was hanging my happiness on the my team having a perfect record.

The reality is they had a great season even though they lost the Championship

.

It is normal to be a little sad when your team loses. It is not normal to be so down that you have to go through the grief cycle,

to be almost depressed about an event that in the grand sum of history has zero importance.

Another factor in this idol is that I like to be linked to a winner, as the Patriots were this season.

It gives a sense of significance, of excitement, of glamour.

In the end, though, no human being or institution is always a winner; there will always be losses and let downs.

In contrast, as true followers of Christ, we are tied to the Winner, Jesus, who has defeated death and the devil.

He is triumphing each day in helping His children to reject temptation, to live godly lives and in bringing many new believers into His Kingdom.

And in the end, He will complete his triumph over all evil. Plus, He is inviting us to join Him in His great victories and to share in His glory.

“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4).

And “all kinds of trials…have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith…

may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Pet. 1:6,7).

God is moving history to a conclusion and taking us with Him!

Are we following or are we camping out in idol land?

I praise God I was disappointed on February 3rd, for He had far greater things for me (and many others) than a perfect season for my team!

This loss took my eyes off the temporal and got them back on the eternal.

Prayer: “Lord, help me to set my heart on things above, to live in the stability of your character, the certainty of your victory, the security of your power.

Help me to be quickly aware of idols in my life and confess and abandon them immediately. May you be glorified in this. Amen.”

Picture: Jesus has conquered death and will come again in triumph, the ultimate Winner

Here’s an ad I plan to put in a local newspaper. Tell me what you think.

Was Charlie Kirk’s death a tragedy?

Yes, but also a blessing, for God has used his premature death to make his influence 10,000 times greater. Before he died, he had 1.3 million followers on Instagram, but one week after his death he had 10 million! People paid attention!

More importantly, his death has led to a new level of introspection worldwide, causing people to ask, “What am I living for right now?”

Former Navy SEAL, Jack Carr said Kirk’s murder “…caused a re-examination for us as a family,” which led them to go to church and re-evaluate their lives in light of the possibility of dying at a young age.

One church in Michigan said a number of young adults who were raised in the church but left for years showed back up as a result of Charlie’s martydom.

An Uber driver commented, “Man, that thing that happened to Charlie, it woke me up. I’m getting baptized this Sunday.”

Another observer said, “People are coming hungry, wanting to connect with God. There’s no playing games anymore. It feels like we’re in a real moment, an awakening.”

What about you? Any spiritual movement in your life? Try going to a good Bible teaching church and learn about the meaning of life, the Love of Christ and how to have eternal life.

Picture: Come, it’s time to go.