8-27-20   THOUGHTS

Heb 5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and [it is] hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

The picture of a mother “LULLING” a child to sleep is beautiful.   The picture of a society or a culture or just circumstances “lulling its people to LETHARGY is frightening.”   LULL means...    Calm, Quieten,  Still,   Tranquilize  
We face circumstances that have this effect on us...  Now...Currently!
ISOLATION (Covid problems), FATIGUE (heat wave), OVERLOAD of the VIRTUAL.  I believe we are now over 110 on these daily thoughts.  They were designed to help us keep CONNECTED.  It is becoming abundantly clear to me why God developed THE CHURCH!  I NEED YOU!   I need US TOGETHER to FELLOWSHIP in LIVING LIFE and PROMOTING the KINGDOM! When the things around us DISCOUNT RELATIONSHIP... funny things happen inside me!   I seem to get DISTRACTED, UNFOCUSED, maybe unable to TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN DOING?    SELF EXAMINATION tells me to WAKE UP!   TREADING WATER IS NOT SUFFICIENT!

Acts 28:23-28    When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24  Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. 25  And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word,      "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26  saying, ‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 27  FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."’ 28  "Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen."

Surely it is a time for us to LISTEN ACTIVELY!  DILIGENCE is a great biblical word.  It is a TIME FOR FOCUSED EFFORT!  I can only encourage another.  I am convinced that each of us must BE DILIGENT NOW!  Don’t allow yourself to be LULLED TO SLEEP.  It’s a TIME TO FIGHT FOR SPIRITUAL LIFE!  Maybe we need a forum to record and share our successes.   I promise to be more positive in the morning.  I love you each!

My Prayer:
Father of heaven, wake us up now.  We live in times that fight against our spiritual well being. Be our rock and shelter us with your might and power.  Help us to overcome Lord.  May we diligently cling to your side as a child clings to its mother.  Grow us in spite of our world.
In the name of Jesus                   Amen