The Sword of the LORD

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.” (Psalm 113:3).   As I sat down in my little upper room this week to study and to pray, the sun was rising and filling the eastern sky with the most glorious colors and patterns.  I had to rejoice just then and give thanks to the Creator for the promise of a new day and for all He might have in store for me that day.  It reminded me of the verse above, but also of David’s Psalm 19 which begins, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.”     Every day we can find new reasons to praise and reverence our God.  His grace toward us is unlimited, and His mercy is everlasting.  Just as all green things respond to the dawning of each new day by drinking in the light and warmth of the sun, we, too, should look with anticipation on every new morning.  Each day we wake to the wonderful opportunities our Heavenly Father sends our way for our growth and develop

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world .” (John 2:1, 2).   “What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us ?  He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He [God] not with Him [Jesus] also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?  It is God that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth?  It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us .”  (Romans 8:31-34 KJV).   Imagine that we are sitting in a vast hall of justice in heaven.  We have been brought up on some very serious charges before the Court of Heaven and before the Judge of the whole earth.  The charges against us ar

Behold, I saw a gathering of beings who were playing together, laughing, dancing and learning to walk and talk together.   As time passed, each one grew into an advanced form, still the same basic form as before, yet more mature.   As they met together and talked together, they each began to grow, in stature and in brightness.   From a baby state to an adult state, they changed.   Always there was a Presence Who lingered over them.   As time went on, even the form they each showed began to change and at different rates of change.  Some became brighter, some stronger, larger and more powerful.  Each took on a glow as if they were lit from within.  Sometimes it was as if they each, severally and separately, went through a dark time, a time of clouds and darkness.  Some occasionally would revert to the form they had previously.  Yet, as they met with the others around them, they would once again become changed, moving into the heights and depths they had attained before as the clouds

  OVERVIEW It is generally agreed that the letter of James in the New Testament was written by the half-brother of Jesus, who was known as James the Just.   He and Jesus shared the same mother, Mary, but not the same father - James’ father was Joseph while Jesus’ Father was God.   This James was not one of the original twelve apostles.   He was neither James the son of Zebedee and brother of John, nor was he James the son of Alpheus, both of which were part of the original twelve.   None of Jesus’ brothers accepted Him while He was growing up or during His public ministry (see John 7:1-5).   After Jesus’ resurrection, however, James became a believer and was present with the 120 when the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples on the day of Pentecost.   James later received the office of apostleship and was became a pillar of the Church of Jerusalem.     James’ epistle is thought to have been written around A.D. 45 which would make it perhaps the earliest of the New Testament epistles.