Today’s Bible Reading:
Numbers 30; Psalm 74; Isaiah 22: 2 Peter 3

As Peter closes his second letter he reminds his readers to be patient as they wait or the coming of the Lord.  He basically tells them that the God is not being slow to fulfill His promise, but rather He is being patient.  This verse always seems to grab my attention, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  I love the thought expressed that God does not wish any to perish, but this morning this verse is striking me in a different way.   It is His patience, that has caught my attention- God is patient toward you.  Now if only I could exhibit that same patience with God.  I get impatient for Him to act upon my requests, I get impatient for Him to remove suffering, to remove sickness, to bring loved ones to repentance-and He well knows my impatience.  This morning it is like He is whispering in my ear to let His patience be my guide, to be patient as He is patient-in essence to trust that God knows what He is doing so trust Him to do it in His perfect time.  I will probably do much better with this in the next couple of days as God’s word remains fresh on the subject, but after that I have the feeling I will be fretting once again-no wonder Peter had to write this letter as a reminder to be patient. 

The other aspect of this passage in 2 Peter that I appreciate is the focus Peter and His readers placed on the promise of the Lord’s second coming.  I get the impression that this was not some occasional fancy they gave thought too, but rather something that was more at the forefront of their lives then my own.  I think about it every once in a while, but I have to confess my impatience does no stem from being impatient for the Lord’s return, bur rather the here and now of daily living.  Hmmm…

With all of this in mind I close my time with these words of closing words of Peter as my prayer: That I may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen
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Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra

Today’s Bible Reading:
Numbers 20; Psalm 58-59; Isaiah 9:8-10:4; James 3

James reminds us that “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed of whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace,” James 3:17-18, NASB.  I think that list should keep my busy and out of trouble for the rest of my life-blessed are the peacemakers.
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Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra

Today’s Bible Reading:
Numbers 19; Psalm 56-57; Isaiah 8:1-9:7: James 2

It always gives me a thrill to read the prophecies in Isaiah.  How many hundreds of years before Christ’s birth these things were spoken of Him just gives me goosebumps when I think about it.  Such familiar words that I am find myself wanting to dwell on this morning.

The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them. -Is. 9:2, NASB

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. -Is. 9:6-7, NASB

I cannot help myself; I am singing Handel’s Messiah this morning…For unto us a child is born….  And as I consider what that Child has done for me how can I not take James 2:12-13   “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”  I have been shown such great mercy.  I who once walked in great darkness, a death sentence hanging over my head because of my sin, who now walks in the light of God’s great love for His people, how can I not show mercy to others?  I confess I do sometimes struggle.  I have looked down my little nose at times at the sins of others-ugh-where was mercy then?  I mean, how does one show mercy to one whose sin is so repulsive, like a child molester, a rapist, a murderer.  It is a very good thing that I am not God!

At least in this country, we have become a people who are very quick to condemn others when their sin is revealed-or perhaps I should say when accusers come forward-but an accused is not always even guilty. I have had my eyes opened recently to the vast numbers of people who confess to things they never did because of a very broken justice system. Jesus Himself was condemned to death as an innocent man, and in today’s climate I wonder how many would rally around the cry to crucify Him?  All I have to do is read the comment section on news articles to know the sad, sad answer to that.  How quick we are to judge and condemn.  But that should not be the way of the follower of Jesus Christ-whether a person is innocent or guilty.  I must remember that I too was under a death sentence for my very own, very real guilt.  We have been show such great mercy, let’s bring the Light of Christ into this dark world in the same way-by showing great mercy to others.  
 
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra