The First Tool for Our Toolbox….DILIGENCE!

When we left my last post, we had taken a closer look at the idea of making plans for our future work in Heaven; particularly, using the talents, skills and passions of our life on earth, as well as, what we might best be suited to do as we work for Jesus in Heaven. But, before we get to our work in Heaven, we must make sure we have properly prepared our skills while working for Christ on earth…and to do that as we should, we have to exercise the first tool that the apostle Peter tells us to add to our toolbox of things we will need to use to make sure we are prepared for our work in Heaven.

AND THAT FIRST TOOL IS ….DILIGNECE. Peter writes about it in our study chapter of 2 Peter chapter one, verses 4 & 5, which read,   For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature. ⁵ For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to_________________! (We’ll fill in this blank later on in our further discussions).

Here, Peter is reminding us that we have been given all we need to prepare us for successful living for Christ here on earth, but also in Heaven…IF WE REMAIN DILIGENT IN OUR USE OF THE TOOLS WE WILL BE ADDING TO OUR TOOLBOX.

But for now, why is Diligence so important for us in this life? For one, the devil has a way of entering our lives at the worst possible times and causing us to falter in our faith and our walk with and for Christ. For example, you just lost your job; or gotten a bad diagnosis from the doctor; or lost a loved one in a tragic accident or to a terminal disease…and before you realize that your anger with God has pushed Him far away from where He longs to be…and where you need for Him to be…your anger has broken your fellowship and hindered your relationship with your Heavenly Father.

While I was in the Navy, stationed aboard a WW11 destroyer, I stood many a night watch in the midship’s guard hut,  either from  8 until midnight or from midnight until 4 am….standing for those 4 hours, looking across the dock for anything that might be suspicious or preparing to cause harm to me and my shipmates…in precise words….I WAS STANDING WATCH WITH THE OFFICER OF THE DECK AND ONE OTHER OF MY SHIPMATES. Now truth be told, if anyone meant to do me and my 280 plus shipmates harm, the 45 I carried at me side would only last for twelve shots; however, that would have truly sounded as a warning to all those aboard that something of harm was coming our way….and THAT TYPE OF DILIGENCE MIGHT JUST SERVE AS THE KEY TO STOPPING THE EVIL THREAT THAT STOOD BEFORE US,READY TO DO US HARM.

And that’s the kind of diligence that Peter is talking about in this chapter. You see we have everything we need to protect us from our enemy and all that we need to be holy and righteous before our loving Father; however, if we are not diligent in looking after our hearts, minds and most importantly, our souls, THE WAR MAY BE LOST BEFORE THE FIRST BATTLE HAS BEEN WAGED!!!

Unfortunately, we live at a time when the enemy of DILIGENCE is so prevalent in our society, and it is always working to make us less than effective in our walk with Christ…and what is that demon of our demise…DISTRACTIONS. Yes, if we are not careful to stay attentive, alert and using our acumen of diligence, we will be caught unaware of the wiles of that beast, who roams this world, seeking whom he might devour.

Certainly,  we have all been told, in no uncertain terms, to…KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING…and that is solid advice; but how do we do just that? I recommend the following three “Ds” to keep you on the road to self-awareness and disciplined in your walk with Christ.

First, of course, DILIGENCE….GUARD YOUR HEART AND TAKE CAPTIVE YOUR THOUGHTS!

Second,  DETERMINE, BEFOREHAND, TO STAY THE COURSE AND STAND WATCH, NO MATTER THE DISTRACTIONS.

Third, DECIVISE ACTION IN ALL YOUR DECISIONS; THEREFIORE, YOU ARE NEVER A DOUBLE-MINDED, UNSTABLE, RESTLESS PERSON, TOSSED ABOUT ON STORMY SEAS! (See James 1:8)

Yes, we have everything we need, but be sure to come back later this week to see what other tools belong in your toolbox….TOOLS THAT YOU WILL NEED, BOTH NOW AND IN THE ETERNITY THAT AWAITS ALL WHO BELIEVE…FINALLY AT HOME, WITH GLORIOUS WORK STILL TO BE DONE!!!

Loading up my toolbox…remaining diligent in all things of the Lord,

WPQ

Our Unfolding Plan for Heaven....Step One!

I began this series of the following blogs with this thought...ARE YOU PREPARING FOR ETERNITY? If so, WHAT R UR PLANS? It is a study of 2 Peter 1: 3-11 which reads from the Amplified Bible...

3 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through [a]true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to....

And this is our first stepping stone for our study for the next four or five blog posts. So let's begin!

The apostle Peter is telling us as followers of Christ that we have EVERYTHING WE NEED to live for Christ in the crooked and decrepit world....and in so doing, we are making our plans for Heaven as we live out our lives for Christ each day. It is in that living that God works His will and His way for both our earthly service now; but also, for our Heavenly service to come. And I believe that will become much clearer as we travel this road of study in our next several blog post....so please come back over the next few days or so to see how this might be beneficial to you as you live for Christ in this world...and quite possibly the next?

So, what is the first admonition of Peter....to approach our dynamic spiritual life with great DILIGENCE as we make every effort to exercise and grow our faith by applying the "tools" that God has given us to use in our efforts to live, to be and to love like Christ. But, how is that affected by planning and what does God's Word say regarding this exercise we call, PLANNING?

 Our first hint comes from Proverbs 21:5, that reads: "The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor." (CSB) or "A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9 CSB); however, one of my favorite's comes from James 4:13-15 where he warns us of making boastful plans....Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit,” whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? It is just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and make plans to do this or that. (Modern English Version)But the one who spoke definitively regarding making plans was Jesus himself, in Sermon on the Mount, where He told His ever-growing throng of followers in Matthew 6:33-34, But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don't worry about (your plans for) tomorrow. Your plans (will be taken care of by following God's will.) Believe me when I say, you will have enough to worry about today. (My edification of the Contemporary Version Bible)

So in closing this first blog today regarding making plans, both for now and for the Kingdom to come, know this; JESUS HAS THIS UNDER HIS CONTROL....and if we change the word "food" and replace it with the word "plans" in John 6:27, it would read as follows:

 Don’t work for the plans that perish but for the plans that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.”

I hope you will continue this journey with me as we make our eternal plans for the jobs we would most like to do when we are called HOME to be with Jesus....there, where we will serve Him in our Heavenly domain, doing the work set before us and as ALWAYS, FOR OUR GOOD AND GOD'S GLORY!!!

See You Tomorrow,

WPQ

Preparing for Eternity....What's Your Plan?

It is one of the most definitive actions that occurs each year at this time...the turning of the page of the calendar as we say "Goodbye" to last year and welcome in all the joys, trials, speed bumps and triumphs that surely await us in this NEW YEAR....for us, this is 2026!

I am currently teaching my Sunday School class at McConnell Memorial Baptist Church in Hiawassee, a series, I have entitled, Preparing for Eternity....What's Your Plan? I mean, after all, isn't the start of a brand new year front loaded with what many call, NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS....those well-thought out plans we make to improve ourselves, our station in life, our retirement portfolio or some other meaningful endeavor that bears our attention.

Yes, we call them, RESOLUTIONS, but aren't they really well-intentioned plans that we believe will drastically improve some area of our life ? And if truth be told, our Heavenly Father is on point with this mentality.  In fact, He gives us forewarning that He has a plan for our lives as given to us by the prophet, Jeremiah, who shared this with God's elect in Jeremiah 29:11....For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV) 

So if God has a PLAN(and He's the Creator and Ruler of the Universe), what should that say to you and me about making plans...not for just these days on this dusty orb, but for the hope that lies before us....HEAVEN! SO THE QUESTION I PUT TO MY SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS,

What are your Plans for Eternity? 

Now for many that may seem like a silly question, right? But let's stop and think about who our God is and how He reigns in this world and the next? First, we know from Scripture, our Heavenly Father is a God who ordained man to work. In Genesis 2:19-20, we read, ^{19 "}Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals." So, naming the animals was Adam's first job as he began to work for His Creator...and that same mindset that God has work for us to do for our good and His Glory has not changed. It will follow us to Heaven, as God gives each of us work to do in His heavenly kingdom. So my question to you is, what do you want to do for God when you get to Heaven and what plans have you made to be prepared for that work?

 

Now, we all know that making plans to do ANYTHING for God has a caveat....simply put, ARE THE PLANS I HAVE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WILL? And once again, God's Word speaks directly to that question in James 4:13-15 as follows.... ^" Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that." (NIV)

So, our plans for Heaven totally rest in the WILL OF GOD; however, it is my personal belief that God will want to use us in His kingdom by using the talents, interests and joys of our life well-lived on earth, so that we might bring to fruition His will in His Kingdom of Heaven.

Therefore, why not plan for work in Heaven by doing what God has gifted you to do as you sojourn here on this dusty orb, we call our temporary home? Plan to use that beautiful voice to sing praises to the King here on earth so that you might join the angelic chorus in Heaven. Or use that willingness to share the Good News of Christ here and now, so that you might be a messenger of God's love in His glorious kingdom as you worship Him with words of joy, love and praise.

Now, I don't know what talents or gifts of service God has bestowed on you; but this one thing I do know...GOD'S GIFTS OF SERVICE, NOW, WILL BE GREATLY WELCOMED AS WE SEEK TO SERVE HIM IN OUR HEAVENLY HOME....AND IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE A PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS GREAT AND AWESOME WILL...SO,

What's your plan for Heaven? And if you need some help in "fleshing" out a plan that prepares you for service in His Heavenly kingdom, be sure to come back to get the rest of what God has given you to help in getting ready for later.... by living for HIM in the here and now!!!!

Plans in motion....following God's Heavenly directions,

WPQ

 

Poem for the day....

If you working for the Lord
On this earth, both here and now;
But you're not sure if you've got this;
And you're wondering if somehow?
 
The Lord is sending you mixed signals,
So you struggle to understand?
What could God want from you?
What truly is His plan?
 
His plan is plain and simple;
He 's working for your good.
A plan that brings you hope and joy,
Living for Him as you should.
 
So don't become discouraged,
Or pout if things don't go your way.
Remember, He has a plan for you,
So you need not be dismayed.
 
Commit your life in service to Him,
So that in all you do or say...
God's blessings will flow down to you
As you lead others to walk His way!!!
 
WPQ © January 2026

 

 

 

R U Running from....CHANGE?

It has been said there is only one thing in this world that remains constant…and that is CHANGE!!!!

If that is true, then it behooves one of wisdom to prepare for the inevitable. We are continually  inundated by both political parties to expect change. The upcoming mid-term elections already have all the political pundits, spewing their propaganda about the outcome of the elections that are still over 11 months away, before many of us cast our votes for new governors, state and local representatives...and most of all the Senate and House of Representatives races that will determine the balance of power for the remaining years before our next Presidential election in 2028. Yes, CHANGE IS INEVITABLE AND WE CANNOT RUN AND HIDE FROM THAT MENACE WE CALL..... CHANGE!

In fact, we only have to read the daily headlines to see that our world is in a constant state of fluctuation….financial disarray, rising and falling levels in the stock market, unemployment, spiraling food and health costs…. All producing…change…Change….CHANGE.

Now for most of us, change is something of a dirty word, or at least one that makes us very uncomfortable. We strive to live our lives in a calm and peaceful manner; free from the upheavals of change. Yet, try as we might, change happens! In fact, God’s word tells us that change is coming; but praise be, it also tells us who is in charge of that change.

“I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends the good times and the bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things. Isaiah 45: 7 NLT

Our typical response to change is one of fear and trepidation. We all too often begin to look at our circumstances rather than our provision. Unfortunately, change seems to always bring fear before it births faith. Fear seems to focus on the worst rather than hold claim to the best.

When God chooses to interrupt the natural flow of our life with change or something that we have never encountered before….we choose panic over praise. James, the Lord’s brother, wrote in his letter, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds (change, my interpretation), for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

Yes, when calamity or change occurs that is unsettling or disheartening, we can view the presence of the problem as the absence of God ….and our simplistic response is to try and run away from the mess we find ourselves in. Or… we can do the unexpected; we can praise Him from whom all blessings and problems flow!

We can take comfort in and find joy in the midst of any trial if we will but remember that God is on our side…and that He is in control. He is working all things out for our good… so that we may be perfect and complete in Him. We still have a responsibility to do what we CAN....but when we reach the end of what we can do, it is time to realize that what is left is not what we can't do; rather it is what God can and will do on our behalf. 

So….change is coming and you have two distinct choices….Prepare to Panic … or… Praise His Provision…for no matter the magnitude of the change that comes…our God is sufficient to meet and exceed ALL OUR NEEDS.

Standing firm….Praising His Provision,

WPQ

Poem for the day:

Sufficient for today are the problems we can see

As we wait upon the Lord in surrendered humility.

Never knowing what the future holds 
Nor where life's roads may lead...

We follow in His footsteps...we listen...trust...believe!

We hear His voice telling each of us 

That change will come our way;

For we need not fear life's outcomes

If we trust  Him and obey.

So welcome change with open arms

For no matter life's ups or downs;

When you're trusting in God's Holy Word....
You're planted on SOLID GROUND!

WPQ © October 2018

R U DEPRESSED OR TRULY BLESSED?

There's a lot of depressing news being permeated throughout the airwaves these days; and they bare a strong resemblance to the old adage that says: Due to the recent financial difficulties, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off! Now, I know that things are not as good as they could be; but, heaven (and God) knows, THINGS COULD BE MUCH WORSE! So as we approach the upcoming day that we as Americans set aside to give thanks; well, let’s do just that….GIVE THANKS!

In fact, if truth be told, we find in God’s word that giving “THANKS:” is an imperative! It is a direct command from the Great I AM. Throughout the Psalms, David continually wrote to praise the Lord and to give thanks. In Chapters 106 and 118, he begins each psalm with this admonition, “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” Time and time again, David reminds us to give thanks…to let our hearts overflow with thanksgiving. In fact, in over 33 passages in the Bible, we are commanded to give thanks to our Father who is the giver of every good gift.

So in a few days from now, as you gather with friends and family members and recount God’s blessing during this past year, don’t look at the shrinking balance in your checking account and lament how poor you are…rather; remember if you have any spare change just lying around the house, you are already wealthier than 75% of the world’s population. In fact, yesterday, my wife and I counted the change we keep in a glass flower vase, near the back door...a place to dispose of any loose change I might have in my pockets or we find in my wife's billfold....SPARE CHANGE...SOUNDS LIKE A STRANGE WAY TO DESCRIBE MONEY?  However, we found, after counting, there was $38.17 in the jar...more than a worker in Nigeria would make at their job in a MONTH....and this money was just sitting in a jar, oblivious to the world and its needs.

Yes, times may be hard for many of us here in America, but that does not relieve us of God’s command to obedience as we bestow our praise, honor, adoration and gratitude on Him who has given us all that we have.... and for many of us, MORE THAN WE NEED. However, we should not give thanks to God because it our duty or just to be obedient to his Word;  but rather, we should give out of love and gratitude for the immeasurable blessings of God on this great nation.....and on us, individually! Times may be hard and they may become harder…but we, as followers of Christ, are called to a higher standard of thanksgiving…we are to praise him and give thanks in ALL things…the good and the bad…in the best of times and the worst of times.

Why not begin today, with your celebration of this Thanksgiving season, by doing the following….set aside some time to make a list of the things for which you can give thanks and after each one...take time to BLESS THE NAME OF JESUS….tell Him, personally, what and why you are thankful and how, even if that blessing were stripped away, you would still give thanks and bless his name…..for scripture tells us, “What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, yet lose his own soul.”

This Thanksgiving do the one thing that will honor God and bring glory to His name….Tell others how thankful you are that you belong to Jesus. This simple act of telling others that you are a child of the King will elicit praise from your lips and will demonstrate a heart filled and over-flowing with thanksgiving. For it is in every act of worship that we demonstrate our love for our Heavenly Father....and through EVERY praise and work of obedience that we show a humble and thankful heart.

So go ahead  and prepare for A BLESSED AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING and....May God bless you as never before!

WPQ

Poem for the Day:

In harmony with one voice we raise

Our grateful songs of thankful praise.

In song and dance we do proclaim

That we are blessed in Jesus’ name.

May all creation spend each day,

Praising Jesus in every way…

And may the very rocks cry out;

The valleys sing, the mountains shout...

And echo through each humbled heart

As all who know Him do their part….

To sing and worship all our days

With hearts filled with eternal praise.

WPQ 2011

IS THE WATER GETTING TOO HOT?

If you are like me, you have probably heard the old apologue describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is put suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out; but if the frog is put in tepid water, which is then brought to a boil slowly, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability or unwillingness of people to react to or be aware of sinister threats that arise gradually rather than suddenly. Unfortunately, this premise is false, because a frog in water that is gradually heated will jump out! Furthermore, a frog placed into already boiling water will die immediately, not jump out.

But let us consider that this old metaphor may carry in it a grain of truth regarding the lack of urgency on the part of the frog in water that is ever so gradually being heated to the boiling point...what is the perceived danger and if perceived, when would it jump out? Now, I ask this question because I believe we, as believers, are living in a pot of tepid water when it comes to the sins of our society and our less than urgent attention to deal with the threat of the water temperature as it continues to rise.

You see the devil, with his demons and minions, are the ones that seem to have their hands on the knob that controls the heat that is being applied to the "water" of our mental, physical, social and spiritual states in these latter days....and what do I mean by that accusation? In the physical realm, our American population has over 70 million adults considered obese and another 99 million that are overweight; and our children are right on our heels as their numbers continue to rise in being obese or overweight....all from eating too many "carbs" and their lack of exercise and healthy eating habits. In the social realm, we have lost the desire to actual communication face to face. Rather it is not uncommon to go to a restaurant and see a family of four, seated at a table, with their faces, all enthralled in staring at their phones...and don't get me started about the filth of pornography that is literally a click away when you Google any medical condition that has to do with personal health issues. 

In seems there was a time, not so long ago, when we all used to be social beings as we spent time with family and friends; but, those days and hours of pleasurable conversation are gone because of the social and political divide that has swept across our land. I am still mad, as well as totally bewildered, that we have become like a third world country that enables one to believe they have a civil, if not moral mandate, to shoot someone because they espouse a moral or personal conviction on faith; or, the genocide of the unborn; or, a personal vendetta to attack and seek to kill a person who has been sworn to protect the citizens of our country against lawbreakers and those who have entered our sovereign nation illegally...and the devil keeps turning the knob as the water of complacency continues to rise and we continue to stew in the process.

And last, and certainly to me, the one that is most concerning....the spiritual state of America! What happened to upholding our first amendment right to freedom of religion and our freedom of free speech? We have forsaken our mandate from Jesus Christ to proclaim the Gospel as we have allowed those with political power and clout to kick us out of the schools of our nation, making it an offense to pray in school then filling our young children's heads with the amoral idea of homosexuality, unprotected sex and the greatest lie of all....that children should be able to change their God-given sex at the behest of some school psychologists and money hungry doctors, all the while perpetuating this evil and not notifying the parents as to the procedures that are being done to their children!  GOD HELP US as the devil continues to crank up the heat, as we, the proverbial frogs, sit complacently in boiling water, clueless that our death is imminent!

We cannot afford the luxury of our stupidity as we continue to "go along to get along."  There is nothing wrong with being a tolerant person until your tolerance becomes a "tripping stone" or "parking curb" that causes you to fall and spill your brains all over the parking lot. And I speak from experience regarding this, having spent my energy more than once from tripping over a parking curb; and then racing like a full back, trying to score a TD over the last six yards, before I fell flat on my face, tore my pants, skinned both knees and hands, and wiped out a good pair of pants as I skidded across the pavement.

Trust me, we do not want to be remembered for our falls; rather, we want to be acclaimed for our stand for Christ in these last days... before His return....and since NO ONE KNOWS THAT DAY OR TIME, we  need to stand strong and get out of the water of the devil's induced apathy and share the Good News of Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus. Then, let us once again claim our birthright as citizens of heaven, who now sojourn on earth for a little while, as we prepare to leave this world behind for the riches and glories of Heaven...COME LORD JESUS COME QUICKLY,  and rescue us from the "boiling waters" of the devil's cistern of this fallen world!

 Leaping for safety and the Arms of Jesus,

WPQ

 

Poem for the day....

Life can be such a battle,
To face the rigors of each new day;
Spending our time in service to our King;
Seeking to show others, His will and His way!!!
Staying the course so others will see,
That we have a call to obey;
To turn back the devil's schemes and ploys;
To be immovable each day as we pray....
 
To give our hearts and minds to Him
That was led as a lamb to the slaughter;
To know when it's time to bail from the pot,
That is filled with the devil's boiling water?
To live a life that honors our God;
To be righteous, holy and devout....
To know when it's time to take a stand;
When to rise up and call sin out?
 
To no longer hide in the shadows;
But be courageous, strong, and true.
To live a life that directs others
To place their faith and trust in....YOU!
 
wpq © october 2025
 

IS TIME ON YOUR SIDE?

There is one immutable resource that everyone has at their disposal; be you rich or poor; smart or intellectually challenged; free or held captive....if you are alive, breathing and have your wits about you, then you qualify for this resource...the resource of TIME! Yes, each day when you wake up, you are given a new 24 hour commodity of time...you can use it for any number of reasons; but at the stroke of midnight, that 24 hours is OVER and the clock starts ticking all over again. The rock band, The Rolling Stones, wrote and recorded a song in 1964 entitled, TIME IS ON MY SIDE, which told his lover that though she had left him, SHE WOULD COME RUNNIN' BACK TO HIM, OH YES SHE WOULD. This was never a favorite song of mine; I guess it just never struck a chord with my heart or mind; however there is someone who spoke quite eloquently about time and how it works for and against us in this life...

His name...KING SOLOMON! If you go to the Old Testament and search for chapter 3 of the Book of Ecclesiastes, it tells us,

there is...A Time for Everything

There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time. There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plant and a time to pull up plants.  There is a time to kill and a time to heal. There is a time to destroy and a time to build. There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. There is a time to be sad and a time to dance with joy. There is a time to throw weapons down and a time to pick them up. There is a time to hug someone and a time to stop holding so tightly. There is a time to look for something and a time to consider it lost. There is a time to keep things and a time to throw things away. There is a time to tear cloth and a time to sew it. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. There is a time to love and a time to hate. There is a time for war and a time for peace.

God Controls His World...Do people really gain anything from their hard work? I saw all the hard work God gave us to do.  God gave us the ability to think about his world, but we can never completely understand everything he does. And yet, he does everything at just the right time.  I learned that the best thing for people to do is to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. God wants everyone to eat, drink, and enjoy their work. These are gifts from God.  I learned that anything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to the work of God, and they cannot take anything away from it. God did this so that people would respect him. What happened in the past has happened, and what will happen in the future will happen. But God wants to help those who have been treated badly. (Found in the Easy to Read Version)

 So my question is...HOW ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR COMMODITY OF TIME EACH DAY? Are you squandering it on foolish endeavors or planting seeds of faith in new ground? If planting, are you watering adequately with prayer, petition and supplications or letting the weeds have their way in your new garden of obedience to the Creator of the Universe? Are you looking and preparing for the harvest of God's abundant blessings or are you gripping and complaining of a bushel not filled to overflowing? Are you wondering where the TIME went and upset that you did not do all that you told God you would accomplish for His Kingdom? Well if any of these situations tilt your world off its axis....here's the GOOD NEWS....TOMORROW IS JUST HOURS AWAY BEFORE YOU CAN TRY AGAIN....and with the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, you can trust Him to make all things NEW so that you can say....

TIME IS ON MY SIDE, OH YES IT IS.... BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL AND I WILL GO WHERE HE LEADS AND DO AS HE COMMANDS SO THAT ALL WILL BE WELL WITH MY SOUL...AND I SHALL KNOW PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING AS I LIVE EACH SECOND, MINUTE AND 24 HOURS OF EACH DAY FOR HIM!

 May it ever be so, AMEN AND AMEN!

 WPQ

 

Poem for the day....
 
Living in this fast-paced, modern world,
With all its worries and concerns;
Can make one often anxious,
When we think we've got hours to burn?
 
We gulp our food as we check our phones;
Where do all those hours go?
Until we lay down our weary heads,
With little for our day to show...
 
That we are living as the Bible instructs;
Helping those in spirit as well as deed.
To see someone whose just getting by
And give them what they need.
 
For that is what our Savior taught
By His words; but more, His life;
For we are to help those adrift
In the midst of storms and strife.
 
So lean into the works prepared for you;
Spend wisely your commodity of time....
So that when you lay your body down;
God's peaceful rest will be sublime!!!
 
WPQ © October 2025