Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Tuesday, 31 July 2018 "He Can and Will" by Mike Rhodabarger - Jeremiah 32:16-29.

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Saturday, 4 August 2018 "No Pressure, Just Promise" by Mike Rhodabarger - Hebrews 4:1-13.
Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, let us be terrified of the possibility that, even though the promise of entering his rest remains, any one of you might be judged to have fallen short of it; 2 for Good News has also been proclaimed to us, just as it was to them. But the message they heard didn’t do them any good, because those who heard it did not combine it with trust. 3 For it is we who have trusted who enter the rest.
It is just as he said,
“And in my anger, I swore
that they would not enter my rest.”[Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11]
He swore this even though his works have been in existence since the founding of the universe. 4 For there is a place where it is said, concerning the seventh day,
“And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”[Hebrews 4:4 Genesis 2:2]
5 And once more, our present text says,
“They will not enter my rest.”[Hebrews 4:5 Psalm 95:11]
6 Therefore, since it still remains for some to enter it, and those who received the Good News earlier did not enter, 7 he again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David, so long afterwards, in the text already given,
“Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts.”[Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7–8]
8 For if Y’hoshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later of another “day.”
9 So there remains a Shabbat-keeping for God’s people. 10 For the one who has entered God’s rest has also rested from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Therefore, let us do our best to enter that rest; so that no one will fall short because of the same kind of disobedience.
12 See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword — it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart. 13 Before God, nothing created is hidden, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. (Complete Jewish Bible)

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A good rule of thumb to live by is to avoid those pressure advertisements that urge, “Act now or lose it forever.” The promise of good fortune, according to the announcer, is only for a limited time. Some commercials even go so far as to put a count-down clock on the screen to show how much time is wasting away while you are trying to make the decision to buy or pass.
There are two spiritual perspectives to view here. First, God does not pressure us like the commercials do. God is gentle and patient; he will allow you to make your choice- righteous or evil. Second, God has no “pressure gimmick time-clock” other than life itself. God’s rest is available for all who would cry out to him no matter how far they have run or deep into sin they have gone. However, we must heed the gentle caution of the writer of Hebrews. While God does not pressure us into his rest, time will eventually run out. God’s promises of eternal rest are true but let us not fall short by failing to enter it now.
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Hymn for Today: "Near to the Heart of God" by Cleland Boyd McAfee.
1. There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God.
2. There is a place of comfort sweet,
near to the heart of God,
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God. 
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God.
3. There is a place of full release,
near to the heart of God,
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God. 
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God.Thought for Today: Yeshua said to him, “What do you mean, ‘if you can’? Everything is possible to someone who has trust!” (Mark 9:23b)! (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: That many people in Sierra Lekne will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKadosh.

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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Friday, 3 August 2018 "Hope Is a Verb" by Mike Rhodabarger - Romans 12:9-18.
Romans 12:9 Don’t let love be a mere outward show. Recoil from what is evil, and cling to what is good. 10 Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect. 11 Don’t be lazy when hard work is needed, but serve the Lord with spiritual fervor. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly in prayer. 13 Share what you have with God’s people, and practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you — bless them, don’t curse them! 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be sensitive to each other’s needs — don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but try to do what everyone regards as good. 18 If possible, and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all people. (Complete Jewish Bible)

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Did you know that you can hear a smile? Try it. The next time you are on the phone with someone listen for their smile. I promise, it works. That same principle applies to hope. Hope is an emotion; it is a feeling deep inside that allows us to press on even in the toughest of times. Logically, it shouldn’t be something we can see, but it, too, is tangible.
Today's passage suggests that hope is more of a verb than a noun. The hope we have in Christ is the kind of hope that simply cannot be contained. Yes, it is easy to be joyful in hope but that same hope is what drives our patience. They say “don’t pray for patience.” We don’t need to; we have His faithfulness from yesterday that gives us assurance for today. We have hope not because he promises to get us through tomorrow but because he brought us through yesterday. When your hope feels diminished, relect on your spiritual journey and count your blessings. You see, hope is a verb. It is an outward expression of what is true inside. That expression is your testimony, so do be joyful in your hope.
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Hymn for Today: "Count Your Blessings" by Johnson Oatman Jr..
1. When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. 
Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. 
Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
4. So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.Thought for Today: May God, the source of hope, fill you completely with joy andshalom as you continue trusting, so that by the power of theRuach HaKodesh you may overflow with hope. (Romans 15:13)! (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Sanwegal.

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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Thursday, 2 August 2018 "Heaven’s Got Talent" by Mike Rhodabarger - Mark 10:17-31.
Mark 10:17 As he was starting on his way, a man ran up, kneeled down in front of him and asked, “Good rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?” 18 Yeshua said to him, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good except God! 19 You know the mitzvot — ‘Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony, don’t defraud, honor your father and mother, . . .’”[Mark 10:19 Exodus 20:12–13(16); Deuteronomy 5:16–17(20)]20 “Rabbi,” he said, “I have kept all these since I was a boy.” 21 Yeshua, looking at him, felt love for him and said to him, “You’re missing one thing. Go, sell whatever you own, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!” 22 Shocked by this word, he went away sad; because he was a wealthy man.
23 Yeshua looked around and said to his talmidim, “How hard it is going to be for people with wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 The talmidim were astounded at these words; but Yeshua said to them again, “My friends, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 It’s easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” 26 They were utterly amazed and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Yeshua looked at them and said, “Humanly, it is impossible, but not with God; with God, everything is possible.” 28 Kefa began saying to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Yeshua said, “Yes! I tell you that there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, 30 who will not receive a hundred times over, now, in the ‘olam hazeh, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and lands — with persecutions! — and in the ‘olam haba, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first!” (Complete Jewish Bible)

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Television talent shows are amazing. There are young people across America sitting in their rooms gifted with talent, then someone invents a show giving the youngster a chance to be introduced to the world. I am truly in awe at the abilities of these young people. However, the percentage of those who “make it” is extremely low. Thousands audition, one wins. But the hard work pays off for that one.
Hard work does not earn the victory for heaven, however. Certainly, living for Christ is not easy, it is difficult and it does take dedication and hard work. However, the power for holy living was made possible by God alone. God’s standards are unsustainable unless we are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to turn the other cheek, give to the poor, love those who hate you. The levels of commitment necessary for kingdom living and kingdom hope cannot be righteously adopted apart from God. We do not win the prize by earning it; we gain the prize by accepting that it was made possible by God through Jesus Christ. Amen! Oh, and the percentage of victors is much higher than that of talent shows.***

Hymn for Today: "Blessed are the Undefiled in Heart" by Isaac Watts.
1. Blessed are the undefiled in heart,
Whose ways are right and clean,
Who never from Thy law depart,
But fly from every sin.
2. Blest are the men who keep Thy word,
And practice Thy commands;
With their whole heart they seek the Lord,
And serve Thee with their hands.
3. Great is their peace who love Thy law;
How firm their souls abide!
Nor can a bold temptation draw
Their steady feet aside.
4. Then shall my heart have inward joy,
And keep my face from shame,
When all Thy statutes I obey,
And honor all Thy name.
5. But haughty sinners God will hate,
The proud shall die accursed;
The sons of falsehood and deceit
Are trodden to the dust.
6. Vile as the dross the wicked are;
And those that leave Thy ways,
Shall see salvation from afar,
But never taste Thy grace.
Thought for Today: In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. (Romans 12:2)! (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: That many people in Senegal will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKadosh.

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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Wednesday, 1 August 2018 "True Love Is Always Unfair" by Mike Rhodabarger - Jeremiah 32:30-44.
Jeremiah 32:30 For from their youth, the people of Isra’el and the people of Y’hudah have done only what is evil from my perspective; the people of Isra’el have done nothing but provoke me with what their hands make,’ says Adonai. 31 ‘This city has so provoked my anger and fury from the day they built it to this day that I ought to remove it from my presence, 32 because of all the evil that the people of Isra’el and the people of Y’hudah have done in order to make me angry — they, their kings, their leaders, their cohanim, their prophets, the men of Y’hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim. 33 They have turned their backs on me, not their faces; and although I taught them, taught them frequently, they have not listened so as to receive instruction. 34 Instead they put their detestable idols in the house that bears my name, to defile it; 35 and they built the high places for Ba‘al which are in the Ben-Hinnom Valley, to burn alive their sons and daughters to Molekh — something I did not order them to do, it never even entered my mind that they would do such an abominable thing — and thus they caused Y’hudah to sin.’
36 “Therefore, thus says Adonai the God of Isra’el concerning this city, of which you say that it is handed over to the king of Bavel by sword, famine and plague: 37 ‘I will gather them out of all the countries where I drove them in my anger, fury and great wrath; and I will bring them back to this place and have them live here in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and singleness of purpose, so that they will fear me forever — this will be for their own good and for the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant not to turn away from them, but to do them good; I will put fear of me in their hearts, so that they will not leave me. 41 I will take joy in them, so as to do them good. I will plant them in this land truly, with my whole heart and being.’ 42 For here is what Adonai says: ‘Just as I have brought this complete disaster on this people, so likewise I will bring on them all the good I have promised them. 43 Fields will be bought in this land, even though you say about it that it is desolate, devoid of human beings or animals, and given over to the Kasdim. 44 Yes, people will buy fields for money, sign the purchase contracts, seal them and call witnesses, in the territory of Binyamin, in the areas around Yerushalayim, in the cities of Y’hudah, in the cities of the hill-country, in the cities of the Sh’felah and in the cities of the Negev. For I will cause their exiles to return,’ says Adonai.” (Complete Jewish Bible)

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One word seems to pop up in my mind from verse 40: oxymoron. Oxymorons are fun to put together and certainly some come to mind right now. God inspires us to fear him and promises to never stop doing good to His people. Fear and goodness; we don’t often put those two together as a cause and effect from God’s love but it certainly should cultivate a holy and respectful fear in our hearts.
Here is another aspect about God that might be considered an oxymoron from human ideology: God relentlessly pursues those who sin against him. This is contrary to human logic since we are more likely to wash our hands of someone who has hurt us more than once. We declare, "He/she cannot be trusted"." Of course, God has no reason to trust us but in spite of our hostile nature toward Him he declares “I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety” (Jeremiah 32:37b). God’s love is illogical to finite minds. Holy love is unexplainable and unfair.
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Hymn for Today: "The Love of God" by Frederuck M. Lehman.
1. The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain: Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
2. When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song. 
Refrain: Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song. 
3. Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky. 
Refrain: Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song. Thought for Today: We ourselves love now because he loved us first. (1 John 4:19)! (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Sao Tome and Principe.

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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Tuesday, 31 July 2018 "He Can and Will" by Mike Rhodabarger - Jeremiah 32:16-29.
Jeremiah 32:16 After giving the purchase contract to Barukh son of Neriyah, I prayed to Adonai: 17 “Adonai, God! You made heaven and earth by your great power and outstretched arm; nothing is too hard for you. 18 You display your grace to thousands but also repay the guilt of the fathers into the lap of their children who follow them. Great, powerful God, whose name is Adonai-Tzva’ot, 19 great in counsel, mighty in deed! Your eyes are open to all the ways of human beings in order to repay each one according to his ways, according to the consequences of what he does. 20 You gave signs and performed miracles in the land of Egypt which continue to this day, also in Isra’el and among other people; thus you made yourself the reputation you have today. 21 You brought your people of Isra’el out of the land of Egypt with signs and miracles, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. 22 Then you gave them this land, which you had sworn to their ancestors that you would give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They entered and took possession of it; but they did not pay attention to your voice, did not live according to your Torah, and did nothing of all you ordered them to do. Therefore you made this complete disaster befall them — 24 the siege-works are already there; they have come to the city to capture it; and the city, by means of sword, famine and plague, is being handed over to the Kasdim fighting against it. What you foretold is being fulfilled; here, you see it, yourself. 25 Yet you, Adonai, God, have said to me, ‘Buy the field for money, and call witnesses; even as the city is being turned over to the Kasdim!’”
26 Then this word of Adonai came to Yirmeyahu: 27 “Look, I am Adonai, the God of every living creature; is there anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, here is what Adonai says: ‘I will hand this city over to the Kasdim and to N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel; and he will capture it. 29 The Kasdim who are fighting against this city will enter and set this city on fire; they will burn it down, including its houses, on whose roofs they offered to Ba‘al and poured out drink offerings to other gods, in order to make me angry.(Complete Jewish Bible)

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I have never met a Christian who doubted that God created the heavens and the earth. We marvel at the fact that the Supreme Ruler over all creation simply spoke creation into existence.
Yesterday we read that hope can be fleeting in a moment of tragedy. However, even in those daunting moments we embrace the fact that God is sovereign and we don’t doubt His power. We echo the sediments of Jeremiah by declaring “Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17). But faith is more than knowing He can. We can be inspired by the omnipotence of God but possibly question His will to get us through.
Someone once said “I know He can, but I’m not sure He will.” This is a painful place to be emotionally. God will get us through! If God can make the heavens and earth by his very voice, how much more can He declare victory for you in your trial? Let us challenge ourselves to hold to the fact not the feeling. The fact is you are a child of the King and He loves you too much to leave you now.***

Hymn for Today: "A Child of the King" by Harriet E. Buell.
1. My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
[Chorus] I'm a child of the King,
A child of the King;
With Jesus my Savior,
I'm a child of the King.
2. My Father's own Son the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by. [Chorus] I'm a child of the King, 
A child of the King; 
With Jesus my Savior, 
I'm a child of the King. 
3. I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth,
But I've been adopted, my name's written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown. 
[Chorus] I'm a child of the King, 
A child of the King; 
With Jesus my Savior, 
I'm a child of the King. Thought for Today: Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; before, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.[1 Peter 2:10 Hosea 2:25(23)] (1 Peter 2:10)! (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: That many people in Sao Tome and Principe will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKadosh.

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