Free From the Law (Galatians 3: especially vs 7, 09 13, 14, and 29 ESV)

 

If you've been able to surface from the vast deep ocean of living under a tightly controlled childhood or even years in a particular religious group that had rules and unwritten rules, you are beginning to find a breath or two of fresh air.  It feels just like that to read the book of Galatians.

Paul, the author, must have experienced such himself.  He had been a Pharisee of the Pharisees, at the top of that 'religious game'.  But now, now living through God's grace and by faith in Jesus Christ, he can live!  He can breathe!

And he wanted to share this good news with the believers in the Galatian assembly.

"Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham" (Galatians 3:7 ESV).

No matter if you are of Jewish or Gentile lineage, it is faith in Jesus Christ that counts.  It is NOT following a strict set of rules but living by God's Word and empowerment of indwelling Holy Spirit.

"So then," Paul continued to write, "those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith" (Galatians 3:9 ESV).

Then in verse 14 we read,

" ... so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith" (ESV).

All who have accepted Jesus as Savior have been

 "redeemed ... from the curse of the law" (see vs 13). 

 So why would we want to plunge ourselves back into the murky waters of legality and having to subject ourselves to law that did not save in the first place?

Whether Jew or Greek, we are all one in Christ and we ought not to be coerced into living a particular way according to manmade rules and regulations.

When we walk by faith and live by the Holy Spirit and get guidance from God's Word and obediently follow Jesus, we will be set free.  We will be able to come up for air and not continue to bob in the waters of uncertainty and bondage.  Jesus is our lifeline and He can draw us out to live an abundant life in Him - to be spiritually rich in a relationship with the One who will never leave us nor forsake us.

We who belong to Christ are 

"heirs according to promise." 

 Let's live in the freedom of this knowledge.

Amen?

So be it.

Thank You, Jesus!

                                       ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Galatians 3: especially vs 7, 9, 13, 14, and 20 ESV.

Sing, We Walk By Faith, along with Divine Hymns and Free from the Law, O Happy Condition, along with Baptist Hymnal.

No Add-On's (Galatians 2 ESV)

 

The other day at the supermarket we were accosted by two neatly dressed, complete with tie, young men of likely about 18-20 years of age.  They greeted folks in very freiendly manner and according to the  respective language group they thought a particular shopper might be of.  They were energetic and lively.

These young men could well put fundamental Christians to shame.  They believed and trusted in their message and were eager to share it with one and all.

Alas!  Their message is flawed.  If asked, they'd likely say, "It's all about Jesus," or "It's Jesus alone."  But if you ever do a very cursory search to see some of their beliefs beyond that, you'll discover that they do not believe that God's grace and salvation through Jesus Christ is enough.

They add on, 'works.'  Thus their enthusiastic mission work as seen in front of that supermarket.  Or they show up in parks where people are jogging or enjoyoing the peace of the park's ambience, to share their message.

The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ as delivered to the apostles and then Paul has been altered.  Take a look at the book of Galatians where certain factions were trying to stick their oar in where it should not have been.  They too, were "adding on."

Paul wrote,

"We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified" (Galatians 2:15-16 ESV).

We are justified by our faith, NOT by our works.  To insist that our own works must be part of the salvation equation is erroneous. When we realize this truth, the truth will set us free from the bondage of working to earn our salvation.

No doubt,  we are saved through faith and not through works,

"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

What's more, we learn from the book of Romans that,

"... we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law"                          (Romans 3:28 ESV).

Works, no matter how good and how well done they may be, do not save us, they do not justify us before God.  In fact, we are saved for the purpose of doing good works,

"which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

after our salvation experience.

So to coerced believers to believe they need to do works in order to earn complete salvation is false doctrine.  When folks want to add on to God's perfect plan of salvation, His free and perfect Gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone, be wary.

Remember, it is

" ... not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mrecy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost"               (Titus 3:5 KJV).

Discern through Holy Spirit empowerment what the truth is.  As Paul wrote in Galations 2:21 ESV,

"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."

Let's not add on to God's truth.

                                                 ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Galatians 2 ESV.

Sing, In Christ Alone, along with Hadleigh Baptist Church. 

Lord's Day Devotion - Free Indeed (Galatians 4)

 How does a follower of Jesus Christ prove his or her devotion to Him and to the true gospel of salvation by grace and through faith in Him?  And, is this grace and faith actually enough to save us, to make us safe, sure and happy?

This is the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul preached.  Those who trust in Jesus and His work of salvation never have to work to earn and/or keep our saved condition.  Any work we do for Jesus is only because of our faith, love and honor and gratitude for Him.  Absolutely none of our good deeds work to secure our everlasting life and salvation.  Of this we can be sure.

Another thing we can be sure of is that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  He never fails (see Hebrews 13:5 and Zephaniah 3:5).

So when the Judaizers began to bully the Galatians by saying they had to be circumcized, forcing them to kowtow to the Law that never saved them but only showed up their sins instead, Paul had to talk sense into them.

Confused and bewildered by the false teachers, Paul had to reassure them, you are sons and the Spirit of God's Son is in your hearts and cries "Abba Father".  Hang on to this, brothers and sisters-in-Christ!

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit"               (Titus 3:5-7 ESV).

We are Jesus' heirs

 "according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7 ESV).

Grab ahold and hold tightly on to this in your minds.  Let it trickle down to your hearts and bring you peace and assurance.  It's by faith alone.  All you had had to do was believe it for yourself.

Don't make yourself slaves again

 "we are not chidlren of the slave but of the free woman".  

We are children of the promise (see Galatians 4:31 ESV).

Let this knowledge seep into our core, loose the chains of the old creation.  Be set free in our minds and hearts because what the

"Son sets free, we are free indeed!"

This can change our whole outlook.  Live and move in the knowledge of this freedom in Christ!  This will show our devotion to Him and the true gospel of salvation by grace and through faith in Him.  Let the heavy burden down.

Praise the One who died for you!  And this Lord's Day, remember Jesus.  Partake of the broken bread.  Drink from that cup of wine and so remember Him in His death and resurrection.  Bask in the freedom you have in Christ, then praise, worship and serve Him, until He comes.

                                                     ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Galatians 4 ESV.

Sing, Who You Say I Am, along with Hadleigh Baptist Church/Hillsong.

My Protection Source (Psalm 48 ESV)

 

Psalm 48 is a comforting psalm.  Verse 3 took my attention, especially.  Even though Zion and the city of the great King had citadels and was a fortress, the security and protection did not come from them alone.

NO.  The key Protection, or should we say, 'Protector,' was God Himself.  In this psalm, His name is also addressed as LORD, great King, and the LORD of hosts.  This is the source of power and protection that is established and will last forever and ever.  

And ...

"He will guide us forever" (vs 14 ESV).

Some trust in horses, or cars, in crops, money and possessions but we can trust in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We trust and joy in our God who never fails (see Psalm 20:7; Zephaniah 3:5).

Lord, keep our hearts ever cleaving to You.  May we trust in You alone, and never be afraid.  You are our shield and protection in life and even in death because of the everlasting life You earned on our behalf.  Thank You!  It's only in Your precious name we pray Lord Jesus.  Amen.

                                               ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Psalm 48 ESV.

Sing, In Whom I Can Trust, along with Grace Assembly of God.

Be A - Lert! (Galatians 1: especially vs 23 & 24 ESV)

 May God's peace guard your heart.  May God's truth guide your heart.  May His love cocoon your heart and keep you ever on course towards Him and His people through the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians 13:14 KJV).

And as we turn our eyes to the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians may God's grace and peace continue to be with you.  Let's not be diverted from God's truth that will always set us free should we embrace it and guard against false teachings.

Let us not be diverted from the truth we originally were taught, instead, grow in the faith delivered to us to deliver us from this ...

" ... present evil world" (Galatians 1:4 ESV).

When those domineering or even passive agressive people come among a congregation of followers of Jesus Christ, demanding all to follow their way, don't become manpleasers.  This will turn you away from being a servant of Christ.

Your personality will not be so Christlike but become that personlike; that one, or group of false teachers'-like.  You are not free then.

What the Son reveals and sets you free from, don't become entangled in again.  Don't glorify those leaders who will lead you astray.  This is idolatry of another kind.  

Glorify God.

The apostle Paul went through many excruciating experiences as he strove to bring the truth to the Gentiles, the Galatians included.  His beginnings was that of a man who hated the Jesus people and he tried to exterminate them.  But He was arrested by God.  He was directed to Jesus!  He was humbled.  He was given his mission to preach Jesus to the Gentiles!

He received this commission,

"through a revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12).

And this was NOT a "man's gospel"!

His credentials, were pristine.  He'd become an apostle,

"not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father ... (Galatians 1:1 ESV).

What further proof of his authority and right to preach and teach and guide them into God's truth could they want?  After all that, how could they desert Paul and

 "turn to a different gospel" (vs 6) - 

and that, one that chained them up again!?

Furthermore, all the stories other churches of Judea had heard about Paul's former life - the life as a persecutor, but who was now

 "preaching the faith he once destroyed" (vs 23 ESV), 

and they marveled over it.

"And they glorified God because of [Paul]" (vs 24 ESV).

Was this enough evidence, do ya think?  It looks like Paul continued in the vein of establishing his credentials in order to kick some sense, graciously, yet firmly, into the Galatians hearts and minds.  He wanted them to think it through.  Whom had the unadulterated truth?  Was it what Paul brought and taught to them, or was it those trying to chain them up again with rules of which there may well have been many unwritten ones binding the believers in fear to keep them under the thumb of the domineering false teachers.  Like a power play to keep the rest subordinate and subservient.

I really like verse 24,

"and they glorified God because of me."

Paul's change of heart, and shall we loosely say, 'personality' because he'd gone through so much but still had become more and more like Christ, is what caused the churches of Judea to glorify God and how He'd worked it out in and through Paul.

Paul preached the faith he once persecuted.  Only God could have wrought such positive and permanent change in a person.

Do you feel like dancing and praising the Lord too?

After all, we benefit from this change in Paul.  We have the letters he wrote that have taught believers all down through the ages since Paul's time to ours!

God is so amazing to preserve all of this for us now.  We ought not to waste it.  Examine God's Word.  Let it change us from the inside out and then we can preach it.

Let it also alert us to the false teachers that creep into our lives and congregations.  Our churches need 'lerts'.

Be a - lert!

                                             ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Galatians 1 ESV.

Sing, All My Boast Is in Jesus Christ, along with Matt Papa and Keith and Kristyn Getty.

I Would! (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV)

 Would you like to be a joyful person? 

 I would.

Would you like to feel acceptance without having to 'perform' or achieve certain goals before you are accepted for who you are and not for what you can do?

I would.

Would you like to be granted unearned grace?

I would.

We can have this in Jesus.

Would you like to have a more thankful character?

I would but I think I have to intentionally practice gratitude and thankfulness on a regular basis.

We are worthwhile creatures in Christ.  He can change me into His likeness as we build our trust in Him.  

Would you like the joy of the Lord to be your strength to be more like Him and have such a precious relationship with Him?

I would.

In Him we can have it all.  

Praise the Lord.

                                           ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on Nehemiah 8:10 ESV.

Sing, Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, along with Reawaken Hymns.

Free - Flow (Philippians 4:7 ESV)

 Irritations such as other road users who don't drive as well as we do (ha,ha) or children who can make us frustrated and bring out our impatience and anger, can be hindrances to free-flow fellowship with our Lord and Savior.

I don't know about you but I'd like to have that free-flow of fellowship with my Heavenly Father like Abraham and even Moses once had with Him.  It seems like it was so natural and easy for them.  

So what holds us back from this today?

Actually, we need to grab hold of our faith and believing in God, that He can and will and has already, clothed me with His Holy Spirit.  In Holy Spirit's strength I can overcome the interruptions and irritations of the daily grind.

Do you feel any resistance and/or skepticism to this ideal idea because of those road users, children, annoying colleagues and the like?

There are times we need to give up our rights.  Our rights to uninterrupted time, to not having to slow down when some car driver cuts in, in front of us, or when someone is not punctual to an event, and so on.

Free-flow fellowship with our Abba Father would confess those frustrations and anger and impatience.  It would forgive the 'intruders'.

As difficult as it may be, let's make peace with all that and praise our God from whom all blessings flow.  Let's crawl up into His arms, rest our head on His shoulder and bask in His love, calling Him, "Abba Father."

And say, "OK Lord, what shall I learn from this?  May your peace and joy be a mantle upon me and may I go in peace."

We can choose.  It's our choice.

                                              ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on Philippians 4:7 ESV.

Sing, Your Are My Peace, along with Faithful Sound.

Inside Out Personality Change (Galatians)

 Some people's personalities can change overtime.  They can change from sweet and carefree to troubled and grumpy, and the like.  What happens to make them thus?  Many things!!!

But let's look at some postivie direction in how our own persaonlities can change from the inside out.  But how they can change from not so good, to good, better and then best.

If you do a study of the book of Galatians, you could well have your mind renewed.  Operating less on ones own strength and more through the work of the Holy Spirit indwelling all followers of Jesus Christ.  In this way we can choose to allow the fruit of the Spirit to be released within us to full potential.  Indeed, we could then become ever more Christlike.

We can give our time and attention to working on these as we read through the book of Galatians and let the Lord work in our hearts as we apply its teaching.

Father God, in Your own time and way, bring this Holy Spirit change within me.  Let nothing prevent me from completing this journey from the inside out.  In Your Son Jesus' name, Amen.

                                             ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on the book of Galatians.

Sing, Holy Spirit, along with Jesus Culture 2021.

Prisoner Set Free (John 8:32-36 ESV)

 Do you ever feel like you are in prison; at least, mentally or emotionally?  That you are stuck and it's making you feel depressed?  You can't seem to look above the situation you are in?

And someone hints at, or you hear a sermon or see some reel about forgiveness vs bitterness with which someone tries to catch your attention.  May you be encouraged to see the postitive side by,

"Look[ing] to Jesus Christ".

Oi.  How to do that!  In what way!?

And you feel more resentment, resistance and self-pity turning into guilt and more imprisoning ... But you keep thinking ...

Does forgiveness really bring freedom and joy?  Will it loosen chains that bind my heart and mind and peace?

Don't stay 40 years in the desert.

Jesus came to set captives free (see Luke 4:18).

Look to His light.  Try it.  Look up to that window a way up in your prison cell where some sunlight filters in.

Reach for it.

Slowly.

Painfully, but surely.

Advance over obstacles to get there.

May God's truth set us all free.  Give it all to Jesus and seek His forgiveness.  Then forgive others as He enables you.

Be set free ...

                                                  ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on John 8:32-36 ESV.

Sing, Freedom Hymn, along with Austin French.  This may be a bit of a 'wild' song, albeit a Christian one.  Try to see the lyrics even if the music isn't your style.

Restoration and Perfection (2 Corinthians 13: especially vs 9, 11 and 14 ESV)

 

The Corinthian believers grew up in a very promiscuous society, and may even have engaged in such doings before their salvation.  Many had relinquished those practices but some still clung to them (read both 1 & 2 Corinthians to discover this).

They'd also grown up in an affluent society.  Many were very likely well-to-do.  Clinging to their wealth and hoarding it "just in case" of hard times may have led to their reluctance in giving monetary help when and where needed.  In this case, to the Jerusalem believers who were in dire straits.

Paul had to remind them at least three times to follow through on their initial desire to give such a gift.  He was trying hard to spur them on to love (with God's unconditional love) and good works (see Hebrews 10:24).

There was still work to do in their hearts and minds.  A work of perfection and restoration.  Paul told them to ... 

"Aim for perfection ... (2 Corinthians NIV).

Or as the ESV puts it,

"Aim for restoration."

He said that they prayed for it ...

"Your restoration is what we pray for" (2 Corinthians 13:9 ESV).

He wanted them to

 "Be perfect" (2 Corinthains 13:11 KJV).

When they could be restored in their souls and spirits, they'd be perfect. 

Grace, love and fellowship could be restored to the unity of the Spirit.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,"

Paul wrote and prayed (2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV).

May all of us reading this also have this aim:  restoration and perfection through Christ's grace; God's love and the Holy Spirit's fellowship.  Then may we follow through on our good intentions. In Jesus' name we ask.  Amen.

                                                  ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 13:especially vs 9, 11 and 14 ESV.

Sing, The Love of God, along with Reawaken.

Photo credits:  Jane Koh.

Book Review - My Son's Duty - By Roberta Kagan - Pulication Date: 8 July 2026

 

Roberta Kagan was 'on fire' with this historical work of fiction.  In my opinion, it was a blast from start to finish.  Her time frame for the book is during WWII and the setting is Hitler's Germany.  Besides the plight of the Jews and Gypsies which was horrendous, the ordinary Aryan, German citizen was also in a dilemma.  A case of 'do or die' was basically presented to them and if they did or did not comply to the ever-constrictive rules of Nazi Germany, their fate would be swift and sealed towards destruction right there alongside the Jews and other folks deemed 'undesirable' by the Nazi's.  It was a terrible choice.  What's more, if one happened to be a wife or a son of a diehard SS officer obsessed with promotions in the regime, it was even more dangerous.

This is the take in a nutshell I got and that I felt Kagan was highlighting so aptly.  I found my heart in my throat and tears in my eyes at the heartless, senseless, uncaring behavior.  But when there were those who cared, it was so heartening to see.

I'd say this Book 2 in the Duty and Betrayal series is very well done and more than satisfactory.  I'm holding my breath, waiting for the next in the series, which I hope to be able to read.

                                                    ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Book Review - Silence Sounds Simple - By Gary Golio - Publication Date: 7 July 2026

 Musically themed illustrations dance across the pages of this children's book.  I believe young readers will be drawn to it and curiosity will lead them through.

The book is based on the life of John Cage explaining his own unique way of 'hearing' silence and enabling audiences to 'hear' it too.  In my opinion, it has some intrigue.

At book's end a reader will be treated to an interesing and brief biography of John Cage's life.

                                             ~  Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger  ~

                                                           March 2026

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimetnary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Book Review - Conspiracy - By Colleen Coble - Publication Date: 7 July 2026

 

There are a lot of characters, good guys and the bad ones, to keep track of in this third and final book in the Sanctuary Novel series.  It kinda made my head spin to do so.  However, Hez and Savannah and Simon briefly appear.  One would have met them in the earlier books.  The main focus here though was upon Paradise, Blake, Drew and others as they track down who the killers of their parents had been.  Despite it having been a 'cold' case, suspicious things were still happening even 20 years down the road since the murders had taken place.

Scare tactics were employed, attempting to dissuade Paradise and team to turn away from investigating .  The meance escalates as one moves through the story.  Threads of romance, season the narrative and injections of faith actions such as prayer and the occasional references to God appear throughout.  I like that the read is clean and I didn't have to be on guard against descriptions of intimate interactions in bedrooms.

Discussion Question at story's end touch on issues alluded to in the story creating a nice helpful summary should one take the time to answer them.

                                        ~  Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger  ~

                                                            April 2026

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Read review on Goodreads.

The Third Time (2 Corinthians 12 ESV)

 It's about the third or fourth time in a row I've read 2 Corinthians 12 in the past couple of days.  It didn't seem to speak to me.  It did amuse me, although it isn't really a laughing matter.  Finally, I pinpointed something Paul had to say in verse 14.  He started ...

"Here for the third time I am ready to come to you.  And I will not be a burden to you..." (2 Corinthians 12:14 ESV).

It's like something we'd say to our children when we've had to repeat ourselves.

Anyway, it struck me as ironic.

Those who were generally more able to give were dragging their feet with it.  Paul was giving them quite a reprimand.

Today, we too may be wishing to do some things to serve the Lord but are holding back for whatever reasons, some of which may be unreasonable.  They're just excuses that ought to be overcome.  Grow up like Paul seems to be saying, be mature especially if we've been Christians for decades.  Don't have wimpy excuses when the Lord is nudging us to do something.  Let's be the initiative-takers to get on with it.

Serve the Lord with a willing, glad and joyful heart that freely gives even when we need to sacrifice our time and energy along with our money.

"So then as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).

Don't make the Lord have to ask you 3, 4, 5, or more times.  NOW, is the accepted time.

Lord, open my heart and mind to carry through on my intentions to serve you and/or to be giving as you lay it upon my heart to be doing.  I ask in Your precious name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

                                                    ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 12 ESV.

Sing, Be In Time, along with Squirrel.

Photo Credits:  Jane Koh.

Lord's Day Devotion - An Ever-flowing Stream

 

Have you ever stood on a bridge and just watched the water flow under it and away?  There's something mesmerizing about it.

A river stream flows around bends, curves, and rocks unceasingly, unless there's a severe drought, then the stream may well dry up.  If it's tidal ocean, passing under that bridge below your feet, that's something else.  It can be frightening.  There's danger there where a river appears calmer, a more pleasant association, but perhaps deceitfully so.  The pull of the flow may have equal strength to tidal currents.

As a child, my siblings and friends who lived on the non-school side of the bridge, had to walk to and fro across that one lane connection.  All seasons of the year we'd traverse it.  All conditions, rain, snow, sleet or sun.  It could be slippery.

At times we'd stop and watch the water especially when the tide came in to that Atlantic Ocean inlet.  The water channel narrowed at that bridge site and the water would forcefully, 'squeeze' itself through.

We'd look down at that rushing, swirling, whirlpooling water and hear our parents' warnings in our heads.  It definitely was not something to play with.  Although, kids being kids, if there was a fallen leaf or bird feather we'd found, we'd drop it over and watch it hurry fast away.  Even pebbles would rivet our attention as we'd mark how it too, would escape along from its entry point.

There was, absolutely, an ever-flowing stream of water, whether ebb or flow of those tidal waters.  Despite the different connotation this conjures up compared to a river's more congenial-looking flowing stream, there is an infinite aura to the concept of 'ever-flowing'.

In this case, it's about God's justice and righteousness. 

 "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24 ESV).

Amos was likely talking about a river's stream, but we can get his analogy.  He was pronouncing and prophesying coming judgement.  He told the Israelites that their peace offerings and their songs of praise and their musical harp instrumentals and melodies of supposed worship were something God was no longer listening to.  Judgement and the fulfillment of that sentence was at their doorstep.

Justice was rolling towards them.  Righteousness, like a swiftly flowing stream or like the fearsome Atlantic tidal water flow had arrived.  It could no longer tolerate the duplicity of their artificial, supposed worship, when their lifestyles were not in accordance with following God's laws from the heart.

They were self-pleasing rather than God-pleasing.  They'd had plenty of warnings, but justice now demanded its due.  Righteousness would make a clean sweep.  They would be sent into exile (see Amos 5:27 ESV).

There is a reckoning day coming for all the people of earth too.  That is why we plead, and warn,

 "Today,"

 yes, this very day,

 "is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). 

 NOW, it is the most favorable time.  

None of us know how long we have left on this earth.  And in a war zone most can count their remaining time by minutes or even seconds.  We need to prepare to meet our God (see Amos 4:12) before it is forever too late.  Our only hope is in Jesus.

We need to repent, sincerely, from the heart, of all our sins.  We need to confess them to God.  We need to accept the gift of salvation Jesus Christ achieved for us on the cross and through His death and resurrection.  It is by His grace we can be saved, through faith in Jesus Christ and all He has done for us (see Ephesians 2:8-9).

This gift from God and Jesus our Redeemer is a wonderful, ever-flowing stream in the here and now.  His justice He won for us through the injustice of a perfectly, righteous Jesus who knew NO sin, but was made sin for us.  He took the punishment we deserved.  He took my place.  He took your place.

In this way, His righteousness also flowed with His ever-powerful force through this act of love on His part.  He did this so He could make us righteous should we choose to accept this gift of salvation.

Will we continue to ignore this and go on our way headlong to the judgement day that's surely coming?  Or will we jump into this ever-flowing stream of God's justice and righteousness and forgiveness?  

Choose life, today!

Those of us who have already chosen, can now give Him our continuous, heartfelt thanks and praise as we remember Him and His work for us.  Reach now, this Lord's Day, for the broken bread and drink of that wine - the cup of remembrance.  Together, as an assembled-in-person congregation, we can joy in our God and our Savior in true praise and make our offerings in good conscience before Him.

All praise and glory be to the One who died for us.  He lives now.  May justice roll and righteousness flow in a steady stream in our hearts and lives, reaching out to others.   

Amen.

                                             ~  ERC  June 2025  ~

Based on Amos 5:24 ESV.

Sing, What Gift of Grace is Jesus My Redeemer, along with Song Choice.

                                         

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It's Your Call (Proverbs 22:6 ESV)

 

Phones aren't what they used to be ...

Growing up, my parents had a rectangular unit that hung on the wall.  It had a long, curly cord that attached itself to the phone and to the handset.  When anyone wanted to make a call, they'd lift that handset and listen for something called, "dial tone."

If you heard that then you could begin to dial the number.  On the middle of the wall unit was a dial that had finger-sized round holes.  There were 10 holes and the numbers began at the top with #1, of course, and circled around in a counter-clockwise arc.  Each of the holes had their own number, from 1-9 and the tenth hole was a zero.

You'd start the progress of ringing up the usually, seven digit number, by placing your index finger in the relevant hole and circling it up clockwise, until it came to a stop.  You'd let go, and the dial would rotate back to the resting position.  You'd do that for each subsequent number of the phone number.

Then you'd wait for the ringing sound to tell you you'd completed the dialing and it went through to the other side.  You just had to wait for the person on the other end to answer and pick up their handset and say, "Hello."  Then you'd talk.

If it was a good friend, you could talk for hours.  You'd sit, you'd strut and drift around your kitchen or dining room or whereever the phone was hung, tethered to the length allowed by that curly cord.  Sometimes, as you talked, you'd curl your fingers in and around that cord, or you'd see how far you could reach and still be connected and so on.  

Well, that's a thing of the past.  Now we have 'mobile' phones.  The tether is the reach of the internet signals.  That can be quite far from your homebase kitchen for sure.

Whether you call them mobile phones, or handphones, or cell phones, there are concerns we need to inform ourselves and our children and grandchildren about.  Some of these may be similar to the past, like scam calls, prank calls, or dirty men calls and the like.

Some of those 'old fashioned phones' phone calls could be amusing.  Like if there was someone else out there who coincidentally had the same name as you and you'd look up in the phone book that listed the cities' residents phone numbers, and you could see several names just like yours.

It was like that for my Dad.  It was an unusual surname so it came as a surprize when we started getting calls looking for the other one of the same name.

My Dad was a straightlaced, fundamental preacher  man.  The other man of the same name was a band drummer.  It got so that if the caller was looking for T___ R___, and we didn't recognize the voice, we'd ask, "Are you looking for T___ R___ the preacher or T___ R___ the drummer?

That could be fun but nowadays the phone concerns run deeper, I believe.  Well, I've recently been more informed as I was supposed to give a talk about this and I'd never really sat down and coalesced the good, bad and indifferent about handphones (the term I'll use) and how their usage today is quite over the top.

(Ironically, I just came across a blog entry I wrote on the topic back in 2018 for Mother's Day.  Some of the info is similar but I see but there is a slightly different angle here.)

So we can do a mini-survey.  Of the children you know, how many of them have handphones?  How long do they spend on them?  Is it easy to get them to stop playing with them?  Are their phones beside them when they do their homework and/or study for tests and exams?

Perhaps you can think of further questions like:  what are they watching or engaging in, who are they interacting with and so on?

If we love our children we will teach them to have good study habits, and self-controlled usage of those handphones.  Of course, we need to set the good example ourselves.  We must insist on it.

I recall something Charlie Kirk has said, which I learned from one of his videos.  He said that one day a week he tucks his phone away and doesn't touch it (unless there 's a very urgent matter).  He took a break from it and gave 100% attention to his wife and children.

Additionally, he said that he used a hard copy of the Bible while doing his devotions.  A pinging phone was a distraction, therefore he eliminated that problem by putting the phone aside and using an actual Bible book that he'd hold in his hands instead.

These are good practices we could adopt if we are willing.  Good and better habits will take time ot inculcate but 

"slow but sure wins the race" 

as the saying goes.

Teaching our children our findings in this is a good step forward in teaching them better phone habits.  Learning to read, write, do math and science are very important to life knowledge.  Consant bad-habit phone use will not allow that to happen very readily if at all.

So as mothers, fathers, grandparents or guardians, we will have to sacrifice our own time and effort to lead the way.  Yes,  we do, as parents, need time to relax but we can't afford to over extend the time.

Our chidlren are only young once and we cannot waste the time or opportunities to teach them the way they should go.  We need to be diligent and hardworking.

We need to sit beside our children as they do their homework, even if we don't understand it all.  They need to get the vibe that we care; even if they don't really appreciate us breathing down their necks at the time. 

I know of a mother whose children went to the Chinese medium school.  They had to learn to read and write Chinese and the local national language.  That mother only knew one language and it wasn't either one of the above mentioned ones.  She could only helplessly stand by.

Eventually she did find ways to engage and help.  She sat and endured and did what she could, making as sure as possible that they got the work done.  Only then could they go out and play.

That took a lot of time and patience in the daily grind of school and homework.  Yet in this way she could teach by action, discipline and self-control.

Of course, all this was mostly in the pre-dawn years of the explosion of hand phones.  Yet the principles can still be put into action, with parental determination and God-given authority taken hold of and executed.  These are things we can teach our children and grandchildren and that as we learn these lessons, they make Jesus happy.

There are some good and not so good points about handphones.  Some of the good are that education information is easily available.  The student can research school topics using the phone as a tool but not for extended gametime.  Our children do need relax time so a scheduled, limited time frame to play approved games, or chat with friends, can be allowed yet firmly stated and enforced.

Yes, parents  do need to be "the bad guy" at times.  Be that steadfast parent.  Remember, parenting isn't for sissies.

When children are well taught like this, they will hopefully also learn obedience as well as self-control.

Watching what our offspring watch or play should be monitored.  There are bad things about phone usage.

It can be as addictive as drugs.  There's lots of bad stuff available and easily accessed at our fingertips, just a click away.  If the children are not monitored, they could get into trouble.

Even the better stuff available, if watched in unlimited supply can alter the child's brain development and end up with learning difficulties akin to autism and the like.  There will be other difficulties too.

If they are unable to learn well, especially in foundational years of life, then good jobs will be out of their league.  They won't learn how to interact with others if there heads are continually bent over their phones, oblivious to all else.

There will be sleep disoders, eye problems, difficulties in carrying conversations with other people and realationships will not be good with parents and friends .

I listened to one sister report and show images of a person's brain that showed marked alteration of the brain mass, or perhaps it just hadn't properly developed in the first place (technical terms may not be correct here but hopefully you get the idea).

As mothers, fathers and even grandparents, let's proactively ...

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6 ESV).

In this way we will be able to build that needful relationship with our children.  We need to remove the phones from our hands and theirs, and look our children lovingly in the eyes.  We need to communicate intentionally with them.

They need to learn to pay attetnion and to respect each other when someone is talking with them.  Otherwise, the people or games or illicit content on the other end of the phone will teach them things they should not learn.  Generally speaking, good things will potentially not happen.

Verbal commumnication will be a huge challenge.  One can see it even in coffee shops where the babysitter and childminder is the phone.  I am pleased to report though that lately I've seen, on more than one occasion, at a table in restaurants where the children were actually putting Lego-like toys together whilst they were waiting for their food.  Some of the parents actually interacted with their children while the process was ongoing.  

That has a positive feel to it but if the other scenario is not addressed sooner in the children, it could well lead to mental and emotional problems.  This would be very sad and tragic.  I would not want this to happen to any of my children or grandchildren.

Would you?

It's your call ...

Don't let your phone ring in vain.

                                                      ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on Proverbs 22:6 ESV.

Adapted from a sharing, Part 2 of Loving Mothers.

Sing, We Teach Your Children along with Anointed Family and Train Up a Child, along with Kingdom Kids Arena.

For further issues:  The Children Are Watching.

The Children are Watching (Deuteronomy 6:5-9 ESV)

 

Mothers and Grandmothers gathered in.  At first only four or five appeared.  Then others drifted in, in two or threes with the occasional child in tow.

We discovered that many of these mothers had had upwards of 5-8 children each. Many had gotten married young, like in their teens or early 20's.  Some had even become a grandmother by the age of 40.   So motherhood was very real to them.

We had come to visit and share something with them about loving mothers; hoping it would be more of an exchange and interaction of shared experiences, and a mutual encouragement.  Both of us who'd come to visit were mothers and one already a grandmother as well.

After some prelimiary introductions, the question was asked,

"Who finds a mother's job easy?"

The general consenous was that no one did.  However, motherhood is a very important job, with many aspects to think about and to do for our children to grow them into responsible aldults.  

And of utmost importance, the spiritual growth.  Teaching them #1, who Jesus is and #2 teaching them to love and obey Jesus.  Additionally, to know and experience His presence always being with us and the childern, is also key.

But how can we get this message across the generation gap?  The verses in Deuteronomy are well-known verses that can give us a good idea of the 'how'.

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes, and you shall write them on your doorposts of your house and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:5-9 ESV).

Note verse 5 and the inclusiveness of how to love the Lord...

"All your heart..."

"All your soul..."

"All your mind..."

Everything we do and think about, we must do with Christ's love in our hearts, souls and might; the strength of our minds.

As mothers, we need to have it all in our hearts.  We have it first and only then can we teach it.  Teach it as we go along.  We teach diligently.

'Diligently,' meaning carefully.  Consistant persistance and being hard-working at our mothering.  I suppose this includes being intentional.  We have to keep at this work day after day.  We pay close attention and use a lot of effort.  We do this every single day.

We pay attention to our children's needs.  And it's not just the food and clothes and school.  These are important aspects of our loving care.  We also need to be very sure they know and love Jesus as well.

This is not just sending our children to Sunday School.  We must teach them at home too.

Like the verses explain, we must teach them...when we sit in our home; ...when we walk by the road or when tending to our paddy fields or garden, or rubber tapping.

Then some more again, when we lie down to sleep.  It starts all over again when we get up in the morning.

For example:

In Malaysia, there are insects with the layman's term, "rainbugs."  After a rain, these rainbugs come in a ccloud and circle around lights.  They will swarm into your home, at night, when you've got your lights on.

One easy way to get them out in a hurry is to switch off all indoor lights while leaving the outdoors' ones on.  Out those rain bugs will fly.  

Nevertheless, some will have fallen to the floor and become virtually helpless.  They crawl and hide.  That's when ants find them.  There may be upwards of 9 or 10, or more ants all pulling together to bring their 'catch' home to their hideout.  

These ants try very hard to take that one rainbug away.  It takes them time. It takes effort.  It is not easy for those ants.  The ants need to be patient.

And so we can call our children over to have a look, to observe.  They could learn about how to be patient.  Or the lesson could be about working together for a common purpose or goal.  Or just to live together in harmony, without sibling rivalry and the like.  They can each have a piece of that 'rainbug,' so to speak.

We can grab such opportunities to teach our Lord's standards and values of His kingdom, saying,

 "Come, come children, have a look."

Jesus would want us to learn these lessons ourselves too.  

Another example that can teach even longer patience and endurance, over extended time is growing rice.  It takes 3-5 months.

First the rice farmer needs to grow seedlings from starter 'seeds'.  This can take 15-30 days.  Then the seedlings need to be planted.  Depending on how many workers work one acre, it could take a couple or more days.

Then the months of tending the precious growing plants.  Pests such as rats, insects, birds and caterpillars have to be warded off.  It takes time and effort.

Good things we can tell our children, don't happen by magic.  It takes time and effort and patience.  This is somehting we need to learn too.

Then the harvest time arrives.  Depending on how many neighbors are willing to help, we were told, in one long day, one acre of rice could be harvested.  Otherwise, it could take 2-3 days or longer.

Once the rice is harvested, the job is still not done.  This is where teaching perseverence could join the lesson in patience.

There is threshing to be done, where the rice grains are shaken off the plant.  Winnowing that separates the good grains from the lighter ones and removes any unwanted debris, is the next step.  All this you can actually research online.  However, I did once try my hand at the threshing part.  It was not so easy.

It is a long process.  We can't grow weary and faint or give up because we need to eat.  Food doesn't come easy, we can tell our children and grandchildren.  This too, could make for a good lesson in work ethics and doing so diligently in ways that please the Lord.

Furthermore, we can say that Jesus never gave up either.  When He came to Earth from Heaven, think of how He was treated.  Not very well, and then He was crucified.  But He persevered in order to achieve the purpose for which He was sent to earth despite the pain, suffering and affliction.  He died so that we could live and have our sins forgiven.  He lives now so we know He is real and have a relationship with Him.

And now, back to the rice.  We are still not done...

It is at the stage where it can finally be cooked and eaten.

It is very precious food.

Our children and grandchildren are very precious too.  It takes lots of time and effort and years to tend and 'grow' a child into responsible adulthood and to know and love the Lord their God and Jesus their Savior.

This kind of patience is something we ourselves need to learn before we can teach our children.

Jesus loves it when we are patient.  After all it is one of the aspects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  

All this and more we can train ourselves to stop and think of other examples that include more than just about patience.  There is our Heavenly Father's kindness and goodness, and there's the joy we can have of obediently following Jesus.

Be alert to finding various lessons from our daily lives and the things that happen.  Use them to teach the children and grandchildren.

Besides God's Word and life experiences, there's the sermons the Sunday preacher preaches in church.  We don't have to memorize every word taught but we 'harvest' what is relevant to us, 'thresh' and 'winnow' how the Holy Spirit speaks to us in our respective circumstances.

What we've learned, then we share with the chidlren in our care in ways they can understand.  They will come to know you love Jesus and that He is special to you.  We then pray in the hope that they too will come to love Him as much as you do.

These are things a follower of Jesus Christ does.

Part of the Deuteronomy verse says to write God's Word on our frontlets and doorposts.   wasn't exactly sure what a 'frontlet' was so I looked up the word and discovered it refers to a band that goes across the forehead.

Some people still wear these.  Someone good at handicraft could create one with a message such as, "Jesus loves me."  This can serve as a good reminder that we are loved by Him even in a world that may seem not to love you.  We still have Jesus who will never leave us nor forsake us because He is the one who loves us (see Hebrews 13:5).

For 'doorposts' or even on our walls at home, we could prepare a text with which to decorate them.  It could be the Deuteronomy verses or your favorite ones.  You can have it there for your children and grandchildren, and one and all who enter, to see.

All of these have the potential to show our chidlren we value God's Word.  This too is a testimony to them as we tell and teach them of Jesus and His love for them; of how He has helped them in the past and how He is still helping you now.  

I'd like to end this somewhat lengthy blog entry by telling you a short blurb about our daugther.  She actually went to be with Jesus while she was still a baby.

She got very ill and we prayed.  But she didn't get well.  As I said, she went to be in the arms of Jesus.

Did my husband and I think Jesus could not heal her?

We believed that He could have.

In the Bible there are many examples of Jesus healing the sick, the lame, blind, the deaf and more.  He even raised people from the dead.  So I know and believe that He could have done the same for our baby girl.

So why didn't He!?

Did I get mad at God?

No.  I still trusted Him.  I trusted that He is good.  That He is doing what's best for my husband and me.

Of course, it really didn't feel like it at the time.  But I chose to trust He was doing good for us.  My sadness was very real for a long time.  In fact, even more than 30 years later something can still trigger tears.  But I'm ok.

Why?

Because my friend Jesus comforts me.   He lets me walk close to and with Him.   This is why I love Jesus and how I know He loves me.

And then I can keep living.

So be sure to tell these true stories that happen to you to your children and grandchildren.  And whether good or bad things happen to you, you'll still trust God and Jesus and contiue to love, honor, worship and serve Him diligently.

Your children are watching and will know how authentic you are.  Let's pray and encourage each other to continue continuing on in our loving mothers' mode, with sincere hearts until Jesus comes.

Amen.

                                                 ~   ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on Deuteronomy 6:5-9 ESV.

Sing, Count Your Blessings, along with Grace Community Church and Guy Penrod, and We Teach Our Children, along with Anointed Family.

Origianl Title:  Loving Mothers, adapted from a sharing with mothers and grandmothers in a rural village setting.

Fools & Foiled False Teachers (2 Corinthians 11: especially vs 3 & 28 ESV)

 

The mango looked so perfect.  The skin was the right shade of green.  When gently pressed to check for ripeness, it was the right softness.  When a strip of peel was lifted partially away, it exposed the plump flesh, which was a nice peachy orange.  The mango fragrance wafted out to us and we smiled in anticipation of tasting its goodness.

But, oh, ugh!  As more of the skin was peeled away, a mass of heaving worms was revealed.  We gingerly salvaged what we could and tossed the rest away in disgust.

This seems a perfect analogy that the apostle Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 11.  False teachers came in boasting of great and wonderful things, puffing themselves up.  They were so deceptively deceptive that at least some of the Corinthian congregation were being turned aside.

They had accepted it as God's truth.  But Paul firmly and almost fiercely, admonished them.  Don't be such fools as to be foiled by these false teachers!

They may sound good and have had difficulties but Paul had had ever so many more and this was in line of duty to bring the pure and sincere truth from the Lord to them.

He said,

"But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthiasn 11:3 ESV).

All Paul's hard work among them was being altercated, which caused him sleepless nights and anxiety on their behalf.  Satan is forever active and just as cunning since Eve.  Be wary and ever on guard, even today.

We need to ...

 " ... test the spirits to see whether they are of God ... " (1 John 4:1 ESV).

Let's watch out for false teachers.  We can ask the Holy Spirit to teach us and to alert us to them.  Let's know the truth of God's Word so well it helps us to detect and discern the false when it shows up.

Until then, may the truth set us free as we abide in God's word (see John 8:31-32).  This is how fools and false teachers can be foiled.

So be it.

Amen.

                                                     ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 11: especially vs 3 & 28 ESV.

Sing, Your Truth Sets Me Free along with David and Rachel, and Jesus is the The Way The Truth and the Life, along with be_still_studios.