THANKFUL

Wednesday November 4, 2020

Good morning, Lord.

Lord, if President Trump wins re-election, I will stand on Your unchanging truths of Psalm 119:165. If V. P. Biden wins, I will stand on Your unchanging truths of Psalm 119:165. “Great peace have those who love You and order their lives according to Your precepts. NOTHING will cause them to stumble.”

Amen, and so be it Lord Jesus.

Tuesday, November 03, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, we humbly thank You for allowing us to live in this great country where we have a say in our government. Billions over the world dream of the same privilege. Millions have given their lives defending the freedoms we enjoy. May we never take lightly this solemn obligation to preserve our democracy and protect our republic. May we cherish Your blessings and the blessings afforded by our liberties, knowing evil crouches in the wings to snatch our freedoms away. Forgive us for wandering in the wilderness and neglecting to live by Your precepts. In repentance, may we turn our hearts toward You, Lord. And when we’re alone in the voting booth, may we call on Your Spirit to guide us in implementing James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Our prayer is to humble ourselves and seek You to live under Your blessings and to be a blessing to all nations (Acts 3:25).

Humbled to be living in the blessings of God and America, Amen.

Monday, November 02, 2020

Lord, Your followers need to fall on their knees to do some serious praying. Tomorrow we decide the outcome of the most uncivil election in our lifetime. Human efforts to solve America’s problems have failed with every attempt. One political party cannot eradicate the hatred, vitriol, and lies, nor can having our preferred candidate elected be a cure-all for the maladies plaguing America. We pray any civil unrest or violence will be quickly stopped and law and order will prevail. Regardless of our feelings or strong emotions toward one candidate or political party, we must pray Your will is done in this election. According to Romans 13:1–7, You set up rulers and leaders. If we as a people, and individually, repent and turn to You, only You can heal our land and set us on the right path. We will do our part to vote, but we pray Your will is done. And give us peace and grace to accept the outcome if it is not what we wanted.

Trusting and accepting Your will is done, Lord God, amen.

Friday, October 30, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, this culture of fitting in with the herd if you want to be accepted is really getting old. By the world’s standards, Christ-followers are misfits simply because we belong to You. Because we’re not members of their “enlightened” godless group, they judge us as having little worth. Help me, Lord, to suppress my strong carnal desire to hold them with contempt, but instead, help me pray for their spiritual “enlightenment” to see who You really are. Sadly, they embrace every new whim or fad that comes along, looking for significance, but the relevance they seek seems always just out of reach. How sad their self-worth depends on how others, who are seeking the same acceptance, view them.

But not so for Christ-followers. We have a peace and contentment they do not have. We’re free from the world’s pressure to fit their mold since our self-worth and relevance is based on Your love for us and Christ’s sacrifice. You replaced our sinful, self-centered selves with Christ’s righteousness (Philippians 3:9), gave us a peace that the world could not give (John 14:27), instilled in us a hope for this life that is not fleeting (Jeremiah 29:11), gave us everything we need to live a life that pleases God, freely given by God’s own power, when He invited us to come to Him and be a part of His kingdom (2 Peter 1:3).

This world is so fickle. I’m thankful to be identified as one of Yours, Jesus. Thank You for making me a part of Your Kingdom. Amen

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“Searching for Water”

My wife, Mrs. Aggie, handed me her list. “Kroger should have everything.”

“Okay, babe.” I quickly eyeballed the list. “See ya next week. . . I hope.” Going to the super Kroger near our home reminded me of the Lewis and Clark expedition of the new frontier. They explored the wilderness for years looking for stuff.

“Be sure to get the coconut water. And make sure it’s organic,” she added emphatically. “I sent you a picture on your phone.”

“Yes, dear.” She probably heard me mumbling under my breath about what the heck is coconut water. Everyone, including your humble Aggie scribe, has heard of coconut milk, but coconut water? And organic? What does an organic coconut look like anyway? Do organic coconuts wear head beads? Perhaps I should look for a “Coexist” sticker plastered on the end? Look for a coconut with a built-in water filter? Will the label identify the coconut as farm raised, or grass-fed? Free-range organic coconut?

I found almost everything on Mrs. Aggie’s wish-list with no problems. Every item on the list was checked off except one: coconut water. And if I knew what was good for me, I’d better not come home with just any ordinary coconut water. It had to be organic. Kroger advertises they stock everything from canned goods to used auto parts to Cleveland Browns head coaches. Lewis and Clark would have had trouble finding water here.

“Am I just wandering in circles,” I thought, as I navigated through the maze of aisles. Finally, I struck water, so to speak. As I stood in the middle of the water aisle, I looked to my left, and then to my right. The aisle disappeared over the horizon. As far as the eye could see, the shelves bulged with different sizes and colors of bottled water. Cases of drinking water were stacked higher than Lebron James could reach even if he were standing on a ladder. “Where do I start?” I thought. Is this how Moses felt, standing before the Red Sea, staring at the water? Did his jaw hit the ground when he raised his staff and the waters parted? Maybe if I held up my cell phone, all the waters would fall off the shelves except for the organic coconut water. Then again, maybe not.

My hatred for all things coconut, even coconut pie, increased. When I realized this search could take some time, I regretted not bringing a change of clothing.

“Did you forget about Me?”

“Oh, hi Jesus,” embarrassed He had to remind me of His presence.

“I’m here to help you in all things, even searching for water,” the Holy Spirit said. “Remember what Mark wrote in his Gospel, ‘There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light’” (Mark 4:22). So, I threw up a simple prayer, “Lord, lead me to this organic coconut water thingy.”

I didn’t take two steps before God answered my prayer. Stacked on the shelf before me, at eye level, were the bottles of coconut water like pictured on my phone. Wow! Stamped in bold red letters in the middle of the carton, the word ORGANIC stood out. I smiled and gently shook my head. “God, You are so good!” Years ago, we sang a hymn, “I stand, I stand in awe of You . . .” Shoppers must have thought I was in a drug-induced trance, with this weird smile, staring at coconut water, singing about Jesus. How amazing. God led me straight to what I was looking for.

It’s true. God cares about all things happening in our life, big or small. He asks to be a part of all we do, whether it’s grocery shopping, performing our jobs, raising children (we really need help here), serving in church. God desires we allow His Holy Spirit to lead us in all our ways, even the way to organic coconut water. How many times have I neglected to ask the Holy Spirit, this great power God places within every Christ-follower, to help me?

“Did you get everything?” my queen asked as I walked in. “Even the coconut water?”

“Sure ’nough, girl. You know you can always count on me.”

“Are you gonna tell her?” the Holy Spirit said.

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“Lord, may I always call on the Holy Spirit’s help. You know how clueless I am, often not aware of the blessings around me. Open my eyes to see You working for my good. I trust in Your power, Jesus. Amen.”

Stay close to Jesus,

Jimmy

P.S. “For an Aggie, you did good,” Mrs. Aggie patted my head. “I see this is cage-free coconut water.”

© Jimmy Eskew 2018

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, worrying is an ancient art that mankind has perfected. Even those whom You have redeemed, it can become a full-time job just to suppress the urge to fret over events and circumstances out of our control.  Psalm 37 details how King David, “a man after Your own heart” (Acts 13:22), struggled with worry but found hope in Your goodness. “Do not fret because of those who do evil, or envy their successes,” God told him. “Like the grass, they will soon wither, like green plants, they will soon die away.” The worries of today are like the worries of ancient times. The pains inflicted upon us by those who practice unrighteousness are temporary. For Christ-followers, we’re assured You are in control of all things, Your ways are so different than our ways. Unrighteousness brings hardship, yet for Your people, these hardships build our faith and develops more Christlike character as we see You acting in unexpected ways. We rest in Your promise that “the unrighteous will fail in their ways, but the meek [obedient] will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity” (Psalm 37:11). My prayer, Lord, is that worrying about things out of my control becomes a thing of the past.

Breathe peace to Your people, Lord, and let the uncertainties of today not weigh us down. Thank you, Jesus, Amen.

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Lord, we pray for You to act decisively to change our negative circumstances and deliver us from pain and discomfort. We have heard misguided religious pundit say we’re not supposed to have these kinds of problems. Come to Jesus and watch your troubles disappear? Isn’t that a benefit of serving You—we skip and dance through this life trouble-free, all the way to Heaven. Poor health? You’ll never be sick again! Financial shortages? Dollars from heaven! Troubled relationships? Everyone sings “Kumbaya” now.

When we study Your Word, we see where that nonsense comes from—the enemy of our soul. May I step out on a limb here, Jesus, and say You are more interested in changing me in my circumstances than changing the circumstances I find myself in. You remind me I cannot grow unless I face adversity. Let me restate that, Lord: You remind me that by Your grace, when I face adversity, I cannot grow spiritually unless I depend on Your strength and the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. Despite physical and emotional suffering, let me experience the joy of my salvation, knowing these troubles will only produce in me more Christlike character and enduring faith (Romans 5:2–5).

Praising You in all circumstances, Jesus. Amen.

Monday, October 26, 2020

Lord, You are the God whose promises enable us to eventually thank You for the broken times we all experience. The stings of disappointment, off-guard betrayals, or getting another view from under the bus are real, whether it’s for those who follow You or for those who reject Your precepts as irrelevant. The arrogant and the narcissist, who in their darkest hours only seek revenge, grow darker. But all who call on You with humility and contriteness (Psalm 34:28; 51:17), receive grace to carry on and find hope of the assurance they will sing and dance again. The soul who has been broken has a greater appreciation of Your grace and mercy and serves You joyfully. Thank You, Lord, that Your Spirit strengthens me to forgive those who wronged me. Thank you, Lord, that from our deep wounds comes spiritual growth, a greater sensitivity of Your presence in all circumstances, and godly character. Thank You, Lord, that when You bring the hurting and downcast into our lives, our message of hope restored is powerful, coming from a sincere and thankful heart. Thank You, Lord, that the hope we find in You allows us to live our God-given destiny in this world. And because You, our heavenly Father, raised Jesus from the grave on Easter Sunday, our life is found in Jesus, our Living Hope (Acts 17:28).

Amen.

Friday, October 23, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, for Christ-followers, how assuring to know You are for us and not against us (Romans 8:31) When I stumble in this fallen world, whether accidently or intentional, my sinful actions displease You. The devil quickly jumps on my case, lying how You are ready to write me off again as a lost cause. It’s true my sins displease You, but You are not displeased with me. Jesus Himself is defending me before You in Heaven’s Court. “But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). Jesus willingly swapped His righteousness not just for my sins, but also the sins of everyone who has walked this earth. That’s why You state clearly, “There is now no condemnation for those who placed their faith in Jesus Christ” (Romans 8:1). What a joy to know You claim me as Your own, Lord.

Thank You, Lord, that despite my weaknesses, You never give up on me. Therefore, I can pray in Jesus’ authority and power, Amen.

“Good Luck Flaunting the Law”

Some laws can be ignored, broken with little, if any, consequences. For example:

• In Colorado, tags may be ripped off pillows without fear of fine or imprisonment. But I become a hardened criminal if I yank off pillow labels in Oklahoma. However, the chances are slim-to-none the pillow police will throw me in the slammer for possession of an illegally altered-pillow(s).

• In Nevada, the law is clear: No! —You cannot buy drinks for more than three people at a time. Meh! I can flaunt that ordinance and be the most popular guy at the bar and never fear apprehension by the LCB.

• I’m blessed to live in Fort Worth, Texas and not in Maine. In the land where man and moose are friends, people become lawbreakers if they leave their Christmas decorations up after January 14th. Not so in Cowtown! The icicle lights hanging on the Aggie homestead in August remind our neighbors that cooler weather is just around the corner. And the City of Fort Worth has never threatened me with a stiff fine for leaving the lighted, plastic Santa Claus in the chimney year-round.

Other laws cannot be broken and gotten away with. For example:

• If I jump off the roof (removing the plastic Santa), despite flapping my arms at 500 strokes per second, the law of gravity prevails.

• If I drive 38 mph in a 30-mph zone in Sonora, Texas, officer Medrano wins. • Another immutable law: if you own a computer, you must have a back-up system since you will have a failure at some time.

While writing another Pulitzer Prize winning story, your humble Aggie scribe stepped away to refill an ever-emptying coffee mug. In the brief moments I was away, Microsoft did an unwanted automatic update on my computer. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. Frustrated, I waited till the updates were completed, hoping my inspiration would not slip into never-never land. I rebooted and resumed writing my suspense-filled, inspirational story. As I hammered on my keyboard, I noticed something different. The praise and worship music, which plays softly while I write, wasn’t singing the glories of God. Although the YouTube videos were playing, there was no audio. Even the ‘volume’ icon was missing.

Hmmm. “What has Bill Gates done to me now? A pox upon him!”

I put on my computer-geek hat and navigated through the computer but failed to un-date the updates. After banging my head in frustration, I did what I should have done in the first place: I called Mrs. Aggie. With her computer skills on display, we left-clicked and right-clicked more windows than featured in a Pella® catalogue. Finally, success. We high-fived, rebooted and waited . . . and waited. Nothing. Just a blank screen.

We needed a miracle and called technical support. God answered our prayer. A technician named Morgan, who spoke excellent English (first miracle), immediately answered (second miracle). We were not on hold for three days (third miracle).After explaining our problem, Morgan guided us through more computer tests, but the results were the same. “I suspect the hard drive has failed,” he said with a funeral-drige tone. “You need to send me your computer for repair.”

Words not used in Sunday school lessons wandered through my mind.

“It’s a good thing you have a back-up,” Morgan said.

My awkward moment of prolonged silence became noticeable.

“You do have a back-up, don’t you?”

“Err . . . well, no . . . not really,” I stuttered. “But I have a few files on a memory key, though,” I said, hoping to save face. Morgan’s awkward moment of prolonged silence became noticeable. “Ohhh,” he finally muttered. “You’re not a very smart Aggie, are you.”

I no longer considered Morgan’s English to be excellent.

I broke the computer-world’s law of failing to back-up my hard drive. If indeed the hard drive failed, I lost all my stories for my book, “Jesus Just Cracks Me Up!” Gone were the research files for manuscripts I have underway. My email contacts disappeared. Writers’ websites went AWOL. Everything wiped clean, joining all of Hillary’s missing documents in cyberspace.

I resigned myself that I’d have to start over with my writings and stories. The devil didn’t do it. I can’t blame Congress, climate change, or Skipper, my mischievous dachshund, for eating the hard drive. I have no one to blame but myself for my foolish procrastination to get a back-up system.

But God is good. It’s not like I lost everything as Job, the Old Testament Patriarch, did. Job trusted God even though he lost all his possessions, health, and family. Amid his indescribable great losses, Job offered sacrifices of praise and worship. God rewarded his faithfulness and restored to Job twice what he lost.

Jesus reminds me not to worry about the future since He implemented a back-up plan for my life. Whatever I may lose, or should I say what I [release], for Christ’s sake in my earthly journey, the joy of knowing God and having His presence in my life surpasses what I willingly gave up (Philippians 3:8). Best of all, Jesus’ back-up plan is guaranteed never to fail. None of His eternal promises on His hard drive are lost. Sounds like a good plan to me. God’s promises caused me to worship Him despite the possibility I’d lost all my data. I may or may not recover the data, but either way, God is good.

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“Thank you, Lord Jesus, for having a back-up system for each of us. Your back-up plan never fails, and Your firewall is failproof.”

Stay close to Jesus.

Jimmy

P.S. Morgan updated my computer with an air bag that deploys if the hard drive crashes again. This protects my good looks when I bang my head against the screen.

Jimmy Eskew © 2017