THE DIVINE PARADOXES

THE DIVINE PARADOXES The heart is deceitful above all things. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 The sin of our fallen nature is a profound mystery. We read about the mystery of sin as well as the mystery of salvation in Jesus; and both have depths, lengths, and breadths beyond human understanding. One way to explain this is to identify the divine paradoxes that each Christian faces as we mature in the Lord:  The wiser we become, the more we realize our foolishness; Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise by the standards of the world, he should become a fool in their eyes, so that he may find true wisdom. 1 Corinthians 3:18 The stronger we grow in Christ, the weaker we feel; But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 The more we possess spiritually, the less we seem to have; Poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10 The more of a sinner we are, the more fully we are forgiven; Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more? Luke 7:41-42 And when we are most like little children, we are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven; “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3-4 By J.C. Philpot

 

BEARING THE STING

BEARING THE STING He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Isaiah 53:7 How much grace it requires to bear a misunderstanding rightly, and to receive an unkind judgment in holy sweetness! Nothing tests the Christian character more than to have some evil thing said about him. This is the file that soon proves whether we are electro-plate or solid gold. If we could only know the blessings that lie hidden in our trials we would say like David, when Shimei cursed him; Let him curse; It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today. 2 Samuel 16:12 Some people get easily turned aside from the grandeur of their life-work by pursuing their own grievances and enemies, until their life gets turned into one little petty whirl of warfare. It is like a nest of hornets. You may disperse the hornets, but you will probably get terribly stung, and get nothing for your pains, for even their honey is not worth a search. May God give us more of the Spirit of Christ: When he was insulted, he did not reply with insults. When he suffered, he did not threaten revenge. Instead, he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23 Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up. Hebrews 12:3 By A. B. Simpson

 

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS Johnson Oatman, Jr. 1897 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 has 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 has done. Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, Every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by. 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. 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. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN ON YOUTUBE

 

MORSE CODE MASTERY

MORSE CODE MASTERY: A Tiny Bee Confounds Evolution How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. Psalm 104:24 Bumblebees are tiny creatures most people overlook, but scientists just uncovered something remarkable about them. When researchers brought bees into a controlled lab setting to study how they learn, they did not give them flowers or scents. Instead, they gave them a totally unfamiliar challenge. The scientists used flashing lights that mimicked simple Morse-code patterns. One quick flash acted like a dot and one longer flash acted like a dash. Only one of these signals led to a sugary reward. Scientists have known for years that bees are quick learners. They can sort colors, scents, and patterns without much trouble. Telling time, however, did not seem possible. “Timing” shapes many parts of life, from movement to navigation, and most of what we understand about it comes from animals with much larger brains. That is why this experiment surprised so many researchers. These bees were not just reacting to brightness or location. They were analyzing duration itself, something scientists never expected to see in such a small creature. Yet the bees conquered the challenge with ease. They learned to recognize the difference between the dot-like flash and the dash-like flash, even though nothing like this exists in nature. And when the scientists moved the lights around to eliminate shortcuts, the bees continued to choose correctly using timing alone. Their tiny God-designed minds were measuring duration, storing information, recalling the rule, and applying it with precision. This is not random instinct. This is purposeful design. Secular scientists rushed to call this a “surprising evolutionary ability,” but Scripture provides the real foundation for understanding what we see. God created the flying creatures on Day Five and equipped them with learning abilities far beyond what they would ever need in a world of flowers and nectar. The bees carry built-in intelligence, flexibility, and problem-solving that glorifies the One who made them. Psalm 104 declares that God made His works with wisdom. When a bumblebee solves a man-made Morse-style puzzle, it is not evolution whispering. It is creation shouting. Biblical Creation on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/1mill.creationist Used with Permission

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS Gerald D Hochstetler Jr. It was quite an experience to be a part of the Cumberland County Virginia roller coaster of emotions yesterday. WOW! A little two-year-old girl wandered off into the woods while the kids were playing hide and seek and just disappeared. 19 hours they searched. Our minds went to the ponds close by, bears, coyotes, and other evils lurking out in the dark. She spent the night out in the cold and was found yesterday around 1 pm. It was like a scene on tv. Helicopter flying over, crisscrossing back and forth, dogs, volunteers searching, and then yesterday the FBI and other professional search crews showed up. At around 1 they heard a little voice. One of the dogs got so close she spoke to the dog. And thus she was found in a thicket of brush/grass. She told them she slept out in the woods last night. During this long day I noticed not all people are the same. Some prayed, some prayed even more. A lot of people prayed. But there were those who were critical and judgmental. They had the parents tagged with crimes before the sun set. These are a miserable bunch of people to say the least. They sounded like a Candace Owens podcast. I also noticed they just disappeared when the girl was found. These suspicious miserable individuals have no joy. I walked away knowing that I have been one of those suspicious miserable individuals myself. It’s easy to be that way. It’s not a good way to live. I would rather be with the group that prayed, and prayed more, and then rejoices in victory!!!!! Gerald D Hochstetler Jr. #coffeethoughts on Facebook Used with Permission