Farewell For Now

Update
Unfortunately, I am putting this blog on hold. I've recently started a job where my schedule often leaves me very little time to focus on writing or photography. I hope you enjoyed seeing new pictures every day and reading the daily verse and devotion. Thank you for stopping by.

For all those seeking or growing in the Lord, I encourage everyone to continue to seek and grow in the wisdom of the Lord. The free Bible app will continue to send you a daily verse of the day. Please seek out a good Bible based church and tell others of the Good News.

Perhaps if circumstances change, I will start this blog up again.

God bless.

Greg Silver

Roots in the Shadows

Verse of the day
Romans 15:4 - Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Prophecies tell us what is to come. They can also be considered God's promises as every prophecy written either has been fulfilled or will be someday. There are still prophecies both in the Old Testament and New Testament that have yet to be fulfilled in regards to the end times.

As I read the news or witness the world around me, I see how fast we are moving to the very end. Yet, no one knows the exact time when Jesus will return.

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. - Matthew 24:36

And even though we do not know the day or hour we can still find hope and encouragement in the Scriptures until the last of God's promises have been fulfilled.

We know in life there are many troubles, turmoil and tragedies. In the end times these will all be greater and more extreme. How wonderful it is to have God's word to comfort us. He speaks through every word on every page. It is Holy.

As we continue on our journey to the end, let us persevere and learn what God's word has in store for our lives. Let us find hope and encouragement in the Scriptures. And may we all be blessed knowing that God's word will last forever and we can count on His promises.

Heavenly Father, Your word is truth to my heart. You have given me hope and encouragement when life feels overwhelming. You teach us daily through your Word how to live a life full of love for you, ourselves and others. Thank you for the Scriptures you deliberately, purposefully and carefully had written. It has changed my life in more ways I could ever express.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Clear Skies Ahead

Verse of the day
Proverbs 21:2 - People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.

There are times in our lives when we believe we are doing the right thing, but in fact we are doing something wrong. As all sin comes from the heart, God knows every secret motive we have.

An example of this can be found in the Bible during the time shortly after the death of Jesus. It was a time when the Holy Spirit came to dwell among the believers. Everyone met in homes and with the apostles learning, worshipping and giving.

Some would even sell their land so that the poor could live. Ananias and Sapphira were one such couple who sold their land. They kept some of the money for themselves thinking with their own eyes they were doing what was right for them. However, God knew what was in their hearts and the outcome for both of them was death.

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. 

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” 

As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. 

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” 

“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” 

And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” 

Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. - Acts 5:1‭-‬11

We can lie to others and we can lie to ourselves thinking we are in the right, but we cannot lie to God. He sees every motive, every secret and every hidden desire that comes from our heart.

And as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, there are consequences to our actions. We may not experience a physical death but certainly a spiritual one unless we confess our sins before Jesus.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23

Let us seek out God's truth as revealed in scripture. And may our hearts exemplify this truth with pure and honest motives.

Heavenly Father, You know me better than I know myself. Examine my heart and reveal to me any impure motives, secret desires or selfish ambitions that may corrupt my character and lead me away from you. Give me strength to do what is right and let my heart not be corrupted by the things of this world.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Early Morning Frosted Bales

Verse of the day
Romans 4:7 - Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.

Sin can take on many different forms. It can come from our actions. And it can come from our thoughts. It is destructive, disobedient and deadly.

It's what separates us from God and, except for Jesus, everyone single one of us sins.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23

But the Good News is that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can be forgiven of our sins when we ask him. God eagerly awaits us to come to him. By confessing our sins to God, we acknowledge that we are in need of a savior.

Without coming to Jesus, we cannot be saved. Jesus is the ONLY way to God, the Father. No one else can save you from your sin.

Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12

Once our sins are forgiven and have given our lives to Jesus, we are no longer a slave to sin. It no longer controls our destiny. Our sins are put out of sight when we are forgiven.

I know personally, the past sometimes creeps up and I am reminded of my sinful past. Sometimes it's my own thoughts that remind me. Sometimes it's others.

Regardless, I have to remember that once my sin is forgiven, I need not be reminded or be forgiven again. It is in the past and I only need to look forward to the future.

The Apostle Paul took that stance when he said,

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, - Philippians 3:13

Past sins can haunt us if we allow them. Don't let them. Let us make every effort to learn from our past sins and move on. We must press on and preserve to the very end.

Heavenly Father, Thank you that you are a loving and forgiving God. You've provided me with a way to be forgiven of my sins through your son, Jesus Christ. Help me to forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Another Country Church

Verse of the day
Deuteronomy 30:16 - For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

The blessings we receive come from loving God and following him by walking in his ways. Every day poses new exciting opportunities to follow God.

These opportunities might be helping others, experiencing God's beauty with a thankful heart or spending time in prayer.

Today let's give thanks for our many blessings.

Heavenly Father, I give thanks today for my many blessings. I have a roof over my head, food on the table and a family who loves me. Above all that I look forward to the salvation into your Kingdom. There is much peace looking forward to your return.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.