No Light in the window!

 
Thought For Today - June 28, 2025
No Light in the window!

By: Robert A. Searles

There is no one at home tonight at the old home place. No light in the window, no fire in the hearth, no friendly voices of welcome as in days gone by. Once there was a mother's prayer, a father's strong arm and the light of love and faith, and the aroma of life, where now only barren and void stands the old homestead, beat upon by the rain of summer, the winds and storms of winter, and torn by the lashing torrent of the passing of time.
Abandoned and alone it stands like the cast off shell of something that once was alive, slowly moldering, and decaying, and returning unto the dust, like the shells of those whose voices once caused its' rooms to vibrate and resound with laughter.
Where are the former tenants of so forlorn a place? Is there no one to light a fire in the hearth? Is there no one to put a light in the window? Is there no one who cares that I have come home from the wars: - the battle of good and evil; of right and wrong; of righteousness and unrighteousness? Is there no one to welcome me and succor me? No, time was, time has been, time is gone, time waits for no man. One by one I have watched them go down the valley to meet the lover of their souls. It is said that life is forever, and there is no end of love. Ah! what blessed truth! Our Lord and Savior said: "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me , though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." John 11: 25,26.
They believed and they trusted, and so they occupy stately mansions in a far off country. Jesus said: "In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you." John 14: 2
I shall turn and go forever from the old home place which is abandoned and alone, and torn by the passing of time. Return to your dust from whence you came. Never again will a light shine from your windows to light my pathway. Never again will a fire burn in your hearth to warm my soul, never again will I hear on earth those voices so dear to me. Fall into your dust ye abandoned and desolate relic of time and space, for these mortals have put on immortality.
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Corinthians 15: 55. Know ye not that on the resurrection morning the trumpet of God shall sound and the dead in Christ shall arise?
In that far off country, in my Father's house there is a light shinning to guide me home. There is an un extinguishable fire of God's love and mercy burning on the hearth. There are those who are waiting to welcome me home from the wars: the battles of good and evil; right and wrong; righteousness and unrighteousness. When my life's work is over, when I have fought a good fight, when I have run the race, then I too shall make my way down the valley to meet the lover of my soul. I shall walk up the lane to my Father's house and receive the welcome of my Lord. Then, I hope to see the ones I cannot see tonight.
Father, if you see mother first, tell her that her prayers were not in vain. Tell her that I love her and I will be coming home from the wars one day soon. Mother, if you see dad first, tell him that his labors were not in vain. Jesus, tell those I love that I love you, because you first loved me and gave yourself for me. Tell them that I want to work for you and serve you a while longer here on earth so that I might tell the good news of your amazing grace to save the lost, and bear fruit to your glory, but some day we will meet at the marriage supper of the Lamb and renew old acquaintances and rejoice forever in the presence of our Savior in the eternal mansions on high.
Dedicated to the memory of my father and mother and beloved wife at home with the Lord.

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                                   Psalm 26:7

How Long Wilt Thou Forget Me, O Lord?

Thought For Today - June 27, 2025
 How Long Wilt Thou Forget Me, O Lord?
By: Robert A. Searles

    "How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in thy mercy, my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me." Psalm 13.

 
    There are times in all our lives when it seems that the Lord has forgotten us and hidden his face from us, and abandoned us to the mercies of the world, the flesh, and the devil. This was true in David's life, a man who was a chosen vessel unto God, and a man after God's own heart, and it is true also in our lives as well.

 
    When we are left without the fellowship and nearness of the Lord we are prone to sorrow, despair, depression, and it seems that the world, the flesh, and the devil presses in upon us. It seems that our enemy, the devil is exalted over us.

 
    Sometimes our eyes are blinded to the presence of God by some sin in our lives, or the failure on our part to carry out a vow or a promise that we have made to him. Sometimes it is because we have not read God's messages to us from his word, or have not been in proper communication with him through prayer, and have not been listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts. Sometimes, I believe God is testing us to see if we really believe in him and trust him in times when he obscures himself from us for a little while.

 
    God always honors our faith in his word when we have nothing else but the word of his promise, and we just simply believe for no other reason than just because it is written in God's word. God sees our faith and counts it as righteousness.

 
    Though David felt far from God, though he felt that God was hiding his face from him and abandoning him, yet he knew and believed the promises of God's word that his mercy endureth forever, and that he would never leave nor forsake him. So, David kept pounding on God's door, as it were, even though it seemed that God was not at home for a little while.    Even before the joy of David's salvation was returned to him, even before his fellowship with God was restored, David believed and trusted in the mercy of God, and he knew that his heart would once again rejoice in the salvation of the Lord. He said: "I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."

 
    When we feel that God has forgotten us, and that he is hiding his face from us, and has abandoned us; when we sense that our enemy, the devil is exalted over us; lets remember the written promises of the word of God that his mercy endureth forever, and that he will never leave us nor forsake us. Lets examine ourselves to see if there be any sin in our lives that needs to be confessed. Lets read God's messages to us through his word over and over to see if we have missed any important information from God. Lets stay in constant communication with God through prayer, and lets be constantly on the alert to hear God speak to our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

 
    Then, at times when it seems that God is not at home., lets keep pounding on God's door anyway, and even before our fellowship and joy is restored, lets trust in the mercy of God and rejoice in our renewed fellowship with God, even before we have it  This is faith. God honors faith and counts our faith as righteousness.  Lets lift up our hearts and sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with us no matter how we might feel at the moment.

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                                Psalm 26:7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings to The newborn Baby!

Thought For Today - June 26, 2025
Greetings to The newborn Baby!

By: Robert A.Searles

Dear Brothers and Sisters

If you are one of those who have just recently received, by faith, the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior, having realized that you needed to be saved and that you were helpless to save yourself, then you by God's grace have been "born again" into the family of God and are now a member of the family of God.
We are rejoicing, along with the angels of heaven, in the birth of a new born baby in our family, the family of God. "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10.
Having taken God at his word, and having accepted and received his gift of love - The Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior, you, by the power of God, have been "born again" into the family of God, and have become a child of God. The same spirit that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead has given you eternal life. "But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you." Romans 8:11 " But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. "John 1:12.
When an infant is born into the world, his first impulse is to open his mouth, and with all the power of his brand new lungs announce to the world his arrival. So it is with the newborn child of God. Until his voice is heard proclaiming his arrival into the family of God, it is uncertain to relatives, and the world around him, whether he has been truly born and now lives. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Psalm 107:2. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:10.
When God saves us, by his grace, and we are 'born again", we ought to immediately open our mouths with praise and thanksgiving and let the world around us know that God has performed a miracle in our lives. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16.
The immediate need of a newborn infant, and the continuing need of the child and adult is for proper food. A newborn infant is immediately given a formula for feeding which will meet his nutritional requirements for survival, proper growth, and development; likewise, the newborn spiritual child of God must have the proper spiritual food to insure his growth and development as a child in the family of God. The food for the child of God is the word of God, The Holy Bible. The Holy Bible is God's book of instruction for his children, the Bible is God's book, written by the Holy Spirit through chosen men of God. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction , for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1: 20-21.
A newborn infant begins his life on milk; so the newborn child of God ought to begin his feeding on the milk of God's word, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." 1 Peter 2:2,3.
A good place to begin to drink the milk of the word is the gospel of John. It is here that you will become better acquainted with the divine son of God, our Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ, and learn of his great love for you and all of us that caused him to lay down his life for our salvation. You ought to read the gospel of John several times. Pray and ask God to reveal to you by the Holy Spirit, the truth of its' teaching. When we by faith in the redemptive power of the shed blood of Christ are saved, we are immediately, the moment we believe, baptized by the Holy Spirit of God and sealed forever in the family of God. The Holy Spirit becomes our teacher in things pertaining to God. When we are saved, the Holy Spirit literally comes to live and dwell in our bodies. This is what it means to be "born again". As we drink the word of God , as it were, the Holy Spirit aids us in the digestion and appropriation of its' truths to our lives, and thereby we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
After having read and studied the gospel of John several times, then it would be well to read and study all four gospels, beginning with Matthew, then the acts of the apostles, and the epistles, and then the entire bible from Genesis to revelation. This is a lifetime project as we walk the rest of our life by faith in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as a newborn infant upon his birth becomes a member of the human race, and all mankind is his kin, so a newborn son of God upon his spiritual new birth becomes a member of the universal family of God, or the body of Christ, throughout the world; However, as God has ordained that a child born into the world has a father and mother and immediate family to love him and care for his needs, and nurture him and help him to grow and to become a useful citizen, so God has established local church assemblies to be the immediate family of the Christian. We need each other, no man is an island, no man is sufficient unto himself, no man lives to himself, and no man dies to himself. We need the mutual faith and testimony of other Christians to nurture us and to strengthen us, and to help us to become effective ambassadors for Christ our Lord and coming king.
It behooves every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to seek out a strong fundamental local church fellowship where he can join in fellowship with his brothers and sisters in Christ, to worship God; and to be taught in the word of God. It is our duty as the children of God to assemble ourselves together in a local church as a testimony to the world around us that we identify with God, his word, and his people; as well as to be taught from the word of God, and to receive the ordinances of believer's baptism and fellowship around the Lord's table, at which time we call to remembrance, by the bread and the fruit of the vine, the Lord's broken body and shed blood for the remission our sins. Then, work together as co-laborers in God's vineyard to win the lost to Christ. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10: 24,25.
The name of the church or the denomination is unimportant. The important thing is that the church you attend and join is one that stands upon the fundamental truths of the word of God. That its' doctrine is sound concerning the virgin birth; and the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ; the blood atonement, and the vicarious suffering of Christ for the sins of individuals; eternal security; the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; his ascension into heaven, and his immanent return to earth; the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit in wooing and drawing men and women and boys and girls to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ; the sealing and keeping the believer eternally secure; the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as the other comforter that Jesus promised to be our teacher and guide; the priesthood of every believer, and his direct access to the presence and throne of God in the name of Jesus Christ.
The word of God is the only authority for faith and practice for the child of God. Try the spirits and see if they be of God. Check everything out by the light of the word of God, reject the false, hold to the truth as found in the word of God.
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the spirit of God; Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is the spirit of anti-Christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is in the world." 1 John 4: 1,2,3. "But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8. :Moreover brethren I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand: by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures;: and that he was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve; after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once: of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-6.
Every newborn child of God ought to be scriptually baptized as soon as possible after he has accepted the Lord as his Savior and Lord. The Lord himself went to the river where John was baptizing and requested that he be baptized. Though he himself was sinless and had no need of baptism, he did so that he who was God in the flesh, might identify with men and take their sins and infirmities on himself as their substitute. As Jesus was buried in the waters of the Jordan river to identify with men, so we, as an act of obedience and identification with the Lord ought to be buried in the water of baptism as a testimony to the world that we have died to the old man and have been buried with Christ in his death, but as we are brought up out of the water, we testify to the world that we have been raised to newness of life and have life eternal by his resurrection from the dead. Water has no power to save. It is the answer of a good conscience toward God. Salvation is by grace, and grace alone through faith. "For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2: 8,9.
This message is meant to be a greeting and a welcome to the new born baby into the family of God, but if you are reading this message and are not yet spiritually reborn as a child of God, perhaps you cannot understand what you have read. Please consider this: The bible teaches that the great fundamental need of all men is the forgiveness of sins and the freedom from guilt. Man cannot save himself. All men and women, boys and girls need a savior. Thank God, God has provided a Savior in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.” There is non righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3: 10. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:13. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord: "God is not willing that any should perish." "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should no perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. What must you do to be saved? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, ask him to forgive your sins and save you. If we confess our sins he is just and faithful to forgive our sins and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness. If you will do this, you will become a newborn child of God and be saved forever. Claim the promises of God's word. Believe in your heart that God has done for you what he said he would do. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Jesus said: "As you believe in your heart so be it done unto you." Go your way rejoicing in the power of God.

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                               Psalm 26:7

Oh! To Be Forgiven!

 
Thought For Today -  June 25,2025
 Oh!  To Be Forgiven!
By: Robert A. Searles

    Have you ever had someone come to you and ask you to forgive them for something that they had done to you? Have you ever gone to someone else and asked them to forgive you for something that you have done to them? What does it mean to forgive? What is forgiveness?  The dictionary says that the word forgive means to grant pardon for, or remission of something; cease to demand the penalty for; To cease to blame or feel resentment against. Forgiveness is the act of forgiving or being forgiven.

    The Lord Jesus Christ, when he was on earth, taught the importance of forgiveness; of forgiving others, and in being forgiven by God and others.

    I believe that the definition that Jesus had for forgiveness goes much deeper and beyond what the dictionary says it means to forgive. I believe that to forgive the way Jesus taught involved love, God's kind of love. God's kind of love is to be more concerned about the welfare and comfort of others than of ourselves.  Jesus was more concerned about the welfare and comfort of the human race than he was of himself. He proved this when he left the glory and comfort of heaven to come to earth to suffer and die for people - sinners like you and me.

    "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have ever lasting life." John 3:16

    Jesus taught that all people are sinners and they need to be forgiven by God. They need to be forgiven by each other, and they need to forgive others. When we know that we have sinned against God, or when we know that we have wronged someone else, we have to carry around in our hearts a heavy load of guilt. To have a load of guilt in our hearts to carry with us wherever we go is a terrible thing. It is like trying to climb a mountain, or trying to swim with a heavy sack of bricks on our back. It tends to drag us down. It clouds our minds so that we can not think clearly. It sometimes keeps us awake at night,. It will destroy our mind and our body, and our health, and can cause an early death. It separates us from God.

    God loved us so much with his kind of love that he did not want us to be miserable and loaded down with a load of sin and guilt and be destroyed and be separated from him. God wants us to admit to ourselves and to him that we are sinners and need to be forgiven for sinning against him.

To come to God and ask forgiveness of sins involves faith. God honors our faith. "And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no not so much as about the door; and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Mark 2: 2.-5

When Jesus saw that these people had enough faith in his power to heal that they would go so far as to put a hole in the roof to get in where he was, he honored their faith and forgave the man's sins and healed him.

    God is all powerful. He is omnipotent. God is all knowledge - all wisdom-all intelligence- all power. God is the source and beginning of all things. All authority is in his hands. He is every where at all times. He created all things, and all things are held together by him. Only God has the power and authority to forgive sins. "But there were certain of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their heart, why doth this man speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" Mark 2: 6,7 We know that Jesus has the power and authority to forgive sins because he is God.

    "But that ye might know that the son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (he saith unto the sick of the palsy) I say unto thee, arise and take up thy bed , and go thy way into thine house." Mark 2: 10,11.

    God's word tells us that if we will come to God by faith believing him , and ask him to forgive us of our sins, he will do just that.  "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1: 8,9.

    When God forgives us of our sins, he not only forgives, but he also forgets. He remembers our sin no more. He removes our sin as far as the east is from the west. God loves us so much that he does not want us to carry the burden and the load of our guilt because he knows that it would destroy us. So when we confess and repent of our sins, he takes the burden off our shoulders and he himself pays the penalty of our sins. He who is not to blame for anything, and he who is sinless and has no sin, takes all the blame for our sins and suffered the punishment that we ought to bear. He is willing to do this because he loves us. We ought to be very grateful and receive his forgiveness with thanksgiving and gratitude, and give ourselves right back to him for his service.

    "Surely he hath borne our grief's, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53: 4-6.

    Has someone done something to hurt you recently? Has that person come to you and asked you to forgive them? Are you willing to forgive and to forget., and to try not to remember the bad things that were done to you? Do you love that person the way that God loved each of us, and even if you are not to blame for the wrong that was done, are you willing to take all the blame and pay the penalty, and let the one who did you the wrong go free from the burden of his guilt which otherwise might destroy him if he has to carry it in his heart and in his mind?

    God's word teaches us that if we expect God to forgive us and take the blame for our sins, that we have to be willing to forgive others and take the blame for their sins and bear their burdens. The Lord's prayer says: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive those who trespass against us".

    Have you ever borne anyone else's grief? Have you carried their burdens? Have you ever been wounded for someone else's transgressions? Have you ever been bruised for another's iniquities? God's word says that if we will forgive others, he will forgive us. This is what forgiveness means: to pay the cost , take the blame, bear the shame and embarrassment.

    Unless we ask for and receive God's forgiveness, we can never enter heaven. Unless we forgive others we will not be forgiven.

    "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive your trespasses, but if ye do not forgive neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:25, 26

    "Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condemn not and ye shall not be condemned; forgive and ye shall be forgiven." Luke 6: 37

    Only God can forgive sins against him. Only the children of God can truly know what it means to forgive and be forgiven . If you find it difficult to forgive someone who has asked your forgiveness, perhaps it is because you are not really a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ. Perhaps you need to be born again. Perhaps you need to go to God and confess your sins and seek his salvation and forgiveness. If you know that there is something in your life that you ought to ask God to forgive, find a solitary place where you can get alone with God. Believe that he hears you and is more than willing to forgive all manner of sins, Tell him that you believe that Jesus is the Christ sent from God, that he came to pay for our sins with his own blood on the cross, that he died , was buried, and rose again; that he is alive and will come live in our hearts if we will invite him.

    If you just can't seem to forgive and forget the wrong that someone has done to you even though they have asked your forgiveness, pray and ask the Lord to give you the grace to forgive and forget.
When you have truly forgiven others, your own burdens will be lifted. You will not be full of bad attitudes, and resentments. You will not be trying to get even. There will be no bitterness in your heart. When your own heart is cleansed of all these things, then you will experience the true peace of God. Forgiveness brings peace of mind to the forgiver as well as to the forgiven.

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                                       Psalm 26:7

Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness

Thought For Today - June 25, 2025 

Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness

By: Robert A, Searles

      We as Christians ought to hunger and thirst after righteousness. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5: 6.

      Christ has imputed his righteousness to us if we are saved. He made the first step toward us by offering his righteousness to all who will receive it. Righteousness is simply being right in our actions, and thoughts, and attitudes toward God. Our Lord and Savior was and still is the only person who could measure up to this requirement.

      Righteousness has its' rewards: “Righteousness delivers from death”-Proverbs 11: 4.

By right thoughts and actions toward God, we are not only delivered from spiritual death, but often we will prolong our life on earth because we will have avoided those things that can destroy us.

      “The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way.” - Proverbs 11:5.

When our mind and our thoughts are in harmony and agreement with the mind of God, the Holy Spirit will direct our paths so that we follow a lifestyle that is good for us.

      “The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them.” Proverbs 11: 6 Being right with God assures our escape from the penalty of sin, and guarantees a sure place in heaven because - “Righteousness tendeth to life.” Proverbs 11: 19.

      "The seed of the righeous shall be delivered.” Proverbs 11: 21.

Even our childfren and grandchildren, and future generations will reap the rewards of our righteousness; but on the other hand, they will also reap the penalties of our wickedness if we are wicked.

      “The desire of the righteous is only good.” Proverbs 11: 23

When we are right with God, when our thoughts and actions toward God are right; when we seek God with all our heart; then we can trust that the desires of our hearts are from God. When we delight in the Lord, he gives us the desires of our heart.

      “The righteous shall flourish as a branch” Ptoberbs 11: 28 and - “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30. A good tree grows tall and spreads its' leaves and branches and provides shade. It provides a nesting place for birds and other creatures. It provides food and offers protection. May we each live and have our being as a tree of life in thee, oh Lord and win others to thee.

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                             Psalm 26:7

 

Purposeful Living!

 
Thought For Today - June 23, 2025
Purposeful Living!

By: Robert A Searles

As Christians, what is our purpose for living? Our prime purpose and goal in life should be to know God and to make him known to others. Whenever someone asks us what our goal in life is, our answer as Christians ought to be: to be a perfect child of God as Jesus is, and to be like him.
From the moment we are born into the family of God when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we begin as little babies, and we start to grow up to become the mature children of God, and our chief goal ought to be to become the perfect children of God as Jesus is, though it is impossible to reach a complete state of sinless perfection in ourselves on this earth because of our own sin nature and all the sin and corruption all around us.
We should be growing and maturing daily ,and becoming closer to God daily, and becoming more like him until finally we see him in his glory when our vile bodies are changed and made like unto his glorious body.
The opportunity to become the children of God is extended to everyone, for God has said that whosoever will, may come and as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become the children of God. What a gift has been given to us! What an opportunity is ours to be made perfect even as Jesus is perfect.
Once we have been born into God's family, we begin to run a race, and the object of the race when we reach the finish line is to attain to the perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The finish line is not on this side of the grave, but on the other side, but the starting line begins on this side. The moment we are born into the family of God we should no longer, as Jesus taught "lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is , there will your heart be also"
Starting out as new born babies, we ought to feed on the milk of the word. as new born babies, we ought to "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2:2.
The purpose of feeding babies milk is to help them to grow. If babies did not grow and go on to more solid food, we would be worried about them and consider them to be retarded. So it is with us as the children of God. We are to start out on the simple plan of salvation, the milk of the word, as it were, and gradually advance to more solid food, the meat of the word.
"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews 5:12-14.
We ought to be daily maturing, and growing, and getting closer to the perfection of Christ. Our strength and our growth ought to come from our feasting on the meat of the word, and by mature prayer and meditation with the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

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                           Psalm 26> 7

Take care of God's business and he will take care of ours.

Thought For Today - June 21, 2025
Take care of God's business and he will take care of ours.

By: Robert A. Searles

If we will take care of God's business, he will take care of ours. Jesus said: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6: 33.
We who are Christians ought to be so wrapped up in the things of God , and be so busy in our ministry for him that we have no time to be anxious for our food, or clothing, or any of our needs. As Christians we ought to be living in complete reverse to the way that most people in the world live. Most people spend about ninety nine percent of their time seeking for food, clothing, and shelter, and things that they think will make them happy and comfortable, and if they have about one percent of their time left, they offer it to God.
This is why there is so much unhappiness and discontent in the world. God's plan for our lives is for us to spend one hundred percent of our time in loving and serving him, and being so wrapped up in heavenly and godly things that we have very little time to think about our food, clothing and shelter, and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that this is one of the most difficult passages of scripture to believe and obey, and yet it is the secret and key to successful living and power with God.
Someone related to me some time ago, whether or not it is true I do not know, that when Thomas Edison was working on some of his great inventions, he would work in a room without windows and without clocks, and he would be so engrossed in his work that he would lose all consciousness of time and forget to eat and sleep for days. It was said that when he got married, on his wedding day they were missing him during his wedding reception, and finally they found him locked in his work shop working on one of his great inventions. As I said earlier, I do not know if this story is true, but if it is, it is a good illustration as to how we Christians ought to be engrossed in the business of the Lord.
God wants us to seek him first and put him first to the point that we are so engrossed in him and the work he has given us to do that we actually forget about all our needs and lose consciousness of our selves.
When a person becomes a child of God he is baptized with the Holy Spirit and he becomes a member of the body of Christ, and God gives him a special gift to be used in his service to enhance his kingdom. It is our responsibility to find out what that special gift is and develop it and use it, and become engrossed in it for the furtherance of the kingdom of Christ.
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching, or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12: 6-8.
Whatever we do we should do it with all our might and to the glory of God. When we are so busy doing God's work that we forget about the food we need, and the clothes we need, and the comforts that we think we need and would like , then we are really believing and trusting God's word and relying on him that our " heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of all these things". God honors our faith and all our needs will be automatically met without us having to spend too much time worrying about them, when we could be spending this time serving God. If we will diligently take care of God's business, then you can be sure he will take good care of ours.

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                             Psalm 26:7

Greatly to Be Praised!

Thought For Today - June 20, 2025
Greatly to Be Praised!

By: Robert A Searles

Our God is a great God and greatly to be praised. Sometimes we do not give God enough praise for who he is, and what he is. We do not really worship God enough. We ought to spend more time in prayer and meditation, not necessarily asking God for things, (although he has told us to ask and we will receive), but because he has already given us salvation and eternal life, and given us an inheritance in his kingdom. He supplies our daily needs and give us sufficient grace to meet every emergency. We ought to spend much time in prayer, just loving God, telling him that we love him and thank him for his great love for us. We can see God's love for us all around us in the things which he has made and given to us for our comfort and enjoyment. Even among people who cannot read or write, or who have never heard the word of God, they can look around them and experience the love of God.
It is very presumptuous for us to enjoy all the benefits and joys and pleasures that God has given to us without praising him for them. Did you ever think of how presumptuous it is for us to sink our teeth into a beautiful apple that God has made and given to us for our welfare and use, and just take this for granted without any thought of God? Did you ever stop to think how many of God's creatures have been destroyed and have had to die to support our life here on earth?
Psalm 19 verse 12 says: " Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults." We begin to have secret faults when our minds wander away from God to things of ourselves and things of the world. We cannot sin while our minds are stayed on Jesus. It is when our minds are not focused on Jesus that we are drawn away into temptation and sin. No matter what we are doing , or where we are, Jesus can always be found standing in the shadow of our thoughts and mind if we chose to have him there. He has promised to keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on him,
Psalm 19 verse 14 tells us: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." If our heart is constantly and continually meditating on the Lord Jesus Christ twenty four hours a day, every day, seven days a week, and if we are in a continual attitude of prayer and praise, and if our love is constantly and continually flowing out to him, and his love is flowing back to us, then the meditation of our heart will be right, and as a result the words of our mouth will be right and acceptable to him, because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Jesus said: "That men ought always to pray and not to faint." Take note of the word "always". "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Ephesians 6:18. "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5: 17. God is greatly to be praised!

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                                Psalm 26:7

Where Will You Stand?

Thought For Today - June 19, 2025
Where Will You Stand?

By: Robert A. Searles

“And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. and the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.." John 18:15-18.
Some of us Christians are like Peter was. We claim to be Christians, and to be saved. Down deep in our heart we want to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, but when the chips are down, and the curtain is raised in front of us, we become cowardly and back off, and fail to raise our colors to let everyone know where we really stand. Peter loved the Lord and was interested in the things of the Lord, but he didn't really want to get involved , and be identified with the Lord at this time because it would have cost him something. It might have even cost him his life. Instead, he made himself comfortable around the enemy's fire warming himself.
Let us examine ourselves. Are we like Peter? When we are brought to task are we a little bit afraid to raise our flag and show our true colors and let everyone know exactly where we stand?
We may find ourselves in a group of two or three people, or perhaps even more. One person in the group may be taking his stand all alone for the Lord Jesus Christ and witnessing for him. The rest of the crowd may be scoffing and ridiculing that person, and calling him fanatic. Where will you choose to stand? Will you stand beside the one who is giving a positive testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ, or will you choose to stay where it is comfortable beside the enemy's fire, and pretend to go along with the crowd, even though down deep in your heart you know it is driving you crazy?
Some of us want to be secret followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we don't want it to cost us anything. Where will you stand against the issues of known sin? Will you take a firm positive stand against those things which you absolutely know are immoral, and sinful, and displeasing and dishonoring to the Lord, or will you take the road of least resistance. Will you go a little way down the road of sin with the crowd just so that you do not lose their friendship and admiration , and you reason that while you are walking with them you can keep your fingers crossed, as it were, because you don't really want to go their way, but somehow if you can remain popular with them, you might win them to your side without it costing you anything?
Jesus said that no man starts to build a tower until he first sits down to count the cost to see if he has the wherewithal to finish it. And no man is fit for the kingdom of heaven who having accepted the Lord and started following him, looks back on the old crowd and the old ways. Fellow Christian, have we really counted the cost of being a real true Christian and follower of Jesus?

I believe that the maid who kept the door of the palace where Jesus was taken lost all respect for Peter because he was seeking his own safety. I also believe that when the world sees us as lukewarm Christians who are afraid to name the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and afraid to call sin by its' rightful name, and afraid to witness for the Lord, and afraid to take a good firm positive stand for the right against evil, - lose respect for us as well
No wonder artists have painted pictures of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings with lace dresses on him. No wonder the world has the impression that Christians are a bunch of effeminate sissies who can't make it in reality, and have to resort to wishful thinking. No wonder the world is losing respect for our great country which was founded on principles of Christianity.
Christian, where will you stand when you hear someone taking the name of the Lord in vain and being disrespectful to him? Where do you stand on the murder (abortion) of millions of innocent babies? Where do you stand on the break up of the traditional family, and same sex marriages? Where do you stand on the clear teaching of Romans chapter 1? Where do you stand on the clear teaching of all the Word of God, the Bible? Will you go along with the world and comfort yourself by the enemy's fire, or will you stand faithfully by the side of your Savior? The Lord Jesus Christ himself looses respect for the cowardly Christian.
"I know thy works, and thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth." Revelation 3:15.
God is not a mealy mouth preacher. Can you imagine God vomiting out Christians? How would you like to be a food particle in God's mouth, so distasteful to him that he has to vomit . For this to be true, all you have to do is to be like Peter was, and seek the comfort and safety of the enemy's fire before he eventually came to his senses and repented with weeping, and because of his testimony that Jesus was the Christ sent from God, Jesus called his testimony the rock on which his church was built.
If any of us have been fearful of standing for the Lord, Let us repent with weeping, and turn again to our first love and for all that he stands for.

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                           Psalm 26: 7

Teaching Children The meaning of salvation and Holiness!

 

Thought for Today - June 18, 2025
Teaching Children The meaning of salvation and Holiness!

By: Robert A. Searles
I thought it might be profitable to some if I shared with anyone who might be interested, the following Sunday school lesson which I taught to my sixth grade class some time ago. This is a simple lesson meant to be taught or read to children at the fifth or sixth grade level.
Boys and girls if you are here in church or Sunday School this morning, you are not here by accident. You are here listening to the Sunday School lesson or the preacher because God is calling to you, and inviting you to make plans to come and live with him in his beautiful home in heaven forever, and enjoy all the good things he has to offer.
God is calling you to himself, and the bible says: "As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ( or behavior); because it is written, be ye holy as I am holy" 1 Peter 1: 15, 16.
What does it mean to be holy? To be holy means to be spiritually clean - not soiled or dirtied by sin, or bad thoughts, or bad behavior, disobedience, or unbelief. God is holy. God is perfectly clean spiritually, no sin in God's heart or mind. God has never done anything wrong. Jesus , who is God in human flesh, never sinned. He is perfectly spiritually clean. God's home in heaven is spotlessly clean and beautiful. Nothing there is dirty or unclean, and nothing can enter God's home in heaven that is dirty or unclean.
If we want to someday go and live with God forever in his beautifully clean and spotless home in heaven, we first must be made holy or clean. This does not just mean to be clean on the outside of our bodies where everyone can see, but God sees into our hearts and minds, and when God looks into our hearts and minds and sees how we might be angry or mean to our brothers and sisters, and playmates, or if we lie, or steal, or cheat in school, or do those things that we know we should not do, then he knows that we are not yet clean or holy enough to live with him in heaven because these things would never be allowed in heaven.

Lets play a pretend game this morning. Lets pretend that Linda lives in a big beautiful house, and has her own beautiful room with thick wall to wall carpeting, and beautiful furniture and fancy curtians, and bedspreads. Lets pretend that Linda has invited her cousin Jane to come spend the weekend with her in this beautiful clean house. She is to sleep in Linda’s bed, and walk on the expensive carpet and enjoy every thing that Linda has because Linda called and invited her.
Now lets pretend that it is also Easter Sunday Morning and both girls are planning to go to Sunday School and church together, and Jane’s parents had bought Jane an expensive brand new spotless white dress for the occasion. Jane is all nice and clean and dressed in her pretty white dress when she arrives at her cousin Linda’s farm home.
Now, we know that no farm would be complete without some pigs and a pig pen. Pigs are by nature, very dirty animals, and they like to bury themselves in the same muck and mire that they go to the bathroom in, if you know what I mean. What a mess a pig pen is, and how it smells! If you have ever seen one or been near one you will know what I mean.
Lets pretend that before Jane goes inside her cousin Linda’s home that she meets Joe S Tempter. The middle initial "S", by the way, stands for Satan. So Mr. Tempter meets Jane before she goes into the house and he says to her, "come on down by the barn and see the new piglets that have just been born." Of course, Jane , being a city girl, and not able to see piglets every day, forgets about her beautiful clean white dress, and that she is going to stay in her cousin's beautiful home, and runs with Joe Satan Tempter down to the pig pen.
Well, can you guess what happened? Sure enough, while Jane is climbing on the fence that surrounds the pig pen to get a better look at the pigs, her feet slip and - ku-plunk - splash, right down into that stinking muck and mire with the pigs, - beautiful Jane , pretty white dress, and all. Oh, what a mess! Oh, what a stink! Now how could she ever go into her cousin's house, and walk on her carpets, and sleep in her bed as dirty and smelling as badly as she did, she thought?
Happily, Linda’s mother saw what had happened, and she ran downs to where Jane had fallen into the mess she was in, and she said to Jane , Oh! What a mess! If you will come with me I will clean you up and give you my own daughter's best dresses to wear, even better and prettier and more expensive than you had on, and then you will be clean again, and you will again be fit to walk on these beautiful carpets and sleep in this nice clean bed, and you will no longer smell bad.
What did Jane have to do to be able to stay in her cousin's house, and sleep in her cousin's bed? She had to agree with Linda’s mother that she was filthy dirty and smelled bad and needed to be cleaned up and put on different clothes. Jane accepted what was offered to her and became cleaner and smelled better even than before,
This is just a pretend story to illustrate in a similar way how God has provided a way for us to be made clean or holy in his sight, and fit to live in his home in heaven.

God looked down from heaven and saw all the men and women and boys and girls that he created and loved being tempted by Satin and Falling into Sin, and by his amazing grace, provided a way by which they could be rescued from their sins and made clean and fit to live with him in Heaven forever.
The bible says that while we were yet sinners or stinking and smelling bad before God because of our sins, Christ died for us on the cross and offered his own blood to wash us and cleanse us from our filthiness and tear off our old filthy rags and to be clothed with his righteousness and make us fit to live with him.

In order for God to make us clean, we must agree with God that we are sinners, and are unclean before him, and ask him to forgive our sins and come into our heart and make us clean through his son the Lord Jesus Christ.

When we have believed in Jesus and asked him to forgive our sins and come into our hearts and make us clean, then we have become the children of God, and we need to be very careful to keep ourselves clean and not become dirty again.

The world in which we live is full of sins and evil, and is like a filthy pig pen as compared to the holiness of God. We need to ask God to help us to stay away from all those things that smell bad to him. Satan, the tempter, goes around seeing who he can trap and cause to fall into the pig pen again, but God is there to help us if we will obey him.

Some of the things that can make us dirty and smell bad before God are: lying, cheating, being mean to others; disobeying parents; smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages,; taking drugs; watching bad television shows; going to wrong places; following bad friends. If we are to be holy as God is holy, we must stay away from all of these things. We must think of God often, pray often, read his word often, and ask him to save us. This is what it means for us to be saved and be holy and clean as he wants us to be.
Is there any one this morning who would like to ask Jesus to save them and make them clean in his sight so that some day they can be sure to go and live with him forever in heaven?

Dear Reader, This invitation was given at the end of the lesson to boys and girls in our Sunday School class. Whatever your age may be, this invitation is extended to you as well.
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                             Psalm 26:7

King of Kings!

 
 Thought For Today - June 17, 2025 

King of Kings!

By: Robert A. Searles 

 What would our lives be like today if the Lord Jesus Christ was returned from exile, and was ruling the earth from his throne in Jerusalem, as he has promised that someday he will? Oh Lord, hasten the day of your return. I pray that it might even be during the time of our sojourn on earth. Even so, while you are yet in heaven, we want you to be the real King of our lives, and we want your will to be accomplished in our lives, as it would be if we were already in heaven, of if you were already on earth 

 You have told us to pray for thy kingdom to come and for thy will to be done on earth even as it is in heaven.  We who have been redeemed by your blood are your children, the sheep of your pasture, the subjects of your kingdom, and part of your inheritance.

   I pray that you will help me to allow your minister, the Holy Spirit to sit in the executive seat of my life and direct my affairs as you see fit. Help me to be disciplined to allow the Holy Spirit to lead, direct, and command. Help me to submit every thought for his approval before I allow that thought to become a part of me; to submit every word for approval before I let it fly from my lips; and to submit every plan of action before I move in any direction.

   If Jesus were ruling on earth today, the law as given by Moses would be strictly obeyed. There would be an unfeigned love for God the Father; the love of our neighbor as ourselves; and all that God has created would be loved as well. If Jesus was now ruling on earth there would be no murder, no stealing, no adultery, no false witness, no covetousness; parents would be honored, children would be obedient, there would be no sin, no death, no sickness, no worry nor anxiety.

   "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done , as in heaven, so on earth." Luke 11:     Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
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                                 Psalm 26:7