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03/13/2025

Thursday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved!

All the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
2 Corinthians 1:20

Prayer is the place where the past and future are linked repeatedly in our lives. I mention this here because Paul links prayer with God’s Yes in this verse in a striking way.

In 2 Corinthians 1:20, he says (with choppy Greek that comes through in choppy English), “That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” Let’s try to smooth that out.

Here’s what he is saying: “Therefore, because of Christ, we say Amen to God in our prayers to show that God gets the glory for the future grace we are asking for and counting on when we pray.”

If you’ve ever wondered why Christians say Amen at the end of our prayers, and where that custom comes from, here’s the answer. Amen is a word taken straight over into Greek from Hebrew without any translation, just like it has come into English and most other languages without any translation.

In Hebrew, it was a very strong affirmation (see Numbers 5:22; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6) — a formal, solemn, earnest “I agree,” or “I affirm what was just said,” or “This is true.” Most simply, “Amen” means a very earnest Yes in the context of addressing God.

Now notice the connection between the two halves of 2 Corinthians 1:20. The first half says, “All the promises of God find their Yes in him.” The second half says, “That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
When we realize that “Amen” and “Yes” mean the same thing, here’s what the verse says: In Jesus Christ God says his Yes to us through his promises; and in Christ we say our Yes to God through prayer.

John Piper

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Have a Tremendous Thursday! :-)

Are you saved?

“Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.” Jeremiah‬ ‭21‬:‭8‬

03/12/2025

Wedneday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

How to Pray!

"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen'" (Matt. 6:9-15).

Jesus gave six elements that constitute true prayer.

Many people have memorized the Disciples' Prayer so they can recite it often, but as beautiful as it is, it wasn't given for that purpose. In fact, after Jesus gave it, no one in the New Testament recited it—not even Jesus Himself (cf. John 17)!

The disciples didn't ask Jesus to teach them a prayer, but to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). There is a significant difference. Jesus preceded His prayer by saying, "Pray, then, in this way" (v. 9), which literally means, "Pray along these lines." His prayer was a general pattern for all prayer, and although it wasn't recited, its principles are evident in all New Testament prayers.

Christ's model prayer teaches us to ask God for six things: (1) that His name be honored, (2) that He brings His kingdom to earth, (3) that He does His will, (4) that He provides our daily needs, (5) that He pardons our sins, and (6) that He protects us from temptation. Each one contributes to the ultimate goal of all prayer, which is to bring glory to God. The last three are the means by which the first three are achieved. As God provides our daily bread, pardons our sins, and protects us when we are tempted, He is exalted in His name, kingdom, and will.

If you understand and follow Christ's pattern for prayer, you can be assured that you are praying as He instructed, and that whatever you ask in His name, He will do, "that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13).

John MacArthur

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Have a Wonderful Wednesday! :-)

Are you saved?

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

03/11/2025

Tuesday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

You are loved!

Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

Here’s a summary of the gospel to help you understand it and enjoy it and share it!

1) God created us for his glory.

“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory” (Isaiah 43:6–7). God made all of us in his own image so that we would image forth, or reflect, his character and moral beauty.

2) Therefore every human should live for God’s glory.

“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The way to live for the glory of God is to love him (Matthew 22:37), trust him (Romans 4:20), be thankful to him (Psalm 50:23), obey him (Matthew 5:16), and treasure him above all things (Philippians 3:8; Matthew 10:37). When we do these things we image forth God’s glory.

3) Nevertheless, we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him . . . and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images” (Romans 1:21–23). None of us has loved or trusted or thanked or obeyed or treasured God as we ought.

4) Therefore we all deserve eternal punishment.

“The wages of sin is (eternal) death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Those who did not obey the Lord Jesus “will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).

5) Yet, in his great mercy, God sent his only Son Jesus Christ into the world to provide for sinners the way of eternal life.

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

6) Therefore eternal life is a free gift to all who will trust in Christ as Lord and Savior and supreme Treasure of their lives.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

John Piper

* You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Terrific Tuesday! :-)

Are you saved!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬

03/10/2025

Monday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. (Acts 8:29–31)

Today, I want to tell you about an approach to evangelism that works . . . and also glorifies the One it should glorify: the Savior.

The Philip Approach. This Christ-centered method is set forth in a series of seven principles drawn from Acts 8:26–40. That grand and gifted gentleman was engaged in a citywide crusade at Samaria. God was using him mightily (8:5–8). Suddenly, the Lord spoke to Philip and instructed him to leave the city and spend some time in Gaza, a desert area (8:26). Faithful Philip "got up and went" (8:27). He was available (Principle 1).

He then encountered a distinguished statesman from Ethiopia riding in a chariot en route back home (8:28). Of all things, he was reading Isaiah! The next verse tells us that the Spirit of God prompted Philip to go and get acquainted with the traveler. Philip was led by the Spirit (Principle 2). In today's terminology, he felt a keen and definite assurance that God would have him strike up a conversation and later, quite probably, share with that person the magnetic claims of Christ. In other words, he sensed that God was clearly opening the door.

As you'd expect, Philip cooperated. Obedience (Principle 3) is essential.

He then heard the man reading aloud (8:30) and calmly asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" What an excellent start! A proper opening (Principle 4) is essential. Philip didn't barge in and start preaching, nor did he crank out a canned, broken-record series of statements. He simply asked a logical yet leading question. The statesman instantly invited the stranger to come and sit by him and assist him in his quest for understanding (8:31–34).

This remarkable response was met with great tact (Principle 5) on Philip's part. Even though he had his foot in the door, he remained gracious, courteous, a good listener, and yet sensitive to the time he might speak of salvation.

When that moment came, he "opened his mouth" (8:35) and became specific (Principle 6) concerning faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. No reluctance. No vague dialogue about religion . . . he spoke only of the Savior, the main issue.
The last few verses (8:36–38) describe the brief but memorable follow-up (Principle 7) Philip employed in this case.

As you rub shoulders with hungry, thirsty humanity and sense their inner ache for help and hope, keep these principles in mind. Let's become more alert to those empty chariot sidecars God wants us to occupy. You may even begin to feel comfortable in them before long. You know what? There isn't any place I'd rather be when Christ returns than riding shotgun in a twenty-first-century chariot.

Charles Swindoll

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Marvelous Monday! :-)

Are you saved?

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

03/08/2025

Saturday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench. (Isaiah 42:3)

Probably the most encouraging words I have heard in weeks came from a prophecy in Isaiah 42:1–3 about how Jesus will use his spiritual power.

Do you feel like “a bruised reed” — like one of those big top-heavy Easter lilies whose stem has been squashed so that the flower flops to the ground and gets no sap? Do you ever feel like your faith is just a little spark instead of a flame — like that little red dot at the end of the wick after you blow out the birthday candle?

Take heart! The Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of encouragement: he will not snap off your flower; he will not s***f out your spark.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me . . . to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). “The sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2). “[He is] gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

It may be a grief to us that we are only a spark instead of a flaming fire. But listen! And be encouraged: Yes, there is a big difference between a spark and a fire. But there is an infinite difference between a spark and no spark! A mustard seed of faith is infinitely closer to being a mountain of faith than it is to being no faith.

Open the window of God’s promises and let the Spirit blow into every room of your heart. The Holy Wind of God will not break or quench. He will lift up your head and fan your spark into a flame. He is the Spirit of encouragement.

John Piper

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Have a Sensational Saturday! :-)

Are you saved?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

03/07/2025

Friday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Read Matthew 5:13-16

What statement is your life making?

Jesus said that to the watching world, believers should be like salt and light. If we add salt to soup, the improved taste is obvious, and when we bring light into a room, darkness flees. Our character, conduct, and conversation should make a statement about the importance of God, the necessity of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

To lead a life of significance that brings glory to the Lord, believers must begin by reading and studying the Scriptures. As we meditate on God’s Word, He reveals Himself and we gradually absorb His principles, which begin to show in our daily living.

One good way to learn Scripture’s lessons is by researching the lives of great saints like Abraham, Moses, Daniel, Ruth, David, Esther, Mary, and Paul. Their stories have much to teach us about the way they coped, what they discovered from mistakes, and how they interacted with the Lord.
From these biblical accounts as well as other passages, we learn that our heavenly Father has a goal for our life. He desires to conform us to the image of His Son. Recognizing this, we can cooperate and become beacons guiding others to Christ, as the apostle Paul did: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Charles Stanley

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Have a Fantastic Friday! :-)

Are you saved?

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

03/06/2025

Thursday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

Ultimate Rejection

God heals the brokenhearted And bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3

A number of years ago, on Valentine's Day, a couple was enjoying a romantic drive along a wooded section near Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Something white, shimmering in the trees, caught their eyes. Their investigation led them to a dead teenager hanging from a limb, a white bedsheet knotted tightly around his neck. A farewell note, laced with despair, was near the trunk of the tree. It was addressed simply to "Mom and Dad."

I never did develop into a real person and I cannot tolerate the false and empty existence I have created . . . . What frustrated me most in the last year was that I had built no ties to family or friends. There was nothing of lasting worth and value. I led a detached existence . . . . I am a bomb of frustration and should never marry or have children. It is safest to defuse the bomb harmlessly now . . . simply cremate me as John Doe.

Authorities circulated the youth's description and fingerprints to police across the country. He was later buried—unidentified and unclaimed.

Grim and gripping though they are, such scenes and words are not that unusual. Our nervous age seems on trial for its life, and the fuse on the powder keg is becoming shorter by the day! Contrary to popular opinion, people who threaten su***de often mean it. The old myth "those who talk don't jump" is dangerously false. Threats should be taken seriously.

Su***de, the ultimate rejection of one's self, plays no favorites and knows no limit. In my files and memory are unforgettable cases that span the extremes: a successful banker, a disillusioned divorcée, a runaway, the son of a missionary, a mother of three, a wealthy cartoonist, a professional musician, several collegians, a Marine, a retired grandfather, a medical doctor, a middle-aged pl***oy, a brilliant accountant, a growing number of teens who were in junior and senior high schools. These individuals struggled with feelings of loneliness, worthlessness, insecurity, a lack of hope, intense perfectionism, alienation from meaningful relationships, and a tragic sense of feeling unloved and unlovely.

In all of this darkness, there is one beacon of light. People considering su***de usually want to be rescued. They leave clues that read, "Help me!" They drop hints, consciously or unconsciously, that announce their intentions.

Sensitive, concerned observers ought to be alert to the signals. Here are a few:

• talk about su***de;
• a sudden change in personality;
• deep depression;
• physical symptoms—sleeplessness, loss of appetite, decreased sexual drive, drastic weight loss, repeated exhaustion;
• actual attempts; and
• crisis situations—death of a loved one, failure at school, loss of a job, marital or home problems, and a lengthy or terminal illness.

These, of course, are not "sure signs," but anyone that seems unusually suspicious warrants your time and offer of help. Occasionally, all that is needed is someone to step in and be a friend . . . a listening ear . . . a support to lean on . . . a shelter in the time of storm. That's genuine Body life! That's Romans 15:1 in action:

We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength.

Certainly you should contact your physician or ask advice from your local su***de prevention hotline if you become reasonably concerned. A close friend, a professional counselor, a church officer, or a pastor might also be of valuable assistance. Don't hesitate to seek advice.

The need is urgent . . . and always great. During the time it took you to read this, numbers of people in America attempted to end their lives.

Charles Swindoll

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text the 988 Su***de and Crisis Lifeline or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Are you saved?

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭39‬

03/05/2025

Wednesday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

You are loved!

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Matthew 5:13

When Jesus calls His followers to be the salt of the earth, He means we're to be a flavorful people, known by our love for others, our humility, our moral goodness. and sometimes for speaking the truth with loving-kindness. We are to be healing people, pressing Christ's cleansing power into the deep wounds of those around us in a way that momentarily stings but eternally heals. Perhaps most significantly, we are
to be people of preservation. Our deeds should be salty enough to slow down the evil in this world, arresting the decay caused by cruelty, greed, oppression, poverty, and so many other forms of deprivation.

And when Jesus said "you" are the salt of the earth, He wasn't saying His disciples were an option among many; rather He was saying, "You and only you" are the earth's salt and the world's light." What does this mean? It means that the church is His agent of redemption for this world, and there is no Plan B. We're not meant to operate in isolation as our own individual grains, doing our own thing; rather we're to make up a flavorful, healing, and preserving community under the name of Christ.

Being the salt of the earth means nothing is more relevant to this world than His people, the church, joined in unity working for the common good.

I wonder what resources you have to share that might slow down the decay in someone's life. Perhaps you have wisdom that can be rubbed into the deep wounds of a soul who has lost his or her way. Maybe God has given you the gift of helping, teaching, organizing, counseling, or leading, and it's time to use those gifts to flavor a bland society weary of doing the same self-centered activities over and over with the same disappointing results. Who can say it better than John Stott: "Christian salt has no business to remain snugly in elegant little ecclesiastical salt cellars; our place is to be rubbed into the secular community. Who can you be salt for today? Someone needs the healing, flavor, and preservation that only a heaping spoon of Christian salt can bring.

Kelly Minter, The Blessed Life

* Who can you be salt for today?

Have a Wonderful Wednesday! :-)

Are you saved?

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

03/04/2025

Tuesday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

My grace is sufficient for you.
2 Corinthians 12:9

If none of God’s saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so well the consolations of divine grace. When we find the wanderer who has nowhere to lay his head who still can say, “I will trust in the Lord,” or when we see the pauper starving on bread and water who still glories in Jesus, when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in affliction and yet having faith in Christ—oh, what honor it reflects on the Gospel.

God’s grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty and trials of believers. Saints bear up under every discouragement, believing that all things work together for their good, and that out of apparent evils a real blessing shall ultimately spring—that their God will either work a deliverance for them speedily or most assuredly support them in the trouble, as long as He is pleased to keep them in it. This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace.

There is a lighthouse out at sea: It is a calm night—I cannot tell whether the edifice is firm. The tempest must rage about it, and then I shall know whether it will stand. So with the Spirit’s work: If it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we would not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we would not know how firm and secure it was. The masterworks of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties steadfast, unmovable—Calm mid the bewildering cry, Confident of victory. The one who would glorify his God must be prepared to meet with many trials. No one can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts are many.

If, then, yours is a much-tried path, rejoice in it, because you will be better able to display the all-sufficient grace of God. As for His failing you, never dream of it—hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now should be trusted to the end.

Charles Spurgeon

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Terrific Tuesday! :-)

Are you saved?

“But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭39‬

03/03/2025

Monday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10

Comfort yourself, tried believer, with this thought: God
says, “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” [KJV]. Does not the Word come like a soft shower, quieting the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not a protective shield, against which the heat has no power? Let affliction come—God has chosen me. Poverty, you may stride in at my door, but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, you may intrude, but—God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know that He has “chosen” me.

If, believer, you require still greater comfort, remember that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. In that silent chamber of yours, there sits by your side One whom you have not seen, but whom you love; and often when you do not know it, He comforts you in your affliction and softens the place of rest. You are in poverty; but in your lovely house the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate places, that He may visit you. Your friend sticks closely to you. You cannot see Him, but you may feel the pressure of His hands. Do you not hear His voice?

Even in the valley of the shadow of death He says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.”

Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with you. In all your difficult trials, His presence is both your comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. “Fear not, for I am with you” is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the “furnace of affliction.” Will you not, then, take hold of Christ and say:
Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I’ll follow where He goes.

Charles Spurgeon

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Marvelous Monday! :-)

Are you saved?

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39

03/02/2025

Sunday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

Read Galatians 5:16-25

The Holy Spirit is one of God’s most precious gifts to His beloved children. The Spirit takes up residence within believers at the moment of salvation and empowers each one to overcome sin and live for God’s glory. (See John 15:26-27.) However, the Holy Spirit’s power can be hindered or ignored.

Walking by the Spirit denotes reliance upon Him. He leads the way and we follow. As He speaks, we listen, heed His warnings, and obey His directions. His way is a path of surrender, which, though sometimes difficult, leads to fullness of life. God’s Holy Spirit not only guides but also enables us, supplying everything needed for living righteously and producing His remarkable fruit in us (Gal. 5:22-23).

Being led by the Spirit should be the natural lifestyle of all sons and daughters of God. We should intentionally seek to maintain an awareness of His presence throughout the day. As we do, He makes us sensitive to the things of God and provides understanding about the situations and people in our life.

Take a walk with the Spirit today. Learn to recognize His voice by spending time in the Word and in prayer. Focus your thoughts on Him, asking for His guidance and looking expectantly for His leading.

Charles Stanley

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Have a Worship-filled Sunday! :-)

Are you saved?

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

02/28/2025

Friday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33)

Paul could have said here, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” and then answered, “No one! We are justified.” That’s true. But that is not what he said. His answer instead is, “God is the one who justifies.”

The emphasis is not on the act but on the Actor.
Why? Because in the world of courts and laws where this language comes from, the ruling of a judge might be overturned by a higher one.

Here’s the point: Above God, there are no higher courts. If God is the one who acquits you — declares you righteous in his sight — no one can appeal; no one can claim a technicality; no one can call for a mistrial; no one can look for other counts against you. God’s sentence is final and total.

Hear this, all you who believe on Jesus, and become united to Christ, and show yourself among the elect: God is the one who justifies you. Not a human judge. Not a great prophet. Not an archangel from heaven. But God, the Creator of the world and Owner of all things and Ruler of the universe and every molecule and person in it, God is the one who justifies you.

The point: unshakable security in the face of tremendous suffering. If God is for us, no one can successfully be against us. If God gave his Son for us, he will give us everything that is good for us. If God is the one who justifies us, no charge against us can stand.

John Piper

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Have a Fantastic Friday! :-)

Are you saved?

““Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬

02/27/2025

Thursday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved.

Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. (Hebrews 6:11–12)

We are running shy of eagles, and we're running over with parrots.

Content to sit safely on our evangelical perches and repeat in rapid-fire falsetto our religious words, we are fast becoming overpopulated with bright-colored birds having soft bellies, big beaks, and little heads. What would help to balance things out would be a lot more keen-eyed, wide-winged creatures willing to soar out and up, exploring the illimitable ranges of the kingdom of God . . . willing to return with a brief report on their findings before they leave the nest again for another fascinating adventure.

Parrot people are much different than eagle thinkers. They like to stay in the same cage, pick over the same pan full of seeds, and listen to the same words over and over again until they can say them with ease. They like company too. Lots of attention, a scratch here, a snuggle there, and they'll stay for years right on the same perch. You and I can't remember the last time we saw one fly. Parrots like the predictable, the secure, the strokes they get from their mutual admiration society.

Not eagles. There's not a predictable pinion in their wings! They think. They love to think. They are driven with this inner urge to search, to discover, to learn. And that means they're courageous, tough-minded, willing to ask the hard questions as they bypass the routine in vigorous pursuit of the truth. The whole truth. "The deep things of God"—fresh from the Himalayan heights, where the thin air makes thoughts pure and clear—rather than the tired, worn distillations of humanity. And unlike the intellectually impoverished parrot, eagles take risks getting their food because they hate anything that comes from a small dish of picked-over seeds . . . it's boring, dull, repetitious, and dry.

Although rare, eagles are not completely extinct in the historic skies of the church. Thomas Aquinas was one, as were Augustine and Bunyan, Wycliffe and Huss. So were G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, Robert Dick Wilson, J. Gresham Machen, W. R. Nicoll, and A. W. Tozer.

Many of the reformers qualify, as do John Newton, George Whitefield, and a long line of nonconformists—original thinkers whose lives were interwoven through the treasured tapestry of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries.

And in our day? We could name some . . . but they are increasingly rarer, as the "Entertain Me" philosophy of the public outshouts those who plead, "Make me think!"
Have you fallen prey to a similar mind-set? Do you find yourself contentedly sitting on your perch, pecking at dry morsels rather than longing for the skies? Think about it.

Charles Swindoll

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