One Day At A Time. God Is So Good And Faithful!
Keep praying, God still reigns over the universe

By David J. Stewart | October 2013

Hebrews 11:27, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

       Praise the Lord! I thank God for all His bountiful blessings and that my name is written in Heaven! It's been a very hectic week. Due to my radiating neck pain it has been overwhelming at times and I just couldn't get as much done as I had hoped. I've had horrible sharp pain radiating from my neck down my left shoulder blade all day today. It feels like a razorblade cutting across the nerve. I'm going to request a new MRI as soon as I am able. It's usually the right side of my body mostly affected by my stenosis and radiculopathy, but for some reason today the left side is really bad. I've been praying, because I don't want to do anything on my own without God's help. I need, want and pray for the Lord's help in all that I do. And I've been praying for you, my web visitors and this needful ministry for Jesus.

Above is a cool picture of a local Baptist church proclaiming the truth... JESUS SAVES! Amen!

We are living in wicked times. Amidst all the 50 or so Baptist churches I've seen this past week, I was saddened to see a Hooters breastaurant in Knoxville. Over my dead body would you ever find me in a Hooters. I've never been in one and never plan to. I knew a professed Christian man who once told me that he only goes to Hooters for their delicious chicken wings. That is wrong! Low-moral women with large breasts are hired to wear tight T-shirts to lure lustful customers. Public lewdness causes lasciviousness and is a sin. It is evil. Hell will freeze over before I go to Hooters, even if they're the last place on earth that sell chicken wings!!! Speaking of Chicken wings, I ordered some buffalo flavored wings from Papa Johns Pizza last night! Em, em, those are some great chicken wings! Yes Sir!

I've never seen so many people marked with tattoos as nowadays. Tattoos are worldly. No Christian should get a tattoo. I saw one tattoo shop called, “Wicked Tattoo.” You don't go to church to get a tattoo; but rather, you have to go to a house of sin, a worldly establishment, a place where the artist doing the tattoos is as worldly, wicked and saturated with marks of Satan as can be. As with all things that are wrong, many people have seemingly reasonable excuses for getting tattoos. The truth is that the human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit if you are a born-again Christian (1st Corinthians 3:16-17). God literally lives within your body if you are saved (Romans 8:9). Thus, the Lord doesn't want us to defile our bodies with tattoos, cigarettes, fornication or substance abuse. Satan knows that if he can get you to disrespect your body, then he owns you. Don't let the Devil advertise on your body.

The first thing that Hollywood does to break-in a new actor is to film them completely naked, to desecrate the human body, showing that Satan now owns their soul. You are required to sell your soul to make it big in Hollywood. Along with the soul comes the body and everything else. You can name any big name actor you want... they've stripped it all off! In an infamous act of beastly immorality, a desperate mother ripped off her own daughter's clothes in front of Hollywood studios, begging them to put her daughter into the movies. No wonder the Lord said that no one can serve God and mammon (wealth). You will cling to the one in love, and despise the other in hate. This is what the Lord teaches (Matthew 6:24). Every Christian should decide in their heart and mind that they HATE money and LOVE God. The love of money is the Devil's trick, and the treat is a sorrowful life, “which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1st Timothy 6:10).

Below: I took the following several pictures while driving around. To my surprise Knoxville has many pleasant hills. The Appalachian Mountains are about an hour to the east. Due to the fog they're called the Smokey Mountains down by Gatlinburg, TN. I thought I was going to miss the leaves coming down, but I actually arrived at the beginning of the fall season (which comes later down south than up north in Chicago where I grew up). The leaves are just starting to come down, so I am blessed, Lord willing, to enjoy the entire fall season (and I plan to by God's grace). I love the fall season! I really like the cooler temperatures. It's been around 79 degrees in the day and in the 50's at night. Today it only got up into the 60's, which is great. I've seen some beautiful scenery, but I can't take pictures while driving and there's no where to stop in most places. But here's some photos I was able to take to share with you...


 

It was nice to eat at Arby's again after many years. And I ate at Chick-Fil-A for the first time ever, which was really nice too. There's tons of restaurants in Knoxville, and just about everything you could imagine for shopping. Cookeville doesn't have the pretty hills like Knoxville. Chattanooga has even more hills and beats Knoxville architecturally for beauty downtown. Chattanooga is surrounded by hills and it is a beautiful city, but I like the vibe of Knoxville better. Chattanooga has about 170,000 people and Knoxville around 600,000. Cookeville in Middle Tennessee only has about 30,000 residents.

Below: here's some farms and cows I took pictures of out in the country...


 

Below: There are fireworks stores EVERYWHERE throughout Tennessee! To my surprise they were all open in October.


 

I love all the Baptist churches throughout Tennessee.

I still have much to do this week, and by God's grace I hope to get more done than this past week. One day at a time. I love you all in the Lord, whoever you may be.
 

God's Promise To Guide His Dear Children Along

Listen to Brother Lester Roloff (1914-1982) sing, He Leads His Dear Children (Download)

Well, my paradise isle is fast becoming the sinking Lost City Of Atlantis (or Gilligan's island or the island of Dr. Moreau). As with most things in life, it's been a bitter/sweet experience thus far. The commitment that I had from a local doctor's clinic to prescribe my pain medications fell through. I carefully went over the information three times before I moved to Hilo, but the woman handling the clinic's new patients didn't know what she was talking about. I've been all over Hilo and can't find a doctor who will prescribe pain meds. They won't even take cash. So I went to the local emergency room and they wouldn't help me either. I have all my medical records, MRI images, all recent prescription bottles and legitimate doctor's contact information. Sadly, innocent citizens requiring prescription opiate pain medications are treated like criminal cocaine addicts, meth heads and heroine junkies by the system.

I'm still in high spirits in the Lord, but it looks like I won't be staying in Hilo much longer. I've been rationing my pain meds and went down to Wal-Mart to get some over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) to make what I have last. I'm hurting a lot and can't stay here much longer like this without proper pain meds. I've been having withdrawal symptoms, which causes my muscles to hurt from head-to-toe, and overwhelming tiredness. I'm enjoying my Hilo, Hawaii P.O. Box very much. At least I can say that I lived in Hilo, Hawaii for a couple weeks. Amen! Please keep me in your daily and continuous prayers, for God's will to be done in my life. I believe the Lord is leading and guiding me, as I claim these precious promises found in the inspired Word of God...

These are but a few of the hundreds of precious Scriptures which teach us that God guides His dear children along throughout life. Romans 8:28 was Dr. Lee Roberson's favorite life's Bible verse. Things won't always be good in this life, but we have the sweet blessed assurance and promise from our holy and unchanging God that ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD. That means you if you have trusted Christ as your Savior. Your sins are eternally forgiven if you have received (put your faith in) Christ's death, burial and resurrection as full-payment for your sins. You can claim God's divine guidance as His dear child. The problem is when our will conflicts with the Lord's will. Proverbs 14:14, “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.” God cannot lead a man who is leading himself in arrogance, pride and foolishness. If you want to be led of God, then SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES and pray, NOT MY WILL O GOD, BUT THINE, BE DONE! Luke 22:42, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

I humbly told the Lord years ago that I'll gladly live anywhere He wants me to live, whether it be Antarctica, Hell's Kitchen in the New York Bronx, a remote island halfway around the world or in some rural town way out in the country. Brother Jack Hyles used to wisely say that it's more important to do the WHAT of the will of God, than to be in the WHERE of the will of God. Amen! I've been praying and will continue to pray, and I humbly ask for your special prayers for God to show me where to move, live and continue my ministry by God's will and power (Zechariah 4:6).
 

Why God Deliberately Led The Israelites Into Hard Times

My original plans were to move to either Tennessee or Hawaii. Hawaii was always the hard choice, because it posed more difficulties (more than I foresaw evidently). I've never believed that the easy way is God's way. From my own personal experience, the hard way is usually God's way, because it requires greater faith on our part, and faith is what pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). I'm not speaking about salvation here, for the simplicity that is in Christ is the pure and uncorrupted Gospel message of Christ's death, burial and resurrection (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). I'm speaking about the daily journey that we travel as individual believers. The Bible is filled with examples. God led Abraham through the merciless desert into an unknown land as a complete stranger. That was very hard for Abraham. God promised a son to Sarah and Abraham when they were nearly 100 years old. That was very difficult for them to accept and believe.

God led the freed Israelites from Egypt into a desert wilderness with no water, no food, scorpions, snakes and extreme weather conditions of burning sun and blowing sand storms. God led them into a very hard way to test their faith, to see if they would continue to keep God's commandments or not. This is exactly what we are taught in Deuteronomy 8:1-4. Read why God led the Jews into such horrible conditions in Deuteronomy 8:2, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” Yet, God provided water, food, meat and took care of the Israelites despite their constant whining, bickering, rebelling and complaining against God and Moses.

The same God Whom we worship today 3,500 years later uses the same methods to test and break His children. No Christian is exempt from being led into the wilderness (that is, tough times and hardships). God wants to see how we're going to react. Will we complain as many of the Jews did? Or will we have a spirit of faith as did Joshua and Caleb? I choose to praise the Lord anyhow!

As I mentioned, my original plans were to move to Tennessee, so if things don't work out real soon on the Big Island I'm going to continue with my original plan, Lord willing, to move to Tennessee. That way I can obtain an orthopedic doctor to treat my chronic neck pain. I had considered North Carolina in the tri-cities area for a long time too. I'd be happy to live in either place. Home is where I hang my hat! Being Baptist, I've always wanted to live in the Bible belt. Hawaii was a last minute decision, and I don't regret it one bit, because I had to find out if this is for me or not. If I can't get my pain meds, I can't get my pain meds! I haven't picked an area yet in Tennessee. I like Cookeville in middle Tennessee. It's a small quaint town of around 30,000 people. Knoxville and Nashville have too much crime. I wouldn't live in Nashville, but somewhere up around Madison or Hendersonville would be nice perhaps. Chattanooga is an old cultured city. Murfreesboro sounds nice too, but growing really fast. Franklin is moderately expensive, but a charming town from everything I've researched. I'm earnestly praying for the Lord to lead me. One day at a time!


Consistent Prayer Is Much Better Than Long Prayer

I've been repeating this section on prayer, because repetition is the key to learning and I want you to learn prayer so much. Most new believers pray for a while, don't see any results and then quit. Or people are unsaved and pray to a false god they do not know. Oh my friend, prayer doesn't work that way because God doesn't work that way. God works behind the scenes in ways that way cannot see nor understand. This is why we are commanded in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Most people pray and quit because they don't understand why God hasn't answered. You just do as God commanded and PRAY WITHOUT CEASING (1st Thessalonians 4:17). We ought to pray throughout the day as we go about our business, as problems arise, as we think of others who are suffering, as we continually realize how great and real and merciful and awesome our God is! Jesus is precious!

I'm just taking things one day at a time. God is with me wherever I go (Hebrews 13:5). My faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ. I know more trials and tribulations are ahead, as always, but God will see me through as He always has. Amen! Even so, come, Lord Jesus! All my Christian brothers and sisters in the Lord, please keep me in your continued prayers. I believe that even a small prayer activates the machinery in Heaven and starts the ball of God's omnipotent power rolling. To believe in prayer is to believe in God Who hears and answers prayer. To not pray is a lack of faith, saying that we really don't believe God cares about us nor will He do anything to help us, so why pray?

Listen to what King David said in Psalms 22:1, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.” David said that he prayed to God, but God didn't seem to hear him at all. Yet God was very much awake and listening! Psalms 44:23, “Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.”

David was frustrated, impatient and bold in his prayers to God. David asked God how much longer He was going to stay sleeping? David cried out in prayer, but didn't feel like God was listening. We've all been there. I've learned that you truly begin to mature in the Lord when you keep on praying anyway, no matter how dismal, unproductive or useless prayer may seem in our finite, flawed and human minds. God is capable of doing the unimaginable, miracles and that which everyone said couldn't be done. It requires a greater faith to keep praying when the answers don't seem to be coming, and faith pleases God.

Anybody would gladly pray if the skies of heaven poured down gold, silver and materialistic blessings. I believe that's why God steps out of the picture and makes us feel like He's ignoring us. In fact, this is the exact Biblical teaching of Luke 18:1-8. The unjust judge avenged the irritating woman to get rid of her, but God ignores us to test us (that is, to test how much faith we really have). How much faith do you have? You have as much faith, not how long you pray; but rather, how persistent you pray. Long prayers don't impress God (Matthew 6:7-8), but to keep praying when it seems like there's no reason left to pray greatly pleases God. Let's all start praying consistently, morning and evening and afternoon. Amen!

Remember the story of the rabbit and the turtle. The rabbit was fast and could outrun the turtle anytime, anywhere. But the turtle still won the race, because he kept with the stuff! The rabbit became overconfident and lost sight of his purpose, but the turtle stayed with the course and finished. In God's marathon it's not a matter of who finishes first; but rather, just finishing the race that He has set before you. Amen! All God expects is that we keep going, never quit, don't stop praying, don't stop sharing the Gospel, keep trying to do right, and keep trusting Him at all times, no matter what happens (Job 13:15).

The best of Christians may fail to live right 5 times out of 10, but that's a lot better than failing 10 times out of 10 because you're a heathen that's not even trying. I am speaking of our fellowship with God here, as Christians. I am not speaking of salvation, which has nothing to do with our lifestyle or how hard we try to live right. Eternal life is a free gift, paid in full by Jesus' precious blood. All we do is receive God's righteousness by faith in the Gospel, that is, Christ's death, burial and resurrection three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). What a Savior! Jesus is precious!!!

We are all living on borrowed time, so may we all learn to number our days by living each day for the Lord Jesus Christ...

Psalms 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

The Error Of Expecting Everyone To Have The Same Salvation Experience As Paul

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

I love you all in the Lord, whoever you may be!

Christ Paid Our Debt Of Sin!

1st Thessalonians 5:25, “Brethren, pray for us.”

Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!