Lamp in a Corner

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Multiplied Blessings

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

(Ephesians 1:3-14 ESV) *

* https://biblehub.com/esv/ephesians/1.htm

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Don't be Distracted

The recent disclosure (leak) of a deliberative, preliminary opinion from Justice Alito of the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a Mississippi abortion law has sparked controversy and protests. The persons responsible violated the law, the sanctity of the court, and the dignity of the American people. I will be surprised, however, if they are caught and punished.

We may never know whether persons outside the court were involved. Nevertheless, anyone with an understanding of the dirty politics of the Left can see how the Biden Administration and the Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate benefit from it.

The impact the current decision might have on Roe vs. Wade is clear. The Supreme Court may return the regulation of abortion to the states. Since the “right to choose” is a sacred cow in the secular-humanist doctrine of the Left, the thought of giving the people in the various states the right to regulate it drives them bonkers. They know that most Americans oppose the way abortion is being regulated under Roe vs. Wade.

Let me point out, respectfully, that the 10^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Therefore, the high court may well decide that the regulation of abortion is within the jurisdiction of the states. I would like to remind, however, that a decision has not yet been rendered.

The uproar caused by the leak is a perfect distraction, to deflect the voters' attention away from the record of abject failure the Radical-Liberal wing of the Democratic Party has accumulated, since January 20, 2021. It may be a tactic designed to derail the much-anticipated defeat of the Democrats in November’s midterm election.

Consequently, it is difficult for me to believe that the justice's deliberative information was leaked for any other purpose. I am asking you, the American voters, not to let yourselves be distracted. The reckless spending, weak foreign policy, decimation of our military strength, corruption, crime, economic devastation, and chiaos at the border with Mexico resulting from the insane policies of the Democrats are ruining the country. We must remain focused and vote them out of office in 2022 and 2024.

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Mother's Day 2022

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?

She is more precious than rubies.

Her husband can trust her,

and she will greatly enrich his life.

She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

She finds wool and flax

and busily spins it.

She is like a merchant’s ship,

bringing her food from afar.

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household

and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

She goes to inspect a field and buys it;

with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She is energetic and strong,

a hard worker.

She makes sure her dealings are profitable;

her lamp burns late into the night.

Her hands are busy spinning thread,

her fingers twisting fiber.

She extends a helping hand to the poor

and opens her arms to the needy.

She has no fear of winter for her household,

for everyone has warm clothes.

She makes her own bedspreads.

She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.

Her husband is well known at the city gates,

where he sits with the other civic leaders.

She makes belted linen garments

and sashes to sell to the merchants.

She is clothed with strength and dignity,

and she laughs without fear of the future.

When she speaks, her words are wise,

and she gives instructions with kindness.

She carefully watches everything in her household

and suffers nothing from laziness.

Her children stand and bless her.

Her husband praises her:

“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,

but you surpass them all!”

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;

but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

Reward her for all she has done.

Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

(Proverbs 31:10-31 NLT) *

* https://biblehub.com/nlt/proverbs/31.htm

God bless you, Mom! You too, Gram. You always had my back. I love you both, and I look forward to seeing you again in Heaven.

Thursday, May 5, 2022

While We Were Yet Sinners

‘It is by grace that we are saved, through faith.’ (Ephesians 2:8)

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50 ESV) *

* https://biblehub.com/esv/luke/7.htm

The object lesson Jesus was teaching is that the woman lovingly humbled herself, because she was forgiven much. The Pharisees got stuck on whether He had the authority to forgive sins. They missed the whole point.

‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.’ (Acts 16:31) ‘He will remember your sins no more.’ (Hebrews 10:17)