Even though coral is not mentioned a lot in the Bible, there are key points that can be made of the importance of coral in ancient times as a symbol of beauty and wealth. The Bible, however, encourages believers to seek wisdom and Spiritual riches above. Earthly treasures are only temporary. (Smith’s Bible Dictionary)

Job 28:18 This passage (Job 28) is referencing the value of wisdom, it names every precious gemstone, or metal, none of which can compare to the value of wisdom. This specific verse reads: “Coral or jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.” Ezekiel 27:16 reads: “Aram was your customer because of the abundance of your goods; they paid for your wares emeralds, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies.” Lamentations 4:7 “Her consecrated ones were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were ruddier in body than corals, their polishing was like lapis lazuli.”(New American Standard)

The scriptures referred to how the affluent were seen to be viewed using adornment as an important thing to acquire. Material wealth was put in high regards. God sees material wealth as a stumbling block if that is where you put your hope and high regards; it can be a distraction or an idol.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 3:13-18 NIV “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” Wisdom is referred to as more eternal, more prudent, of much greater value than any material thing on this earth. God warns about being a fool who despises wisdom.

Jesus gave His life, to allow us a new chance to let go of those material things, to invest in those things that are eternal. We only live one time on this earth, my prayer for everyone is that you have a wonderful life filled with Christ, fearing Him, getting to know Him as your personal savior; Jesus died for our sins and rose again so that our lives would be filled with Him, instead of material things. He is only a prayer away. Forgive me, of all sin, and anything that has separated me from you, Lord. I let go of all those things, in Jesus’ name. Please come into my life and rearrange what is important in my life. I believe you died and rose again to give me that second chance, thank you, Lord. I Love you, in Jesus’ mighty name, I need You, not coral or any other riches, only you!

C.S. Lewis once quoted, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

Benjamin Franklin quoted,” Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.”

In scriptures: Isaiah 46:4 “I will still be carrying you when you are old. Your hair will turn gray, and I will still carry you. I made you, and I will carry you to safety.”

In scriptures: Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

These all may seem to be random thoughts, however the Lord has been speaking to me about staying free no matter how old we grow! As we grow older it seems as if everything around us is changing. Of course, things are always changing, in us and around us. We sometimes get thoughts to do something that used to be no problem to do. Then one day we realize that what we used to do- may not be the safest thing to do anymore. There are those of course who can “dance to the fiddle” til they are 90 years old, God bless them for sure. We must guard our hearts to stay warm and flexible as we navigate discouragement, loneliness, and disappointments in life. We need to guard against our hearts becoming hard, a hard heart is not easily moved by the changes that God has for us. We have walked by faith all of our lives and when we become less involved, for one reason or another, we are left with our prayer life, our long conversations with God and it should be a goal to stay free of those things in the world that may entangle us and tell us that we are no longer free. This is not true. As the scripture says above,” It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” God also lovingly tells us in Isaiah 46:4-” I will still be the same when you are old and gray, and I will take care of you. I created you. I will carry you and always keep you safe.”

Sometimes we are tempted to say it must be God is done with me, but that will never be true- as He says above “even when you are old and gray”-I will take care of you. Once more, He set us free so that as long as we have breath in our lungs, we have a commission to tell others about what Jesus did for us. God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, whosoever believes in Him, will not perish but will have everlasting life.” John 3:16

C.S. Lewis quoted: “Freedom always comes with a price.”

Jesus paid a great price for our salvation-for our freedom. If you believe that Jesus died for your sins, and then rose again so that you will have eternal life, then Jesus is Lord of your life, your life is filled with love, because Jesus is love. You can pray right now: “Lord fill me with your love and your Holy Spirit, come and change my life forevermore.”

“Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age but they die young.” Benjamin Franklin

Make that your goal, to love deeply, tell others about Jesus and be inspired to dream new dreams!

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

2 Corinthians 10:3,4,5,6 reads: “We live in this world, but we don’t act like it’s people or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God’s power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people’s thoughts and make them obey Christ. And when you completely obey Him, we will punish anyone who refuses to obey.”(CEV)

Another commentary paraphrase (Dummelow’s): “We live in the flesh, and are subject to it’s weaknesses and temptations, like others; but we are not prompted by fleshly motives, such as dread of giving offence, or desire of popularity.4. For we fight not in our own strength, but in the strength of God, and this reliance upon Him enables us to prevail against all opposition and prejudice, however strong or deep rooted.5. In this strength we shatter the false reasonings and assertions of our opponents and bring back your rebellious thoughts into obedience to Christ,6. while after we secure your submission, we shall certainly punish any who may still resist His will.”

Only our reliance on God enables us to prevail against all opposition and prejudice, however strong or deep rooted. In this strength we shatter the false reasonings and assertions of opponents, and bring back our rebellious thoughts into obedience to Christ, the obedience alone also is a tool to defeat any thing that tries to resist God’s will. This being that our obedience to His word is yet another method of Spiritual warfare. What a powerful God we serve!!!

Our thoughts or imaginations as the CEV translation says it, need to be brought into obedience to Christ, ie. if Christ says you have all the power over any deadly thing then the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living in you gives you that power! If Jesus tells us by His stripes you are healed, the Spirit of the living God Who dwells within you is powerful to heal your body. If you wonder about absolutely anything, Jeremiah 33:3 “Ask me, and I will tell you things that you don’t know and can’t find out.” If the word of God tells us that we can’t find out about some things, its most likely because we have sinned and were rebellious against God. Which was the case in the context of this chapter. Only God can help us overcome our enemies and a big enemy is our thoughts or our imaginations. If they do not agree or are obedient to what God says in His word, then we need to bring our imaginations back in line with what God tells us to think about. Colossians 3:2 ESV Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 They also tell how you are waiting for His Son Jesus to come from heaven, God raised Him from death, and on the day of judgement, Jesus will save us from God’s anger.

Jesus died for us to give us another opportunity to have a relationship with the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. If you believe that Jesus died for your sins, and God raised Him to life, ask Him to forgive you of all sin, disobedience, ask Him to come into your heart and to change your life forevermore. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh with His power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead will dwell within you (Romans 8:11) and provide life to your mortal bodies, daily comfort and direction for you! His Spirit will change all your imaginations to obey God’s word if you choose to obey His direction.

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.” Psalms 103:13

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”1 John 3:1

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Isaiah 48:17 “This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord Your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.’ Matthew 6:26″ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

A good Father loves his children, (Romans 5:8) provides for his children (Matthew 6:26), disciplines his children (Proverbs 15:32), is a healthy role model (“Follow My example, as I follow the example of Christ.”) , is a comforter to his children-and protection(“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. “Matthew 11:28), he brings his children joy, and happiness (“Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” James 1:17-the joy of the Lord is our strength.

The promises of God are everywhere in His word, and I am so grateful to the Lord that when I was 16 years old in a foster home, I was saved by His grace. This was my first encounter with what it was like to be loved by a Father, and love me He did– without conditions. I am very sure if it were not for His love and for meeting Him at that young age, that I would not be here now to talk about these wonderful promises. In a little country church, a missionary from China was used to lead me to salvation, she gave me a Bible and wrote: Philippians 4:13 ” I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me..” This carried me through–my whole life.

He wants to be a Good Father to you today too, ask Him now, Father , forgive me of all my sins, all that separates me from You, come to me, be Lord of my life and fill me with Your Holy Spirit, I believe that You died for my sins and rose again so that if I believe in You, I may have eternal life.

Happy Father’s Day!!!!!!!!!

This title is from one of Brandon Lake’s songs:” King of Hearts”, congratulations on his K Love song of the year win along with Jelly Roll :” Hard Fought Hallelujah”. It was a raw and very real expression of what we all go through.

The first song I mentioned: “King of Hearts”, it is also very real we have done nothing to deserve what Christ did for us, all we must do is believe.

John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”

John 6:29 “Jesus answered and said to them,” This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

John 6:69 “We have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

“King of Hearts” (Brandon Lake)

I saw the nails, I heard the hammer

King of the Jews carved into a wooden banner

Made you a crown, bloodied Your temple

You could have come down

but in silence we both trembled

Chorus

I looked to my side

‘Cause I only had seconds

Please remember we met

When You’re seated high in heaven.

He spoke in a whisper, looking deep in my eyes

Said, son this time tomorrow we will be in paradise…….. The song goes on

It says it all, He did it all for us, all we must do is believe in Jesus, believe that He died for us, He rose again so that we may one day too and experience a new life with Him, we must ask Him to forgive us of all sins, give the burden to Him, all we must really do is believe in Him and see Him as Lord of your life , just like the thief did on the cross next to Him. Just believe!