Orange Moon Wednesday, January 21, 2026 "The Great Fact"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

 

"The Great Fact"   

      

    The most obvious truth in God's creation is Himself, the Creator.

     "The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and godhead" (Romans 1:20; emphasis added).

   God makes Himself known to human hearts.   Only a willful and determined blindness can cause us to miss that which continually stares us right in the face.  The Lord Jesus Christ stated the indictment…

    "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).

    While the Lord primarily directed this indictment to unbelievers, having to do with judgment and "the wrath to come," believers can also miss the obvious (Matthew 3:7).  Do we overlook, neglect, or sometimes determine to not see the Great Fact of all things, namely, that our Lord "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will?" (Ephesians 1:11).  We certainly can, and do.  Of course, this does not mean that God determines sin, an impossibility so foreign to His character that He will not even tempt human hearts to distrust and disobey Him (James 1:13).  It does mean, however, that our Lord is so present, so involved, so holy, so righteous, so gracious, so merciful, so wise, and so purposeful that He coordinates all things in accordance with the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and His "eternal purpose" in Him (Ephesians 3:11).   The Word of God sounds and resounds with such assurance, as does creation and its continual message of our Lord's "eternal power and godhead."  Born again believers must affirm this by faith as a matter of truth and reality.  We must be sure to see the hand of God where it seems obvious.  And, where it does not…

     "They crucified Him" (Matthew 27:35).

    Evil human hands and hearts nailed the Lord Jesus to His cross.  Nothing more seems to belie the fact of God and His working than this greatest of all sins.  However, nothing more reveals our Heavenly Father and His working than this greatest of all revelations of Himself and His truth.  Consider the prevailing reality of Calvary.  Was it human sin, or divine redemption?  We know the answer.  The cross had existed in the heart of God from everlasting, long before it pierced His hands and feet - "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).  Believers look at Calvary without denying the sin of it, indeed, the most wicked of all evils.  However, we see the righteousness of the cross far more, that is, the Lord Jesus fulfilling the promises of God by bearing the consequences of our sins that His righteousness demanded.  "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (Acts 2:23).

    The truth of the cross applies to all things.  Nothing compares with Calvary's revelation of human sinfulness, but also its greater revelation of redemption.  Without denying the reality and consequence of the former, believers nevertheless determine to see the latter - the Great Fact of God and His working in all things - as the focus of our hearts.  Our salvation and relationship with God began in such faith.  It continues in our walk with Him as we see the world and its often sad realities in the light of the Word and the far more glorious reality it declares…

"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."

(Romans 11:36)

"Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee."

(Isaiah 26:3)

Weekly Memory Verse

     Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation."

(II Corinthians 1:3-4).

   

   

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Orange Moon Tuesday, January 20, 2026 “The Hands, the Voice, the Heart”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

 

"The Hands, the Voice, the Heart"   

      

    Mr. Lamar suffered a stroke many years ago, rendering his right arm withered and weak, and also greatly hindering his ability to speak.  He lives in a retirement community where we conduct services, and has been a blessing to us and especially to those who live in the community.  He helps people in any way he can, with a smile on his face and clearly with an attitude of service to God and others.

    After a service this past week, he held out his right hand to give what I thought would be the fist bump we usually share with one another.  Somehow, I did not immediately realize something most special  in the moment.  Mr. Lamar held out not a fist, but an outstretched hand.  Our dear brother and friend stretched forth his fingers, and took my hand with a strong and sure grip.  He then spoke...  "God is so good!"

   He is, isn't He?  We have heard multitudes of God's people utter these words through the years. To hear them from Mr. Lamar took them to another blessed place of glory and wonder.  Accompanied by a handshake impossible until now, well, you can imagine the moment, which we trust will be followed by many others as Mr. Lamar continues to serve God and people.

    Of course, I could not help but think of the following:

    "He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored whole as the other" (Mark 3:5).

    "I cried unto Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue" (Psalm 66:17).

    Sometimes God delivers by power of His hand.  Sometimes He delivers by the presence of His heart.   We have seen both redemptions in Mr. Lamar, who has for years devoted himself to the Lord and to people despite his challenges.  I am sure we will continue to see him do the same, albeit with greater liberty and capacity to serve.  Or maybe not.  Indeed, as much as we rejoice in Mr. Lamar's Christ-enlivened hand and voice, I am not sure we will see greater service than we have seen for so long.  By God's grace and enabling, he has given what he had, and which has been multiplied by the Lord in blessed ways of service.  That is all any of us can do, and all that God requires (II Corinthians 8:12)..  He adds His blessing to our offerings, as He will doubtless continue to do through the hands, the voice, and most of all, the heart of our dear brother, Mr. Lamar.

"This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."

(Psalm 34:6)

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

(II Corinthians 12:7-9)

Weekly Memory Verse

     Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation."

(II Corinthians 1:3-4).

   

   

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Orange Moon Monday, January 19, 2026 "A Very Present Help In Trouble"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

 

"A Very Present Help"   

      

     I recently heard about an event from afar that filled me with sadness.  The details are not necessary to recount, but suffice it to say I wondered how the people involved could navigate through waters of tragedy so deep and dark that it seemed their hearts would surely be overwhelmed.

    I then remembered the truth, that God did not know the matter  "from afar."  Moreover, He could do something about it, and He  also called me to also do something about it.

    "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation" (II Corinthians 1:3-4).

    "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all."

(I Timothy 2:1)

    No waters of this present life are so dark and deep that "the God of all comfort" cannot administer His solace to those who turn their hearts toward Him by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is that present, that near, that involved, that able, and most of all, that willing to apply His balm to the most broken of hearts.  "Thou, o Lord, art full of compassion" (Psalm 86:15).  Solace awaits in the very midst of sorrow for all who bring their hearts to His heart in times when no other hope or help exists.

    Those involved in the tragedy mentioned will need a miracle that far transcends physical healing or earthly provision.  They will require ongoing administration of the presence and power of God to bestow and keep their hearts in peace.  The Prince of peace is able to do that.  He is willing to do that.  He is present to do that.  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).  My prayer is that those involved in the tragedy will realize and turn their hearts toward the One who will help them as they look to Him.   "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

   Perplexity became opportunity for prayer in the matter mentioned.  Indeed, God does not allow us to be made aware of human sorrow without purpose.  He calls us to seek His divine comfort for the hurting and brokenhearted.  Our Father doubtless responds in ways we cannot see, but of which we can be sure as "the God of all comfort" and the Father "full of compassion" works to provide His "very present help" in the deepest and darkest of troubled waters.

"Fear thou not, for I am with thee.  Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness… For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee."

(Psalm 41:10; 13).

Weekly Memory Verse

     Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation."

(II Corinthians 1:3-4).

   

   

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