Orange Moon Tuesday, January 6, 2026 “Sequence and Saturation - The Way, the Truth, the Life”

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

  

"Sequence and Saturation - The Way, the Truth, the Life"   

  

      

    "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6).

     Our Lord's affirmation of Himself can be interpreted in a number of ways.  In fact, His statement bears as much eternal meaning and significance as any communication ever expressed.  We will never fully know or understand what it means that our Lord exists as the singular way, truth, and life of human hearts.  As one poet expressed of Him, "Shoreless ocean, who can sound Thee, Thine own eternity is round Thee, Majesty divine!"

   One way to construe the Savior's meaning involves simply following the sequence of His statement, namely, He is the way to truth, and truth is the way to life.  In an existence wherein the Lord Jesus serves as our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Master, no possibility exists of finding a path to truth that does not begin and forever continue in Him.  All other ways wherein we seek to understand reality actually detour us from it.  Indeed, regardless of how well we know seem to know any subject, if we fail to realize Christ as the heart of the matter, we never actually approach truth in its actual substance.  We may not always understand how a thing or a matter is Christ-saturated.  We must, however, know that it is.   He is the way to truth, as the Apostle Paul declared, "The truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:21).

    The truth of Christ then leads to the life of Christ.  When a sinner believes the propositions of the Gospel, the personal life of the Lord Jesus enters the heart with the vitality of His living presence.  "To live is Christ… Christ is our life" (Philippians 1:21; Coossians 3:4).  Before faith in the Lord Jesus, we may perceive life in countless other ways.  "My family is my life… my career is my life… My possessions are my life…. My enjoyments are my life."  While such blessings can and should be properly appreciated as gifts of God, none can serve as our life.  The truth of God's Spirit, Word, and providence continually bears witness that our hearts were made for Christ to serve as the Life of our lives.  Nothing else suffices, and until we believe the truth in the new birth, we cannot perceive ourselves as truly alive.  "He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).  Yes, the truth, the living truth that is the Lord Jesus, leads to life.

    Throughout Scripture, proper sequence always matters.  This particularly includes the "I am" of the Savior as the way, the way that leads to truth, and the truth that leads to life.  We experience this in the new birth and beginning of our relationship with God, and also the life of fellowship with God lived thereafter.  If we would know our Lord's life, we must know His truth, and if we would know His truth, we must know Him as the way thereunto.  A Christ-saturated existence indeed, just as we would expect of the God whose eternal purpose is focused upon and saturated with the glory and revelation of His Son…

"The eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Ephesians 3:11)

Weekly Memory Verse

    We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(II Corinthians 4:18).

   

   

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Orange Moon Monday, January 5, 2026 “A Moment In Time. Eternal Significance”

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

  

"A Moment In Time.  Eternal Significance"   

  

       It was a small gesture in time.  But greatly appreciated, and bearing significance forever.

      All the pumps were occupied as I pulled into a gas station yesterday.  I took my place in line behind a gentleman who was filling his tank.  When he finished and pulled away from the pump, I noticed he drove to a parking place nearby.  He stepped out of his car and walked toward the station, perhaps to pay for his gas or to make another purchase.  I realized he had moved so I could pull in to pump my gas, something he did not have to do.  I rolled my passenger side window down and thanked him.  He smiled in response, and we had a very brief discussion about kindness and conscientiousness.  The man's attitude matched his actions, and I drove away realizing opportunities lay before me based on his graciousness.

    First, I could give thanks to our Heavenly Father for blessing of the moment.  It was little more than that, but the Lord meets us along the pathways of His providence as we seek to walk with Him by faith.  We can miss the fact of His presence and working in matters that may seem merely human, but which actually teem with His living presence.  I realized this in the encounter with the gentleman, that his attitudes and actions served as a blessing that flowed through him, but which originated in Another.  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).

    I also realized ongoing opportunities await at the throne of grace, based on the gracious action of the gentleman.  I prayed for him as I drove away, and hope to do so whenever I visit the gas station.  Again, we had little time for more than a brief mention of the Lord and His blessing.  Far more time, Lord willing, will allow me to pray for the man in the future, that whatever his need may be in relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ, God will work accordingly.  Indeed, brief encounters portend of eternal glories as they lead to prayer, and as God answers in ways that will bear significance forever.  "We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (II Corinthians 4:18).

   Finally, I felt encouraged and challenged by the man's example, and have little doubt it will influence me in days to come and ways to come as a guidepost planted by a human action, but which will serve as as a divine reminder: "This is the way.  Walk ye in it" (Isaiah 30:21).  Human beings are imitators of one another, for good, and sadly, too often for ill.  God gives people to serve as reflections of His character, nature, and way.  Following good examples can be synonymous with following Him, even as the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to beckon believers to walk in his footsteps: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:10).

    Again, a small gesture.  It looms large in my heart, however, and continues to bequeath significance for me, and perhaps now, for you and others with whom I will share the blessing.  God works through the multiplier effect, infusing seemingly small actions and brief  moments with glories that will extend into eternal blessedness.  He receives all the glory thereby, and we receive the blessing of seeing His hands, feet, and heart in those of people who likely have no idea of the blessing they are to us, based on their serving to reveal the Source of all goodness, kindness, and gracious conscientiousness.

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

(Romans 11:36)

Weekly Memory Verse

    We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(II Corinthians 4:18).

   

   

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Orange Moon Sunday, January 4, 2025 "For Those Who Serve" A Prayer For the United States Military and Law Enforcement

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

(A prayer I seek to offer daily for those who serve)

  

"For Those Who Serve"   

A Prayer For the United States 

Military and Law Enforcement 

   

  

 "Heavenly Father,

       We thank You for those to whom You refer in Scripture as "ministers of God," namely those who have pledged to defend our Constitution and our nation at the cost of their lives and comfort (Romans 13:1-4).  Thank You for the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Army, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, Special Ops, the FBI, ICE, Law Enforcement, and all who serve our nation. 

    We ask first and foremost that You work in all to lead them to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whether in the new birth, or in growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.   Amid the blessings and challenges of their calling, reveal Yourself and Your truth, leading them to realize they serve You in their duties even more than they serve the nation.

   We ask that You would guide and enable our military and law enforcement to serve honorably, and in a manner that glorifies You and benefits people.  Lead their leaders to deploy them wisely, and help them to serve both humbly and confidently.  May they be successful in their mission, and may it be a means whereby You work to fulfill Your eternal purpose in the Lord Jesus as it pertains to our nation and the world.

    We pray for the families of those who have been lost in service.  Comfort them, Father, as "the God of all comfort."  Lead them to Yourself in whatever their needs involve, and abundantly provide for spouses, children, parents, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues, and all who grieve the loss of those who gave "the last full measure of devotion."  Provide for those whose loved ones did not and will not return to them, meeting their needs and leading them to Yourself in either spiritual birth or growth.

   For those who have been wounded, and who suffer pain and stillness, we ask for their healing in accordance with Your will and eternal purpose in Christ.  Touch them directly by the power of Your hand, or through the efforts You enable medical professionals and treatments to fulfill.  If, in accordance with Your purpose, You allow the wounded to remain in their challenge, we trust You to be their comfort, peace, joy, strength, and "very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).  

    Father, many of our military and law enforcement have seen things, and will see things most of us cannot imagine.  Help them to not be damaged or overwhelmed by the human misery and sin that confront their hearts and minds.  Strengthen, comfort, and protect them from having experienced the consequences of the fallen world in which they serve.  

    Finally, Father, may we be grateful for those who serve, often visiting Your throne of grace to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to You for enabling their service.  May we offer ourselves to You to be whatever help and comfort You purpose to reveal through us.   And lead us to pray for them consistently and fervently, remembering that freedom is never free, and that every liberty we enjoy has been paid for by the multitudes of those who serve.

In the Name of the Lord Jesus we pray,

Amen."

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same, for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

(Romans 13:1-4)

Weekly Memory Verse

    O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"

(Romans 11:33)

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