Orange Moon Wednesday, April 1, 2026 "Not Alone"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"Not Alone" 

       

    Under the radar.  Behind the scenes.  Far from the crowd.  The Lord Jesus Christ lived most of His earthly lifetime in private rather than public terms.  Scripture records only one "public" episode during the first 30 years of His earthly lifetime, on the occasion of being left behind at the temple in Jerusalem.  There, He astonished religious teachers by His wisdom and knowledge (Luke 2:42-52).  However, eighteen years of obscurity followed the event, as through His earthly parents, His Heavenly Father made known the largely hidden paths to which He called the Lord Jesus.  Even during the three years of His ministry, our Savior often retreated to solitary places in mountains, wildernesses, and gardens to seek the privacy that characterized so much of His earthly lifetime.  He often sought aloneness - because He realized He was not alone.

    "I am not alone, because the Father is with Me" (John 16:32).

     As born again believers "walk by faith, not by sight," the presence of God with and within us often  presents great challenge to our remembrance (II Corinthians 5:7).  We know He is with us, believing the truth as a matter of doctrine and conviction.  However, life often tempts us to feel, think, and act as if we are alone.  No less than David the Psalmist, a man sure of his Lord's "very present help in trouble," also cried out, "Why standest Thou afar off, o Lord?  Why hidest Thyself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 46:1; 10:1).  What we know to be real is not always what we feel.  Nor do appearances always indicate the abiding presence of our Lord at all times, and in all things.  "I watch, and am as a sparrow alone on the housetop" (Psalm 102:7).

    A great portion of our lives finds us journeying along obscure pathways of both heart and life.  The challenge of solitude calls us to remember the One who lived most of His life privately because He knew so well the Father best found under the radar, behind the scenes, and far from the crowd.  In Christ, God bestows the gift of Himself as the Life of our lives, the abiding Presence, and the fulfillment of our hearts.  "I am not alone, because the Father is with Me" said our Lord.  Because of His redeeming work on our behalf, we can say the same.  We must, first, because the Truth is true.  And then because our Heavenly Father would have us realize and affirm by faith that even when we feel alone and hidden to all, the words of the Lord Jesus form our confession as well - "I am not alone."

"I am with you always."

(Matthew 28:20)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

(Psalm 100:5)

7755

 

 

Orange Moon Tuesday, May 31, 2026 “Much Tribulation”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"Much Tribulation" 

    "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

     Why?  Among many reasons, one  involves the simple truth that without trial, no born again believer would faithfully walk with God in this present life.

    "Before I was afflicted, I went astray.  But now have I kept Thy Word" (Psalm 119:67).

    The flesh of even the most faithful Christian loves pleasure and comfort far too much for a trouble-free life in this present world.  Challenge reminds, encourages, and challenges believers to seek God and His enabling by faith, the means by which we avail ourselves of His grace.  Without trial, we would drift into the murky depths of depending on our own abilities and determinations.  "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool" (Provers 28:26).

   No less than the Apostle Paul required trouble as his challenging counselor.  "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" (II Corinthians 12:7).   Of far more consequence (and mystery), the Lord Jesus Christ "learned obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8).  We must therefore recognize the truth regarding our own lives that challenge does not come our way arbitrarily or capriciously.  Purpose accompanies pain, whatever its nature or measure.  No challenge in the believer's life comes without necessary lessons regarding God's provision and our need.  "The light shineth in darkness" (John 1:5).

    Let us apply this truth to current trials and tribulations in our lives.  Not one has come to us apart from the providence of our Heavenly Father's administrations or allowances.  He has known from everlasting we would pass this way.  He wove our challenges into His perfect purposes for us before ever we existed.  This includes our ongoing need to know and grow in the realization we consider.  What light shines in the darkness of difficulty we presently face?  How will the Holy Spirit reveal God's perfect faithfulness?  How will He teach us to trust Him in truer and more effectual ways?  Most importantly, how will we discover the glory of the Lord Jesus and the truth that shines in His grace?  "For Thou art my hope, O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth" (Psalm 71:5).

    The day will come when we no longer require tribulation as a primary means of communication by God.  This is not that day (as of this writing).  Presently, we need trial, trouble, difficulty, pain, and sorrow as wisely administered and allowed by God for His glory and our benefit.  Is there any challenge we have not viewed in this shining light that glimmers in the darkness?  If so, this moment beckons us to open our eyes and hearts to our desperate need for lessons that can never be learned apart from the "much tribulation" that accompanies and enlightens our journey to the kingdom of God.

"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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

(II Corinthians 12:9-10)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

(Psalm 100:5)

7754

 

 

Orange Moon March 30, 2026 “Mercy: Abiding and Availing”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"Mercy: Abiding and Availing" 

    

     Our memory verse this week declares the marvel of abiding mercy, namely, "His mercy is everlasting."

    Mercy, of course, speaks to God's character and disposition to forgive.  How everlasting is this goodness of heart and bestowal of pardon?  This everlasting…

    "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" (Romans 4:8).

    Though the Lord Jesus Christ, God forgives those who believe to the degree He will not place sins on our account in any manner that might jeopardize our relationship with Him.  This does not simply involve a desire of His heart, vast as that is.  "He delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18).  Our Father rather relates to believers through the redeeming work of the Christ who "bore our sins" on the cross of Calvary, and was "made… to be sin for us" (I Peter 2:24; II Corinthians 5:21).  Bearing sins the Lord Jesus bore for us would indict His atoning work as less than adequate in God's sight to fulfill His righteousness and provide for our need.  This cannot occur…

    "This man, after He had made one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:22).

    "'We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all" (Hebrews 1010).

    The Christ "made to be sin for us" is also "made unto us righteousness" (I Peter 2:24; II Corinthians 5:21; I Corinthians 1:3).  Our Heavenly Father will not impute sin to any heart enrobed with the righteousness of His beloved Son.  The Lord Jesus' atoning work is so complete and effectual in His sight that He views us through the lens of Christ, as it were.  Thus, "His mercy is everlasting" because the Lord Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession for us" (Romans 7:25).

     Without jeopardizing His relationship to us, our Father does "chasten and scourge every son whom He receiveth" (Hebrews 12:6).  As necessary, He administers discipline that is actually no less His mercy than pleasant blessing.  If God did not discipline believers, He would violate His integrity.  He would fail to fulfill our greatest need of being progressively conformed to the spiritual and moral image of the Lord Jesus (Romans 8:28-29).  Neither neglect is possible, based on our Lord's perfect character and way.  Thus, a secured relationship through everlasting mercy means that in this present life, the rod of correction accompanies the mercy of abiding relationship with God through Christ.

    Scripture commands believers to "confess our sins" in order to receive the forgiveness of restored fellowship with our Father rather than relationship (I John 1:9).  The latter abides forever; the former ebbs and flows during our earthly sojourn.  We require the assurance of everlasting mercy regarding relationship, and the application of applied mercy regarding fellowship.  God provides both in abundant measure through the person and work of the Lord Jesus.  We must understand the distinction regarding the mercy that assures our eternity with God, and avails for our walk with Him in this present life.

"Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good.  For His mercy endureth forever."

(Psalm 106:1)

"When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up."

(Psalm 94:18)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

(Psalm 100:5)

7753