Orange Moon Monday, December 1, 2025 "I and O"

    

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

   

    

"I and O" 

    You have likely heard the adage that middle letter of "sin" is "I."  Consider also that the middle letter of "God" is "O", as in others.
Of the vast differences between our Creator and ourselves, nothing more characterizes the contrast of divinity in its natural state, and humanity in ours.  Indeed, our Lord ever seeks the benefit of others, while left to ourselves, "all seek their own" (Philippians 2:21)

    Apart from God's redemption and influence in the Lord Jesus Christ, the unholy trinity of "I, Me, and My" governs our lives (along with devilish and worldly influence and power).  When we trust the Lord Jesus for salvation, the new birth ushers us into the reason for which we exist, that is, to be governed by the holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  From selfishness to unselfishness characterizes the changed heart that progressively results in a changed life as we walk with our Lord and as He walks in us.

    "God is love… Charity (love) seeketh not her own… the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (I John 4:8; I Corinthians 13:5; Romans 5:5).

   Of all that can be said about the life to which God calls and enables us as believers, nothing more defines His work in us than deliverance from selfishness unto devotion to Himself and others.  I Corinthians 13 clearly reveals that without such genuine altruism, any supposed experience of God must be viewed as vanity.  Indeed, the Holy Spirit's presence in us involves our Father's stated determination to conform us unto the spiritual and moral image of the Lord Jesus (Romans 8:28-29).  Our Lord ever works to turn us inside out from selfishness to unselfishness making us like the Son who "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

   If ever we wonder what God is doing in our lives, of this we can be sure: He works to enable our overcoming of fleshly, worldly, and devilish temptations to be led by the darkness of "I, Me, and My."  Nothing but destruction awaits in this black hole that seeks to absorb all things into itself for its own existence and benefit.  Conversely, the bright and shining sun sun of divine love exists for radiating the light of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ever outward unto others.  Salvation in Christ begins and continues the work of delivering us unto such a life where we seek the glory of God and the blessing of people.  This fills our own hearts with the peace and joy found only as we grow in likeness to the Christ devoted to His Father and to us.

"I do always those things that please Him."

(John 8:29)

"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

(Isaiah 53:4-6)

Weekly Memory Verse

   All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

(Isaiah 53:4-6)

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Orange Moon Saturday, November 29, 2025 "What a Moment! (For Thanksgiving)"

    

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

   

    

"What a Moment! (For Thanksgiving)" 

     What a day for giving thanks this is!  What a moment!  And what a lifetime and eternity await for gratitude known in the heart, expressed by our words, and lived through our life.

    "Pray without ceasing.  In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).

    It comes as no surprise that the Apostle Paul immediately follows his mandate for ongoing prayer with the giving of thanks.  Gratitude constitutes the atmosphere of communion with God, be it amid times blessed, times challenging, or times that simply seem to be times.  David declared, "I will give thanks unto Thee forever," an eternal prospect that began in the moment he offered it (and which doubtless now continues in the Heavenlies - Psalm 30:12).  The basis for such grace involves the perpetual goodness, faithfulness, and presence of our Lord in our hearts and lives, whereby in every moment He keeps His promise that "all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28).  Indeed, the best of times, the worst of times, and the most mundane of times in our lives flow with the current of "my times are in Thy hands" (Psalm 31:15).  Thus, every moment is more than appropriate for the attitude of gratitude, which often results in "the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15).

    The hands that bear every epoch and moment of our lives also bear the prints of nails that confirm our Lord's complete devotion to our best interests.  This includes the present moment, which offers blessed opportunity to give thanks for the "goodness and mercy" the Psalmist declared "will follow me all the days of my life" (Psalm 23:6).  Look behind and see such goodness.  Or look ahead to its eternal prospect.  Or look by faith into the face of God as revealed in His Word right now to see how unflinchingly He works to fulfill His promised good of conforming us to the spiritual and moral image of the Lord Jesus (Romans 8:29).  Yes, what a day and what a moment for thanksgiving this is!  As will be all that follow forevermore...

"Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto Thee do we give thanks."

(Psalm 75:1)

"Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds by Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:6-7)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."

 (II John 1:3)

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Orange Moon Friday, November 28, 2025 "Faithful and True"

    

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

   

    

"Faithful and True" 

     No one has ever trusted in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and been disappointed for doing so.  And no one ever will.

    "Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded" (I Peter 2:6).

    The saints of God ever and forever find their Lord to be exactly who He declares Himself to be, and to do what He promises to perform.  Of course, this does not mean He always works in ways comfortable to us.  Sometimes, disciples must see their Lord hanging on a cross, with help and hope seemingly shattered and come to an ignoble end.  God works to reveal His faithfulness in ways truly faithful.  In our present existence, this involves His administration and allowance not only of pleasant blessing, but of painful buffeting.  "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).  

   Our Heavenly Father's perfect wisdom guides His hand.  United with a perfectly loving commitment to our best interests, this means that we will always find Him faithful when we commit our confidence in Him.   However, trusting His heart when we cannot understand His hand can be greatly challenging.  Faith often does not come easy in a world that continually beckons us to trust any and everything other than God and His Word.  Thankfully, "greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world" (I John 4:4).  The Holy Spirit works to lead us in making the choices of "I will trust in Thee" as we look to His Word for its ongoing source of confidence and comfort.  "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Psalm 56:3; Romans 10:17).  Knowing that God not only calls us to trust Him, but works on our behalf to foster and fuel our faith goes far in leading us to make our choices to believe.  "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).  Thereby, we find over and over and over that, again, no one has ever trusted in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and been disappointed for doing so.  And no one ever will.

There is a Heart, so faithful and true.

It bears a scar for me and for you.

And we can know for a lifetime through,

It's faithful and true, faithful and true.

faithful and true, faithful and true.

There is a grace that makes all things new,

born in that valley our Lord passed through,

where He was smitten for me and for you,

so faithful and true, faithful and true.

faithful and true, faithful and true.

Forever draws nigh, we'll see His face soon,

Shining in glory, so lovely the view.

And the glad anthem of our hearts will ensue,

so faithful and true, faithful and true,

faithful and true, faithful and true.

"God cannot lie."

(Titus 1:2)

"Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds."

(Psalm 36:5)

"Thy Word is truth."

(John 17:17)

"Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust."

(Psalm 40:4)

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon Him was called Faithful and True."

(Revelation 19:11)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."

 (II John 1:3)

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