Orange Moon Friday, June 10, 2026 "Very"

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

“Very”      

   

     If suffering can be quantified, somewhere just now a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is more pained, perplexed, and challenged than any other.  This raises the question: can God reveal His peace and even His joy in this brother or sister’s heart amid the profound severity of their trial?

    The Bible unequivocally declares that God can.

    “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof” (Psalm 46:1-3).

   Never in Scripture do we find our Lord declared to be  “very present” in our happy times.  Doubtless He is, in the abundance of His person and working.  However, the Holy Spirit makes a singular point through the Psalmist of how near He dwells with and within the believer in the things that trouble and hurt us.  Very.  Present.  Just now, the suffering believer we referenced has available a measure of grace known only when the heart is broken, the mind is perplexed, and the body is pained.  The Holy Spirit who always dwells nearer than our next breath has somehow drawn even closer to a child in the greatest need.  Tears may still fall, the soul may continue to grieve, and the body may remain in pain.  Nevertheless, deep in the spirit of God’s hurting child, the Spirit of God reveals the peace of the Lord Jesus and the fulfillment of His absolutely certain assurance that “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee” (Isaiah 26:3).

    Our God is that able, that willing, that involved, that present, and that very present.  No scenario exists for any believer whereby the peace of the Prince of peace fails to be dynamically resident, nor where the truth fails of “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (II Corinthians 6:10).  Do we believe this?  We must, as a matter of doctrine first, and then as a privileged responsibility to know our God as He is along the personal pathways of providence upon which we journey with Him.  Thereby, we will find Him very faithful in revealing how very present He actually is.

    Somewhere just now, a brother or sister who has lost everything but the only thing he or she cannot lose lifts a hurting heart toward Heaven to find how near Heaven has drawn.  Very, and the word does not begin to express the actual proximity of God to His beloved child.  Let us remember and affirm the truth regarding the challenges of our own lives.  The Lord “full of compassion” ever moves in mercy toward His children in the sorrow, pain, and perplexity that cannot hinder His peace and even His joy in the midst of every challenge (Psalm 86:15).  No scenario we can imagine renders this blessed truth untrue, nor counters our God’s ability to reveal His peace and His joy where it may seem they cannot be, but where they are in loving and immeasurable presence, grace, and mercy.  Very.

“Be careful for nothing, but in everything why 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 through Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:6-7)

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations.”

(James 1:2)

Weekly Memory Verse

       “He that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works”

 (Hebrews 4:10)

 

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Orange Moon Thursday, July 9, 2026 "Smiles and Nods"

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

“Smiles and Nods”      

   

   Heartbreakingly, but even more, joyfully, we lost one of our dearest congregants this past week.  Mr. Lebarron lived at a one of the retirement community where we conduct services.  He had suffered a stroke many years ago, resulting in movement and speech issues.  This did not keep from from seeking to serve people where he was, nor attend our services, nor frequently smile and nod when his heart said “Amen!” to something I mentioned in a sermon (I will miss those smiles and nods).

   Actually, we did not lose Mr. Lebarron.  We know precisely where he is.  In fact, we know better where he is today than we did in those times in his direct presence:

    “To be absent from the body… to be present with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8).

    Our eyes are not nearly so faithful a witness as is the perfect Word of God.  Little wonder, therefore, that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7).  Certainly, we accurately remember our hundreds of opportunities to be with our brother through the years.  However, we presently have time to know and believe Mr. Lebarron now dwells with God in His heaven, based on the “Thus saith the Lord” of Scripture (Isaiah 28:16).  I won’t deny the reality of times of sight with Mr. Lebarron.  I will, however, place far more confidence and assurance that the spirit of this dear man now dwells directly in the presence of God, and that one day he will be reunited with his body, albeit perfected and glorified (I Corinthians 15:52).  The eternal, perfect, and infinitely faithful Word of God bears witness to this truth and gift of grace.  Thus, we most assuredly know where Mr. Lebarron is, not lost, and in fact, we better know his locale now than ever we did during his earthly lifetime.  

    “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).

    Every promise God ever made has either already been fulfilled, or is in the process of coming to pass.  “All the promises of God in Christ are yea” (II Corinthians 1:20).  Not one will fail.  Not one.  I think of this as we mourn the passing of our dear brother, Mr. Lebarron, while rejoicing in his Heavenly homegoing.  This doesn’t surprise me, of course, that his departure would elicit such thoughts of our Heavenly Father’s faithfulness and truth.  Godspeed, Mr Lebarron.  We will greatly miss seeing you and your service to God and people.  And I will miss those smiles and nods that were among my favorite amens and affirmations.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

(Psalm 116:15)

Weekly Memory Verse

       “He that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works”

 (Hebrews 4:10).

 

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