Orange Moon Monday, August 31, 2026 "The Holy Failure"

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

    

“The Holy Failure”

    

      

      Try.  But be prepared for a holy failure.

      “His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3).

     Attempt to praise God in a manner and to a degree that feels adequate in its content, intensity, devotion, and of course, love.  Prepare to crash on the rocks of frustration, knowing that no expression of heart, mind, and voice more than begins to attain to the affirmation of which He is worthy.  

   “Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee” (Psalm 31:19).

      Thankfully, the holy failure leads to the thrilled realization that God’s goodness and greatness exist in an immeasurable measure that can never be fully known or completely appreciated. Long into eternity, we will know better than we do now that no terminus will ever conclude our journey into the character, nature, and way of our Creator and Redeemer.  The more we discover, the clearer the realization that an infinite glory awaits our seeking hearts.  We know this now, and thus, the sense of both frustration and thrill that we cannot adequately express our appreciation.  We will know it far better in the next life, wherein a far clearer realization of God’s “wonders without number” will grace our hearts and minds with expectation (Job 9:10).

   “Wonders without number” must lead to wonder beyond measure.  Indeed, one of the most accurate markers that confirms our walk with the Lord is the sense of being overwhelmed by who He is, and how He thinks, feels, acts, and relates.  Attempting to fully understand certainly leads to frustration.  Realizing we can never begin to fully understand, but that we can "grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” results in a filled heart, a thrilled heart, and a responsive heart that seeks to know God’s glory for the express purpose of glorifying Him (II Peter 3:18).  We were made for this, for the impossibility - the holy failure - of praising our Lord to any degree that approaches the appreciation of which He is worthy - and for the absolute, unmitigated joy of knowing it!

“The love of Christ…passeth knowledge.”

(Ephesians 3:19)

“Oh the depths of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God.  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”

(Romans 11:36)

Weekly Memory Verse

     “Oh the depths of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God.  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”

(Romans 11:36)

    

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Orange Moon Saturday, August 29, 2026 "Our Family"

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

    

“Our Family”

    

      

      I didn't know.

     "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments, as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life forevermore" (Psalm 133:1-3).

    I did not know about the family into which I would be born - born again - upon believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.  I did not grow up in church, although throughout my childhood, I found the things I heard or read about the Lord Jesus interesting and quite appealing.  However, I knew very little about salvation and its glorious blessedness.  When I became a born again believer on September 17, 1975, I realized my sins were forgiven, God had become my Father, eternity with Him was assured, and He called me to live a life that reflected well on the Lord Jesus and served as a blessing to others.  Still, I didn't know about the gift this essay references.

    "Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named" (Ephesians 3:13-15).

   I did not know about the gift of family, that is, the spiritual family into which the Holy Spirit births those who believe.  I did not know God gave to me the bestowal of people - brothers and sisters who trusted Him like myself - and who would prove to be blessings so immeasurably wonderful that I will never have enough opportunity to give adequate thanks.  I did not know that while I cannot see the Lord Jesus in this present lifetime, I have seen Him dwelling and walking in His people (II Corinthians 6:16).  I did not know I would find my wife among the holy company, or that we would have children who would join us therein.  I did not know I would live my earthly lifetime with "the whole family of Heaven and earth" as a prelude for a joyous eternity together with our Lord and each other.   Nor did I know I would meet many of His children as the result of these devotionals that have so graciously granted me another immeasurably wonderful gift, namely, your fellowship and friendship.

   I did not know about the gift.  I know about it now.  I have seen the glory of God in so many faces, in so many places.  Homes, churches, neighborhoods, workplaces, retirement communities, rescue missions, hospitals, restaurants, coffeeshops, mountain trails, and in so many venues where I have encountered the living God among His sons and daughters in Christ.  In days that often seem dark, I have seen one believer after another beautifully illuminate the pathways of a fallen world, even as the Apostle Paul declared of the church: "Ye shine as lights in the world" (Phillipians 2:15).

    I do not allow myself to frequently ponder the dark thought of what my life would have been like without that day when God so graciously led me to Himself.  It would not have been life.  "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).  Moreover, I think of the people I would never have known, including all of you.  Again, I rarely allow the dark thought to enter my mind because it too sad to contemplate.  Instead, I seek to dwell on the gift - the Gift of Himself - God gave to me so long ago.   I dwell also on the gift of His people, His sons and daughters, my brothers and sisters.  Great light fills my heart as I do, and also the yearning to find words to properly express my gratitude for such grace.  Such words, however, do not exist.  Thus, I bow my head to ask the Lord to look into my heart to see that which I could never express for the gift of people in whom He so beautifully shines.

     I did not know about the gift before I believed.  Since that blessed day, however, I have grown in the knowledge, and even more, in the wonder that God gave to us each other when we believed.  The writer of Hebrews declares the Lord Jesus Himself rejoices in the gift.  We close with our Savior’s beckoning to see and rejoice in the family, in His family that has, in the marvel of God’s grace, become our family.

"For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of One: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee. And again, I will put My trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given Me."

(Hebrews 2:11-13)

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now."

(Philippians 1:3-5) 

Weekly Memory Verse

   To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

(Romans 8:6)

   

    

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