Orange Moon Wednesday, June 17, 2026 “Assisted Walking”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

“Assisted Walking”

      One of our ministries involves conducting services for people, many of whom  have difficulty or find it impossible to walk unassisted.  This often reminds me in spiritual terms of every believer in the the world.

    “We walk by faith” (II Corinthians 5:7).

    To “walk by faith” means that we walk by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, based on the truth that no possibility exists of our taking even the first unassisted step in a manner pleasing to God.  “Without Me, ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).  In spiritual terms, no believer walks unassisted. 

    Consider the next step of obedience for every Christian.  We would all fall flat to our faces apart from the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in us.  Be it the most seemingly insignificant act of faithfulness, or the extremity of martyrdom, God must “work in” that which we “work out” (Philippians 2:12-12).  We required His motivating and enabling power, which He has already provided by the Spirit’s indwelling…

    “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (II Peter 1:3).  

    While it is certainly permissible to ask God for strength to obey, it far more accords with New Testament doctrine to give thanks for enabling already provided by His dynamic presence and guidance.  “Hath given” declares the Apostle Peter, joining the Apostle Paul’s affirmation of grace present and vibrantly active: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).  

   We awoke today with the Word of God calling us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).  This will apply to every step we take, all of which will require divine assistance available and “exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think.”  God made and redeemed us to live for Him by living from Him.  No other means of walking in faithful obedience exists.  No other is necessary.  We walk assisted by the power of the God who created and sustains all things.  Wondrous, to the degree that even angels desire to look into this life God has given us, namely, His own life dwelling with us, within us, and flowing through us for the glory of the Lord Jesus (I Peter 1:12).

“We shall live with Him by the power of God.”

(II Corinthians 13:4)

Weekly Memory Verse

     Sanctify them through Thy truth.  Thy Word is truth.

(John 17:17)

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Orange Moon Tuesday, June 16, 2026 “The Remembrance of Resurrection”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

“The Remembrance of Resurrection”

      “When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said” (John 2:22).

    Remembering that the Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, in accordance with what the Scripture hath said, comprises much of the life of faith to which God calls us.

    Regarding every circumstance, condition, or situation, recalling the empty tomb prepares us to view our hearts and lives as full of the risen Lord Jesus.  We do so by faith, affirming the resurrection regardless of anything that may contradict the truth that began our walk with God, and continues it forevermore.  Indeed, the confession of the risen Christ that occurred in the first blessed moment of our salvation serves as the ongoing affirmation of faith whereby we live in the light of our Lord’s victory.  “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him” (Romans 10:9; Colossians 2:6).

    Such faith involves far more than simply the fact of our Lord’s life beyond life, glorious as that is.  We must also remember and affirm the significance and application to our lives of such truth.  A present, active, and engaged Lord Jesus is risen from the dead.  We rejoice in His empty tomb not only at Easter, but also in the myriad opportunities life affords for the remembrance of resurrection.  In all things, the confession of a vitally present and active Christ secures our hearts and strengthens our capacity to enjoy our blessings and face our challenges.  “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (II Corinthians 2:14).

    Is the Lord Jesus risen from the dead?  Is He present - vibrantly present and active - in our hearts and lives?  Life will present countless opportunities, privileges, and responsibilities to remember and answer “Yes” to these most significant questions of our lives.  An empty tomb means that this moment, whatever it may hold, teems with the risen life and active presence of our triumphant Savior.  Such is “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” and such is the grace given to us for remembrance, affirmation, and confession (Jude 1:3).  The tomb is empty.  The throne above is occupied.  Jesus Christ is Lord.  This is truth.  This is reality.  This is the fact of this moment, and of all that will follow.  May this, the remembrance of resurrection, be with us now and always.

“He is risen, as He said.”

(Matthew 28:6)

Weekly Memory Verse

     Sanctify them through Thy truth.  Thy Word is truth.

(John 17:17)

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Orange Moon Monday, June 15, 2026 "Feel. Real?"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

“Feel.  Real?”

   In a number of sporting activities, the adage “Feel is not real” applies.  What one may perceive himself to do in throwing  a ball, swinging a club, or moving the body may not reflect the actual motion and action.

    The adage does not apply to the Christian life.  Feel is very real in our experience, and can have either beneficial or negative impact.  However, what we feel may not always accurately represent the truth.  The Lord Jesus Christ spoke indirectly to this in His command, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).  The Psalmist also vividly illustrates in a statement and question seemingly in conflict...

    “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

    “Why standest thou afar off, O Lord?  Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1).

   Why did David so strongly affirm God’s “very present help in trouble” on one hand, only to question the Lord’s presence on another?  The answer lies in truth and experience.  The affirmation reflected fact and reality.  God is indeed a very present help in trouble.  The question, conversely, reflected how David felt emotionally, perceived mentally, and perhaps even sensed physically.  These responses were real.  He did, in fact, feel at times as if God was far away in times of trouble.  However, the responses were not true.  God abides as a very present in trouble, regardless of mental, emotional, and physical experience.  Trusting the Lord meant that David had to acknowledge the contrary impulses and notions of his flesh, which were real enough as to gravely impact his walk with God.  However, a greater reality - God and His truth - called the Psalmist to “the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4).

    The realities of truth and experience continually call us to the victory of faith.  Feel is real.  It has its effect.  We must never allow it, however, to serve as the truth by which we live.  Thankfully, emotions and sensations do often flow in accordance with the Holy Spirit’s leading in believers.  Never, however, are they to be accounted as truth in its essence.  We “judge not according to appearance” by judging according to the “Thus saith the Lord” of the Scriptures.  Who is God and what has He said in His Word?  This is truth in its essence.  He is truth.  His Word is truth.  Herein we we make our stand in reality, the reality that acknowledges feel as real, but never as the heart and essence of Truth.

“I am… the truth.”

(John 14:6)

“Sanctify them through Thy truth.  Thy Word is truth.”

(John 17:17)

Weekly Memory Verse

     Sanctify them through Thy truth.  Thy Word is truth.

(John 17:17)

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