Nov 26, 2025 – Training
When I woke my computer up a bit ago, the screen was still on yesterday’s blog post. There’s a panel on the right side of the page (or where it USED to be) that has all kinds of options for things to do with the blog as far as “optimizing” it and something about SEOs. The only section in that panel that I have used on all of these blogs so far has been the “tags” and I’m not even sure I “optimized” it. I can’t describe what the rest of the options are because, I clicked on a button that offered free lessons about SEO (they still didn’t define it when I got to that page) and got lost down a rabbit hole of clicking on each next button that offered to help me.
Somehow, I did get back to the blog page and, without consulting my better thinking, I clicked the X to get out of the SEO abyss. But, that’s not what happened. I shut down the whole panel on the right side and have gone down another rabbit hole trying to figure out how to get that panel of options back (if I even know what it is that I lost??) THIS must be why computer people make a pretty penny helping people like me. How did this happen to me…and so fast? I used to be the one who helped my parents program their VCR (that could be a clue). Now, when I babysit our grandchildren, I have to get their parents to even turn on the tv before they leave!
New p.120 – Romans 2:4 MSG – “God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.” Perhaps life-changing computer knowledge? Were You leading me down those rabbit holes so that I will learn something new (in order to have a better blog and website) and not just settle for the lesser that I thought I knew? Slawson describes a scene with preschoolers escalating their frustrations and the mother of one intervening and leading her child away “from the soon-to-be destructive situation. This act is not anger but kindness. This is a mother who loves a child enough to rescue him, to show him a better way, even when he doesn’t want to be, or think he needs to be, rescued. God’s love for us encompasses all the best of a mother and father’s love….the guidance and protection of a father and the gentleness and nurturing of a mother…. Pray for a sense of God taking you by the hand and a willingness to surrender to change.”
JC – “This is the day that I have made! As you rejoice in this day of life, it will yield up to you precious gifts and beneficial training…. A constant focus on adversity defeats many Christians. They walk through a day that is brimming with beauty and brightness, seeing only the grayness of their thoughts. Neglecting the practice of giving thanks has darkened their minds. How precious are My children who remember to thank Me at all times. They can walk through the darkest days with Joy in their hearts because they know that the Light of My Presence is still shining on them.”
Power – Joyce writes, “God’s Word teaches us not to worry, but to come to Him, in every circumstance, with thanksgiving (see Philippians 4:6). Psalm 100:4 says we cannot even come into the presence of God unless we come with thanksgiving. If we want assurance of answered prayer, we should pray with thanksgiving, not with complaining.” We may say we don’t complain when we talk with God, but is our list of problems and woes akin to complaining? Do we simply tell Him about them and leave them with Him or is there a bit of whining that surfaces in our petitioning? I think we think we know how to pray and interact with God, but perhaps we have to grow in maturity in that area as well. Joyce continues, “People who complain are showing, by their attitude and words, that they do not trust God and are not thankful or appreciative. You may be a person who genuinely loves God, but you may also have a habit of complaining and have not, until now, realized how disrespectful it is to God. If you are convicted of sin in this area, there is no condemnation, but you should ask God to forgive you and begin to fill your prayers with praise and thanksgiving.”
Streams – Cowman bases today’s devotion on the springs in Joshua 15:18-19 and quotes A. B Simpson, “There are both ‘upper and lower springs’ in life, and they are springs, not stagnant pools. They are the joys and blessings that flow from heaven above, through the hottest summer and through the most barren desert of sorrow and trials.” Simpson sites many people in the Bible who sought these kinds of refreshments from God and points out that “we can find them each day of the year if we have the Comforter in our hearts and have learned to say with David, ‘All my springs of joy are in you.’ (Ps. 87:7 NASB).”
Prevail #330 – Hebrews 10:35 – “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings to you!” Larson writes, “It’s amazing to think that our faith is so precious to God that He actually stores up a reward for us when we hold on to His promises. He gives us faith, encourages our faith, and then rewards us for our faith. How do we persevere when we feel like giving up? Verse 36 tells us, ‘Patient endurance is what you need now.’ Consider a long-distance runner, focused, paced, purposeful. Don’t lose heart when the way gets long, and definitely don’t make big life decisions when you’re running uphill. Stay the course. God will reward you.”
JA – I just realized that I read the 26th yesterday; so, I’ll read the 25th today. “Thanksgiving, praise, and worship are means of glorifying Me…. be on the lookout for My blessings…. Praise Me not only in prayer and song but in your words to other people…. When you need to make decisions, consider what would glorify Me and bring Me pleasure…. ask Me to guide your mind as you think things out. I know everything about you and your situation. The better you know Me, the more effectively I can guide your choices…. My Word is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path.” Ps 119:105
Utmost – “Concentrate on God’s centre in your preaching, and though your crowd may apparently pay no attention, they can never be the same again. If I talk my own talk, it is of no more importance to you than your talk is to me; but if I talk the truth of God, you will meet it again and so shall I. We have to concentrate on the great point of spiritual energy, the Cross, to keep in contact with that centre where all the power lies, and the energy will be let loose.” Speak through Me, Lord. Your message, not mine….
[Note: I was about to give up on ever seeing the panel on the right again, but did some more clicking and searching topics and found a button (don’t ask me which one) that offered me a “Settings” option and, voila, the panel is back! I think we learn more when we have to fail and research on our own, but I sure do like when I can just ask Don to figure all of this out for me!!]
