Greetings my friends. It is Sunday July 11TH 2021, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.
This day – July 11TH – was not such a good day in my professional career history. It was the start of a new era of my USAF career on this day in 1994. When I went in to work on the morning of that day I had no idea what would happen to me just an hour later. I was completely blindsided. It forever changed my career – temporarily for the worst (for 13 years), but then for the best (for the next 14 years and continuing today).
I truly believe that if it weren’t for the career-changing event of the morning of Monday July 11TH 1994 – I wouldn’t know Christ today. I was in a valley for 13 years. There were occasional ripples and bubbles and mounds and slopes along the valley floor that was my career (and life), but it was mostly a 13-year abyss. A little more than a month after the start of the 13TH year my LORD lifted me out of the pit of despair – out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground, and steadied me as I walked along. (Psalm 40:2)
I don’t know where my USAF career could have or would have gone if it weren’t for my July 11TH 1994. I don’t need to know – because I know what happened early on the week of August 20TH 2006. Less than a year later by the end of July of 2007 – I was in a much better place at work – and at home. The abyss met its demise.
My next sermon that I’ll preach to my church family will be all about the start of my “Salvation & Hope”. It’ll mark the start of my extended message series from the two letters of Peter. Later this year I may post an entire sermon (in multiple parts) here on Sunday Scripture. I’m currently working on a new sermon that follows-up “Salvation & Hope” titled “Holy & Redeemed”.
Here’s an excerpt of that new sermon:
… Let’s jump-in to Scripture – starting with the Apostle Peter’s first letter – the first chapter and verse 13:
So think clearly, and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
When I last spoke from Peter’s first letter – it was about “Salvation & Hope”. Without God’s salvation – there is no hope, for hope comes from God. And so this message picks-up where that message left-off.
You know once God rescues and saves us from the darkness that we came from – we can’t think like we used to think – back before we had “Salvation & Hope” – back before we were “Holy & Redeemed”. We used to think and act differently when the world owned and operated us – before we knew God. But now our God is in control. We believe Him. We follow Him. We trust Him. He’s within us. And so the Bible says “think clearly” – “prepare your minds for action”. The King James Version puts it this way – “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind” …
A little “behind-the-scenes” information here. I usually write each Sunday Scripture on the Friday night or Saturday morning before it’s published online at 3 AM (U.S. East Coast time) on Sunday. I spend much of the day each Saturday reading, studying, and learning from the Bible. I write sermons, and I prepare material for Sunday morning service. I generally stay inside and off social media on Saturdays. (That’s why I don’t blog on Saturdays.)
Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:
The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries
