Category: Blog

I’m old enough to have grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of the astounding attributes of the young is their imagination. The stuff of dreams with no limits. No power needed, just your imagination.

Man’s visualization of heaven will always brighten our days. Our eyes have no way of seeing what God has prepared for His redeemed. No words are adequate in describing the glorious essence of God and His heaven, even in our greatest moments of wondering. What heaven will be like is beyond our mind’s capability.

Our wonderful, holy, all-powerful God has prepared a glorious place for each of His saints. Then, it is beyond our mind’s capability to imagine just how great heaven is. My imagination will always fall short of what it’s like to see Jesus for the first time. The apostle John fell at the Lord’s feet as if he were dead upon seeing the glorified Jesus (Revelation 1:17).

The preceding verses in Revelation 1:13-16 describe the Lord’s heavenly appearance: holy, awesome, wonderful, and all-powerful. The Lord’s heavenly features are impossible for believers here to visualize—his piercing eyes and the voice that demands our undivided attention. The holiness of Jesus is beyond our earthly comprehension.

When we go before Him, we will answer for our lives and all our unforgiven words, thoughts, and actions, which is a reminder to believers that our prayers are paramount. Doing God’s Will should supersede all our other desires, yet He knows we get sidetracked with different things and lose our spiritual focus because of the temporal.

There’s a yearning in us to improve our service and relationship with the Lord. The question is, can we refocus our thinking and priorities? Our answer may be a yes or maybe a no. But always try to improve for the glory of God.

Are you famous? Probably not. Most of us are unknown outside of our circle of relatives, friends, and associates. Regardless of your location, God is watching you, not to spy upon you but to encourage you. He is watching, so when you are ready, He’ll use you. It may not be spectacular in the world’s eyes, but it is in His.  

Two Bible individuals stand out in my thoughts. For some reason, I can’t stop thinking about them, one in a crowd, and the other all alone. The lad, a young boy, is like a middle school kid today. He went to hear the Lord teach. But there he was in the crowd. Not a troublemaker, not demanding attention, just listening and learning.  

Then Andrew brought him to Jesus. He carried a lunch of bread and fish. Jesus multiplied his lunch to feed thousands.  

But what if the young man wasn’t in God’s place in God’s perfect timing? When God tugs at your heart, pay attention. The Lord is about to do something. Small in the world’s eyes but eternally rewarding.  

The second individual was a young widow with a child. Society paid no attention to her. No social programs, relatives, or neighbors to help. She’s gathered some sticks to fix her last meal. Let that point sink in. Her last meal. She’s not thinking of suicide, but starvation for her child and herself. Then Elijah, the prophet, by divine leadership, showed up. He asked her for part of her family’s last meal. It was not a selfish request on Elijah’s part, but a divine intervention. She complied. As a result, God supplied her family with food for the drought’s duration, three years.   

These two illustrations are in the Bible because God cares about His children. Especially when times or circumstances are scary. God wants to use each member of His family. In a small way or a huge way, the choice belongs to Him. The main ingredient on our part is the willingness to trust the Lord. The Bible calls it faith. Will you permit God to use you when it doesn’t make sense? 

When the line is long and the clock is ticking, do you like to wait? Or do you say to yourself, the Lord must have a reason for this delay? Do you look around, and you say to yourself, “I should have planned better.” That’s placing the blame on yourself. What if God is in the delay?

Noah spent decades building the ark. On the Sabbaths, he shared the Word of God, evidently to no avail. When God said, “Enter the ark,” only Noah’s family did so. Eight people in the entire world avoided destruction.

Let’s look at this event from a different perspective. Noah’s neighbors were going into eternity. This community and the world rejected God’s warning, message, and messenger.

God waited patiently for Noah to build a 450-foot vessel. It was three stories high. Can you imagine the number of trees needed for this endeavor? When one of Noah’s sons yelled T-I-M-B-E-R, another community member rejected God’s message of the coming judgment.

Patiently, day after day, t-i-m-b-e-r after t-i-m-b-e-r echoed through the land as our Lord waited for individuals to accept Noah’s message. The ark was big enough to receive thousands, but only eight believed the message of judgment. Noah remained faithful. Discouragement surrounded him, but God’s presence kept Noah and his family focused on obedience.

What does this illustration mean to you? Your godly labor may seem fruitless. The harder you work, the fewer results you see. So, what do you do? Take a lesson from Noah. Keep being faithful. The result of your dedication may not be yours to see in your lifetime. But afterwards, the tree of encouragement will bear fruit for others to eat.

Focus is the key. The harvest time is in the Lord’s hands, not yours. But faithfulness is a decision that only you can make. What will you do?

God waited. 

Noah constructed the ark. He was faithful. 

The rest is history.

This week, I’m introducing my latest book, They Had To Trust. Below is the preface. At the end of this blog, I’ll post where you may secure it as a paperback or e-book. 

Saying yes to God is easy for some but difficult for many.

The book you hold in your hands reveals the life stories of 31 individuals, each presented as a unique episode-one for each day of the month. The personalities were young, like Hezekiah and Joseph, teenagers like Shadrach, and older adults, including Mrs. Noah. God intervened in each of their lives in profound ways, interrupting their daily routines. For some, the Lord allowed them to wander for years before they surrendered to His leadership.

What’s so intriguing about God’s selection is the variety and ages of individuals. God uses kings, farmers, widows, harlots, and politicians. Our excuses are never valid in His eyes.

If you’re pursuing your purpose in life, the enclosed episodes may give you direction. Certainly, the adventures of their lives will encourage you to live for the Lord. God already knows your weaknesses, strengths, and excuses-and He still wants to use you.

Saying yes doesn’t guarantee fame, wealth, or health, but it does promise divine companionship and eternal rewards.

As you turn the pages and read, will you listen to His quiet voice and say yes to His leadership, so angels can record your journey for eternity?

Barnes and Noble:

ebook version: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/they-had-to-trust-frank-caudle/1147939154

paperback: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/they-had-to-trust-frank-caudle/1147939154?ean=9798988459507

Kobo:

ebook version: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/they-had-to-trust?srsltid=AfmBOop2wOEMR32VMTYs_VUyeGRlr0phERlUJXThXvfq8qHLjOuYJoW9

Amazon:

paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMMZWGMC/

You were sitting on a hillside, surrounded by thousands of people on the lush green grass. It was late afternoon. All were listening to the Master speak. The disciples were concerned for the crowd. They needed to go before sunset. Besides, they came in such a rush to hear the Lord that they didn’t even prepare food for the day.

The Lord, on the other hand, didn’t want the crowd to grow weak on their journey home, so He asked the disciples how much money they had. They replied, “Not enough to feed this crowd.” 

Andrew spoke up. “There’s a boy over there with his lunch.” The disciple got up and headed towards the lad. Weaving through the crowd, he approached the boy. He reached the lad with five barley loaves and two small fish. That was a poor boy’s lunch, but his lack didn’t deter him; he wanted to share what he had with the Lord.

The lad came to hear the message of Jesus and see the Lord perform miracles. But now he was about to witness a miracle unlike any other—the multiplication of his meal. The young man approached the Messiah and delivered his lunch—the 5,000 sat on the grassy hillside. Jesus prayed. Then the Lord began to break the barley loaves. The disciples distributed the bread to the crowd. The lad sat in amazement as his bread kept multiplying, enough to feed this multitude with leftovers.

Nothing was too small for the Lord to bless, not even bread. Giving to the King of Kings was an opportunity of a lifetime to see God work. 

Today, like yesterday, all it takes on our part is a willing heart. Allowing God to work through us is our greatest blessing. Whatever Jesus does with or through His people will always benefit others now and eternally.

Being available and submissive are our greatest assets. So, when the Lord asks what you are willing to do for Him, answer “Whatever you want. By your grace, I will do it.” When we offer what we have with a compliant heart, we open ourselves to the miraculous work of God.

One of the most powerful gems of God’s word is in the book of Psalms, specifically in 119:11: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (NKJV). These 15 words, though seemingly simple, carry a spiritual roadmap that can guide individuals in their daily lives.

Everybody sins, including believers. But many believers desire to live for the Lord. Because we’re descendants of Adam, we have a sin nature, and we utilize it. Sometimes too much. It is then that we ask for help and guidance from Jesus. We have an inward desire to do better for our Savior—but how? Verse 11 gives us some steps to improve our walk with the Lord.

Reading the Bible is our first step because it opens our minds to what sin is in the Lord’s eyes. If you want to live better for God, you need to read His written book, the Bible.

As we read God’s word, we evaluate our lives according to its writings. The words in the Bible have a way of gaining our attention. That’s when we must decide to apply it to our lives or reject what our heart tells us to do.

The third step in this journey is to memorize scripture. We do this so that the wisdom of the Bible is always available. The Holy Spirit, our constant companion, reminds us of what we need to do according to scripture.

If we memorize the helpful verse above, it’s always with us. God even brings it to our minds at appropriate times. To keep the memorized reference in our heads, we need to review it periodically to maintain its presence.

There are always times when we fail to adhere to the principle of the memorized Bible reference. It’s personally disheartening when you fail in consistency of Bible applications. That’s our humanity in public display.

A personal warning: don’t keep beating yourself up over your relapse. You’re human and you’re not perfect. Mess-ups happen. So, what do you do? Pray, confess your sin, get up, and keep moving forward for Jesus. Our Lord knows we will sometimes fail, but He also knows our hearts’ intentions. Keep serving. Keep correcting. Keep relying on Jesus. He will enable you as you move forward. When you hear God’s word in your heart, it will keep revitalizing you. May you have His word in your heart for His glory.

What set him apart from others? Yes, he was the son of a king, and so were his brothers (2 Samuel 3:2-5). But what truly made Solomon stand out was his wisdom, which we can all strive to emulate. Why was Solomon so wise? Let’s explore.

King David, his father, made several mistakes in his life. Somehow, David put his priorities in order during Solomon’s upbringing, grooming Solomon for God’s choice.

When Solomon became king, he put God first in his life. Solomon acknowledged that David walked before God in truth, righteousness, and uprightness in heart (1 Kings 3:6), giving him a pattern for living.

In a dream, God and Solomon conversed, with God asking the new king, “What shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon replied that he desired an understanding heart and discernment to know the difference between good and evil (3:9). God answered Solomon, “I will honor your request if you walk in my ways as your father, David did” (v-14) 

Later, when Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs, the king wrote to encourage his sons to follow his instructions. In doing so, he reminded them to obey scripture. Their lessons included scriptural principles to retain and keep. By doing so, they would gain wisdom and understanding. God will honor us if we do the same and love His Word, which will be like a crown of godly royalty to you. Others will respect you, and God will add years to your life.

Please remember to keep Solomon’s guiding principles, which will give you a life of integrity, respect, and rewards for all eternity.

Suppose Solomon would give these instructions again today for you to hear. Would you listen? God’s principles never change. God blesses those who honor His word, obey it, and share it in our community.

You are a mystery lover if you play the board game Clue. You like solving problems. As a believer, you yearn to know more about God and eternity. The Bible also challenges us to learn and to be more God-like.

Paul, while writing to Timothy, states that godliness is a mystery. In the first book of Timothy, chapter 3, verse 16, there are six areas hard for the believer to understand fully. 

How did God reveal Himself in the flesh? Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. But how? The Bible states that the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary (Luke 1:35), but how is the mystery? We can speculate, but we will never know completely this side of eternity.

The Spirit of God declares us righteous and indwells every believer. Once again, how? I didn’t see Him enter my body. But I do know I changed when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. That’s the Spirit living inside of me. How He leads me is still a mystery.

We either admit it or vehemently deny that angels provide protection and minister to us, especially when we are weak (Matthew 28:2). Most of the time, we don’t know or realize that they are watching over us.

Have you ever wondered why you were allowed to hear the gospel message? There must be a reason. God will somehow reveal it to you at the appropriate time. God has a purpose for you, and you will do well to diligently search for that reason or reasons and accomplish His purpose.

Parts of the world have heard about Jesus at least in the historical sense. Yet someone, somehow, shared with you the need for a savior. You live in a part of the world where the Bible is taught. Why? That’s one of the great mysteries of our lives.

By faith, the Bible believers will someday arrive in heaven. But how? Elijah ascended in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). Enoch “was not” (Genesis 5:24). The book of Hebrews states, “God translated him” (Hebrews 11:5). All we know about how we’re going to heaven is in 2 Corinthians 5: 8. “To be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (NKJV). Another mystery that God will reveal in eternity.

Life is full of challenges. Someone is always telling us to do this or don’t do that. They could be tactful in their approach by saying, “Have you considered another way of saying don’t?”

The Apostle Paul in IThessalonians 5:16-23 offers believers some straightforward and practical advice. They are simple, useful, beneficial, and cautionary.

The first do (v-16) states, “rejoice always.” We choose our moods whether to “be happy or sad.” If your outlook on life is positive, you can find something good in every situation. 

Prayer is the second do and the key to unlocking a life-changing mindset. The apostle Paul challenges believers to pray without ceasing, not just in the morning or night, but throughout the day. This continuous communication with God reinforces the third do: importance of gratitude, as Paul says, “In everything give thanks.”

An unthankful heart leads to the first don’t which can quench the Holy Spirit working in you. If you live with a thankful heart, you will see just how good God is to you, and it doesn’t make any difference where you are in life. Things could always be worse! So, don’t allow the negatives of life to conquer your spirit. Be thankful for what you have. 

Whatever you have or don’t have, as the second, don’t despise the House of God or the Bible. Both are of God to encourage you to live in the best possible way for His glory. God designed His church to help you grow spiritually and the Bible to instruct you along life’s paths.

When faced with life’s choices, remember that God is patient and caring. He desires you to make the best decisions and will wait for you to discern His will. This reassurance can bring a sense of security and peace in your decision-making process.

May our wonderful, awesome Savior guide you and give you His incredible peace of heart.

Meditation is good, especially when thinking about your prayer life. I pray regularly for a man who is prone to falling. Part of my prayer time is for the Lord to keep this man from falling. That may seem silly to the young and strong, but for others, it’s not.

The Bible encourages believers to boldly speak up for the Lord and others. Being silent has its appropriate moments, but not when sharing the gospel or helping others. The Bible states specifically in each of the gospels and the book of Acts to speak up (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 20:21 and Acts 1:8). Some things are worth repeating in scripture; God must think it’s important for His children to share His desire for the world. The Lord reminds us that we need to speak up!

Our most powerful tool is prayer. We have not because we ask not (James 4:3). If you want something, ask. If it’s God’s will, He will supply it.  

When Solomon became king, he admitted, “I do not know how to go out or come in…Therefore, give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:7, 9). If the wisest man on earth needed help, maybe we should pay attention and ask God for help.

The remedy is simple. We cannot do anything productive for the Lord without His help. Let’s be smart enough to humble ourselves and obey the Lord. Stay pure in the Lord’s eyes. It’s hard for us to do so, but with a desire and the boldness to ask, it’s possible. Remember, the above verse, James 4:3, we have not because we ask not.

May the Lord bless you in your spiritual growth for His sake.