Right-Side-Up in an Upside-Down World

By Kathe S. Rumsey and Roberta M. Wong

Although hopelessness surfaces from every area of our world, governments and their leaders would have you believe they are adept at crisis management. They would have you think they possess the ability to get everything under control, solve the world’s problems and manage chaos. However, the evidence of their failure expands. Everything around the globe is shifting positions, dismantling law and order. Anyone can search the daily news and see for themselves mankind’s foolishness. Our sin is not hidden. The church must wake up, repent and use the spiritual authority Jesus Christ invested to believers (Matthew 28:18-20).

Right-Side-Up in an Upside-Down World imparts practical wisdom and offers hope through God’s Word. This daily journal will help the reader use their God-given authority in their daily lives. This work stresses the importance of seeking the Word of God and prayer in every situation. Christians can view the world’s calamities with the peace of God that is beyond understanding. Anxiety will not overcome us nor have place in our lives if we seek God and His wisdom in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).

We live in uncertain times. Right-Side-Up supplies insight from God’s Word to direct us through the dark maze the world creates. Without true light, mankind will continue to stumble and fail. As believers, our hope springs from our assurance that nothing takes God by surprise (Romans 8:28). We know He is in control of all things. God ordains individuals in leadership roles for good or for bad to accomplish His plan (2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). Nothing happens without His knowledge. In a world inundated with information and change, only the Bible, the inerrant Word of God, contains God’s wisdom that can offer mankind true hope for a better tomorrow (Colossians 2:2-3).

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781973687689

Kathe S. Rumsey

Never underestimate the value of a class reunion—or a neighborhood craft group that evolves into a Bible study. The summer of 1983, Kathe attended a class reunion that impacted her life for eternity. While discussing a Christian program with her husband and a friend, Kathe realized she knew nothing about the Bible. With her heart receptive to the value of God’s Word—she was determined to know more. Kathe came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior through study of the Bible; and the baptism with the Holy Spirit. A college course in Nutritional Science inspired her to experiment and appreciate the creative aspect of preparing meals for family and friends. Kathe S. Rumsey also authored or co-authored with Roberta M. Wong: • The Powerless Church: America’s National Disgrace • Right-Side-Up in an Upside-Down World • Lamb’s Wife Makes Herself Ready: Bible Study Workbook with Commentary • Love Is the Commitment: Protocol Guidelines for God’s Royal Wedding

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 Kathe S. Rumsey & Roberta M. Wong.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

All Scripture quotations unless otherwise indicated are from the King James Version

Scripture marked (NKJV) taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8767-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8769-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8768-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020904088

WestBow Press rev. date: 03/11/2020

Contents

Introduction

January ~ December: Dates to Remember

January ~ December: Blessings and Answered Prayer

January ~ December: Contacts

January ~ December: Inspirational Resources

The Messiah’s Obedience

January 1

January 2

January 3

January 4

January 5

January 6

January 7

January 8

January 9

January 10

January 11

January 12

January 13

January 14

January 15

January 16

January 17

January 18

January 19

January 20

January 21

January 22

January 23

January 24

January 25

January 26

January 27

January 28

January 29

January 30

January 31

February 1

February 2

February 3

February 4

February 5

February 6

February 7

February 8

February 9

February 10

February 11

February 12

February 13

February 14

February 15

February 16

February 17

February 18

February 19

February 20

February 21

February 22

February 23

February 24

February 25

February 26

February 27

February 28

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

March 19

March 20

March 21

March 22

March 23

March 24

March 25

March 26

March 27

March 28

March 29

March 30

March 31

April 1

April 2

April 3

April 4

April 5

April 6

April 7

April 8

April 9

April 10

April 11

April 12

April 13

April 14

April 15

April 16

April 17

April 18

April 19

April 20

April 21

April 22

April 23

April 24

April 25

April 26

April 27

April 28

April 29

April 30

May 1

May 2

May 3

May 4

May 5

May 6

May 7

May 8

May 9

May 10

May 11

May 12

May 13

May 14

May 15

May 16

May 17

May 18

May 19

May 20

May 21

May 22

May 23

May 24

May 25

May 26

May 27

May 28

May 29

May 30

May 31

June 1

June 2

June 3

June 4

June 5

June 6

June 7

June 8

June 9

June 10

June 11

June 12

June 13

June 14

June 15

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

June 20

June 21

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

June 26

June 27

June 28

June 29

June 30

July 1

July 2

July 3

July 4

July 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

July 9

July 10

July 11

July 12

July 13

July 14

July 15

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

July 20

July 21

July 22

July 23

July 24

July 25

July 26

July 27

July 28

July 29

July 30

July 31

August 1

August 2

August 3

August 4

August 5

August 6

August 7

August 8

August 9

August 10

August 11

August 12

August 13

August 14

August 15

August 16

August 17

August 18

August 19

August 20

August 21

August 22

August 23

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

August 29

August 30

August 31

September 1

September 2

September 3

September 4

September 5

September 6

September 7

September 8

September 9

September 10

September 11

September 12

September 13

September 14

September 15

September 16

September 17

September 18

September 19

September 20

September 21

September 22

September 23

September 24

September 25

September 26

September 27

September 28

September 29

September 30

October 1

October 2

October 3

October 4

October 5

October 6

October 7

October 8

October 9

October 10

October 11

October 12

October 13

October 14

October 15

October 16

October 17

October 18

October 19

October 20

October 21

October 22

October 23

October 24

October 25

October 26

October 27

October 28

October 29

October 30

October 31

November 1

November 2

November 3

November 4

November 5

November 6

November 7

November 8

November 9

November 10

November 11

November 12

November 13

November 14

November 15

November 16

November 17

November 18

November 19

November 20

November 21

November 22

November 23

November 24

November 25

November 26

November 27

November 28

November 29

November 30

December 1

December 2

December 3

December 4

December 5

December 6

December 7

December 8

December 9

December 10

December 11

December 12

December 13

December 14

December 15

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

December 22

December 23

December 24

December 25

December 26

December 27

December 28

December 29

December 30

December 31

About the Authors

RIGHT-SIDE-UP

IN AN

UPSIDE-DOWN WORLD

This belongs to:

Introduction

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the

LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

—Isaiah 29:15–16

We live in challenging times and much of what has gone wrong in the world is the result of society taking God out of the public arena. Although hopelessness surfaces from every area of the world, God’s people are never without hope. Over the past fifty years, the world has been turned completely upside-down. It is time to get quiet and hear personally from God, while building our faith.

Right-side-up in an Upside-down World utilizes a journal format to share biblical insights. The reader is encouraged to ask themselves if they are living by biblical principles, or by the world’s standards and dictates. While the reader makes daily comparisons between what they hear in the news and what is taking place in their own life, they have the opportunity to record their observations and thoughts.

Believers must apply God’s Word to their daily lives in these uncertain times. Christians can view the world’s calamity with the peace of God that is beyond understanding. Hope for God’s children results from their assurance that nothing takes Him by surprise. As believers prayerfully seek God’s wisdom, and put it into practice, anxiety will not have place in their lives. Faith and hope will replace anxiety. God remains in control of everything contrary to what some may think.

Right-side-up in an Upside-down World represents a compilation of God’s Word and personal insightful thoughts in a journal format for extended reflection. Some days the reader may have plenty of time to dig deeply into God’s messages, and during those times it would be beneficial to use a King James Version of the Bible, a Hebrew-Greek Concordance, and a dictionary in order to dig even deeper into God’s messages.

In order to live right-side-up, the reader must gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Word through daily reflection of His truth that can be immediately put into action. This journal, as a long-term companion to one’s Bible, will help the reader glean in stages wisdom and knowledge of the richness of Scripture.

In a world inundated with information and change, only the Bible contains God’s wisdom that can offer mankind true hope for a better tomorrow.

This journal offers easily accessible pages to record important reference data for the reader such as: Goals and Plans of Action, Dates to Remember, Blessings and Answered Prayers, Contacts, and Inspirational Resources.

January ~ December

Dates to Remember

JAN:

FEB:

MAR:

APR:

MAY:

JUN:

JUL:

AUG:

SEPT:

OCT:

NOV:

DEC:

January ~ December

Blessings and Answered Prayer

January ~ December

Contacts

Name/Address/

Home#                      Cell#                      Work#

Email:

Name/Address/

Home#                      Cell#                      Work#

Email:

Name/Address/

Home#                      Cell#                      Work#

Email:

Name/Address/

Home#                      Cell#                      Work#

Email:

Name/Address/

Home#                      Cell#                      Work#

Email:

Name/Address/

Home#                      Cell#                      Work#

Email:

January ~ December

Inspirational Resources

BLOGS:

WEBSITES:

PODCASTS:

CHRISTIAN~RADIO:

CHRISTIAN~BOOKSTORES:

BOOKS:

The Messiah’s Obedience

The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.

—Isaiah 50:4–5 (NKJV)

January 1

A new year is a brand-new start.

When assembled together with His followers, Jesus commanded them not to depart from the city, but to wait for the promise of the Father. When the Holy Spirit had come upon them, they received power to be His witnesses (Acts 1:4–8; 2:1–4, 17).

Because the cares of this world constantly make demands upon our time and resources, how should we prioritize our daily lives? (Mark 4:18–19). As God’s children, we can seek Him for guidance and wisdom to know how to spend each day (James 4:8).

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

—Hebrews 4:16

Personal Reflections:

Without the Holy Spirit of God in my life, how will I have the power to be a witness for Christ? Explain how the gift of the Holy Spirit has made a difference in my walk with the Lord.

January 2

As God’s children, we are to seek first the kingdom of God: His righteousness, His peace, and His joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Love is the key to all of God’s best. We must love as God loves—unconditionally.

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

—1 John 3:7, 10–11

Personal Reflections:

To avoid deception, how are the children of God distinguished from the children of the devil? If I do not unconditionally love others, how is it possible to be a child of God?

January 3

Wake up! Live soberly. Live righteously. Live godly in this present age. Jesus will return for His bride when God the Father says it is time (Matthew 24:36). The choices we make today determine our destiny. Are you ready? (Revelation 19:7).

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

—Titus 2:11–12

Personal Reflections:

What changes can I make in my life so that I live godly according to God’s commandments in this present world? Which people, places, or things in my life hamper my ability to live godly?

January 4

God is specific in His Word how we are to conduct ourselves in the workplace. The circumstances we encounter are not to dictate how we behave. We are to respond with kindness and respect. To gossip about our boss or to do a poor job is displeasing to God (Colossians 4:1).

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men

—Colossians 3:22–23

Personal Reflections:

How can I in good conscience obey my boss when his requests are unscrupulous? Explain if it is okay with God for me to compromise my faith in order to protect my position.

January 5

As Christians, we are to honor all those over us in our workplace, thereby redeeming the time. Instead of engaging in negative discussions about what is wrong, we must look for ways to make things better. It may mean going the extra mile to complete a project ahead of schedule, or assisting a coworker who is struggling to finish an assignment.

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

—1 Timothy 6:1–2, 5

Personal Reflections:

How might I make things better for my boss at work and for other employees? How can I genuinely love the person who is striving to take over my position?

January 6

Today, the desire for prosperity has enticed and entangled many into foolish and harmful compromises. Greed and selfishness have driven them into self-destruction. Others have strayed from the faith because of the potential of easy wealth. As believers, we must flee idolatry, pursue our relationship with the living God, and allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit to reign in our hearts (Galatians 5:22–23).

But godliness with contentment is great gain. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

—1 Timothy 6:6, 9–10

Personal Reflections:

How have I allowed the accumulation of wealth to take priority over my family and our life together? Why do I spend time at home doing work assignments rather than activities with family?

January 7

One vital tool that equips believers to overcome the challenges and obstacles of this world is to pray in the Spirit. The root of the problems we encounter from wrong behavior of others originates from the influence of spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12, 18). Have you received the baptism with the Holy Spirit? (Mark 16:17; Act 2:4). Ask, and your heavenly Father will provide this glorious gift of victory (Luke 11:13).

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his