Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:29:43 -0400WeeblyWed, 03 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.seragospumpups.com/pump-ups/how-to-face-the-trials-of-life-we-encounterDaniel 3:16-18 -  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire;

and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."   NASU
​

• Know This About God  

The God you love and serve is also able to deliver you. But that doesn't mean He will deliver you the way you would like Him too, nor when you would like Him to deliver you.
 
In our text today, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow down and worship Nebuchadnezzar's made up gods nor would they bow to the golden image. So they are going to be cast into the fiery furnace because of their disobedience to man but obedience to God.
 
In life you may be following God's commands and then be punished because of it. This is what was happening to S, M, A. Their faith didn't waiver. They knew God could deliver them but if He didn't no big deal. He was still God and they were still faithful obedient servants of God.

If they died physically they would graduate into the next life.

• Know This About Your Situation  

God may not remove you from your trial. He didn't remove S, M, A, from their trial. They were indeed cast into the fiery furnace, BUT God didn't forsake them. He didn't remove them from their ordeal, but He did go into the furnace with them.
 
God may not always remove us from our trials but you can be sure He is right there with us the entire way.
 
Daniel 3:23-25 - But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, "Was it not three

men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and  walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the  gods!" 
 
God knows all about our lives because He loves us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. We have this as a promise from Him.

Just because we might suffer for doing good doesn't mean God has abandoned us.
 
Friends you can take God's promises to the bank.
 
Think About These:
 
God Calls for us to stand, though not always to understand.
 
God doesn't call us to be successful. He calls us to be faithful.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word]]>Wed, 27 May 2026 11:53:28 GMThttps://www.seragospumpups.com/pump-ups/the-best-advice-i-can-give-is-never-say-this9001607Job 2:9 - Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!"   NASU 

• What Not To Say 

I am sure we have probably all received some free advice and it was worth every penny. Mrs. Job was giving her husband in the text above some of the worst advice I have ever heard. 
 
She said, "Curse God and die!"
 
You have got to be kidding me!

I seriously don't believe you could give anyone worse advice. If you find yourself enduring some type of trials never say or do what Job's wife suggested. Cursing God or taking His name in vain is just not smart. 

• Job's Trials Leads To Worship 

Job has suffered some of life's worse trials. He has lost all of his children. They have all been killed by the devil. The devil has attacked Job with a fury. He has lost all of his livestock. In our world today we would say, "He lost all of his finances. He was bankrupt."
 
After Job suffers through these early trials the Bible tells us what he did. In Job 1:20 -"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped."   NASU
 
When we are going through life's trials do they lead us to worship? Or are we more inclined to follow the advice of Mrs. Job and curse God and give up on our faith?
 
Job's trials led him to worship God. My suggestion to you if you're enduring trials right now is allow them to lead you to worship God. 

• Words Of Wisdom From Job 

Job 1:21-22 - He said," Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."  Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.  NASU
 
Is it any wonder God said, "Job was a man of integrity."
 
I remember hearing that scripture before I ever became a Christian. We came out naked and we were going to die that way.
 
This saying of Job's is one of those classic scriptures that is quoted by a lot of people who may never have ever read the Bible. 

• What Got Job Through His Trials? 

Why was Job able to pray that prayer?
 
He was a man of integrity. His belief system was wired this way: If I receive good things from God that is okay and if I receive bad things in this life that is okay also for God is still God. 

• How Is Your Belief System Wired? 

Some people believe that if bad things happen to them then God must be mad at them or punishing them for something they did. When in fact, they could be experiencing trials in life because the devil is mad at them for being a person of integrity.

Like Job was. 

• People Of Integrity 

In life, people of integrity will suffer. When people of integrity are given free advice, like curse God and die. People of integrity will never follow such ludicrous advice.
 
The best way to become a person of integrity is to allow God's Word to direct your steps.
 
Think About These:
 
People seldom improve when they have no model but themselves.
 
Each person has the chance to improve himself, but some just don't believe in taking chances.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word]]>Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.seragospumpups.com/pump-ups/even-jesus-had-a-bad-day
Matt. 15:22-28 -…."Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed." 23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us." 24 But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  25 But she came and began to bow down before

Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" 26 And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."  27 But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish."        NASU 
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• It Never Happened Before 

The Pharisees and Sadducees thought time and time again that they were going to be able to trap Jesus in one of their verbal confrontations, but they never were able to trap Him, never. In Matt. 22:15-33 they tried to trick Him with the "paying taxes to Caesar" scenario. Jesus lays them out with "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."
 
The Sadducees tried to trap Him with the usage of an Old Test. passage (Deut. 25:5) that says, "If a man dies having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his wife, and raise up children for his brother." Then they ask Jesus whose wife will she be after they all have been resurrected?  
 
You can see the looks on their faces like we have Him this time. Then Jesus tells them there will be no marriage after the resurrection for we will be like angels. Now you can see the mouths drop open and they don't know what to say.
 
Every time Jesus has an encounter with any of the Israelites he will never be bested by them. 

• Jesus Was Having A Bad Day 

If there is ever an account of Jesus having a bad day this passage of scripture (Matt.15:22-28) is it. I AM NOT SAYING JESUS is COMMITTING A SIN. I am saying that as a human being, He was having one of those days. 

The Pharisees and scribes were once again complaining about His disciples eating before they washed their hands. Jesus has been defending His disciples against the lunacy of the Pharisees and scribes.
 
Jesus was trying to get away from this group of guys and the best way for Him to do that is to separate Himself from them. He goes to the region of Tyre and Sidon which is a trip of 30-40 miles easily and let us not forget they were walking.
 
We have all been tired in our life and wanted nothing more than to get some quiet rest and that is exactly what Jesus wants, but there is a woman who wants His help. 

•  A Mother With A Sick Child Will Not Be Defeated 

In Matt. 15:22-23 - And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed." 23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us." NASU
 
Jesus tried to deal with her in three different ways.

First, Jesus doesn't even answer her request. He says nothing. He just keeps on walking. The disciples have had enough of this woman. They want Jesus to send her away, get rid of her. Why? She keeps shouting at the disciples because she has a sick daughter.
 
You have to use your imagination here. What were the disciples saying to her? Most likely in some polite way get out of here lady, can't you see we just want to be alone. We need some down time. We are tired and need to rest.
 
Second, Jesus goes from not even answering her to giving her an answer you really wouldn't want to hear. Jesus says, "I was sent ONLY to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

WOW!

Really Jesus, that is your answer?

You want to talk about getting a smack to the face. I wasn't sent to help you (Gentiles) I was sent to help the lost sheep of Israel. This will change after Jesus' resurrection. The apostles are told to "go and make disciples of all nations,..." (Matt. 28:19).
 
But look what she does? She is not even fazed by His answer. She draws closer to Him, bows down and says, "Lord, help me!"
 
Third, Jesus' answer is shocking and, one we would not expect Him to give. He says to her, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
 
Ouch!

Here is what Jesus means by that statement: The "children" are the Israelites, the "bread" is the miracles that He and His disciples have been doing and the "dogs" are the Gentiles.

If Jesus made that type of a comment in the USA today He would be called a racist.
 
Now some people may have stood up and said, "Fine, if that is the way you want to be so be it." But not this lady, she keeps her eyes fastened on Jesus and she says, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
 
She is saying, You want to call me a dog. Go for it. I have been called a lot worse because of my daughter's condition. She compares herself to a dog and then wins this verbal confrontation with "even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table."

In other words, "All I am asking for is one miracle for my daughter."
 
Jesus knew she was a mother who was on a mission and she was willing to be ignored, yelled at by the disciples and insulted, but none of that would matter if her daughter was healed.
 
Jesus pays her the highest compliment that can be paid to anyone when He says, "O Woman your faith is great; …" 

• What Have You Had To Endure? 

Being a Christian today is not always easy. Sometimes the very things that happened to this mother have happened to us.
 
The reason Christians ignore being treated harshly is the hope of hearing Jesus say, "Man or woman your faith is great enter in My faithful servant."
 
Think About This:
 
It is when we forget ourselves that we are most likely to be remembered.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.seragospumpups.com/pump-ups/how-to-find-favor-with-god​1 Peter 2:20 - For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.   NASU 

• It Won't Be As You Believe 

Many people believe that if you love and serve the Lord that your life will be chaos free. The facts are when you read the Bible God's servant's lives were one chaotic mess after another.
 
If you do a word study on the Greek word "favor" it is "charin" and our English word "Grace" is derived from this word. Peter is saying if you want to find "grace or favor" with the Lord then you should prepare yourself for suffering. 

• Mary Found Favor 

Luke 1:30 - The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
 
Well, that is a good thing right? Oh it is definitely a good thing, but before we start jumping up and down for joy do you remember what is going to happen to Mary?
 
She is engaged to be married.

The Lord is going to impregnate Mary and this is going to cause a lot of embarrass-ment and shame for Mary and her family. It becomes such an issue Joseph is not going to marry her: Matt 1:19 - Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
 
As the ole cliché goes Joseph was trying to sweep this mess under a rug. As we can see finding favor with God doesn't mean our life is going to go smoothly.
 
In fact, it can mean just the opposite. 

• Noah Found Favor 

The next time you want to find favor with the LORD you may want to rethink that idea.
 
Genesis 6:8 says it this way: "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD".
 
Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD and God gave him the job of building the ark. How many people made fun of Noah and his family? They were building a boat because it was going to rain and flood the earth.
 
The only problem it had never rained on the earth at this point of time in history. The people had no idea what Noah was saying. Can you imagine all the people that came out to watch Noah and his family build an ark to protect them from the rain that was coming to destroy the earth?
 
They would have ridiculed Noah and his family mercilessly all because he found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 

• You May Find Favor With The LORD 

What this means is you are going to have to endure some type of trial in life and by enduring it you prove that you love the LORD your God with all your heart. You find favor with the LORD by suffering in His name.
 
Look at all the prophets that suffered. Why did they suffer? They suffered because they were doing the LORD'S will.
 
Did anyone suffer more than Job? I don't think so.
 
Did Job find favor with the LORD? Yes he did.
 
The LORD reprimands Job's three friends, commands that they offer a sacrifice for themselves and Job. Once Job prays for his three friends his fortune is returned to him according to Job 42:10 - The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. 

• How Does One Find Favor With The LORD? 

It is my observation from studying the scriptures that one finds favor with the LORD by enduring the suffering that comes our way during our lifetime.
 
Think About This:
 
God had one Son without sin, but never one without suffering.
 
Stay Pumped.
 
Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word]]>Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.seragospumpups.com/pump-ups/how-many-times-have-we-done-thisLuke 9:33 - And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah" —  not realizing what he was saying.  NASU 
​

• Spoke Out Of Turn 

This is probably one reason people like Peter. He is so much like the rest of us. Here is a prime example of Peter opening his mouth and sticking his foot right in it.
 
I like how Luke says, "…not realizing what he was saying."
 
Being a minister has allowed me to hear more people talk about what they don't know that it is almost comical. Let me share with you some examples:
 
1. "You know Gabriel the archangel." The Bible never says Gabriel was an archangel. The only archangel mentioned by name in the Bible is Michael.
 
2. "You can't take communion if you are unworthy." The Bible doesn't say that either. It says, "…don't take communion in an unworthy manner,…"
 
3. "We have all inherited the sin of Adam and Eve." We have not inherited the sin of anyone.
 
Ezekiel 18:20 says - "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.  NASU
 
A lot of people are like Peter they speak up when they should be quiet. We have heard things that are not true and we have repeated them because we believed they were true.
 
In so doing, we have only further spread an inaccuracy or a falsehood.
 
Peter wanted to build three tabernacles because he believed that Moses, and Elijah were equal with Jesus. He was wrong and God let him know immediately after he had wanted to build the three tabernacles. God said, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!"

• What Should We Do? 

The answer is very simple listen to God. I have some scriptures below that might be very beneficial in helping us not speak out of turn.
 
Prov.13:3 - He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. NIV
 
Prov. 15:28 - The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. NIV
 
Prov. 21:23 - He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles. NASU
 
Prov. 29:11 - A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back. NKJV
 
Eccl. 5:2 - Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.  NASU
 
You don't have to be the first one to speak. Do yourself a favor and think about the question or what you are about to say. Guarding your lips according to Solomon guards your life. Speaking rashly is only going to bring with it trouble.
 
Do you want to be considered a wise man or woman? Then hold your tongue.

However, if you want to look like a fool keep speaking without having all the facts.
 
Think About These:
 
It's too bad that more people are thoughtless than speechless.
 
Wisdom knows when to speak your mind and when to mind your speech.
 
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

​Minister of God's Word]]>