The Psalms!

Perhaps the simplest description of the wonderful book of Psalms is that they were the inspired "prayer and praise" book of Israel.  There are 150 spiritual songs and poems used by the church in all ages in worship and devotional exercises.  The predominant themes are prayer and praise, but the Psalms cover a great variety of religious experiences.  They are often called 'The Songs of David' because he was the author of many of them.

Psalm 119 is a marvelous Psalm!  Every verse seems to be a 'mini-message'.  This chapter contains many wonderful promises, commands, and challenges!  I especially like verses 33-48.
Verses 33-35 each begin with a two word request:
      v. 33 -- TEACH me
      v. 34 -- GIVE me
      v. 35 -- MAKE me
These three little requests mark the beginning of three lovely little verses.  Let's see what they say:
     "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statues; and I shall keep it unto the end."
      Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
      Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight".  Praise the Lord!

In the next section, we find some more wonderful words:
      v. 42 -- Trust
      v. 43 -- Hoped
      v. 44 -- Keep
      v. 45 -- Seek
      v. 46 -- Speak
      v. 47 -- Delight
      v. 48 -- Meditate
As we prepare our hearts for the mid-week prayer service, let us especially remember verses 47 and 48:
      "And I will Delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved.
My hands also will I lift up unto Thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will Meditate in Thy statues."  Amen!

"MAJESTY"

Every Monday morning my heart is always full of praise and thanksgiving as I reflect upon the services and blessings of the previous Lord's Day.  This morning I thought of the song entitled "Majesty" which led me to this beautiful thanksgiving and prayer of King David in the 29th chapter of I Chronicles, verses 11-13.

     "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all.
      Both riches and honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all; and in Thine hand is power and might; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
      Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name."

     ". . . So exalt--lift up on high the name of Jesus.  Magnify -- come glorify -- Christ Jesus the King!  Majesty -- worship His majesty -- Jesus who died -- now glorified -- King of all Kings"!!

Seek First . . .

In the Sermon on the Mount, there are wonderful promises telling us of our Heavenly Father's care and provision!  Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 that the cure for anxiety is complete trust in our Father's care!  Verse 33 is a wonderful verse, and notice that the key word in this verse is "first".

     "But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you."
I like this little quote from the writings of Oswald Chambers concerning this verse:

          "Jesus is teaching that His disciple must make his relationship with God the
dominating focus of his life, and be cautiously carefree about everything else in comparison
with that.
           The greatest concern of life is to place our relationship with God first, and everything
else second!"

May God bless you as you prepare your heart for the coming Lord's Day -- "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord."

August 23 ----

Do you remember what day it is, Papa dear?  I doubt it!!  You're probably engaged in another lengthy conversation with the Apostle Paul and don't even remember what an important day this is!  But if you were still here, you would be the center of attraction today because it is your 80th birthday!!  I'm sure the girls in the family would be having a grand celebration for you,  and you would be having a great time watching the little ones so excited about blowing out 80 candles!!

We all miss you very much, but perhaps you are having a heavenly Angel Food cake for your 80th birthday today, and I know it would be even better than Kaylee, Angel and Brooke could make you!!
And perhaps one of the angels will take time to tell you all about the sweet and exciting things that have happened in the family since you've been gone!!

I miss you very much, sweet Papa, but I want you to know I have a deep, settled peace in my soul, and I am still trying to build the Ark according to God's perfect pattern for "Heaven Can't Be Far Away!"

"This is the old ship of Zion, and we're sailing for that city--
     I see lights so brightly shining as we're moving toward that shore;
Sometimes I think I hear singing as saints are dreaming of that day--
     It brings a thrill to my spirit, for Heaven can't be far away!

Oh, what a sight!  What a reunion!  as precious loved ones are reunited!
     I see my mother----there's my father----they're rejoicing round the Throne!
All the angels are crying "Holy" as Gabriel's horn is about to play---
     Oh, my steps are getting lighter, for Heaven can't be far away!

We can't be far from that City---I can see walls of Jasper!
     Gates of Pearl are swinging open, leading to the streets of Gold!
Saints of every land are shouting, and Heaven's Choir has started singing!
     This old body's feeling sweet release---Heaven Can't Be Far Away"!

Praise the Lord, sweet Papa!!  Heaven can't be far away, and by God's wonderful grace, I intend to  make it with the family in my hand. 

Weeping --- Rejoicing!

If someone asked you or me to name the shortest verse in the Bible, we would probably quickly answer, "Jesus wept"  (John 11:35).  However, there is another verse that has only two words, and they are "Rejoice evermore"!  This wonderful challenge is found in I Thessalonians 5:16.  It is interesting to note how these two verses complement each other -- because "Jesus wept", we can "rejoice evermore"!  Praise the Lord!  I am so very thankful that Jesus was willing to die that you and I might live!

The contrast between suffering and rejoicing is found throughout the New Testament, and generally the suffering precedes the rejoicing.  We first see this in the closing verses of the Beatitudes:
     "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you . . . for My sake.
      Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven."
The last passage is found in the 19th chapter of Revelation when the sufferings of the saints are all past and Jesus comes to reign!  A great multitude will be singing in heaven --"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come"!
Then, we read in chapter 21 all about the glories of the new heaven and the new earth!  And it says in verse 4:  "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away".  In that blessed and glorious day, the redeemed will, indeed, "Rejoice Evermore"!

So let us live our present lives "looking unto Jesus"; for as we love and serve our Master, we will find ourselves "rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory"!      

God's Sweet Promises!

God's Holy Word is filled with so many wonderful promises to bless and encourage us as we walk the road of life!  I love these blessed words in the 13th chapter of Hebrews:
     "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

When I try to contemplate the awful price Jesus paid to purchase my salvation on Calvary, it challenges me in the following words by an unknown author to Lean, Pray, Trust, and Love "A Little Bit More"!  

     "Are you discouraged and weary of the endless toil and care?
Do you feel that your burden is greater than you have the strength to bear?
      'My strength is made perfect in weakness'---this thought comes to you over and over;
Now believe in the word of God's promise, and Lean just a little bit more.

      Have you temptations and trials surrounding you day by day?
Your feet--do they sometimes stumble as you travel the rough, narrow way?
      Be careful--oh, yes!  and courageous--for often the lions will roar,
But gird on your armor more tightly, and Pray just a little bit more.

      Has sorrow encompassed your pathway with all of its various darts?
And often you cross, as you travel, The Valley of Broken Hearts;
      Your eyes--with tears oft are blinded--you scarcely can see on before.
Place your hand in the hand of the Master, and Trust just a little bit more.

      Perhaps some grave error in judgment has shaken your faith in the good;
Or, you have been criticized harshly--your motives been misunderstood;
      And you feel for a time so discouraged--your heart is wounded and sore--
But keep right on praying and trusting--and Love just a little bit more."

May God bless you as you keep on Leaning, Praying, Trusting and Loving--just a little bit more!!

Testimony Time!

Today is Wednesday, and I am greatly looking forward to the mid-week service at church tonight!  In the 2nd verse of the 107th Psalm, we read these words:
     "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so."  I love this little phrase!  If we belong to Jesus, we need to "say so"! 
      In verse 8 of this wonderful chapter, it says:  "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"
      In verse 15, it repeats the same words:  "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"
     In verse 21, it says once again:  "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"
     And, finally, in verse 31, we see it one more time:  "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"

After these four repeated challenges, surely it pleases the Lord for us to praise Him, and it encourages our fellow Christians, also.

So, if you belong to Jesus, why don't you be the first one to "say so" in your mid-week service tonight!!

The Abiding Presence!

Hebrews 11:1 says:  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." How blessed it is to walk by faith and live by faith!  God's Word tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please Him!  "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  Hebrews 11:6

I read a little article by Dr. John Church that was a blessing to me.  I wanted to share some of it with you, and I trust that it will be a blessing and encouragement to you also.

     "One of the greatest troubles with many of us is the fact that we have never come to see the difference between the constant 'abiding presence' and the 'manifestations' of the blessed Holy Ghost.  Many people have the mistaken idea that He can't abide without manifesting Himself all the time.  If the Lord is not blessing us all the time, we think we don't have anything.  He just gives us manifestations as we need them and as He sees fit.  He wants us to learn to walk by faith and not by sight.

      Some years ago our youngest son was stricken with a tumor of the brain.  He was an invalid for five years before he went Home.  During those years, I would hold a lot of meetings in my own state.  Sometimes it would be very late when I would reach home.  While the boy was still alive, I would go in as quietly as possible.  I would slip into the bedroom and get into bed as quietly as possible so as not to wake him.  I was so close to him that I could reach out and touch him, but I did not manifest myself to him.

      The next morning when he would awake, then we would have quite a manifestation.  Sometimes I would get in the bed with him and talk.  Hiowever, I had been abiding with him long before that.  Now, if the house had caught on fire during the night, then I would have manifested myself to him, but he did not need any manifestations, so I did not give him any.

      The same thing is true with the Lord and us.  He will manifest Himself when we need it, but He abides all the time.  You may go to bed shouting happy and get up in the morning with a splitting headache, but the blessed Holy Ghost still abides.  Learn to count on Him whether you feel like shouting or not.  He will give you the power you need when you need it.  He is not going to give you the power to preach or witness until the time comes to use that power.  You may feel as weak as water and wonder how you will ever accomplish the task, but if you have Him, never worry!  He will supply the power at the right time."  Praise the Lord!!  'Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world'!

     "I'm rejoicing night and day as I walk the narrow way,
for the hand of God in all my life I see.
      And the reason of my bliss--Yes, the secret all is this,
that the Comforter abides with me!

      He is with me everywhere, and He knows my every care;
I'm as happy as a bird and just as free (praise the Lord).
      For the Spirit has control---Jesus satisfies my soul---
Since the Comforter abides with me!

      He abides!  He abides!
Hallelujah!  He abides with me!
      I'm rejoicing night and day as I walk the narrow way;
For the Comforter abides with me"! 

Praise -- Criticism

I read the following quote by Norman Vincent Peale the other day.  I'll have to admit it really didn't make me shouting happy!  And I rather doubt that you will say -- "Oh!  I just LOVE this quote"!!
Let's take a little time to meditate on this quote by Dr. Peale.

     "The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by Praise, than saved by Criticism"!

I am afraid that most of the time, we are happy to enjoy the praises, but a little more reluctant to appreciate the criticisms!
I trust that we will endeavor to be thankful for the criticisms that help us (like these wonderful words from the 2nd chapter of Titus) to ". . .live soberly, righteously, and godly; in this present world: looking for that blessed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

Let us be Thankful for the Criticisms that challenge us to keep digging deeper and climbing higher
as we walk in the Beautiful Light of God!

New Testament Attributes!

A few weeks ago, I read a little devotional by Dr. Henry Morris of the Institute for Creation Research in Dallas, Texas,  He wrote about the seven beautiful and descriptive attributes of God spoken of in the New Testament. 

The first was used by Stephen, who called Him "the Lord of glory" (Acts 7:2, 55).
The apostle Paul called him "the God of patience and consolation" in Romans 15:5.
Paul also called him "the God of hope" in Romans 15:13.
In II Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul wrote about "the God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulation."
In II Corinthians 13:11, he wrote about "the God of love".
In both Philippians and Thessalonians, he wrote about "the God of peace" (Philippians 4:9); "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly."  (I Thessalonians 5:23)  (Praise the Lord!  I am so very thankful for the sweet peace that Jesus gives)!
The apostle Peter gives us the last one:  "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."  (I Peter 5:10) 

As we look back over these seven beautiful attributes of God, they seem to be in logical, Biblical order:
     1.  He is the God of glory!
     2.  He is the God of patience and consolation!
     3.  He is the God of hope!
     4.  He is the God of all comfort!
     5.  He is the God of love!
     6.  He is the God of peace!
     7.  He is the God of all grace!

No wonder we can Adore, Honor and Love Him!
     "Bow down before Him, love and adore Him -- His Name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord"!

The Father's Will

In Matthew 20:17-19, Jesus is talking to His disciples about His death and resurrection and says:

     "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death.
And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again."

I like this quote from Oswald Chambers:  "Seeking to do 'the will of the Father' was the one dominating concern throughout our Lord's life.  And whatever He encountered along the way, whether joy or sorrow, success or failure, He was never deterred from that purpose."

Is doing the will of the Heavenly Father your supreme desire?  Obedience always brings the blessing, and, as the song says, "nothing sweeter can be known than full surrender to the perfect will of God .."

May God bless you today as you seek to do "the will of the Father!"

Fold the Hands!

It is such a comfort to know that our Master sees all, knows all, and His way is always perfect! 
However, sometimes we have a tendency to forget the wonderful verse that says:
     "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee"!  What a sweet promise!

As we prepare our hearts for the coming Lord's Day, let us take time to meditate and think on this wonderful little quote a friend recently sent me.

     "More is accomplished by folding the hands than by wringing them"!

Remember, it is our great privilege, as God's people, to Pray about everything so we don't have to worry about anything!

"Behold, . . . . ."

We find a sweet verse tucked away in God's Word in the book of Exodus, chapter 23 and verse 20.
     "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared."
Of course, in this verse, the Lord is speaking directly to the children of Israel, assuring their entrance into the land of Canaan; but, beyond that, it is a very precious promise for us today!

You will notice that the word "Angel" in this verse is capitalized, and that is exciting!  I believe it is alluding to Jesus, Himself, whom our Heavenly Father has promised to send before us, to keep us through every step of this earthly life, and bring us at last into the place He has prepared for us -- a city not made with hands, eternal in the heavens! 

Let us be careful to obey His voice, and do all that He speaks, that we may have the assurance of His Presence going before us, keeping us in the way, and bringing us at last to Heaven!

     "Lead on, O King Eternal.  We follow, not with fears;
For gladness breaks like morning where e'er Thy face appears.
      Thy Cross is lifted o'er us; we journey in its light;
The Crown awaits the conquest; lead on, O God of might!"