The Privilege of Intercessory Prayer

James 5:16New King James Version (NKJV)
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Today I was blessed with an opportunity to offer prayer for a friend.

When I realized how very honored I felt that she would ask me to pray for her situation I felt a need to look more into the history of intercessory prayer in the lives of Christians.

I found a wonderful article on intercessory prayer at http://www.allaboutprayer.org/intercessory-prayer.htm. I say wonderful because it was, first of all scripturally based, second clear and easy to read and third, brief.

This article describes intercessory prayer as:
Intercessory Prayer - What is it?Intercessory prayer is prayer for others. An intercessor is one who takes the place of another or pleads another's case. One study Bible defines intercession as "holy, believing, persevering prayer whereby someone pleads with God on behalf of another or others who desperately need God's “Intervention."

Hebrews 9:7 New International Version (©1984)But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Intercessory prayer was once the primary function of the priesthood. God, Himself, established the power of bringing the needs of others before Him and set aside an entire tribe to fill this function.

But we all have the privilege and responsibility of interceding on behalf of others and are encouraged to do so many times in scripture.

We have wonderful examples of intercessory prayer. Abraham prayed fervently for the people of Sodom and God heard his plea. (Genesis 18:20-33)In the book of Exodus, especially Exodus 32:11-13 and Exodus 32:31-32 we see Moses interceding on behalf of the children of Israel.

But what about us ordinary folks? Can we be as effective in our petitions to God?

1 John 5:14 New King James Version (NKJV)14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

And with this confidence comes an obligation to others.

1 Timothy 2:1-5 New King James Version (NKJV)1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

I thank God for every opportunity to be in His will. I praise God that He graciously adopted me into His Royal Family and encourages me to come to Him in prayer.

Hebrews 4:14-16 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus the Great High Priest 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

One of the Three Thousand Souls

Gratitude of One of the Three Thousand Souls

Acts 2:41-42 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Every group has it's core group and it's inner core.
But what about those who work and live on the fringes?
Is their work valuable to the group.
Do they value themselves.

Matthew 28:16-20 New International Version (NIV)
The Great Commission
 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

There is much in scripture to encourage those in the three thousand. The Great Commission itself is impossible without the work and support of those in the outer circle. How difficult, even in this age of mass media, for a few to accomplish the great work Our Father has set for us to do.

1 Corinthians 12:4-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

So here, then, is the validation for those in the three thousands. Here is the encouragement to prayerfully seek that which is ours to do and to do it in the fulness of joy in the Lord!

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

God has given each of us a work to do in the kingdom but sometimes we get so scattered, trying to do all and be all, that we cannot effectively accomplish that which God has appointed us to do. Sometimes we get so immobilized by looking at what others are doing that we can't focus on the job at hand.

Unity and Diversity in One Body
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

We diminish the effectiveness of the body when we abandon the work that is uniquely ours. There is no diversity if everyone is the same. Try to picture a body which is just one part, any one part, even the all important brain. How very limited that organism would be.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

I am so in awe at the symmetry and order of our Creator!

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

And He pleased with an unsurpassed majesty!!!

24b But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Acts 6:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
 7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

It is my joy to be a member of the Body of Christ. I pray He uses me in the fullest in the building of His Kingdom.

Acts 2:41-42 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Thank You, Lord from one of the three thousand.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Mark 1:35
New King James Version (NKJV)
   
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

I am so happy for the habit, formed many years ago when my daughter was a toddler, of getting up very early in the morning.

There is great joy in starting my day with the Holy Spirit in the quiet and peace of early morning.

Today I am sitting in a valley, totally surrounded by mountains and giving thanks to Almighty God for His many blessings.

I am here because I was told that one of my oldest friends was dying. The report was that she had days only, at best a couple of weeks.

Before I left home in Florida I engaged the prayers of my church family. We had been told that there was nothing left for my friend, Charlotte, except a miracle; therefore, we boldly asked God for just that.

September 2
Morning by Charles Spurgeon
"But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her."
Mark 1:30
Very interesting is this little peep into the house of the Apostolic Fisherman. We see at once that household joys and cares are no hindrance to the full exercise of ministry, nay, that since they furnish an opportunity for personally witnessing the Lord's gracious work upon one's own flesh and blood, they may even instruct the teacher better than any other earthly discipline.
Papists and other sectaries may decry marriage, but true Christianity and household life agree well together. Peter's house was probably a poor fisherman's hut, but the Lord of Glory entered it, lodged in it, and wrought a miracle in it.
Should our little book be read this morning in some very humble cottage, let this fact encourage the inmates to seek the company of King Jesus. God is oftener in little huts than in rich palaces. Jesus is looking round your room now, and is waiting to be gracious to you.
Into Simon's house sickness had entered, fever in a deadly form had prostrated his mother-in-law, and as soon as Jesus came they told him of the sad affliction, and he hastened to the patient's bed. Have you any sickness in the house this morning? You will find Jesus by far the best physician, go to him at once and tell him all about the matter. Immediately lay the case before him. It concerns one of his people, and therefore will not be trivial to him.
Observe, that at once the Saviour restored the sick woman; none can heal as he does. We may not make sure that the Lord will at once remove all disease from those we love, but we may know that believing prayer for the sick is far more likely to be followed by restoration than anything else in the world; and where this avails not, we must meekly bow to his will by whom life and death are determined.
The tender heart of Jesus waits to hear our griefs, let us pour them into his patient ear.

I come boldly to my God in intercessory prayer for my friend. I find this morning's “Daily Word” an affirmation and a comfort as I pray.
I thank God for all of those who have joined me in keeping her blanketed in the warmth of sincere prayer.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

On Life and Conduct

Proverbs 22
On Life and Conduct
 1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold. (New American Standard Bible)

Today, in my less than productive attempt at a cleaning spree, I ran across an old book “Freedom From Financial Bondage”, by Dwight Nichols. (FREEDOM FROM FINANCIAL BONDAGE How To Overcome Financial Frustration and Walk in God's Supernatural Provisions, A Biblical Guide for Managing Money & Possessions. Harrison House, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1995.)

As was my habit when dollar bills were more abundant, I found one as a page marker.

The marked chapter was Chapter 6, Honesty and Integrity, THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL GOD'S BLESSINGS and Proverbs 22:1 was one of the heading scriptures!!!

This past Sunday our Pastor spoke on the use of “justification” and “rationalization” to lessen our guilt for doing those things which we inherently know are wrong.

Today, I’m reading. “God wants you to be honest in your business and work affairs. Even the smallest dishonesty displeases God and is a sin (emphasis mine). In examining the stewardship principle in the Bible we read: Whosoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with very much. Luke 16:10 (NIV)."

Another of God's gentle reprimands!!!

I meet the secular world's guidelines for integrity; I don't steal, I don't lie, I provide service to my fellow man through my church, and when allowed, in my personal life. But as I glance through just one chapter of this book, I feel a calling to a higher standard.

The scriptures quoted, mostly from Proverbs and The Psalms, inspire me to do better.

Proverbs20 On Life and Conduct
7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity—
How blessed are his sons after him.

I truly believe that our actions can have an effect on the blessings available for those we love. This gives me the greatest reason to walk in honesty and integrity and to stand firmly on the Foundation for all God's Blessings!

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

God's Chosen Ones

Colossians 3: 12 - 17
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience,
13 forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive.
14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

How different our actions are when we truly do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. What a wonderful, simple way to “clean up our act”.
I do thank You, Lord, for Your Word. I thank You for my nine year old grandson through whom You chose to show me this scripture this morning. I thank You because this is exactly the word I needed in my life this morning as I try to be more and more as You would have me to be.
It is truly a blessing to have the way so clearly laid out for us.

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience,

First, acknowledging that I am one of God’s chosen ones and therefore called upon to demonstrate the qualities of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience. I know that I am elevated to a special place as a child of God, as one of his beloved. I know that I partake of His kindness and mercy every day and that there is nothing that I do which earns this freely given love.

How can I do less than to be kind and patient with my brothers and sisters in the Lord when I remember that they, too, are God’s chosen ones?

13 forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive.

I looked back this morning at all of the little things that I had allowed to bother me over just the last few months and neither one of them individually or all of them collectively was worth the time it took to get upset about them. It is not a matter of forgiving someone; it is truly a matter of not having anything worth getting riled up about in the first place.

How sad I would be if God was as quick to get upset with me as I have been with my fellow believers.

14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

We are blessed to have two Great Commandments, love of God and love of our brothers and sisters and these two commandments truly do bind everything together in perfect harmony. When we base all of our actions on these two commandments there is very little room for error.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

I close my eyes and enjoy the fullness that comes with the peace of Christ. I understand that I don’t leave room for that peace when I allow foolishness to fill my heart.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

It makes perfect sense that we are encouraged to be in fellowship with one another. It is in fellowship that we can grow in the Word. It is in fellowship that we can enjoy the spiritual uplifting of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. It is in fellowship that we can rejoice with thankful hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Father, God, my prayer is that You bring me closer to these simple truths every day. I ask the guidance and support of the Holy Spirit as I strive to do everything in the name of our Lord and Savior.

I do give thanks for all You are in my life and for the continued stirring in my spirit to be more and more what You would have me to be.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

One of His Chosen Ones

I’ve been off the waves for a while because I’m in the hospital. My prayer was “Please let them find what is wrong and how to fix it.” My Prayer has been answered. I just got the” what’s wrong and what we’re going to do” message a few minutes ago. I say thanks to my God.

I was completing the book of Judges last week and admit that I will have to have help with the last two chapters. Alone I could find no real rhyme or reason and especially no life application, but I say this, I was amazed at all the rhyme, reason and life applications I found in the previous chapters, so I wait.

Now, for this adventure… I noticed her first because she literally bounced when she walked. I was in the midst of one of many not so pleasant tests when I saw her.

I was not in the best of spirits and beginning to fuss at myself for letting this whole hospital thing get me down. No matter how much I know better, there is still a little residual guilt when I let the trials of the world get me down.

I tried to comfort myself with reminders of all my blessings but it just wasn’t working. She started taking my medical history and I said my usual “I’m basically healthy as a horse.” She replied “Yes, but it’s rough when you turn into a mule,” and turned my day around.

Psalm 105:1-6 (New King James Version)
The Eternal Faithfulness of the LORD
1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
3 Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
4 Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
6 O seed of Abraham His servant,
You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

Now, I am one of those folks who know that God is good. I know that I have spent most of my life a living witness to His grace and mercy. And I know that He is here now as he always has been.

I remember today my impatience with those old folks who had had lives free of medical problems who were just totally put out when they finally had issues, and I smile because I am now one of them.

I have decided to spend the rest of my time here spreading joy in the Lord. I will take every opportunity that comes my way to sing His praises!!!

Psalm 106:1-2 (New King James Version)
1 Praise the LORD!
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD?
Who can declare all His praise?

I plan to try. I plan to be one of those who declare His praise. I know that I am one of His chosen ones even when I am operating in “mule mode” and I thank Him for another opportunity to give praise for the people He puts in my path who remind me of the joy available to those who love Him.

Thank you, Betsy Shecter, for your kindness and words of encouragement and comfort.


May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

The Book of Judges – Life Application – 4

My study today, Judges Chapters 15 – 19 is a study of a people in chaos. We see the result of Samson’s insistence on “sleeping with the enemy” in his choice of Deliah, another Philistine woman, after his dismal failure with the un-named concubine.

In order to better understand the utter foolishness of his choices, I sought to understand a little better the life that God had set aside for Samson in contrast to the life he chose to live.

I read the requirements for being a Nazarite as found in Numbers 6:2-21 and still I struggled to anything in Samson’s life outside of his poor choice of women to explain his fall from grace. This was one I had to put down and walk away from for a while because sometimes the truth is too clear to see.

I encourage you to re-read the scripture describing Samson’s life and discover (at least for me) new understanding of his fall.

The Nazarite was not allowed to:
Eat or drink of the fruit of the vine (Judges 13:4,7).
Be contaminated by any unclean thing {nothing dead under any circumstances} (Judges 13:4,7).
Cut his hair (Judges 13:5,7).

My focus of study of the life of Samson before this point had been his very poor choice of women. This is what I had heard in sermons and seen in movies and this helped me miss some very simple truths which were right before my eyes.
a) Samson was to be dedicated as a Nazarite from birth (Judges 13:5).

b) The Nazarite was not allowed to:
i) Eat or drink of the fruit of the vine (Judges 13:4,7).
ii) Be contaminated by any unclean thing (Judges 13:4,7).
iii) Cut his hair (Judges 13:5,7).
c) The first two items of the Nazarite vow was also to apply to Samson's mother (Judges 13:14).

d) The regulations for a Nazarite are given in Numbers 6:2-21.
Now, lets look again at the life and actions of Samson.
e) On one occasion on his visit to his prospective wife at Timnah, Samson stopped at the carcass of the lion which he had killed with his bare hands (Judges 14:5-9) and ate honey from it. This was in direct opposition to Numbers 6:6 and in this he failed to keep from being contaminated.

Not only did he eat honey from a carcass, a dead thing which he was not to touch, but he took the honey to his parents, thus contaminating them.
f) On Samson's fourth visit to Timnah (Judges 14:10-20), threw a big party as was “customary for young men to do”.
I wonder if this feast involved fruit of the vine, another thing forbidden for Samson. (this is not expressesly said in the scripture).

The other thing I had missed, or not focused on, was the reason for becoming a Nazarite in the first place.
Whether one became a Nazarite for a month, which was common in Samson’s day, or for a lifetime, the purpose was to dedicate one’s self to Almighty God.

Numbers 6:2-21 (Amplified Bible)
2Say to the Israelites, When either a man or a woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, that is, one separated and consecrated to the Lord,

Samson was supposed to be separated and consecrated to the Lord. His actions just don’t support a consecrated life.

My life application for today was to look beyond the obvious, that which had been told and retold in lessons, sermons and even movies and see other messages from the Holy Spirit.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

The Book of Judges – Life Application – 3

Judges 11:30-31 (New King James Version)
30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands,
31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

Judges 13:8 (New King James Version)
8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, and said, “O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.”

Here are two decisions made by men who were seeking favor from God, but what a difference in the requests. In the first we see a man, Jephthah, who makes a vow brashly and without thinking it through.
Compare this with Manoah, father of Samson, who humbly sought God’s council, “teach us what we shall do…”

More lessons from the Book of Judges.

Samson’s mother was childless, which was considered a curse in her day. When the angel of the Lord spoke to her and told her she would have a special child there is no indication that she had any doubt. She joyfully shared this news with her husband, Manoah, who also accepted this news with joy.

Manoah’s only concern seemed to be to do what was right in the sight of God in his raising of this special child and he sought council from God for that knowledge.

The outcomes of these two approaches are very different. Jephthah’s impulsive vow cost the life of his only child while Manoah’s request brought him understanding of the way to prepare Samson for his role as God’s prophet.

The Life Application Bible reminds us of God’s judgment when we refuse to stay in the Way, but we are also reminded of His mercy in times of genuine repentance.

We are encouraged to prayerfully seek to prepare ourselves to follow our calling and be ready to fulfill whatever purpose God has for our lives. Over and over we are reminded that we need not be perfect (thank God) to be useful in the Kingdom.
Luke 11:1-13 (New King James Version)

The Model Prayer
1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”

In the biography of Samson in the Life Application Bible we are reminded “In the end, Samson recognized his dependence on God. When he died God turned his failures and defeats into victory. Samson’s story teaches us that it is never too late to start over. (Aren’t we grateful for this?) However badly we may have failed in the past, today it is not too late for us to put our complete trust in God.

I thank God for mercy renewed every morning. I thank God for today’s lesson of encouragement.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

The Book of Judges – Life Application – 2

Judges 6 (New King James Version)
Midianites Oppress Israel
1 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,

Today’s study of Judges is from the Life Application Study Bible which divided the period covered by the Book of Judges into six “periods” and gave brief biographies on each of the Judges. The focus of this study is, as the name states, Life Application of lessons learned.

This bible commentary spoke of the humanity of the Judges and the fact that God is able to use people who are as different as the warrior/deliver Gideon; the mediator/administrator, Tola; the providers of rest and peace, Ehud and Jair; the famous and powerful, Samson; national leaders Othniel and Deborah; unsung heroes, Elonm and Abdonm; local heroes, Shamgar and Ibzan; and, yes, even the rude, petty dictator, Jephthah.

These twelve very different people were used in very different ways to accomplish the will of God.

This, in application to our lives, should encourage us to know that God is able to use even the least of us to do his will. This application should also make us sensitive to the fact that the person who might be most influential in bringing us a message of hope and deliverance might be the one least expected.

I worried when I asked God for a sign in my life about a life altering decision I had to make, but felt encouraged when I read Gideon’s plea for not one but two signs from the Lord. And he had even had the privilege of being visited by the angel of the Lord. My belief that Gideon’s request for signs had to do with his doubts about his own worthiness and was not a sign of his lack of trust in God was reinforced by a lesson from our senior teacher and helped me recover from my own doubts.

Here I was finding life application in what I had previously thought of as difficult tales of mayhem and just plain stupidity.

Hebrews 4:16 (New King James Version)
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Today I was reminded of the many “gentle reprimands” that God has given me over the years and I bow in humility. I find myself not wondering how the Israelites, who didn’t have the Word in print, audio, video and cyberspace could be led astray; but how I, with all of these advantages, still fall short of the mark. Talk about “Life Application!”

I come boldly, and humbly, to the throne of grace knowing that it is only God’s grace and mercy that sustains me.

I knew, when we were given this assignment to stay prayerfully in the Book of Judges, that the assignment would provide both inspiration and real world application; but I had no idea how powerfully this study would touch my soul.

I will continue my study looking for, expecting, spiritual gifts with the effort. It is my prayer that you will re-read this powerful book and profit from the blessings it holds.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

The Book of Judges - Life Application

Judges 2:18-19 ‘Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.’(emphasis added)

Our pastor has asked us to use the Book of Judges as our focus for prayer and study this week. For me it has started with a bang! I read the first four chapters and admit to being a bit dazed at all the violence and the seeming inability of the Nation of Israel to “get it”.

But I know that we have never been asked to pursue a study that did not offer both inspiration and real world application, so I prayerfully asked God to guide me in this work.

I found a site “Jesus Plus Nothing” which has a 10-part study on the Book of Judges which I am beginning today. As usual, I will supplement this study with other references and scripture and hope, as always, to be enriched in His Word.

The author of the study, I Gordon, has left a brief, “who am I” note which helped me to be comfortable to use his site as a resource. He offers the use of the site free of charge to anyone who uses it for God’s glory and his beliefs, as stated, are ours. He also has a dry humor which comes in handy in such a serious work.

Mr. Gordon has promised that his study of the Book of Judges is a study of promise, not despair and I embark on this journey with him in expectation that he will keep that promise.

Our first two promising statements follow:
Caleb was given Hebron, which means ‘communion’. It is hard to commune with God when you knowingly have one foot in the world, and half-heartedness isn’t exactly great for any relationship. But wholeheartedness in your walk and relationship with the Lord leads to fellowship and communion.

Judges 1:22-25 ‘Now the house of Joseph attacked Bethel, and the LORD was with them. When they sent men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz), the spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Show us how to get into the city and we will see that you are treated well.” So he showed them, and they put the city to the sword but spared the man and his whole family.’

Another bright spot came in the house of Joseph’s triumph over the city of Luz. When you look up the meanings of the names, it is quite instructive. Joseph ‘add thou Jehovah’ took Luz ‘perverse’ and called it Bethel ‘the house of God’. So it is with our own lives, in that through grace, that which was perverse has been captured for the Lord and turned into the house of God. And this God continues to do as we, like Joseph, look to unto Him.

I have quickly gone from plodding through to excitement in this week's study. I promise to share some of the highlights here.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Stages of Life

Ecclesiastes 3 (New King James Version)
Everything Has Its Time
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

This morning I looked back at one of the theories on human development learned early in life. When I was in school Erickson’s theory of human development made a lot of sense to me and was the one I chose to use most often in my work.

I had survived and successfully completed five of his eight stages. I had the ability to trust, a great sense of autonomy, I was not prone to excessive guilt, I was purposeful and industrious and was privileged to have a capacity for affiliation and Love.

1. Infancy: Birth to 18 Months
Ego Development Outcome: Trust vs. Mistrust
Basic strength: Drive and Hope
2. Early Childhood: 18 Months to 3 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Autonomy vs. Shame
Basic Strengths: Self-control, Courage, and Will
3. Play Age: 3 to 5 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Initiative vs. Guilt
Basic Strength: Purpose
4. School Age: 6 to 12 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Industry vs. Inferiority
Basic Strengths: Method and Competence
5. Adolescence: 12 to 18 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Basic Strengths: Devotion and Fidelity
6. Young adulthood: 18 to 35
Ego Development Outcome: Intimacy and Solidarity vs. Isolation
Basic Strengths: Affiliation and Love

I considered myself a complete human being.
Then something strange happened. I developed this un-named, unidentifiable hunger. It took a while to figure out that this was a hunger for a relationship with God, a hunger for knowledge, a hunger for His love and peace.

7. Middle Adulthood: 35 to 55 or 65
Ego Development Outcome: Generativity vs. Self absorption or Stagnation
Basic Strengths: Production and Care
8. Late Adulthood: 55 or 65 to Death
Ego Development Outcome: Integrity vs. Despair
Basic Strengths: Wisdom

“Erikson felt that much of life is preparing for the middle adulthood stage and the last stage is recovering from it. Perhaps that is because as older adults we can often look back on our lives with happiness and are content, feeling fulfilled with a deep sense that life has meaning and we've made a contribution to life, a feeling Erikson calls integrity. Our strength comes from a wisdom that the world is very large and we now have a detached concern for the whole of life, accepting death as the completion of life.
On the other hand, some adults may reach this stage and despair at their experiences and perceived failures. They may fear death as they struggle to find a purpose to their lives, wondering "Was the trip worth it?" Alternatively, they may feel they have all the answers (not unlike going back to adolescence) and end with a strong dogmatism that only their view has been correct.” Arlene F. Harder, MA, MFT, http://www.learningplaceonline.com/stages/organize/Erikson.htm

Ms Harder felt that a successful entry into the eighth and last stage was “accepting death as the completion of life”. Perhaps this is the reason so many people have such a hard time accepting the inevitability of death.
Erickson felt that anyone who had succeeded in the previous seven stages would be comfortable with the prospect of death because they were no longer struggling to find a purpose for their lives.

God has given me more than 37,000,000 minutes on this earth. Some have been good, some not so good. Some have been spent wisely, some wasted. But I thank God that in His grace and mercy He saw fit to bring me into the fold of His family. I thank God that my sense of integrity is founded on service in His kingdom and not earthly pursuits. I thank God.

Ms Harder’s writings are dated 2004-2009. I don’t know her personally, but I hope she has come to the understanding that death is far from the completion of life for those with a relationship with Jesus Christ. I hope she has come to that great wisdom which is found in the Word of God. I hope she has experienced the Peace of God.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Quiet little blessings

Quiet little blessings sometimes get missed; therefore, it is good to give thanks for blessings seen and unseen.

Psalm 121 (New King James Version)
A Song of Ascents.
1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.


I would not miss an opportunity to praise God for all that He is in my life, not just all that He does, but all that He is. He is Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There) through good times and bad. He is there in the quiet of the morning. He is there when all around me is turmoil. He is there.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.


I live in the comfort of knowing that I am a child of El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty). To me this means that He has given me the right to come in supplication for all of my needs. In this sometimes stressful world what I need most is peace of mind and I thank Him for His peace which surpasses all understanding. I thank an all present God,

5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night

.
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) . Sometimes we forget to thank God for the gift of imagination and the appreciation of natural beauty. How full our lives become when we can take comfort in the simple things of life. I thank God that His gift of provision is not limited to bread and lodging. I thank Him for making my time here full of pleasure in the gift of a sunset at the beach, a sunrise over the mountains or the smile of a grandchild.

7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.


Those of us who spend a good deal of time on the highways and city streets have special reasons to sing praises to God. I thank Him for the near misses that I know about as well as those I didn’t even see.

It amazes me how much joy I experience when in prayer and praise. My life is so much fuller as I grow in my relationship with Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd), David’s Shepherd, my Shepherd.

May God Forever Be A Blessing in Your Life!!!

Did you go to church this Sunday?

Psalm 122 (English Standard Version)
Let Us Go to the House of the LORD
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1I was glad when they said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the LORD!"
2Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem

Did you receive a message?

Romans 10:17 (English Standard Version)
17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Did the message stir your heart?

Psalm 143:8 (New King James Version)
8 Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

Do you remember anything about the message?

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Did you find a way to share the message with someone?

Matthew 28:19-20 (New King James Version)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

We take seriously this “Great Commission”. We clearly understand the need to prepare so that we can conduct ourselves in ways that bring glory to the most high God. We know that there is much more to being a Christian than going to church, so we come together to grow in the knowledge of God.

Yes, church is fellowship for us and we enjoy being in the company of Christians. Yes, our hearts are stirred when we hear a sermon that seems tailor made for our situation (funny how often the pastor picks a message that answers a need she didn’t know existed). But we understand that the Great Commission demands that we each are missionaries who provide opportunities for others to hear of the risen Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (New King James Version)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

He has equipped us. It is our responsibility to build upon our gifts and find our work in the kingdom. Church services, bible study and personal worship all provide tool to prepare ourselves for the work of ministry.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Prayer for Guidance

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” —Psalm 32:8

Sometimes, Lord, it’s so hard to see. We squint and struggle to make sense of what you’re showing us. Help us know when you are guiding us, Lord, and when we are clutching at the wrong answers. Help us know, as this peace process unfolds, how to best follow your voice, how to love each other with your perfect love, and how to continue to turn to you and, when it’s your will, to wait until the time you choose to answer our prayers. Thank you for teaching us how to live in your care and respond to your voice. ~ Practical faith ~ http://www.revisionsplus.com/guidance.html

This beautiful verse brings hope and comfort today as much as I imagine it brought comfort to the psalmist, David. The verse assures us that our God will take care of us, will teach us and will provide counsel.

This is the protection offered to children of the Most High God. David gave us more than just the peace of God’s protection; he gave us insight into our responsibility in this relationship with God.

David entreats us to not be silent in our transgressions, to actively acknowledge our sins to God and seek His forgiveness. Then, when we come to God with a sincere and contrite heart, He will instruct us and teach us in the way we should go.

Psalm 32 (New King James Version)A Psalm of David. A Contemplation.
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Our pastor reminds us that “transgressions” mean that we have erred by commission or omission and that forgiveness does not mean that we will escape the consequences of our actions. Many times we act as if God should follow behind us with a broom and dustpan as proof of His forgiveness.

It is painful to grow through our faults. It is painful to clean up some of the messes we have made. But it would be more painful if we did not walk in the assurance of God’s forgiveness and love.

I thank God for “gentle reprimands”, those times when He not only warns me of the pit ahead, but puts a bridge over it. I also thank God for the assurance of His love during those times when He helps me to climb out of the pit when I refuse to use the bridge.

It is reassuring to have the Psalms of hope and encouragement. I believe we have opportunities for growth through the Psalms of instruction.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Silent moments

Father,
I don’t like times of silence. There is no gift greater than experiencing Your presence, and when You feel far away it makes me sad. Please do what You need to with me and empower me to love you well when you feel far away, even as I love You when You feel close. But please don’t let these seasons last a moment longer than is necessary for Your purposes to be accomplished in me. Paula Moldenhauer, http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/women/11574399/

This is another of those times when God sent me exactly what I was searching for. I was feeling a little down and frustrated because things seemed to be going quite badly. I typed in “When God is silent” and was surprised to find multiple articles on the subject.

Of course there are those who presume to know that if God seems silent in your life you must not be listening. Even on this seriously brown day I could not wish them a serious lesson in humility, so I went on seeking someone who was here with understanding.

The first reassuring thing was the fact that there were 3,880,000 results for the topic “When God is Silent” so a lot of folks must have had some experience with the issue. Then I remembered David and the many times he entreated God to turn an ear to his pleas!

As I search the Psalms I am reassured that God is with me even (especially) when things seem to be in turmoil.

Psalm 27:7-14 (New King James Version)
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the LORD will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

I have not lost heart because I know I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Customs and Christianity

Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (March 8, 2011) – day of feasting before fast of Lent
Ash Wednesday (March 9, 2011) = beginning of Lenten season
Lent (March 9 - April 23, 2011)
Palm Sunday -(April 17)
Holy Week (April 17 - April 23 [24], 2011) in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter. It includes the religious holidays of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) and Good Friday, and lasts from Palm Sunday (or in the Eastern, Lazarus Saturday) until, but not including, Easter Sunday,
Maundy Thursday (April 21 2011)
Good Friday (April 22, 2011)
Easter (April 24, 2011)
Pentecost (June 12, 2011)


Customs and Christianity
Many of our customs that we follow today have aspects or timing associated with the pagan worships that were prevalent when Christianity was introduced to a region. Some people, when they discover this for the first time, feel that this diminishes the importance of whatever celebration it is.

But why is that so?

“As a congregation moves through the church calendar, they are presented in an organized way with the opportunity to talk about, reflect upon, and respond to the entire range of faith confessions that lie at the heart of the Christian Faith.” Dennis Bratcher from “The Seasons of the Church Year” http://www.crivoice.org/chyear.html

Through our celebrations and study we are presented with opportunities to learn more and more about the spiritual basis of our faith. We can use the Christian calendar as a springboard for teaching our children about the real meanings of the holidays that they will be hearing about in the world or we can waste our time worrying about things that matter least.

Hosea 4:6 (New King James Version)
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
      Because you have rejected knowledge,
      I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
      Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
      I also will forget your children.

Where will our children find knowledge?
What a wonderful opportunity to use the whole season of Lent to study for ourselves the earthly ministry of our Lord at a time when He was preparing his apostles for His death and resurrection.
How wonderful for our children to know that Easter really is the Resurrection Sunday and that we are celebrating what truly makes us Christians.

“Following the church year is more than simply marking time on a calendar or a note in the church bulletin.  Every effort should be made to use the various aspects of the church year as an opportunity to tell the story of God's redemptive work in the world. “ Dennis Bratcher

This is truly a time to:

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."
--2 Tim. 2:15.

As we prepare to enter our holiest of seasons, we can devote ourselves to studying God's Word; and, as so often admonished by David, pray for understanding.

Do you understand the significance of the 40 days of Lent?
Can you teach your children, loved ones, friends the relationship of the Jewish Passover and our Holy Communion?

We are approaching an awesome time in the lives of Christians. Every year at this time we have many opportunities to reflect on the final days of God's life as the Son of Man. We have so many opportunities to study His role in fulfilling the prophesies of Old Testament times. We have so many opportunities.


We can begin now to prepare ourselves to study and teach our loved ones the significance of all of the celebrations leading up to the great celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

I pray for wisdom. I pray that all our studies will be guided by the Holy Spirit.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

I WANT TO BE READY

Matthew 25:1-10a  (New King James Version)
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came,

We tend to plan and prepare for those things that are important to us. We spend months in preparation for an earthly wedding and every thing must be just so, but many of us are very casual about our preparation for eternity.

It seems human nature to live as if we are going to be here forever yet there is not one of us who has not experienced the loss of a loved one or friend. We know that our time here is finite, yet we make no preparation for the greatest event of our lives.

God gave us so many parables and examples to encourage us to prepare for His return.

Luke 21 (New King James Version)
25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

I thank God for all of his gentle reprimands. I thank Him for all of the times He has given me another chance to hear His call. I thank Him for the Word which guides me to the right path.

I WANT TO BE READY
Refrain
I want to be ready,
I want to be ready,
I want to be ready,
To walk in Jerusalem just like John.
If you get there before I do,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.
Tell all my friend I’m a-comin’, too,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.
Refrain

Revelation 21 (New International Version, ©2010)
A New Heaven and a New Earth
 1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

When my God does come

I want to be ready.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

On Being a Christian

Yesterday I had a rare privilege. I witnessed two awesome sermons in one day. I would like to share with you some thoughts from the evening message which was presented by our Associate Pastor.

His message came from Romans 12: 9-21 and his subject was “Being a Christian, not Just a Follower of Christ”.
I begin with the first verse as part of my “reasonable service”.

Romans 12 (New King James Version)
Living Sacrifices to God
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Any of us who watch television ministries are probably familiar with the phrase “renewing your mind” and most of us struggle to not only renew our minds but to stay focused in the Way.

Romans 12
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

We understand that we cannot earn brownie points with God and cannot buy our way into heaven, but we are called on to show our faith through works. We each have an obligation to prayerfully find that which is given us to do and to do it with diligence and cheerfulness.

Matthew 22:35-40 (New King James Version)
35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Only two commandments, but how difficult it is sometimes to feel that we are measuring up.
The focus last evening was on the straightforward prescription to meet these two great commandments.

Romans 12
Behave Like a Christian
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 Therefore

“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We were challenged last night to measure ourselves against this yardstick of Christian behavior and to strive to correct any shortcomings.

Then we left church and God placed in our path a homeless man and an opportunity to see if our Christianity was shed as soon as we left the safety of the sanctuary!

I watched as my wonderful companions soon had this man comfortable enough in our company that he was sharing some of the realities of his current situation. It was interesting to discover that he had some familiarity with scripture and some identification with the plight of Job, that he was an educated man who identified various addictions as his downfall. How wonderful that we didn’t throw away this opportunity to minister to a child of God.

I woke this morning with a renewed commitment to measure up as a Christian. I admit that I don’t have it all together, but commit to reaching for the prize.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Psalm 119 – 7 (verses 137-176)

קQOPH
145 I cry out with my whole heart;
Hear me, O LORD!
I will keep Your statutes.
146 I cry out to You;
Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
147 I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word.
148 My eyes are awake through the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
O LORD, revive me according to Your justice.
150 They draw near who follow after wickedness;
They are far from Your law.
151 You are near, O LORD,
And all Your commandments are truth.
152 Concerning Your testimonies,
I have known of old that You have founded them forever.

רRESH
153 Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD;
Revive me according to Your judgments.
157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
158 I see the treacherous, and am disgusted,
Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

שSHIN
161 Princes persecute me without a cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your word.
162 I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
163 I hate and abhor lying,
But I love Your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
166 LORD, I hope for Your salvation,
And I do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.

ת TAU
169 Let my cry come before You, O LORD;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
170 Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
171 My lips shall utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
172 My tongue shall speak of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
173 Let Your hand become my help,
For I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD,
And Your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise You;
And let Your judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

Today is the last in this series of prayers as inspired by Psalm 119. This is a tender day. This is a day to remind us of the importance of keeping the Words of God in our hearts and on our lips.
164 Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
David said. “seven times a day I praise You” and that feels like a minimum for those of us so blessed by God. It’s hard not find something for which to offer praise and thanks!

This has been an awesome week and I say “Thank You. Lord!!! I hope there has been at least one “Oh!” or “Ah-ha” moment for you. I have to admit, as often is the case, that “this one was for me”.
I lift my voice in praise and thanksgiving to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Psalm 119 – 6 (verses 113-136)
This week the members of the Tabernacle are praying Psalm 119 at the request of our Pastor. Each day I will attempt to find some morsel of encouragement, wisdom or knowledge related to our study and prayer.

סSAMEK
113 I hate the double-minded,
But I love Your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers,
For I will keep the commandments of my God!
116 Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold me up, and I shall be safe,
And I shall observe Your statutes continually.
118 You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceit is falsehood.
119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.

×¢AYIN
121 I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Be surety for Your servant for good;
Do not let the proud oppress me.
123 My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation
And Your righteous word.
124 Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,
And teach me Your statutes.
125 I am Your servant;
Give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.
126 It is time for You to act, O LORD,
For they have regarded Your law as void.
127 Therefore I love Your commandments
More than gold, yes, than fine gold!
128 Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things
I consider to be right;
I hate every false way.

פPE
129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.

צTSADDE
137 Righteous are You, O LORD,
And upright are Your judgments.
138 Your testimonies, which You have commanded,
Are righteous and very faithful.
139 My zeal has consumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
140 Your word is very pure;
Therefore Your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have overtaken me,
Yet Your commandments are my delights.
144 The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting;
Give me understanding, and I shall live.

Research shows David to have lived somewhere around 1040–970 BC, about a thousand years before the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. His inspiring words:

“ 133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.”

hold as much meaning today as they did all those years ago.
Our song writers today frequently draw their inspiration from the Psalms. These songs lift us up and inspire us in worship in much the same ways I believe the Psalms of old inspired our spiritual forefathers. I imagine that the following song, written by pianist-composer-conductor Glenn Edward Burleigh, so beautifully expresses the plea that David repeatedly made for God to take control of his understanding.

Order My Steps
1. Order my steps in your word dear Lord
Lead me, guide me, everyday
Send your anointing, Father, I pray
Order my steps in your word.
Please order my steps in your word.

2. Humbly I ask Thee, teach me your will
While you are working, help me be still
Though Satan is busy, God is real
Order my steps in your word.
Please order my steps in your word.

3. Bridle my tongue, let my words edify
Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight
Take charge of my thoughts, both day and night
Order my steps in your word.
Please order my steps in your word.

(Refrain) I want to walk worthy, my calling to fulfill
Please order my steps, Lord, and I'll do your blessed will
The world is ever changing, but you are still the same
If you order my steps, I'll praise your name.

Order my steps, in your word
Order my tongue, in your word
Guide my feet, in your word
Wash my heart, in your word
Show me how to walk, in your word
Show me how to talk, in your word.
When I need a brand new song to sing,
Show me how to let your praises ring, in your word
In Your word
Please order my steps in your word.
Please order my steps in your word.

I thank our pastor for guiding us in further study of this wonderful Song of Praise. I thank God for obedience which has provided me with so many glorious experiences as I study this work.

One of the joys I discovered was the biography of the wonderful man who wrote the song we love so much “Order My Steps”. http://www.glenmusik.com/meetglenn.html
Thank you, Pastor Johnson. My life is richer under your leadership.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Psalm 119 – 5 (verses 89-112)
This week the members of the Tabernacle are praying Psalm 119 at the request of our Pastor. Each day I will attempt to find some morsel of encouragement, wisdom or knowledge related to our study and prayer.

לLAMED
89 Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
91 They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
92 Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
94 I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

מMEM
97 Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts.
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
102 I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

× NUN
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
106 I have sworn and confirmed
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am afflicted very much;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.
108 Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
And teach me Your judgments.
109 My life is continually in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts.
111 Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever,
For they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, to the very end.

In the secular world we are taught “it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission” This way of thinking often makes life easier, but how different this concept is from David’s prayer. David continually asks God’s help in keeping His judgments. He is not seeking an easy out.

1 Samuel 15:22 (King James Version)
22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Scripture confirms that God’s delight in obedience overshadows his concern with sacrifices.

Isaiah 1:11 (King James Version)
11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

He gives us a prescription for following his wishes. He encourages us and provides guidance. He offers us, through His Word, answers to David’s prayers for instruction.

Isaiah 1:16-20 (King James Version)
16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

As we continue in the prayers of David in Psalm 119, it is my prayer that we grow in understanding and obedience to the will and way of our Lord.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Psalm 119-4 (verses 73-88)
New King James
י Yodh
73 Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on your precepts.
79 May those who fear you turn to me,
those who understand your statutes.
80 May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees,
that I may not be put to shame.

כ Kaph
81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation,
but I have put my hope in your word.
82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise;
I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget your decrees.
84 How long must your servant wait?
When will you punish my persecutors?
85 The arrogant dig pits to trap me,
contrary to your law.
86 All your commands are trustworthy;
help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.
87 They almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your unfailing love preserve my life,
that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter (a footnote of the ESV Bible)

This is our 4th day of praying Psalm 119 as requested by our Pastor. As I study to better understand the glory of this song of praise I continue to find new wonders. There is great care and time involved in creating a song of praise in which each of twenty-two stanzas begins with successive letters of the alphabet and even more time and care involved in keeping every verse within each stanza beginning with the same letter. All of this is kept in meaningful, uplifting praise and supplications to Almighty God!

My deep love of the Psalms just grows and grows as my understanding of the beauty of these songs of praise grows.

“1 [Psalm 119] This psalm, the longest by far in the psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others' fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law's consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them.
Several expected elements do not appear in the psalm: Mount Sinai with its story of God's revelation and gift to Israel of instruction and commandments, the temple and other institutions related to revelation and laws (frequent in other psalms).
The psalm is fascinated with God's word directing and guiding human life.
The poem is an acrostic; its twenty-two stanzas (of eight verses each) are in the order of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight verses within a stanza begins with the same letter. Each verse contains one word for "instruction." The translation here given attempts to translate each Hebrew word for "instruction" with the same English word.
There are, however, nine words for "instruction," not eight, so the principle of a different word for "instruction" in each verse cannot be maintained with perfect consistency. The nine words for "instruction" in the translation are: law, edict, command, precept, word, utterance, way, decree, and teaching.” (a footnote from the New American Bible)

M heart overflows as I imagine the wonder of the writer as he originally prayed this wonderful praise to God.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Psalms 119-3 Prayer for Wisdom

Psalms 119:49-72
×–ZAYIN
49 Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.
51 The proud have me in great derision,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.
52 I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD,
And have comforted myself.
53 Indignation has taken hold of me
Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I remember Your name in the night, O LORD,
And I keep Your law.
56 This has become mine,
Because I kept Your precepts.

×—HETH
57 You are my portion, O LORD;
I have said that I would keep Your words.
58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;
Be merciful to me according to Your word.
59 I thought about my ways,
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I made haste, and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have bound me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion of all who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy;
Teach me Your statutes.

טTETH
65 You have dealt well with Your servant,
O LORD, according to Your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
For I believe Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
68 You are good, and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me,
But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease,
But I delight in Your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
72 The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

The humility in this portion of the prayer of Psalm 119 is awesome. The admission of failures and the fact that our failures sometimes serve as open doors to growth in our Lord.
As I continue to pray Psalm 119 I find comfort in the evidence of God’s capacity for forgiveness and mercy. I remember that David was far from a perfect man, but that what set him apart was his true understanding of his dependence on God and his unfailing love of God.

Proverbs 4:1-7 (New King James Version)
Security in Wisdom
1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
2 For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
3 When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 He also taught me, and said to me:
“ Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.

My prayer, oh Lord, continues to be one of thanksgiving. Thank you for Your Word. Thank You for Your mercy which is renewed daily. I ask, as did David, for good judgment and knowledge and know that these gifts are most precious. I especially need Your wisdom in matters related to my family. Please, Lord, give me the right words to say and the wisdom of silence when needed. I ask prayer from all who are right with God.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Psalms 119-2
Psalms - Tehillim
Perek Yomi Tehillim
The Bible’s Prayerbook

The Hebrew title for the book of Psalms is Tehillim, meaning “songs of praise,” and individual psalms are referred to as Mizmorim: Mizmor Aleph (Psalm 1), Mizmor Bet (Psalm 2), and so on.

Traditionally, the Tehillim are divided into five books, corresponding to the five books of Torah. Just as Moses gave five books of Torah to Israel, so David gave five books of Psalms. “Moses gave the path, but David gave directions.” In the Hebrew Bible, the Psalms are counted among wisdom literature of the Ketuvim ("Writings").
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Ketuvim/Psalms/psalms.html

This week the members of the Tabernacle are praying Psalm 119 at the request of our Pastor. Each day I will attempt to find some morsel of encouragement, wisdom or knowledge related to our study and prayer.
Psalm 119-2

ד DALETH
25 My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
28 My soul melts from heaviness;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying,
And grant me Your law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me.
31 I cling to Your testimonies;
O LORD, do not put me to shame!
32 I will run the course of Your commandments,
For You shall enlarge my heart.

×” HE
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.[a]
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.

וWAW
41 Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD—
Your salvation according to Your word.
42 So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
44 So shall I keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings,
And will not be ashamed.
47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments,
Which I love.
48 My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,
Which I love,
And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Father, God, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. We thank You for a growing understanding of the application of Your Word to our lives. We ask Your continued blessing on our lives and work. Amen.
Thank you for joining us in this week of prayer for understanding and wisdom and…
May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!