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!!!

Praying Psalm 119 -1

We, at the Tabernacle of Higher Learning Christian Center, have been asked by our Pastor to pray Psalm 119 this week. As I pray this week I will share some of the little treasures I find in study.

An acrostic (Greek: ákros "top"; stíchos "verse") is a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message.

There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, therefore, 22 sections of Psalm 119.
Aleph is the reconstructed name of the first letter of the Proto-Canaanite alphabet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleph (etc.)
Psalm 119 (New King James Version)

� ALEPH
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
3 They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.
4 You have commanded us
To keep Your precepts diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes;
Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

ב BETH
9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD!
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

×’ GIMEL
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
23 Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.

The focus of this prayer seems to be a cry for help in learning and keeping the commandments of God. I acknowledge that I would never be able to keep His commandments without His help. I pray the help of the Holy Spirit in all that I do. I pray God richest blessings in my life.

As a form of constrained writing, an acrostic can be used as a mnemonic device to aid memory retrieval. A famous acrostic was made in Greek for the acclamation JESUS CHRIST, GOD'S SON, SAVIOUR (Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός, Θεού Υιός, Σωτήρ; Iesous CHristos, THeou Yios, Soter — ch and th being each one letter in Greek).
The initials spell ICHTHYS (ΙΧΘΥΣ), Greek for fish – hence the frequent use of the fish as a symbol for Jesus Christ from the early days of Christianity to the present time.


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

I’m blessed with work!!!

We have great national missionaries in our church, people who spend time every day in local service to the LORD. We have people who visit the sick, visit prisons and feed the hungry. We have people with the gift of hospitality who bring a welcoming spirit to all who enter our circle. Some of them seem to have boundless energy and enthusiasm for the work that they do. As a matter of fact they never seem to feel it is work.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (New King James Version)
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

The thing I have noticed is the JOY they convey when they are about God’s work. When you look at their faces it would seem they were on the receiving end of the gifts of time and sustenance they dispense.

These are not the missionaries who travel to foreign places. They are not necessarily in imminent danger when going about their work, but we acknowledge that their work is indeed worthy in the Kingdom and we acknowledge that they are, indeed, cheerful givers.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (New King James Version)
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.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

I seem to have always been blessed with the ability to enjoy the natural beauties that God has provided. I often wondered why I wasn’t given the gift of painting or drawing so that I could convey that beauty to others.

When I came to the LORD I had this same yearning to share some of the wonder of the Holy Spirit. I needed desperately to feel that I was not selfishly taking, that I could offer something to the work of building the Kingdom.

It took patience and diligent prayer to find my place in the body. It takes diligence and patience to continue in this work. Ah, but the joy!!!

I am so blessed when some new truth is revealed in the Word. I am so blessed when another connection is made to life in the here and now. I feel so fortunate to be one of those who feels that my work is my joy. I thank God for the privilege of being a cheerful giver.

Philippians 1:3-6 (King James Version)
3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Are you fortunate enough to know your calling in the Kingdom? Are you going about the work of preparing to be the best you can at that work? Do you feel absolutely blessed when going about His work?

Diligent prayer will lead you to your place in the body and to people who will support you with prayer and encouragement. I wish you the joy of being a cheerful giver.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life.

When “No” is the Answer

Matthew 7:7-8 (New King James Version)
Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking   
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

We pray and then we worry when we feel that our prayers are not answered. We begin to feel that God has abandoned us or that we have fallen out of favor.

"Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him." (John 9:31)

It is true that we need to examine ourselves to see if there is anything in our lives that is outside the will of God and to “renew our minds” on a regular basis.

Romans 12:2 (New King James Version)
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.

When we have examined ourselves and feel that we have done all that we know in order to be in the will of God and prayers still are not answered we begin to feel unworthy and to allow doubts about our relationship with God and our place in the Body of Christ.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord"

(James 1:5-7)

We perhaps have been led to believe that God always answers “yes” to faithful prayers and hints may be made by well-meaning friends that our faith just isn't strong enough so we dedicate ourselves to “waiting patiently on the Lord”.
1 Chronicles 4:10 (New American Standard Bible)
The last thing we want to consider is the possibility that God has indeed answered our prayers and the answer was “No”.

Now comes the issue of real trust. Are we able to trust that God really knows what is best for us? Are we truly willing to fulfill god's purpose in our lives? Are we truly willing to not only wait on the Lord but accept His response?

We must acknowledge that, even when our purpose is good and our hearts are pure, God, like any good father, will sometimes say “No”.

Matthew 26:38-39 (New American Standard Bible)
 38Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me."
 39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

Jesus, as always, provides our perfect example.

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

Praise for the Gift of the Holy Spirit

Praise for the Gift of the Holy Spirit
O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.

John 14:16-17 (New International Version, ©2010)
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—
17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

I love to read about the Holy Spirit. I have been blessed to find many wonderful articles and sermons about the Holy Spirit from many sources written over a great span of time.

One beautiful source is from a church with a wonderful, inspiring logo:
"If you believe what the Bible teaches, attend a church that teaches the Bible!"
I am fortunate to attend a church which does just that!

Near the beginning of a wonderfully inspiring article about the Holy Spirit Minister Brown states: “In Apostolic times He taught by both revelation and illumination. Since the completion of the New Testament His work is confined to illumination.”
One thing that strikes me today is that almost all of the writers and preachers that I have read to this point teach that the Holy Spirit was much more to the saints in New Testament times than now. My question is why!!?

Why do so many feel that God got put in a box of limitations as soon as the bible was put in written form? Have these ministers, scholars and teachers never experienced the joy, the absolute joy, still available in the Holy Spirit?

I am not a bible scholar. Even in my advancing years I remain an infant in the study of God’s word, but I have found nothing that tells me that my God is less available to me right now, this day, than He ever was to anyone else in history.

My Jesus said that the Comforter would be with us forever!!! And I believe Him.

Romans 8:26-27 (New King James Version)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which canrnot be uttered.
27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He rmakes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

I draw strength from the Holy Spirit who knows my very needs. I draw strength from the fact that I know that I have an intercessor with the Father all day, every day who never wearies and has infinite mercy.

Romans 8:14-16 (New International Version, ©2010)
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

I do cry Abba, Father. I do pray “Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit”, a gift that is not diminished to me, a child of God.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (New King James Version)
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

It is my goal, with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, to be able to do just this.

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

His mercy is renewed every morning

His mercy is renewed every morning
Here I come again, Lord, asking for your help.
I come just like a child asking you to bail me out one more time.

As clearly as if a light switch was flipped my God showed me that I felt I had the right to come to Him in supplication even after the millionth time I had messed up.
The message was “how is that different from your grandchild feeling that she has the right to come to you and she hasn’t even reached a thousand yet.”

I smiled in recognition and thanks for yet another “gentle reprimand” from the Holy Spirit, my Comforter and my guide.

Lamentations 3:21-26 (King James Version)
21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

We Christians love to remind ourselves that God’s mercy is renewed every morning. We love this scripture because deep down inside we recognize the fact that messing up is what we do.
But, as usual, we tend to only read and remember that portion of the scripture that meets our immediate needs.
Lamentations, whose author is unknown, but which was probably written by Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, speaks of a time when God’s chosen people felt abandoned and lost. This is a time of recognition of sins and trespasses. This is a time of crying out to God for forgiveness and acknowledging His goodness.

Matthew 6:12 (King James Version)
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

We often want to skip the part of acknowledging our grievances against God and man. We just want the mercy part.

I frequently have the opportunity to thank God for “gentle reprimands”. I am so grateful for those times, and they are many, when he gently shows me the error of my ways and gives me opportunities to make amends.

Thank you, Holy Spirit for continuing to lead and guide me. Thank You for mercy renewed every morning. Thank You for wonderful teachers and mentors who help to light the path to Your Word.

I pray blessings for all in my circle of influence. I pray special blessings for my Church and my Church family. Amen.

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

A Prayer for Discernment

Psalm 139:14 (New King James Version)
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

I woke this morning with such an acute awareness of the presence of God. I woke in awe at the functioning of my parts. I am amazed at the fact that a brand new scripture and a brand new song are waiting at the edge of my awareness, waiting for me to tap a few keys on the computer and open a whole world of information.

I feel an urgency this morning to ask all of us who were born before computers were just a part of life to spend a lot of time praying for our children and grandchildren. Pray that they can experience the wonderful awe at the mysteries of God. Pray that they not get so caught up in the amount and ease of information that they lose sight of the Great Informer.

Proverbs 4:7 (New King James Version)
7 Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.

I grew up in an age when no one had a personal computer at home, as a matter of fact there was no such creature as a personal computer.

My first computer class was with a computer which filled two rooms, received limited data and spit out punched cards on the other end. We marveled at the fact that we could feed these punched cards into a computer in another city and transfer knowledge. WOW!!!

This morning I sit at home with a “desk top” computer in my office and a “lap top” computer in my family room. (And please be mindful that I am far from being a rich person.)

I woke with the phrase “wonderfully made” in my heart and simply typed that phrase into the computer. I was presented with Results 1 - 10 of about 2,850,000 for “wonderfully made”.
In an instant, in the privacy of my home, I was offered 2,850,000 comments on the phrase “wonderfully made”!

That is knowledge.

This information was presented randomly with no judgment on what had value and what was trash. Finding scriptures that spoke of God’s purpose in this phrase and articles and sermons that enlightened my mind and lifted my spirit, well, that was God given wisdom. The gift of this wisdom is what we need to continuously seek for our children and grandchildren.

We need to pray every day that they not get lost in the sea of information available to them. We need to pray every day that all of our children be given a measure of the gift of discernment so that they will have weapons to guard their hearts and spirits in this fast paced world.

Acts 13:6-10 (King James Version)
6And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
10And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

This is wisdom

We need to continuously remind our children that they have a guide book, the bible, in which they can turn for answers, encouragement and truth.

I am amazed each morning when I wake and realize that God has placed a word, a phrase, a song or a scripture on my heart. (At least that is true every morning that I have not allowed myself to get caught up in something outside His will.)
I know to search my spirit, seek that which is contrary to Him and pray forgiveness when I wake in a state of void and hear nothing, for the Holy Spirit truly will not be a part of confusion.

Proverbs 4:23 (New International Version, ©2010)
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

It is our privilege to pray for the hearts and souls of the next generations.

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

Doing the Will of God

Agape one of several Greek words translated into English as love became particularly appropriated in Christian theology as the love of God or Christ for mankind. (pronounced /ˈæɡəpi span>ː and sometimes əˈɡɑːpeɪ after the Classical Greek agápē; Modern Greek: αγάπη [aˈɣapi]).

Many have thought that this word represents ">divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love.

Matthew 22:36-40 (New King James Version)
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.’
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

I struggle to do the will of God. I struggle to be a Christian worthy of the name.

It sounds so simple, this great Commandment. It should be easy, God isn’t asking a lot. He took us from 613 laws to two, and still I struggle.

The struggle is not in the outward things. I have no trouble doing the mission work that is a part of my work in the church. I have no trouble with any assignment that my pastor gives, pride doesn’t well up and make me feel that sweeping is less of a service than writing. In these outward things love is easy.

Matthew 5:43-48 (New King James Version) Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Asking blessings from God for anyone is easy. I pride myself on the knowledge that I “wouldn’t walk across the street to do evil even to an enemy.” I have a special prayer for people who deliberately do me wrong. And yet I know that I am far from the mark.

All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs.

It is with the heart that I still struggle. It is the knowledge that I practice avoidance much more often than love. It is the knowledge that “doing no evil” is not the same thing as offering love.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (New International Version, ©2011)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

As I grow in the Lord I find that I am less satisfied with just doing “O.K.” As I pray and study I find myself striving to be closer to what God commands of me.

Philippians 3:12-16 (Contemporary English Version)
12I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize.
13My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.
14I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.
15All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you.
16But we must keep going in the direction that we are now headed.

Refrain:
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me!
This second stanza of this old hymn speaks volumes to my soul. I struggle to be all that my God commands.

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