Being in His Service

Romans 5:8-11Contemporary English Version (CEV)
8But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.
9But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life's blood, we will also be kept safe from God's anger. 10Even when we were God's enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son's life. 11And in addition to everything else, we are happy because God sent our Lord Jesus Christ to make peace with us.

Back in August I flew out to Nevada to see a friend whom the physicians said had only days to live. I wanted to see my friend and make sure she knew I loved her. I also hoped that we could talk about her eternal life and make sure she had accepted Christ as her savior.

I prayed early morning to night for my friend. I attended her church and we prayed for my friend. I gave my favorite travel bible to her husband and saw him reading the Word every morning. I praised God when I saw her reading a bible I had given her more than 30 years ago. I attended her son's church and praised God as I witnessed him give his first sermon.

Through it all I felt such a sense of failure and inadequacy because I didn't feel I had just the right words to make sure she had accepted Christ as her savior.
I thought about the people at church who testified about “leading someone to Christ” and I prayed for the right words. But I never felt I had it just right.

Last night (5 months later) here in January, my friend called and said she had a set-back and needed more tests.
First, I praised God that my friend, who was declared to have only days to live five months ago, had called me. Then I prayed that she had indeed given her life to Christ. I then sent out a prayer request on our Prayer Line.

I sat here at the computer and was led to the following prayer:

"Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless.
I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend.
I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ."
Amen. http://www.intothelight.org/answers/sinners-prayer.asp

which I forwarded to her son (now a minister).
Then I prayed again for my ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11New International Version (NIV)
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Just as He determines.
I realize that I may never have the joy of personally knowing that someone was led to Christ through something I said or did but that doesn't mean that God has not used me to do just that.

It is perhaps time that I stop whining, even silently, about what I can't do for our Lord and be about doing what He has given me to do to the best of my ability.

I ask prayer for my service to God.

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

The Wonder of God

Ephesians 5:18-20 New King James Version (NKJV)18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Every morning is an opportunity to praise God anew. Sometimes it is a scripture that inspires, this morning it was a song.

How Great Thou Art
Lyrics ~ Carl Boberg, 1859 - 1940
English Translation ~ Stuart K. Hine, 1899 - 1989
Verse 1:
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When a song touches my heart so profoundly I try to find out as much as I can about it's origins and history. This search often leads to a story of wondourous conversions and ministry experiences.

This was true for this song.
The original poem was written by a Swedish preacher by the name of Carl Boberg in 1885. One historian notes that at age 26 he was returning from a church service and was inspired by the awesome wonder of a sudden storm. He wrote the words of a poem entitled, “O Store Gud”, which translated into English is “O Great God”. Boberg’s poem was published in 1886. This poem was put to music without his knowledge and inspired the song we now know as How Great Thou Art.

Verse 2:
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
(Repeat Refrain.)

This song has inspired people as diverse as Russian mountain villagers and Naga Tribespeople from Assam and American suburbanites. It is one of those songs that lends itself to humming when alone just enjoying the goodness that is God.

Verse 3:

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:
(Repeat Refrain.)

The song, as we know it was published in 1959 by Manna Music from whom much of this information comes.
2 Peter 3:8-9New King James Version (NKJV)8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance

Verse 4:
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
(Repeat Refrain.)

One of the wonderful gifts of God is the ability to write words that have the ability to touch the heart of so many different people over such a long span of time.

I thank God for the privilege of speaking in psalms hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in myheart to the Lord. I thank God for making available to us so many songs of praise!

It is my prayer that when you hear the beauty of this and other songs of praise you will be able to see the glory that is God.

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

The Joy of Praise

Asking me to study the Psalms is like asking a kid to check the dessert tray, so the assignment to study Psalms 111- 113, given by our Pastor, is just pure joy.

Her subject this week is “Reason for Praise” and these three Psalms form the text.

Psalm 111, a Psalm of Praise for what God has already done.
1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

This Psalm gives praise for deliverance and honors God for things to which the Nation of Israel can testify. This is a nation saying thanks to a protective Father who is a God of Provision.
This is a wonderful model for Praise of Thanksgiving!!! This is a model for the testimony of the many blessings rained down on us as Children of the Most High God.

(Psalm 112)1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Psalm 112 gives praise for the gift of wisdom. God has provided us with guidelines for living and this Psalm says “Thank You for showing me the way”. Just as Psalm 111 glorifies God for His honor and righteousness, Psalm 112 reminds His Chosen that we have obligations to be upright and full of compassion and righteousness.

Hosea 4:6 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

When we are privileged to be placed in a fellowship which encourages and supports study of God's Word and application to our daily lives, we truly have reason for praise.

Psalm 113)1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 113 gives us the formula for Praise! “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.” This Psalm speaks of some of the rewards of keeping God at the forefront of our lives. It speaks of the power of the Most High, a God worthy to be praised!
There are many things we say over and over, either in formal services or general conversation, that we have forgotten, if we ever knew, the meaning of or origin. At the end of our Communion Service we note:

"And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." (Mark 14:26)

How much more meaningful is this statement when we note that Jesus, following the practices of his Hebrew heritage, was singing one of these Psalms, 113-118, and that I can offer these same Songs of Praise to God. What a privilege. What an honor.
Father, God, I thank You, again, for placing me in a Church where the study of Your Word is the primary focus. I thank You for being a part of a fellowship of study, worship and service. I pray all of the Prayer of Jabez for this upcoming year, looking forward to being of greater service in the Kingdom of God.
I give special thanks for our Pastor who provides such a wonderful example for us all. I ask Your richest blessings in her life. Amen.

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

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!!!