Psalm 106:35-37
Instead, they (Israel) mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall. They even sacrificed their sons and daughters to the demons.
Proverbs 14:34
Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
We see here the example God gives us of His people, the twelve tribes of Israel, who were given God's wise rules to live by, but didn't. They looked instead at the world around them, at what the people did, and lived how they did, instead of considering that God was the Maker and Owner of the world, and had given them His Manufacturer's Instructions. They wandered away from God and made foolish choices, which always causes problems for us. They even went so far as to kill their newborn children to try to appease these other gods.
So God took them out of the good land He had given them and scattered them over the face of the whole Earth.
When we tell God we want to do it our own way, He lets us have our way, and suffer the consequences. But we can always turn back to God and His ways.
When America was founded, the government was based on the godly principles found in Scripture. And we enjoyed much prosperity and peace, in following God's directions. As time has progressed, however, we have gotten away from our good roots, we decided that the world also had "good ideas" and started to follow them, instead. So now in America, good is being called evil, love is called hatred, darkness is considered light, and we are killing our children even before they can be born. But God still has His people here, who have risen up and noticed what has been going on, and we have rejected the evil for the good.
Now those who have rejected the godly ways are throwing temper tantrums because they didn't get their way in the election, like two-year-olds.
I trust that God will continue to stand with His Own here, keeping us strong, and leading us back into His righteousness and the good that results from it, in spite of the backlash from those who have been deceived by the enemy.
Pray with me, as I continue to lift up America to the Lord's care every day, to lead and guide us in His faithfulness, to show the world His wisdom and love.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, November 25, 2016
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Thanksgiving
Psalm 107
(V. 22) And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.
This whole Psalm, all 43 verses of it, recount the downward spiral of how God's people were blessed by the Lord, then turned from Him and suffered the consequences, then turned back to Him and His ways, and were again blessed. Over and over again.
Our thanksgiving is a sacrifice when we are thanking God for His goodness even though we are experiencing troubles or sorrows. God is still good, and He still wants to bless us with every blessing in every area of our lives. Our attitude of thanksgiving will put us in the place where we will be able to receive His goodness.
What we focus on becomes magnified in our view, and other things fade into the background. So if we're focusing on our troubles, they will loom large, and the good things will fade. Likewise, when we decide to focus on God's goodness that He never stopped showering on us, then that will fill our consciousness, letting our problems fade away, doing the things in life that will tend to solve the problems, and bring more goodness into our daily living.
We will never be without troubles and sorrows in this world, but let's focus instead on how God's blessings bestow upon us the Sun to rise every morning, the rain to water our food crops, and the beautiful Moon every night. And God's people will never be without clothes to wear or food to eat, that is promised.
This Psalm ends with the conclusion:
(V. 43) Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Amen, and Amen!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(V. 22) And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.
This whole Psalm, all 43 verses of it, recount the downward spiral of how God's people were blessed by the Lord, then turned from Him and suffered the consequences, then turned back to Him and His ways, and were again blessed. Over and over again.
Our thanksgiving is a sacrifice when we are thanking God for His goodness even though we are experiencing troubles or sorrows. God is still good, and He still wants to bless us with every blessing in every area of our lives. Our attitude of thanksgiving will put us in the place where we will be able to receive His goodness.
What we focus on becomes magnified in our view, and other things fade into the background. So if we're focusing on our troubles, they will loom large, and the good things will fade. Likewise, when we decide to focus on God's goodness that He never stopped showering on us, then that will fill our consciousness, letting our problems fade away, doing the things in life that will tend to solve the problems, and bring more goodness into our daily living.
We will never be without troubles and sorrows in this world, but let's focus instead on how God's blessings bestow upon us the Sun to rise every morning, the rain to water our food crops, and the beautiful Moon every night. And God's people will never be without clothes to wear or food to eat, that is promised.
This Psalm ends with the conclusion:
(V. 43) Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Amen, and Amen!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Stone To Remember Help
I Samuel 7: 12
Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (stone of help), for he said, "Up to this point the Lord has helped us."
God has helped us at so many times and in so many ways that we may not even be aware of. Samuel knew that it was the Lord who enabled him to accomplish everything he had been able to do, so he set up this stone to remember to give God the credit.
May we always recognize that without Him we can do nothing, and that everything we accomplish is through His strength and wisdom. Then we will give Him the glory that is due Him, for He planned it all out before any of it existed, and He is carrying out His plans in and through all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (stone of help), for he said, "Up to this point the Lord has helped us."
God has helped us at so many times and in so many ways that we may not even be aware of. Samuel knew that it was the Lord who enabled him to accomplish everything he had been able to do, so he set up this stone to remember to give God the credit.
May we always recognize that without Him we can do nothing, and that everything we accomplish is through His strength and wisdom. Then we will give Him the glory that is due Him, for He planned it all out before any of it existed, and He is carrying out His plans in and through all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Watch Over Or Turn Against?
I Peter 3: 12
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil. (See also Psalm 34: 15-16.)
My son once told me that the Bible contradicts itself because God does not treat everybody the same way. He had read some skeptic who quoted "contradictory" views on what kind of character God has, loving or vengeful. But even we don't treat everybody the same; we love our friends who love us, but do not trust those who show themselves to be our enemies. God knows who His enemies are, who are the victims of our enemy's lies and deceptions, so they rebel against Him.
All of us are born as unclean beings, and need to be redeemed. But those who refuse to admit their culpability will not accept His outstretched hand that offers redemption, and so they choose to go to the place God created for the Devil and his demons, even after repeated pleadings to turn around their behavior and return to the Lord.
Ezekiel 33:11 tells us, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked would turn from his way and live: Turn, turn from your evil ways; for why do you want to die, O house of Israel?
And
II Peter 3:9 says that God is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Repentance is a turning around, realizing that we're going the wrong way and turning away from the evil toward the right and good. That's what God wants us all to do. But not everyone is willing to humble themselves before the righteous God, so God must put their punishment on them, instead of on Christ, because of their stubbornness and pride. So He "turns His face against" them.
But He "watches over" those who have turned to Him, "and His ears are open to their prayers." We need to be sure to never give up praying for those of our loved ones who have not yet known redemption, bringing them before the Throne of Grace, constantly pleading God's mercy on them.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil. (See also Psalm 34: 15-16.)
My son once told me that the Bible contradicts itself because God does not treat everybody the same way. He had read some skeptic who quoted "contradictory" views on what kind of character God has, loving or vengeful. But even we don't treat everybody the same; we love our friends who love us, but do not trust those who show themselves to be our enemies. God knows who His enemies are, who are the victims of our enemy's lies and deceptions, so they rebel against Him.
All of us are born as unclean beings, and need to be redeemed. But those who refuse to admit their culpability will not accept His outstretched hand that offers redemption, and so they choose to go to the place God created for the Devil and his demons, even after repeated pleadings to turn around their behavior and return to the Lord.
Ezekiel 33:11 tells us, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked would turn from his way and live: Turn, turn from your evil ways; for why do you want to die, O house of Israel?
And
II Peter 3:9 says that God is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Repentance is a turning around, realizing that we're going the wrong way and turning away from the evil toward the right and good. That's what God wants us all to do. But not everyone is willing to humble themselves before the righteous God, so God must put their punishment on them, instead of on Christ, because of their stubbornness and pride. So He "turns His face against" them.
But He "watches over" those who have turned to Him, "and His ears are open to their prayers." We need to be sure to never give up praying for those of our loved ones who have not yet known redemption, bringing them before the Throne of Grace, constantly pleading God's mercy on them.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, November 21, 2016
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12
Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the Law and the Prophets.
This is the "Golden Rule." It is revered in every land, every culture, every time period. It is also a description of everything that had been written in the Hebrew Scriptures, and also in the New Testament.
Jesus said that to love God and to love our neighbor would result in obeying all the laws that had been given. To be thoughtful and kind and generous with others is how God designed us to behave. And to realize and understand how God loves us so deeply and passionately elicits a loving response from us.
John tells us that, "God is love" (I John 4:8), so those who know God, who have experienced His indescribable love, will also love others. If someone does not know how to love, it shows that they do not know God.
This does not mean that if I like strawberries, then I'll give you strawberries; but you may be allergic to strawberries. We must look deeper to understand this: If I want others to understand me, then I must learn to understand them, too; if I want others to grant me the benefit of the doubt, then I must also grant them the benefit of the doubt.
May God grant us to know His love, so we can love others with genuine love, not the "fake" love of the world. May He help us to see others with His eyes, understand with His discernment, and love them with His love. May He fill our minds with His thoughts, and fill our hearts with His love for others.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the Law and the Prophets.
This is the "Golden Rule." It is revered in every land, every culture, every time period. It is also a description of everything that had been written in the Hebrew Scriptures, and also in the New Testament.
Jesus said that to love God and to love our neighbor would result in obeying all the laws that had been given. To be thoughtful and kind and generous with others is how God designed us to behave. And to realize and understand how God loves us so deeply and passionately elicits a loving response from us.
John tells us that, "God is love" (I John 4:8), so those who know God, who have experienced His indescribable love, will also love others. If someone does not know how to love, it shows that they do not know God.
This does not mean that if I like strawberries, then I'll give you strawberries; but you may be allergic to strawberries. We must look deeper to understand this: If I want others to understand me, then I must learn to understand them, too; if I want others to grant me the benefit of the doubt, then I must also grant them the benefit of the doubt.
May God grant us to know His love, so we can love others with genuine love, not the "fake" love of the world. May He help us to see others with His eyes, understand with His discernment, and love them with His love. May He fill our minds with His thoughts, and fill our hearts with His love for others.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, November 20, 2016
A Secure Refuge And Life-Giving Fountain
Proverbs 14: 26-27
Those who fear the Lord are secure;
Everyone who recognizes God's power and authority over us all will have placed their lives on the firm foundation of His unchanging Person and Word.
He will be a refuge for their children.
They will have reared their children to know the Lord, and to trust in Him.
Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain;
Submitting to God's authority and living according to His principles will bring abundance and prosperity in life, in the physical and the emotional areas of life.
It offers escape from the snares of death.
Snares are small traps, for capturing small animals. Snares of death would be all the little things in life that tend to trip us up in our everyday living that, accumulating, would lead to poor health, troublesome relationships, and separation (death).
The better we know God and His ways and follow them, the more we will be able to enjoy this world He made and the people He has put into our lives. We will have the benefits, and He will receive the credit, the glory, because that's how He designed it all to function.
I pray for the children of all those who have tried to live their lives in a godly manner, and taught their children so, as I know that all these children also have their own minds and wills, and some will reject what they have been taught and trust their own minds and the world's philosophies over the Lord's ways.
We cannot reason or argue them into God's Kingdom, all we can do is love them with God's agape love and keep them constantly in prayer. As they grow up and leave our parental hands, they are in His hand now.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Those who fear the Lord are secure;
Everyone who recognizes God's power and authority over us all will have placed their lives on the firm foundation of His unchanging Person and Word.
He will be a refuge for their children.
They will have reared their children to know the Lord, and to trust in Him.
Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain;
Submitting to God's authority and living according to His principles will bring abundance and prosperity in life, in the physical and the emotional areas of life.
It offers escape from the snares of death.
Snares are small traps, for capturing small animals. Snares of death would be all the little things in life that tend to trip us up in our everyday living that, accumulating, would lead to poor health, troublesome relationships, and separation (death).
The better we know God and His ways and follow them, the more we will be able to enjoy this world He made and the people He has put into our lives. We will have the benefits, and He will receive the credit, the glory, because that's how He designed it all to function.
I pray for the children of all those who have tried to live their lives in a godly manner, and taught their children so, as I know that all these children also have their own minds and wills, and some will reject what they have been taught and trust their own minds and the world's philosophies over the Lord's ways.
We cannot reason or argue them into God's Kingdom, all we can do is love them with God's agape love and keep them constantly in prayer. As they grow up and leave our parental hands, they are in His hand now.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Pleasing Thoughts
Psalm 104:34
May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
O my Father, I pray that You would put a guard on my very thoughts and attitudes, that I may be pleasing to You. Fill my heart with the goodness of Your Spirit, and let all my thought processes be pleasing to You; then my words will also be positive to build up and encourage those around me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
O my Father, I pray that You would put a guard on my very thoughts and attitudes, that I may be pleasing to You. Fill my heart with the goodness of Your Spirit, and let all my thought processes be pleasing to You; then my words will also be positive to build up and encourage those around me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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