Psalm 119 Series (Having Such Fun)

"I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word."  (Psalm 119:16)

How could I?  "The Word of God," Jesus, spoke, "the words of God," to me long ago and saved my life.  I shall eternally be thankful.

What I see and receive in the Word of God is not so much intellectual insight, as much as Life impartation.  There are still passages which I cannot fully understand or explain------------ but I continue each quarter to read them.  Remember, it is getting, "the words of God," into my mind and into my heart which is the objective.  Too many people do not submit to this very gracious work of the Holy Spirit.  They try to understand, grasp some "deep" revelation.  They are like the four guys in the Book of Job, always desperately trying to understand and thinking they can give people answers.  Good luck with that!  Why can't religious people just accept the fact that there will always be in this life things which are, "past finding out"? 

My Major Prophets reading today had a very interesting statement.  "[Then said Jeremiah] O Lord, my Strength and my Stronghold, and my Refuge in the day of affliction, to You shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited (The NLT says, 'left us a foolish heritage') nothing but lies, emptiness, and futility, worthless things in which there is no profit!" (Jeremiah 16:19, Amplified Bible).   I never want anyone to say that of me.  For me, if Jesus Christ and His Words are not the first to follow, "I will delight," and, "I will not forget," my life is nothing but, "emptiness, and futility, and worthless things."  But since Jesus and His, "statutes," His, "Word," I cannot forget, and in, "Whom is all my delight," then my life is not empty, futile and worthless.  It is very full, purposeful, and of worth.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, what blessed impartation, what blessed, "delight"----You and, "everything which proceeds from [Your Mouth]."  Amen.   

*************************

* Plans are coming together for my participation in "David's Tent" in DC.  

* I don't post this address everyday.  If you want to pray for an unreached people group everyday, please put this address in your "contacts" list:

www.unreachedpeoples.blogspot.com

* Democrats Shot in the Foot: www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"I Have Rejoiced In,"----- What?

"I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches." (Psalm 119:14, NLT)

The first reaction could be, "Really?"  But I can say in all honesty a resounding, "Yes," not because I am some wonderfully "spiritual" person, but because of the event of the summer of 1970.  No amount of money could have done what Jesus did and continues to do for me.  

No amount of, "riches," could have done, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."  And how did and does Jesus do this for me?  "....In Your laws...," i.e., His indwelling Presence and in His Words.  Because of Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ, I can say with Jesus, "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.  Amen."  Money cannot do this.  Only Jesus can do this.  Jesus said, "Because I live, you shall live also."  It is not, "Because you have money, you shall live."  The only thing money can do for the human race is prolong the dying process.  Modern medical science can replace organs in the human body; it cannot replace death.

You are working today, whether it is in an office, plant, school, or you are receiving a retirement income from that work.  That job brought/brings you, "riches," (money).  What all the work in the world cannot do, however, what hitting a $300,000,000.00 lottery cannot do is, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  The promises of our Lord Jesus Christ in this passage cannot be bought with, "riches," of any kind.  "Peace I leave with you," a, troubled-free heart, and a heart not enslaved to fear comes not by work, "lest any man should boast," but only by and in Jesus Christ.  I guess the human race needs an evaluation of its "work ethic."

Father, in Jesus' Name, though my life may not always reflect it, You are My life.  Amen. ********************

* Be sure to visit us on Facebook.

* We are about halfway towards our finances for the "Davids Tent" DC                                     Mission,October 28-November 5

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"How?" Is The Question

"How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed ("keep, watch, preserve") according to Your word."  (Psalm 119:9)

Who is not greatly disturbed today with the news over the weekend of the murders at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin?  The world just keeps getting darker and darker; the Bible speaks of this and the rapid increase of evil toward the end of the age.  But I must speak to a news cast which spoke glowingly of Sikhism.  Sikhism claims to be a monotheistic religion, which Islam also claims.  Their intent is to show to the world the more noble characteristic of their respective religions over the polytheistic religion called Christianity, which, of course, it is not, "One Lord, One faith, one baptism."

Sikhism is similar to other world religions in that its basic premise is in order to get to "heaven," do good, e.g., do good to the poor, love everybody, accept all religions.  Don't do good and you will come back and have to go through the whole cycle of life and death again.  Simplification?  I really don't think so.  The bottom line of all religions is that my success in pleasing the gods is based solely on my good.  How very magnanimous of humanity, in its attempt to get to something they call "god," they care for the poor, "spread the wealth around," live and let live, believe anything or everything, etc.  This "magnanimous" philosophy/religion is how the world attempts to intimidate us-------- "You really don't care, and you are narrow minded."

But alas, we come to our text today.  He says that the only way for you and me to, "cleanse his way," is, "by taking heed according to Your (Jesus) word."  There is no other way, because, "I (Jesus) am the way, the truth, and the life," and because the Word to which we must, "tak[e] heed," is, "The Word of God," Jesus Christ Himself and His Words.  I will not fix this "broken record."  The attacks upon the Followers of Jesus Christ today are no different than they have been through the centuries, just different language.  You and I are in a day by day relationship in Jesus Christ.  I know to some this sounds like eternal insecurity, but it is not.  It is just a warning that each day brings challenges and threats which those before us have fought through.  "By taking heed according to Your word," is the only, "way, the truth, and the life," which brings, "cleanse his way...." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for grace to face the daily attacks on my walk in You.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2