"That I May Not Be Ashamed?

"Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes (Words), that I may not be ashamed."(Ps 119:80)

I am also reading in 1 Kings.  It is a sad time when I read about Solomon.  I wonder if he were, "ashamed," as to how his life ended, "For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God...."  He has been called the wisest man who ever lived.  He put forth so many proverbs, was, "the preacher," new great love in his life time.  But, alas, "when [he] was old"------------- 

It really does not matter how you and I run the race; it matters only how we finish.  This talk of, "Well, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game," I can tell you never worked for me.  I never felt good about losing, only winning.  As Patton once said, "I wouldn't give a hoot in___for a man who lost and laughed about it."

If I am to, "not be ashamed," now or at the end of my sojourn here, then there is only one surety:  "Let my heart be blameless regarding Your [Word]."  Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.  The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."  This is the only, repeat, only way to live and, "be blameless," living in Jesus and His Words.  If I so live, they will say of me, "For it was so, when Woody was old, no one, 'turned his heart after other gods.'" 

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me ever mindful that I am "turnable."  Only You are not.  Amen.
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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

"APF DEVOTIONAL"

APF DEVOTIONAL PSALM 119 STUDY

"The House of My Pilgrimage"

"Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage." (Psalm 119:54)

Some years ago, I heard a prominent worship leader/song writer, LaMar Boschman, say that most songs today do not have theology in them.  He also said that there are far too many songs which have no reference to our Lord Jesus Christ.  Well, our text would cure both issues.  In the old Covenanter tradition, their hymn book was basically Psalms set to melodies, which indeed is the nature of the Psalms.  In my personal opinion, the most powerful songs I have ever encountered are songs rich in Biblical Theology and centered in Jesus Christ.  Much of the rest to me are a variant of christian humanism.  Some day I would love to compose a song based on Psalm 145, my "favorite" Psalm.

Why is it that so many congregations today think that if you have sung a song for a few months or a year, you must then discard it?!?  It is sort of like the electronic age when people tell me that my 6 year old computer or my twelve year old JBL speakers (which are absolutely great, by the way) are way out of date.  This "spirit" has invaded the religious community.  There are some absolutely great songs which were written as recently as the last few decades, and have, for the most part, been discarded, e.g., the chorus base on Psalm 3, "Thou, Oh, Lord, Art a Shield About Me," or, "He Is Lord," or

"Exalt the Lord Our God, Exalt the Lord our God, 

Worship at His footstool, Worship at His Footstool

Holy is He, Holy is He."  

There was a great song written in the Catholic Charismatic Community over 30 years ago, "Behold, God is My Salvation."  I could refer to so many more, but these songs are right from, "Your statues"/Word.

If you and I will affirm by our life the declaration of our text, I believe it would change the whole nature of not only personal worship, but also worship in the Church gathered.  If I can say with the psalmist, "Your statutes have been (and are) my songs in the house of my pilgrimage," I will continue to have a very blessed, "pilgrimage."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, there are just no songs as Your songs.  Amen.

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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

Your Sword (Or 16 Inch Gun)

"Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope.  This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life."  (Psalm 119:49, 50)

While our study in Psalm 119 may seem repetitive to some and tedious to others, to me the Word of God is like a salvo of 16 inch guns on a massive battleship; those guns are not defensive weapons.  "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," is one of the few mentioned offensive weapons of the Believer in Ephesians 6, and we need to weld it as one of David's men, who after the battle, discovered the sword was frozen to his hand!  Could we say that his sword became a part of him?  This is how you win battles; this is how you win wars.  And even though some do not like "war talk," this is what we "signed up" for.  Biblical Theology reveals the cosmic struggle between King Jesus and His Satanic Majesty.  The moment anyone surrenders his/her life to Jesus Christ, he enters the "conflict."  Could our Lord be saying to us today what He said to Moses so long ago,"What is that in your hand?"  

We are called into the battle to not quit, never give up, and give the enemy no rest.  General George S. Patton said, "I don't want my men to dig foxholes, and I don't give the enemy time to dig them either."  U.S. Grant said, "The art of war is simple enough.  Find out where your enemy is.  Get at him as soon as you can.  Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving."  Too many people think the enemy is that person across the office, the neighbor, someone from the "other" political party, family members who aren't believers, etc.  It is not.  The enemy is The Enemy, relentless, powerful, been around since before the creation of man.  By, "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God," we are called to "find out where your enemy is.  Get at him as soon as you can.  Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving."    

The greatest salvo in the arsenal of the Follower of Jesus Christ and His Church is, "the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope....for Your word has given me life."  The Enemy of our souls is very aware of this most powerful of weapons, and remembers it was, "the words of God," in which, "The Word of God," Jesus, defeated him in the wilderness.  In, "The Word of God," you and I are also undefeatable.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for my, "hope," and, "my comfort."  Amen.

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Men, I am planning a trip to DC on a Saturday during the "David's Tent" time.  Why not give up that golf day and join us?!?  Will give the date later.

    

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