Thoughts Do Multiply, Don't They?

(Resending-- sorry for the first copy messed up)

"When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul." (Psalm 94:19, ESV)

It was October, 1987, 25 years ago, and I was approaching the East German/ Polish Border.  As my Grandfather before me, I most often have at least a copy of the New Testament/Psalms with me; I read our text.  Some translations add the word, "anxious," but from what I can gather, it means just the multitude of thoughts, those thoughts which can bring anxiety, fear, sadness, aloneness.  It was a dark, cloudy day; I was alone, far from home, no cell phone, missing my family, no one could know exactly where I was.  My thoughts were multitudinous.  In that very moment, however, Jesus "breathed" upon me His, "God-Breathed," Words, "[His] consolations delight[ed] my soul."  In the midst of feeling alone, in the midst of a culture of no color, drab, gray buildings, people with sad faces, Jesus put a, "new song in my heart."

What are, " the cares of [your] heart," today?  There are, "many...consolations," in Jesus Christ and His, "God-Breathed," Words.  Do not, my friend, be a stranger to these comforting/ "consolations."  In the weeks and months after the passing of our oldest child, yes, right to this day 42+ years later, "Your consolations cheer my soul."  Thoughts still come of that horrendous season from late December 1969 to June 1970, sad thoughts, desperate thoughts, regret thoughts, what-more-could-I-have-done thoughts.  But when they do, when they come, it is as one translation of our text says, "When my anxious thoughts are many, Your consolations delight my soul."  If I sound like a fanatic about the Bible, and what my fellow seminarians and professors used to say about me, that I am a "mystic," I plead guilty.  That summer of '70 could have been the end of me.  Instead, in a very real sense, it was the "beginning" of me, a beginning of absolute hunger, dependency and reliance upon, "The Word/s of God." 

In life's darkest hours, I have discovered that only, " Your consolations (can) delight my soul."  Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit come to me in so many ways, ways of which I am not aware, but mostly in the Grace of His Words.  To those who do not know the Living Triune God in Jesus Christ, this seems like a person out of touch with "reality."  Instead, it is a person who is in touch with Absolute Reality, Jesus.  I have never grown weary with the Lord continually repeating Himself in His Words.  His Words are so powerful, so healing, so comforting that I could repeat one verse throughout the day and in that repetition, that "revelation," that Breath of God find, "many consolations (which) delight my soul."

Father, in Jesus' Name, what, " Consolations," You are.  Amen.  
*************
* PM Netanyahu quotes much from the Bible:  www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com
* Men, please confirm your going with us to "David's Tent" in DC, November 3.
* Be sure to visit us on Facebook

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

Thoughts Do Multiply, Don't They?

"When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul." (Psalm 94:19, ESV)

It was October, 1987, 25 years ago, and I was approaching the East German/ Polish Border.  As my Grandfather before me, I most often have at least a copy of the New Testament/Psalms with me; I read our text.  Some translations add the word, "anxious," but from what I can gather, it means just the multitude of thoughts, those thoughts which can bring anxiety, fear, sadness, aloneness.  It was a dark, cloudy day; I was alone, far from home, no cell phone, missing my family, no one could know exactly where I was.  My thoughts were multitudinous.  In that very moment, however, Jesus "breathed" upon me His, "God-Breathed," Words, "[His] consolations delight[ed] my soul."  In the midst of feeling alone, in the midst of a culture of no color, drab, gray buildings, people with sad faces, Jesus put a, "new song in my heart."

What are, " the cares of [your] heart," today?  There are, "many...consolations," in Jesus Christ and His, "God-Breathed," Words.  Do not, my friend, be a stranger to these comforting/ "consolations."  In the weeks and months after the passing of our oldest child, yes, right to this day 42+ years later, "Your consolations cheer my soul."  Thoughts still come of that horrendous season from late December 1969 to June 1970, sad thoughts, desperate thoughts, regret thoughts, what-more-could-I-have-done thoughts.  But when they do, when they come, it is as one translation of our text says, "When my anxious thoughts are many, Your consolations delight my soul."  If I sound like a fanatic about the Bible, and what my fellow seminarians and professors used to say about me, that I am a "mystic," I plead guilty.  That summer of '70 could have been the end of me.  Instead, in a very real sense, it was the "beginning" of me, a beginning of absolute hunger, dependency and reliance upon, "The Word/s of God." 

In life's darkest hours, I have discovered that only, "Your consolations (can) delight my soul."  Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit come to me in so many ways, ways of which I am not aware, but mostly in the Grace of His Words.  To those who do not know the Living Triune God in Jesus Christ, this seems like a person out of touch with "reality."  Instead, it is a person who is in touch with Absolute Reality, Jesus.  I have never grown weary with the Lord continually repeating Himself in His Words.  His Words are so powerful, so healing, so comforting that I could repeat one verse throughout the day and in that repetition, that "revelation," that Breath of God find, "many consolations (which) delight my soul."

Father, in Jesus' Name, what, "Consolations," You are.  Amen.  
*************
* PM Netanyahu quotes much from the Bible:  www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com
* Men, please confirm your going with us to "David's Tent" in DC, November 3.
* Be sure to visit us on Facebook

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

"More Than Enough"

"....The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do." (Exodus 36:5)

Got home late last night.  The intercessors enjoyed the time in "the tent" very much.  We stopped for dinner afterwards; got home late.  One of the ladies bought dinner for all 11 of us.  She also bought everyone coffee during the middle of our time in DC------, "much more than enough."

Maybe we should pay particular attention to the portion of our text which is not quoted as much as the first part.  What the people brought, "more than enough for the service," was for, "the work which the Lord commanded...."  If emotion rules our giving, there is not the same "merit" as giving which responds to, "the Lord commanded."  If the former rules our giving, it will be of a sporadic, inconsistent nature.  When "bad times" come, the giving will stop.  I would highly encourage all to review to whom and what we are giving.  Is it, "the work which the Lord commanded us," or is it, "Well, I just sort of like the people involved."  What happens when offense comes, or challenge?  The giving will stop.  I cannot, however, stop giving to, "the service of the work which the Lord commanded...."

God gave Himself to us in Jesus Christ.  He, "was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself."  It was/is His All, and certainly, "more than enough," for whatever plagues the human race.  If this same God is in me, then my giving will reflect Him, "Who loved us and gave Himself for us."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I want to be as he who is described in our signature statement below,
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.'"  Amen.


"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Written, "Over His Heart"

"So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually."  (Exodus 28:29)

This is a foreshadow of Jesus and His High Priestly service, "within the veil."  Hebrews tells us, "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."  Jesus took our judgment in His Cross.  His Blood purged away our sins, and delivered us from Satan's power.  Yes, there is a very real sense in which He is in us now and we in Him now, but that does not eliminate the reality of the Heavenly Tabernacle, "which the Lord pitched and not man."  It is "there" Jesus took us into, "the Presence behind the veil."  Right now we are "faultless to stand before His Throne."  It is a great and wonderful "mystery."

You and I are written, "over His heart."  The Bible tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ took our judgment, "in His cross"; Jesus, "delivered us from the wrath to come."  This is Gospel; this is Truth; this is eternal joy.  So today, even if some self condemnation comes your way, remember Jesus bears your name, "over his heart."  You and I are safe and secure in Him.

Father, in Jesus' Name, what comfort and peace in You and Your Words.  I thank You for the repetition of Your Words.  Amen.
*****************
Please pray for us in DC today

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

Deliver Us From Cliche, Parochial Bible Reading

"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.  If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it."  (Exodus 23:4, 5)

Today's text is from my yesterday's Law/History reading in the Old Testament , Exodus 21-15.  I can find no greater description of kindness and love than in our text, "....you shall surely help him with it."  Who?---- "the one who hates you."  Contrary to the belief of most, there is just as much love and compassion revealed in the Old Testament, as there is judgment and punishment in the New Testament.  In Jesus Christ, His Most Precious Blood, Death and Resurrection is our forgiveness and entrance into the Kingdom of God/Heaven.  Throughout the Bible, the theme is, "that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life....He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten (sole, unique) Son of God."  This is a summation of Biblical Theology.  The Blessed Trinity offers Himself to mankind; condemnation if rejected.

If a person reads the Bible, yes, the complete Bible, they soon discover that God's People are instructed to do good not just to friends, but to their enemies.  The Historic Church has failed so much in this area, but that failure does not negate, "the Words of God."  Only in Jesus Christ and obedience to His Words, the Bible, can I live such Kingdom life.  I found this time through the laws of Exodus to be most enlightening, and a fresh revelation of just how I should be living.

Father, in Jesus' Name, there is nothing and no one like Your Word.  What I may not understand, I do not reject, but rather accept and entrust to you.  Amen.
*******************
* Men's Mission to "David's Tent," November 3.  Let me know if you are going.
*A Great Revelation of "leftist" political science at: www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com
*Visit Us On Facebook  
* Please pray for the 11 of us going to DC tomorrow

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

A "Nice" Devotional

"Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  (Matthew 15:11)

From most of my readings today it was difficult to find a nice devotional, so I thought I would do what our Lord Jesus spoke to my heart so many years ago, "You know, you say a lot of good things about Me, and I appreciate that.  But why don't you tell people what I said?"  Our text is from my Gospel reading for the day; it is what Jesus said.

The context reveals that the religious people were primarily concerned with what went into their mouths; God is concerned with what comes out of my mouth.  I can read 80 chapters from the Bible every day, but if what comes out of my mouth and my life is not what the, "Word of God," put in, it is something akin to, "sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol."  Many Evangelicals like to think they are more "spiritual" than others.  They are they who are, "not of works lest any man should boast."  But much of the boasting is in the erroneous attitude toward the Law of God, works, if you will.  The concern that people may think that salvation is, "by works," has taken evangelicalism to a no-works religion.  You just cannot find that in the Gospels.

The purpose of the New Birth is change.  This is what repentance means.  This is what conversion means.  So today I ask myself, "In my 69+ years what of the old nature has changed?  What comes out of my life which is not of Christ?"  After his conversion, Tolstoy wrote, "When I came to believe in Christ's teachings, I ceased desiring for what I had wished for before.  What was good and bad changed places."  What has "changed places" in your life since you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ?  A close reading of our Lord's teachings reveal that attitudes and behavior are of utmost importance to Him; therefore, they should be to me.  All things from Him are a "nice devotional;" all things are for my good--------- always.  "And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day (Dt. 6:4)" 

Fat her, in Jesus' Name, keep me from a religion of my own.  Amen.
*************
Visit Us On Facebook

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