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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Excuse The Personal Illustration

"The Lord nullifies the counsel ('consultation, scheme, strategy, counselors') of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the people."  (Psalm 33:10, NASB)

Don't you just hate that, "frustrat[ing] the plans of the people"?  Rebellious humanity has always pursued the path of his own, "consultation, scheme, strategy, counselors."  How's that going?!?   But then, and I might strongly emphasize, "....God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us," keeps doing, "nullifies the scheme/frustrates the plans...."

Illustration:  I have been accused of bragging when I use my football experiences, but I have never said that I was a good football player, just had the privilege of playing for a large high school on some very good teams.  Hence, I had football scholarship offers to most all of the Ivy League schools, and many Big Ten schools.  I was also recruited by West Point and Annapolis; I went for Army.  I have thought over the years that I should have dumped the infatuation with Army; what was I thinking?!?  Moreover, after I didn't make it to West Point, I hit a youthful sort of panic mode, especially when I learned that by mid June all of the schools' quotas were filled ("The Lord frustrates the plans....").  When my friend, who was going to SMU in Dallas, told the recruiter about it, the said recruiter got in contact with me and said they had an "opening."  Without Divine counsel, I took it.  I don't like hot weather, and couldn't wait to come back north.  All, or at least much, of this could have been averted had I surrendered to, "....brings the counsel ('scheme, strategy')...to nothing."  Many know exactly what I am talking about, and have their own stories. 

Of course, in Father's infinite mercy, He did, "work together for good."  What amazes me over the years is that our Lord Jesus Christ has a wonderful way of taking, in the words of the old hymn, "some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save."  Jesus has and continues to rescue this "poor fainting, struggling seaman."  While we have all been tossed about in the currents, eddies, and backwashes of the river of life, our Great "Pilot" somehow brings us to His Purposes, and will ultimately, sometimes with great effort "battling" our self-will, bring us to Port.  "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I can never say it enough, "Great is Thy Faithfulness."  Amen.
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Today's text is a central prayer I pray for our nation; so be it.

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

Monday, October 5, 2015

"Coming In On A [Word] And A Prayer"

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."  (Colossians 1:13, 14)

The word for, "conveyed," is translated several ways in different Bible translations.  It's primary meaning, however, seems to be, "cause to change its place, move out of its place; remove."  Greek, as with Hebrew, seems to be its own "sermon."  You and I were in, "the power of darkness," and through Jesus' Blood, Jesus, "cause[d us] to change...place."  We were, "moved out of (gloriously, "removed," from)...the power of darkness...into [Jesus'] Kingdom."  Tolstoy put it this way:  "What was good and bad changed places."  I could say: What was me and mine became Jesus and His.

According to the Godhead, you and I changed "kingdoms" when we surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ.  We were living in, serving, and participating in, "darkness."  We didn't know where we were going, and we had no guidance for those who were is the same condition, even though most, "darkness," people think they are "walking in the light."  If anyone's life philosophy, political opinions, family opinions, economic opinions, interpersonal relationships opinions are not centered and rooted in Jesus Christ/His Words, there is nothing but darkness, no matter how "logical" it sounds, or how eloquently stated.

I close with one of many Biblical prayers.  Paul prayed this for the Colossians.  The Holy Spirit made sure we had a copy.  Let me sum it up:
    v. 9    "....that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and
               spiritual understanding
;
    v.10    that you may walk worthy of the Lord...
               that you may walk...fully pleasing Him,
               that you may walk...fully...in every good work
               that you may walk...fully...increasing in the knowledge of God
               that you may walk...fully...strengthened with all might
               that you may walk...fully...according to His glorious power, for all patience and                           longsuffering
               that you may walk...fully...with joy 
               that you may walk...fully...giving thanks to the Father Who has qualified us
                      to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light
."  Amen.
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Any prayers for the upcoming DC Mission greatly appreciated.

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

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