"....Your Weary Inheritance"

"You gave abundant showers, O God; You refreshed your weary inheritance." (Psalm 68:9)

Just a little Saturday morning encouragement.  This Psalm describes Israel in the Exodus.  Even though they rebelled against the Lord God, verse 6 says, "God sets the lonely in families," or, "....sets the desolate in a homeland."  Our text is what our Lord Jesus Christ does for us, is to us.  Jesus is our, "abundant showers...."  Jesus is our Refreshment."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for being my, "abundant showers."  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Joined Close-Together In Tight Identification"

"For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." (1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10)

"Wrath," is not God's intended end for you and me.  It is "....not to obtain wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," deliverance, Heaven, the most intimate of fellowship.  "Wrath," only comes when we reject, "My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased." 

Rejoice, "weary pilgrim."  Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit has one purpose for you, and only one, that you be His.  "....Our Lord Jesus Christ...died for us...."  No one or nothing can describe the fulness of the beauty, the joy, the comfort, the glorious reality of all that you and I have come into, all because, "....Our Lord Jesus Christ...died for us....Moreover, brethren, I declare to you...that Word which I preached...: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen...."  Glorious, Eternal Gloriousness.
 
The phrase, "together with Him," means, "joined close-together in tight identification."  That is one "tight fit" which is perfect.  "....joined close-together in tight identification," is the will, the purpose, the intended relationship "The Eternal One" purposed, purposes for you and me in our Lord Jesus, "from days of Eternity."  The theologian in me always likes to emphasize the "in-ness" of the Blessed Trinity's purpose for all humanity, that everyone whoever lived and lives was/is intended to dwell, "in Christ."  The withs, the togethers, etc., are included "perks," but Jesus, "Christ in you," and me is, "the hope of glory," the hope of you and me, the hope of humanity.

"....Whether we wake or sleep," no matter.  Jesus Christ's "Word" to you and me today is that we are, "joined close-together in tight identification," in Him.  I pray you sleep in this tonight and awake to this in the morning.

Father, in Jesus' Name, what You have for me, what You have given to me, imparted to me in Jesus-- "Glory to His Name, Glory to His Name, there at the Cross was the Blood applied, Glory to His Name!"  Amen.
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In order to get a 40% discount on airfare, we have to book our flight to Berlin now.  Thanks to all who have made our missions possible.  We are also including a three day visit to Wittenberg, aka, Lutherstadt, for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.  You are welcome to join us.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Plans of the Righteous Are....The Advice of the Wicked Is...."

"The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful....The kindest acts of the wicked are cruel....The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers....Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk....The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice....Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil....The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy." (From Proverbs 12, NIV)

I have been observing the playing out of Proverbs 12 as I have been "following" the current hearings of President-Elect Trump's cabinet appointees, which includes mostly praying.  I have been watching and hearing our texts played out before the world.  Now praying here is not the same as being in the hearings, but I try to keep up with/in the call. 

As I have shared before, Oswald Chambers once said that "prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work."  In the same context, Chambers said, "Only a child gets prayer answered; a wise man does not."  This is fundamental Biblical Theology.  May we all walk in this truth.  My take on Chambers' "wise man" and "child" statement has to do with what I have been hearing in the American political scene, "wise" people attempting to impress others with their wise-ness.  Furthermore, their reasonings are just that---- reasoning.  The dictionary describes "reasoning" as "the action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way to form a conclusion or judgment."  This is code for, "I'll use my mind and my resources to make appraisals and come to conclusions as to the most sensible approach to life," viz., apart from Our Father, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and Our Holy Spirit.  This is nothing but a, "wicked," life style.  The Bible says of such, "But they will not get very far because...their folly will be clear to everyone."  I stand on that.

Last evening on the conference call prayer time, I prayed from Isaiah 64.  I really sensed a great anointing on that prayer, and I remind you of what our Lord Jesus spoke to my heart many years ago.  Now this is not an excuse to not "pursue" a matter in prayer, to continue to pray for things, "pray without ceasing."  It is, however, a reminder that our prayers are never forgotten.  I think it is akin to, "You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?"  They are remembered; therefore, I believe that last evening's prayer, prayers prayed years ago, generations ago are still "heard," still in the "atmosphere," in Jesus', "bottle," in Jesus', "book," and still being answered. 

We can write letters, demonstrate, "get involved," but you and I and all will never participate in anything as powerful as prayer, especially prayer from, in, and based upon the very, "Words of God," and offered in "only-a-child" heart.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You rule over the "righteous" and the "wicked."  You reign.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....Flourishing In The House of God"

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever." (Psalm 52:8, NIV)

These words are life; these words are power.  This declaration tells us who we are in Jesus Christ.  At times we do not seem, "flourishing in the house of God", but do not argue with, "The Word of God."  There is a great truth that what seems to me is not what is.

What I like about the NIV is it's introductory statements for some of the Psalms.  "Psalm 52-- For the director of music.  A maskil of David.  When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: 'David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.'"  This reveals that the Psalms were written in "the real world," not by some Sunday School literature company, not for sermonizing.  David was unaware of the aforementioned.  What he was not unaware of, however, was the fight for his life.  His enemy had just been given intelligence as to David's whereabouts.  Saul was not just trash-talking him, or gossiping about him.  He was out to kill David, and David was running for his life.  Yet, in the midst of it all, David could still declare, "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever."----- and ever and ever.

Frankly, if the Bible were just what so many make of it, I would be as Paul said, "of all men most miserable."  47 years ago I did not need a sermon, a Bible study topic, or to argue the inspiration of Scripture, or whether Peter actually did pen 2 Peter.  I needed/need life.  I needed impartation, viz., the very, "words of God," written, "in [my] heart[] and in [my] mind[]."  I needed/need, "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword...."  I did not need a "pep talk;"  I needed that which our Lord Jesus Christ, "The Word of God," describes of His Words, "For they are life to those who find them, and medicine to all their flesh."

I don't mean to rail on people who take medications for depression.  Our GP at the time told Sarah after Stephen died that if she needed anything, let him know.  He meant well and we were and are still thankful for him, but she did not take him up on the offer.  We both needed what I discovered then and still realize over all these years, Jesus Himself, dwelling and ruling in us as the very, "Words of God," Himself.  In the heat of life's struggles, conflicts, battles, however anyone wishes to describe what the Bible calls, "warfare," when "Doeg the Edomite" betrays you and Saul is out to kill you, never forget that you and I are, "....like an olive tree flourishing in the House of God...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "I trust in [Your] unfailing love for ever and ever", and Your Unfailing Words.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Wide In Heart" vs. "A Chattering Fool"

"The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin."  (Proverbs 10:8, NIV)

What an interesting way to look at wisdom.  Wisdom does not come from my mind, but rather from my heart.  Our text is the cure for us fools.

I watched this morning a lot of Senator Jeff Sessions' confirmation hearing, while praying in the spirit.  I watched advocates of illegality attempt to malign a man committed to legality.  This is the age old battle: Humanism vs. The Living Triune God, man's continued attempts to usurp Divine Law with make-it-up-as-you-go "law."  As Baxter once said, "Nothing new has been said for 5000 years.  I watched one, "chattering fool," after another work in their minds, delight in their minds, and act so proudly from their minds.  Others were attempting to look at a man's, "heart."

Remember how you attempted to get your parents, teachers, etc.,  to see life your way, how absolutely sure that your way was the right way, the fair way, the way which should prevail, only to discover later in life that had the Universe jumped at your every whim, your every objection, your every attempt to convince humanity that if they only saw things your way, the world would be a better place, etc., that actually it would not!!??  Beware of the tendency to think that only the outgoing, energetic child is "head strong."  We all are!  What I pray for today is, "wise in heart," strong.

Maybe it it time to get out of our heads and into our hearts.  To see that Divine Wisdom, personified and demonstrated in Jesus Christ is an, "out of the heart proceeds," wisdom.
Jesus says that the evil of the world comes out of the heart of man.  Well, what I "heard" today is that we need to be people committed to discovering and walking in, "The wise in heart accept commands," the commands of Jesus revealed only in Jesus' Words.  The general, "lean...to your own understanding,"or any other approach to life which is apart from, separate from, "The Word of God," will make me nothing but, "a chattering fool."  Yet if I am of, "The wise in heart accept commands," those of Jesus Christ, then I will be a walking opposition to, "a chattering fool," and maybe help deliver him/her from foolishness.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I cannot see that I ever have confidence in anyone, mostly myself, if they or I do not, "accept commands," YOUR COMMANDS.  "Deliver us from the evil one," who himself was a, "chattering fool," in that Garden encounter.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Let All Who Are Simple Come To My House"

"Wisdom...calls from the highest point of the city, 'Let all who are simple come to my house!'  To those who have no sense she says, 'Come eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.  Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.'" (Proverbs 9, NIV)

"Wisdom," has been "calling" you and me all of our lives.  But have we listened?  I know I have not, too many times.  The result has always been, "Why didn't I?"  I've often said/written that if one reads the Bible without "what-I-want-from-life" glasses we just may actually hear the "voice" of God.  I so desperately want that, not because I'm so noble or spiritual, but because it is what life has taught me, that if I have my way, I will miss Jesus' way.  And only the stupid prefers his way over the way of Jesus Christ.

The word translated, "simple," can mean, "silly, foolish, seducible," which can mean, "win over, attract, entice."  This is the description of everyone on the Planet who is not totally surrendered in obedience to Jesus Christ and His Words.  Never, ever for a moment think that you are beyond this; you are not; I am not.  We were not created to live life on our own, following our own desires and dreams.  Humanity is created for Jesus Christ, none other.  Furthermore, no one will see or receive any good from you and me if we do not surrender to Jesus Christ, "Who of God is made to us wisdom."

Jesus invites you and me every day, "Let all who are foolish, seducible, come to my house!...Come, eat my food ('My flesh is food indeed') and drink the wine ('My Blood is drink indeed') I have mixed.  Leave your simple ways and you will live...in the way of insight."  The hymn writer prayed as should we all, "Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night (My way), Jesus I come, Jesus I come to Thee.  Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light (Your Way), Jesus I come to Thee."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "I need Thee, O, I need Thee, every hour I need Thee."  Amen.
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We are happy to report that it seems as though Norma's "episode" was not as bad as it could have been.  She went to the Senior Life facility in the van today; was able to walk out and get in it.  We thank any who have been and are praying.  I watched with her the whole Steeler playoff game yesterday.  She even asked some questions.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2