Praise HIm...Praise Him...Praise Him...Praise Him"

"Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet...."  (Psalm 150:3a)

Too bad the trumpet is rarely included in Worship today.  But I digress.

At least 42 times in today's Psalms reading the Word, "Praise," is used.  I think there is a clear message from the Holy Spirit to all who would, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," viz., "Praise Him!"  Indeed, the last three words of the Book of Psalms is the command to, "Praise the Lord." 

Now some people make a difference between praise and worship; I don't.  I just don't see this in the Bible.  Our fellowship in Jesus Christ is all, "praise," and it is all, "worship." I think there is something here akin to the talk in the '70s and '80s of "outer court" and "inner court" songs.  Again, I never could see that.  The main reason for me is the, "once for all," declaration to humanity of the, "Godhead," and the invitation to all who have surrendered their lives to Jesus which is found in Hebrews 10.  "And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins FOREVER, sat down at the right hand of God....For by ONE offering He has perfected FOREVER those who are being sanctified."  Jesus destroyed "coming and going" religion, "in His cross"------- "FOREVER."

The Follower of Jesus is not in the "outer court;" hence, I don't do "outer court" songs, or something like praise first, then worship.  We live in continual "Presence" in, "the Holy of Holies by the Blood of Jesus...."  We may not "feel like it" today, but that is where you and I are right now, not tomorrow, not just Sunday meetings.  We don't need "warm up" praise to prepare us for worship.  Right now, I am in, "the Holy of Holies by the Blood of Jesus."  I am worshipping and praising and thanking and loving and appreciating, and, well, any other "thing" by which we can express fellowship in the Living Triune God.  And the glorious reality today is--------------- this is everlasting/eternal relationship-fellowship in Our Father, Our Savior, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit. 
"Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus Our Blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him!  Hail Him! highest archangels in glory....
Heav'nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever.

(Any feedback welcomed)

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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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Let The Morning Bring Me Word Of Your...Love"

"Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you."  (Psalm 143:8)  "Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You.  Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you" (NLT).  "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love...." (NIV)

Nearing the end of the quarter, and the only passages left are my Psalms reading.  If you want a great prayer with which to start your day, I highly recommend the Psalm of our text, especially verses 6-12.  If this prayer does not "jump start" your day, well, maybe nothing will.

Today is the day of the month which is also Psalm 145 day, the only Psalm referred to as, "David's Psalm of Praise," or, "By David for Praise," or, "Praise.  By David."  Darby's Translation of, v. 13, says, "Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages, and Thy dominion is throughout all generations."  As Luther's hymn says of King Jesus, "from age to age the same, and He must win the battle."  That He has done, or for our time-space minds, is doing, my friend, no matter what is going on in our lives at this moment, "He must win the battle," because there is no other "outcome" possible with Him Who Alone is God, "the Eternal One," Who, "has been our dwelling place (refuge, hiding place) throughout all generations...."  Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit is the One True God, the One of Whom the Bible decrees, "Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God."

Now I realize that most of the time I do not have some clever, contemporary illustration of our texts.  I guess for me, my life is the "illustration."  It is Jesus' Words which are, "my refuge, hiding place," over these last 47 years.  On that dark day in June, 1970 (even though the Sun was shining), I looked at that little casket, the grave marker, and was helpless.  Some weeks later our Lord Jesus spoke to my heart and led me to His Words, Words which had had only, in reality, a casual place in my life.  Then I began to realize that Jesus' Words are my life.  I don't go through the Bible every three months because I think I am more spiritual than others, or to tout it as something which makes me special.  I do it because my life depends on Him/Them.  Sorry if I don't need stories to "make the Word come alive."  His Words are already alive; hence, "....the morning bring[s] me word of Your unfailing love...."  Jesus' Words are the only way to "greet" the morning. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Great [are You] and greatly to be praised; and [Your] greatness is unsearchable."  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

"....I Am Still With You" (Jesus)

"When I awake, I am still with You." (Psalm 139:18b)

No matter the night, no matter the hurting, no matter the sin, the shortcomings, failures, "When I awake, I am still with You." 

Too many times when we "mess up," sin, partake of human frailty, we then think we can hide from Jesus.  We are embarrassed at what we see in ourselves, and think we should then attempt to run and hide.  The psalmists has it right, of course, when he earlier said, "....Where can I flee from Your presence?"

You know my "presence theology."  There is no place, no condition, no time when the one born of the Spirit, having received Jesus, opened the door when Jesus stood, "....at the door and knock[ed", who is ever away, out of Jesus' Presence, your favorite worship team, church gathering notwithstanding.  Yes, there is a sense that our sin "separates" us from Jesus, but it is not a separation of abandonment.  Fellowship is marred, and sin brings a sense of aloneness and lostness.  But still, "When I awake, I am with You."

Of course I could spend a lot of time in examining what our disobedience does in our relationship in the Godhead.  But there is "something" in today's text which encourages you and me.  Though at times we may even feel abandoned, non spiritual, out of touch, etc., there comes to us, if we will but hear, "When [you] awake, I am still with [you"].

Father, in Jesus' Name, all I can say is thank You for this.  Amen.

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Read about another Snopes deception at:   jhs58.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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Empty Tomb"

"They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."  (John 20:2b)

Of course they didn't.  Simply stated, they just had not been paying attention.

It just did not register with any of them the continual promise of our Lord Jesus, "....they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify.  And the third day He will rise again....The Son of Man must suffer...and after three days rise again...They will scourge Him and kill Him.  And the third day He will rise again....I am the resurrection and the life."  These passages are from each of the four Gospels.  It should be enough that Jesus says something to us once, but alas, so much of the time we are just not listening.

The heading of the NIV says, "The Empty Tomb."  Enough said.  Man "goes" to find one thing; The Blessed Trinity always has a "surprise."  Our expectations are basically based in unbelief, which is code for disobedience.  Man only "expects" what his mind can comprehend, what we think we can figure out, and/or what is scientifically put forth by the know-it-alls, which really know nothing at all.  Mankind continually asks the question of Nicodemus, "How can these things be?"  The Great Universal Truth is that The Living Triune God, manifest, revealed as to Who He Is in Jesus Christ, is Lord/King/Master of the Universe and history.  If I don't believe it, accept it, Jesus still keeps working His purposes; the Mighty River of God just keeps flowing throughout history. 

As Followers of Jesus came to the tomb that early Sunday, there was a reminder that the Satanic Forces have conspired for millennia to attempt the thwarting of the purpose of God, to destroy the People of God.  We're still here.  Israel is still here.  Jerusalem is still here, "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His People from this time forth and forever."  At the Cross, Satan and his forces thought, "This is the end, the end."  The great "conflict of the ages" and the victory of, "Our Lord and of His Christ," however, is described in Revelation 12.  "And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as He was born.  She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.  And her Child was caught up to God and His throne."  And never forget: This awaits us. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, my repentance today is of too much just not listening.  Amen.
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October 31, 2017:  Five Hundredth Anniversary of the posting of the "95 Thesis" in Wittenberg.  Some of you are making it possible for us to be there.  Thank you.

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

"Revelation 22-- Eden Restored" (NIV)

"He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.'  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen." (The End of the Bible)

Scourby's audio Bible closes Revelation 22 with, "The end of Revelation, the end of the New Testament, the end of the Holy Bible."

Yesterday ended the reading of this section for the quarter.  "The angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb...."  I keep wondering about my "river of life" analogy of this present age, the "Divine Directive," the Living Triune God as the banks on the river, and we traveling through this time-space world in the currents, back-washes and eddies of life.  I thought today that this life's "river" experience could be a fore type, a fore shadow of, "....the river of the water of life," only the fulfillment of my "river" is this, "river," which flows, "from the throne of God and of the Lamb..," and, it has no back-washes, no eddies.

We are told in this chapter that we, "....will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will illumine them...."  Further, we are told, "These words are faithful and true...."  And, I might add, these Words are the only, "....faithful and true..," Words.  1 Corinthians 1 tells us that, "the faith of Jesus," aka, the Gospel, aka, Christianity is, "foolishness to those who are perishing," to those who yield to Greek thought, human reasoning, conclusions to which mankind comes as he thinks, and thinks--------- and thinks.  Unregenerate humanity says, "None of this makes any sense."  Of course it doesn't.  The "sense" of which they speak is brain-sense.  There just is not very much, if any, of the Universe, The King of the Universe, Jesus Christ, His Kingdom, His Church, the Redemption of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus which mankind can comprehend intellectually.  "The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God,"  Okay world, "foolishness," or, "power," it's our choice.  Or, can we say, It might not make any "sense," but it sure does make, "power"?

"And behold, I am coming quickly.  Blessed is he who keeps the words of...this book."  And a very "un-blessed" to those who do not.  Don't blame our Lord Jesus Christ for this.  It is an un-blessing, a curse which we bring upon ourselves when the thought process of the Greeks, the water cooler philosophers, the Darwinists dominates us.  Human "sense" is what "doesn't make any sense."  We all need a recurring "sense check."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You are the Only "Sense."  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