Even Over And Over, His Words Keep Blessing

"For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many 'gods' and many 'lords'), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."  (1 Corinthians 8. 6, 7--NIV)

If anyone has had some difficulty in "jump-starting" worship today, this will do it.  This, my friend, is the declaration of the Godhead before time began.  Yet it is key here for you and me to grasp, confess, and live, "....yet for us...."

It is, "....for us...."  It is for me; I pray also for you.  I embrace this declaration of Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  While there are indeed, "....many 'gods' and many 'lords', yet for us there is but One God...," One Father, One Son Jesus, One Holy Spirit.  No people but the Followers of Jesus believe this, walk in this, have lives governed by this, "....yet for us...."

All around us today are the people of the, "....so-called gods,..many 'gods' and many 'lords,'--------- yet for us...."  We must battle against every attempt to deceive us, to pray as Jesus teaches us, "Deliver us from the Evil One."  It is a battle of compromise, nice-guy theology, the attitude of, "Can't we all just get alone?"  No, we cannot, that is if, "...yet for us...," reigns in our daily lives.

Right now, reaffirm with me, "....yet for us...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, no matter what is going on around me, no matter the attempts to bring into compromise, "....yet for us...," rules.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

The Journey Continues, Led By "Faithfull and True"

"Be my rock of refuge, a house of fortresses to save me....For you are my strength....But as for me, I trust in You....My times are in Your hand....You are my hiding place....Praise the Lord with the harp; sing to Him with an instrument of ten strings....For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.  The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.  The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations." (From Psalms 31-33)

This should "do it" for us today, "exceeding great and precious promises," one after another.  This, my friend, is our Lord Jesus Christ, "blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside."

I'm listening now to, "He Leadeth Me," on Pandora's, "A Hundred Hymns Instrumental."  As I read the Psalms today, I was more and more aware of just how faithfully true is this song.  "Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, sometimes where Eden's flowers bloom, by waters calm or'e troubled sea, still tis God's hand that leadeth me."  This Is Jesus, "Faithful and True."

Sarah and I are embarking on another odyssey, of which we have shared many together.  This is different from the ones before, but she is excited about it.  I, as is my wont, am still contemplating it.  I will continue to write these devotionals as long as Jesus wills.  I still plan to go to DC.  As for the rest, there is still the sobering "word" which came to me earlier this year.  I plan to spend several days each week in the CCE church building praying, playing the Scriptures.  And, I will be open to breakfast or lunch with any who so desire.  My Dad once told me that the older we get as Jesus' servants, we should be ready to pass on that which Jesus has done, spoken to our hearts, and shone us over the years.

I encourage you to read the montage of Scriptures which I have shared with you today.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "[You] lead me beside quiet waters of rest.  I affirm with Psalm 32:7, "You are my hiding place."  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

"In My Prosperity" Be Careful

"Now in my prosperity I said, 'I shall never be moved (shaken).'  Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled."  (Psalm 30:6, 7)

This appears to be full of contradictions, "....Your favor...made my mountain stand strong;..and I was troubled."  I will not attempt a "full exegesis" of today's text, but I can tell you that Jesus speaks to us in These Words.  There is a "life principle" here which is akin to Proverbs 16:18, "Too much pride will destroy you." (CEB)

Anyone who has been in The Way for any length of time knows that our text does play out in life.  We can all remember the days of, "....in my prosperity...."  We surrendered our lives to Jesus, were baptized in the Holy Spirit, heard the glorious teachings, experienced worship in a powerful way.  We danced around in our newly found, "prosperity."  We embraced, gave testimony, perhaps some even taught that, "I shall ever be moved....My mountain stand[s] strong."

Then, something troubling occurred: "You hid Your face, and I was troubled."  Forget today what, "You hid Your face,.." may mean.  Whatever it means, it is a time when the, "prosperity.., 'I shall never be moved (shaken)," was/is challenged.  Now if you have "been there," I have good news for us.  Though it were/is a seemingly "dark place," though it seemed/seems as though, "You hid Your face,.." is/was upon us, the reality of yesterday's text rules.  Even though we may experience, "You hid Your face,.." that everyone and everything we ever believed may, "....forsake me"--------- then the Lord will take care of me"!! 

In reality, there is no, "then," in our walk in Jesus Christ.  From the moment of our surrender to Jesus, the cosmic reality is, "....The Lord will take care of me", whether, "in my prosperity," or, "You hid Your face." 

"When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;

In ev'ry high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the Veil."

ON CHRIST, THE SOLID ROCK, I STAND; ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND."  And,

"Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill:

God's truth abideth still,

His Kingdom is forever."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You are my Forever-Present One.  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

There Is Never, Ever A, "Forsake," In Our Life

"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me."  (Psalm 27:10)

The Word translated, "forsake," in our text is translated elsewhere as, "leave behind," which is certainly what happens when those we love pass from this life. 

My Grandfather once told me that from the day I was born he prayed for me every morning at 09:00.  My Dad prayed for me every day.  My Mom once told me that she prayed for me every morning.  February 10, 1969, my Grandfather's prayers for me in this life ended.  October 27, 1988, my Dad's prayers for me in this life ended.  And on July 29, 1993, my Mom's prayers for me in this life ended.  After my Mom died, it was a sort of strange feeling to know that those who prayed so consistently for me were now gone.  I can say I felt like an "orphan."

Now I have had others over the years tell me that they pray for me regularly, and for that I am most appreciative and thankful.  But the powerful reality in our text is that when all others are gone, "....then the Lord [Jesus Christ] will take care of me."  It is sad that over the years I have met people who could not accept the fact that God loves them, that Jesus is "there for them," if they just surrender their lives to Him and believe/accept His Words.  You can share our text and the many others which affirm this, but for too many it is not enough.  They just continue in the fear of abandonment.

Don't you be like them!  Jesus promises us, "I will not leave you as orphans" (John 14).  You know as well as I that people, dear people, people who have loved us, cared for us, sacrificed for us, and we for them, sometimes then literally, "forsake," us, "leave [us] behind," and all ultimately depart this life; we just cannot change this or stop this.  What we can change and stop, however, is the fear, despair, loneliness of abandonment and forsakenness.  I repeat the Words of Jesus to you and me, "I will never, no never, ever leave you or forsake you."  When all others depart, our Lord Jesus Christ, "will take care of me."  Grasp this today.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that when all others must depart, You do 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.'"

Hebrews 12:2