"You Make Known To Me...."

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11)

Life, joy, pleasures: This is the endless, blind pursuit of humanity.  One of today's Psalms, however, tells me that they are in Jesus Christ.  How so very sad that so many don't see a relationship in the Living Triune God as having anything to due with life, joy, pleasures.  For too many, it is "nose to the grind stone;" I have to read the Bible and pray; I have to go to Church meetings.  It is a, "I have to," religion.  

Consider again with me the Good News in Jesus Christ, that even though I deserved to be under, "the curse of the Law," God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has the curse-deliverance for humanity, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us."  Once a person surrenders his/her life to Jesus Christ, sin is forgiven and, "....removed as far as the East is from the West."  Then, as we go on to abide in Jesus Christ, living moment by moment in Jesus Christ, Jesus Himself becomes to us, "the path of life.., fullness of joy.., and pleasures forevermore."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I repent of any times in my life when I sought all that is in You everywhere but in You.  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

"Freedom"?

"And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam." (2 Chronicles 13:2c)

                                                                                                                                                 Instead of my "sectional" schedule this quarter, once again I'm reading the Scriptures straight through.  What I have been taking note of more and more over the years is the amount of warfare the Bible describes, the struggles people go through, the betrayals, intrigues, etc.  The Bible does not describe ethereal religion. 

For example, I read this morning that, "In Iran...three believers, accused of 'engaging in propaganda that educates in a deviant way contrary to the holy religion of Islam,' have begun a 3-year prison sentence for following Jesus."  They are at war.  And, I never forget that most of our Fellow Followers of Jesus around the world are suffering persecution, living under extreme conditions.  

Those of us who live in the Untied States of America know nothing of this, why, I don't know.  I have always felt, however, that it is incumbent upon us Americans to walk out the Words, "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for self-indulgence, but by love serve one another."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that the self-indulgent "freedom" never be mine.  Amen.
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May 21-28:          Mission with the Indian Community in Saskatchewan 

August 15-26:     Mission with the Crow in Montana

    

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

"....My Counselors"

"Blessed is the one...whose delight is in the Law of the Lord....That person is like a tree planted by streams of water...." (Psalm 1)

"Every Child of God should read every Word in the Bible at least once a year."  (Jerry Falwell).  One reason?  Every Word in the Bible is revelation of/in Jesus Christ.  One can take this "journey" in Our Lord Jesus by reading 3 chapters in the Old and 1 in the New every day. 

I embrace and survive by Psalm 119:24, "Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors (purpose, strategy)," or, as the NET says, "....They give me guidance."  For the Word, "they," we can substitute, "He." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that in Your Word I have a, "....lamp to my feet."  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