"In Seasons of Distress and Grief, My Soul Has Often Found Relief"

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!  You  have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer." (Psalm 4:1)

"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.'  I do not agree.  The wounds remain.  In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessons.  But it is never gone" (Rose Kennedy).  I saw this quote the other day at the close of a TV program, and my first reaction was one of agreement.  Even though this has always been man's remedy to the "pain" of life, attempting to survive life's most horrid battles, there is painful honesty here.    

Have you ever noticed that the Bible never attempts to hide the range of human emotion, even in its "greatest" saints?  So why do so many Christians think they have to live in denial?  Is it to impress other Christians?  No wonder so many in the world system who are searching for the truth cannot find it with so many professing Christians and their churches. 

To Rose Kennedy it was, "the mind, protecting its sanity," by covering the "wounds...with scar tissue."  But for me, survival is, Jesus, "You have relieved me in my distress."  I agree with Rose, "The pain...is never gone."  But I can say also with the hymn writer,
          "In seasons of distress and grief,
          My soul has often found relief,
          And oft escaped the tempter's snare,
          By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!"
Whatever form prayer takes in your life, it all comes back to dwelling in our Father in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, our Advocate, abiding in Jesus and His Words abiding in us.  In all of my life, I have found nothing or no one who can bring relief from incurable, "seasons of distress and grief," as our Wonderful, Living Triune God.  Scars and pain may remain, but so does, "You have relieved me in my distress."

Father, in Jesus' Name, What else can I say?  Thank You.  Amen.
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When Peter Torjesen, "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

Encouraging Signs From "Bibi"

Netanyahu Declares City of Ariel 'Jewish Capital of Samaria'
Shevat 14, 5770, 29 January 10 02:55
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
(Israelnationalnews.com)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Friday completed his week-long campaign to reaffirm Israel's claim on major Jewish population centers in Judea and Samaria, and declared the Jewish city of Ariel "the capital of Samaria." He planted a symbolic tree in the city, as he did earlier in the week in Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem, and Maaleh Adumin, located west of the capital and overlooking the Dead Sea.

Friday's ceremony capped off tree-plantings in honor of the holiday of Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish New Year of Trees. The festival begins Friday night, the beginning of the Sabbath when planting trees is forbidden.

Accompanied by several strong nationalist Likud Knesset Members, the Prime Minister reinforced an about-face in Israel's policy statements, which previously have concentrated on meeting American demands for "goodwill" measures to the PA. "Everyone who sees the geography here understands how important" are Ariel and the surrounding areas, he said.

Prime Minister Netanyahu added that he was planting not only a tree but also "three principles: Growing strength, Jewish settlement and culture in the heart of our land of our forefathers and where we will remain and build." His remarks implied that the current temporary 10-month building freeze on new homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria will remain an interim measure, as he previously has promised.

Earlier in the week, he planted a tree at Maaleh Adumim several hours after meeting with U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who has been trying to negotiate with Israel and the Palestinian Authority PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to return to talks for establishing a new Arab state within modern Israel's borders that have existed since 1967. The same areas were part of the ancient Jewish kingdoms and since then were without a Jewish state until the Six-Day War more than 42 years ago.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently balked at efforts by the Obama administration to ignore promises made in writing by former U.S. President George W. Bush to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that major Jewish population centers would remain part of Israel in any future arrangement with the PA.

The American administration has justified its position by stating that Bush's promises are not legally binding, although the refusal to recognize the Bush policy is a rare if not unprecedented diversion from accepted diplomatic protocol. 

Abbas has refused to concede a claim to "every inch" of Judea and Samaria as well as eastern Jerusalem and has demanded that any resumption of talks begin at the stage where they were when previous Prime Minister Ehud Olmert left office. He recently revealed in an interview with an Australian newspaper that he offered Abbas land within pre-1967 Israel in order to give it a direct link between Gaza and Judea and Samaria.
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When Peter Torjesen, "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

The Corner on National Review Online --Weak US President

The Corner on National Review Online

 

When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, 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

"I Am Jesus...You Will Be Told What You Must Do"

"'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked.  'I am Jesus....Now get up and go.... (From Acts 9:5, 6-NIV)

We are all getting older.  In fact, I don't believe I have very many people on our e-mail list under the age of 30, let alone under 20.  I would like to.  None of us know how long we have before the close of the age, 100 years, 10 years, 10 minutes.  What we do know is that this age will close, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye...."  There is a hymn we used to sing in my tradition, "Work for the Night is Coming."  We must, because it is.   

Saul's question in our text received an answer he probably did not expect.  Jesus did not say, "I am Jesus"; how are you?  No small talk here.  He said, "I am Jesus....Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."  Perhaps, "I am Jesus....Now get up and"------------- I will show you what to do about it.

Everyone one of us have a "what to do about it."  Jesus says to all His Followers, "You are witnesses of these things."  That is our work, our, "Now get up and...you will be told what you must do."  It may not be preaching on street corners, going door to door passing out tracts, or opening a homeless shelter.  But it will mean, "Get up and...you will be told what you must do."  And be assured; If you are a lover of the Word of God------------------- you will not have to wait long to "be told."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You for the clarity of Your Word.  May my hearing be as clear!  Amen.
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Eighteen year old Norwegian, Peter Torjesen, "when he 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