"....But You, Lord...."

"Lord, how many...!-- But You, Lord...." (Psalm 3, NIV)

David is saying to God that he has, "many...foes!"  He is saying, "How many rise up against me!"  He is saying that others say of him, "God will not deliver him."  In short, "I have many who oppose me, are against me; I am in deep trouble."  Then he says, however, "But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head."

It really sounds quite simple, doesn't it?  The world around you is falling apart.  Maybe you feel as though you are falling apart, feeling deep down that you are all alone, perhaps even have those who mock, or at least seem to mock you in your devastation.  "The sweet psalmist of Israel," came to the conclusion which is open to and for us all, "But You, Lord...."  Yet while the words seem simple enough to read, hear, and say, the application, the out-working, the written-on-the-heart can be another battle all together.

I encourage you today to renew your faith in, "But You, Lord Jesus, are my hope, my stay, my life," or as David later declares,  "....my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."  If you find it a fight to say such words, go to His Word, read, confess, shout if you have to, but as Paul said, "Hold fast (or, "take possession of") the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is Faithful."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for my friend that if they are in a battle, in depression, discouragement, even the object of mocking, that they know of a certainty, "But You, Lord are a shield around [them, their] glory, the One Who lifts [their] head."  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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Something "Blacker" Then "Black Friday"

"Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness." (1 John 3:4, NASB)

Every quarter when I read 1 John 3 I am struck with the reality of sin and how much the Blessed Trinity hates sin.  Verse 8 tells us, "....the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.  The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil."  Here we see that sin is, "the works of the devil", and Father does nothing less than, "destroy (those) works"...; and why not?  Sin destroys you and me, and Father will not permit anything which destroys His Children.  He, "was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself," to free us from the slavery of sin as well as forgive our sins.

1 John 2 tells us plainly Jesus' purpose for us, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin."  Yes, He goes on to say there is forgiveness, "if anyone sins," but there is a very real sense, "that you may not sin," is equally important as the forgiveness of sins.  Sin does something in you and me that forgiveness cannot erase. Yes, we have fellowship in the Godhead, but the damage is done.  Sin destroys something in us any time we yield to temptation.  We will sin, but we must do all we can, draw upon all the Grace of Jesus to stop the cyclical, "practices sin...."  We do not worship it away.  We do not pray it away.  And no one can preach it away.  We can only stop it away.   

I have no doubt that in modern Christendom sin is taken far too lightly.  The Bible teaches us that those who, "practices sin," are, "sinners against their own souls."  We not only sin against God, but also ourselves.  I know most do not hear this today.  I just pass on to you what I have been reading, and what I have been reading are the very, "Words of God," the Words which are, "God-Breathed." 
   
    "Breathe on me, breath of God,
    Fill me with life anew,
    That I may love what Thou dost love,
    And do what Thou wouldst do.
   
    Breathe on me, breath of God,
    Until my heart is pure,
    Until with Thee I will one will,
    To do and to endure.

    Breathe on me, breath of God,
    Blend all my soul with Thine,
    Until this earthly part of me
    Glows with Thy fire divine.
  
    Breathe on me, breath of God,
    So shall I never die,
    But live with Thee the perfect life
    Of Thine eternity."-------
In Jesus' Name, Amen.   

***************

Another perspective on the Ferguson Riots @:    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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

A Brief "Thanksgiving" Holiday Thought

"If is it possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."  (Romans 12:18)

Phillips' says, "As far as your responsibility goes, live at peace with everyone."  This means "the good, the bad, and the ugly."  Apparently, however, it is not, "possible," to, "live peaceably with all men," but it does, "depends on you," and me to make every attempt to bring peace into every situation.

Some today in the US will be gathering with family and friends, etc., some of which will not know our Lord Jesus Christ and will be "war-makers," i.e., argue at every point, take an opposite opinion, in short, just be negative in any way they can.  That is not our Lord Jesus Christ; that is flesh unbridled.

So, as an encouragement to all of us who claim to Follow Jesus here in the US on this Thanksgiving Day, "As far as your responsibility goes, live at peace with everyone," Believer and nonbeliever alike.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to so live and sow.  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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Tomorrow Is The Thanksgiving Holidiay in The United States of America

"I thank God--- through Jesus Christ our Lord!"  (Romans 7:25a)

Thanksgiving in the United States of America is not giving thanks into the nebulae of the universe.  I have much to be thankful for.  Ultimately, however, only One to be thankful to.

The original intent was expressed by George Washington in his decree in 1789, "to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God."  This was the first national govenmental declaration of a special day of Thanksgiving.  It was and is a giving of thanks to God Himself for the nation, the blessings, and the undeserved mercies He has shown us throughout the generations of our nation.  By the way, I do not buy for a minute that the World War 2 generation was "the greatest generation."  Every generation had its greatness, from the first pioneers to the present, generations of self-sacrificing, country loving, and most especially, the William Penns, the Wesleys, Whitefields, Edwards, Finneys, who laid the foundation of Jesus Christ in our nation's founding, and others who gave so much that I and my fellow Americans have what is still a great country.  We have great sins for which repentance is a constant need, e.g., the First Nations Peoples, slavery.  But I could make a case that even with those sins, so much has been turned to good.

"After their first harvest, the colonists of the Plymouth Plantation held a celebration of food and feasting in the fall of 1621.  Indian chiefs Massassoit, Squanto and Samoset joined in the celebration with ninety of their men in the three-day event" (Archiving Early America).  Would to our Lord Jesus Christ that such comradery would have continued, and may Jesus help you and me to do all we can to right those wrongs.  Yes, there are many sins of America, but personally, I am thankful to have been born here.  I say again what many do not like to hear and think is too nationalistic--------- but it's true.  If it were not for the United States of America, despotism would rule the world.

As those of us who are US Citizens gather with family and friends tomorrow, I pray we are thankful to and for Jesus Christ, "King of kings (and nations) and Lord of lords."  Not only Americans, but the whole world might as well join in the Thanksgiving to and for Jesus, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank 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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2