A "Reason" To, "Bless the Lord!"

"When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!"  (Judges 5:2)

These are two great "reasons" to, "Bless the Lord."

Father, in Jesus' Name, give us leaders who lead, and may I always be a, "....willing[] offer[ring]...."  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

A New Globe For CCE

"For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever...." (Psalm 37:28)

I bought a globe for our church building.  There is a sense in which we should all have Charles Wesley's heart:  "The World is my parish." (Continued below the photo)

As I was holding the globe, I thought of the song, "He's Got the Whole World In HIs Hands."  Our text declares something similar.  In Jesus Christ, you and I are, "....preserved forever."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your Eternal Preservation.  Amen.

The Song Of The Holy Spirit

"Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended...."  (Dt. 31:30

I had another never-noticed-this-before moment in my Pentateuch reading of February 6.  Deuteronomy 31 refers a couple of times to a song which the Lord Jesus Christ is going to give to Moses, who, in turn, will pass it on to the Hebrews.  Deuteronomy 32 is that song.  I highly recommend you read it.

I was reminded that it was singing which was my first encounter with corporate Pentecost.  It was in 1965 at a Full Gospel Businessmen's dinner in Youngstown, Ohio.  I went back each month for the next several years, driving about three hours one way with my Dad, Brother, and some men from Dad's church, until we moved to our seminary parish.  What did I encounter in that dinner meeting?  It was what they called singing in the spirit, you know, what we read about in 1 Corinthians 14.

Though most Pentecostal type/charismatic churches rarely engage is such a song any more, I still do every day.  If you have never sung, or have stopped singing such a glorious song, what can I say?!?

Father, in Jesus' Name, I say in the old song, "With a song in my heart...."  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

The Five Spiritual Laws?!?

"When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'"  (Mark 8:34)

This came to me as I read our text today:  If I want to be a follower of Jesus Christ, if I want to be, "born again," if I want to be saved, then I must do something which is abhorrent to most humans, "....deny...self...and follow...." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so desire to, "....deny [my]self...and follow..," only 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