Which Shall It Be?--"The Counsel of the Nations" Or, "The Counsel of the Lord"?

"Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.  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." (Psalm 33:8-11)

The verses start with declaring the wisdom of fearing the Lord God.  "....Fear the Lord," and, "stand in awe of Him."  Why?  What, "He spoke...was done," and what, "He commanded... stood fast."  It sounds simple to read, write and say, but it is of Eternal significance.  No former empire of history still exists, "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect."  There is no greater example of this than Germany.  It rose to be a world power (empire) faster than any nation in history, and, as one Nuremberg prosecutor said, created, "the greatest war machine since Alexander the Great."  Yet is fell faster than any other.  What has the German learned from this?  And what about the current world-leading-nation, America?

Notice that, "the counsel of the nations," and, "the counsel of the Lord," are against each other.  This is a choice you and I make every day.  Whose counsel will you and I heed today?  In the last American election, most Americans opted for, "the counsel of the nations," which the Bible declares, "the Lord brings...to nothing."  The truth which stands and will continue to stand is, "The counsel of the Lord," and only, "The counsel of the Lord stands forever."  You know what I am going to write next:  The Bible is, "the counsel of the Lord," and, we can know His counsel and Him in It's pages.  All other counsel leads to disappointment, despair and defeat.

Yes, you and I can know, "the counsel of the Lord," because He gives Himself and His Words to you and me as we run this race, "Looking unto Jesus," and as, "[we] abide in [Jesus] and [Jesus'] Words abide in [us]."  It sounds simple, but it causes nations and people to rise or fall.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, keep Your, "counsel," before and in me.  Amen.    
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For those who are receiving updates from us, I want you to know that we are also sending photos to Facebook.  They seem to go through better.

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

"All The Days of My Life"

"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple."  (Psalm 27:4)

The previous verses speak of war.  The victory of which David speaks in our text does not come from pacifism.  Victory comes from the, "One thing have I desired...."  The victorious Follower of Jesus dwells in Jesus Christ, "all the days of my life."  We are called to, "dwell," and, "behold."  These may not sound like "fighting words," but when Followers of Jesus live and "fight" such, they win, will always win, and will end this life in victory.    

During the weak attempt at becoming a democratic nation, the Weimar Republic, Germany had over 50 political parties.  They could not agree, were unwilling to compromise, grew weary, and ultimately set the stage for a National Socialist victory in the November, 1932 national election.  The Nazis and the Arabs who gave birth to the religion, Islam, had/have the same "winning" characteristic; they did/do not grow weary as do their opponents.  This is why Korea "ended" in a stalemate, and Viet Nam ended in defeat for the United States of America; America grew war weary when it's enemies did not.  Whether a nation or an individual, when people grow weary and let up, the enemy, who is always waiting for such an attitude to manifest, moves in and wins.  Watch Iraq and Afghanistan. 

I want to encourage you today in the reality that our enemy will never quit-------- and never should you nor I.  There is no victory to those who grow war weary and quit.  Yet it is important here to realize that this is not a "flesh and blood" war, but in many ways, a glorious war with glorious weapons.  The Lord shows us in Psalm 27 what He later says in 2 Corinthians, "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal."  The victory comes when we "battle" with the greatest and most glorious weapon we have, "....Abide in Me, and My Words abide in you."  In this indwelling relationship in Jesus and obedience to His Words, constant, never taking a vacation or getting lazy, you and I can stay victoriously secure when, as verse 3 says, "Though war may rise up against me...."  And it will, "all the days of my life."  The best way to combat, "all the days of my life," warfare?  "All the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in His temple."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for guaranteed victory.  Amen.
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Another great article from Carolyn Glick at: jhs58.blogspot.com 
Timely, considering our mission to Israel

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

Proverbs 31

"She does him good and not evil all the days of her life."  (Proverbs 31:12)

This is so true of my Mom and Sarah.  I could not have asked for better examples and treatment throughout my 70 years.  I really don't think they had to think about this, go to conferences about this, attend seminars on how to treat your husband, etc., etc.  This is just who Mom was and Sarah is. Support, encouragement, advice, check, Mom and Sarah were/are very good at this.  And only our Lord knows just how much I needed/need them.  I encourage all women today to consider Proverbs 31.  If you feel as though this does not describe you enough, it is never too late.

The first nine verses of Proverbs 31 is the advice of a mother to her son, who happens to be a king.  It too is great advice.  If anyone thinks the Bible marginalizes women, they must not be reading the Bible.  The Word of God reveals just how central a woman is to those around her, not just her family.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to serve in the same manner to others.  Amen.

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We went to the Berliner Dom this evening, the main Protestant Church Building in Berlin, and joined a sizable crowd celebrating the 496th Anniversary of the Reformation.  I am hoping to be able to send a video of some of the service at some point.  What a treat to celebrate a Reformation Anniversary in the heart of the Reformation.  Will send photo separately.

Proverbs 30

"Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."  (Proverbs 30:5)

The Jerusalem Bible says, "Every word of God is unalloyed," i.e., it is not a mixture; it is pure, absolutely pure.  There is no "man stuff" in there, no compromise for political correctness, no favoritism to Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor; all such favoritism is man's pathetic attempt to make the Bible acceptable to every person on the planet.  This has never happened; this never will happen.  It is like people who negotiate with people whose charter it is to destroy them; it's their life commitment and work.  Any attempt to keep negotiating with them will inevitably lead to destruction.

The next verse warns, "Do not add to His words...."  When I was younger, I did not, "add to His words," as much as I neglected His words.  I don't think one is worse or better than the other.  My very neglect of His Words was an, "add[ing] to His words."  I read some portions of the Bible quite regularly, but ignored many others.  I was adding my self- sufficiency, adding my "understanding" of how to conduct my life in this earthly pilgrimage, when only the, "Every word of God is pure," can do that.

During the Nuremberg Trials which began in late 1945, the oath which was given to the defendants went something like this:  "I swear by God, the Almighty and Omniscient, that I will speak the pure truth and withhold and add nothing."  I would like to renew such commitment in this moment to, "The Word of God," Jesus Christ, and His Words.

Father, in Jesus' Name, my heart's desire in regard to my serving You is "that I will speak the pure truth and withhold and add nothing."  Amen.
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You can read an Israeli political example of this at: 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