"....Thanksgiving As...Sacrifice...."

"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"  (Psalm 50:23. ESV)

The various translations available to the Church over the last 50+ have helped give greater insight into the depth of The Words of God.  Here we have an interesting translation of a very familiar and oft quoted verse, "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me...."  And it was, "....thanksgiving as his sacrifice," that I particularly noticed yesterday when I read this Psalm.  We often hear of, "the sacrifice of praise," but our text emphasizes, "thanksgiving as...sacrifice...."

Sarah and I were at a grocery store with one of granddaughters today, and I took particular note of some sad faces.  I wondered, "Are they glad they were born, or sad or angry that they're 'here?'"  I took particular effort to say hi, or nod or wave a hand at a security guard, and that lonely employee on break, sitting there by himself, just something to acknowledge them, something to let them know that for a brief moment, at least, they mattered to someone.  The store is in an "edge" neighborhood.  By that I mean there are a mixture of ethnic groups and varying income levels.  It didn't matter.  Everyone deserves someone to notice them, someone who is not so full of themselves, their daily agenda, their "own," that they are oblivious to those around them.

"Now," you  may say, "What does that have to do with the text?"  Well, everything.  As I considered the sad, lonely faces, I was, "one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice", thankful that I was born, that I had great grandparents, great Dad and Mom, siblings, children, grandchildren, was able to play football (sorry, but I did love playing and bouncing off people).  Most of all, however, I was/am, "thanksgiving as his sacrifice," that I was born so that I could know Jesus, know His Father and mine, the Holy Spirit, be a part of His Church, serve His Church and His Kingdom.  And I am, "one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice," that, "In My Father's house there are many dwelling places (homes).  If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you.  And when...I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also." (Amplified Bible)

Father, in Jesus' Name, I give You, "thanksgiving as [my] sacrifice," today.  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

"Know.., Perceive.., Receive.., Increase Learning"

"....To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom....A wise man will hear increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel."  (Proverbs 1)

How many of us really take our text seriously, I mean govern our very lives by its profundity?  This is not some nice reading poetry.  These words are, as Mose said, "your very life."

The following is a threat letter to, well, anyone actually, who isn't Muslim.

The attack by the Islamic State in America is only the beginning of our efforts to establish a wiliyah [actually wilayah, administrative district] in the heart of our enemy. Our aim was the khanzeer [pig] Pamela Geller and to show her that we don't care what land she hides in or what sky shields her; we will send all our Lions to achieve her slaughter. This will heal the hearts of our brothers and disperse the ones behind her. To those who protect her: this will be your only warning of housing this woman and her circus show. Everyone who houses her events, gives her a platform to spill her filth are legitimate targets. We have been watching closely who was present at this event and the shooter of our brothers. We knew that the target was protected. Our intention was to show how easy we give our lives for the Sake of Allah.

The humanist press as well as many so-called "Conservative" reporters and pundits, just do not know history and are living in National Lampoon's, "Walley World."  They are blaming the people who held the gathering in Texas, and not the would-be murderers.  Any who follow Jesus will more and more become the target of such debauchery.  Yet worse than any ignorance of history and political science, however, is the ignorance of the Word of God.  You and I have got to think for ourselves, and stop the discredited practice of "following the crowd," and that just because the "crowd" has some sort of acceptable label.  Our text is our "answer."

The same is true for our walk in Jesus.  Only a thorough knowledge, which includes daily saturation in the Scriptures, can keep us from deceptive theology, philosophy, and political science.  Jesus is, "the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father, but by Me."  And no one can navigate through life without abiding in Christ and His Words.

Now while this may seem repetitive, well, I guess it is.  And so is the Bible.  Repetition is how an athlete gets strong and develops his skills.  Repetition is how a musician achieves mastery of his instrument.  And continual repetition of what Wesley called "The means of grace" is how you and I stay, "strong in the Lord and the power of His might."  Deception will only increase in the earth, and its propagators only more sophisticated; therefore, live our text, read and meditate much in the "God-Breathed" Words; "Pray without ceasing."  Live the life of, "lost in wonder, love, and praise," and live the Biblical declaration, "You are My witnesses."  Then, as Doctor Emmet Brown said to Marty when he told him to follow the instructions precisely, "everything will be okay," aka, "You will get where you need to go."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for Holy Spirit, Who daily teaches and empowers me in You.  Amen.

***********************
I am seeing Rick Santorum's name popping up on prospective Presidential candidates.  Maybe the "Tea Party" should try coffee.

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

America 70 Years Later

"The Lord brings the counsel (thought, devise) 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 33:10, 11)

 The word for, counsel," means, "thought, devise."  The word for, "brings...to nothing," means, "to break." The word for the phrase, "of no effect," means, "hinder, restrain, frustrate, forbid."  Now I ask you to consider history and understand how powerful is His Word. 

The American National Day of Prayer today is on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.  It was at 02:41, Central Europe Time, May 7, 1945, that Jesus "broke, "the counsel of the nations," of Germany, Italy, and Japan.  America, Britain, France, Russia celebrated, and still celebrate their triumph over evil.  But what have we become over the last 70 years?!?

A news pundit said recently that the American culture has changed drastically since the 2008 Presidential Election.  Think of it.  He was speaking of a short 7 year period.  He was quoting a statistic which indicated the debauched surge in Americans' approval of same gender marriage.  In 1996, almost 70% of Americans opposed same gender marriage, while less than 30% favored it.  Now, almost 55% of Americans favor, and only around 42% oppose.  America is in a cultural free fall.  Yet in spite of the moral denigration of American culture, it would take a revival of spiritual power, similar to the physical power in the recent earthquake in Nepal, to turn America around. 

So what do those of us who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," do in these days?  Well, we continue to do as our Lord Jesus commanded us, "pray and never give up."  We continue to speak and live, "the Words of God."  We continue to love our neighbor.  We continue to, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  This is no time to give up.  The Followers of Jesus are the only hope for the decay of human civilization; therefore, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  Notice, it is not, "give thanks for everything."  It is, "in everything."  And there will be many more "ins" to come.

Father, in Jesus' Name, in You only is my strength.  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

"I Have Raised My Hand In An Oath" (Jesus)

"Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bear their own shame.  But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel....'" (Ezekiel 36:7, 8)

When King Jesus says, "I have raised My hand in an oath," then know that whatever follows will come to pass.  Much of Ezekiel, as with all Scripture, has already been fulfilled under Jesus,' "oath."  And isn't it exciting that while we are watching the fulfillment of prophecy right now, much more is ahead. 

I am scheduled to pray for Israel tomorrow for the Pittsburgh National Day of Prayer event.  Now I don't fully grasp the "ways" of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning the Jews.  I do know, however, that, "there is one Lord, one faith," not one Lord for the Old Testament and one Lord for the New, not one for the Jews and one for the Gentile nations.  Somewhere "along the line" there will be a realization of Ephesians 2, "For Jesus Himself is our peace, who has made both one (Jew and Gentile), and has broken down the middle wall of separation,..so as to create in Himself (Jesus) one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that Jesus might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity."  There is only one "plan of salvation"!

Jesus is, "....the way, the truth, and the life," for humanity.  There is no other "way" for Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, animists, new age, or "I'm my own church" people to come to Father.  The Good News in Jesus Christ is, "....the Gospel of Christ...is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also the Gentile."  The Bible promises are to all who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes."   No, I don't have "all the answers" to the myriad of questions which fill the minds of humanity.  But I do know that it is Jesus, and Jesus alone, who will determine the destiny of all humanity.

Now, how about a great benediction?  "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for including me in everything.  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