John 19:31-42, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Remember Jesus

John 19:31-42

"Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, 'Not one of His bones shall be broken.' And again another Scripture says, 'They shall look on Him whom they pierced.' After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby."
NKJV

How often do you remember what Jesus did for you? We can be so quick to forget. Some of this forgetfulness is an instrument of God's healing. Sometimes, we forget pain that we suffered and trials we endured. We also forget names, numbers, and sometimes birthdays and even anniversaries. I got married on Valentine's Day and it helps that the stores put out hearts to help me remember. We tend to forget (or not think about) the most important date of all and the event itself--the crucifixion.

Communion is a time of remembering. Remembering what He did for us. He bled. He died. He took our punishment when He did not have to. Our job? To remember. That is why Jesus told us during communion to remember. Why? The sad fact is, we might forget. Celebrate communion often. Do it at home, do it at work, do it with your parents and do it with your kids.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." NKJV

Throughout history, we have had slogans like 'remember the Alamo' or 'remember the Maine'. Ours is simple. Remember Jesus.

Life Lesson: We need to realize what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Dear Father,
Let me never forget what Jesus did for me. I thank You for providing a means of forgiveness so that we can know the fullness of Your grace. Help me not only to remember, but to share and not only to share but to show. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comments: I look back over my life and I always knew God was there and doing things for me and never gave much though except for at Easter time as to what Jesus did for me and it was never an in depth thought.

Growing up in the Greek Russian Orthodox Church as I did in Alaska and coming from a family from the Priest hood, I did not have deep thoughts about Jesus sacrifice. I did not understand Slavonic (the language spoken at Church) though my Grandmother explained many of the words especially the common prayers and songs yet it was my communion with God that grew in my heart not the theology of the Orthodox Church. Maybe they gave thought to Christ's sacrifice and knew Him better than I. I cannot speak for them only myself.

The church had many Icons (pictures of saints and Jesus and such) all over and like the Catholics the congregant lite candles in front of them and said prayers to them for help etc. They did not read their Bibles as the Catholic usually did not either so their understanding of the Word came from Priests who told them what to believe. In my case many were Alaskan Natives and they came out of superstition and animalism beliefs in their history, so praying to many was natural. I praise God He has shown me Jesus his precious Son and made me to understand that praying to Him (God)through the Son (Jesus) is what I must do.

Jesus gave up Heaven to come to earth to take on the sin of the whole world so that we may have Eternal Life with God. What a wonder that Jesus would give up and go through so much pain and suffering so I and the whole world may live with the Father. There is no life without accepting the Sacrifice of Jesus the Son of God. When we choose Jesus' sacrifice and righteousness we choose life. If we do not choose Him we choose death in Hell with Satan who becomes our god which is what he has always wanted when he tried to usurp God and was cast out of Heaven.

Loved ones I pray you will choose life. When we turn to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ and accept the salvation He attained for us we choose life. When we choose our own road our own life. (like "I did it my way") we choose not to be with God and that way is death for which there is no coming back from once our body leaves this world. He gives us till we die in this body yet loved ones I pray you will not wait that long. You would miss out on great joy and peace by waiting. Search the Word and ask Him who has done so much to guide you through His Holy Spirit as you read the Word and He will show you the truth of His Word. Open your Heart and take the leap of faith and accept Him as Savior and He will open up life to you.

My heart cries to You Abba for all who need Your salvation through Your Son Jesus and I pray You will guide them and open their hearts to Your joy and peace and that they will accept Your Son's sacrifice and grace. Which cannot be bought by good acts or pretense and only through the faith of believing on Your Son Jesus. Thank you Abba for all You have done to bring them to You and open their eyes, unstop their ears and soften their hearts that they may have life everlasting. Amen

Acts 16:14-15, Proverbs 27:17; Saved to do good works not by good works.

Acts 16:14-15

"Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us."
NKJV

Dear JoAnn,

As we see in Acts 16, Lydia was not saved by good works, but saved in order to do good works.

Once saved, Lydia began to fellowship with other Christians. You see, it is the responsibility of every Christian to be in fellowship with other Christians. Fellowship helps you in your faith, and it will help other believers in their faith.

The author of Hebrews says, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV.

The word used for 'stir up' also means to 'provoke'. It is like going to the dentist...stay with me here. When you go for a check-up, the dentist uses a sharp tool to poke around at your teeth, right? It is not until he pokes the one tooth that makes you jump that you discover you've got a cavity. Once you know that you have a problem with your tooth, you can take steps to fix it. It's not pleasant, but it's necessary as it keeps a small problem from turning into a big problem.

Interaction with other believers may not always be comfortable. Someone may see our sore spots - areas where we are weak or where we fail to glorify God. We may even get 'poked' in those spots. Sometimes we are not aware of the sore spot and the 'poking' brings to our attention the need to repent and change. Other times we are covering up the sore spot, and it takes encouragement from a brother or sister for us to make a change. Now, I'm not saying that you should nitpick all your friends until you find something wrong that you can point out to them - not at all! Rather, it's a natural part of fellowship with other believers. Solomon put it this way:

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend." NLT

When you grind two pieces of iron together, you may get sparks, but it's not just one piece of iron that is sharpened; both pieces benefit from the process. Don't ignore this vital part of your Christian walk! I'm probably poking someone in a sore spot right now (poke!).

Life Lesson: We should fellowship or hang out with people in the church.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You that I am not alone in this Christian walk. Please forgive me for the times when I have neglected fellowship. Please give me a desire to fellowship with my family in Christ. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comments: So often I see people who call themselves Christian trying to please God with good works thinking if they are good enough or do enough they will go to heaven. Loved ones we are assured of heaven the moment we truly accept the salvation of Jesus Christ by the blood He shed on the Cross and believing in Him. He came to earth to take away our sins and when that happens because we accept His gift then we want to do good works because of our love for Him.

A good indication of one who is saved is the way they live their lives for Jesus by serving others. Not because they have to. Because they are filled with His love and want to do things for others because He has done so much for them.

Doing good works will also come back as treasures in Heaven from our Abba yet this is not the reason one who loves Him does good works. Not as a child who is earning gifts from a parent but as a child who loves to please their parent because they love them.

We praise You Abba for the gift our Your Son and His Salvation. Thank you for your love and help us to work diligently in Your Kingdom for Your glory. May our works be pleasing to You who have done so much for us. May our works be blessed and be the light to bring many to the righteousness You offer to all. We know doing good works does not save us and we thank You for the good work You are doing in and through us. Amen

Here are two excellent postings on Jesus being higher than the Angels and where our praise should go. They are both from Back to the Bible Ministries (accessible on the Web). My comments follow as usual.

Topic: Jesus
Better Than Angels

Americans are fascinated with angels. Seventy to 80 percent of Americans believe in angels--including guardian angels. The TV series Touched by an Angel was watched by 24 million people during its nine-year run.

Unfortunately, the same enthusiasm doesn't hold true when it comes to a biblical view of Jesus. Only about nine percent of adult Americans understand the true significance of our Savior.

This lopsided view becomes especially important when we see what the Bible says about Jesus and angels

Receive

Read the following verses from the Book of Hebrews and indicate how Jesus differs from the angels.

• Hebrews 1:1-4
• Hebrews 1:5
• Hebrews 1:6
• Hebrews 1:7-8
• Hebrews 1:13

Reflect

While it may be appropriate to appreciate the ministry of angels, keep in mind they are only doing what God has instructed them to do (Hebrews 1:14). Jesus, on the other hand, chose to take on human flesh, to live among us and, finally, to die for our sins. No one forced Him to do any of those things against His will. As He told His disciples:

"The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded" (John 10:17-18, NLT).

Be aware, as well, that angels can be deceptive. Paul warns us that Satan can disguise himself as an "angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). In Galatians, the apostle implies that angels (those who fell with Satan) are capable of perpetrating a false gospel (Galatians 1:8). As a result, those claiming their teaching comes from an angel should be treated with caution.

2nd posting from Back to the Bible:

Topic: Jesus
Jesus above Angels
Angels are popular today. Nearly every major newspaper and magazine over the last few years has run a story about angels. And, of course, many stores offer angel statues, angel jewelry, angel pictures, etc. In fact, a few years back a survey discovered that there are more than 140 stores in the United States that specialize solely in angel paraphernalia.
While angels are certainly a reality, do they deserve all the attention they're receiving these days? Let's look at what the Bible says.

Receive

"For by him [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him" (Colossians 1:16 ESV).
"Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen" (Romans 1:24-25 ESV).
"Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14 ESV).

• Who created the angels?
• What happens when people focus on that which was created rather than the Creator?
• What is the true purpose of angels in their relationship with humans?

Reflect

Today's fascination with angels borders on worship. Do you find yourself more attracted to angels than Jesus? Memorize Hebrews 1:4. The next time you're tempted to buy another "angel item," remind yourself who is better--angels or Jesus.

Respond

Take a look around your home and garden. You may also want to consider the jewelry you wear. Is there any indication that angels may be holding a more prominent place in your life than Jesus? Consider removing items that might distract you or others from the Person who should be the primary focus of your attention and adoration.

My Comments: I have always known there were angels yet never thought of them the way it seems so many today view them, almost as their saviors. For me they are the messengers, the tool God uses to accomplish His will at times, to fight Satan and his minions and hold us up yet they do not have any power but from God and they do not presume to tell God how things should be run.
They are not like the several movies and shows over the years portray them from "Touched By An Angel", to Clarence the angel trying to get his wings. Sometimes we say someone is "our special angel" though we are not really calling them angels in the sense of the Bible and when one passes from this world to the next they do not become angels as angels are created beings from before we were ever created and they are separate from us.
I am not sure where all this "Angel" worship started though I know who started it. The one who was a heavenly angel and wanted to be worshipped because he wanted to usurp God and sit on His throne. It is just another way he uses to pull worship away from the one True God of heaven and earth.
My prayer is that you will not be deceived and if you have that your eyes will be opened and you will worship at the throne of the one and only God maker of the universe and creator of all. Angels worship Him and we are to do the same. That is our purpose.
Father forgive us when our admiration of your creation goes overboard and gently bring us back to true worship of You Abba through Jesus our Lord and Savior in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen

1 Timothy 1:12-13

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."
NKJV

"Why would God use me?" "I've done terrible things in my past so how can I minister to others?" We've all been there and have stood on the edge of a ministry opportunity facing doubts and fears. "What if they don't believe me?" "I don't have a degree in theology...what do I know?" All these questions and thoughts cloud our perspective and leave us unmoved and powerless -- unless we grab hold of the Truth.

2 Corinthians 3: "It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God." NLT

Yes, we are weak vessels. Yes, we may stumble at times, but our power does not lie inside ourselves. Our power comes from the One who created heaven and earth. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that fills us as followers of Christ. It is God who equips us and strengthens us for ministry. Whether you are a full time pastor or a volunteer at the church, God is the One equipping you to impact lives for eternity. Admit your weaknesses and then step out in faith trusting the power of the One who has saved you. In Him, you will find victory over fear and power to reach a lost and dying world with the Gospel.

Life Lesson: When the Lord calls you into ministry, He alone equips you.

Dear God,
Thank You for the salvation found in Jesus Christ. I praise You for the forgiveness of sins and the new life. Father, help me to overcome my fears or doubts. Empower me to step out in faith into ministry wherever I am today. Use me to reach this lost world for Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comments: I do not know why God uses us who have gone down roads that should have heaped coals on our heads yet He does and often with wonderful results. Moses was one of thoses who killed and ran away and felt he could not trust God to give him the words to say to Pharoh so God gave him one to speak for him.

God qualifies us to do the work He calls us to do and we do not have to prepare yet the more we know His word and understand His ways by reading His word and talking to Him the better we are at fulfilling things He calls us to do/say.

When we read His word study His ways we allow Him to work in us through the Holy Spirits teaching and growing us. The Abba takes us the raw knowledge He has shown us and molds us and forms us into the gold and silver to shine for His glory. Of course the burning off of dross to make us into the gold and silver can be exttremely uncomfortable and often we want to run from the flames yet as Daniel in the lions den and his companions in the furnace we do not go through the trials alone. He goes with us and protects us if we keep our eyes and hearts on him.

He will place us where He wants us. Are you willing friend to go where He asks and do what He asks of you? Say yes and life is sweet even in the flames because of His presence in and with you. Heavenly Father give us the strength, Your strength to go where you ask and do what you request to bring honor and glory to Your Holy Name. In Jesus we pray, Amen

Acts 16:6-7, Acts 16:10, Philippians 3:13-14, God uses closed doors to head us in the right direction.

Acts 16:6-7

"Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them."
NKJV

Have you ever had God close a door that you thought was open? What was your reaction? Did you moan and complain, or did you thank God for the closed door while praying about what to do? Prayer is a good thing. Paul exhorts us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but this doesn't mean to stop looking for other open doors. You can pray while taking action. What did Paul and his crew do when the Lord closed a door? Did they sit around and moan to one another about how difficult it was to be a Christian and how they wanted to minister in Bithynia but the Lord would not let them? No, they didn't! They kept moving forward as God revealed to Paul the door that He had opened.

Acts 16:10 "Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them." NKJV

Although God closed some doors for Paul and his crew, God opened the doors to Macedonia in order that Lydia would be saved and the door to Europe would be opened to the Gospel. You see, sometimes the door that God closes opens the door to something awesome that He has in store. What should we do when God closes the door? Don't try to kick in the door! Don't peep through the doorknob and don't look under the door. Instead, prayerfully try another door. That one's closed? Look behind you...there's another door. Try that one. It's open! Now what? Take a step of faith. The rest is up to God. Press forward.

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." NKJV

Life Lesson: Closed doors are a blessing.

Dear Father,
Thank You for saving me. Thank You for allowing me to serve You in whatever way You have planned for me. Please forgive me for the times that I have tried to force open doors that You closed. Give me eyes to see the doors that You want me to go through and the courage to go through them. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comments: I can not tell you the many times the Lord has used closed doors to guide me in the direnction He wants me to be going. And the times I did not listen quick enough and paid the consequences.

The one time that really stands out for me was the year my husband lost his job close to retirement (it was a very well known business which notoriously laid people off or closed down postitions when people made too much income or were close to retirement). We struggled for two years trying to make it and lost our home, van and went into so much debt and had way too much stress! Eventually we went bankrupt. Not a good thing and I would not recommed it to any one yet at the time we did not know or understnad what God was doing and what He expected and how He was directing our lives. We do now.

After we lost those worldly things and went to bankruptcy court we moved to a shack we had out at the beach (bankruptcy let us have one and we could maintain the shack and not the home) where we eventually found out what God was doing and it was wonderful.

We ended up in college and eventually David got a better job than he had had and one he loves. He works with prisoners who struggle with substance abuse so they can lead better lives.

A friend of ours recently learned the reason for him not getting the jobs he applied for when he came back from missions in Africa. He needed a job in order to bring his family back to the states yet wherever he went he didn't get the jobs he was usually over qualified for. He was getting discouraged. The process grew him and strengthened his faith and trust in the Lord.

He just (after many months of trying and door closings) got a job with the state making twice as much as one job he was denied.

God is amazing and His timing is the best. We need patience, faith and trust to know He will work everything out if we wait on Him with faith and trust!

Lord, we praise you for all the closed doors, for building our faith and trust in You. You see and know what is best for us and you place us where we will grow and help others to know You. Thank you Abba for the Love you shower us with and help us to see with Your eyes and wait upon Your timing. In Jesus name, Amen

1 Corinthians 13:3, 1 John 4:7, Love as Jesus loved!

1 Corinthians 13:3

"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
NKJV

Love - that one word possesses great power. When a couple first releases that word into their vocabulary, it changes the dynamic of their relationship. On the other hand, when someone you care for tells you they no longer love you, it could impact your life for years. Unfortunately, this word has many times been misunderstood. Our world sees love as a souped up version of lust but that's not what God created love to be and neither is it the example He has shown us.

1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." NKJV

Love is not morality or religion. It's not something else to put on your to-do list. Rather, love is our motivation and it is seen perfectly in our Lord. In short, love is Jesus. In every second of His life on earth, Jesus was love and demonstrated that love. From his healing of the sick and feeding the hungry, to His correction of the Pharisees, Jesus' end goal was love. You could do all the good deeds in the world, but without love they would be like a string of zero's - meaning nothing. Jesus loved others because He loved the Father. The same is true with us. As we love our Heavenly Father, we will be able to love others; even those who we feel may not be that lovable.

Life Lesson: Love is the perfection of human character.

Dear God,
Thank You for Your love. Because of Your love for me, I have forgiveness of sins and hope of heaven. Father, fill me with Your Spirit and help me to love like You love. Make me more like Jesus so that I can share Your grace and mercy with those around me. Use me today to show love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comments: There is not much I can say that the Lord and the Apostles have not alreadys said on Love. It is not what some suppose it to be. It is a choice not a felling. It is what we are commanded by our Lord to do, one to another. It is not an option. If we are His we love no matter what happens.

In a marriage we stay and work it out if possible yet we keep loving even if we do not like what the other person is doing. My first husband did not always treat me as a women should be treated at one who is loved is treated yet God did not ask me to love only when life is good and I am treated as I think I should be. My husband of 34 years did not always treat me with love and I did not always treat him with respect and we both have learned that there is no peace or growth unless we love as our Abba has directed us to do. He will give us the strength and guidance to love perfectly because the Love will come from the fount of salvation.

May the Lord bless all of you with His abounding Love and may you let it flow through you to others unimpeeded. Amen

1 Chronicles 26:12, Corinthians 4:3-4, Matthew 5:14-16, Daniel 12:3; To shine or to trust?

1 Chronicles 26:12

"Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers, among the chief men, having duties just like their brethren, to serve in the house of the Lord."
NKJV

Will you shine or will you rust? Time does interesting things to us, our relationships and our bodies. We seem to have this notion that time will always helps us sort things out and that somehow, it helps our priorities to rise to the top and solves our problems. Friend, it really doesn't. We think that time heals all wounds and yet time can often wound all our heals. We have to decide on a daily basis what is important. Is God important to you? If God is important to you, then His Kingdom priorities become your priorities. When we say we are following Jesus, this should describe an active and ongoing relationship with Jesus. If we make the daily decision to follow Him, if we decide daily that Jesus is important, over time, He becomes more important. He will be important enough to take the time and make the effort to serve Him in the house of the Lord. Jesus said we are the light of the world. Actually, He said YOU are the light of the world. As you serve God, your light shines. Check out these verses.

Corinthians 4:3-4 "If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." NLT

Matthew 5:14-16 "'You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.'" NKJV

Daniel 12:3 "Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever." NLT

When Charlie, in the movie "Willy Wonka," does the right thing, Willy Wonka says, "So shines a good deed in a weary world." Friend, serve God and let your light shine in a cold, dark and hurting world. As your light shines, it will change your life, the world and give spiritual light and sight to your family, friends and loved ones. So your call... shine like the stars forever or rust like a bucket. You are called to shine. Shine on loved one, shine on...forever.

Life Lesson: It is when we give our lives to the work of the kingdom that we shine the brightest.

Dear Father
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the opportunity and reminder to shine for You. I am grateful that You have gifted me with unique abilities and talents to serve in Your Kingdom. Thank You for giving me the power to choose. Lord, my choices affect the souls of men and women whose lives are eternally hanging in the balance of my decision. I want to give my life away and shine like a star in the night sky. At times, I am fearful of being wounded and hurt in the battle, but Lord, if You could change the world with eleven disciples I know You can use me as I stand with other believers. Empower me with Your strength to encourage, pray, support, serve, love and give to others. I want to do all I can to reach all I can. I choose to let my good works shine and serve in the house of the Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comments: Sorry about not being on in the past week. My husband nearly died this past week and we were in the hospital and I really do not like nor do lap top cut and past stuff very well. I guess I will have to sometime yet this past week was not the time for me to learn. I am sure you all understand.

As for the previous posting: If we do not do things or live our lives for the Glory of God and for His purpose than we are not truly living nor are we His. We are not here to seek our own glory or our own rights or anything if we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior then as His we do not seek our own we seek His.

It is a simple asnwer. If we get out of the way He can do much in our lives and through using us and the results are wonderful. He fills us with His strength, His love for others, His ideas, He empowers us more than all the self Help books and classes ever could and the joy we feel when He does this is Heaven on earth! May you all be blessed with His joy even in the hardest of times may you rejoice in Him and seek His glory and praise Him unendingly. Amen

Obadiah 1:3, Pride

Obadiah 1:3

"The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?'"
NKJV

In the book of Obadiah, the prophet is proclaiming judgment on the nation of Edom. This nation and God's people of Israel have a history full of conflict starting at the birth of Jacob and Esau. For hundreds of years what began with deception on the part of Jacob continued with violence as Israel and Edom locked horns in an extended bout of sibling rivalry. If Edom had forgiven Israel and turned to the Lord, they would have found freedom rather than bondage to their bitterness.

While you may not be fighting with another nation, maybe you are harboring resentment towards a friend or family member who wronged you. Now, like Esau, you desire revenge and will stop at nothing to get it. Holding a grudge may make us feel empowered, but it does nothing but rob us of joy. When we step outside ourselves and forgive others as God has forgiven us, we find freedom from our cage of contempt. Forgiveness of others also opens the floodgates of God's forgiveness in our own lives so that we may find rest for our souls and the perfect joy of the Lord.

Life Lesson: We need to practice active forgiveness.

Dear God,
Thank You for forgiving me of my sins. Help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. If I am holding any grudges or bitterness, show me so that I can practice active forgiveness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comment: I am reminded that our governments in the world are turning against the nation of God and He has explicitly said He will bless those who bless Isreal and curse those who do not. God decides who He will bless and curse based on how they follow Him. It is not up to us to make that choice. If we follow God we bless Isreal. Those who turn against God He will destroy or bring to their knees. If He wants Isreal to learn a lesson as He has in the past He will use a nation or bring the destruction on them Himself. If He wants to destroy or teach a lesson to any nation, even ours He will, take care of the matter. We think we are the ones to take care of things with nations and we carry it even to our family and friends.

Our pride tells us we can figure out what it wrong with others (people or nations) and that we can "fix" them. We forget or let our pride blind us into thinking we are the saviors and we are not. We are the problem usually because we do not go to our Abba to have Him take care of the wrongs of the world or even the people in our families and ourselves. We can not even change ourselves how can we be so puffed up to believe we can change others or other nations?

I am not saying we should refrain from offering or helping yet it should be as the Lord guides us to do and not because we believe we have the best answer or that we know the best course to take.

Heavenly Father help us to have clear eyes, open ears and turn to you at all times to do Your will. Amen

Keep praying without ceasing!

Acts 12:5

"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church."
NKJV

I encourage you to begin 'walking in prayer'. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray without ceasing." At first glance, this seems impossible. In considering this further, we see that Paul is telling us to walk in prayer. A portion of my own prayer life is made up of simple short prayers as I commute to work, wait in line at a local store or on a walk alone. This makes me much more aware of the presence of God in my life. Often when someone asks me to pray for them, I pray for them right then and there. I want the person to know I have prayed for them. Let me encourage you to begin walking in prayer today. You will discover what an amazing difference it will make in your life.

Life Lesson: We should pray (which is simply talking and listening to God).

Dear Lord,
Thank You for the gift of prayer. Thank You for the gift of being able to talk to You and listen to You wherever I am, whoever I am with and whatever I am doing. I ask, Lord, that I would develop a life style of talking and listening to You. Help me to pray throughout my day and enjoy the time I get to spend with You. Also, God, help me to remember to pray for others. Thanks God for listening to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

(Note: Pastor McGee was how I used to start my blogs in the beginning. I used his to guide me then I wrote my own comments. I hope you enjoy reading some of the early ones. As time goes on I update them sometimes taking Pastor McGee's part out. Other times I feel his words are important to the message. He is on-line and has radio casts on CSN and other stations. He is a favorite teacher of many.)

My Comments: Jesus gave the Disciples, soon to be Apostles, and us the outline or guide on how to pray to the Father in what many mistakenly call the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).  We give the Father honor, we praise Him who gave us everything, we petition and give thanks, we ask Him to protect us and guide us. Sometimes we pray with specifics in mind, a friend needs to be healed, saved, a new job or for the money to pay the bills and other times we are just talking to our best friend ever. Sometimes it is our Abba or our Savior yet always we are talking to God and we trust Him and have faith He will answer when and how it is best and we always say "Thine will be done Lord" because we know He knows best.

We can pray in singing and dancing to Him (not disco or other) playing an instrument for His glory can be prayer. Just sitting and enjoying the sunrise or sunset with Him and rest in Him, being with Him as a child upon the lap of her dotting Daddy in contentment. This is prayer. Praying by ones self or in community; each has a place and it is important to be in community and to pray as one for a purpose. When we petition Him or thank Him or praise Him, read His Word and anything we do that includes Him is prayer as long as it is for His glory we do it.

Like David McGee I like to pray right away if possible for the person who is asking for prayer as I feel the Lord is asking me to do so. If one comes to my mind I know from experience I am being shown by God that that person or situation needs praying for and I do. When I wake in the middle of the night with someone on my mind I know the Lord is showing me I need to hold that person up in prayer.

Prayer is very important. The Lord Jesus went daily to prayer off by Himself to be alone with the Father. We should do well to follow His example. When He was Baptized and came into His own He went for 40 day and nights into the desert to pray and was tested. Prayer strengthens us and helps us be ready for the trials that will come so we are not overcome.Friends keep in constant prayer and often get away by yourself as possible and be in relationship with Abba. Read His Word and listen to what He has to tell you and you won't  go wrong.

Abba Father, thank You for all You shower upon us, teach us to pray unceasingly give us Your Word in our hearts on our minds flowing forth from our mouths so we may praise and glorify Your Holy Name. We will stumble sometimes Abba as we pray yet we know and trust You to guide our hearts, minds and prayers so they will be pleasing to You and beneficial for those we pray for and with. In Jesus precious Name in union with the Holy Spirit, we thank You, praise You and want You to know we love You and trust You to work our lives out for Your glory, Amen

1 Chronicles 25:1, Worship God!

1 Chronicles 25:1

"Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was:"
NKJV

There are actually seven different Hebrew words for our one English word for 'worship'.

1. YADAH - yaw-daw - to worship with the extended hand.
2. TEHILLAH - teh-hil-law - to sing, a song or a hymn of praise
3. BARAK - baw-rak - To kneel or to bow. To give reverence to God as an act of adoration.
4. HALAL - As in Hallelujah meaning Praise the Lord Hallel meaning praise and Jah meaning God. (this word appears over 110 times in the OT) to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; to rave;
5. TOWDAH - to-daw - To give worship by the extension of the hand in adoration or agreeing with what has been done or will be.
6. ZAMAR - zaw-mar - To sing with instruments. To make music accompanied by the voice.
7. SHABACH - shaw-bakh - to address in a loud tone, a loud adoration, a shout! Proclaim with a loud voice, unashamed, Shout to the Lord.

Worship is not only what happens in music during the service; it's a lifestyle. It's a song in your heart as you go about your day-singing praises to the Lord. Worship includes music but is also all kinds of things outside music; reading your Bible, giving thanks, giving financially to the kingdom, prayer and so much more. Worship is making God and His kingdom number one in your life and priorities.

Worship is giving thanks when things are going well. Worship is praising God regardless of your circumstances in the midst of trials. Sometimes, it is not easy. We will not always 'feel' like worshiping God, and it is then we are reminded we worship Him because He is worthy. Worship is a battle, and it is the battle cry of the Christian.

Worship pleases God. When you live out your life day in and day out walking in worship, it will change your life. We all worship something, and many things we worship will fade and turn to nothing. God and God alone is actually worthy of all our worship. Take just a few minutes right now, loved one, and worship Him and give thanks. (Seriously do it right now. It will just take a moment and could change your day.) Do you have a roof over your head? Thank Him. Do you have food to eat? Give Him praise. Are you in the midst of trials or tribulations? Thank Him that one day those trials will end.

Life Lesson: God is worthy of all of our worship.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your Word and the opportunity to sing praises to You! Lord, I lift my eyes to the heavens and recognize Your goodness. Help me to get into the habit of worshiping You in the good times and the bad. I ask in all things, that I give thanks to you. I sing praises of Your loving grace and mercy, and lift my voice to You because You are always worthy to be praised. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comments: I love the "worship time" at Calvary Chapel as there is so much energy and joy and love of God in the singing and the playing of the instruments. I love it loud and I love to lift my hands and raise my raspy voice to sing praises to the Lord for saving me from sin and giving me new life.

I love driving in the car listening to praise and worship music on the radio and knowing it glorifies my Heavenly Father. I love to sing in tongues and know He is listening to my praises to Him!

I remember when I was eleven and my Dad was a caretaker/maintenance/janitor or the San Jose Moose Lodge where my folks were members and when we lived on the Moose Lodge grounds. There was this huge building with a large work bench Dad used, in the center of the building. I would take my doll out there and her and I would dance and sing praises to the Lord God twirling and twirling around as we went around the table in the building. I would be laughing and crying for joy in my Lord God and the love I felt for Him and He for me. I had never heard in the Orthodox Church of anything so outgoing being done and had not read the Bible yet so did not know of the passages that told of others doing the same thing before the Lord. Yet the Holy Spirit was not to be denied as He prompted me to dance, sing, cry and laugh before the glory of the Lord. No one ever saw or heard me that I know of yet it has never left me and remains a Holy time for me in my memory.

I wish I had the limberness of body and sweet sound of voice to still give worship this way yet I still can raise my voice, my hands and rejoice in my heart while giving worship to my Abba who loves me so much and loved me before I even knew Him as my Savior or what the real Gospel of Jesus Christ is.Praise God He has saved a wretch like me and raised me up to be His child. He has purchased me with a great price and I am His pearl and He hides me beneath His wings. Amen

We are to love our brothers and sisters.

Acts 11:1-4

"Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!" But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying:"
NKJV

Christians love to discuss their differences. While I do think some differences need to be discussed, I think we spend way too much time and energy on these discussions. There is so much to do for the Kingdom that we can't afford to waste this time. At the end of this brief season we call life; God will not ask how many arguments we have won but rather how many souls we have won. Believers accomplish little when arguing with one another. In discord, believers are not winning souls but instead are distracted by other issues and possibly giving a bad witness. Let's not over emphasize our differences but join together and serve side by side. Let's be careful not to argue differences. Instead, let's serve God alongside one another. John 13:35 reads, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
 

Life Lesson: Be careful what you argue about with another believer.

Dear Lord,
Help me to love the people You have placed around me in life. Help me not to argue and enter into strife with brothers and sisters. Lord while there are some things worthy of argument, there are many things that are not. Lord, please give me the wisdom to know the difference. In Jesus name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee of Cross the Bridge Ministries

My Comments: If we concentrate on what God wants us to do we have no time left to argue about nonsense. We are commanded to love our brothers (and that means sisters as well.) and to work with them, build them up, we can chasten when necessary though with love. We are not to get caught up in the traditions of the world or the color of the walls or which chairs look best or if we have loud music or soft music, guitars or organs or nothing. It is about the full Gospel of Jesus and about the full Word of God and following all we have been instructed to do (or not do as the case may be). If we look at the word of God and see what it says (it is the living Word of God) then check it against what we want or think should be done then we can't go wrong. If we treat each other with love we can't go wrong.
 

When the Apostle John was older and they used to bring him to talk all he would say is "Love one another, love, love, love." How simple.
 

Lord give us Your sweet, sweet gentleness towards each of our brothers and sisters and help us to work out our differences in the light of Your Word. May all we do and say to one another glorify You and show the world we are of one accord. In Jesus Name, Amen
Rebishka

Money and Trust

From Back to the Bible Ministries
Mark 10:23-25, ESV, 1 Timothy 6:17, NASB, 1 Timothy 6:9, NLT, Proverbs 23:4-5, Matthew 6:31-33;
Money and Trust
Will any one group of people find it especially difficult to trust in Jesus and receive the gifts only He can give including eternal life in heaven? Jesus thought so. In fact, He singled out one particular class of people who will have great difficulty trusting God.

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"And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, 'Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God'" (Mark 10:23-25, ESV).

• What specific pitfalls do the rich face?
• Who supplies us with all we have?
• Read the following verse and name some reasons why it is difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of heaven?

"Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17, NASB).

Reflect

Because it is difficult for the rich to get into God's kingdom, is it better to be poor? Read the following verse to learn the answer to that question.

"But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:9, NLT).

• What is the real problem according to this verse?
• What traps someone who is striving for riches?
• Create a newspaper headline (just a few words) to summarize 1 Timothy 6:9.
• What does a wise person realize about wealth? (See Proverbs 23:4-5.)

Respond

So, how should you, as a Christ-follower, view possessions and wealth? Jesus teaches us a great truth to build our lives on.

"'Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear for clothing?"

"'For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.'

"'But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you'" (Matthew 6:31-33).

Take an inventory of your life. Ask yourself these questions:

Do I trust God? Do I believe His promises? Do I trust Him for His provision and care? Do I worry often about having too little? Do I seek first "His kingdom and His righteousness"? And now the real question, Will I trust God completely for everything?

My Comments: The rich man asked the Lord what must I do? The Lord told him to sell everything and follow Him. He could not. He was attached to his things and his life. We are asked to do the same. I may be figuratively yet it is what we must do. We must be willing to give up our property (which is really God's any way and only on loan), possessions, family, loved ones, jobs; everything! And follow Him.

If we have a spouse they should come after our Love of God, If children they come after God (and after our spouse). It is hard yet unless we give everything to God then we are not truly His. If we are not truly His then we are not following Him and the one we follow is of this world and does not save. Only Jesus brings salvation. To glorify Abba Father we must follow Jesus as He sent His only begotten Son into the world for us to follow out of the darkness into the light.

Abba Father guide all to Your Holy Light and bring them Your understanding and wisdom. In Jesus name. Amen,
Rebishka

 

Why are we here/our purpose.

Acts 10:29

"Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?"
NKJV

Peter asks a thought-provoking question in this passage. Why am I here? I think this is a great question to ask ourselves. We may say we are here to serve and love God and to serve and love others, but if we never take the time to really do these things... how important are they to us? I believe it is important to ask ourselves this question often and make decisions according to these priorities. I know I am guilty of getting caught up in things that don't really matter and disregarding the things that really do matter. I find myself 'majoring on the minors and minoring on the majors.' Jesus broke it down for us when He said, "love God and love others." It really can't be explained any simpler than that. We should remember that Jesus did something extraordinary. He loved us by giving His life away. In doing that, He has shown us how to love others.

Life Lesson: We should be asking ourselves the question, why am I here?
The answers should be:
1)...to love and serve God
2)...to love and serve others
3)...to show and tell others about Jesus

Dear Lord,
Help me to remember what is important. I get confused about my priorities sometimes. Please remind me through Bible teaching, Bible reading and the love and care of others, why I am here. Help me to take the time to remember these things. Because when all is said and done, only what I have done for you will last. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee (Cross the Bridge Ministries)

My Comment: Before this passage Cornelius, a gentile, had been praying and an angel of the Lord appeared to him commanding him to send for Peter. When Peter came he asks why he was sent for. Then Cornelius tells him of the Angels visit and asks Peter to tell all assembled what the Lord has commanded Peter to say. This is what we all who are born again are to share with others, the Gospel. To preach salvation to all through the fulfilling of the Word in Jesus Christ. When Peter did this the Holy Spirit fell upon those hearing and they being filled with the Spirit were Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
 

When we read the Bible especially the New Testament we are reminded often why we are here. To praise God and reach the unsaved with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are commanded to love and there is no greater love than to lay down our lives for our neighbor and often taking the Gospel to the world means just that.

Many Born Again Christians are dying in many parts of the world, places like North Korea, China, and Columbia. The willingly place themselves in these areas to bring souls that would be lost to the throne of Heaven. The one we do not tell the Good News to may never hear it and may die today and having never known Jesus be lost forever to death.Perfect love casts out all fear. If we love God and trust Him we do not fear sharing salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is our purpose in life, why we are called and what we are set to do.
 

Abba, we ask you to impress on our hearts, minds and souls your purpose for our lives and give us the ability to speak You Word with confidence and knowledge, give us understanding and wisdom so we may impart the Gospel of Your Son Jesus where You send or place us. We praise You Father for allowing us to hear and believe. We praise You for sending Your only begotten Son to die for our sin that we may live forever with You. We look forward to the day You will call us home or the Glorious Appearing of Jesus. Thank You Abba for loving us so much. May many know Your love through us. Amen
Rebishka

1 Timothy 6:12, Hold tight to faith in God

1 Timothy 6:12

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
NKJV

"Fight the good fight" is a phrase used in many areas of our culture. You will often hear it in music and movies, referring to the fight to do what's right. This is a good understanding of what Paul is speaking of, and yet there is more to it. Paul is not simply asking Timothy to put up a fight for things that are good, he is calling Timothy and all believers to hold firmly to their faith no matter the cost. In short, he is telling believers to not just say you follow Jesus but to actually live it. Paul recognized the confession of those whom he was writing and yet he is challenging them to actually live out the calling that God has given them.

Today, the same challenge remains. We aren't called to give lip service to God but to actually serve Him. We aren't called to just confess our love for Him but to show it through sharing our faith, loving others and giving to the Lord. All these things are an outpouring of God's love in our heart. Today, no matter what you have planned, be ready to be used of God in a mighty way. When it comes, hold tight to the faith and fight the good fight so that all the world will see Jesus in you.

Life Lesson: Eternal life begins by choosing Christ and is a choice you make daily.

Dear Father,
I know that life is difficult and sometimes it can be hard for me to live out the faith that I confess. I ask that You would give me a boldness to share my faith and love others unconditionally. Help me to see opportunities to live out God's love today and every day. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comments: Many trials come in life which test our faith give us opportunities to fight the good fight of faith in our Heavenly Father who can do all things yet not as and when we determine the should be done. He is not a puppet on a string that we can pull a string and He will jump. Our faith says we trust Him to do things when He knows they should be done. We allow we do not know what is best for all concerned and we rely on Him to be with us through whatever is happening and we see things with His sight not ours.

I just finished a book by Grace Livingston Hill who wrote many many books in the early 1900's and many were of the first and second world wars and they usually were romance novels of that period and always presented the Gospel message. She was asked, by Evangeline Booth who was the daughter of the man who started the Salvation Army, to write a book about the Salvationists work during WW1. She did and the stories of the ladies and men who worked in the front lines with the soldiers were so amazing. The depravations they overcame because of their love of the Lord and total trust in Him was truely aweinspiring! I highly recommend reading "The War Romance of the Salvation Army" as this is what is meant by trusting in the Lord for everything and using whatever He gives completely for His glory.

Lord help us all to live our lives totally for you and trust in you that one day we will be with you in Heaven. In Jesus name, Amen

Matthew 6:24 (ESV), Luke 22:35-36, Revelation 18:1-24, Philippians 4:19 (ESV), Money-Faith and Trust

Topic: Faith/Trust

Two Masters: It's Your Choice!

It's not uncommon to see leaders of the world's nations scurrying about, desperately trying to find answers to their countries' financial problems. Newspaper articles, radio and TV shows and Internet bloggers consume huge blocks of time speculating and advising us about money--how to keep it, why we're losing it, where to find it and whom to bail out. Fear often grips governments, industry and individuals.

As a Christian, you must be careful not to get caught up in the world's worries about money. Oh, of course, you are to be a good steward of all that God provides; and you are responsible to care for your family's needs. But you also need to avoid any attitude toward money that would cause you to spiral down into the world's way of thinking. God is still on the throne. He knows your needs and has much to say about trust and money.

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Have you thought seriously about Jesus' warning in Matthew 6:24 (ESV)? "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

Why did He say that? Is it a sin to earn an honest living? Didn't Jesus Himself use money to pay taxes and buy groceries? Didn't the disciples have a money bag and a treasurer? When Jesus sent the disciples forth a second time, didn't He tell them they would need money (Luke 22:35-36)?

Now, read a few verses and jot down your answers to the questions:

• 1 Timothy 6:10. What two results of loving money does the apostle Paul mention in this verse?
• Hebrews 13:5. What does God want to see in your life instead of the love of money?
• Matthew 13:22. In the parable of the sower, what does Jesus say about how an obsession with wealth can affect your relation to God's Word?
• Deuteronomy 8:17-18. If God does bless you with wealth in this life, what should be your proper attitude toward it?

Reflect

Jesus never claimed that money is evil. But He did teach that the love of money will get you into deep trouble and draw you away from God (1 Timothy 6:10).

Satan, the Prince of this world, runs his domain on money. It will all come to sudden ruin one day. God, on the other hand, operates His kingdom in the power and provision of the Spirit of God. His Kingdom is eternal and will never fade away. While you are in this life, you are, in a sense, caught between the two worlds of God's everlasting kingdom and Satan's doomed realm. You need some money and material things to live and to support God's work on this earth, but you must constantly be on guard against trusting in the things that will ultimately rot and rust.

Today, read Revelation 18:1-24. It describes the sudden destruction of Satan's economic and financial system in the final hours of this old earth. As you read, compare today's godless worldview and ask yourself, Is this something I want to be part of? Am I getting entangled with the love of money?

Respond

Take time to review your own attitudes toward money. Is money at the center of your purpose in life and your career? Are there changes you need to make that will bring you more into line with God's teaching about wealth?

Reflect on Philippians 4:19 (ESV): "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Then memorize it!

My Comments: Life, jobs, financial abilities are all unstable in our times more so than at most other times of history world wide. There were places and will always be places with even worse happening. Place like Haiti and even New Orleans after their destructions yet I am referring to the everyday persons in the world at large.
He will supply all our needs and He will use everything in our lives to teach us to rely on Him more and more.
I used to be so concerned about how to pay the bills in our huge family (11 children). Then my husband lost his job close to retirement (the businesses way of not having to pay out retirement was to close positions, other places use the same ploy) and after two years of struggling we ended up in Bankruptcy. We were to blame for much of our problem. We lived to the end of our paycheck and never saved anything so there was not a rainy day fund. We lost our home, new van and had to move to a shack with black mold in the walls which we had to tear down and build around ourselves. We learned to trust the Lord and He sent us to college which gave my husband a new career and better insurance (he is very ill and we do not know how much longer he will be able to work) yet I do not have a job (a few part time jobs have been had for short periods of time) and so money is tight. Which means saving is very hard.
We do not feel the same way about money as we used to. If we lose everything and live in our cars or on the street or with others we know the Lord will carry us through and we will learn invaluable lessons and gain greater strength through the learning.

Lord grant that we will be filled with trust and faith in Your ability to take care of our needs. In Jesus Christ, Amen

Psalm 102:1-12/16/17; Pain/Suffering/complaining

This is from Back to the Bible (anyone can receive their different sendings from Woodrow Krol)
Topic: Pain/Suffering, Other

Complaining to God

It's hard to miss the pain poured out in some of the psalms. It's almost shocking, sometimes, how honest the psalmist is, not just when he's describing his situation but when he asks God, "Why"?

And like the writer of the Psalm 102 shows us, there is a right way to take our pain and our complaints to God. Let's look at this psalm and explore that idea a little.

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In my Bible, Psalm 102 has this subtitle, "A prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD." Right away, we know something is wrong in the psalmist's life. And so he takes his complaint to God.

"Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!" (Psalm 102:1-2, ESV).

The fact that the psalmist is even crying to God for help says something. It's pointless to complain to someone you don't believe can help. In verses 3-11, the psalmist describes his situation.

Look at verse 12, though:

"But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;
you are remembered throughout all generations" (Psalm 102:12, ESV).

It's all right to take our complaints to God, but we need to remember who He is. As you read through the rest of Psalm 102, look for all the ways the psalmist describes God.

Yes, the psalmist was in distress, and he was very honest about it. But in his distress, he knew he could trust God. He understood enough about God's character and His promises to be assured that:

"The LORD builds up Zion;
he appears in his glory;
he regards the prayer of the destitute
and does not despise their prayer" (Psalm 102:16-17, ESV).

When your life is crumbling, going to anyone besides God with your concerns is like asking a toddler to fix your broken car; it's not likely to happen.

Reflect

As you read Psalm 102, think about the following questions.

1. According to the psalmist, why does he think God would help him?

2. What reasons does the psalmist give for trusting God?

3. What were some of the physical responses to despair the author of Psalm 102 was experiencing?

4. In verse 12, how does the tone of the psalm change?

5. How does Psalm 102 conclude?

Respond

There's a difference between registering your complaint with God and second guessing what God does in your life. Remember, taking our complaints to God isn't so much about making the world the way we want it but making it the way God wants it. If there's something troubling you today, don't be afraid to take your complaint before the throne of God.

My Comments: I have been known to register my complaints with my loved ones though I would call them grumblings. When I go to the Lord I just let Him know what is troubling me or on my heart and that I am in need of His guidance in how to solve, rectify or accomplish or even get rid of something in me or my life or for others. I know of others who have railed against the Lord for the things going on in their lives (often yet not always, we bring these things on ourselves so I have not found it beneficial to rail against God for those things I myself have caused to happen.) rather than saying to the Lord "I made the wrong choice, please show me the way out." He will you know help if we ask Him sincerely.
All too often in life there are things we did nothing to cause to happen and we want our Heavenly Father to help us because He is the only one we know who can help.
We are in the midst of a society who thinks nothing of murdering little children whether it is abortion or like the male parent the other day who, like too many before him in recent years, brutally killed his two sons and then himself. Those children did nothing to cause that to happen nor did they deserve it anymore than the babies that are aborted daily. Those are not the things God ignores. He will answer their pan and suffering on the society and heads of government who allow such things to go unpunished or who do not make the laws to protect the unprotected.
For the rest of us who have things happen in our lives we did not do anything to cause, like rapes, incest, loss of a job, a car accident that was not our fault, a faulty wire burning our home, and other things, we cry out to Abba for relief from our pain. That is not complaining. It is heart felt need from our Father in Heaven who loves us so much. Yet all happens in His timing for us. Sometimes we do not see the result yet we can be assured because of God's love that it will be taken care of.
The children aborted will see the result of God's action from Heaven as will the two little boys. Their result will be being with the Lord and maybe even being reunited there with their Mom if she was a believer when she died. When we read the Word of God we know He hears.
trials and build in us Your strength and teach us to lean daily on You with greater trust and faith and in joy and gladness we praise You for Your tender mercies in helping us through any and all dilemmas that come in our lives. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Hosea 1:2,Matthew 16:24-25, Psalm 62:5-8; Suffering He is my refuge

Hosea 1:2

When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: "Go; take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the LORD."
NKJV

We often hear Christians say things like "The Lord just wants me to be happy" or "God wouldn't ask me to do anything that I can't handle." The truth is that God often asks His people to do what seems impossible. It is also clear that happiness rarely has anything to do with His commands. Hosea was told by God to take a wife that would cause him much pain. Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son, whom he called 'laughter' and loved dearly. Mary, who was called most blessed among women, was required to stand by and watch her son die on the cross. These three, and many others in the Bible, were asked by God to do what we would think impossible for them; things that would bring pain and suffering. They had different circumstances, and different struggles, but the one thing they shared was obedience.

Matthew 16:24-25 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'" NKJV

Jesus went through incredible suffering and pain to free us from the bondage of sin. He did not die just so we could be happy. He did not give His life, so that we could simply pursue our own selfish desires. He died to set us free, and to give us the model of how to live free. What He taught the disciples through His words and by His example is that our calling in this life is to lay down our own lives for the sake of others.

Life Lesson: Following Christ is hard, but it's the least we can offer Him for the price He paid.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me so much that You were willing to die a horrible death and suffer the humiliation of my sins. Lord, I choose to follow You, wherever You lead me, because I love You. Jesus, help me to walk in obedience. Give me Your strength, Your power and Your Love, so that I can willingly lay down my life for others. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comments: I have always felt God does not give us more than we can handle because I know He will equip us for anything. He will always be there to take us through as long as we are doing His will and living in His will. Yet He will as well when He wants to bring someone to His perfect will as well. I am thinking of the times before I knew to accept His Son's sacrifice.

I was baby baptized which is not Biblical yet most of my life up until just before 911 I believed that I was saved because of that and believed I was a Christian. There were many horrendous trials in my life before that time and I always knew God was there with me helping me through the fires that life kept sending my way, keeping me at peace in His loving arms. When I accepted the sacrifice of Jesus and was Born Again I knew the joy of having Jesus come into me and I was filled with the Holy Spirit.. Not I know He is in me and I in Him and we are one together and because of this I am one with the Father and as His Son went through things so shall I if asked and my Abba will give me what I need to go through. Not of my own strength yet of His.

That is why it is important to be following the Lord and all He commands and desires of us to do and He gives us the strength if we look to Him and not ourselves. Of ourselves we can do nothing.

May we always look to Him and when He says go or follow may we do so with alacrity and joy in serving Him even if there is pain. Amen

"My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.

"Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 62:5-8).