I Will Extol The Lord

For the first time in days I was able to focus on the Word again, it felt wonderful to spend time with my Father.  Well, I have spent time with him throughout this illness but not in the same way – I was so weak and weary I could not read much, and even staying alert through documentaries or bible studies was a challenge.  So I drew near to God the only way I could the past few days, through prayer.  I prayed earnestly for my husband and son who were also sick to be healed, I prayed for brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling in their walk, I prayed for those who have yet to know the Lord, I prayed for strength to continue to serve God and that I might bring him honor and glory with my life.  Sometimes I think I just rambled a bit as I struggled to breathe and shook with fever.  But always I was talking to God, was trusting him to see me through this trial.  And he did.  We are all definitely on the mend, although we do have a little more healing to do.  When I took the Bible out while the guys planted the kitchen garden I opened it to and just soaked in the word of my Lord.  Then after coming back inside I flipped to Psalms and 30 jumped out at me, I read it through a few times and knew it would be my post tonight.  Tonight I will extol the Lord!

I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.  Psalms 30:1
O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.  Psalms 30:2
O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.  Psalms 30:3
Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.  Psalms 30:4
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.  Psalms 30:5
And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.  Psalms 30:6
LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.  Psalms 30:7
I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.  Psalms 30:8
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?  Psalms 30:9
Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.  Psalms 30:10
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;  Psalms 30:11
To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.  Psalms 30:12

This Is War

I haven’t forgotten that I have the Love One Another series to finish, I hope to be well enough tomorrow to pull it together but if not then next week.  We have all passed a nasty bug around and I am still trying to kick it.  I am trusting God to lead me to messages that don’t require me to type to long, so tonight you get another great sermon via YouTube.

WOW!

Guys, this sermon says it all.  Just listen, let the Lord in.

Love One Another

Love one another… that phrase is so simple, sounds so beautiful, yet seems to be so hard for some to follow.  We are called to love, when we do so we reflect the light of Christ into the world.  Now loving does not mean just overlooking sin because we are loving.  Quite the contrary when we really love and we see someone stuck in sin, then because we love them we have an obligation to call them on it.  Not in a judgemental, I’m better than you kinda way, but in a way that points them away from their sins and to the cross.  I want you to read this passage from 1 John and just ponder it.  I will take it farther later this week.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  1 John 3:11
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.  1 John 3:12
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  1 John 3:13
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  1 John 3:14
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.  1 John 3:15
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  1 John 3:16
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  1 John 3:17
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  1 John 3:18
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.  1 John 3:19
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.  1 John 3:20
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  1 John 3:21
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.  1 John 3:22
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  1 John 3:23
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.  1 John 3:24

In The Love of God

Tonight I wanted to remind of something I felt strongly lately, the love of God!  I feel His love surrounding me, leading and guiding me, giving me the strength to face challenges and follow the path he has set for me.  His hand steadies me when I stumble, picks me up and dusts me off when I fall. He opens my eyes to see truth and gives me discernment to not be led astray.  He is my Father and he keeps me in his love.  Are you there too?

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  Jude 1:17
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  Jude 1:18
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  Jude 1:19
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,  Jude 1:20
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  Jude 1:21
And of some have compassion, making a difference:  Jude 1:22
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.  Jude 1:23
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  Jude 1:24
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.  Jude 1:25

Jesus Is Calling

Will you answer his call?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Power of the King

At church tonight the text preached on was Psalms 2 and I have to say it really struck a cord with me.  As we worked through it line by line I kept thinking of all that is going on today, and how this Psalm describes equally well those of Jesus time who crucified the one who came to save them and those today who deny him.  Well they are just wasting their time really cause we know that even the gates of hell will not prevail for the power of God has torn the veil and in the ends Jesus wins!

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  Psalms 2:1

Why do they fight against God, the creator of all things, so very hard?  Oh I know they say that following Christ is too hard, too restrictive, too many rules, etc.  I’ve herd all the excuses, but have they really stopped to see what it means to follow Him I wonder.  See He’s not about rules to follow, restricting us, and all that.  No!  He wants to free us from the restrictions our sin places on us, the rules we are forced to bow to in our denial of His mercy, rejection of His grace.  When we follow Jesus we are changed, transformed and suddenly we see that what we thought were hard rules are really just following in our Shepherd’s footsteps.  we keep the commandments because he did, we love and serve others because he did – he lives in us and we are his light in this dark world.  We are no longer bound prey and slaves to our sins – those vile addictions we once thought so wonderful; no we see them now for what they really were, chains binding us up, holding us back, slowing sucking the life out of us, killing us and puling us right into the fiery lake.

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.  Psalms 2:2-3

When Jesus was crucified the big shots really thought they had him, the Jewish leaders, the Roman leaders, they all thought they were really doing something.  Ole Satan thought he’d finally managed to stop the seed that was supposed to bruise his head.  They thought that by killing this Jesus they were thwarting God, they really had no idea though.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.  Psalms 2:4

See they thought they were defying God but really they just played right into his hand.  What they meant for evil, God used for good.  For the ultimate good, for the salvation of the world.  They offered up to God his own perfect Lamb an atonement for sin of all who believe and put their trust in him, and they didn’t even realize it.  Instead He just has them in derision all stressed and freaking out when they realize that they just got owned.

God looks down at them and he laughs!  I imagine him looking at them like I would one of the toddlers on Sunday who decides they are going to do something I don’t allow for their own good and they come at me pushing, pulling, tugging trying like mad to make me move from the door or let them stand on the rocking horse or whatever wild idea they have in their head at that moment.  I’m like a rock, they can’t budge me as I chuckle to myself and keep them safe in spite of themselves.   Those who crucified his Son were like my toddlers, railing against something bigger than they are in vain, they can’t overpower the power that created them! He is our rock, our fortress, the creator of heavens and earth; who is man that we should defy him!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Not only that but God knows that really all they are doing in their supposed rebellion is accomplishing his plan.  See he knew Jesus had to be sacrificed from the very beginning,  they were just the tools that accomplished that goal and thus brought about the very think they were trying to stop.  So God laughs at the irony of their sad, rage, their vanity.  For what they meant for evil he used for the ultimate good.  As he always does, we may not see the good in a situation at first but God will take what seems terrible and use it to further His kingdom.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I think he looks on our rebellion today in much the same way.  I think he chuckles when we fight so hard with all we have against him because he knows he’s God he created us and he is in charge whether we like it or not.  So while we are allowed to rebel and fight against him ultimately he will just flip it and use it for good.   Jesus is the ultimate example of this but we can often see it today as well.  Look at the story of Jim Elliot for instance – those who killed him thought they were doing something, thought they were in control, but look how God used Jim’s death to reach so many around the world.  He used evil for good.  I do know that those who killed him thought he was a threat and they were defending themselves but murder is wrong anyway you look at it.

??????????????

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.  Psalms 2:5

After he has his laugh over their vain folly then we see Him speak and well he ain’t laughing anymore.  Nope now he’s the Father and he’s about to take em to the woodshed for rebelling against him.  Cause even though He used their evil for good they are still guilty of defying him.  Just like those toddlers are guilty of trying to disobey me and they will get sat in time out once their little hissy fit is over.  He speaks to them in his wrath, chastises them, reminds them he is God and well, takes em out the woodshed as we say around here.  They are vexed in his displeasure.  I don’t wanna vex God or be the cause of his displeasure ever again.  I was once and I know that, it is by his mercy that my eyes were opened to the truth and I was able to see how silly, how ridiculous I was.  Only then was I able to admit my guilt and sin and seek forgiveness for it, accept the free gift of grace offered by accepting Jesus into my heart.

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.  Psalms 2:6-9

Now we really see why he laughs, cause he knows that Jesus has already won.  He’s set his Son whom he loves upon the hill of Zion and no one is gonna move him!  Instead he is going to give all that the Son asks into his hand to be judged, dashed like shards of clay.  Praise the Lord, I will not be among those shards, I will not be broken with that rod.  I am not among the heathen any longer but among the sheep who willing follow their Shepherd.

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Psalms 2:10-11

Be wise, serve the Lord with fear, with awe, with reverence for He is God Almighty, the Creator of all things, by his power were all things spoken into being.  Serve him and rejoice with trembling that you have hope, that you have eternal life with the God who loves you so much he died for you.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.  Psalms 2:12

Blessed are all they that put their trust in him, the Son, the King of kings!   Enter into his courts and rejoice!

Commit Thy Way

As I was studying the Word tonight my passages came from Genesis, Psalms and Matthew – I know I’m kind of all over the bible right now but it’s been good.  I am rereading Genesis since I am teaching on various parts of it in my toddler room on Sundays, Matthew because my son is reading it during his study time and Psalms because I just love the wisdom contained in them!  Right now it’s working for me.  Tonight’s reading was especially insightful.  It helped put my focus back on God and not on the trials and tribulations I face as a Christian for following God’s call.  Sometimes I get caught up focusing on the fact that have lost many friends and family because I put the Lord first, or because we homeschool, or both.  I admit it is hard, it hurts when I am judged, ridiculed, rejected because serving God is the most important thing in my life.  But I don’t answer to those people, I answer to my Savior, the Son of man who will one day judge all men.  I don’t want to hear my Lord say “Depart from me you worker of iniquity; I never knew you.”  So I serve with all I have, all I am.  I am blessed for that service, blessed and privileged to serve such a wonderful, loving God.

For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.  Psalms 37:22

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  Psalms 37:5

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 19:17-19

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:36-40

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.  Psalms 37:23-24

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Psalms 37:39-40

 

Teach Them!

You all know that we have chosen to homeschool our son, that we are obedient to the call the Lord put on our lives, and that we wouldn’t have it any other way.  It’s hard sometimes, most of our family is very critical of our decision, some out right defy and oppose us.  But our decision has nothing to do with them and everything to do with equipping our son to live the life God has planned for him.  We believe we are all created for a reason, with a path to walk and fulfill, the goal of education to is to assist us by equipping us with the knowledge needed to do so.  That includes biblical and scholarly knowledge.  I have never tried to hide or down play our purpose and goals, nor do I hide or downplay the role God has in my life.  He is everything, without him I would be lost, have nothing, be nothing.  He comes first and humble, complete obedience to his is the only way I can thank him for all that he has done for me.  I end my prayers with here’s my heart Lord, speak what is true, empty me of me and fill me with you – I want to be his servant doing his will in this world.  That was what I was made for, it is what my son was made for as well and I pray it for him and my husband also.  It is why we homeschool.

When serving God is our goal then we look at life differently – we see the world through truth, we see it through God’s eyes in a sense.  We see all that he created and how amazing it is, even in it’s fallen state.  Just look at the complexities of a flower, an eye, or a cell!  It’s awe inspiring!  When we read his word we see that that brilliant mind gave us a guidebook, a map if you will.  There are incredible stories of our ancient history contained in it’s pages, rules on how to life our lives to be the best we can be, and the gospel of our precious Savior.  Tonight I want to talk a bit about those rules.  See we take them seriously, God doesn’t make idle commands – no he is very serious for good reason.  Those commandments he makes are meant for our good – the Big Ten I call them, ten rules for life.  Because they are God given, Jesus affirmed and just make perfect sense we teach them to our son.  Actually we are called to teach them to him as you will see in tonight’s reading.

Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:  Deuteronomy 6:1
That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.  Deuteronomy 6:2

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:  Deuteronomy 6:4
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  Deuteronomy 6:5
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  Deuteronomy 6:6
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  Deuteronomy 6:7
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.  Deuteronomy 11:18
And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  Deuteronomy 11:19

For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;  Deuteronomy 11:22

 

Teach them to your children, always.  That’s a command I don’t want to disobey!

This I Know

Tonight I just want to share a song I needed to hear tonight.  I am working on doing certain types of posts on certain nights and tonight I just wanna sing praise to my Lord!