Come and Hear

 

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He has done for my soul.

Psalm 66:16 (ESV)

Words written to the choirmaster

The psalmist invites those who know God and respect Him to gather and listen as he conveys a special message to them.

Do we, who live in the 21^st Century share good news when God blesses us? Or do we just keep that news to ourselves?

Sometimes, we forgo the good news and relate the sad news and the ugly news of the world to those around us.

Some of us well-meaning Christians repeat things we hear and should not do. My parents called this “Carrying tales”.

What has God done for our souls?

* He saved us from sin.

* He gives us each day as a gift.

* He guides us through each day.

* He protects us from harm.

* He listens to our prayers.

* He answers those prayers as to what is best for us and for those for whom we pray.

Trust, at All Times

 

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 62:7-8 (NKJV)

Words of David

David gives testimony to what roles God has in his life.

God is David’s;

Salvation

God and God alone saved David.

Glory

David continually gave glory to God

Rock of his strength

God is the source of what David can do, can withstand.

David then tells his readers, and us, to rely on God at all times. He urges the people to tell God all that is on their hearts. He goes so far to tell them that God is a safe place for all of us.

From time to time, we all have circumstances that enter our lives that seem so difficult to those around us. A personal illness, a family illness, a long-standing situation between ourselves and others. When we trust God for the outcome, we can get through the circumstances.

A lady I saw recently told that her daughter was in hospice care. The lady wondered why we have to go through such prolonged times of tough times. She had heard that we are to learn humility. I believe we are allowed to learn to trust God more, to trust God with everything-everything we have and everything we are.

Trusting in Jesus

 

My Christmas Present.

This is a song that ran through my heart and mind after God chose my word for 2024. I have put my thoughts on paper in order to help me understand the message of this song.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Yes, it is very sweet to have Jesus in your corner. We can rely on Him.

Just to take Him at His Word

When we allow Jesus into our lives, we learn to rely on Him and His word.

Just to rest on His promise

We can take what He tells us into our hearts.

Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!

When we know Jesus said something, we know we can believe it and rely on Him and His word.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

As we get to know Jesus, we learn that He has our best interests at heart.

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er

Each time we patiently wait for Jesus to act on a prayer request, we prove that He does care for us.

Oh, for grace to love Him more!

When we see answers to our prayers, we realize that we can love Him more than we do.

I’m so glad I learned to trust thee,

Yes, I am very thankful that I learned to turn everything over to Him.

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend.

There is no one like Him. He is my Savior, and my Friend.

And I know You are with me,

Whatever I go through, I know Jesus is right beside me.

With me to the end.

He will be with me at the time, He escorts me into God’s presence.

Jesus, Jesus, How I trust Him!

When we learn of Him, we see that He is worthy of our trust.

How I’ve proven Him o’er and o’er.

When we witness to someone, we prove that He is real and that He loves them.

Jesus, precious Jesus!

The Lord grows more precious each day.

Oh, for grace to trust Him more.

We need to experience God’s love in order to learn to trust Him.

Oh, for grace to trust Him more.

We learn to trust Jesus by allowing Him to have full reign over our lives.

Oh, for grace to trust Him more.

Yes, we must learn to trust Him more.

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“’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Louise M.R. Stead

Thank you, WOTY 2023

 

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I chose you for my word this year, not knowing what to expect. You have taught me so much. Here are just a few lessons I learned.

* I need to ask God’s forgiveness throughout each day. Sometimes immediately after I mess up.

* I need to let go of hurts, present and past, in order to grow closer to God.

* I discovered that the dysfunction in families could be dealt with by people forgiving one another.

* I have come to believe that friendships might not end if the people involved would forgive each other.

* We are to “forgive one another as God in Christ forgave you”. Ephesians 4:32 (This scripture always makes me stop and think.)

This has been an exciting adventure learning about forgiveness. I believe studying this word and applying those lessons to my life has made me grow closer to God. These lessons will be with me always.

The Ultimate Forgiveness

 

I recently found a small book by Dr. David Jeremiah in my pile of ‘things’. It is entitled “Why The Nativity?”

The book contains 25 different questions people may have about Christmas. In the last chapter, question 25, Dr. Jeremiah makes two very interesting thoughts.

* “Finally, we should believe in Jesus because only through him can we find forgiveness for every sin- past, present and future-and thus live with the hope of eternal life.” (1.)

* “We should believe in Jesus because he is our one and only hope of forgiveness in this world and of joyful existence in the next.” (2.)

God forgives us because of His love for each one of us. He does not keep a ledger book of our life that highlights our transgressions. When we ask His Son into our hearts, Jesus takes away our sin. He did that at Calvary.

And for that, we who know Him are eternally grateful.

_____________

(1.) Why The Nativity, David Jeremiah, © 2006, Tyndale Momentum, Carol Stream, IL p.109

(2.) Why The Nativity, David Jeremiah, © 2006, Tyndale Momentum, Carol Stream, IL p. 110

Book Review: Authentic Worship by A. W. Tozer

 

A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) wrote numerous books during his lifetime. He was a self-taught theologian and pastor.(1) This particular work has been edited by James L Snyder.

While Mr. Tozer wrote during the 20^th Century, his thoughts speak of concerns of present-day evangelical Christians.

The book has rather short chapters, each beginning with a verse or a passage of scripture. At the end of each chapter, the words to a Christian hymn follows.

The author and the editor have broken down the act of worship into various morsels that we need to consider as we evaluate our worship experience.

I enjoy reading Tozer’s writings. I especially liked this book because, in it Mr. Tozer gave me a few things to think on as I prepare to worship. One point Mr. Tozer made that stood out to me is that we have to experience God before we can know Him. I enjoyed the hymns chosen for the end of each chapter. Most of them were familiar to me and I knew their tunes.

I would recommend this book to anyone who feels the lack of “something” in their worship of God.

This book would make a good group study book.

I received this book free from Bethany House, division of Baker Publishing Group.

All they asked of me was that I give a truthful, honest review.

(1) From the bio in the book.

Experiencing God

 

                  http://www.christianbooks.com// BibleStudies

I believe it was A. W. Tozer who wrote in his book, Authentic Worship that we have to experience God in order to fully know Him.

Some people tell us they know “about” God. By this they may mean they heard of Him as a child or they heard His name taken in vain. There once was a comedy series where the main character would respond to something she didn’t care for with, “God’s going to get you for that!”

In order to know God, a person must spend time with Him. In order to fully know God we have to experience Him. I have found this thought to be true.

Two weeks before COVID-19 shut down our world, I fell in my kitchen and damaged my good foot. At the orthopedic doctor’s office, I was given a medical boot. I could not make friends with it. From time to time, it would cause me to pitch backward. One day, I got up and used my chrome walker to get to the bathroom. I did what I had to do; got up and washed my hands. I turned toward the door and felt myself falling backward. Our bath tub was behind me. I had the feeling I was going to fall across the tub and hit my head.(We had lost my Husband’s sister because she fell and had hit her head.) I let out a short yell. Hubby was there in an instant.

He stood in the doorway as I felt two strong hands grab my sides, just above my waist. The next thing I knew those hands sat me down on the edge of the tub.

I had never experienced anything like that before. Since then, I have found a peacefulness I have never had before. I am not as prone to get upset at something that happens. I am more selective on what I watch on television. I find myself praying at different times of the day. I thank God for all of these blessings He has given me.

God. Lead and Teach Me

 

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Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day.

                                                        Psalm 25:5 (NKJV)

Words of David.

David pleads for God’s mercy and deliverance. He asks God to not “remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions:” (verse 7)

David, later in the chapter, asks God for mercy and forgiveness (verses 16-18)

God leads His spiritual children through difficult times. He quiets their hearts and gives them guidance because of His grace for them.

There have been times when I have felt alone as I went through trying circumstances. However, when the issue has become ‘history’, I studied how the event went and I realize that no matter how it turned out that God was there and was in control.

As God teaches us, we have to be receptive of the message and obedient to His direction. When God gives us, His children tasks, We first need to pray and ask for His leading to insure that we do these things for Him and not for our glory.

What Lacking Self-Control Looks Like

 

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A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 25: 28 (ESV)

Words of Solomon, the son of David.

Someone without self-control seems to fall for ‘the latest’, what he or she hears from the television or reads in the newspaper. That person is not grounded in faith.

We see this result in our world today with the seeming popularity of “groups” that promote ideas that were unheard of 40, 50, or more years ago.

Carla Gasser, author of The Beauty of An Uncluttered Soul, tells us that a person who practices self-control practices spirit- control. That person lives with the Holy Spirit guiding him or her.

At first, it is not easy to function with the Holy Spirit leading our lives. I believe it gets easier to do as we go practice giving issues to the LORD through our days. Even then, we may have times when the enemy chooses to test our resolve.

We must remember that we serve a LORD who understands the stress when the enemy tempts us. He tempted Jesus and Jesus rebuked him.

My sister-in-law had a friend give her a print-out of a meme that had a special message:

“When the devil knocks at your door, ask Jesus to answer it.”

A God-Given Spirit

 

Open Bible free images

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

Words of Paul to his spiritual son Timothy.

Paul encourages Timothy to not be ashamed of speaking about God or about his (Paul’s) imprisonment.

God empowers His people to stand for Him and His Word. He still empowers us, His followers, to stand firm in the face of what the world throws at us.

A church I was a part of had a guiding document that included the guiding thought that the church’s calling is to approach the world and change it. Instead, we see the world entering the church and changing it. My present church’s denomination historically has been counter-cultural in its beliefs. Slowly, the world has seen to have crept in and tried to destroy the beliefs and practices we have held dear. Author Charles Colson wrote in some of his books that the colleges of the east coast we founded by churches and originally taught Christian values. Even at the time of his writing, the values, once held dear to the institutions were becoming blurred.

There was a gospel song I heard several years ago that summed up what we must do, it’s title-” The Basics of life”. One line said it all, “Let’s get back to the Basics of life. "We need to do just that!

   

Purpose in Season

 

Warner Sallman

To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose on earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

God creates our live and gives us many epochs in each life He creates. As a person goes through life, he or she might go through certain stages.

As young adults, we study, we work, date, maybe marry.

As young marrieds, we work, provide for our families and care for our homes.

As parents, we care for, provide for and rear children.

As Empty Nesters, we rediscover favorite pastimes. and even learn new skills.

As Caregivers, we spend time caring for or helping older family members.

As Senior Citizens, we may volunteer for church or civic positions.

Each of these seasons have a purpose. God gives His children duties and tasks to perform. Each ‘season’ has a beginning and an end.

Since two weeks before the COVID lock down, I have had several health issues. It seems like one after another. I sincerely need to pray about finding God’s purpose about how He wants me to spend my days in this season I find myself.

Sometimes, all we can do is seek the LORD’s guidance and follow His leading.

Are any of you going through times like this?

God’s Plan

 

Microsoft Bing

For I know the thoughts [plans] that I think towards [have for] you,

says the LORD. Thoughts [plans] of peace not evil, to give

you a future and hope. Hebrews 29:11 (NKJV) [NI V]

The words in brackets are how I learned this verse.

The LORD has set in motion a time of exile for the Israelite people. They will be in bondage for 70 years, a life time to a lot of people now. How many generations of Israelite people lived in this bondage during those years?

Yet, God had plans for them. False prophets had misled them. One told the Israelite people the enslavement would last just two years. God took him out two months later.

God’s plans were positive-in the long run. The people had to learn some lessons and learn to respect God.

Recently, I came across the thought that what we see happening in our world today has come about because we have lost respect for God and the lessons we have needed to learn. This thought makes sense to me.

What do you think about this? Does God still have plans for His children? Will His children respond to God in a way that uplifts Him?

God’s Purpose

 

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” Now my soul is troubled and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I came to this hour. Father glorify Your Name." John 12:27-28a (NKJV)

Here Jesus speaks to God from His humanity. His soul is troubled. He knows what lays ahead for Him, yet He fears the separation from His Father that He has to endure.

Jesus Christ knew God had led Him to this point in His ministry. He asks the question if he should ask God to save Him from that hour.

However, Jesus realized and stated that what He was about to go through was God’s plan and purpose.

Our God has plans and purposes for each of us. In researching God’s purpose for our lives, we begin to see His plan unfold for each of us.

1. Keep in touch with God through prayer.

2. Study His Word (Read the Bible)

3. Apply what you read to our hearts.

I have had a terrible time getting onto the internet this afternoon. I spent almost an hour and five phone calls to my carrier. I had to go pick up some things at the dry cleaners. I was online when I returned. We had supper and I could not get back online again. I had to switch browsers in order to get this posted. I also had to get a new password. I believe there is a message in this. At the moment, I am unsure what that message is.

Husband knows to not ask any questions or cross my path when things like this happen. I get very upset.

A Gentle and Quiet Spirit

 

                                                                                      i.pinimg.com

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging your hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV)

Words of the Apostle Peter to those who were dispersed into five regions of Asia Minor.

His words speak of the inner beauty of the believers of Christ. Per his thought, the inner person is what God sees and deems as our true selves.

I am concerned that our world has worshiped youthfulness, forgetting that people age. Madison Avenue (the advertising industry) has caused us to forget the fact that we are aging. Several of my lady friends have aged gracefully. I have a picture of one of them and her husband in our living room.

Now, please do not misunderstand, there are things we might need to do to our skin. However, there are things we need to do to keep our inner self presentable before God.

#Reading God’s Word

# Applying what it says to our heart

# Living out His Word to others

# Seeking His guidance through prayer

Father God, Please help each one of us to be gentle and humble as we go through our days. In Christ’s Name, I pray. Amen

Let Your Gentleness Be Known

 

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Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Philippians 4:5 (NKJV)

As believers, we must not haggle over unimportant details.  One afternoon recently, I had two incidents with a clerk at our CVS store. I had to ask where something was that I could not find. His response was, “Aisle Seven.”

Instead of responing to my query, I felt that he should have accompanied me to the area. That to me is good customer service.

When I checked out, I had two coupons, one of which did not get applied to my bill. I was not in the best frame of mind when I left the store. I did not know that the second coupon was not applied until I had returned home and checked my receipt.

I decided how to handle my response on this. This is not the first time I have had issues with his service.

Then, I read this scripture. I do have some work to do on this gentleness issue. When I was asked to evaluate the service I received (online), I gave the store middle valued response. When I had to evaluate the person who checked me out, I gave that person low markings.

My reasoning for the action I took was as follows:

# I am a senior citizen, in my late 70s. If a person working in a store treats a senior citizen badly, it reflects on the store. I have seen people in the business world help and guide an elderly person through the process he or she has to go through to complete their transactions or even to find what they are looking for.

# I walk with a cane, it is sometimes hard for me to get around. When I have to hunt for the location of a product, I get frustrated when I have looked and still can’t find it.

As I said above, I do have some work to do on this gentleness issue.

We Must Give Thanks

 

      

 

For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.            Psalm 33:4-5 (NKJV)

 

The psalmist tells us some wonderful thoughts about our LORD. He writes that His word is always correct; when we follow what he tells us, we will never go astray.

 

He continues by reminding that God works in truth; the Lord will not steer us in the wrong direction. It is up to us to listen to and obey what He tells us.

 

God delights in His children when He sees them living righteously for Him. He also delights in them when they seek justice for others and themselves.

 

The Lord showers goodness down on the earth. He gives us beauty in nature. He provides fresh fruit and vegetables during the summer. He allows us to have people in our lives who are good to us. These people display His goodness to us.

 

For every way the LORD displays His goodness to us, we must give thanks.

 

 

What Will It Take?

This is a departure from this month's theme. I felt so moved by hearing an answer to my thought. Because of this experience, I am also journaling this verse, one phrase as a time.

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quiet spirit 

Recently, as I read our local newspaper, I became sad about the violence occurring in our cities, our nation, and our world: People unable to peacefully resolve their differences, others, carrying weapons going into schools and taking out the lives of defenseless children and those called to educate them.

 

Memorial Day weekend saw multiple mass shootings across our nation. These followed the Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York tragedies.

 

As I was working in my kitchen, I wondered, “What will it take for order to come back to our world?” I received an answer to my question. “If my people. . .will humble themselves and pray.”

 

 If My people who are called by My name,

            The Lord is speaking about those who say they belong to Him. 

            He knows our hearts.

 

will humble themselves”

            We must recognize our sin, confess it to Jesus and leave it with Him.

 

 and pray

            Go before the LORD and ask Him to guide us, to help us conquer these sinful                issues.

 and seek my face.

            Diligently look for the LORD. Spend quantity time with Him.

 

 and turn from their wicked ways,

            Renounce and forsake the evil thoughts, and actions. Move away from anything              that God dislikes in us. Repent from the questionable language and behaviors.

 

 then I will hear from heaven

            The LORD patiently waits to hear us calling out to Him. He listens whenever we call upon Him.

 

and will forgive their sin

            God, in return, will forgive His people of their sin. He will not remember them.

 

 and heal their land

            God will heal those things that continually vex His people.

 

Some things to think on:

 

1.         Do we need to humble ourselves?

2.         Have we harbored “Christian” sins in our hearts?

3.         Do we truly pray, seeking His will or do we dictate to God what we want?

4.         Do we spend quantity time in prayer as we  seek His guidance, or do we pray on the run?

5.         If we have any bad thoughts and habits, do we want to give them up?

 

 

 

 

 

  

Peace with God

 

Ralph's Fotos @ Pixabay

 

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom. 5:1-2 (NKJV)

 

The Apostle Paul tells the believers at Rome something very basic to Christian belief.

 

Simply put, we have access to peace with God through our relationship with Jesus Christ. There are others who state that there are other ways to establish our relationship with God. His Word tells us otherwise.

 It is through our relationship with Jesus that we come to know God. It is our faith in Jesus that allows us to learn of God. It is this relationship we have with the Son that allows us access to the Father.

 Jesus went to the cross, shed His blood, and rose and entered heaven so that we may someday go be with Him and His Father.

Access to God is a very special concept to those of us who try to live for Jesus. We use this access daily, sometimes more often as needed. Because we have this privilege, we can weather the storms that life puts us through. Those storms can enter our lives unannounced and very unexpectedly. But God is there with us as we travel through those times.

Abound in Hope

 

Truth for Life Blog-Alistair Begg

 

 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

 

This is a prayer of blessing Paul wrote to the believers in Rome.

 

There are times, even today, that we need to experience joy and peace in our lives. There has been a lot of heartache these past two years beyond the COVID pandemic. Families have lost loved ones to various other illnesses and conditions. Parents have had to bury their children.

 

Our nation received an influx of refugees from the middle east last year. It looks as if we will be receiving refugees from the Ukraine.

 

We may have become weary because of the issues we have faced these past few years, however, looking at this verse of scripture, I find that we may find hope through the Holy Spirit.

 

We will receive the power of the Holy Spirit to stay the course as we seek God’s guidance and direction for our lives.

 

 

               

God Makes All Things New

 

quiet spirit writing ministry.

This is a repeat of a post from 2018. I have updated it to include thoughts I have recently had. 

 

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:4-5a

 

I dearly love this description of the New Jerusalem. God is taking an active part in the lives of His people. He will minister to those who are sad. He will comfort those who are hurting. Death will not enter the scene. Ergo, mourning will not be a phase of life. Can we begin to imagine life without pain? For a lot of people, this will be wonderful.

 

The absence of these five realities of our lives will be no more because God will make “all things new.” Do we understand what God means here? Can we fully understand what He means?  As I sit her in my little home, I cannot fully comprehend how this new However, I have these words to guide me until the day I see Him face-to face.

When we hear of sad events happening to those around us, we have someone who can guide us through the heartache and that sadness. Since COVID has been in our world, I have noted that there is a lot of heartache in our world other than that virus.

We must trust God for our concerns and lean on Him for His guidance through all the issues that plague us. He gives us strength to withstand all the sadness and heartache the world gives us.