Awaken to God’s Presence

 

Pinterest.com

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;

 I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp!

 I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples.

I will sing to You among the nations to give praise to the LORD to whomever he is near. 

Psalm 57:7-11 (NKJV)

My question here is do we choose to give praise to the LORD when we are among friends or even fellow worshipers?

I will sing to You among the nations.

Do we join in when we hear hymns or praise music during our times of corporate worship?

Or do we just stand or sit there. I am not a soloist. I used to sing in the choir in two of the churches I belonged to. I had to stop being part of this ministry in one church due to my developing a hole in one of my eardrums. Also, a chronic cough has kept me away from this form of ministry.

Remember, Psalm 100 (KJV) tells us to make a joyful noise. The psalmist does not say it has to be on key or in perfect pitch.

For your mercy reaches unto the heavens,

David tells us here that God’s mercy is evident to all and that it reaches us wherever we are.

And your truth unto the clouds.

God’s truth is evident everywhere on earth and into the stratosphere. We cannot get away from seeing and hearing His truth in our personal lives and in our world.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

David speaks of God being highly lifted up. Do we lift God up as we go through our days

- do we pray to Him, giving thanks for what He has given us or done for us? Do we share with those around us what He has done? Do we ever give praise for things the world takes for granted?

Let Your glory be above all the earth.

God does let His glory be seen by all on the earth. After a rainstorm, my best friend stops whatever she is doing and checks out the sky to see if there is a rainbow. As I initially wrote this, I sat on my sofa, and enjoyed the breeze coming through the open window above my head. As I drive to church, I scan the sky to see what kinds of clouds He has placed there for us.

May we all be more mindful of God’s protection, presence, love, and love as we grow closer to Him.

Book Review: Prayer Starters

 

Christian Books.com

Talking with God About Hard Times

by Suzanne Eller

A Very Special Work

Suzanne Eller has created a very special work in this book. She has brought together 90 conditions that a Christian believer may face and helps us by sharing thoughts to guide us through prayers for those difficult times in life. These 90 prayer starters divided into three parts: Trusting God in Hard Times, Growing in Hard Places, and Freedom in Hard Places.

“Bonus Features”

She includes 12 “bonus” features. These are usually quotes from another author, insights into her life, special scripture readings and thought, or thoughts from our study we may revisit.

Why I like this book

This book has helped me realize that my worrying over an issue that seems to affect my life interferes with my relationship with God. I would recommend this book to anyone who believes they have hit a plateau in their prayer life.

I understand that the release date for Prayer Starters is October 28, 2022

I received this book, free of charge from Bethany House, division of Baker Publishing Group. All they asked of me was that I give an unbiased review.

Pledges

node01flagstat.net

 I gave this message at church this past Sunday.  I didn't realize that some of this information was new to some of the adults. 

Children’s Moments Message

September 25, 2022

I have been thinking about promises lately, sometimes we call them pledges. A pledge is a sincere promise we make. We make one to our nation’s flag, another one to the Bible, and one to the Christian flag.

In all three pledges, we promise to be loyal to each of these.

Pledge to the American flag

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which is stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

mediaistockphoto.com

Pledge to the Bible

I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word. A lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. It’s words I will hide in my heart, that I might not sin against God. ⁽¹⁾

node01flagstat.net

Pledge to the Christian flag

I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands, one Savior, crucified, risen again, and coming again with life and liberty to all who believe. ⁽²⁾

We have those items in our sanctuary here at Cross Roads. I discovered something I did not know about the Christian flag. I knew there is a cross in a blue section, and the rest of the flag is white. Here’s what I learned:

#The shade of red in the Cross reminds us of Jesus’ blood that He shed because He took our sins away.

#The blue reminds us of the water of baptism. It also reminds us of Jesus’ loyalty to God.

#The white reminds us of Jesus’ purity. He was without sin until He went to the Cross for us. ⁽³⁾

^{________________________}

^1.http://www.ccabrazil.org/uploads /4/3/5/9/4359809/christian_flag__bible_pledges.pdf

2. IBID.

3. http://en.wikiepedia.org/Christian _Flag#:-text=The Christian Flag was first to arrive for the event/

Joy Inexpressible

 

www/joyconcerts.com

 

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9 (NKJV)        

 

Believers have times of grief due to trials entering their lives. Knowing Jesus does not make us exempt from the hurts of our earthly life.

 

However, the apostle Peter tells us because of the realness of our faith, being more valuable than gold, we will receive God’s praise (commendation or approval), honor (possibly crowns at the judgment seat of Christ) and glory (a precious, enduring, and genuine faith) because of our suffering.

Like Peter’s readers, we have not actually seen Jesus. However, we rejoice with a joy we cannot describe to anyone else.

 

Prayer: Father God; We thank You for our salvation, for your guidance through our days. We thank You that, when we see You, you will honor us with various crowns for our faith while we walk this earth. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

The Newness of Life

 

ponderinglife.blog

 

 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 (NKJV)

 

As I understand what Paul writes here is that when a person is baptized, the sinful part of him or her dies. We were not only baptized into our death but into Jesus’ death as well.

 

We should walk in a new life because when God raised His Son, He raised Jesus into a new life by resurrecting Him and taking Jesus to live with Him. Because God did this for His Son, the Son will do it for us.

I wonder, do those who submit to baptism realize what it means to go through this ordinance. It was a long time before I did.  When I returned to the LORD, I started attending a church near our home. This church was of the same denomination of the one in which I was baptized but they spoke of people being saved.

 

I now believe that present day churches need to return to the scriptures and their meaning rather than allow the world to shape their theology.

 

A Priest Prepares

 

ezraministry.org.nz

               

                For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.  Ezra 7:10 (NKJV)

 

Ezra, a priest and a scribe in Israel prepared his heart before he began to help rebuild Israel after the first Babylonian exile.

 

What does it mean that Ezra prepared his heart? My NIV translation says it like this:” For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”

  

  What does that tell us today? We must spend time in the Word of God in order to understand what we see happening in our nation and our world. We must also observe those commandments of God and commands that Jesus makes for us.

 

We all have something in our lives that we need to alter in order to prepare our hearts for God to work through us.

 

My Life Application Bible has a note on this verse and the ones preceding it. “He was effective because he was a well-versed student of the Law of the LORD, and he was determined to obey those laws. He taught through both his speaking and his example.” (Page 784)

 

Personally, I have developed a lot of bad habits during this COVID pandemic. I plan on doing something about them and replace them with good, godly ones.   

                  

 

Life is a Gift

 

Krexy.com 

Your eyes saw my unformed body.

    all the days ordained for me were written in your book

    before one of them came to be.

 

As we go through our lives, we learn how precious life is. We don’t realize it when we are growing up. It is only as adults who know the LORD that we learn this.

Inside the gift of life, we are given a certain number of days. Each of those days is also a gift. We must thank God for each day He gives us.  We should do this for even the trying days that life brings.

I personally know of four families who have lost loved ones in the past two weeks. All four families have a connection to our church. Our pastor had two of the funerals on the same day.  The other families’ loved ones had their own church and pastors.

I remember a saying I heard many years ago. “Our lives are God’s gift to us. What we do with our lives is our gift to Him.” I found this graphic that says it best. 

Personally, I wonder how many days I have wasted. Now, when I thank Him for the day, I ask Him to not let me waste it. But even then, I believe I fail to do His will on some days.   

 

I once heard the line: “Only what’s done for Christ will last. “ I discovered it is a poem by C.T. Studd. Here is the whole poem.

 Only One Life By: C.T. Studd

 

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

 

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

 

 

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,’ twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

 

 

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

 

 

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill,

living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

When this bright world would tempt me sore,

When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way,

Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Give me Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

 

Oh let my love with fervor burn,

And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone,

Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

 

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call,

I know I’ll say “t’was worth it all”;

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Book Review: Lead like Christ By A. W. Tozer

Amazon.com

This book is edited by James L. Snyder.

Dr. Snyder has compiled a series of sermons based on the New Testament book of Titus by A.W. Tozer.

 

Tozer aims his writings to “those with an incurable hunger and thirst for the deep things of God.”  [1]

 

This should be considered a workbook to raise up men and women to become the Christian leaders needed in our world today.

 

I found myself caught up by the concept of purpose. Some of today’s believers follow Christ but do not realize they have a purpose for following him. It can be a challenge for some Christ-followers to discover their purpose. I know it was mine. I found out just recently that our purpose can change as we advance in age and deterioration of our state of health.

 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is seriously searching for a closer walk with the LORD. Because of the shortness of each chapter, I believe it would make a good study book for a small group made up of such Christians. I would also recommend this to be in any pastor’s personal library. 

 

(1.) Lead like Christ, by A.W. Tozer and James Snyder, Bethany House, © (James Snyder), 2021, page 7.

 

 

 

---

[1]

Jesus’ Mission

               

Etsy

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)

 

As we honor God in our world today, we may receive a special urge from Him to perform a task that will give someone the opportunity to know Him or even to know Him better.

 

I recently heard of a church that has a soup kitchen every Tuesday. I need to add that church to my prayer list. They are trying to reach and provide help for the poor in their area of town.

 

Another church in our city has a bereavement ministry that hold public meetings once a month.

 

In our downtown area are four ministry organizations. One serves men who have been incarcerated. Their ministry is to teach these men skills that will make them employable.

 

Another is a center that ministers to homeless men. They also have a store that re-sells items donated by the public. Recently, this center opened an auxiliary center that gives the homeless a place to do laundry and take showers. The main center made arrangements with the United States Post Office to allow those that use this site to have an address to pick up mail.

 

 A new ministry in that area is a shelter for homeless women. The women’s circle at my church collects items for this women’s shelter.

 

 I believe that all these ministry agencies in our town are fulfilling the mission of Jesus as they assist those who are in need.

There is a building that provides retirement housing to senior citizens that have weekly Bible studies for their residents. Before COVID they had people from the community volunteer to lead these studies. This building and an assisted living are locally owned by the local faith communities of our area.

Use Our Gifts to Serve

 

Christianity.com

 

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

 

I recently wrote that our spiritual gifts were for our employment. By this, I meant that we are to use our gifts to enlarge the kingdom of God.

 

Sometimes, I wonder if I am not obeying the message Peter wrote to the scattered believers. Then I read a response to a text or a comment on Facebook that tells me I have done or said the right thing. Due to the COVID pandemic, things have changed dramatically. There are still restaurants in our city that have not reopened. A friend mentioned one that had been a viable business on the near southside of town seemed not to be reopened yet.

 

One way we have been able to serve others is to continue our prayer ministry. For quite a while we met via conference calls on our mobile phones. This spring we have tried to meet in the gazebo in our prayer garden.

When it is too hot (80+ degrees) or rainy we meet in the fellowship hall of the church building.

Our prayer group has a text group that we use when we are aware of a need in our families or our community. We use it when we are not meeting.

 

When I sat down to work on this, I had a personal message from one of my Facebook friends who was in the youth group I was in back in the day. He had commented on a post I shared about people with cancer. He commented that his stepson had cancer. I responded by asking him to PM me and give me the stepson’s name. I would add him to my prayer list. He messaged me and seemed grateful for the added prayer.

 

That seems to me how God wants us to work.

God Sees Me-Rahab

 

Pintrest

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them.

 

Rahab is one who modern-day people would not consider a person God would use. Yet, He did use her in a special way and rewarded her.

 

We know she was a prostitute. What we do n0t know is the reason she chose to enter that kind of life. We surmise that she knew of God. She told the spies that she knew He had parted the sea for the Hebrew people and had protected them in the desert.

 

We know that she felt led to protect the spies when the King of Jericho her about their whereabouts.

 

She made a pact with the two spies to rescue her and her family when their army came to Jericho

her town.

 

Her house was built into the city wall. She sneaked the spies out the window, using a scarlet cord to lower them to the ground.

The spies said they would help her and her family escape, if she would hang that scarlet cord (rope) out that same window when they would return.

 

They briefed Joshua on this arrangement and followed through with it. Rahab married one of those spies, Salmon. The LORD blessed her in an incredibly special way. Four generations later, her great-great-grandson was King David. Beyond that, she was one of three women in the genealogical line of Jesus Christ.

 

Did God see Rahab? Yes, I believe He did in her protecting the spies. In honoring the rules of that pact by not speaking of any part of it. In her protecting her family.

God Sees Me- Moses -2

 

                                           

Shutterstock

                So, now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out if Egypt.                                                                                    Exodus 3:10 (NIV)

 

Moses was in a field in Midian, tending the flock of his father-in-law. He sees something that catches his attention. A bush had caught fire but was not burn up. As he approaches this bush, he hears a voice calling from within the bush.

 

The voice is God’s voice. God tells Moses that He has seen the suffering of His people in Egypt and that it is time for Him to rescue the Hebrew people and He tasks Moses with convincing Pharaoh to allow the people to leave.

 

God continues to speak of the fact that Pharaoh will not let them go. He tells Moses that He will perform “wonders” that will get Pharaoh’s attention.

 

God saw the plight of the Hebrew people, His people, as they slaved for the Egyptians.

 

Does He not see us as we endure certain hardships? I believe He does.

 

God Sees Me-Moses-1

 

Pinterest

                               

 

But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it among the reeds. Exodus 2:3 (NIV)

 

The Hebrew people were in bondage to the Egyptians. Pharaoh had decreed that all male babies born to Hebrew women were to be killed.

               

Jochebed, Moses’ biological mother, saw that he was a fine child (ex.2:2) chose to keep him hidden away for three months. I cannot imagine successfully keeping an infant hidden for that long.

 

When Moses was three months old, his mother, Jochebed, found a basket, waterproofed it, and placed him in it. She placed the basket with its precious cargo in the river. She had Miriam, Moses’ sister watch from a safe distance. 

 

This chapter of Moses’ life has a happy ending. Pharaoh’s daughter, along with her attendants were walking along the Nile River. One of them spotted the basket and retrieved it.

 

Miriam came forward and asked if the princess would like to have one of the Hebrew women care for the baby. After a while, Pharaoh’s daughter took the baby into the palace and raised Moses as her own.

 

God gave Jochebed guidance to protect Moses. He allowed Miriam to help watch over him as he lay in that basket in the river. He allowed the princess of Egypt to go to the river with her handmaids. God saw each of them as they cared for the baby boy who will be used by Him in a mighty way.

 

Do we believe God sees us as He saw the baby, Moses?      

 

 

Welcome 2021

 

 

It is a new year! We welcome it into existence.

Bing Images-Concept Draw

 

What has God planned for this new year? Only He knows. All we can do is trust in Him and obey Him. A hymnist tells us there is no other way.

Each year, I sit at my computer and make out writing plans for the twelve months. Due to my humanity, I forget those plans. In 2020, I did search for outlets for my writing. I plan to make a better effort to be more diligent in this.

 

Word for 2021

 

In selecting my word for this year, I considered many terms. As I understand the idea behind doing this, I know the chosen word is one that I believe will guide me through the upcoming year. My word for 2021 is Abide.

 

My choice of this word is based on the thought that I will need to live close to God in this coming year. I do not know what God has in store for me and my family, but I want to remain in His will, whatever comes across my path.

 

Peace and Blessings in this New Year to each of you and your families.  

                     

Book Review: True Worshipers by Marja Verschoor Meijers

Amazon.com

 

 

Marja Verschoor Meijers has written the eighth installment of her series about the Ten Commandments. Her latest installment is instructive, interactive, and full of scriptural guidance.

 

She instructs her readers in ways to bring glory to God. She researched the Old Covenant ways and more fully explained the LORD’S plan for us through the New Covenant. In each chapter, she includes scriptures to bring out her points.

 

At the end of each chapter, she has a page for journal thoughts. She asks two questions related to the topic. She has given space for the reader to respond to the questions.

 

I needed something to lift my spirits after a different and difficult spring. This small book (121 pages) helped me see what I needed to see and will help me do what I must do to worship, witness, and live more fully for Jesus.

 

I would recommend this book to anyone who feels that something is lacking in their relationship with God and wants to work on getting closer to the LORD.

 

I purchased this book from the author. All she asked of me was to give an honest, impartial review.  

 

You can find True Worshipers in paperback or Kindle at Amazon.com. Here

 

 

Book Review: The Pursuit of God By A. W. Tozer

A.W. Tozer originally penned this book in 1948. I find his words relevant in 2020. It is edited by James L. Snyder. It consists of 10 chapters.

Mr. Snyder writes in the introduction about his relationship with this book and with A. W. Tozer, even to writing a biography about him.

Toward the end of the introduction, the reader receives good advice on how to read this book. One chapter a day and after he or she has read God’s Word.

Tozer speaks of “prevenient” grace. “Before a man can seek God, God must have first sought the man.” (Chapter 1)

The chapter that spoke to my heart carries the title, “The Speaking Voice.” (Chapter 6) God spoke the world into being. (Genesis 1) God’s word is powerful. God spoke to many of the Old Testament people and He can speak to us today, provided we listen.

At the end of the book, James L Snyder includes an adaption of the biography, The Life of A. W. Tozer: In Pursuit of God, written by him

This book is small, but it says a lot of mighty thoughts. I would recommend this book to clergymen and women and to members of the laity who desire to get closer to God. 

A copy of this book was given to me by Bethany House Publishers. All I was asked to do was read it and give an impartial and honest review.

 

Tomorrow Belongs to God

quiet spirit writing ministry

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what tomorrow may bring. Proverbs 27:1 (ESV)

King Solomon gives us sage advice in these 13 words. I believe he gives us sage advice here.

When we plan our days, we should consider that God could take our lives in a different direction. He may have completely different plans for us.

A friend of mine has a major change of any plans she may have had when her daughter was taken to the hospital on Christmas night. The daughter was transferred to another hospital and then to another one.

The daughter had major surgery and spent most of a month in the trauma hospital. My friend came home for a few days and caught a cold. She could not go down to see her daughter because of her symptoms.

I know this friend had to change any plans she had in mind for this month. She also had to change her plans for early December when that daughter had been admitted to a hospital and transferred to another facility.    

God hears our plans. Sometimes, He has different things in mind for us. We must remember that He controls all things, even those plans for a vacation, for a shopping trip, a time out with friends, and even how we spend our free time.

                               

Trust God’s Leading

prairiecalifornian.com

Trust the LORD, your God,

With all your heart and lean

Not to your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge

Him and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Have you ever made plans that didn’t turn out as you had thought? Sure. You have; We all have done it.

Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in what WE want to do that we ‘run ahead of the LORD’ and do what we want about our plans and the issues facing us.

We may say things that are on our hearts but are not godly. We may watch a television show or movie that contains dialogue that God does not want us to hear think about.

King Solomon gives us universal, eternal advice in these verses.

Trust the LORD, your God,

God is bigger than all our worldly problems. He is bigger than the world’s current unsettling conflicts and threats. God is in control of everything that can happen, that will happen.

with all your heart

 God wants us to rely on Him completely.

  The prophet Jeremiah tells us we will find God when we seek Him with our whole heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

 

lean not to your own understanding;

 

In the scheme of things, how much do we really know or understand how things operate? I am reminded of God’s speaking to Job about what he knew about God’s business and what He had done. (Job 38-40:1) We only see a snippet of what is happening to us and our loved ones, God sees the big picture.

In all your ways acknowledge him

In every action we take, every word we speak, and every thought we have, we are to give credit to God, to thank Him, to obey Him.

he will direct your paths

God guides us through the quagmires of life. In my adulthood, I have personally been through those times when I thought I would never get through the difficulty. But God was there for me, each and every time.

 

Praise Songs for Our Month of Praise

wordpress.com

At our church, we have a new Praise Band. The director of this band is the band director of our city’s high school. He was a Sunday school student of our pastor’s wife in his hometown. As a youth, he was involved in the Youth Group there and his two leaders were our present pastor and his wife.

November is the month we seem to share our blessings and share what we are thankful for. As I see it, we should always express our thanks to God through praise.  God has been good to me. He guided me to find a solution to a health issue that seemed to recur in my life.

These are the three songs they led us in as we began to worship this past Sunday.

Living Hope; Jesus is our living hope.

God Of This City; The words of this song almost describes what happens when a person comes to Jesus.

This Is Amazing Grace; I had this song running through my mind most of this week.