When King David was in dire situations, and his closest friends had deserted him, he encouraged himself in the LORD (1 Samuel 30:6). When we are pressed from all sides, do we remember we are not crushed; when we are persecuted, do we remember that we are not forsaken; or when we are struck down, do we remember we are not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)? Have you discovered that the pleasures of this world have no power to comfort in times of affliction? The more we are borne down with trials the more we need and receive Divine Revelation and Strength! Out of our weakness we are made strong (Hebrews 11:24). When we are beat up, torn down and left only with the Hope in JESUS does our weakness become our strength; at this point there is NOTHING ANYBODY can do to "threaten us", "temp us", or frighten us away from GOD! We begin to realize (and even Cherish) that our trials are occasions where we passionately seek and receive the FAVOR OF JESUS. The "so called" suffering becomes the purest of JOY; in fact it becomes a real pleasure! Some of the purest of JOYS that we have witnessed have been manifested on a sick bed, and in the prospect of death. We have this paradox come over us where, "WE LEARN TO LOVE THE PAIN"! And we say to ourselves, "Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for CHRIST'S sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). If you WRITE THIS DOWN, and remember it, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ENCOURAGED; because it's just you and JESUS. Be an ENCOURAGER TODAY, to yourself and others, by sharing this message!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD!
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Is there life "hereafter", something called Heaven? When GOD spoke to Moses, HE said, "I AM the GOD of Abraham, and the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob" (Matthew 22:32). I AM says that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were living in HIS presence even though all had departed this earth centuries before. GOD said, "I AM" not I WAS; for GOD is the GOD of the living and not the dead. Our Faith grows as we learn that SCRIPTURE DEFINES SCRIPTURE.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Billy Graham was invited to England to speak at an Economics Society of a major "evolutionary" university. After that he was to conduct Sunday services for Queen Elizabeth II. He was greeted at the University with "hisses and boos" and one student was outside the auditorium with his face pressed against a window acting like a monkey (emphasizing the evolution of man). As the other students began to laugh and Billy looked up, the window broke; the boy fell through and landed on the floor. Billy then addressed the auditorium while looking at the boy. "Thank you, I now remember my ancestral heritage (the auditorium became deathly quite); my ancestors were British". The auditorium erupted in laughter and a standing ovation. Psalm 59:7, "There they are, bellowing with their mouths, with swords in their lips..." He was reminded by the University President as he left the auditorium, "that you are Dr. William and not 'Billy' when you go before the Queen". His Sermon? Daniel 2:21, "HE removes kings and HE establishes kings..." You can take the "William" out of the country but you can't take the "Billy" out of the "William". If you smiled at this story you just confirmed that GOD DOES HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR,after all you are made in HIS Image. AMEN!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! When the anointing oil was poured on the head of David it put laughter in David's life. Laughter is a surplus of life that bubbles over from delight of the heart; yes, it is like a "spasmodic" exuberance from flowing delight. Upon meeting a Christian we see an inward JOY, even in their difficult circumstances, that radiates in their whole being. You know instantly they are a victorious, Spiritual, yielded Believer. They are relaxed and radiant; capable of "Illuminating" not depressing their surroundings. They are serene and JOYful on the darkest day. Proverbs 15:13, "A glad heart makes a cheerful face..." Well, DO YOU THINK CHRISTIANS LAUGH?
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! We might be surprised who GOD is using in our lives to bring us closer to HIM. Is it the Preacher who preaches; the Servant who serves; or the one who quotes scripture after scripture? Is it the one who points out your sins, and pounds repentance until you are not sure you even want their GOD? Maybe, just maybe, it is some unassuming person who knows all about you (even though you have said nothing) that has experienced even more adversities in life than you can imagine. GOD'S love and JOY fills their presence and you are brought into the realm of HIS presence. Luke 17:15, "Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, Praising GOD...." It comes at the most unexpected time, with unexpected power from the most unexpected people. You may ask WHO IS GOD USING IN YOUR LIFE; and others may say GOD IS USING YOU IN THEIR LIFE.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! "Take up his cross and follow ME." Yes, JESUS, "I'll take up my cross and follow YOU"; everyone will see, that I will suffer for YOU. That's right LORD, no matter the pain or ridicule, I will follow YOU. I will teach your GOSPEL, I will feed the hungry, sing YOUR praises and I will proclaim YOUR WORD with every breath I take! Mr. and Mrs. Christian; read the whole verse: Matthew 16:24, "...If anyone would come after ME, let him DENY HIMSELF and take up his cross and follow ME." Yes, we are sooo ready to take on the pain of the Cross, but we are not ready to give up the pleasure of "SELF". We don't deny our "righteous" and sinful self, worldly grandeur, and yes, those "private" thoughts. You know the ones, "they are so wrong, and I will glorify the LORD by telling them so". Or, "I am so glad I am not like them" (when you ARE, just by thinking you're not). I was once told, "you have to change yourself to be better"; NO, only GOD can change me as I trust HIM; but I can change the way I think about things and people. I am changing from the "inside out". I think GOD is smiling; BECAUSE I FINALLY GOT IT!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Have you been praying for a long time, begging, making promises and still GOD does not act? One "fire" after another, everything is falling apart, and you begin to wonder if GOD hears or just doesn't care? Romans 8:32, "HE WHO did not spare HIS own SON...how will HE not also with HIM graciously give us all things?" Do you really think everything you want is good for you and others? GOD promises to work all things together for our good. Is every "emergency" created by ourselves or by others,really for our own good? GOD knows what is best for us; and just because HE is not responding to "our fires" the way we think HE should; maybe HE is telling us, instead of fighting fires, WE'D BE BETTER OFF ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS! Peace and Love with Blessings upon Blessings.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! What are your first thoughts when you wake up? Do we think of all we have to do and wonder how it is going to get done? Do we immediately anticipate unpleasant things? Or do we wake up and say, "LORD, let me hear YOUR lovingkindness in the morning...Let YOUR good Spirit lead me..." (Psalm 143:5-12) No longer do we "need good news" to be happy; and no longer does "bad news" frustrate and bring fear? Our highest motive within us is that GOD is Glorified. We are revived in our SPIRIT and no matter what the day brings, we just smile and say; "IT'S JUST YOU AND ME, RIGHT LORD?
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Morality and Truth have become complicated. How can our ethics, principles, virtue and goodness be measured by our own inherent sense of good and evil? To have no standard, "measurement" or SOURCE, Moral Truth becomes dependent upon each individual. When we individuals measure good/bad, right/wrong, then Truth becomes a matter of individual preference. If Truth is a matter of individual preference, there is no Truth at all. There is only ONE way to "measure" Morality Truth: Psalm 119:160, "The sum of YOUR WORD is Truth, and every one of YOUR righteous rules endures forever." Truth then, has only ONE accurate definition and SOURCE, that is GOD! If you believe that GOD controls big things, then you must believe that GOD controls little things. But is we, of course, to whom things look "LITTLE" OR "BIG".
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Getting up before sunrise, for those comforting moments of inspiration, it began to rain. I began to "ponder" the rain, yes, we have all heard the scientific explanation of how; but it doesn't explain the why, when, where and WHO. In fact the laws discovered by science elevates, and does not diminish, my conceptions of the wisdom, character and authority of GOD. The thought by itself inspires questions. What really caused it; why does it change from vapor, to water, to ice or to snow? Why not come all at once instead of drops or flakes; and why in only certain places and not all places at once? To "ponder" that all creatures and creation (as well as creation's creation) are wonderfully governed by Divine Order. Job 38:4-41, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?...What is the way to the place where light is distributed...WHO brings rain on a land where no man is...and to make the ground sprout with grass...Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?" Job 39:1-27, "...Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up...?" This is my day to "PONDER" GOD, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! |
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December 2015
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