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TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 125

Semi (?) Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

INTRODUCTION

Today is our sixth study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. Have you checked out the first 5 studies in the “BLOG/JEREMY STOPFORD” section of the amazing web site of Brother Becker?

More importantly, how are you doing in applying these amazing psalms to your life?

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Have you set YOUR heart on “pilgrimage”?

OR are you in a rut, short for “ROUTINE”!???

Today we are in Psalm 125. It is a psalm both of “trust” and of “turning aside”. As we soon begin, we each need to ask ourselves, “how do I know my TRUST is really in the Lord?”.

It is a brief psalm loaded with 5 most powerful verses:

1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

So the Lord surrounds His people

From this time forth and forever.

3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest

On the land allotted to the righteous,

Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.

4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,

And to those who are upright in their hearts.

5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways,

The Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity.

Peace be upon Israel!

PRAYER

Father – today, you are inviting us to examine ourselves as to where our TRUST is. We SAY it is in YOU alone, through the work of Your Son Jesus at the cross of Calvary, and through His amazing resurrection from the dead.

We SAY that. How can we examine ourselves – like a wise doctor would our physical selves – to PROVE to ourselves that our TRUST is in YOU?

May your Spirit give us Your understanding of this most challenging psalm.

And ahead of time, we give You thanks!

In Jesus Name, Amen

OUTLINE OF PSALM 125 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie). Title: “Confidence in God”

1. Permanence v. 1

2. Protection v. 2

3. Promise v. 3a

4. Peril v. 3b

5. Prayer v. 4

6. Prediction v. 5a

7. Peace v. 5b

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

Dr. Scroggie (author of the above outline) writes, “the permanent tranquillity of God’s people, forever (v. 1), is explained by the abiding protection of their Lord, forever (v. 2)”.

Where is the psalmist when he finds his security in the Lord?

Where are YOU when you are most confident and assured of the security of the Lord? Is that a PLACE or a POSITION or a PRESENCE?

Is it a “PLACE” – do you have to be in a church, for example, in order to feel most secured in the Lord? What if the nearest church to you – one that you “feel” most “secure” in, is miles away with no means of getting there? THEN what do you DO?

Is it a “POSITION” – do you have to be in prayer, for example? On your knees? Standing up? Looking up? Hands raised? Fallen prostrate? A POSITION? So what if you are not physically able to do any of that? THEN what do you DO?

Is it a “PRESENCE” – to be enjoying the place of most security, where you know the Lord’s PRESENCE has been promised ALWAYS, where should you be? What should you be doing?

Well, it is 2020! What with all the limitations due to the recent virus, you may find yourself only at HOME! So may I make an HUGE suggestion? Why not be in the PRESENCE of the Lord in His WORD!!! He will meet you there, regardless of how you FEEL, what situations you are in, what emotions you are in, what events are overwhelming your mental state. His PRESENCE is ALWAYS in His Word.

But Brother Jeremy, what about “PRAYER”? Isn’t God’s presence always in prayer? Well, what does the Good Book say? “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18). The Lord is DEAF when sin is more pressing than HE is in our lives. So, no, PRAYER does not assure God’s presence.

But His Word does! And being in Sojourn Psalms such as Psalm 125 encourages the pilgrim in the security of God’s Forever Presence!!!

But what about when I STRUGGLE? What about when I am struggling with the enemy in the work of the Lord? What about when the enemy is struggling with ME when I’m trying to live for Jesus and the enemy wants me to live for the enemy? What about when all sorts of testings are in my life, orchestrated by the Lord, to develop my character in Jesus? What if? What if? What when? What? What? What???

What ONE word describes the reason for the righteous to struggle, as found in verse 3?

Yes, the word “REACHES”. It IS possible for the righteous – those like you and me who are striving to be holy in a most unholy world – to “reach out to iniquity”. It IS possible for the sojourner to be content with where he is, rather than “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.” (Phil. 3:13b-4). It IS possible for the believer to forget that he is but a sojourner, NOT a settler, in this world.

Daily, we must ask ourselves – rather, REMIND ourselves in a question – “today, am I a settler or a sojourner?”. The answer to that question will cause our obedience to the truths of Psalm 125!

In verse 4, WHERE does the sojourner find HELP? He finds HELP in…the PRESENCE of the Lord!!! When he is still before the Lord, he has hope that God will be the HELP of those who are GOOD, of those who are UPRIGHT in their HEARTS! What does that mean? It means that these remember when they wake up that they are but SOJOURNERS and that the Lord Himself is their HELP! They are not settlers. No, NO! “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through!!!”.

Are YOU? Have you found your HELP and HOPE in the cross of Jesus? Is your eternal HELP and HOPE in His death, burial, and resurrection for you personally?

If so, then this psalm is for YOU!!!

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

I am most challenged how this psalm ends!

“Peace be upon Israel !”

I don’t get it, do you? Throughout this psalm, the unnamed psalmist has been talking about the marks of a sojourner. “Israel” as a nation is never mentioned, or is it? “Zion” and the “mountains of Jerusalem” point to both the historical importance and the amazing picturesque sight of Jerusalem and the nation in which it dwells.

So why finish with a prayer for peace? Is it not because the sojourner is more than just an individual? The sojourner is one of many along the road of pilgrimage! He/she is a pilgrim! Together! And together, they are members of a greater purpose than themselves.

In eternity, Israel will be the center of the world!

But apply this psalm to you, and the country in which you dwell. Perhaps like me, you are in the “good ol’ USA”. Like every nation, Covid-19 has hit us hard. Our economy has fallen. Businesses have closed. And even most churches have been closed for many months – and even some have yet to open to do the many challenges of being in compliance with the new “state regulations” for guidance “for the concern of the health of each attendee.” [Hmm. I won’t go there today.]. And in less than 2 weeks we will be voting AS A NATION for the office of President of the USA.

So by application, the psalmist would be praying, “Peace be upon America.”

Have you prayed that prayer today?

And if I may give a commercial – that I am sure both Facebook and Mr. Becker will not eliminate! – have you read the “Star Spangled Banner Series” written by our esteemed web site author? You can find the 6 books of the series at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple! The theme of this psalm is the theme of this series – the deliverance of a nation!

And LOOK for one of the swash-buckling rescuers in Book 6!

(I wonder WHO that could be? Perhaps a semi (?) retired pastor? Hmm?)

PRAYER

Father, we pray for the peace of Israel. We know that that nation is the heart of the world, and of Your end times for the world.

But until then, we pray for the peace of our country. We pray for the salvation through Christ of each one in our land. And we pray for our leaders – both national and local – that they will be guided by Your Spirit in all the decisions they must make each day. And we pray for us citizens, that we who love You will be reminded that You have designed us, as sojourners, to be a light wherever You have wisely planted each one of us.

Thank You for that grace!

We give You all the praise,

With thanksgiving…

In Jesus Name, Amen!

Blogs, John Grant

REMEMBER THE PAST

Week Forty-Two, 2020

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Ephesians 1:11

Throughout my secondary school years, each day began with standing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our county and when I was in elementary school the words “one nation under God” were added by an act of Congress. A prayer followed. Each year the Gideons came to bring us a New Testament and tell us about Jesus.

Our leaders and educators knew how important it was to know and study our country’s Christian heritage and the faith of our fathers. In the words of John Piper, “Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.” As Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:11 we have obtained an inheritance predestined according to God’s will.

Now, flip forward about fifty years and see the slippery slope. Prayer and the Bible have been removed out from schools by order of the Supreme Court (in a courtroom adorned with the Ten Commandments) and legislation is pending to remove “one nation under God” from the pledge.

Now, one legislator is calling for abolishing history from the classroom because current history texts are “miseducating” children and teaching them to be hostile and teaching them “flawed” thinking. Thomas Jefferson wrote that “such education is necessary for maintaining a generation of thinkers, who will in turn keep the population safe by being the ultimate guardians of their own liberty.”

The study of history imparts knowledge of the past to current generations and here is where the importance of the Bible enters. I just finished reading Ecclesiastes and realized how important Bible verses and admonitions are so important to understand how to conduct ourselves in the current generation. Banning prayer in school essentially made God unconstitutional.

The First Amendment provides for the freedom OF religion, not the PROHIBITION of it. Our country was built not on an established religion, but rather on Judeo-Christian values.

Our values include service, thankfulness, compassion, endurance, creativity, justice, peace, wisdom and many more. What better place than the Bible and American history book can students learn how America was built on these principles?

Christians need to step up and speak out before books that teach children who we are and how we got here are removed and replaced with books that tell children what some people want to teach what our forefathers should have been.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:35

Sometimes there is nothing more to say… the Word says it all.

▪ No matter where we may find ourselves in life’s journey.

▪ No matter if we have stumbled and fallen and find ourselves in the valley of life.

▪ No matter if we are climbing the highest of mountains striving to reach the apex of life.

▪ No matter young or old, sick or healthy, poor or wealthy, near or far away.

▪ No matter where we may be or what we may be going through…

▪ Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus ~ Nothing!

▪ Sometimes we all have to be reminded of God’s great love for us through Jesus, His Son. Marty Stubblefield

— o —

WISDOM FROM ECCLESIASTES:

▪ If you love money and wealth, you will never be satisfied with what you have.

▪ I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat, drink and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

— o —

The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing

In a day when every moral trend seems to be going in the wrong direction, it’s easy to become discouraged. But that’s just what the enemy wants. If he can tempt us to withdraw from cultural engagement, keeping the salt in the saltshaker and the light under a basket, he wins. Jim Denison

— o —

It’s easier to say “I shall not want” when you have a loaf of bread under both arms… An adaptation of an old Jewish proverb

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. Dwight D. Eisenhower

I know that true joy comes from letting God love me the way God wants, whether it is through illness or health, failure or success, poverty or wealth, rejection or praise. It is hard for me to say, ‘I shall gratefully accept everything, Lord, that pleases you. Let your will be done.’ But I know that when I truly believe my Father is pure love, it becomes increasingly possible to say these words from the heart. Henri Nouwen

We should have the “How may I serve you…” mentality. Marty Stubblefield

God doesn’t love people because of who they are, but because of who God is. Frederick Buechner

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:13

How close are you to God? You are as close as you choose to be. Ken Whitten

Remember, God’s delays are not God’s denials. David Jeremiah

Truth is truth, whether or not we choose to believe it. David Jeremiah

We are all in interim positions. Someone is going to follow us regardless of our job or position. Brg. Gen Dick Abel

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 124

Jeremy Stopford photo
Retired Pastor Jeremy & Thuvia Stopford

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

Semi-Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

INTRODUCTION

Today is our fifth study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. [You can check out the first 4 studies under “BLOGS/JEREMY STOPFORD” on Mr. Becker’s auspicious web site!]. How are you doing in your “long obedience in the same direction”, as Brother Eugene Peterson ((author of “The Message” Bible) called these psalms?

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Have you set YOUR heart on “pilgrimage”?

Today we are in Psalm 124. This is a most fascinating psalm! We are going to see phrases repeated twice (why?). We are going to see illustrations of what happens if God WEREN’T on our side. We are going to see a most familiar phrase, which might cause us to say, “I didn’t know THAT came from the Bible!”. And we are going to see the unashamed Origin of the psalmist’s hope! Let’s go! OH! we have to pray first!

PRAYER

Father – you are inviting us today to examine where our hope is. That shouldn’t be an hard hope to find, but without You and with NO hope, that certainly would be. We are glad that You have put into print David’s experiences in HIS “long obedience in the same direction.” Guide our study today, we pray. And then guide our life’s obedience, we pray as well. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

OUTLINE OF PSALM 124 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie). Title: “Mercy Remembered

1. A Description of Peril (vs. 1-5,7)

A. The peril of “voracious beasts” (vs. 3,7)

B. The peril of “swollen torrents” (vs. 4,5)

C. The peril of “fowler’s trap” (v. 7)

2. An Ascription of Praise (vs. 6-8)

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

David uses a grammatical style often used by both Hebrew writers and even by the Lord Jesus Himself! Remember throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus would say (in our beloved old KJV), “verily, verily”? Check out John 1:51 (KJV), “And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” 25 times in the Gospel of John alone, this phrase “verily, verily” is used by our Savior. Why?

Or how about in Isaiah’s vision of the Lord Jesus, when confronted with the words of the angelic visionaries of True God Himself, Isaiah wrote in triplicate: “holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). Why 3 times did the angel say the word “holy”?

And now here in Psalm 124, verses 1 and 2, the psalmist enters a statement starting with the word “if” in both verses. Why?

Why? Why? WHY? Emphasis! “Verily, verily” means what I am about to say is so truthful you had better pay attention. “Holy, holy, holy” is SO descriptive of our God and so revelatory of the fact that He is the TRIUNE God (One in Three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!). That phrase HAD to be repeated 3 times!

And now “IF”. It is a phrase of immense contrast. IF Jehovah were not on our side, and that is an impossibility – IF it WERE possible, but I just told you that it is an impossibility – all sorts of things would happen! When men rose up against us, we would have been swallowed alive, we would have been overwhelmed just like being drowned in waters, we would have even a stream, much less swollen waters “gone”, literally “swept over” our very souls!

David’s use of the phrase “our soul” is showing an HUGE OT insight of NT truth. The “soul” is that which is either alive or dead to God. We are born “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). But our souls are “made ALIVE” when we come to the truth of the cross and trust Jesus as our Savior. Note Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…”. Can I hear an AMEN!!!

OK, are there really phrases in our Bibles that everyone – even non-believers – use in our regular daily living? How about:

“your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23)

“I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.” (Job 19:20)

Or even in the Garden of Gethsemane just before the cross, the words of our Savior to His sleeping, non-watchful praying disciples: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38).

So it shouldn’t surprise us that in Psalm 124 we might see an old familiar phrase, and immediately comment, “WOW! I didn’t know THAT is in the Bible!”. Look at verse 3, “they would have swallowed us alive”. The description of what would happen to a nation which did not have the Lord on their side is pretty challenging, almost foreboding, isn’t it? Would you like to live in a nation which has rejected the Lord and no longer is seeking God to be “on our side”? And in consequence, are you willing to be part of a nation which would then be “swallowed alive”, “overwhelmed by waters, even our souls being drowned by the simple streams thrown at us? Would you? What a sad situation!

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

The Psalmist David ends this wonderful psalm in HOPE! “Blessed be the Lord”, “our soul has escaped”, “our help is in the name of the Lord.” These are words of triumphant HOPE!

But PLEASE do not let a little phrase pass you by. David recognized that his HELP wasn’t just in ANYONE. He recognized that his HELP wasn’t just in any “god” (LITTLE “g”). No, NO! His hope is in the name of Jehovah WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH” (v. 8). Can I hear another “AMEN”???!!!

David is begging of each of us his present day readers to answer the question, “have you found the Lord to be YOUR help, YOUR hope?”.

My hope is in the Lord Who gave Himself for me,

And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.

Chorus: For me He died,

For me He lives,

And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

Written by Norman J. Clayton, a songwriter for Evangelist Jack Wyrtzen

PRAYER

Father, once again the old Psalmist reminds us of truth for today!

He causes us to ask ourselves, “IS the Lord on our side” – both as individuals and as a nation?

HAVE we escaped those who would want to make us their prey?

And IS our help in Your Name, the Maker of Heaven and Earth?

There is none like YOU!

Quiet our souls, we pray, before You with the words of this heart-provoking psalm.

And we’ll give You all the praise,

With thanksgiving…

In Jesus Name, Amen!

Blogs, John Grant

WORLDLINESS

Week Forty-One, 2020

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. I John 2: 15-17

As this year draws near the close, it certainly is unlike anything we could have expected this time last year. There are unparalleled health concerns, violence in the streets, a sagging economy and the list goes on. Our plates are still full of uncertainty, both personally and as a nation and world.

We believe and pray things will get better. Maybe a vaccine, soon. Maybe protests will become peaceful. Maybe solutions will be found in conversations to make us an even better nation. But in the meantime, where do we find a life of certainty, security and peace? It doesn’t seem to be coming from the world around us. But that’s the problem. Our solutions are not from the world, but from God.

In 1 John 2:15-17 is the answer. It’s not about loving the world, but loving God and following Him in our walk, to love and lift others in the world around us. The text begins with a command: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” Love for the world pushes out love for the Father.

All things of the world have an expiration date, including you and me, but if You do the will of the Father, you will live forever. In summary, then, the text contains one commandment and three arguments, or incentives. The commandment is, “Don’t love the world or the things in the world.”

▪ The first incentive is that if you love the world, you don’t love God.

▪ The second incentive is that if you love the world, you will perish with the world.

▪ The third incentive is that if you love God instead of the world, you will live with God forever.

The path of victory that overcomes the world and leads to eternal life is the one path of faith toward Christ and love for God. There are not two ways to heaven. There is one narrow way.

The main point of this passage is “Do not love the world; love the Father.” But that’s much easier to read than it is to live. As we move forward facing whatever is before us personally and with what we face together in our communities, nation and world—we would do well to follow this kind of life.

We won’t find life, certainty, success, peace and security in the ways of the world, in our bank accounts, in what we own, or prideful accomplishments. We won’t find it in resumes, trophies, or trying to meet the world’s expectations. But we will find the life we were created to live, by walking in the will of God, by walking with God everyday of our lives. And then one day, throughout eternity. We should simply face whatever is before us each day, by simply walking hand-in-hand with God.

The main point of this passage is “Do not love the world; love the Father.” But that’s much easier to read than it is to live.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

WISDOM FROM PROVERBS 18:

▪ It’s selfish and stupid to think only of yourself and to sneer at people who have sense.

▪ Fools have no desire to learn; they would much rather give their own opinion.

▪ There’s nothing so delicious as the taste of gossip! It melts in your mouth.

▪ The rich think their money is a wall of protection.

▪ Pride leads to destruction; humility leads to honor.

▪ It’s stupid and embarrassing to give an answer before you listen.

▪ A man’s greatest treasure is his wife— she is a gift from the Lord.

— o —

Sometimes, we have to remember that it’s not all about us:

We have been put into places and positions for a purpose, for a reason. We are where we are to bring glory and honor to God. We are where we are, as John the Baptist exemplifies, to help others see and know Jesus through who we are, what we do, how we act, and how we respond. Our job, first and foremost, is to turn the focus from ourselves and on to the Son of the Living God, the Bridegroom… Jesus. What are you doing with the platform you’ve been given? Marty Stubblefield.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself. Marcus Aurelius

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. Seneca

Discover what God is up to and join him. Henry Blackaby

Faith is when we discern from a myriad of impressions (hear God’s voice) what God wants to do in a given situation and then acting in harmony with it. Great with God

If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month. Teddy Roosevelt

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. Thomas Paine

Name your greatest challenge this morning. Did you choose it? Probably not. Can you choose how to respond to it? Absolutely. Jim Denison

Blogs

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

Jeremy Stopford photo
Retired Pastor Jeremy & Thuvia Stopford

TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 123

Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

INTRODUCTION

Today is our fourth study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. [You can check out the first 3 studies under “BLOGS/JEREMY STOPFORD” on Mr. Becker’s web site!].

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Have you set YOUR heart on “pilgrimage”?

Today we are in Psalm 123. This psalm is filled with vivid imagery! Look for those words which are repeated, for their repetition means that the psalmist – and God Himself! – wants to get our attention. “As” (twice in v. 2), “eyes” (4 times in verses 1 and 2), “mercy” (twice, in verses 2 and 3), “exceedingly” (twice, in verses 3 and 4). We’ll look at these shortly, but look for them!

PRAYER

Father – even in this short psalm, You are inviting our eyes to look to You. Do I look to You NOW? May this ancient Psalm be Your gift to us to help us look UP!

With thanksgiving, in Jesus Name. Amen!

OUTLINE OF PSALM 123 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie). Title: “Uplifted Eyes”

1. Faith (v. 1)

2. Hope (v. 2)

3. Love (v. 3a)

4. Trouble (vs. 3b-4)

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

1. REMEMBER last week’s question? True or False: True Christians worship only when they feel like it. Did you answer “FALSE”? I hope so!!!

2. The psalmist begins this psalm with an hope to “lift up my eyes” to the Lord. To the end of the psalm he talks about his “look to the Lord”. But FOR HOW LONG? There is a key word here – did you catch it? The word is…”UNTIL” (v. 2). He will look up UNTIL the Lord has mercy – His undeserved kindness – upon a soul who apart from our personal God can find no mercy, no undeserved kindness, anywhere else!

That reminds me of when I was very much younger. I am the baby of 3 brothers – in fact, my next older brother is 8 years older than I. “In LOVE” he showed me his new game he learned at camp. The game goes like this: he would put his 2 hands under mine. His palms would be facing up, and mine would be facing downward on top of his. Then in the seeming blink of an eye, he would raise either of his hands and slap mine. IF he could slap mine before I moved it away, do you know what happened? THE GAME CONTINUED! And he would still be on the bottom and I would still be his victim. I wasn’t very fast. My hands would get beet red. And finally, FINALLY…I would have no hope UNTIL I cried for MERCY!

Well, God doesn’t slap our hands like a merciless older brother. (OH, and I DO love my brother still, so don’t worry about that! And NO, I could never win at that game!). The Lord LOVES to show mercy to those who LOOK TO HIM. The key? “UNTIL”. Do we have the stick-to-it-iveness to LOOK TO HIM UNTIL He shows mercy? Is YOUR faith such to rest in Him knowing that He is the God of mercy?

3. The psalmist talks about being “EXCEEDINGLY” filled with contempt. He is not just “filled with contempt”. He is “EXCEEDINGLY” filled with contempt. There is an extreme sense of helplessness here in human help, isn’t there? In fact, the phrase “filled exceedingly” has the same idea as our English slang, “fed up”! We are “fed up” with the contempt, the scorn of those at ease, of the proud. Fed up! So we lift up our eyes to the One Who dwells in the heavens!!!

But then he uses an interesting phrase here: “at ease”. What does that phrase mean? Well, if you have been in the military, you couldn’t wait until the drill sergeant said, “At ease, soldiers!”. You could relax (to a certain degree). But note that in our context the one who is “at ease” is one who is NOT friendly toward those who are followers of the living God. The phrase “at ease” is used 12 times in Scripture! Let me take you to a couple of uses:

“I am not AT EASE, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.” (Job 3:26)

“I was AT EASE, but He has shattered me; He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces; He has set me up for His target…” (Job 16:12)

“Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always AT EASE; they increase in riches.” (Psalm 73:12)

“Woe to you who are AT EASE in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria…” (instead of trusting in the LORD) (Amos 6:1a)

And the Lord Jesus uses the word “EASE” in His parable of the rich man in Luke 12:19. Listen to how that man describes himself: “And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your EASE; eat, drink, and be merry.”

So in Psalm 123, the psalmist is using the phrase in the sense similar to that rich man of Luke, the ungodly of Psalm 73, and even those within Israel who unbelievably had no trust in the living Lord, as evidenced in the prophet’s warning in Amos. Those who are “at ease” in our psalm are filled with contempt, are proud, and could care less that the sojourning Israelites were looking to the One Who dwells in the heavens (v.1). In fact, the psalmist was quite aware that these were scorning (v. 4) the Jehovah seeking Jew.

4. Finally, the faithful Bible student should not let slip the descriptive phrase found in verse 4, “our soul.” Look for it again 3 times in Psalm 124. It is used 9 times throughout the Scriptures. In fact, when individualized, the equally personal phrase “MY soul” is used an astounding 128 times throughout the Bible. None is more famous than the treasured Psalm 23, as in verse 3, “He restores MY SOUL He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

Why is this important? Because the psalmist – and all the writers of Scripture – are reminding the sojourner that our God is a PERSONAL God. He isn’t just some “God far away” that is fickle, Who cares for His creation when He feels like it. No NO! “MY SOUL”, in fact, as a body of those who follow Jehovah, “OUR SOUL” can trust that He is faithful, and that we can wait upon Him UNTIL He has mercy on us. God is the only personal God! He cares for MY soul! He cares for OUR SOUL – the soul of those Who are seeking, looking unto Him!

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Aren’t you glad that the wise Lord put to print the words of the prayer of the scorned psalmist?

Are YOU, better, is your SOUL “fed up” with the situations in which it is in within this contempt filled, scorn filled, proud filled world?

BUT WAIT!!! Have you sought the One “Who dwells in the heavens”?

BUT WAIT!!! Have you sought Him “UNTIL”? Have you waited on your spiritual knees UNTIL He has faithfully and personally delivered MERCY to your SOUL?

Or have you given up?

The psalmist of Psalm 123 did not give up. He prayed UNTIL…!

Do we?

PRAYER

Father, we are living in strange times, ones which fortunately are not hidden from You!

We are trying to be Your faithful family, Your faithful father or mother or son or daughter or brother or sister or worker or neighbor or … Your faithful church.

But we are surrounded by those who no matter how much we show them the Love of God in Christ, they return that love with scorn. They live as if You don’t exist.

Yet for them, Your Word tells us that they ARE without You and without Hope. They need to see the One Who in LOVE went to the Mercy Seat, went to Calvary for their sins.

Help us to lift up OUR eyes until…until You show mercy, Your undeserved kindness, for them just as you did – and DO – for us!

Give us the expectation like the servant, like the maid, to look to You OUR Master until…

We love you for loving us first!

And we give You all the praise.

In Jesus Name. Amen!

Blogs, John Grant

“HELLO!”

Week Forty, 2020

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3).

One recent night I awakened and rolled over to check the time. It was 3:33. Immediately it reminded me of God’s phone found in Jeremiah 33:3. God says for me to call on Him and He will not only answer, but tell me great things.

As I lay there, I thought about the prophet and the times. The world was full of wars. It was a bad time to be alive. Jeremiah began his prophesy at a very early age and continued until Judah was taken captive and Jerusalem was invaded and Solomon’s Temple.

Time after time Jeremiah told the people of Judah that God was going to punish them, but the people refused to heed his warning. They called him a traitor, had him thrown in prison and threatened to kill him.

Jeremiah spent most of his life warning his people of severe judgement to come, if the nation did not repent of their evil ways and return to the Lord their God. He was faithful to his calling, yet had to endure an onslaught of mockery; loneliness; imprisonment and rejection. He wept over the city and was known as the “weeping prophet.”

Despite his divinely inspired message Jeremiah was subjected to unbelievable ridicule and witnessed his rebellious nation’s refusal to heed his warning, before being defeated, dispersed and sold into slavery. Jeremiah spent most of his life warning his people of severe judgement to come, if the nation did not repent of their evil ways and return to the Lord their God.

But right in the middle of this prophecy, right in the center of Jeremiah is a passage which prophesies of peace, prosperity, comfort and hope for the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. God tells Jeremiah to call on Him and He will tell the mighty and wonderful things.

Before I drifted back off to sleep, I did a twenty-five hundred year fast forward to today. I thought of all the sin so prevalent today. When is God going to say He has had enough? But in the midst of it all, I believe that He want to call us to remind us that there are great and mighty things and they are housed between Genesis and Revelation in His inspired Word.

May our world have a new great awakening as we turn from being a sinful nation and back to the Godly nation our founding fathers intended for our country to be.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

I am coming to believe that the troubled times in which we live hold as much opportunity as they do challenge. These days present an incredible opportunity for people to wake up to the ultimate reality of the grace and power of God. History has proven that crisis can be a gateway to awakening. I am thoroughly convinced it will take an awakening, even a great awakening, to turn the tide. Helen Rae Stumbo

— o —

Joe Gibbs, Super Bowl coach and NASCAAR owner wrote of the qualities he expects from his leadership team, players and drivers:

  1. Demand excellence
  2. Show your human side
  3. Be available
  4. Let them be their own selves
  5. Bury your ego

— o —

When was the last time that you worshiped? I mean… truly worshiped? When you got so lost in Him. So moved by the Spirit that you let your walls down, forgot about everything and everybody else and you worshiped? You bowed down before Him filled with joy and hope and trembling fear?

Stop for a moment and worship. Stop for a moment and bow down. In our offices or cubicles. In our homes or dorm rooms. In our closet or other place where we pray, read, praise. Stop for a moment and worship.

Worship His holiness and His glory. Praise His creativity and His might majesty. Praise Him and worship Him for who He is and what He has done. Take in His awesomeness and His magnitude… Sing of His great love. Listen for His still small voice. Enter His gate with Thanksgiving, bow down and worship.

—Marty Stubbblefield

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

A people that value its privileges above its principles soon loses both. —Dwight D. Eisenhower

A few dead flies in perfume make all of it stink, and a little foolishness outweighs a lot of wisdom. Sensible thoughts lead you to do right; foolish thoughts lead you to do wrong. Ecclesiastes 10: 1-2

Love people use things. The opposite never works. —The Minimalists

Every increased possession adds increased anxiety on to our lives. —Randy Alcorn

You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.” —Charles Spurgeon

Wanting less is a better blessing than having more. —Mary Ellen Edmunds

Your life is too valuable to waste chasing material possessions. —Joshua Becker

A true man hates no one. —Napoleon Bonaparte

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TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 122

Jeremy Stopford photo
Retired Pastor Jeremy & Thuvia Stopford

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

September 29, 2020

Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

INTRODUCTION

Today is our third day in the study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. I encourage you to try to read them in one or two sittings. You will find RICH STUFF (now THAT is a super spiritual phrase!) in here! Enjoy!

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Pastor Eugene Peterson, famed editor of “The Message”, described the Ascent Psalms as “a long obedience in the same direction”. That is what our journey with the Lord should look like. Journey = “discipleship”.

HOW are you doing?

Today we are in Psalm 122. This is a most timely psalm, a timely hymn. It is timely not only for the stage set in Jerusalem. It is especially timely for the stage set here in the United States. We better pray NOW!

PRAYER

“Father – this is a brief psalm but an heartfelt psalm. It is one which begins in Your heart and returns TO Your heart.

Give us Your heart, we pray, concerning where You have wisely placed Your children, Your church today.

With thanksgiving, in Jesus’ Name. Amen”

OUTLINE OF PSALM 122 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie)

  1. Jerusalem the Home of Worship (vs. 1-2)
  2. Jerusalem the Center of Life. (vs. 3-5)

3. Jerusalem the Subject of Prayer. (vs. 6-9)

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

  1. True or False: True Christians worship only when they feel like it.

2. Notice the different forms of action in this psalm:

#1 “Talk” – In verse 1, the psalmist expresses his delight that a group of people suggested to him to “go into the house of the Lord.”

That reminds me of the story of how old Mrs. Jones wasn’t feeling well, so she asked her husband to go on to church without her. When he returned in the early afternoon, she asked him some very pointed questions:

“Charlie! Was Mabel wearing that awful yellow hat again?” Charlie said, “I don’t know.”

“Well what about Hazel – did she wear that dress that makes her look really FAT?” Charlie once again said, “I didn’t notice Hazel.”

“Well what about Izora? Did she sing her usual off-key soprano in the choir this week again?” And Charlie returned, “The choir was really good. I didn’t happy to notice Izora – they all blended together as one voice.”

Finally Mrs. Jones heaved a GREAT sigh. “Then WHAT did you go to church for?”

“Talk” – it is more than just gabbing. It is ENCOURAGEMENT, the JOY of worship.

And talk leads to…

#2 “Walk”! In verse 2, “Our FEET have been standing within your gates…”. The Bible says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of SOME [not ALL], but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25). Put with that Nehemiah 10:39, where the end of the verse is a similar word of challenge and prompting, “we will NOT neglect the house of our God.”

“Stand” “our feet have been STANDING…”. This is a picture of being in a position of conviction. NOTEZ BIEN! There is an HUGE difference between OPINION and CONVICTION. There is an HUGE difference between PREFERENCE and CONVICTION! When we “take a stand” for something, it should be because the stand is an agreement with the direction vividly given in the Word of God.

Not to get royally political on y’all, because I am NOT a royally political type person…but shouldn’t we be supporting candidates not because of their party but because of their conviction?

Can I give a personal illustration? I know of a lady who struggled back in 1960 as for whom she would vote. She was a staunch Republican, but she could NOT stand the party’s candidate [Richard Nixon, for you young uns]. But at the Presidential Debate, Mr. Nixon said, “Vote for the man, not for the party.” And she said, “Thank YOU!” And she promptly voted for his opponent, Jack Kennedy. Oh yes, and that lady was my mum.

From a Christian viewpoint, we are challenged this year to do our homework. What is the candidate’s view on abortion? On human rights? On euthanasia [NO, not on “youth IN Asia”, but “euthanasia”!]. On the constitution? On many of the issues which have as their foundation the Word of God? Have we done our homework? And then have we prayed?

“Talk” and “Walk” are good encouragers for the local church today!!!

3. Note that in verses 3-5, Jerusalem is the true center of life. Israel today is still a hotbed of activity in the Middle East, isn’t it? But in practical terms, is the Lord Jesus the center of YOUR LIFE? And is the local church the visible center of your weekly life?

Once again my wise mother-in-law had some sharp insights: “Back in the day, whenever the doors of the church were open, we would be there.” Sunday school? Yep! Morning Service? Yep! Choir practice? Yep! Youth meetings? Yep! Evening service? Yep! Prayer meeting? Yep! Missions outreaches? Yep! Hospital visitation? Yep! Visit shut-ins? Yep! That was the spirit upon which she and my father-in-law raised their family. And I think my wife turned out pretty ok (she married ME, didn’t she?). Good foundation.

Have you given your family a foundation which says that the Lord Jesus, His Word and fellowship is the true Center of your life? And does your family know that ALL you do throughout the week is done “as unto Him”? Do they know that in more than just word? Do they know that without your having to tell them? Can they SEE that true heart of yours through your life? CAN THEY?

4. Note verses 6-9, “Jerusalem is the subject of prayer.” These kinds of lines are typical of many of the psalms, and are often zeroed in near the end of many of the Ascent Psalms. What do they mean?

Once again, listen to the wise insights of Eugene Peterson:

“Pray”: “It is not the word ordinarily used in formal worship, but the everyday Hebrew word ‘ask’. It is an informal asking as we go about our business between Sundays. [my emphasis]. It is the word Hebrews would use to ask for a second helping of bread if still hungry, or for directions if lost.”

“Peace”: an almost undefinable word; “It gathers all aspects of wholeness that result from God’s will being completed in us. It is the work of God that, when complete, releases streams of living water in us and pulsates with eternal life.”

“Prosperity”: “It has nothing to do with insurance policies or large bank accounts…The root meaning is leisure – the relaxed stance of one who knows that everything is all right because God is over us, with us, and for us in Jesus Christ.”

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

This week, I can’t help but think that, in reading this psalm and hoping to put it into practice, there are several things I will have a fresh heart for:

I will be glad to be invited and to invite dear ones to come alongside together to the house of the Lord, as well as to sweet fellowship with Him.

I will stand upon those things that are important to the Lord, for which He has given clear direction for His church and for our nation.

I will ask – my daily walk with God will be a daily communion with Him to keep our nation ever before Him.

With our everyday asking of God, and the subsequent “peace” and true “prosperity”, aren’t you encouraged today to pray fervently for the country in which the Lord has wisely placed YOU?

PRAYER

Father, forgive us wherever we have treated Your heart for the local church in a lackadaisical manner. Thank you that You have surrounded us with those who love Your church, who love Your visible representation on earth of Your heart.

And thank you for the challenge to take a STAND for You, one that has the encouragement of Your Word upon which to stand.

And Father, we pray for the good of Jerusalem. And we pray for the good of our nation.

And we give You all the praise.

In Jesus Name. Amen!

Blogs

“THE FIRST AND THE LAST”

Week Thirty-Nine, 2020

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

The Grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. Revelation 22:21

John Grisham is an American novelist and attorney, best known for his legal thrillers. His books have sold more than 300 million copies and been translated into dozens of different languages. He is one of the most famous novelists of all time.

He says that one of his rules is to not write the first scenes until he knows the last one. He says he writes the last sentence before he writes the first sentence. I realized that from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is written the same way. Between those two beginning and ending books are sixty-four books that tell the story of the Christian world.

Genesis answers two big questions: “How did God’s relationship with the world begin?” and “Where did the nation of Israel come from?” Most of the famous Bible stories you’ve heard about are probably found in the book of Genesis. The book of Exodus is the story of God rescuing the children of Israel from Egypt and forging a special relationship with them. In Leviticus God gives Israel instructions for how to worship Him. In Numbers Israel fails to trust and obey God, and wanders in the wilderness for 40 years. In Deuteronomy Moses gives instructions on how to love and obey God in the Promised Land…… and the Old Testament story goes on for 39 books.

Then follows the New Testament which includes 27 books about Jesus’ ministry and what it means to follow Him. The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels, followed by the history of the early church and letters to the early churches, ending with John seeing visions of things that have been, things that are, and things that are yet to come.

There are books of law, poetry, history, and prophets and when placed together in the right order, they tell the story of Christianity from Genesis to Revelation, the Alpha and the Omega from the beginning to the end.

It is the collected works of God which demonstrate both His love and requirements for us and our privileges and responsibilities toward Him. Jesus fulfills all God’s promises in the Old Testament by proclaiming and inaugurating the Kingdom of God through a new covenant.

The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” – Revelation 22:20 The end.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

According to Bruce Feiler, the linear life is dead. By the “linear life” he means the idea that life follows a series of carefully calibrated progressions—childhood to young adulthood to middle age to old age; dating to marriage to children to empty nest; low-level job to mid-level job to senior-level job to retirement.

According to Feiler’s research, this idea seems preposterously outdated. He discovered that the average person experiences a life disruptor every twelve to eighteen months and a life quake (one big event or multiple disruptors at the same time) three to five times in adulthood.

In addition, he reports, the average worker today will hold twelve different jobs before the age of fifty. Those with higher education can expect to change their jobs fifteen times and alter their skill set three times. The typical job now lasts four years; among those under thirty-five years of age, it drops to three.

— o —

TRUISMS:

▪ Where there’s a will, I want to be in it.

▪ Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

▪ If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.

▪ We never really grow-up, we only learn how to act in public.

▪ War does not determine who is right – only who is left.

▪ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

▪ They begin the evening news with ‘Good Evening,’ then proceed to tell you why it isn’t a good evening.

▪ To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

▪ Buses stop in bus stations. Trains stop at train stations. On my desk is a workstation.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

If you ask the wrong question you will always get the wrong answer. Chris Dotson

Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter. Francis Chan.

If You Contain a Fire, It Will Die; If You Let It out, It Will Spread. Ken Whitten

Sometimes I tell myself that I don’t want to develop hardening of the attitudes. Sharon Boehm

You can run faster by yourself, but you can run further with others. Ken Whitten

Are we playing marbles with the diamonds God has given us? Marty Stubblefield

Jesus warned people about worrying about their possessions. For Jesus, greed is not only greed of money, but excessive anxiety over it. Tim Keller

The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things. Ronald Reagan

Forgiveness is a lot easier when we remember how God has forgiven us, and we certainly didn’t deserve it…but that’s grace. Dwight Short

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 121

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

Jeremy Stopford photo
Retired Pastor Jeremy & Thuvia Stopford

INTRODUCTION

Today is our second day in the study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. Have you read them yet? Have you read them in one sitting? I think you will be amazed with at least TWO observations:

#1 You will wonder why it has been so long before you discovered them

#2 You will marvel at how much “good stuff” of blessing to your heart you find in them!

Do you remember our “Theme Verse”?

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Pastor Eugene Peterson, famed editor of “The Message”, described the Ascent Psalms as “a long obedience in the same direction”. That is what our journey with the Lord should look like, How are you doing?

Today we are in Psalm 121. Without question, this was my mother-in-law’s favorite chapter in the scripture. In fact, at her funeral after her passing at age 91, her nephew – a Baptist pastor – used Psalm 121 as his text for her remembrance.

Perhaps today you, too, will find the joy that my wife’s mom found in this precious chapter.

PRAYER

“Father – as we enter what may be for some familiar territory, and as it might be for some new ground, may the Spirit of God be our Teacher.

Draw our hearts to a fresh walk with You.

With thanksgiving, in Jesus’ Name. Amen”

OUTLINE OF PSALM 121 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie)

  1. The Divine Help Proclaimed (vs. 1-2)
  2. The Divine Help Promised. (vs. 3-8)

(a) Sleepless Watching (vs. 3,4)

(b) Complete Protection (vs, 5,6)

(c) Inclusive Assurance (vs. 7,8)

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

  1. In the King James Version, verse 1 is a statement:

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”

BUT in the Hebrew, it is in the form of a question, as properly evidenced in the New King James Version:

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?”

Why do you think this change – from a statement to a question – is important to our understanding? Perhaps it is because NOW it directs the reader to SEARCH his/her heart as to where the true “Source” (capital “S”) or “source” (small “s”) of their hope is!

Ask YOURSELF – where is the true Source of YOUR hope? Are you dependent upon your own wisdom, or on earthly helps? Or are you REALLY dependent upon the One Who alone can be our Help?

In verse 2, the psalmist tells us that his Help is the Lord – and the Source of his help is specifically identified as the One “Who made heaven and earth”. Can you say that about anyone or anything else? No? Then Who should be YOUR help?!!!

2. Every now and then, the Lord in His wisdom directs His writers to talk about a part of the body!

In verse 3, is the “foot”. The Lord is such an Helper that He won’t even allow your FOOT to be moved – literally, like on a banana peel, the foot will not slip! Now THAT sounds like sure FOOTing! (couldn’t resist, Brother Frank – sorry!).

And note verse 5: “the Lord is your shade at your RIGHT HAND”. Now why is THAT part of the body important? Perhaps it is because throughout Scripture the “right hand” is the place of control, of authority, of power. Where does the Lord Jesus sit today? Is it not at the Father’s RIGHT HAND (Psalm 110:5). And while he was being stoned to death as the church’s first martyr, where do the Scriptures say Stephen saw the Lord Jesus? “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the RIGHT HAND of God.” (Acts 8:56) Did you note that Stephen saw Jesus STANDING? What a way to be welcomed into Stephen’s new eternal home!.

3. I really like the thought in verse 3, repeated in verse 4, that “He Who keeps Israel shall neither SLUMBERS nor SLEEPS”. So have you ever told someone, “I slumbered today”? But you HAVE told them, “I SLEPT in today”, right? What’s the difference? To “sleep” is to take a long restful repose from the cares of your day. But to “slumber” is to do what most of us do, take “cat naps” – to get our eyes closed long enough to get that sleepy feeling out of us and a sense of energy back in. God doesn’t need EITHER!!! On our journey of faith, His oversight of His sojourning children never stops – He neither slumbers nor sleeps. And He does that for EACH of us, sees us as INDIVIDUALS, all at the same time. Wow!

4. Finally, the psalmist has a key theme repeated throughout these verses, and all teach us MUCH about our amazing Heavenly Keeper:

* v. 7: God shall WHAT? He shall PRESERVE us from evil; He shall PRESERVE my soul – my innermost being!

* v. 8: God shall do WHAT? He shall preserve my going out and my coming in!

* v. 8: God shall do this WHEN? He shall preserve me “from this time forth, and even FOREVERMORE”!!!

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

I can’t help but think this: IF God is the One Who never slumbers nor sleeps (and He IS!), and He is the Preserver of my soul (and He IS!), AND He is going to be my soul’s Preserver, even when I’m coming in and going out, and even from this time forth and forevermore (and He IS!) – how should that affect the way I live?

Shouldn’t I be living with a focus on the end result of my sojourn – even Heaven itself?

And if THAT is true, shouldn’t I be living TODAY with a focus on the One Who is overseeing, protecting, and even preserving my journey and even my soul – even the Lord Himself?

PRAYER

Father, this psalm is amazing! My heart was born with an hunger to know from where is my help, and in my soul search, in my journey, I have found where my true Help is – YOU alone!

There is none like YOU. You are my Protector and my Preserver. And you are the Hope of my sojourn.

Remind me every day – “from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord Who made heaven and earth.”

And we all give you all the praise.

In Jesus Name. Amen!

Blogs

GIVE GOD TIME TO WORK

Week Thirty-Eight, 2020

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6

Patience is not one of my virtues. I don’t do well waiting. I want results now. I work hard to relax and wait and give God time to work. If I stand in the shortest line, it takes the longest time. I think God is trying to tell me something.

Sometimes it is like that with the bigger challenges in life. When those strike, I want to fix them immediately. The two improper words in that are “I” and “immediately. I cannot solve every problem, cure every hurt or avoid every fear, but I can (and should) leave room for God. I can’t do the seemingly impossible, but He is able to do “exceedingly, abundantly and above all” that I could ask or imagine. (Eph 3:20) The Lord delights in the impossible.

This is what the Biblical phrase “wait on the Lord” is all about, trusting and waiting for Him to work. Waiting and trusting runs counter to my proactive and assertive self. Fretting only causes harm. He alone can part the waters. We are to walk by faith, not by feelings. We must trust God with the impossible and leave room and time for Him to work.

There’s not a mountain too tall; nor a problem so small that Jesus can’t resolve. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 40:31: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

We live in an instant world. Waiting is such a loose term these days. We throw it around as though it’s something we are very familiar with, but are we? Do we really know what it means to wait? We can cook meals instantly in the microwave or go through a drive-thru for the fastest meals we could ask for. Amazon Prime (and even Prime Now!) has made it so that we can get a package in our hands in days or even mere hours.

If we have a question or are curious about something, there’s no need to wait or research later. The smart phone most of us hold in our hands much of the day can generally answer any questions we may come up with. The point is, waiting is an idea we are all familiar with, but aren’t necessarily used to practicing.

No one likes to wait, but waiting on the Lord is an act of obedience. We should not be anxious about tomorrow and live each day in its own time. God will take care of tomorrow.

We must cast out fear, not an easy thing for me to do. I tend to worry, especially about the unknown. The only fear a Christian should entertain is the fear of sin. All other fears are from Satan sent to confuse and weaken us.

These past six months have given us all a lot to fear, more than anytime I can ever remember. We have things to fear that we had not ever considered like the pandemic, being evicted onto the streets, having no employment and the list goes on. We have long term things to fear, but we also have tomorrow. When we feel we are in the dark and don’t know what to do next, God tells us to cast out fear and seek His light for the next step. We need to trust God for guidance in small increments. If you can’t see dimly in the distance, do what lies clearly at hand.

▪ Be patient and trust the Lord. Psalm 37 CEV

▪ With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow. Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

▪ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Trust God to deliver in His own unique way. That’s His specialty!

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?

Initially, I was quick to respond. But then, as I deliberated and really thought through it, my mind and heart were pricked. Sometimes… We have to be like Peter and step out of the boat, eyes solely focused on Christ, and walk on water. It’s only when we take our eyes off of Him and begin to focus on our circumstances that we find ourselves thrashing about in the water. All too often we allow others to steal our dreams, squash our passion, diminish our purpose… whether in jealousy, in ignorance or in untruth. You know your gifts. You know your strengths (and your weaknesses). You know God has a plan. So I’ll ask it again. “What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?” Marty Stubblefield.

— o —

Worse than COVID-19 is the unseen enemy, Satan. The scourge of his pestilence that he has inflicted upon the human race is of pandemic proportions. The plague of sin has infected every home and every heart. In its wake we witness suffering, sorrow and shame. Its symptoms are pride, greed and lust. And it manifests itself through immorality, addiction and corruption. Ken Weliever, The Preacher Man

— o —

The famous preacher Dwight L. Moody once said, “Trust in yourself and you are doomed to disappointment. Trust in your friends and they will die and leave you. Trust in money and you may have it taken from you. Trust in your reputation and some slanderous tongue may blast it. But trust in God and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity.”

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

“We are saved by faith, not by growing fruit; but we are not saved by fruitless faith. A person saved by faith will be a person in whom the fruit of the Spirit grows….” – Timothy Keller

There is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is based on circumstances. Joy is found in knowing that God is faithful and will work things for His good despite our circumstances. Joy comes in knowing the hope, peace, grace, forgiveness and love found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Marty Stubblefield

The fact is, human words cannot save human souls. You and I cannot convict anyone of their sins or lead them to repentance. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. He will use us to the degree that we depend on Him.

The works of God are such that only God can perform them. Soren Kierkegaard

Don’t let your circumstances define your image of God, but let God define your circumstances. Pastor Phillip Hanes

You can let people get on your nerves, or you can let people get on your heart. Ken Whitten

Proverbs is God’s wisdom for making wise decisions. Rob Taylor

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