greater & less

John 3:30 He must become greater & greater, & I must become less & less.

These are the words spoken by John the Baptist when his disciples were asking about Jesus as Messiah and Jesus' increasing ministry.

I've heard plenty of sermons using this verse. Most of them talk about humbling ourselves.

I've wondered if it's simply more practical than that.

It would make sense to me that as we spend time with Him & get to know Him, we would want more & more of Jesus' personality to come out in our lives than our personalities, which are tainted & warped by sin.

It would make sense that we would want the identity & essence of Jesus, the Savior, perfect, holy, the evry essence of love, to be expressed through us, rather than our own self-centered, self-absorbed identities.

just a thought...

if you're stuck, ask questions

this is a repost from this morning from Seth Barnes,

http://www.sethbarnes.com/?filename=if-youre-stuck-ask-questions

If you're in a tough place and can't see the way out, your natural reaction may be to:

• complain
• or find reasons to justify your thinking about the mess you're in

A better approach is ask questions. Ask them of God. And ask them of people you respect. And then listen - really listen.

I spent nearly a decade fixated on a friend's betrayal instead of seeing him as God's tool to promote me. Until I could get over my own ego issues, I wasn't ready for the promotion. Instead of asking questions like, "What is God trying to teach me here?" I focused on my pain.

What a waste of time! We go around the same mountains over and over again because we don't take the time to seek new points of view. We need coaching often more than we need encouragement. Stop crying in your beer and man up. Get over yourself and ask a few questions.

Yesterday's post was about the importance of a challenge in helping us grow. But a challenge is not a challenge until we stop seeing it as a negative thing sent to us by the enemy and see it instead as a tool in God's hand shaping our character.

And we get to that perspective by asking questions and making space for God to answer them. I've found that a journal helps. Write down your question and then write down your impression of what God says in response. Run it by a trusted friend and check it out against what the Bible says. You could save yourself years of wandering in some desert place.

What ruts are you in? What questions have you asked God about them?

self-sufficient

Psalm 44:3 it was not their own strength that gave them victory.

   It was by You mighty power that they succeeded.

   It was because You favored them & smiled on them.

My little brother, Andy, says often that he's got more God confidence than self confidence.

Our culture says we should be self confident, self sufficient.

Whereas being loved & cherished by the God of the universes does a lot of good for our self image, I don't think the Bible implies anything about being overly self confident or self sufficient. If anything, it points us toward being totally dependent on God for EVERYTHING.

But because of our wealth in this country, our technical advances, & just the way we do things, we expect to be able to pull something off on the strength of our own ingenuity.

Maybe that's why we have a hard time being dependent on God. We think that God may give us direction as to what we are to be or do, but we're the ones in charge of pulling it off.

Nope.

What's the psalm say?

They pulled off success because of God's smile & favor.

I'm not sure if what I'm saying this morning is making any sense. (It's raining gently, lightning, & w/ thundering that's bouncing off the mountains, & now I hear a siren - a rare thing around the farmhouse.)

It's just that the longer we live here in Blairsville & try to be about whatever it is we're to be & do here, the more I'm aware that I'm basically totally dependent on our Abba Father - as in more totally dependent on Him than I ever have been in my life. It's kinda thrilling and scary at the same time.

And before some of you super-christians accuse me of a lack of faith, having that glib attitude just shows you've never been in a position that demands this level of trust. Those who have been where we are usually laugh & tell me the things they thought, or did, or had said to them, when they were in similar seasons.

Think about it - how much do you REALLY depend on God to pull things off, & how much do you really depend on yourself for. I'm learning in a very uncomfortable way how the latter has been overly exercised in my life & how little the former has put to use.

following

Psalm 43:3 Send out Your light & Your truth; let them guide me.

When we say to God whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, it leaves us totally dependent on Him to not only know what, when, where, who, & how.

we depend on Him to lead us toward, in, & through each

And we depend on Him to show us what to be & do in each.

iow, we're totally dependent on Him.

in a culture where we are told to always be in control, chart our own course, "be all that you can be", such surrender seems insane.

it's only then that the life God dreamed for us can be implemented.

longing & thirsting

Psalm 42:1 As the deer longs for streams of water,

  so I long for you, O God.

2 I thirst for God, the living God.

  When can I go and stand before him?

a question dropped in my head when I read this psalm this morning...

do I long for God?

am I thirsty for Him?

I wonder...

or do I long for people's approval?

do I thirst for their love more than I thirst for an intimate - I mean, REALLY intimate hookup - with God?

do I spend so much time questing to be & do what He wants me to be & do that I may be missing the most important part of the whole God thing...

a personal, one on one connection with the God of the universes.

I'm gonna think about it

11 yrs

It was 11 years ago this week that my family & I went to Christ Chapel for the first time.

What an 11 years it been.

I don't recognize the man I was then. That man back then would NEVER have been able to imagine the me that I am now.

Thank You, Father, for Your faithfulness & continuing love, patience, guidance, & creativity in my life.

this is the last song I directed as a Methodist Music Minister. It's even more true today than it was 11 years ago.

http://www.myspace.com/brooklyntabchoir/music/songs/still-i-will-trust-you-34155537

help's a-comin'

Psalm 40:17 I am poor & needy, & the Lord is thinking about me right now.

Verse 17 always amazes me each time I read it.

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,

  and he turned to me and heard my cry.

2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

  out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground

  and steadied me as I walked along.

3 He has given me a new song to sing,

  a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

  They will put their trust in the Lord.

4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,

  who have no confidence in the proud

  or in those who worship idols.

5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.

  Your plans for us are too numerous to list.

  You have no equal.

If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,

  I would never come to the end of them.

6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.

  Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand*—

  you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

7 Then I said, "Look, I have come.

  As is written about me in the Scriptures:

8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,

  for your instructions are written on my heart."

9 I have told all your people about your justice.

  I have not been afraid to speak out,

  as you, O Lord, well know.

10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;

  I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.

I have told everyone in the great assembly

  of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11 Lord, don't hold back your tender mercies from me.

  Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.

12 For troubles surround me—

  too many to count!

My sins pile up so high

  I can't see my way out.

They outnumber the hairs on my head.

  I have lost all courage.

13 Please, Lord, rescue me!

  Come quickly, Lord, and help me.

14 May those who try to destroy me

  be humiliated and put to shame.

May those who take delight in my trouble

  be turned back in disgrace.

15 Let them be horrified by their shame,

  for they said, "Aha! We've got him now!"

16 But may all who search for you

  be filled with joy and gladness in you.

May those who love your salvation

  repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!"

17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,

  but the Lord is thinking about me right now.

You are my helper and my savior.

  O my God, do not delay.

brevity

Psalm 39:1 I said to myself, "I will watch what I do

  and not sin in what I say.

I will hold my tongue

  when the ungodly are around me."

2 But as I stood there in silence—

  not even speaking of good things—

  the turmoil within me grew worse.

3 The more I thought about it,

  the hotter I got,

  igniting a fire of words:

4 "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.

  Remind me that my days are numbered—

  how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.

  My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;

  at best, each of us is but a breath."

6 We are merely moving shadows,

  and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.

We heap up wealth,

  not knowing who will spend it.

7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?

  My only hope is in you.

what's holding me together these days

Here's what's holding me together these days. You see, I'm not holding me together - God's holding me together.

Who am I kidding? I'm not holding me together, these days or any days of my life!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 No matter what happens, always be thankful; for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5 (The Message)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

   don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

   He's the One Who will keep you on track.

Proverbs 4:25 Look straight ahead,

      and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

 26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;

      stay on the safe path.

 27 Don’t get sidetracked;

      keep your feet from following evil.

Hebrews 10: 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.

Isaiah 41:9b For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.

   10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

   Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

   I will strengthen you.

   I will help you.

   I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

hurry up & wait

As many of you know, for the first 8 months of 2010, God was very insistent on moving Lynn & I into our "next" - the next season, or the next phase, or whatever you want to call it, in His overarching for us.

So we closed on the house September 1 - and moved from a pace of about 100 mph to a dead-slow walk about about 2 mph.

And it's been like that ever since.

Needless to say, I've been a bit concerned about this turn of events. (understatement of the century)

It is interesting to me that as read through Psalms sequentially (me & Billy Graham), how many times what the writers of this missives seem to speak to perfectly to my life. It's like God knew what I would need when I would need it. :-D LOL

Here's what came up off the page today in Psalm 37...

vs 7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,

   & wait for Him to act.

This verse is translated in the "dan waits reversed version of the Bible" as...

"shut up & wait"

vs 23 The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.

   He delights in every detail of their lives.

24 Though they stumble, they will not fall,

  for the Lord holds them by the hand.

vs 28 For the Lord loves justice,

  & He will never abandon the godly.

vs 34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act!

   Travel steadily along His path.

He will honor you, giving you the land.

vs 39 The Lord saves the godly,

   He is their fortress in times of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them,

   rescuing them from the wicked.

He saves them,

   & they find shelter in Him.

Yeah...

iow, Who's gig is this?

Who's in charge here?

Who "precedes & follows me"? (psalm 139:5)

iow, Who's gonna take care of things in His time?

"shut up, & wait"

clinging

Luke 17:33 Whoever clings to this life will lose it, & whoever loses this life will save it.

God's been saying this to me ever since the end of 2007.

don't cling to your life.

If I cling to the life I have, no matter how wonderful or how awful, it stops Him from fully expressing the life He dreamed for me a gajillion years ago.

He just wants me to not cling to what I have, but trust Him, & walk softly into the next season of my life.

maybe He's sayin' that to you, too?

don't look at what you're losing - look toward what He's bringing into your life.

I'm livin' this right now. Have been in the end of 2007.

Psalm 139:5 says God both precedes & follows me.

iow, He's out there, preparing the way for me, & mopping up behind me.

I gotta trust Him on that.

what other choice do I have? Or you have?

let's walk softly into it - He with us - we have nothing to fear.

it's all about trust

I've read psalm 34 many times. I've got a lot of verses underlined. But these were the ones that came up off the page for me today.

They're for me, but they're also for someone else too.

Don't know how they speak to where you are today, but I know where they speak to me.

If you'll tell me how they speak to you, I'll tell you how they speak to me. Message me if it's too private to share as a comment.

Psalm 34:2 I will boast only in the LORD;

  let all those who are discouraged take heart.

4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.

  He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

  no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good.

  Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,

  but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

  he rescues those are crushed in spirit.

some things from psalm 33

Psalm 33:10 The Lord shatters the plans of the nations

   and thwarts all their schemes.

11 But the Lord's plans stand firm forever;

   His intentions can never be shaken.

13 The Lord looks down from heaven

   & sees the whole human race.

14 From His throne He observes

   all who live on the earth .

15 He made their hearts

   so He understands everything they do.

18 the Lord watches over those who fear Him;

   those who rely on His unfailing love.

I think it's more than simply amazing that the High, Holy, Omnipotent, Essence of Love God of the universes not only individually created the every essence of who I am (and who you are), but also understands everything we think, be, or do.

guidance

Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you & watch over you.

For some reason, I dated this verse in my Bible on 12.16.03 - I don't remember why. (It's no disgrace to be senile, just unhandy)

I think of all that has happened since then, and where I am now.

And I'm reminded of this song by Chris Tomlin...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mL76BjF1Uw&feature=related

trust & smallness

Psalm 31:7 I am overcome with joy because of Your unfailing love,

   for You have seen my troubles,

   & You care about the anguish of my soul.

vs 14 I am trusting You, O Lord,

   saying, "You are my God!"

15a My future is in Your hands

vs 24 So be strong & take courage

   all you who put your hope in the Lord.

So, He understands & knows or plight & situation, & we can trust Him to come through

Luke 13:18 Then Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? 19 It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches."

20 He also asked, "What else is the Kingdom of God like? 21 It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough."

So, Lynn & I are like a mustard seed or yeast here in Blairsville?

And you're like a mustard seed or yeast where you are?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A_jMCEYgUY

worry

I thought I had licked my worrying. Nope. I've learned in the last 6+ months that there's still a BIG part ofme that's a world-class worrier.

And how does our Father teach us not to worry? By placing us in situations where we have to totally rely on Him.

Yeah...

Luke 12:22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?

  27 "Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?


  29 "And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.


  32 "So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.


  33 "Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

verses 3.0

Luke 11:1 Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

  2 Jesus said, "This is how you should pray:*

"Father, may your name be kept holy.

  May your Kingdom come soon.

3 Give us each day the food we need,*

4 and forgive us our sins,

  as we forgive those who sin against us.

And don't let us yield to temptation.*"

  5 Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' 7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' 8 But I tell you this—though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

  9 "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

  11 "You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

33 "No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket.* Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

  34 "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness. 35 Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. 36 If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light."

as though a floodlight were filling you with light...

what does that mean in practical terms for each of us?

some verse from this a.m.

Psalm 28:1 O Lord, You are my Rock of safety.

   Please help me, don't refuse to answer me.

For if You are silent, I might as well give up & die.

vs 7 The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger.

   I trust Him with all my heart.

He helps me, & my heart is filled with joy.

I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Luke 10:2b The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.

   Pray to the Lord Who is in charge of the harvest, & ask Him to send out more workers for His fields.

3a Go now...

I was watching the China channel yesterday afternoon. Yeah, we have a channel from China on Dish Network. Don't ask me why. It's just there ;-)

The were doing a travelogue to Tibet. There's a festival once a year there in Lhasa, the capital where pilgrims go up on the side of a mountain & Buddhist monks put up a massive picture of the Buddha that's displayed on the side of the mountain.

The narrator was talking about how the pilgrims walk there, prostrating themselves every few feet. When they get there, they throw white silk scarves down the front of the painting "in the hope they will receive a blessing."

The narrator also talked about how this is a significant festival for the people, being i the presence of this picture of the Buddha. She said the air was heavy with how important this is to the people.

It was a very interesting show, from a cultural viewpoint. I'm fascinated with China. But on the other hand, the whole time I'm watching it, I'm thinking how I loved to say to these people...

   "you don't have to do all that.

   "Jesus came - in love for us, provided a way to connect in a relationship w/ God.

   "Forget the prayer wheels,

     pilgrimage walking,

     prostrating yourself,

     & throwing white silk scarves.

   "Jesus made a way that is so simple to God."

The first part of the last verse from this morning says 2 important words - Go now...

Many of us think we have to go to China, or "deepest, darkest Africa."

We can go to the people God has put in our path. I'm gonna see some of them today. We all will.

And these people will be just like the Tibetan Buddhists - doing stuff they don't need to, when a way was mode in love by Jesus to our Father - to the very thing we're all longing for.

And if you're a Christ follower like me, let's remember one other thing...

You & I are Christ followers because someone(s) took the time to tell us about Jesus & the way He's provided.

Where would you & I be if that person(s) didn't follow through with that mandate to "Go now..."?

Yeah, we'd still be where we were.

You & I are that someone to countless people. Do we dare slack off? These are eternal issues for the people  we're mandated to touch. And eternity is a very long time.

verses from this a.m.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light & my salvation - so why should I be afraid?

The Lord protects me from danger - so why should I tremble?

vs 14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave & courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.


Luke 9:23 If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, & follow me.

24 If you try to to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.

But if you give up your life for Me, you will find true life.

word

Luke 8:40 On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come home with him. 42 His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying.

  As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. 43 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding,* and she could find no cure. 44 Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.

  45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.

  Everyone denied it, and Peter said, "Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you."

  46 But Jesus said, "Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me."47 When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48 "Daughter," he said to her, "your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

  49 While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now."

  50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just trust me, and she will be alright."

  51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn't let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl's father and mother. 52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, "Stop the weeping! She isn't dead; she's only asleep."

  53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. 54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, "My child, get up!" 55 And at that moment her life* returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.

Isn't this what Jesus is saying to all of us?

"Don't worry. Just trust Me."

Remind me of this the next time I get wrapped around the axle about something.

following His lead

Psalm 25:4 Show me the right path, O LORD;
  point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
  for you are the God who saves me.
  All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love,
  which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
  Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
  for you are merciful, O LORD.

8 The LORD is good and does what is right;
  he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
9 He leads the humble in doing right,
  teaching them his way.
10 The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
  all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.


If we walking through the woods, how do we know we're on the right path?

By moving forward, one step at a time.

And what do we do if we realize we've been on the wrong path?

We turn around & go back to the last place we knew where we were.


T.D. Jakes gave an illustration of God's guidance once that has arrested my thinking since.

He compares God's leading to a GPS.

A GPS calculates the most efficient route for us to go from point A to point B.

We have to take the step of faith that the GPS knows where it's sending us.

As we travel along, it will say, "Prepare to turn left" & then a little later, it will say, "Turn left now."

If we make a wrong turn, it will send a warning message that we're off course.

If we continue in our wrong direction, it will recalculate, & then tell us what we need to do to get back on course.

If you're like me, I'll be traveling down the road & the GPS hasn't said anything to me. I get paranoid, thinking I may be off course, or the GPS broke down, or the satellite veered off course, or something!

Every GPS has a panic button - something we push in situations like this.

And most of the time, the GPS in this situation will say, "Continue moving in the direction you are going."


You get the parallels, I'm sure, as to how God leads & guides us in our lives. ;-)

thoughts while reading Luke 6

Luke 6:37 Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

   Do not condemn others,

   or it will all come back against you.

Forgive others,

   and you will be forgiven.

I guess not only do I not need to judge people, but I don't need to think they're idiots, either.

38 Give, and you will receive.

Your gift will return to you in full;

   pressed down,

   shaken together to make room for more,

   running over, and poured into your lap.

   The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

I feel like He's saying to me that the giving I've done, to Him, & to people, will not be in vain.

46 "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?

47 I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me,

   listens to my teaching,

   and then obeys follows it.

vs 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock.

When the flood waters rise and break against that house,

   it stands firm

   because it is well built. 

49 But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation.

When the floods sweep down against that house,

   it will collapse into a heap of ruins."

I don't know who this last section is for besides me.

46-49 reminds me this morning that by obeying God in what I thought He was leading me to be & do by moving to Blairsville is built on a firm foundation, & will stand firm.

maybe this section is for you in this same manner.

   maybe it's to remind you how foolish it is to NOT obey Him.

I don't know - but someone(s) out there need to hear these last verses.

trust me, it's better to obey than to not obey. I've done both. My money's on obeying.

with me (us)

We hear Psalm 23 read at funerals, so sometimes it's kinda spoiled for us. Here's some verses that came off the page for me today.

Don't know who these verses are for besides me...

Psalm 23:3 He renews my strength.
   He guides me along right paths,
   bringing honor to His name.

vs 4b Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
   I will not be afraid,
   for You are close beside me

vs 6 Surely Your goodness & unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.

fatherless

Psalm 68:5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

Don't know who this is for this morning. I know that God can be the Father you've always longed for. I KNOW it from experience.

watch the vid...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mbusMdsXgY

Jason Upton - Father of the Fatherless

I don't know how, to say what I'm feeling.

I don't have words, to write you a song.

But i have this hope and i have this prayer,

and i am believing.

Your words are true,

You never leave us alone.

Father of the fatherless, come down and rescue us

we need you, we need you again

friend of the friendless, come down and visit us,

we need you, we need you again

how many sons, have cried for their fathers.

and how many fathers, have cried like a son

now every tear saved through the years in memory's bottle

becomes the fine wine, You serve to the children of God

trust

Psalm 21:7 For the king trust in the Lord. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

My Life Application Bible says these two things about this verse...

"A good leader trusts the Lord & depends upon His unfailing love. Too often leaders trust in their own cleverness, popular support, or military power. But God is above all these "gods".

"If you aspire to leadership, keep the Lord God at the center of your life & depend on Him. His wisdom is the best strength you can have.

"Because David trusted in God, God would not let him stumble (be removed from the throne).

"When we trust in God, we have permanence & stability. We may lose a great deal - families, jobs, material possessions - but we cannot be shaken from God's favor. He will be our foundation of solid rock. He will never leave or desert us''

safety

Psalm 20:1 In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry.

  May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.

2 May he send you help from his sanctuary

  and strengthen you from Jerusalem.

3 May he remember all your gifts

  and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

4 May he grant your heart's desires

  and make all your plans succeed.

5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory

  and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.

May the LORD answer all your prayers.

7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,

  but we boast in the name of the LORD our God.