testing

1 Peter 1:6 (NLT) So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead,

       even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.


7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong & pure.

It is being tested as fire tests & purifies gold...

        & your faith is more precious to God than mere gold.



Who's this for this morning besides me?



Here it is from The Message...

"I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime.

"Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine.

"When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory."

2 > 1

Ecclesiates 4: 9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.

         But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm.

       But how can one be warm alone?

12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.

Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.


Especially during these last 17 months, I simply don't think I could have made it w/o my wife, Lynn. What a gift she is!

stuff

Here's some stuff I read this a.m....

Ecclesiatstes 3
1 For everything there is a season,
  a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
  A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
  A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
  A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
  A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
  A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
  A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
  A time for war and a time for peace.

  11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.


Proverbs 16
1 We can make our own plans,
  but the LORD gives the right answer.

2 People may be pure in their own eyes,
  but the LORD examines their motives.

3 Commit your actions to the LORD,
  and your plans will succeed.

5 The LORD detests the proud;
  they will surely be punished.

6 Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.
  By fearing the LORD, people avoid evil.

7 When people's lives please the LORD,
  even their enemies are at peace with them.

8 Better to have little, with godliness,
  than to be rich and dishonest.

9 We can make our plans,
  but the LORD determines our steps.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
  and good judgment than silver!

18 Pride goes before destruction,
  and haughtiness before a fall.

19 Better to live humbly with the poor
  than to share plunder with the proud.

25 There is a path before each person that seems right,
  but it ends in death.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
  it is gained by living a godly life.

32 Better to be patient than powerful;
  better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

33 We may throw the dice,
  but the LORD determines how they fall.

leading

This vid goes with words below...
All the way my Savior leads me - Chris Tomlin

http://youtu.be/Lvi1UM_4YcM


All the way my Savior leads me
Who have I to ask beside
How could I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide

All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for every trial
Feeds me with the living bread

You lead me and keep me from falling
You carry me close to Your heart
And surely Your goodness
And mercy will follow me

All the way my Savior leads me
Oh, the fullness of His love
Oh, the sureness of His promise
In the triumph of His blood

And when my spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way

You lead me and keep me from falling
You carry me close to Your heart
And surely Your goodness
And mercy will follow me

You lead me and keep me from falling
You carry me close to Your heart
And surely Your goodness
And mercy will follow me,
will follow me

All the way my Savior leads me
All the way my Savior leads me

radical

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
      and a light for my path. (NLT & ESV)


I LOVE to sleep. Getting up early was such a struggle because I just love the warm & fuzzy feeling of lying in bed, all covered up, warm, & comfortable.

Let's have a moment of silence for lying in bed, all covered up, warm, & comfortable...


now, picture this...

beginning of January, 2003...

I start waking up at 4:30 to 5 A.M.!!! - for no reason.

Every morning during the first 2 weeks of January of 2003 I'm waking up. And this isn't my usual kinda groggy, sleepy kinda waking up. This is a HELLO! I'M AWAKE! kinda thing.

I was NOT amused.

After a couple of weeks of this, I asked my wife, Lynn, about it. (She's nurse practitioner)

I figured she was gonna say it's just another facet of being in your fifties. (whee)

She says, "I don't know. Maybe the Lord is trying to tell you something. Why don't you ask Him"

So, the next morning, when I woke up, I asked Him if there was something He was trying to tell me.

A Voice inside my head said, "Get up and read."

As much as I like to sleep, that was not something I would say to me.

So, I got up, read in the Bible, I listened.

And I've been doing that every morning ever since. I don't set the alarm, never have - God just wakes me up. Now it's more like 4am when He does that. And I just wake up. HELLO!


My life has been wrecked by doing this - in a good way.

God started talking to me, & He ain't stopped. He talks to me thru my eyes.

I read a psalm every day (me & Billy Graham), I read a chapter in the new testament, & a chapter in the old testament. I read sequencially - iow, I'm read in, say, Acts, straight thru. Then maybe James, then the gospels, etc. You get the idea. I don't read randomly.

He's wrecked me.

My life has gone through so many changes. He's constantly healing me, changing me, pruning me (back to the ground sometimes), encouraging me, loving on me, disciplining me, kicking my butt!

Iow, He's being a Father.

He's taken me in directions & places I never would have chosen. I've said & done things I never would have chosen to say or do.


He says just the things I need to heard that day through the places I "just happen" to read that morning.

He's given me verses or passages to hold on to during a year or season that have literally kept me from losing my mind (what's left of it!)

I have just one ting to say about this...


PLEASE DO THIS TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!


The smartest thing I've EVER done was getting up each morning, reading the Bible, & listening out for what He might have to say to me.


The dumbest thing I've ever done?


Waiting until I was 52 1/2 yrs old to do it.


Don't be as dumb as I was.

hope deferred

I'm doing a dangerous thing - I'm asking for opinions! ;-)

What does this verse mean, practically speaking, for us?

I've given you a few different translations to give you perspective.


Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
  but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. (NLT)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
   but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (NIV)

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
   but a sudden good break can turn life around. (The Message)


Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
   but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (ESV)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. (Amplified)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. (NKJV)

so...

Exodus 22:28

NLT - You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.

NIV - Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

ESV - You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

The Message - Don't curse God; and don't damn your leaders.

Amplified - You shall not revile God [the judges as His agents] or esteem lightly or curse a ruler of your people.

NASB - You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

Holman - You must not blaspheme God or curse a leader among your people.

NKJV - You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.


Hmmmmmm... somethin' tells me that no matter how we translate it, we're in trouble, no matter which side of the aisle we sit on.

thoughts from Proverbs 11

Here's some selected verse that proved interesting this morning...

Proverbs 11

2 Pride leads to disgrace,
  but with humility comes wisdom.

4 Riches won't help on the day of judgment,
  but right living can save you from death.

5 The godly are directed by honesty;
  the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

7 When the wicked die, their hopes die with them,
  for they rely on their own feeble strength.

12 It is foolish to belittle one's neighbor;
  a sensible person keeps quiet. (dan note: the old I get the more I think it's best to say little & listen much)


13 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
  but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
  there is safety in having many advisers.

17 Your kindness will reward you,
  but your cruelty will destroy you.

19 Godly people find life;
  evil people find death.

20 The LORD detests people with crooked hearts,
  but he delights in those with integrity.

22 A beautiful woman (dan note: or a handsome man) who lacks discretion
  is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

25 The generous will prosper;
  those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.


27 If you search for good, you will find favor;
  but if you search for evil, it will find you! (dan note: boy, howdy!)

31 If the righteous are rewarded here on earth,
  what will happen to wicked sinners?

think about it

Proverbs 10:24 The fears of the wicked will all come true; so will the hopes of the godly.

work assigned

Acts 20:24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.


Ministry isn't something we do.

Ministry is something we are.

So many people I know don't minister, or don't think they can minister, unless they're in some position at some church or organization.

If we are called to minister, it will just come out of us, whether we in a position or not.

It's something that compels us.

It's something for which we must find expression in our life because it's the very essence of who we are.

And even though we ay not see it until we get to heaven, the ripple effect of God loving & caring through us in ministering to others is eternal.

I wish I could be more articulate, but after Lynn's flight from Kenya FINALLY got there, we didn't get back from the Atlanta airport until late & we didn't get to sleep until after midnight, so I'm a little sleep (well, actually, I feel a little frayed around the edges!)

take the time

Acts 19
8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him.

Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.


We live in an instant society & culture. We want what we want, & we want it NOW!

Living in this kind of paradigm sometimes makes our attempts at so called evangelism to sometimes take on the characteristics of a drive by shooting - it's kinda like we fling a lot of truthful statements at people as we're passing by them.

It's interesting that Paul spent 2 years having "discussions" with people in Ephesus - 2 years. It doesn't say if he had good crowds, small crowds, or what.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of goal orientation in this activity. Boy! I wonder how long Paul would last in our goal oriented, success drive world?!

The notes in my Bible say that lecture halls like this one in Greece were used for schooling in the mornings, but during the hot part in middle of the day, they were not.

So, let me get this right...

During the hot part of the day, when people are off work, Paul goes each day to a place of indeterminate size (& temperature) in Ephesus to sit around & discuss the fact that Jesus is the Messiah. And he does this for 2 years.

2 years.

Here's what I think we need to grasp here (among other things). Sharing the truths about Jesus & a relationship with Him is something that people will listen to if they know the person who's doing the talking.

Iow, they need to know you & me. Impacting people for Jesus takes an investment of time & effort on our parts in the people that we want to reach for Jesus.

John Maxwell has written that "People don't care what you know until they know you care."

Yeah...

That applies especially in trying to influence them to become Christ followers.

So, let's take time, however long, to connect with people, love them, show them who we are, & share with them the life we find in & thru Jesus.

holding on

Sometimes, ya just have to sit & hold on to what you can...



Isaiah 41:9b NLT 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.



Matthew 6:33 The Message Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.

Don't worry about missing out.

You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

 34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now,
         and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.

God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

causing trouble

Acts 17
1 Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was Paul's custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. 3 He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, "This Jesus I'm telling you about is the Messiah." 4 Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.

  5 But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. 6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. "Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world," they shouted, "and now they are here disturbing our city, too.


I wonder how many of us could be accused of causing trouble simply by sharing the truths about Jesus?

I'm not suggesting we cause civil unrest - Paul & Silas certainly didn't.

But their sharing about Jesus as the Messiah certainly cause a stir.

How many of us are willing to risk causing a stir in sharing what we've found in Jesus?

believing

Acts 16:16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."

  18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And instantly it left her.

  19 Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted to the city officials. 21 "They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice."

  22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

  25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!"

  29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

  31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

keeping on

Pro 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.


And these were the other verses in Proverbs that God gave me at the beginning of 2010 for this season.

Do you know how hard it is to not look around at the way things are, but keep looking at the central vision for this season?

Do you know how tough it is to keep moving forward when there's little to no light?

Do you know how difficult it is to not be distracted by the many gajillion things that have been thrown in our pathway to divert, discourage, undermine, & confuse us?

And yet, we're just putting one foot in front of the other.


I've held on to these verses too, as simple instructions on how to live especially in this season, one day at a time.

trust

Proverb 3:5-6 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.


On January 18, 2010, (like 2 yrs ago this coming Wednesday) God gave me these verses, amongst 5 passages, to hold on to during this present season of my life.

To say that I've held on to these verses with a death grip is an understatement.

Many times since, they've kept me from losing what little sanity I have.

Holding on to the central fact that I must trust God & not figure it all out is something that keeps me putting 1 foot in front of the other.

Even in all that has transpired in these last couple 2 yrs, can I say we can trust Him?

Yes.

scandalous

Acts 13:38b ...through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39a Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God...

This is the scandal of the depth of God's forgiveness...

If we ask, if anyone asks, we can get forgiven, of anything.

Anyone...

So, does that mean if Osama bin Laden had asked for forgiveness for his sins, God would have forgiven him?

Or if Hitler had?

Or Saddam Hussein?

Or Kim Jong Il?

Or you?

Or me?

Scandalous!

missing it

Matthew 6:33b (The Message) Don't worry about missing out.

You ever feel like you've missed it?

But God is far more interested in us "getting it" than we are.

If that is true, & we love the Lord with all our soul, mind, & strength, & we answer yesr to whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever, & however, then wouldn't it make sense that the chances of us "missing it" be pretty slim?

Just a thought...

made it thru psalms, again

Made it through Psalms 1 more time! What a rich, rich book. I read a psalm every morning until I read thru it, then read thru Proverbs, then start back thru psalms.

Just sayin'...

Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD!

   Praise God in his sanctuary;
      praise him in his mighty heaven!
 2 Praise him for his mighty works;
      praise his unequaled greatness!
 3 Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
      praise him with the lyre and harp!
 4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
      praise him with strings and flutes!
 5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
      praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
 6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD!
   Praise the LORD!

amazing

You have NO idea how this is SO where I need to be these days. I've put each separate thought that pops out in these verses on a separate line. I just wonder how this is all gonna play out in my life this year.

Matthew 6 The Message


33 Steep your life in...

God-reality,

God-initiative,

God-provisions.

Don't worry about missing out.

You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

 34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now,

and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.

God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up

when the time comes.

in my head

Here's what's running around in my head now...


All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough


You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know


All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough


You’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
You’re the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know


All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough
(Enough - Christ Tomlin)


Matthew 6:33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
 34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

get off our butts

Psalm 8:1 A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.


This describes events shortly after Stephen (1st Christian martyr) was stoned to death, the account of which is found in Acts 7.

It does make ya wonder that the persecution was used by God to get His new Christian followers off their butts & out into the world. There are accounts earlier in Acts about how they had sold their earthly goods, had their money held in common with everyone else, & were basically waiting for Jesus to return.


God wasn't gonna have any of that.

So there was persecution, so they headed for the hills.

The result?

The people who ran off to get away from Saul's persecution ended up telling people about Jesus, & spreading the gospel.

Hmmmmmmm...


Sometimes we bellyache when things aren't going just peachy keen.

Maybe God's using tough times to get us off our butts & spread the gospel.

Just a thought...

me & Billy

I heard about 10 yrs ago that Billy Graham reads a psalm & a proverb every day. I thought if it's good enough for Billy, it's good enough for me ;-)

So, I started reading through psalms, 1 a day. When I get through all 150, then I read a chapter in Proverbs each day. I also read each day somewhere else in the Old Testament (I'm in Job right now - AAUGH!) & somewhere in the New Testament (I'm in Acts right now)

I can't tell you how reading a psalm each day has changed my life. Yeah, there's some where David asks the Lord to bash in the teeth of his enemies. But for the most part, it's pretty good stuff.

The interesting thing is how these psalms speak to me each day. Psalms is all about our connection with God. It's always kool to me that so many times so much of what I need to hear or remember is "coincidentally" in the psalm I read that morning.

Here's what stood out to me this morning. Go read the whole psalm when you're done.

Psalm 145
1 I will exalt You, my God and King,
  and praise Your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise You every day;
  yes, I will praise You forever.
3 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!
  No one can measure his greatness.


8 The LORD is merciful

        and compassionate,

  slow to get angry

      and filled with unfailing love.


9 The LORD is good to everyone.

  He showers compassion on all His creation.


13b The LORD always keeps His promises;
  He is gracious in all He does.


14 The LORD helps the fallen

  and lifts those bent beneath their loads.


15 The eyes of all look to You in hope;

  You give them their food as they need it.


16 When You open Your hand, You satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.


17 The LORD is righteous in everything He does;

  He is filled with kindness.


18 The LORD is close to all who call on Him,

  yes, to all who call on Him in truth.


19 He grants the desires of those who fear Him;

  He hears their cries for help and rescues them.


20 The LORD protects all those who love him,
  but he destroys the wicked.


21 I will praise the LORD,
  and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
  forever and ever.

a rock

Psalm 144:1 Praise the LORD, who is my rock.
  He trains my hands for war
  and gives my fingers skill for battle.
2a He is my loving ally and my fortress,
  my tower of safety, my rescuer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in him.

3 O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them,
  mere mortals that you should think about them?
4 For they are like a breath of air;
  their days are like a passing shadow.

ordinary, but...

 Acts 4:13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.


I wonder if people say that about us - that we're obviously ordinary, but that we have been with Jesus?

Do we spend enough time with Jesus that it shows?

I think it shows all the time on the face & in the speech of my friend, Sheila Hayslip.

What about you? Do you think it shows you spend time with Jesus?

And what about me? Does it show how much time I actually spend with Him?


Somethin' to think about...

a hand up

Acts 3
1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

  4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!"

  7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

  9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon's Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.


I just noticed that the man wasn't healed until Peter took him by the hand & helped him up. It wasn't until during the act of standing that the lame man was healed.

Hmmmmmm...

Anybody see the interesting thing that is besides me?

The lame man had to take a significant step of faith for the miracle to happen.


I wonder what kind of miracles would happen in each of our lives if we took the hand of the sick & lame (in more ways than just physical) & in the name of Jesus helped them up?

before & after

Psalm 139:5 You go before me and follow me.

Iow, God is out ahead of me preparing the way.

And He's following behind me, mopping up the consequences of my obedience.

I've been living with this verse since 2008, when it became one of the verse God gave me particularly for 2008 & 2009.

But it's true all the time, any year, for any one, not just me.

God doesn't operate in time. He sees the whole picture at once - beginning, end, & middle.

He's got it all worked out.

(Will someone remind me of this everyday for a while?)

psalm 139

Psalm 139
1 O LORD, you have examined my heart

  and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down

           or stand up.

  You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.

3 You see me when I travel

     and when I rest at home.


                      You know everything I do.


4 You know what I am going to say

                                                                      even before I say it, LORD.


5 You go before me and follow me.


  You place your hand of blessing on my head.


6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

  too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!

  I can never get away from your presence!

8 If I go up to heaven,

        you are there;

  if I go down to the grave,

                        you are there.

9 If I ride the wings of the morning,

  if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

  and your strength will support me.


11 I could ask the darkness to hide me

  and the light around me to become night—

12   but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

        Darkness and light are the same to you.


13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

  and knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

  as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.


16 You saw me before I was born.

                 Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

                before a single day had passed.


17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

  They cannot be numbered!

18 I can't even count them;

  they outnumber the grains of sand!


And when I wake up,
                                        you are still with me!
 


23 Search me, O God,

            and know my heart;

  test me

                    and know my anxious thoughts.

24 Point out anything in me that offends you,

  and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

day one of 2012

Psalm 138:2b I will give thanks to Your name
   for You unfailing love & faithfulness,
because Your promises are backed
   by the honor of Your name.

3b You encourage me by giving me the strength I need.

8 The Lord will work out His plans for my life.


Isn't it ironic that I was slated to read this psalm in my sequential reading of Psalms on this 1st day of the new year. In the 9 years I've been getting up early to read, listen out for what He may have to say, & write some of it down, I have found that such things as my "happening" to read Psalm 137 on the 1st day of the new year is not merely a coincidence.

What does it mean?

Clueless.

What are some of His "promises" mentioned in verse 2? Read the verses at the end of my blog from yesterday.

Just sayin'...

********************

John 20:21b As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.

My Life Application Bible says this about that familiar verse...

"Whatever God has you to do, remember:
     1) Your authority come from God,
     2) Jesus has demonstrated by words & actions how to accomplish the job He has given you.
"As the Father sent Jesus, Jesus sends His followers... & you."

Another coincidence? Hmmmmm... I don't think so.