brevity

Psalm 39

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.

When I read this passage this morning, I thought of that poem that people used to quote when I was a kid (yes, I can remember THAT far back!).

Only one life, 'twill soon be passed.

Only what's done for Christ will last.

It's from a poem by C T Studd, a lifelong missionary from Great Britain, serving in China, India, & the Belgian Congo.

Here's the poem in it's entirety...

“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.



Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.



Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.



Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.



When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.



Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.



Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.



Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”



— extra stanza —
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”

chosen

Who needs to read this today, besides me?

For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.
 
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.

Isaiah 41:9b-10


I am holding you by your right hand - I, the Lord you God.

And I say to you,

Do not be afraid.

I am here to help you.

Isaiah 41:13

sowing

Luke 8

 

4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:

5 "A farmer went out to plant his seed.

As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.

6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.

7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.

8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!"

When he had said this, he called out, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

10 He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets* of the Kingdom of God.

But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:'When they look, they won't really see.
When they hear, they won't understand.'

11"This is the meaning of the parable: 

The seed is God's word.

12The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.

13The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.

14The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

15And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

The times I've read this parable in the last few years (2 or 3?) I've gotten the feeling that this describes our time here in Blairsville.

It's like a quiet whisper inside my spirit - not a blaring proclamation.

I guess we'll see...

a long time

This psalm contrasts people who are sinners, living outside the pale of a relationship with God with the infinite magnificence of God.
When I read this I thought so many different people who openly scorn Christ followers, God, Jesus, & anything connected with the life follow God.
And in the end, these scornful people are in for a rude awakening.
This isn't something I gloat over because they will find out that the stuff they've been saying & doing has separated them from God for all eternity.
And I don't care who anyone is, or what anyone has said or done - eternity is a VERY long time.
It makes me ache for those who have made a fantasically wrong choice. I don't want ANYONE to be separated from God for eternity.

Psalm 36

1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.

  They have no fear of God at all.

2 In their blind conceit,

  they cannot see how wicked they really are.

3 Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.

  They refuse to act wisely or do good.

4 They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.

  Their actions are never good.

  They make no attempt to turn from evil.

5 Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;

  your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

  your justice like the ocean depths.

You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.

7   How precious is your unfailing love, O God!

All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.

8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,

  letting them drink from your river of delights.

9 For you are the fountain of life,

  the light by which we see.

10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;

  give justice to those with honest hearts.

11 Don't let the proud trample me

  or the wicked push me around.

12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen!

  They are thrown down, never to rise again.

1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.
  They have no fear of God at all.
2 In their blind conceit,
  they cannot see how wicked they really are.
3 Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
  They refuse to act wisely or do good.
4 They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
  Their actions are never good.
  They make no attempt to turn from evil.

5 Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;
  your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
  your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.
7   How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
  in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
  letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
  the light by which we see.

10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;
  give justice to those with honest hearts.
11 Don't let the proud trample me
  or the wicked push me around.
12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen!
  They are thrown down, never to rise again. - See more at: http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/05discoverthenlt/ssresults.asp?txtSearchString=psalm+36&search.x=0&search.y=0#sthash.bQTotRyH.dpuf

1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.
  They have no fear of God at all.
2 In their blind conceit,
  they cannot see how wicked they really are.
3 Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
  They refuse to act wisely or do good.
4 They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
  Their actions are never good.
  They make no attempt to turn from evil.

5 Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;
  your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
  your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.
7   How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
  in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
  letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
  the light by which we see.

10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;
  give justice to those with honest hearts.
11 Don't let the proud trample me
  or the wicked push me around.
12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen!
  They are thrown down, never to rise again. - See more at: http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/05discoverthenlt/ssresults.asp?txtSearchString=psalm+36&search.x=0&search.y=0#sthash.bQTotRyH.dpuf

1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.
  They have no fear of God at all.
2 In their blind conceit,
  they cannot see how wicked they really are.
3 Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
  They refuse to act wisely or do good.
4 They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
  Their actions are never good.
  They make no attempt to turn from evil.

5 Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;
  your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
  your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.
7   How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
  in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
  letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
  the light by which we see.

10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;
  give justice to those with honest hearts.
11 Don't let the proud trample me
  or the wicked push me around.
12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen!
  They are thrown down, never to rise again. - See more at: http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/05discoverthenlt/ssresults.asp?txtSearchString=psalm+36&search.x=0&search.y=0#sthash.bQTotRyH.dpuf

radical thinking

The things Jesus says here are so radial, so different, so completely outside the thinking of the people at the time.

 

Hmmm...

 

Maybe it’s the same perception by people today?

 

What would our world look like if you & I did this to the people we meet today?

Luke 6

 

27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say,

 

love your enemies!

 

Do good to those who hate you.

 

28 Bless those who curse you.

 

Pray for those who hurt you.

 

29 If someone slaps you on one cheek,

 

      offer the other cheek also.

 

If someone demands your coat,

  

      offer your shirt also.

 

30 Give to anyone who asks;

 

      and when things are taken away from you, 

 

      don't try to get them back.

 

31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

 

32 "If you love only those who love you,

 

        why should you get credit for that?

 

        Even sinners love those who love them!

 

33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you,

 

        why should you get credit?

 

        Even sinners do that much!

 

34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you,

 

        why should you get credit?

 

        Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

 

 

35 "Love your enemies!

 

Do good to them.

 

Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.

 

Then your reward from heaven will be very great,

 

         and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High,

 

         for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

 

36 You must be compassionate,

 

        just as your Father is compassionate.

 

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.

 

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."

27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back.31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
  32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
  35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Do Not Judge Others
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.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.*" - See more at: http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/05discoverthenlt/ssresults.asp?txtSearchString=Luke+6&search.x=0&search.y=0#sthash.z1HHYyqf.dpuf

27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back.31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
  32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
  35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Do Not Judge Others
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.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.*" - See more at: http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/05discoverthenlt/ssresults.asp?txtSearchString=Luke+6&search.x=0&search.y=0#sthash.z1HHYyqf.dpuf

lunch

Luke 5

27 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector's booth.

"Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him.

28 So Levi got up,

        left everything,

        and followed him.


  29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor.

Many of Levi's fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.

30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples,

        "Why do you eat and drink with such scum?"


31 Jesus answered them,

        "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do.

        32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous,

        but those who know they are sinners and need to repent."



I noticed something yesterday during the Pope's morning activities.

While he was at the Capital, he was very cordial to all he met, & gentle in his demeanor.

He walked through the halls of power of the most powerful nation on earth.

He was with some of the most powerful people of that nation - the elected lawmakers of the USA.

And his kind smile could be seen as he was greeted by many of varying levels of influence & power.


But he turned down an invitation to "do lunch" with the powerful of these people to go have lunch with some homeless people.


And I was struck by something I noticed...

     When the Pope was with the Congressional leaders, he wore a gentle smile.

     But when he dove into the crowd of homeless people waiting to have lunch with him, he was grinning ear to ear.

     He was not only smiling with his grinning mouth, but he was smiling with his eyes all crinkled up.


It was clear to me, & I read in more than one place online,

     that it was clear that even though he was pleased to meet the members of Congress,

     he was much more happy to be with the homeless people at the soup kitchen.



Many consider the homeless of our nation to be scum.

A prevailing attitude toward low income / no income people in our nation is that they are lazy, shiftless, sorry, "working the system", & a drag on society.

Yesterday we saw a man show us without saying a word that even the homeless scum of Washington DC are of worth,

     & were obviously the people he preferred to be with.


Jesus was someone who seemed to be very comfortable with scum of the earth.

The ones he was with at Levi's house were probably some of the wealthiest.

But they were still considered scum by the Pharisees.


Judging from what He had to say to the Pharisees most & the time, it seems evident to me that Jesus preferred being with people who were considered scum - no matter if they were wealthy or not.

Maybe we can take a lesson from Jesus' obvious preference for being with the people that the society back then considered low life's,

     as well as the obvious preference of the Pope

        (a man who has displays a strong desire to be like the Jesus he serves)

         to be with people our today's society considers low life's, too.

Is there something to be said for plunging among people considered to be outcasts, rather than sucking after the powerful & influential?

Does that display more of Jesus' heart?

a song of trust

Sometimes I think we need to look at what kind of a God we're hooked up with.

We spend a lot of time focusing on the ooshie-gooshie, warm & fuzzy concepts we have of Him with a familiarity that feels almost unseemly.

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to look at who He is, the all-powerful-ness, all knowing, Creator God that He is.

In the psalm, God is portrayed as someone who just says the word & everything we know as the universe was created.

That would indicate some pretty infinite skills.

And also indicated He operated outside of His creation.


At the same time, this psalm talks about the surety of trusting Him with everything...

     our plans,

     our hopes,

     our dreams,

     our day to day existence  needs.


Read it through, slowly. There are some rock solid basic concepts here of who God is & who we are in our relationship with Him.

Psalm 33

1 Let the godly sing for joy to the LORD;

  it is fitting for the pure to praise him.


2 Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre;

  make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.


3 Sing a new song of praise to him;

  play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.


4 For the word of the LORD holds true,

  and we can trust everything he does.

5 He loves whatever is just and good;

  the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth.


6 The LORD merely spoke,

  and the heavens were created.

He breathed the word,

  and all the stars were born.


7 He assigned the sea its boundaries

  and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.


8 Let the whole world fear the LORD,

  and let everyone stand in awe of him.


9 For when he spoke, the world began!

  It appeared at his command.


10 The LORD frustrates 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.


12 What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD,

  whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.


13 The LORD looks down from heaven

  and 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.


16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king,

  nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.


17 Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory—

  for all its strength, it cannot save you.


18 But the LORD watches over those who fear him,

  those who rely on his unfailing love.


19 He rescues them from death

  and keeps them alive in times of famine.


20 We put our hope in the LORD.

  He is our help and our shield.


21 In him our hearts rejoice,

  for we trust in his holy name.


22 Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD,

  for our hope is in you alone.

forgiven

There's a lot of great stuff in this short psalm.

Remember that this is King David talking here.

Psalm 32

1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,

  whose sin is put out of sight!

2 Yes, what joy for those

  whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,

  whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

3 When I refused to confess my sin,

  my body wasted away,

  and I groaned all day long.

4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.

  My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.


5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you

  and stopped trying to hide my guilt.

I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD."

  And you forgave me!

  All my guilt is gone.


6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,

  that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.

7 For you are my hiding place;

  You protect me from trouble.

  You surround me with songs of victory.


8 The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

  I will advise you and watch over you.

9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule

  that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control."


10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,

  but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.

11 So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him!

  Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!



One more verse...


The Lord still waits for you to come to Him so He can show you His love & compassion.

For the Lord is a faithful God.

Blessed are those who wait for Him to help them.

Isaiah 30:18

livin' the life

Here in this passage from Colossians 3 - Paul's letter to the Christ followers in Colossae - he talks about what our lives should be like.

Read this slowly - it's fat with good stuff.

You may want to read it twice...

Colossians 3

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,

      you must clothe yourselves with

         tenderhearted mercy,

         kindness,

         humility,

         gentleness,

         and patience.

13 Make allowance for each other's faults,

      and forgive anyone who offends you.

      Remember, the Lord forgave you,

      so you must forgive others.


14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, (dan note: Paul, & Jesus, always come back to that same thing - love each other)

        which binds us all together in perfect harmony.


15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.

For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.


And always be thankful.


16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.

Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,

      giving thanks through him to God the Father.  (dan note: Paul mentions twice to be thankful - maybe there's some significance to that?)

living the life

Paul wrote these words to the Christ followers who lived in Colossae.

This is another one of those sections written by Paul that is fat with all kinds of truth.

It's all about practical thinking in regards to living a life not just believing in Jesus, but in following Him.

Colossians 2

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord,

     you must continue to follow him.

7 Let your roots grow down into him,

     and let your lives be built on him.

Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught,

     and you will overflow with thankfulness.


8 Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies

     and high-sounding nonsense (dan note: there's a lot of that going around these days!)

     that come from human thinking

     and from the spiritual powers of this world,

     rather than from Christ.

9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ,

        who is the head over every ruler and authority.


11 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure.

Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized.

        And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God,

            who raised Christ from the dead.
 

13 You were dead because of your sins

        and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away.

Then God made you alive with Christ,

     for he forgave all our sins.

14 He canceled the record of the charges against us

        and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities.

He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.


20 You have died with Christ,

     and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world.

amazing

Get ready - power passage!

Paul wrote this to the Christ followers who lives in Colossae.


Colossians 1
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

  He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

16 for through him God created everything

  in the heavenly realms and on earth.

He made the things we can see

  and the things we can't see—

such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.

  Everything was created through him and for him.

17 He existed before anything else,

  and he holds all creation together.

18 Christ is also the head of the church,

  which is his body.

He is the beginning,

  supreme over all who rise from the dead.


  So he is first in everything.

19 For God in all his fullness

  was pleased to live in Christ,

20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself.

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth

  by means of Christ's blood on the cross.


  21 This includes you who were once far away from God.

You were his enemies,

     separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.

22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.

As a result, he has brought you into his own presence,

     and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
 

23 But you must continue to believe this truth

      and stand firmly in it.

Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.

Did you catch the full portent of the power statement?

Because of Jesus, God see each of us as holy & blameless, without a single fault.

iow, if we have accepted Jesus' provision, God does not see our sins & sinfulness.

He see us holy, blameless, faultless.


Now, I don't know about you, but when I consider the quantity of my sins, & the shameless quality of my sinfulness, that statement is not only stupendous but scandalous!

iow, I get let off!!!

(& you get let off!!!)

And not only do we get let off, God doesn't even see all that sin.

He see us as He intended us to be.


holy...

blameless...

faultless...



amazing.

depending on how you read it...

Depending on which word(s) we emphasize, a great truth is expressed in many ways...


Philippians 4:13


I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.


I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me.


I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me.


I can do all things through Christ who strengthens ME.


I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me.


I can do all things through Christ who STRENGTHENS me.


I can DO all things through Christ who strengthens me.


I can do all things THROUGH Christ who strengthens me.




one other thing....


This same God will supply all your needs from His glorious riches which have been given us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19


That's for someone today - besides me - don't know who.

prime example

Here is a prime example of why I firmly believe the most important thing we can do in life is to "read the Bible every day, without fail."


I've had some things preying on my mind lately. I was thinking them last night as we went to bed - as I lay there tossing & turning.

This morning, I wrote them down in my journal - I entitled it, "Things I need to face?".

There were 13 of them - none of them good.


Now, I didn't know where I was supposed to read this morning, nor what I would be reading there.

I'm reading in Isaiah right now, as well as Psalms (always), Mark, & Philippians.

Since Isaiah comes after Psalms, I read the chapter/psalm first.

(Usually I read the Old Testament reading first, but didn't this morning.)


Didn't know today's psalm would hold this message, especially after writing down 13 bad situations I may need to face down.

Was this a coincidence?

I'm sure many will think so.

Since I've started reading the Bible every day, without fail, since January, 2003, these kinds of "coincidences" happen quite frequently.

Here' the psalm I read right after writing down those 13 things...

Psalm 27

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—

  so why should I be afraid?

The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger,

  so why should I tremble?

2 When evil people come to devour me,

  when my enemies and foes attack me,

  they will stumble and fall.

3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,

  my heart will not be afraid.

Even if I am attacked,

  I will remain confident.


4 The one thing I ask of the LORD—

  the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

  delighting in the LORD's perfections

  and meditating in his Temple.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

  he will hide me in his sanctuary.

  He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6 Then I will hold my head high

  above my enemies who surround me.

At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

  singing and praising the LORD with music.


7 Hear me as I pray, O LORD.

  Be merciful and answer me!

8 My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me."

  And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."

9 Do not turn your back on me.

  Do not reject your servant in anger.

  You have always been my helper.

Don't leave me now;

  don't abandon me, O God of my salvation!

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,

  the LORD will hold me close.


11 Teach me how to live, O LORD.

  Lead me along the right path,

  for my enemies are waiting for me.

12 Do not let me fall into their hands.

  For they accuse me of things I've never done;

  with every breath they threaten me with violence.

13 Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness

  while I am here in the land of the living.


14 Wait patiently for the LORD.

  Be brave and courageous.

  Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

limelight

How many of us are like the people Paul describes in the first 4 verses?

And how many of us are willing to step out of the limelight & be like the person described in verses 6 - 8?


Philippians 2

1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?

Any comfort from his love?

Any fellowship together in the Spirit?

Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other,

     loving one another,

     and working together with one mind and purpose.

3 Don't be selfish;

     don't try to impress others.

Be humble,

     thinking of others as better than yourselves.
4 Don't look out only for your own interests,

     but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
  he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
  he took the humble position of a slave

  and was born as a human being.


When he appeared in human form,

8   he humbled himself in obedience to God

  and died a criminal's death on a cross.


9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

  and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

  to the glory of God the Father.

direction & protection

Psalm 25

1 O LORD, I give my life to you.

2   I trust in you, my God!

Do not let me be disgraced,

  or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.

3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,

  but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.


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.


11 For the honor of your name, O LORD,

  forgive my many, many sins.

12 Who are those who fear the LORD?

  He will show them the path they should choose.

13 They will live in prosperity,

  and their children will inherit the land.

14 The LORD is a friend to those who fear him.

  He teaches them his covenant.

15 My eyes are always on the LORD,

  for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.


16 Turn to me and have mercy,

  for I am alone and in deep distress.

17 My problems go from bad to worse.

  Oh, save me from them all!

18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.

  Forgive all my sins.

19 See how many enemies I have

  and how viciously they hate me!

20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!

  Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.


21 May integrity and honesty protect me,

  for I put my hope in you.

armored

Armor was a common sight when Paul wrote his letter to the Christ followers in Ephesians.

They would have seen Roman soldiers walking about around town, controling & protecting it.

They would have seen troups passing through town, on their way to or from a place of confrontation or battle.

So they would have been very familiar with armor of the day, & its functions in any scenario.

Armor was something a person wore for one reason - protection

Paul uses that armor as an illustration of what the Ephesian Christ followers had to be & do to survive in the Roman world - a world still very, very hostile toward what the Christ followers believed.



Ephesians 6

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

        12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,

        but against evil rulers

       and authorities of the unseen world,

       against mighty powers in this dark world,

       and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.


13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.

Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

14 Stand your ground,

        putting on the belt of truth

        and the body armor of God's righteousness.

15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News

        so that you will be fully prepared.

16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

17 Put on salvation as your helmet,

and take the sword of the Spirit,

     which is the word of God.