Simply Praise
1 Ch. 29:13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
(A monthly meditation considering our God)
Keeping Balanced In An Unbalanced World
The scales of this world are unbalanced, ever leaning toward the flesh. The weight of sin bringing the world closer to final judgment. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life ( 1John 2:16 ). Be careful little eyes what you see! Today there are so many things to look at. We joke about being distracted by shinny objects. But truth be told we are drawn by the lust of our eyes. I’m not talking about everything we see, but that which feeds our flesh and sinful desires. The lust of our flesh manifest in many ways, from indulging in actual sin to indulging in what might not be considered sin for some, but done in excess can and does fall under the category of sin. Like wasteful spending, or overeating. All these things tip the scale further and further away from a balanced life in Christ. And its not just what we see that tips us away, but also our pride. We think we can handle more of the world then we actually can. That watching movies or reading books, or spending more time having fun, or working is not going to effect our relationship with Christ. Oh that is such a deceptive lie from hell. For example: my mother loved reading books, si-fi books. And when I tried to talk to her she would rarely put the book down. She was so wrapped up in the book that I couldn't get through. So if we are so wrapped up in stuff, how are we going to respond when God speaks to us? Chances are we won’t, and we will miss out. And the scale tips further! There are needful duties that we must do to live, and I am all for having fun and enjoying the life God has given. This world is full of wonderful, and beautiful things to behold and partake in. So don’t label me anti-fun. My point is, that when the time spent doing those things far outweighs the time spent with Jesus, in His Word, in prayer, in cultivating our relationship with Him, then we have become unbalanced and the scale is tipping towards being dull of hearing, and carnally minded.
Dear Father, help us today to hear your voice, help us remain balanced in this unbalanced world that we may grow ever closer to Your heart and be children You delight in. Amen.
Peace
music by George W. Chadwick, words by Sarah Williams, Twilight hours 1868
Because I knew not when my life was good,
And when there was a light upon my path,
But turned my soul perversely to the dark,
O Lord, I do repent.
Because I held upon my selfish road,
And left my brother wounded by the way,
And called ambition duty, and pressed on,
O Lord, I do repent.
Because I spent the strength Thou gavest me
In struggle which Thou never didst ordain,
And have imperfect life to offer Thee,
O Lord, I do repent.
Because I was impatient, would not wait,
And thrust my willful hand across Thy threads,
And marred the pattern
drawn out for my life,
O Lord, I do repent.
(Heartfelt words that touch my soul, does it touch yours?)
What Might Have Been
Read Psalm 81:1-16, Life is made up of things that were, things that are and things that might have been. We find all three in Psalm 81. First, we find the things that were (vv.1-10). The psalmist talks about the God of Jacob and says, “Let’s get our orchestra together. Let’s get our trumpets and lets sing to the Lord. He gave us a statute. He delivered us from Egypt.” he reflects on and rejoices in the past. But the things that were did not last long, because the people rebelled against the Lord. Next, we see the things that are. “But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels” (vv.11-12). The things that were brought rejoicing. The things that are spoke of rebellion. The people of God rebelled against Him. They wouldn’t listen to Him, call upon Him or obey His Word. So they lost all that He had for them. Finally, we see the things that might have been (vv, 13-16). “Oh, that My people had listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.” What might have been? Victory, satisfaction, joy, the finest honey out of the rock. Don’t rebel against God and thus miss the blessings He wants to give you. Dwelling on past failures only turns life into regret. If you have failed the Lord, come back to Him and pray for forgiveness. Dedicate yourself to Him and start experiencing those things that might have been. God has the best plan for you.
Blinded by the Cross
"It makes my eyes hurt said one member." "I can't see the pastor or the choir" said others. "I wonder how many visitors are turned off and don't return because of this" spoke the pastor as he turned toward the huge stained glass window in the shape of a cross. "The motion has been seconded and the I's have it." said the pastor. "We will find a way to filter out the glare from the window." I sighed as I looked up at the magnificent cross that covered the wall of the sanctuary behind the pulpit. No, I did not fight against changing the window. The decision would be what the majority wanted anyway and I was not in the majority. The first thing I saw when I entered into this church building was the cross. It was beautiful. I purposely sat in the area where the light glared. I loved to look to the front of the church and not see the pastor or the choir but only the cross blinding me. I wanted to be blinded by the cross. When I would stop and talk to people I would see the reflection of the cross in their eyes. You just could not say anything unkind when you see the cross in the eyes of others. You could not hide from the cross. As I came into the sanctuary several days after the business meeting the room appeared dim. A plastic coating had been applied to the cross. The glare was gone. As I looked around the sanctuary I saw things that I had never noticed before. I noticed places where the walls needed to be repainted. I saw the dust on the light fixtures and the dirty corners where the walls reached up to the ceiling. I was able to see my friends faces more clearly. I no longer saw the cross but I saw the imperfections that had been hidden by the glare. I thought about the places in the Bible where God is compared to light. I thought about Moses as he was blinded when he got to see God as He passed by. I also thought about bringing a sweater for there was now a chill in the once warm spot. How strange that a simple window could say so much. Our imperfections can't have been because of the Cross. How many times do we filter God's light so we can be comfortable?
Author unknown
Come Children
Come, children, learn to fear the Lord
And that your days be long,
Let not a false or spiteful word
Be found upon your tongue.
Depart from mischief, practice love,
Pursue the works of peace;
So shall the Lord your ways approve,
And set your souls at ease.
His eyes awake to guard the just,
His ears attend their cry;
When broken spirits dwell in dust,
The God of grace is nigh.
What though the sorrows here they taste
Are sharp and tedious too,
The Lord, who saves them all at last,
Is their supporter now.
Evil shall smite the wicked dead;
But God secures His own,
Prevents the mischief when they slide,
Or heals the broken bone.
When desolation, like a flood,
O’er the proud sinner rolls,
Saints find a refuge in their God,
For He redeemed their souls.
Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David, 1719
There is so much we can learn from those who have gone before us, if we would only listen and heed.
A Little Interaction With The Word
1.Jesus uses the phrase "I am the ________" seven different times in the Gospel of John (for example, "I am the Way"). Name two of the remaining six phrases. John 6:35; John 9:5; John 10:9; John 10:11; John 11:25; John 14:6; John 15:1.
2.What was Balaam's sin?
greed
rebellion
lust
envy (Jude 1:11 KJV)
3. How do you increase your faith? or How does one come by faith?
by taking chances
by quoting God's Word
by living right
by hearing God's Word
(Rom 10:17 KJV)
4. Use the following words to complete the verse (in KJV):
grace
strength
weakness
"And he said unto me, My ________is sufficient for thee: for my ___________is made perfect in _________. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Wisdom
One of the greatest things in life to learn is that God is always in control of our lives, we must learn the lessons of our trials and acquire a higher level of understanding.
We must be willing to Humble ourselves so that our Creator can more easily guide us into His Wisdom to choose Right from Wrong.
We must endure hardships to appreciate what we have and we must be more Willing to share our blessings with others who are less fortunate. We must learn to develop a meaningful relationship with God and learn to trust His decision in our lives.
We must learn to Pray, and to make that Prayer sincere and heartfelt, For God knows our hearts and minds and He cannot be fooled.
We must through all of this expect God to be faithful to His Word, because God cannot lie.
By Lessie Myles
Beatitudes For The Home
BLESSED are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate and considerate, loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing. BLESSED are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends. BLESSED are they who have a sense of humor, for this attribute will be a handy shock absorber.
BLESSED are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vows of lifetime of fidelity and mutual helpfulness to one another.
BLESSED are they who attain parenthood, for children are a heritage of the Lord. BLESSED are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set apart some time each day for the reading of the Bible and for prayer. BLESSED are those mates who never speak loudly to one another and who make their home a place where seldom is heard a discouraging word". BLESSED are the husband and wife who faithfully attend the worship service of the church and who work together in the church for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom. BLESSED are the husband and wife who can work out problems of adjustments without interference from relatives. BLESSED is the couple who has a complete understanding about financial matters and who has worked out a perfect partnership with all money under the control of both. BLESSED are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and their home to Christ and who practice the teachings of Christ in the home by being unselfish, loyal, and loving.
Author Unknown
Prayer
Lord, as we Thy Name profess,
May our hearts Thy love confess;
And in all our praise of Thee
May our lips and lives agree.
Make us resolute to do
What Thou showest to be true;
Make us hate and shun the ill,
Loyal to Thy holy will.
May Thy yoke be meekly worn,
May Thy cross be bravely borne;
Make us patient, gentle, kind,
Pure in life and heart and mind.
Gracious Savior, heav’nly Friend,
On Thy grace our souls depend;
Let that grace our needs supply
While we live and when we die.
Edwin P. Parker, 1889
Hosea 10:12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
