SONGS OF JOY The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. —Psalm 65:8             His Creation is a marvel as we consider the tiniest flowers to the massive waterfalls, to the glory of our sun to the greatness of the universe.  Yes, His creation is a wonder.  Morning dawns, evening fades and it is a reminder to me that the— “Bloody red sky Of night and morn Tis a witness His body torn And was for me Planned cross forlorn That I could be Once again born” —tw             And this fills my heart with such…

Disciple-Making Encouragement https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dLOTUOv6cAlaeeNHRzYMdBhfNggIQ5Ud/view?usp=drive_link

OH, TO BE WITH JESUS! And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ —Zechariah 7:8-10  These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord. —Zechariah 8:16-17 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. —Psalm…

AM I… Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” —Haggai 1:3-4 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. —Haggai 1:7 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. —Haggai 1:9 You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can…

SHINE! Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. —Daniel 12:3 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” —Daniel 12:13             Oh, brothers and sisters, fellow followers of Jesus and disciples of His, let us be wise and lead many to the righteousness of Christ.  Yes, may we be “like the brightness of the heavens” and “like the stars for ever and ever.”             A few decades ago, I was out for…

GOD IS THE REVEALER OF ALL THINGS To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. —Daniel 1:17             All knowledge comes from God, not just in the case of these four young men, but this is true of all knowledge to all men.  It is God who gives “knowledge and understanding of all kinds…”  Look what He did in Daniel’s life— “During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.  He changes times and seasons;…

OUR LORD CAN EASILY “TURN THE TABLE” That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. —Esther 6:1-2             Our Lord is not limited at all to accomplish what He desires.  He can and does work through any individual He desires and through any situation He desires.  This is clearly seen in Esther as our Lord works through individuals and situations to accomplish what…

MY HOPE IS IN YOUR FAVOR! Remember me with favor, my God. —Nehemiah 13:31 I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever…  And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. —Psalm 52:8-9 Oh yes, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us– yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17).  Oh, Dear God, “Remember me with favor’ because without Your favor I have not hope.  And so yes, “I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever…  And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.”  For if…

SEEK NOT TO SIN! Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.   Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. —Psalm 51:10-13             Oh, to have pure a heart is what I desire.  I desire to be perfect and look forward to being in glory where my heart will be perfectly pure forever.  Until then, O Lord, please “renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  May…

OUR CREATOR PROVIDES WHAT WE NEED “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.  You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. —Nehemiah 9:5-6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. —Psalm 50:6 I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.  If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the…