PRAISE HIM!

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. —Psalm 148:13

            Today, applause for our Lord comes from—

• The heavens
• The angels
• The sun
• The moon
• The stars
• The waters above the heavens
• The earth
• The great sea creatures
• The deeps
• The fire
• The hail
• The snow
• The midst
• The stormy wind
• The mountains
• The hills
• The fruit trees
• The cedars
• The beasts
• The livestock
• The creeping things
• The flying birds
• The kings of the earth
• The peoples of the earth
• The princes
• The rulers of the earth
• The young men
• The maidens
• The old men
• The children

Yes, let us going in the praise of our Lord and applause Him for Who He is— the Creator and Sustainer of all things!  Brother and sister, fellow follower of Jesus, He is the One who loves us, the One who is preparing a place for us and the One we will be with forever will everyone will praise and applause Him forever.  No more sin, conflict, sorrow, tears or death will be there!  Yes, Dear Father, may You be praised and applauded always and forever by the power of Your Holy Spirit and by the authority of Your Son Jesus.  Oh, yes may this be so and I am so looking forward to being with You and all who love You in glory.  Yes, ever so come Lord Jesus!  May it be soon! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0yL3N6CAAs Let us ponder all that praises You and we join with all who praise You!

THE WISDOM OF GOD

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. —Proverbs 1:7

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. —Proverbs 1:29-31

So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. —Proverbs 2:20

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. —Proverbs 3:7

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. —Proverbs 3:13-15

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. —Proverbs 3:18

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. —I Corinthians 1:21

            Wisdom— the proper application of knowledge.  Take our Lord out of the picture and godly wisdom cannot exist.  Everything starts with Him and to not acknowledge that is to deny Him who has all knowledge.  To deny Him is to live according to worldly wisdom and through worldly wisdom one is unable to know Him.  Worldly wisdom is worldly because it is seeking to live without Him.  Worldly wisdom seeks to be wise in one’s own eyes and does not turn away from evil.  Worldly wisdom actually hates the knowledge of God and those practicing worldly wisdom will not receive His counsel and will despise His reproof.  They will end up eating the fruit of their own ways and be filled with their own devices.  They are fools (Psalm 14:1).

            But those who have called on the Lord will seek to “walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.”  They know that in themselves they are not wise, but need the wisdom of our Lord and will turn away from evil.  To the follower of Jesus, wisdom is more valuable than gold and more precious than jewels.  They know that nothing compares to the wisdom of God and that wisdom “is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.”

            Worldly wisdom believes that godly wisdom is foolishness.  Those living by worldly wisdom cannot understand— “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate’” (Romans 1:18-19).  Unless “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ,” nobody could understand the cross and who Jesus is.  So, brother and sister, let us pray for those around us that do not know Jesus and that God would cause His light to shine in their hearts as He did ours.  Yes, Dear Father, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmZTz5H49zw

THE LORD IS MY HELP, HOPE AND REUGE

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. —Psalm 1:3

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” —Psalm 2:2-3

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. —Psalm 2:10

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever. —Psalm 146:5

            Those who live according to the Word of God are like a healthy, fruitful tree that prospers in all they do.  Those whose help and hope are in the Lord are blessed.  Those whose faith is in Jesus simply understand that our He “made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever.”  Hallelujah— what a joy unspeakable to know this!

            How unfortunate that “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”  They devise plans to not serve our Lord and they want to live lives free of His restraints.  They do not want to submit to Him, His Word or His ways.  Look around the earth and see where that has gotten us!

            Our Lord warns rulers of this world.  He says, “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.”  Taking this warning lightly and not heeding it will only lead to destruction forever.  On the other hand, those who take refuge in Him are blessed.  Oh, that rulers, and others, would bow the knee to Him!

            But what about you and me.  Are we truly taking refuge in our Lord?  If so, then we are blessed.  If so, they we have His help and hope.  If so, they we will be like a healthy tree and prosper because we trust in His Word and seek to live according to His Word.  Hallelujah— to the One who is our Creator and our Sustainer of all things.  This is the One in whom I trust and take refuge in!  And I thank You, Dear Father, that I can trust You fully as my Help, Hope, Protector and Guide through the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge3uvXjet_c

GREAT IS OUR LORD!

And the LORD said to Job: “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” —Job 40:1-2

Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. —Job 41:11

Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” —Job 42:1-6

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. —Psalm 145:3

            Job surely came to the point of understanding and acknowledging that “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.”  We are so small in our understanding of God and His ways.  Just like Job we must say, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” and “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”  Plain and simply— there is so much we do not know or understand about God and His ways.  “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).  “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

            Should we find fault with God?  Absolutely not!  There is no fault in Him!  Should we argue with God?  Of course not!  That is an argument we will not win.  We cannot add to God or take away from Him.  He is self-sustaining and has eternally existed from the past and will eternally exist into the future.  There is nothing that we can give to God that puts Him in debt to us.  Everything that is belongs to Him.  Job’s conclusion of his communication toward God was— “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”  When we truly see Him for Who He is and ourselves for who we are, then we, like Job, can only “despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”  Regardless of what we are going through, this ought to be our conclusion as well because “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.”

Dear Father, I know so little of Who You are and the work You do and how You do it.  Oh, that I would have the proper perspective on myself before You and be faithful with the work You have given me.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus Your Son.  Yes, so may this be!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZqV6i98SkA

MAN’S KNOWLEDGE/UNDERSTANDING PALES COMPARED TO GOD’S

Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. —Job 38:18

            The most intelligent people who have ever lived have to answer this question— “Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?” — with a “no” if they are honest.  Our world is vast and as long as we have been here on the planet, there is so much still to learn.  So yes, to those who think they are “know it alls” — how do you answer that question?  Any intellectually honest person would have to answer that question with a “no, I don’t know it all.”

            So, that being the case, and it is, then how can some say “there is no God?” (Psalm 14:1).  I recently asked a person if they knew everything about everything everywhere at this present time.  Of course, they had to say “no.”  So, I said, “then there is a possibility that God does exist, but you just don’t know it. He said, “Yes, that is true.”  Actually,

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” —Romans 1:18-21

            There are those who suppress the truth, and they do this by their wickedness and are impacted in their thinking.  Their thinking becomes futile and it is darkened.  The light of the obvious they cannot see and “must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (II Timothy 2:25-26).  

So, what is obvious to us, fellow follower of Jesus, brother and sister in Him, is not obvious to those who do not know Him.  But… they do not have an excuse for not believing because God has made it plain to them by His Creation.  But, again, people suppress the truth by their wickedness.  That is how they live and “they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (II Peter 3:5-7).  Theirs is a deliberate forgetfulness!

            Elaine and I were recently talking with our server at a restaurant.  She mentioned she went to school for biology and how that was really hard because she never could believe in evolution.  It doesn’t make sense to her.  Now, she was not a follower of Jesus, but she saw in creation that there was another answer.  She was very open, tool a Gospel of John, thanked us and said she would read it.  Pray for Julia that she would come to an understanding of Who Jesus is and call on Him.  Yes, Dear Father may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9elcbyTG53s There is much we do not understand, but You have given us all we need to know You exist and to call on Jesus to be saved (Romans 10:13). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk&t=164s

MORNING BY MORNING, DAY BY DAY— KNOW THIS!

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul….  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! —Psalm 143:8, 10

The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. —Isaiah 50:4

            To whom else could we go to that we could trust 24/7?  To whom else could we go so that we could find steadfast love all the time?  To whom else could we go to and find 100% perfect guidance?  To whom else could we go to be led 100% faithfully?  To whom else could we go to find perfect knowledge and understanding?  To whom else could we go to who desires to teach us that which is really important?

            This morning remember— He loves you with a steadfast love that does not cease… even when you blow it.  This morning remember— you can trust Him fully…even when you don’t “feel” it.  This morning remember— His desire is to guide you… yield to Him.  This morning remember— His desire is to lead you… follow Him.  This morning remember— Learn, be taught by the One who has perfect knowledge and understanding…put it into practice.  This morning remember— He desires to teach you what is really important… take the time and listen.

            All this our Lord desires to do for us.  But are you listening?  Take the time to do so!  Business can rush us away from being with Him to hear what He has to say!  Do you know the direction He seeks to lead you?  Will you obey and go?  Are you understanding His will and will your will line up with His will?  Are you willing to listen and learn from Him?  Then are you willing to put into practice what He has taught you?  He teaches us not just for our benefit, but also for the benefit of others.  Oh, that we would truly love God and people! (Matthew 22:37-40).

            Yesterday, as Elaine and I were travelling to New York to see our daughter Hannah and her family, we stopped at a Planet Fitness in Whitehall, NY. For some reason Elaine always mentions that PF when we drive by.  It’s near Teds’ Fish Fry 😊.  So, on this trip I mentioned we should stop in and we did.  While there I met a young man from China (name pronounced ‘howyou’) and the springboard of our conversation was the Celtics basketball playoff.  That led into a discussion about Jesus after showing the half-moon illusionary cards.  He took a Gospel of John, thanked me and said he would read it.  All this to say, it was my time with our Lord in the morning that prepared me for this encounter.  It is so important to start the day with Jesus as we follow Him through the day, being ready for what and who He has for us.  Oh, Dear Father, may we be spending time with Jesus day by day and throughout the day.  Yes, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9qreZA–ks I hope Howyou enjoyed the Celtics game.  It was literally a buzzer beater with a tap in with one tenth of a second left to give the Celtics the win!  But, more important than that by far— may Howyou come to know Jesus!

WISDOM COMES FROM GOD

But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.  It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. —Job 32:8-9

            Just because a person is old does not make him wise.  Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge— to apply knowledge effectively.  It is God that gives man understanding and makes a person wise.  Just because a person is aged does not mean he is wise and understanding.

“I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” —I Kings 3:12

“Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.” —I Kings 4:30

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” —Psalm 111:10

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” —Proverbs 1:7

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” —Proverbs 4:7

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” —Proverbs 9:10

“The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—” —Isaiah 11:2

“For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” —Luke 21:15

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” —I Corinthians 1:21

“Asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.” —Ephesians 1:17

            It is God that gives man wisdom and understanding.  Those who do not walk with Jesus will only have “worldly wisdom” and not “Godly wisdom.”  That is why those of the world cannot understand who Jesus is and what He did at the cross.  God has to give that wisdom and understanding.  Let us pray for those around us that do not have the “wisdom of God.”  They are only living according to the “wisdom of this world” and “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36).  May we encourage them to trust Jesus.  Yes, Father and may we do this by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZqRBqGsEYM

TRUST… WAIT

Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy? —Job 30:25

O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! —Psalm 141:1

            Job was trying to make sense out of his situation.  The loss of all his animals (business), the loss of his servants, the loss of his children, the loss of his health, the loss of his wife’s support, the loss of his friends’ comfort and encouragement left him to wonder about God’s care, or lack of care, for him.

            He pondered the days when he empathized with those who were having hard days.  He remembered the days when he grieved for those who were needy.  And now here he was having hard days and in great need, but he felt so alone.  Would nobody weep and empathize over his situation?  Would nobody grieve over his great needs?  Did anybody care?  Did God care?

            Job was surely in the clutches of doubt, discouragement, and despair.  He did not understand why all this was happening to him.  He believed God was directly responsible for his pain and sorrow.  On one hand, God did allow it, but on the other hand it was Satan who was directly tormenting Job.  This raises questions in our minds as to why God would allow Satan to do this to Job or to anyone.  We are given one reason— God was proving to Satan that Job served and loved Him for Who He Is and not for what Job had— that Job was indeed a righteous man.  Why did God allow this?  Well, what “was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).  How many people down through the ages have been encouraged and were hopeful because of Job’s story?  The historical story of Job shows us Who is ultimately the Sovereign over all.  He set boundaries over the hordes of hell in this fallen world and we can fully trust Him to work out His plans for His glory and our benefit— even when we do not understand or when God seems to be silent!

            You having business or job difficulties?  Trust God and keep looking to Him!  You suffering family loss?  Trust God and keep looking to Him!  You having health issues?  Trust God and keep looking to Him!  You having relational conflict?  Trust God and keep looking to Him!  You feel unsupported?  Trust God and keep looking to Him!  Are you feeling like God is not there, that He is not listening, that He does not care?  Trust God and keep looking to Him!  He is working.  His plan is going forward.  It will all make sense one day.  But for today— Trust God and keep looking to Him!  Yes, Dear Father, may we trust You for all we do not understand.  But we do understand this— You are Sovereign.  You are Good.  You are Love.  You make no mistakes.  Your plan is moving to consummation.  You know all about my situation.  You know what You are doing through my situation— though I do not understand so much.  I can trust You.  I will trust You by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  Yes, I will trust You!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsQmsEE_2-s

MY LIGHT!

There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths. —Job 24:13

Upon whom does his light not arise? —Job 25:3

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ —Job 28:28

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? —Psalm 27:1

            There are those who simply rebel against the light of God, the truth of God.  They do not know His ways, nor stay in His paths.  But there is no excuse for them— “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).  The light of God’s Truth rises on all and is seen by all— “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.  They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.  Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4).  No, man has no excuse for not acknowledging light of God’s Truth.

            Man is rebellious by nature and unwise.  Wisdom begins with a proper attitude toward our Lord and it is understanding that turns one away from evil.  For we who know Jesus, we desire to honor Him, to bring glory to Him, to live for Him and to encourage others toward Him.  We understand that He is the Light of Truth, our salvation, our strength and we need not fear.  And so, fellow follower of Jesus, brother and sister, may we truly live like that to honor King Jesus.  Yes, Dear Father, may this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Precious Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2IjMswuCS8

HE TOTALLY KNOWS YOU!

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. —Psalm 139:1-4

 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! —Psalm 139:23-24

            Our Lord God Almighty knows everything about everybody…. Including you and me.  He knows—

• When I sit down
• When I rise up
• My thoughts
• My path
• My lying down
• All my ways
• All my thoughts before I speak them
• My heart
• My desires

Yes, He knows everything about me, about you and about all people who have lived, are living or will live.  “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).    Nobody is getting away with anything though they may think they are.

Today, right now, will you and I ask our Lord to search us, to try us to see if there is any grievous or offensive way in us?  Why not let us do that right now and if He reveals something in us to confess, may we do so and be right with Him?  And if we need to go to somebody to confess our offense toward them, may we do so!

Yes, Dear Father, please reveal any grievous or offensive way in me that I may confess it and be in fellowship with You.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  So be it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkSBmRAVXNc