PERSPECTIVE AND PRAISE!  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation. —Psalm 42:5  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. —Psalm 42:11             Are you downcast, discouraged or despairing today?   Are you in turmoil, restless or disturbed? If we get off focused, lose perspective then this can happen to us. There is so much happening in our world today that is negative, heartbreaking and tragic but let…

BLESSED BY CONSIDERING/REMEMBERING AND MINISTERING TO THE POOR!  Blessed is the one who considers the poor! —Psalm 41:1  All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. —Galatians 2:10              Really there should be no needs unmet in a local assembly of believers— “They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (Acts 2:45). “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:36-37).   The early church was all about making…

BLESSED!   Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie —Psalm 40:4              Are you blessed? You are only if our Lord is being trusted by you. Are you blessed? You are only if you do not turn after the proud. Are you blessed? You are only if you do not go after those who go astray after a lie.             We live in the world, but as followers of Jesus we are not of the world and we are to keep ourselves unspotted by the world (John 17:14; James 1:27). Trust our…

BE FAITHFUL WITH YOUR FLEETING LIFE!  And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain…for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. —Ezekiel 33:31-32  O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah  Surely…

BE EXPECTANTLY WAITING AND FAITHFUL NOW  But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. —Psalm 38:15  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsQmsEE_2-s             Are you waiting on the Lord for your answer or are you running ahead? Wait for Him to answer because He will… in His time. In the meantime be faithful in being and doing what you know He desires of you now. He will answer.             We can get distracted by all kinds of things— even good things. Be careful about that because when we get sidetracked by even good things we can miss the best things He has for us. So…

VERY SERIOUS TIMES…  I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD. —Ezekiel 25:7  The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. —Psalm 37:21              Powerful city states and nations have been judged by our Lord and are no more. We in the United States had better understand that we too cannot withstand the judgment of God. Look at what America was and is and is becoming. Is God’s judgment upon us? Is He— “letting us go?”             When we just look at the finances of the U.S. it is astounding how much debt we are in and now…

HE IS OUR LIFE AND LIGHT  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. —Psalm 36:9  “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4).  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).   Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of…

PRAISE AND THANK HIM— WE ARE ALMOST HOME!  Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. —Psalm 30:4              What praises are on your lips today? What are you singing to our Lord? What are you thankful for and giving thanks to Him? This song by Mercy Me has been on my heart. It is a good reminder that the race marked out for us will not last forever (Hebrews 12:1-3). We are getting closer to the finish line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7WEYwZrrs4. It will not be long and we who love Jesus will be there in glory with Him… forever. Forever we will be…

OUR SPIRITUAL “FOURTH OF JULY”  May the LORD bless his people with peace! —Psalm 29:11             Peace… who would not want peace in their lives.   What nation would not want to live in peace? How many people are searching for peace? Brother and sister as His people He has given us peace.             This Fourth of July let us ponder how our Lord has given this nation peace for so many years. But that is rapidly changing. He has blessed us with peace, but the nation as a whole has blasphemed His Name and is in rebellion against Him. As a nation we have forgotten where our peace comes…

HE IS FAITHFUL—- FEAR NOT!  The LORD has done what he purposed; he has carried out his word… —Lamentations 2:17  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              The Jewish rebellion against the Lord led to His justice taking place against them. The population grieved and wailed as they were under His judgment. It was far from pleasant as our Lord’s longsuffering with them ended. What He had purposed, what He had warned was carried out. Let us not think the United States will not undergo His justice for…