Trust The Lord Above All Others

Psalm 62 KJV; 17th Sunday after Pentecost; I trust the Lord above all others. 

Get Off The Fence

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Rev 3:14-16 KJV)

Get off the fence! 

The warning to the church in Laodicea is that they are lukewarm and because they are neither hot nor cold, they are about to be spit out of the mouth of God. This message could and should be heard by a goodly number of those who claim to be members of the church, the Body of Christ, in North America. There are many who say that they believe; yet, they are not on fire for the Lord. Neither are they totally cold as they will profess their faith and love for the Lord when pressed on the subject. They will say they believe; but, will not stand on or stand up for the Word of God. St. James wrote: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2:19)

Thanks be to God not all who profess to be Christians are lukewarm. The time is now for all who profess to the love the Lord to get hot! Get off the fence! Proclaim the Good News of God loves for all people through Jesus Christ.

He stands at the door and knocks. Don't be talking to him through a crack in a slightly opened door. Open the door all of the way and let him in and you will no longer be able to continue on lukewarm. He will set your heart on fire. Open the door and let him in!

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Get Off The Fence

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Get off the fence! The warning to the church in Laodicea is that they are lukewarm. They are sitting on the fence. They are neither hot nor cold and will be spit out of the mouth of God. This message needed to be heard by the people in Laodicea and it needs to be heard today by those who claim to be members of the the Body of Christ. Not everyone is on fire for the Lord. Yet, while not on fire; neither are they completely cold toward him. They will profess to love the Lord when pressed on the subject. 

Thanks be to God that not all who profess to be Christians are lukewarm and so the Good News of God Kingdom through Jesus Christ and what he has done so that we might be citizens of that kingdom does get shared. The time is now for all who profess to the love the Lord to get hot! Get off the fence! 

He stands at the door and knocks. Don't be talking to him through a crack in a slightly opened door. Open the door all of the way and let him in and you will no longer be able to continue a lukewarm life. He will set your heart on fire. Open the door and let him in!

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Walls

And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest.

Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered." 
                                    2 Chron 14:6-7 KJV

Walls were built around the cities in the land that God had given the Israelites. They were for their protection and it worked. Of course there were gates and entrances so that people could come and go. But, these gates and entrances provided a way for people with legitimate purposes to do so. Those who stood watch knew who entered and who left the cities. There was very little sneaking in by people who had minds to harm the inhabitants.

I have always believed that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I prefer taking precautions so that there never has to be offensive or defensive actions. As I get older, I really appreciate not having to get involved in either offensive nor defensive actions. I like peace. I like rest.

A few months ago a permit was pulled for a fence around the property we live on. It is almost completed. I think it will be finished rather quickly after yesterday. We live out in the country, with no immediate neighbors. A couple of times over the last month, I woke up in the very wee hours of the morning to find that someone is parking by our side yard on what can be barely called a street as it has grass not gravel or pavement. It is wooded between the house and the street, yet, they managed to park in the only spot that you can see the house clearly from the road. Early last evening, as I was preparing to cook a birthday supper for a nine year old on the grill, I heard a gunshot. I looked up to see a black truck parked in that "bare spot" next to the side yard. My son was heading across the yard. Very few words were exchanged. The man jumped into the truck and took off. 

I do not know what the guy was aiming at or if he was even aiming at anything. I do know that you do not stand on the street in front of someone else's house and fire guns. It just doesn't get it...

I really like peace. I have been around for a good many years and I have been around way too many fights where knives or guns were present and even used on occasion. I don't get too excited about it any more. It is more like exhausted. It is tiring having to deal with irresponsible and disrespectful people. Most of the incidents I've witnessed had something to do with someone being under the influence of something. It has made me to be as close to a prohibitionist as you can be without actually being one. 

I am also an advocate of being prepared to defend yourself and others. A fence is a good first step in being prepared. Then comes rest... 

May God grant us all peace and rest...

God's Peace - Pr. J