Get To Know Him And Be Refreshed

Hosea 5:15-6:6 KJV; Know God and be refreshed.

The Only King That Truly Helps Is Jesus

Psalm 72:1-7 KJV; 2nd Sunday in Advent; Governments will fail; but, the King over all kings, Jesus the Christ prevails and cares for you.

We Shall See Him!

1 John 3:1-3; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Ephesians 7:4-6 KJV God is omnipresent; so omnipresent that we cannot fathom it. But, the children of God look for the day when we shall see Him face to face.

All That We Say And Think And Do

Psalm 19:8-14 KJV

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

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The law of the Lord is most difficult for us to keep. We are sinful human beings and the truth is we do not and cannot keep it perfectly. But, we can understand when we do not keep them. We can know and we can repent and ask the Lord to help keep us from sin even as we ask in the Lord's Prayer that he keep us from all temptations. 

The Law if it could be kept would keep us in harmony with God and with one another. Yet, it is broken every minute of every day. Therefore our Father in heaven sent his only begotten Son, Jesus, to take our sins upon himself and be put to death for our transgressions. He was tried, sentenced and executed for our sins. Through this one act of love for humankind forgiveness belongs to us. For all who believe in him; in his act of love by dying for us, will inherit eternal life, reconciled to our Father and to all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We cannot keep the law perfectly. But, out of love for the one who loves us so much we ask and trust that the Spirit of Christ, who has redeemed us, will give us strength to glorify his holy name in all that we say and think and do.

Let us always pray:  "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Kingdom Is Yours

Psalm 72 KJV

Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.

He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

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The judgments of the Lord will come. They come in the kingdom that has already broken into this world through the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord and our salvation.

He brings justice to the forsaken. He brings judgment upon those who persecute others. Rejoice for the Lord is with you and for you.

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Matthew 5:1-12 KJV

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

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Rejoice for all who believe are children of God's Kingdom! Rejoice!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

I Love Thy Law

PSALM 119:97-104 KJV

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

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The law indeed accuses and failure to obey the commands of the Lord can end up pretty disastrous. 

For example: what are the possible consequences of stealing. Well for starters you could end up in jail and when found out you could make a lot of enemies that you don't need.  Enemies can make life pretty miserable. If you are caught stealing while breaking into someone's home; again, you could end up dead.

And what about adultery?  Both men and women can get pretty jealous over this one and again you could end up dead or at least seriously hurt. If that doesn't happen the one who has been cheated on might end up so depressed that they do harm to themselves.

It is a wise person who can understand the consequences of breaking the law. Be wise like David thought he was. Although, he did make a few mistakes and suffered the consequences. Maybe, the consequences that occurred because of the part he played in the death of Uriah, whose wife he had committed adultery with, gave him a little more insight into why it would be good thing to listen to the Lord.

Open our eyes, Lord, that we may behold wondrous things out of thy law. (see Psalm 119:18)
 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Let The Words Of Our Lips Glorify God

PSALM 19 KJV

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

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There is no place that God is not. He is "...above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph 4:6)

He sees all things. He knows all things. It is truly good and right for us to declare the glory of the Lord even as the heavens and all the rest of his creation declares his glory.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Glory Of God

 

PSALM 19 (KJV)

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

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"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." (Psalm 19:1-2 NIV) Even without speech their message of God's awesomeness is heard.

If they that have no speech can glorify God then may God grant that the words of our lips also proclaim all that He has done that we too might glorify Him. 

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

Wisdom and Knowledge

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Rom 11:33 NIV)

Knowledge and wisdom are certainly worthy riches. It would be so nice to be able to have both without having to gain them the hard way. Unfortunately, as humans, we don't like to learn too much from the mistakes of others. We have to gain wisdom and knowledge with a lot of study, with a lot of work; and, with a lot of very hard lessons.

We really cannot have all the wisdom and knowledge of God. We cannot know everything. We are not God. But, He is willing to advise and lead and show us the way that He would have us go if we would only ask and listen to Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J