His Loving Kindness And Mercy

Psalm 103:1-6 KJV; Praise His Holy Name for all that He has and continues to do for you.

God Ways Are Not Our Ways

Isaiah 55:1-9 KJV; God's ways are not our ways. He has a better plan for us than we could ever imagine for ourselves.

Forgive And Forget Our Sins

Psalm 25:1-10 KJV: Forgive and forget the sins of our youth and old age. Teach us to walk in your way.

Every Knee Shall Bow

Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:1-11; KJV; Every knee shall bow before the Lord!

His Mercy And Lovingkindness

Isaiah 63:7-14 KJV; Old Testament Reading for 1st Sunday after Christmas. He has shown us mercy through His Son, our Savior, by freeing us from bondage to sin, death, and the power of the devil. Let us glorify Him!

Psalm 103 KJV

 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

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What a magnificent and powerful bird! I have been most blessed to have lived where eagles fly quite regularly. I see them now and then in Florida as well. But, I see a whole lot more vultures here. They too are pretty magnificent when they are flying; not so awesome when you have to stop your vehicle because they are busing eating road kill in the middle of the road. Eagles usually have the good sense to fly away when a car approaches.

Whenever, I see a bald eagle flying or sitting in a tree watching me, my heart just leaps. These birds, our national birds, give me a sense of both peace and security. The sight of them refreshes me. They take my breath away if but for a moment. These beautiful creations of God are marvelous to behold.

To watch the majestic flight of the eagle is a reminder how magnificent and powerful God is. It is a reminder to me that in his infinite wisdom God is in charge of things. He made man to walk upon the earth, the fish to swim, and the eagle to fly. How wonderful is that? Who will not bow in humility when one realizes the power and authority that God has. All these things.... and so much more....

He blesses our souls, heals us, reconciles us to Him and to one another. He forgives us our iniquities, though we are far from worthy. He crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies. All that is are His. We are His. That should bring a sense of peace and security to all people. It will, once we realize that He is God and there is no other.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." (vs 1,2)

May God refresh you today and every day!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Bless The Lord

Youth Is Renewed Like An Eagle

Bless the Lord O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord executeth righteous: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalm 103:1-6 KJV

If we took the time to consider what a mess we really can be; if we considered what we really deserve we would thank the Lord with our whole hearts. He has been most gracious to those of us who show so little grace. He has been so loving to those of us who can be so unloving. When we are down, He lifts us up.

Count the blessings! Give thanks to the Lord for His mercy is great and His love endures forever!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Remember Not My Sins

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.

Psalm 25:1-7 KJV

I have heard many a person say that they would like to be young again. Not me! I made way too many mistakes; committed way too many sins as a young person that I would prefer to forget. Some of them, I probably have forgotten. Others, I have not. I know that if I were to be back in the days of my youth, the lack of my knowledge and faith in what Jesus has done for me would most probably have me making the same mistakes and committing the same sins. I am sorry for them and would not like to repeat them.

As I remember them from time to time, I am thankful that God, according to His mercy, those sins are washed out. I may remember them; but, I also remember that that God is a God of tender mercies and loving kindnesses. He sent His only begotten son that through the shedding of his blood on the Cross all who would believe in him would not perish. We would be forgiven our sins and reconciled to God for all of eternity.

By faith alone, in Christ alone, we are forgiven. The sins of the past are in the past. They are done with and dead. In Christ we have new life and a new way of living.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:17-19)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Comfort and Peace

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Cor 1:3-4 KJV)

I have found over the years that the best place to go when I'm in trouble is to God. In Him there is a comfort that one can find no where else.

If the whole world would only turn to Jesus in times of trouble we would all know comfort and peace and a whole lot less times of trouble.

Turn to the Lord and trust the Spirit of Christ to guide you through the troubled times so that you might be comforted. Jesus had promised to send us his Spirit, the Comforter, so that we might know both comfort and peace. On that first Pentecost after his ascension that promised gift of the Holy Spirit was received unto the world.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." 

                                                                                         (John 14:26-27)

Ask and you shall receive the Holy Spirit that has come to bring you comfort and peace. Jesus told the people and he tells us through the word:

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13)

You who are troubled, why do you not ask God for the comfort and peace that only God, the Holy Spirit can give?

May the Holy Spirit comfort you and grant you the peace that only God can give.

God's peace be with you always - Pr. J

Beginning The Journey Again

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

                                (Lam 3:22-23 KJV)

Last week I was in the Keweenaw and had a few minutes so drove up to the beginning of US 41 as I usually do when I am in Copper Harbor. This sign reminds me how much life has changed over the ages. I am grateful that I have a vehicle to drive from Michigan to Florida. That was not so for those who traveled ages ago. To get where they wanted to go; they simply put one foot in front of the other and kept on going. They may have stumbled and fell a few times. But, then if they wanted to get where they were going, they would pick themselves up and kept on going. 

The beginning of US 41 is a reminder to me of the journey we as Christians make. It can seem long and it may be very hard at times. We may and most likely will stumble and fall at least a few times. But, God is with us. His compassion is great. He picks us up and we keep going, yearning for the goal at the end of the journey. 

I am reminded when I visit the "Beginning of US 41" that there is always the opportunity to begin again. When we falter on the journey, we can start again. We can put our past behind us as we have been forgiven through the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus and begin again. 

Each and every morning we can begin the journey anew because the Lord's mercy and compassion fail not.

God's Peace - Pr. J