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.

Be Renewed!

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:2 KJV)

Tired of the way your're living or the way that you think life is treating you? There is a better way. Try getting to know Jesus. Ask him to empty you of all of your sins; to forgive you, and to fill you with his Spirit. You can be transformed by the Holy Spirit. Your life can be changed. Stop! Stop being in denial of a lifestyle that is bringing you down. Stop and ask Jesus to renew your life! 

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

                                                                                             (Luke 11:9-10)

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Weary Will Rise Up With Wings Like Eagles

Even youths will faint and be weary,

and the young will fall exhausted;

³¹ 

but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

(Isaiah 40:30-31 NRSV)

I am no longer a youth. There are days that cause me to wonder why I have not fallen completely exhausted. There are days when I would like to. But, for those who are called by the Lord to serve, we do not fall. We might lie down for a bit; but, we do not crumble to the ground. We may have to wait a bit until the Lord has completely renewed our strength. We do not give up because we know that if we wait upon him, he will surely lift us up.  

While kayaking along the shore of Lake Superior, years ago, I got caught in a storm. There were no roads; no towns; not even houses for many, many miles. I had my cell phone on me; but, there was no cell service along that stretch of the shore. I kept paddling for as long as I could because my husband was waiting for me about ten miles down the shore with lunch and I knew he would be panicking when he didn't hear from me. The going was very slow. It finally got so rough that I finally had to pull onto a sandy beach. I was hesitant in doing so because I knew although the landing would go okay; I wasn't sure how I'd launch again if the wind and waves did not calm down.

I pulled the kayak up under a tree and ate lunch. I lay down to watch the water. It didn't take me long to fall asleep. When I opened my eyes, I was looking into the eyes of a bald eagle. He was sitting in the branches above me, watching me. He was so close that I could see every single wet feather on his head. He, too, had taken a break from the storm. When he finally flew back out over the water, I knew that I had rested on that shore long enough. Although the winds had not slowed down much, my strength had been renewed. I was ready. As expected, I got pretty wet launching the kayak and it took twice the time it should have to get to where my husband was waiting and worrying. But, I was ready to go.

According to the prophet Isaiah: even youth will grow weary; but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and we shall mount up with wings like eagles. 

May you be granted the peace that comes with knowing that God is with you and no matter what the storm, the Lord will lift you up.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Old Tents, Young Spirits

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2 Corinth 4:16

As time passes in this world, life around us changes; life within us changes. As we grow older these old tents that we dwell within waste away. But, the spirit within continues to be renewed day be day.

I have reached the big 6 - 0. On most days it seems that the days are not long enough. I no longer can accomplish as much as I could a decade or so ago in the same amount of time. I am a bit slower than I once was. On some days my eyes are so weak that I cannot see who is at the back of the sanctuary. I wake each morning, with various parts of my body aching, just another reminder that the body is wearing out. Yet, as an elder once told me, "As long as I don't look in the mirror, I still feel young."

Indeed, we, who believe that Jesus died so that we might live in our Father's house, are very young no matter how many years we live in this world. The body may wear out and die; but, the children of God have eternal life. So what is a mere 60 years in all of eternity? Nothing! We are but babes wandering through the wilderness, day by day, with our faces directed toward the promised land.

Thanks be to God; for His mercy is great! He will lead us home. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Transformed By The Renewing Of Our Minds

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." Romans 12:2-3

Whenever I hear someone say things that promote "doing your own thing" or "whatever, so long as it makes you happy" or "don't worry about what others think.. be true to yourself," I cringe a bit inside. No, we do not have to be like or go along with the ways of the world. But, in choosing to be "different" we ought to consider our motivation in desiring to stand out in the crowd. Is it for self-gratification or for the glory of God.

Indeed, St. Paul advises us to not be conformed to the world. But, he adds that we are to think we sober judgment and live according to our faith in Christ Jesus.

May God bless each of us with renewed minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.r. J