Enemies Surround Us

Psalm 27:7-14 KJV; I will seek the Lord's face that he might deliver me not to mine enemies. 

Strengthened By Christ

Philippians 4:8-13 KJV; 20th Sunday After Pentecost; We are strengthened by the abiding presence of Christ.

Behold The Presence Of The Lord!

Psalm 27:1-14 KJV; 3rd Sunday after Epiphany; Rest assured He will lift you and you will dwell in the presence of the Lord. He will not leave you.

Deliver Us From Evil Works

2 Timothy 4:14-18 KJV; 20th Sunday after Pentecost; Deliver us from those who persecute for proclaiming the Good News of Jesus the Christ.

As The Psalmist Prays

Psalm 27:7-14 KJV - As the psalmist prays so shall we pray trusting in the goodness of God to deliver us.

Help Us To See Your Goodness

Psalm 27:9-14; 1 Peter 5:-6-7 Help us to wait on you and to see your goodness, Lord.

Jesus Is Lord

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

                                                                                        (1 Pet 5:6-11 KJV)

We are not gods. Maybe, lords of our households; but, not the King of the Universe!  But, even as lords of our households we can really mess up and cause problems for ourselves and those who live with us. The devil is aware of that and uses it to his advantage as he seeks to devour everything and everyone around us. It behooves us to trust God to open our eyes to see the evil that the devil purposes to use us for and to fight against it. We fight not with our own power; but, with the power of the Spirit of Christ in us. Jesus is the only one who has been able to resist his power. We must humble ourselves and trust in that power. He is after all the King of all kings and has authority over everything and everyone.

Let not the devil use us to devour those around us. God help us to not empower the devil by falling into the trap of judging others and causing more division. But, by the grace of God who has called us to His eternal glory through Jesus Christ, strengthen us so that we may stand against the wiles of the evil ones. For, he is like a wolf in sheep's clothing creeping up on those who are unaware to steal the peace that only God can bring to us.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

                                                                                      (Eph 6:10-12)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Wait On The Lord

Psalm 27:11-14 KJV

Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. 

+++

Way too often we try to get those things, including the outcomes, that we want. We want what we want and we want it now. But, those things that we desire are not always what we need or what is best for us. It may seem like too much hardship or struggle to have to wait to work things out the right or the best way so we rush things and the end does not always end up the way that we anticipated that it would end.

Things may feel hard; but, there are times when we must endure and trust in the Lord to see us through. The Lord know what is good for us. Wait on him. He will open the doors that are meant for you. 

Do not make rash decisions to try to get what you want. Be of good courage and wait on the Lord and you will see the goodness of the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Help Us To See Your Goodness

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. 

                                                                            (Psalm 27:9-14 KJV)

Sometimes it seems as though the Lord is not paying attention to the needs of His people. That is not so. He sees and hears and knows everything that is going on. No matter what is going on around us He can and will work all things for the good for those who love Him. (

In times like these when chaos appears to have taken over some of our cities even our country and world at times, we need to trust in the Lord and His great love for us. Humankind may not have a great love for one another; but, the Lord does. 

Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart. Wait upon Him and you shall see His goodness. (

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

God's Peace - Pr. J

He Will Help

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

(Psalm 121:1-2 KJV)

Since retiring this spring, I have had a lot more opportunity to pray. In fact, I find that I've had a tremendous amount of need to go before the Lord and ask for help.  This retirement stuff seems pretty fruitless. I feel restless and at times pretty useless. I spend a lot of time asking the Lord to help me to know what it is that He would have me do. It has only been a few months so I continue to wait patiently for the Lord to open the doors and show me the way in which He would have me go to serve Him. 

This is definitely not the first time I've waited for Him to let me know what He would have me do; how He would have me serve. If you've been wondering, lift up your eyes and pray and with patience wait for it. Your help, our help, comes from the Lord. Sometimes, we have to wait awhile for answers. But, no matter what is causing you frustrations and confusion, He will answer all who earnestly ask for help; for direction.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

Do Not Fear; God Is With You

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.
For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

(Isaiah 41:10-13 NIV)

It can be quite easy to become dismayed; even very distraught, with the things that the world can throw at us. But, over the years, I have become much more patient (although not always patient enough). I can now look back at the things that caused me major distress and see how God got me through those times. He has been with me always and He will continue to be with me. Whatever happens I know that He upholds and takes care of me.

He is with you. Do not be dismayed. Do not fear. Do not fear what your enemies plot against you. Do not fear what the world can do to you for tomorrow is truly another day. We may wake up tomorrow in this world or the next. Only God can know for sure where we shall be tomorrow or even a minute from now. But, wherever the beloved children of God wake up, we can know that God is with us. We have been reconciled to God our Father through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Do not fear. Be at peace for God is with you and nothing can separate you from His love.

God's Peace - Pr. J

There Is Only One God!

I am the Lord, and there is no other;    apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
    though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting
people may know there is none besides me.
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,
    I bring prosperity and create disaster;
    I, the Lord, do all these things.

Isaiah 45:5-7 NIV

There is only one God. I am not God. You are not God. Stop the idol worship and worship the Lord your God, the only one who is in charge of all things. Worship and honor Him alone above all things.

God's Peace - Pr. J