Psalm 134 Amazing!

Psalm 134:1

Praise The LORD,

All you servants of The LORD who minister by night……..

Do you ever feel you are ministering…..

By night?

Maybe no one is noticing…….

Maybe you feel forgotten…….

Maybe you wonder if your part really matters.

Well……..

Maybe it’s time we look at some Truth together……..

1 Corinthians 12:5-6

⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

⁶ There are different kinds of working,

but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Really……

You mean the same God who worked through…….

Billy Graham……

Mother Teresa……..

The Apostle Paul….

John the Baptist …….

Moses…..

Stephen the Martyr…..

Yes…..

The same God

Who worked through all these and more…….

These giants of our Faith…….

This same God…….

Is at work through you and I as we……

Encourage our brothers and sisters…….

Offer friendship to folks sitting alone…….

Do the dishes for our tired mothers or wives…….

Visit our elderly neighbors…..

Stand up for the oppressed…….

Amazing!

Oh, and then there’s the promise…….

Matthew 25:23

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!

You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

 Come and share your Master’s happiness!’

Father in Heaven,
Thank You that You allow us to share in Your happiness.

Thank You that the same Life and Power that

Flowed through those heroes of our Faith has been given to us.

Open our eyes to see more and more the ways we can

Participate in what You are doing and so

Have Your Life flow through us to this world.

Amen  

Psalm 107 Trouble as a Good Thing?

Psalm 107: 6, 13, 19,28

Then they cried to the LORD

In their trouble

And

He delivered them….

I have heard it said,

“People don’t change until it becomes

Too painful to remain the same.”

Pain can be a powerful motivator towards……

Humility.

They cried out in their trouble……

Are you in “trouble” today……..

Suffering……. in need, in pain?

Cry out to the LORD and see…......

See His………..

His Goodness-

His Love-

Maybe even His Power.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves before the LORD

And He will lift you up.

Oh, by the way……

I don’t believe we have to suffer to change.

There is another way………

A better way.

Ah…… but maybe that’s for another day!

Father

Lead me out into the Life You have for me today.

Thank You for all You will do in me and through me.

Amen

Psalm 61 The Rock

Psalm 61:2

From the ends of the earth I call to You.

I call as my heart grows faint;

Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

Sometimes it takes desperation-

Searching………

 to what feels like the……..

Ends of the Earth-

Sometimes it takes a heart that grows faint……

Before I will call out……..

Call out to God-

Before I will be led to……….

The Rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:3

For You (O’ Lord) have been my refuge-

A strong tower against my enemy.

Father

Help me to be willing to take refuge-

In the Rock that is higher than I.

Amen

Choices- Living in Conflict

Chocolate or strawberry- This movie or that- Chinese or Mexican- The necklace or the ear rings- The Warm up suit or the Jeans today- To have your cake or to eat it-

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Why does life have to be so complicated? Wouldn't it be better if there were only one clear choice- Only One Right thing to do in every situation?

Easier, Yes-

Better-

I don't know.

What about the choice between Love and Truth- Now there's a tough one! You know what I mean don't you? Think of the classic question of every wife to her husband-

"Honey, tell me-

Do these pants make me look fat?"

Careful fellas!

Now think of the times when friends or family go wrong- Seriously wrong- Confrontation or Tolerance? Preserve Relationship or Stand for Holiness? Tough huh? It's so easy to take a stand for Holiness in the abstract- Or if I am talking about some distant relationship- Or when I am talking about someone else-

But what about when standing for Holiness-

Will jeapodize a close relationship-

Or bring on some persecution?

Is there a way to do both? Can we stand for Truth- Holiness- Yet still preserve relationship?

Can we have our cake and eat it too?

Maybe yes- Maybe no.

(How do you like that for decisiveness?)

Remember- Relationship is always a two party undertaking. I can not control another person's responses- Oh maybe I can try to manipulate to get what I want- But the other person will do what they will do. I wish I could tell you I have it all figured out- I wish I could come up with a magic formula to live by- One that always makes everything come out right- And not only come out right- But with no conflict in the process. I haven't found it. I do have some ideas- Some Maybes. Maybe I can try to speak Truth- In Love Maybe I can Love my enemies- That is- Treat them kindly- Be patient with them- Keep no record of wrongs- Bless them- Pray for them- Be Humble towards them- Maybe, because Jesus is in me I can treat those- Those who trample God's Holiness- As He has treated me- As I trample His Holiness- Maybe I can live out the Holiness of God- By pouring out His Grace- Even when I don't feel particularly Loving.

So what's it gonna be?

Hold to Truth-

People be damned

or

Cling to relationships-

While compromising Truth?

Choices, Choices, Choices- Oh, but wait a minute.......... What if Loving God by Loving people- Is Truth- And Conversely- Loving People by Loving God- Is also Truth. Please make no mistake in all this- My First and Last Loyalty is to God- To my Lord and Saviour Jesus- And the Holy Spirit Who has come to lead us. I am just coming to believe more and more- That Loyalty to Him- To the One and Only Triune God- Looks like loving people-

Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus said,

" Love your enemies-

Pray for them-

That you may be sons of your Father in Heaven.

He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good-

He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Father, Lord Jesus, Spirit of the Living God-

Be powerful in us today to choose You-

To look to You in all we think, say and do-

So that all may see Your Glory-

Your Great Love and Your Goodness

As You pour Yourself out through our lives-

The lives of those who Love You.

Amen