If

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Apparently, as a people of God, we have some serious work to do.

Falling Apart

"A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

Just Call!!

Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman confirmed a beautiful scripture, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Call Upon the Lord

"And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered" (Joel 2:32).

 

Why do not I call on His name? Why do I run to this neighbor and that when God is so near and will hear my faintest call? Why do I sit down and devise schemes and invent plans? Why not at once roll myself and my burden upon the Lord?

 

Straightforward is the best runner--why do not I run at once to the living God? In vain shall I look for "deliverance anywhere else; but with God I shall find it; for here I have His royal shall to make it sure.

 

I need not ask whether I may call on Him or not, for that word "Whosoever" is a very wide and comprehensive one. Whosoever means me, for it means anybody and everybody who calls upon God. I will therefore follow the leading of the text, and at once call upon the glorious Lord who has made so large a promise.

 

My case is urgent, and I do not see how I am to be delivered; but this is no business of mine. He who makes the promise will find ways and means of keeping it. It is mine to obey His commands; it is not mine to direct His counsels. I am His servant, not His solicitor. I call upon Him, and He will deliver.  --C. H. Spurgeon

God's Word - Handle with Care

This was such a good reminder for me today.  Thought I would share it with you. 

No More; No Less

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. —2 Timothy 2:15

Recently I was reading about how easy it is to mishandle the message of the Bible. We may try to make it support what we already believe is true instead of allowing it to speak to us with God’s intended message. Some people use the Bible to defend one side of an issue, while others use the Bible to attack that same issue. Both quote Scripture to support their views, but both can’t be right.

It is important as we use God’s Word that we are committed to saying no more and no less than the Scriptures actually say. If we mishandle the Word, we misrepresent it, which ultimately misrepresents God’s character. This is why Paul challenged Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). A key priority for unashamed, approved workers for Christ is to accurately interpret (“rightly divide”) God’s Word. As we study, we can depend on the Spirit, who inspired it, to give us understanding and wisdom.

Through our words and actions, we have opportunity to represent God’s Word in ways that genuinely reflect God’s heart. That is one of the greatest privileges of the Christian life. — by Bill Crowder

Taken from Our Daily Bread devotional for October 16, 2012

 

He knows you...do you know Him?

Sitting with some dear friends yesterday, we shared how powerful...yet very personal the Lord is in our lives.  He is the Creator of the Universe and yet the bible says He knows every hair on our head.  It is beyond our understanding.  Yet, God has chosen to meet each of us in a personal way on our journeys of faith.  We agreed, He does know every hair on your head!  If you haven't met my Personal, Powerful God...I pray He reveal Himself to you in a very personal way today.

September 28

September 28, 2012 • By Charles H. Spurgeon; revised and edited by William C. Neff (c)2003-2004

"The Lord looks down from Heaven and beholds all the sons of men." --Psalm 33:13

Perhaps no figure of speech represents God in a more gracious light than when He is spoken of as stooping from His throne and coming down from heaven to attend to the wants and to behold the problems of mankind. We love Him who, when Sodom and Gomorrah were full of iniquity, would not destroy those cities until He had made a personal visitation to them. We cannot help pouring out our heart in affection for our Lord who inclines His ear from the highest glory, and puts it to the lip of the dying sinner whose failing heart longs after reconciliation. How can we but love Him when we know that He numbers the very hairs of our heads, marks our path, and orders our ways?

This great truth comes nearer to our heart when we recall how attentive He is, not merely to the temporal interests of His creatures but to their spiritual concerns. Though leagues of distance lie between the finite creature and the infinite Creator, yet there are links uniting both. When you wipe away a tear, don’t think that God doesn’t see it. "As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those that fear Him." Your sigh is able to move the heart of Jehovah; your whisper can incline His ear unto you; your prayer can stay His hand; your faith can move His arm. 

Don’t think that God sits high above you, taking no account of you. Remember that however poor and needy you are, yet the Lord thinks about you. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect towards Him.

His Precepts

My daughter is taking a course in college that includes a bible study called Precepts.  I have wanted to take this course myself and look forward to hearing what she has to say about it after she partakes.

The word 'precepts' intrigued me so here is a brief study through www.biblegateway.com as it pertains to such a word in the bible:

1. Deuteronomy 33:10
   He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
   Deuteronomy 33:9-11 (in Context) Deuteronomy 33 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2. Psalm 19:8
   The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
   Psalm 19:7-9 (in Context) Psalm 19 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
3. Psalm 103:18
   with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
   Psalm 103:17-19 (in Context) Psalm 103 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
4. Psalm 105:45
   that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. Praise the LORD.
   Psalm 105:44-45 (in Context) Psalm 105 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
5. Psalm 111:7
   The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
   Psalm 111:6-8 (in Context) Psalm 111 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
6. Psalm 111:10
   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
   Psalm 111:9-10 (in Context) Psalm 111 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
7. Psalm 119:4
   You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
   Psalm 119:3-5 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
8. Psalm 119:15
   I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
   Psalm 119:14-16 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
9. Psalm 119:27
   Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.
   Psalm 119:26-28 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
10. Psalm 119:40
    How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.
    Psalm 119:39-41 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
11. Psalm 119:45
    I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
    Psalm 119:44-46 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
12. Psalm 119:56
    This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.
    Psalm 119:55-57 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
13. Psalm 119:63
    I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.
    Psalm 119:62-64 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
14. Psalm 119:69
    Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart.
    Psalm 119:68-70 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
15. Psalm 119:78
    May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts.
    Psalm 119:77-79 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
16. Psalm 119:87
    They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.
    Psalm 119:86-88 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
17. Psalm 119:93
    I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.
    Psalm 119:92-94 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
18. Psalm 119:94
    Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.
    Psalm 119:93-95 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
19. Psalm 119:100
    I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
    Psalm 119:99-101 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
20. Psalm 119:104
    I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
    Psalm 119:103-105 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
21. Psalm 119:110
    The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.
    Psalm 119:109-111 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
22. Psalm 119:128
    and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.
    Psalm 119:127-129 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
23. Psalm 119:134
    Redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may obey your precepts.
    Psalm 119:133-135 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
24. Psalm 119:141
    Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts.
    Psalm 119:140-142 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
25. Psalm 119:159
    See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.
    Psalm 119:158-160 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) Other Translation 
26. Hosea 8:12  Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My law, They are regarded as a strange thing.
    Hosea 8:11-13 (in Context) Hosea 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
27. Matthew 15:9
    ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
    Matthew 15:8-10 (in Context) Matthew 15 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
28. Mark 7:7
    ‘ BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’
    Mark 7:6-8 (in Context) Mark 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations   

63 years!!!

Happy Anniversary!

There are few milestones that catch my attention.  But this one is personal.  My parents have been married for 63 years!  Having dinner with them tonight we asked that they impart wisdom on how they managed staying together.  Here were a couple of jewels they shared;

Pray a lot - especially when the other is driving.

Have a good sense of humor.

Listen.  (Mom requests that Dad put his hearing aids on and talk louder.)

Be thankful.

So there it is...wisdom from the sages who go before me.  I especially like the suggestion of being thankful.  Kudos to you Mom and Dad.  We celebrate your commitment to staying in covenant with each other.  God's richest blessings upon you, always.  We love you so very much.