"In Thy Presence"

During Singles Class this past Wednesday night, I was struck with the idea that on God's Path there is so much to look forward to. At one point in the class, we expounded upon Psalms 16:11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of Joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Q: What do we find in this path? A: We find Life, Joy, Pleasures... But stop and think for a moment. What else do we find? ... How about God's Presence. God walks with us, when we follow His path. He doesn't just leave it on our own to find out where His will is.... He goes with us every step of the way. In Proverbs 4, God says that "I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, they steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble." God goes with us. He guides us. Such a simple truth. But in this day, when the world with all its glitter calls our hearts to stray, we need to be reminded of this simple truth daily. Sometimes in this Christian life, we think we need something more than a Sunday School answer to help us live. But it is those Sunday School answers that hold the most truth. Read My Bible and I will grow? That's so clique! Maybe So, But IT IS THE TRUTH!!!!! The Bible Clearly says we are not to be of the World. We are not to envy the world. "Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways." ~ Proverbs 3:31. You might say that you would never do ____ fill in the blank. But do you envy the world? Do you watch certain things and find yourself wanting ......? It all starts in our mind. What we dwell on will effect what we do. This is a simple truth that we who have grown up in Christian homes have heard time and time again. Yet it is a truth that we often ignore. We entertain worldly thoughts and then we proclaim... "I WILL NEVER DO THAT!" Are you so sure? How is your thought life? If we don't start with the simple truth of being in God's Word, we will not be able to walk on God's Path. And if we aren't on God's Path... We are on a path that leads to the way of the wicked. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble." ~ Proverbs 4:18-19. "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." ~ Proverbs 4:14-15. A good beginning to walking on God's Path is by reading a chapter in Proverbs every day. Those who want to walk on God's Path usually are walking on God's Path because they have purposed to do so simply by seeking God in His Word and Praying.

"But Thou Art The Same...." ~ Psalm 102:27a

Over years people change. You and I change. We can change for the good or for the bad. We can grow more sweet or become more bitter with time. Time plays a important part in our change. Time causes us to grow older physically and mentally. Circumstances tend to change us. People tend to change us. Sin changes us. We are a constantly changing people. Here are some Things about our Unchanging God. God is not bound by Time. Time can not change Him. Circumstances do not change God. There has never been a circumstance that has taken God by surprise. People cannot and do not ever change God. God is without sin. Sin can never change God. God is always the same. He was the same since before the beginning of time and He will be the same beyond the end of time. So Why Does It Matter That God Never Changes? 1. Friends and even Family come and Go but God Never Leaves us. "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." ~ Deuteronomy 31:6. 2. There is not one person that is good all the time and yet God is always Good. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." ~ Jeremiah 29:11. 3. People make promises and break them. There has never been a promise that God has relinquished on. PROMISES SUCH AS: * "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," ~ Ephesians 3:20. * "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. I can't help but think of that Hymn Every Promise In The Book Is Mine. Just stop and reflect on the goodness of God today. Lift praise up to Him for being a wonderful God that is always the Same!

A Simple Truth Found in a Simple Psalm

How often have we heard this Psalm especially around Thanksgiving. I remember growing up and memorizing this Psalm every November in my Elementary years. Psalms 100 ~ "Make a Joyful Noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." In reading this Psalm, I began to reflect on how often I neglect to give thanks and praise to God. Someone once said "Thinkfulness is Thankfulness." There is two roads that we can take when it comes to Thanksgiving. The first road is the one of Unthankfulness. When we are not Thankful, we are in return unthankful people. The end of unthankfulness can be found in Romans 1. Romans 1 speaks of a people whose minds are darkened and God gave them up to a reprobate mind. The start of their demise is found in Romans 1:21 ~ "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." There is a second path of Thankfulness and that is the road so often not taken. "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." ~ Psalms 34:8. The Bible says, that the LORD IS GOOD! When was the last time I praise the LORD for His Goodness. Here are some practical tips to walk down this road of Thankfulness: * Remember Your Salvation * Reflect on the Thankfulness Scriptures * Remember the Past Victories * Receive others by Edifying and Serving them * Renew Family Blessings * Rest in Spiritual Decisions

"What a Good God!"

Psalms 92:15 says, "To show that the LORD is upright: He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." Our God is a Righteous God. When I first read of this verse I thought of the passage where the LORD talks about how even worldly fathers want to give their children good things. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" ~ Matthew 7:11. The LORD wants to give us good things. Psalms 92:15 - Reminds me that God has good things prepared for us along the way. No matter where God guides us... He not only goes with us but so does His goodness. I love this Quote: "God will surprise you your whole life long, if you just stay on the Old Path." So often when I do things my own way, I fail to see His everlasting goodness. When I think God is taking to long to give me what I want, I begin to think I know better then God. Yet everything God does or brings into my life is for a purpose. Even better yet the things God doesn't bring into my life is for His divine plan. Someone once said, "Has it ever dawned on you that NOTHING ever dawns on God." So when you think things aren't happening in your timing... When you feel like God doesn't care and your life is falling apart... Remember God is still a GOOD GOD who wants good things for His Children and it is always for OUR GOOD and for HIS Glory!

The Pillars of memorial

"And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that one the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz." 2 Chronicles 3:17. Have you ever wondered why those names for the pillars? Did Solomon choose Boaz to honor his great great grandfather? Who was Jachin? I was pondering this very thought and began searching the name Jachin. Much to my surprise, I found that I was asking the wrong question. The names of the pillars were not named to honor man. Rather, the pillars' names cause the people to reflect and glorify God. On the right was the pillar named Jachin. When the people read that name, they were instantly reminded that the LORD established them as His people. When they looked to the left pillar, they read the name Boaz. They were reminded that in the LORD is strength. All the splendor that Solomon would accomplish would only be through the strength of the LORD. These pillars were set up for a reminder of who God is and what He had done for His people. However, the people and even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, would forget that. The truth is we all forget. We forget that it is the LORD who has established us. We forget that it is in His strength that we live. When we look to the right hand or to the left hand let us reflect on who our God is. He is the One that has given us the life we so foolishly claim as our own. We are bought with a Price. We belong to Him. Are we living like it?

The Past, The Present and the Future....

The Past ~ Sometimes the past seems to enshroud me. Like a thick cloud that won't fade. Mistakes and Memories and faces come into the mind as if they were but yesterday. People I've said goodbye to and those who I never had a chance to penetrate into my heart. The Present ~ When times like these come in, my days are spent in reflection. Hours spent in regret and shame. And I become useless for the cause of Christ. The Future ~ Days of reflection cause my future to be bleak and uncertain with no where to turn and no place to run. I sink in despair with no hope. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> But in the stillness of my soul whispers the old hymn... In Times Like These (Ruth Caye Jones - Mother Jones) In times like these, you need a Savior In times like these you need an anchor Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one This Rock is Jesus, The only One Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock In times like these you need the Bible In times like these o be not idle Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one This Rock is Jesus, The only One Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock In times like these, I have a Savior In times like these, I have an anchor I'm very sure, I'm very sure My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one This Rock is Jesus, The only One I'm very sure, I'm very sure My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock With Christ as my Guide The Past ~ is in the Past. Friends can be found there, Memories can hold such joy, and reflection can cause me to go forward. The Present ~ is a new day of life. The LORD is here beside me, and He will guide me. The Future ~ is full of Hope and Faith... Trust and Resting in the arms of my Savior. And there is no fear in His arms. "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." ~ Psalms 84:11.

With Just One Touch

With just His hand, He touched a dying land. With just one touch, He did so much! The Lame could walk and the Blind could see. The dead were quickened and the devil made to flee! Christ took Wisdom and understanding and sealed it into a willing heart. He gave strength to the weak and power to those falling apart. With just one Word spoken, the bind of sin was broken. With Just a finger, The power of His spirit did linger. Christ blesses all who are on His side. He gives hind's feet so they do not slide. He provides forgiveness to all who call, And picks up all those who fall. With just His hand, He lifts up those who are on sinking sand. With just one touch, He did so much! Our cup He continues to fill every day, And Joy Our Savior gives for us today. To Know Him Better, He draws us near. Our every cry He does wait to hear. With Just a Word He does say, He Guides us along the way. With Just a finger still, He points us to His will. In a bottle He places every tear, Near the LORD, we have nothing to fear! He Knows thee by name, cleave to the LORD! Remember He is near, Stay in His Word!