Scriptures to think about.

But the Lord said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel."  – Acts 9:15 Isaiah 54:17 (NASB) "No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord."

New post, hope and teaching Psalm 37

Many of you are concerned about what is going on in our nation. I too am saddened  and concerned with the path this country has taken, although I pray daily for our country, our churches, our children, our men and women in the services, the lack of support for Israel, our families, our freedom and so many other things that I pray for. At this time there is little or no morality in our country anymore. They have taken God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ out of our schools, our colleges, our homes, and our military and so on.

 If you preach the gospel the way it is meant to be preached and taught you are branded as a radical or intolerant. The secular media, our schools, colleges, our government are teaching that what is good and right is evil and that what is wrong and evil is right, our country right now is socialist and fast turning into a communist country. The changes you see all around you are right out of the communist handbook on how to take over a country from the inside.

 The people and the church had better wake up fast or one day you will wake up and find out that the freedoms you had are no more, as an example I will tell you what I found out the other day, a very well know Minister of the gospel let it be known that when he preaches a sermon or video tapes it for use in Canada that he has to edit it as to what he preaches so that it will not offend Muslins or other groups and that is rapidly happening here.

I know that Jesus is Lord and that he hears our prayers but the church must wake up and take a stand, but Satan is alive and well in the church twisting things around, many in the church have binders covering their spiritual eyes, false teaching abound in the church and the Lord is in the process of cleansing the church. It is not too late to turn things around but the people must get down on their knees to pray and repent and to listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling them.

I was listening to a well-known conservative talk show host on the radio this morning and he was talking about much of the information that I have stated above, but he also talked about Psalm 37 and how it gave him comfort. I read and studied it and I agree that it does bring comfort and hope. I will write down the Psalm below and may you be blessed and receive hope and comfort from it. Our Lord and Savior are with us and will not leave us nor forsake us.

This is from the New Living Translation Psalm 37.

 
1Don't worry about the wicked. Don’t envy those who do wrong. 2 For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. 6 He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

8 Stop your anger! Turn from your rage!

Do not envy others — it only leads to harm. 9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.

10 In a little while, the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. 11 Those who are gentle and lowly will possess the land; they will live in prosperous security.

12 The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. 13 But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.

14 The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. 15 But they will be stabbed through the heart with their own swords, and their bows will be broken.

16 It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and possess much. 17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the LORD takes care of the godly.

18 Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive a reward that lasts forever. 19 They will survive through hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.

20 But the wicked will perish. The LORD's enemies are like flowers in a field — they will disappear like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. 22 Those blessed by the LORD will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will die.

23 The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.

25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread. 26 The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever. 28 For the LORD loves justice and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will perish. 29 The godly will inherit the land and will live there forever.

30 The godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong. 31 They fill their hearts with God's law, so they will never slip from his path.

32 Those who are evil spy on the godly, waiting for an excuse to kill them. 33 But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are brought before the judge.

34 Don't be impatient for the LORD to act! Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you, giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.

35 I myself have seen it happen — proud and evil people thriving like mighty trees. 36 But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

37 Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace. 38 But the wicked will be destroyed; they have no future.

39 The LORD saves the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

 40 The LORD helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.

NLT

Psalm 19:8 The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart.

Psalm 19:8 (NLT) "The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living." Psalm 19:8 (NLT) "The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living."

Psalms 91:4-6 "He will cover you with his feathers. I love Psalms 91 read and study the complete Psalm.

Psalms 91:4-6 (NLT) "He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday."

Esther 9:28 We should remenber the Lord's Festivals.

These days would be remembered and kept from generation to generation and celebrated by every family throughout the provinces and cities of the empire. This Festival of Purim would never cease to be celebrated among the Jews, nor would the memory of what happened ever die out among their descendants.  – Esther 9:28

Matthew 7:4-5 and Hebrews 11:3,6 Scriptures to study and think about.

Matthew 7:4-5  "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."  

Hebrews 11:3, 6  "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.  And without faith it is impossible to please Him,for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."  

1 John 1:8-10 "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8-10 (NASB) "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."  

Proverbs 19:17, Isaiah 58:10-11 Scriptures to study.

Proverbs 19:17 (NASB) "One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed."  Isaiah 58:10-11 (NASB) "And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."

Psalm 112:1 (NASB) "Praise the LORD!

Psalm 112:1 (NASB) "Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments. Psalm 113:7-9 (NASB) "He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people. He has given freely to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor."

Spurgeon's Daily Devotional John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish."

"And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish."
John 10:28

The Christian should never think or speak lightly of unbelief. For a child of God to mistrust His love, His truth, His faithfulness, must be greatly displeasing to Him. How can we ever grieve Him by doubting His upholding grace? Christian! it is contrary to every promise of God's precious Word that thou shouldst ever be forgotten or left to perish. If it could be so, how could He be true who has said, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I never forget thee." What were the value of that promise--"The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." Where were the truth of Christ's words--"I give unto My sheep eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand." Where were the doctrines of grace? They would be all disproved if one child of God should perish. Where were the veracity of God, His honour, His power, His grace, His covenant, His oath, if any of those for whom Christ has died, and who have put their trust in Him, should nevertheless be cast away? Banish those unbelieving fears which so dishonour God. Arise, shake thyself from the dust, and put on thy beautiful garments. Remember it is sinful to doubt His Word wherein He has promised thee that thou shalt never perish. Let the eternal life within thee express itself in confident rejoicing.

"The gospel bears my spirit up:
A faithful and unchanging God
Lays the foundation for my hope,
In oaths, and promises, and blood."

Psalm 119:130 His words give light.

Psalm 119:130 (AMP) "The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple."  

Psalms 12:6 "God's words are pure words,

Psalms 12:6 (MSG) "God's words are pure words, Pure silver words refined seven times In the fires of his word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in heaven."  

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  – Acts 1:8

Ephesians 2:4-6, Proverbs 3:5-6 and Proverbs 12:11 This is good to think and pray about.

Ephesians 2:4-6 (NASB) "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ  (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,"  

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 12:11 (NASB) "He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."  

Spurgeons Daily Devotional Psalm 76:3 This isn an old fashioned devotional but it is a good one.

"There brake He the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle."
Psalm 76:3

Our Redeemer's glorious cry of "It is finished," was the death-knell of all the adversaries of His people, the breaking of "the and the battle." Behold the hero of Golgotha using His cross as an anvil, and His woes as a hammer, dashing to shivers bundle after bundle of our sins, those poisoned "arrows of the bow"; trampling on every indictment, and destroying every accusation. What glorious blows the mighty Breaker gives with a hammer far more ponderous than the fabled weapon of Thor! How the diabolical darts fly to fragments, and the infernal bucklers are broken like potters' vessels! Behold, He draws from its sheath of hellish workmanship the dread sword of Satanic power! He snaps it across His knee, as a man breaks the dry wood of a fagot, and casts it into the fire. Beloved, no sin of a believer can now be an arrow mortally to wound him, no condemnation can now be a sword to kill him, for the punishment of our sin was borne by Christ, a full atonement was made for all our iniquities by our blessed Substitute and Surety. Who now accuseth? Who now condemneth? Christ hath died, yea rather, hath risen again. Jesus has emptied the quivers of hell, has quenched every fiery dart, and broken off the head of every arrow of wrath; the ground is strewn with the splinters and relics of the weapons of hell's warfare, which are only visible to us to remind us of our former danger, and of our great deliverance. Sin hath no more dominion over us. Jesus has made an end of it, and put it away for ever. O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end. Talk ye of all the wondrous works of the Lord, ye who make mention of His name, keep not silence, neither by day, nor when the sun goeth to his rest. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Hebrews 10:29

Hebrews 10:29 (NKJV) "Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?  

Proverbs 10:19

Proverbs 10:19 (NASB) "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise." 

James 1:6-8 Do not doubt.

James 1:6-8 (NASB) "But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Verses for the day. Proverbs 8: 29-30 and Hebrews 3:13 I have been away for a week. May the Lord bless you all.

Proverbs 8:29-30 (NASB) "When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth;  Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight,"  

Hebrews 3:13 (NASB) "But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."  

Spurgeon's Daily Devotional I Chronicles 4:23 "These were potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work."

"These were potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work."
1 Chronicles 4:23

Potters were the very highest grade of workers, but "the king" needed potters, and therefore they were in royal service, although the material upon which they worked was nothing but clay. We, too, may be engaged in the most menial part of the Lord's work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for "the king"; and therefore we will abide in our calling, hoping that, "although we have lien among the pots, yet shall we be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold." The text tells us of those who dwelt among plants and hedges, having rough, rustic, hedging and ditching work to do. They may have desired to live in the city, amid its life, society, and refinement, but they kept their appointed places, for they also were doing the king's work. The place of our habitation is fixed, and we are not to remove from it out of whim and caprice, but seek to serve the Lord in it, by being a blessing to those among whom we reside. These potters and gardeners had royal company, for they dwelt "with the king" and although among hedges and plants, they dwelt with the king there. No lawful place, or gracious occupation, however mean, can debar us from communion with our divine Lord. In visiting hovels, swarming lodging-houses, workhouses, or gaols, we may go with the king. In all works of faith we may count upon Jesu's fellowship. It is when we are in His work that we may reckon upon His smile. Ye unknown workers who are occupied for your Lord amid the dirt and wretchedness of the lowest of the low, be of good cheer, for jewels have been found upon dunghills ere now, earthen pots have been filled with heavenly treasure, and ill weeds have been transformed into precious flowers. Dwell ye with the King for His work, and when He writes His chronicles your name shall be recorded.

2 Chronicles 20:20

Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, "Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed."  – 2 Chronicles 20:20

Romans 8: 14-15 You have received a spirit of adoption.

Romans 8:14-15 (NASB) "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"  

May you be blessed today with these verses

John 10:4-5 (NLT) "After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice.

Proverbs 18:10 (NASB) "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe."