FORGETTING
Forgetting is so easy that we constantly reminded to not forget. Many keep a “daytimer” ..in which are written all appointments, birthdays, anniversaries – things we must not forget. I write on my calendar…then forget to look at it!!! The scriptures often remind us to not forget.
Deut. 6:12 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord..
Psa. 103:2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits..
Prov. 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching.
Heb. 6:10 God will not forget your work and the love you have shown him…..
Heb. 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifice God is pleased.
The Apostle Paul tells us what to forget. Phil.3:13 But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on…..
Today - Thank and Praise the Lord that He reminds us to not forget…
EVERY DAY
If we take a minute every morning to think of the goodness of God we can respond to God as the Psalmist did in Psalm 28: 6-7 (NLT)
Praise the Lord! For He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in Him with all my heart. He helps , and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
As I think of God’s goodness and His blessings it just naturally follows that I Praise the Lord. A chorus has these words: “Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul.” John 3:16 springs to mind - God loved me and gave His Son that I might have eternal life.
Today – Thank and Praise the Lord for His blessings. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!
SAFE
We are having the joyous experience of having three of our granddaughters stay overnight with us once a week. We enjoy them. Like most children they are well behaved once the parents leave ! They are 11 - 8 - 4. Watching them change as they grow is a wonderful experience. Abilities increase. Attitudes shift rapidly. As the Psalmist said, “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
The 8 year old is going through a phase of being afraid. When she goes to bed she want to be sure all the doors are locked. She would to have lights on. She asked if I would be in my office – next to the bedroom – after she went to bed. AFRAID. It must be a terrible and frightening feeling. God does not want us to be afraid. How do you convey that to an 8 year old????
The words of this chorus written by Wm. Dillon in 1932 express one way
SAFE AM I
Safe am I, Safe am I. In the hollow of His hand.
Sheltered o’er with His love forever more.
No ill can harm me, no foe alarm me;
For He keeps both day and night.
Safe am I, Safe am I, In the hollow of His hand.
Hallelujah !! Safe in the arms of Jesus !! Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
OUR HELP
I have a 4 year old granddaughter who likes to be helpful. One of the things she likes to do is push the wheel chair for her grandmother. Regardless of the turns to be made or the doors to go through she says, “I can do it!” in the tone of voice only 4 year olds have.
I have learned that many times I face situations in life when I need help. The help might come from a family member. Or it might come from a friend. Sometimes I find the help in a book. Most often I find the help I need in the Word of God.
Psalm 9:17 (NLT) “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you ,Lord, have never forsaken those who trust you,”
Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in time of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.”
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God will meet our needs as we trust Him.
Heb. 13:5 “…I will never leave you, never will I forsake you.”
QUOTES
These have been collected from various sources. I pray that one or more will “hit the spot” for you today.
Prov. 9:10 Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding,
Anything that comes between you and God is sin.
We are bound by God’s law whether we believe it or not.
Somone has figured out there are 35 million laws trying to enforce the Ten Commandments,
Anything less than Jesus will let you down. – E. Stanly Jones
Conscience is an e-mail your heart gets from God.
Let me never fancy that I have zeal until my heart overflows with love to every human being. – Henry Martin
Lives are changed because men and women choose to follow God and not their own self-centered desires.
Today – Thank and Praise the Lord for all the things He brings into our minds that help us to be a better person. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!
WHAM – BANG
I was easing along in the flow of traffic. Suddenly, without warning - WHAM!!!! A car hit my car from behind! I looked in the rear view mirror. The driver in the car behind me threw up her hands. Traffic moved. We were able to pull off on the side of the road. She got out of her car and said, “I hit you, didn’t I ?” Fortunately, I did not receive a whiplash. No injuries. It was not a hard hit. Damage repair was $200.00. Her husband came by a couple of days later and gave me a check.
We never know when the unexpected will happen. But, in the lives of most people it does happen sometime. The company closes down. Employees are left without a job. A husband or a wife doesn’t want to be married anymore and walks out. Bodies that seem perfectly healthy are suddenly ill. What do we do?
The Psalmist helps us. Psalm 18:6(NIV) “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.”
In Psalm 81:7 God speaks: “In your distress you called and I rescued you.”
Psalm 120:1 I call on the Lord in my distress and he answers me.”
Today – Whatever comes your way – Praise and Thank the Lord for His presence and help. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!!
THE BEST WAY
I asked the Lord for a bunch of fresh flowers but instead he gave me an ugly cactus with many thorns.
I asked the Lord for some beautiful butterflies but instead he gave me many ugly and dreadful worms.
I was threatened. I was disappointed. I mourned. But after many days, suddenly, I saw the cactus bloom with many beautiful flowers and the worms became beautiful butterflies flying in the wind.
God’s way is the best way.
Written by Chung-Ming Kao from prison. (Date unknown)
Today – Praise and Thank the Lord for what He brings into your life because God’s way is best.. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!!
GOD IS IN CONTROL
This was written long ago by Frances de Sales.
“ Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same ever-lasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually; the Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me and I in Him.”
“All your circumstances are in the hand of God so never think it strange concerning the circumstances you are in.”
-Oswald Chambers
Dr. Michael Youseff – “Never lose sight of the true source of your joy, peace and purpose – JESUS CHRIST.”
Today – Thank and Praise the Lord that where I am – He is – for He lives in me.
AN AWESME GOD
Thoughts from Psalm 66 (NLT). Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth ! Tell the world how glorious He is. Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! ….Everything on earth will worship You; they will sing Your praises, Shouting Your name in glorious songs!”
Come, let us rejoice in who He is…… Let the whole earth bless our God and sing aloud His praises. Our lives are in His hands, and He keeps our feet from stumbling.
I cried to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke. If I had not confessed my sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer and did not withdraw His unfailing love from me.
Today – Give Praise to the God who loves and pays attention to His children. Have a TERRIFIC DAY…..as you praise an awesome God.
STANDING
As you head into the week end get your mind cleared and your feet set to stand on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Thru eternal ages let His praises ring: Glory in the highest I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God, I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises I now can see, Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me, Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free, Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong chord, Overcoming daily with Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises I cannot fall, List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call, Resting in my Saviour as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God.
- John J. Hood
Today – Thank and Praise the Lord that He has never broken any promise spoken and have a TERRIFIC DAY.
UNCHANGING
Life changes everyday. We get older. Jobs come and go. Circumstances keep changing. We often long for something that is going to be the same over a long period of time. Hallelujah ! There is one Unchangeable!
Malachi 3:6(KJV) “For I am the Lord, I change not.”
Hebrews 13:8(KJV) “Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, and today, and forever.”
We can depend on this: GOD DOES NOT CHANGE !!
Psalm 118:1 (NLT) “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.”
Jennie Wilson wrote: “Time is filled with swift transition, naught of earth unmoved can stand, Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.!”
God does today what He has always done because God is good and His faithful love endures forever.
Today – Get a grip ! Hold on ! Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!!!
IT HAPPENS
We live in a world in which all kinds of things happen. We rejoice and praise the Lord when these happenings are what we call good things. But what we call bad things also happen. What is our reaction to bad things? How did you react as you watched the events of 9-11 unfold?. We see on the evening news that a house has burned down – a life or lives were lost. We hear the report that a child is missing-kidnapped. Later the dead body is found. Bad things happen.
Often our first reaction is shock, disbelief, numbness, anger. Gradually these feelings wear off and we are faced with the reality that life goes on.
The Apostle Paul had his share of bad things happening in his life. How did he respond? In Philippi he was in prison after having been beaten. Hands and feet were fastened in stocks. He began to sing praises to God at midnight. I wonder if I could have done that!
In 1 Thes. 5:16-18 Paul writes: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will o f God concerning you.” To the Ephesians he wrote, “Thank God for everything,” (5:20)
Psalm 118:29 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.”
Today – Thank and Praise the Lord…whatever is happening for God lives in the praises of His people. Praise brings the presence of God.
FREEDOM
Americans like their freedom. Some like to see just how fqr they can go in the exercise of their freedom. But freedom does have its limits.
I read Psalm 119 in my devotions this morning. Being a slow reader it took about 20 minutes. The subject of the Psalm is God’s Law.
Vs.44 “I will keep on obeying your law forever and forever.”
Vs. 45 “ I will walk in freedom.”
So often we think of law as being restrictive to keep us from enjoying the pleasures of life. Rightly understood laws set limitations to help us refrain from those activities that will eventually destroy us. Once a person has decided to choose God’s way of life and to live by His laws he finds a freedom that enables him to enjoy life to the fullest.
Jesus said in John 8:32 “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
Today – Thank and Praise the Lord that He cares about the way we live. Have a TERRIFIC DAY.
FREEDOM – CONTINUE
I am passing on to you a response received from my cousin, S.David Knisely. a teacher retired from Mars Hill College. I told him he hit the nail on the head!
Dan,
I've been thinking about freedom quite a bit ever since my Daddy told me, when I was a teen ager, that I had confused freedom with license. But he never defined license, except that his behavior made it clear that it was anything of which he did not approve.
I think the important freedom in terms of legal or moral limits on our actions is that we have the option to participate in defining those freedoms so that they are not externally imposed norms, but internally valid principles.
But I think freedom has another dimension which most people have trouble understanding. I used to try and help my students deal with that freedom by saying that the coming weekend I would like to take the SST to Paris and have dinner at Maxim's famous restaurant. And then I asked "am I free to do that?" Of course you are, they all would agree. But, I'd reply, I am not free to take that action because I lack the money to make it possible, therefore it is a freedom which does not exist for me. It is this positive aspect of freedom where I believe God’s freedom comes into play.
God's freedom as expressed in Jesus, is not so much releasing us from bondage to external law. It is, rather, redeeming us and putting God into our hearts so that we are free to act in good ways because God has made us good. That, for me, is the aspect of Christian freedom I value so very much. At least much of the time, what I really want to do in my heart, is also the "right" thing to do. God's presence and love within our hearts "frees" us to be good and loving people. And without Christ, I believe that is not possible. David
Today – Thank and Praise the Lord for the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and have a TERRIFIC DAY !!
THE NAME
In Philippians 2:9-11 Paul writes of the Name of Jesus. God gave Jesus the Name that is above every name. He also writes that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Name of Jesus is powerful. At the same time there is a tenderness and caring in the Name of Jesus. Note the words of this song written by Rev. W. C. Martin.
The name of Jesus is so sweet, I love its music to repeat;
It makes my joys full and compete, the precious name of Jesus.
I love the name of Him whose heart Knows all my griefs, and bears a part;
Who bids all anxious fears depart – I love the name of Jesus.
That name I fondly love to hear, It never fails my heart to cheer;
Its music dries the fallen tear; Exhalt the name of Jesus.
No word of man can ever tell How sweet the name I love so well;
Oh, let its praises ever swell, Oh, praise the name of Jesus.
“Jesus,” O how sweet the name! “Jesus,” every day the same;
“Jesus,” Let all saints proclaim Its worthy praise forever.
Today – Praise the name of Jesus….Have a TERRIFIC DAY
PRECIOUS NAME
I try to remind myself daily that Jesus Christ is with me all the time. His promise is that He will never leave me not forsake me. He is present all the time. Lydia Baxter gives us the words of this beautiful hymn.
Take the name of Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe;
It will joy and comfort give you, Take it then where’er you go.
Take the name of Jesus ever, As a shield from every snare;
When temptations round you gather, breathe that holy name in prayer.
O the precious name of Jesus! How it thrills our souls with joy,
When his loving arms receive us, And his songs our tongues employ.
At the name of Jesus bowing, Falling prostrate at his feet,
King of kings in heav’n we’ll crown him, When our journey is complete.
Precious name, O how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heav’n,
Precious name, O how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heav’n.
Today – Whatever your circumstance may be, say aloud this precious name o f Jesus. Gives thanks and praise to God for this name that is above every name! ! Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!!