An Amazing Plan

O. T. #1334  "An Amazing Plan"
Nov. 29, 2018
Psalm 110
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.   Psalm 110:1

LET IT GLOW


This is one of the most quoted psalms in the New Testament because it refers to Jesus Christ as the Messiah. God Jehovah speaks to God the Son, Adonai, David's Lord, Master. As we already know, God had an amazing plan:

• Christ, the Messiah, was a descendant of King David, humanly speaking.
• He is presented as both a holy King (verses 1-3)
• and a royal priest, High Priest (verses 4-7), which no other human monarch ever was in Israel.
• After Jesus died upon the cross for our sins, His resurrection and ascension into heaven, He took up residence at the right hand of royal power, the place of permanent honor. (verse 1a)
• God will make Jesus' enemies under His feet. Everything will be subject to Christ, who will be subject to God the Father. (1 Cor. 15)
• In Jerusalem, Zion, the Messiah will reign and rule with love and grace, since the rod of power and bloodshed will be sent out. (Rev. 19:15)

Oh folks, aren't we happy to be under grace and not under the rod of judgment?
Are we sharing the true Christmas story, the birth of the Savior, our Savior?
come to think of it, this could have been a different plan in which we have to pay for our sins.
Thank You Jesus!

LET IT GROW

Jesus is currently sitting at the right hand of Father God on the throne and making intercession for us.
He is speaking about our prayers, forgiving our sins.

Christians will be one of the people in verse 3 that will be willingly ruled by the Messiah because of the gospel and the mighty hand of the Lord God.
Our garments will be holy and our strength will be renewed like the morning dew. Woohoo!

[Reference: Liberty Bible Commentary]


LET IT GO

Thank You Father for such an amazing plan of salvation and You included me in it.
Savior, You are so loving, forgiving, and gracious.
Help me share it with others.

Go Right On Rejoicing

O. T. #1334 "Go Right On Rejoicing "
Nov. 28, 2018
Psalm 109

Let It Glow

During his reign as king of Israel, David had lies and false accusations against him.

They surround me with hateful words and fight against me for no reason. I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them. They repay evil for good, and hatred for my love.  (Verses 3-5)

When we are slandered mercilessly and are repaid hatred for love,, God will be by our side ready to deliver us.  (Falwell)

Rescue me because You are so faithful and good. (Verse 21)

Sometimes all we can muster up is a thanks to Jesus. Broken hearts He can mend.

Let It Grow

In verses 26-31, David acknowledges that God:

• can help him,
• save him because of His unfailing love,
• that God is in control,
• believes God will bless him,
• when his enemies attack, then they will be disgraced. 

But I, Your servant, will go right on rejoicing. (verse 28c)

Will we also go right in rejoicing, even when lies and false accusations are spread about us?

God's unfailing love and blessings are waiting for us if only we ask for His help. 

While a 3 inch IV needle was being inserted into my hand yesterday, I could hear Christmas music playing in the area. Now that was encouraging. I am blessed to have nurses and doctors that love Jesus. 

I confess that I wasn't rejoicing at that particular time, though. 

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel has come to us. 

Let It Go

You are so faithful and good, Jesus. 

Your unfailing love helps me through whatever I face. 

Help me go right on rejoicing today. 

Our Secret Weapon

O. T. #1333  "Our Secret Weapon"
Nov. 27, 2018
Psalm 108-Part 3
With God's help we will do mighty things, for He will trample down our foes.  Ps. 108:13 NLT

LET IT GLOW

What was David's secret weapon? What is your secret weapon?

Our key verse reads differently in the King James Version:
Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies.

As we recall, in 2 Samuel 8, King David, a mighty warrior, and Israel faced many enemies of God. Oh he had 20,000 men of valor, the top dogs in the army, yet David knew they could do nothing without God's help.
Valiantly refers to a force; strength; might; power.

David's secret weapon was the power of God. You will recall that the young David experienced God's strength when he met a lion and bear, and a giant. We know what happened to them.

It is from that source that we draw courage, wisdom, and strength. (Falwell)

Like a bowling ball knocks down pins in the bowling alley, it is strength that does it. So it is when we rely upon our God as we face our enemies.

What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

What is your secret weapon whenever face to face with an enemy? It should be God's power.

LET IT GROW

Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.  (verse 12)

Divine help is just a prayer away. David was wise enough to know that his strong army could not take the walled cities by man power alone. Yep, man power was of no use without God's power. As we know the rest of David's story, he was victorious, through God's power, his secret weapon.

The question is, are we?
Is Jesus our Man of Valor?

LET IT GO

I can't face this challenge alone today, Lord.
Help me stand strong in Your strength.
Jesus, be my man of valor.

*Today and tomorrow I am having tests run on my stomach, so I as for your prayers of strength. It may be Thursday before I post again. Thanks dear friends for your patience. 

A Washpot

O. T. #1332  "A Washpot"
Nov. 26, 2018
Psalm 108-Part 2

LET IT GLOW


I hope you had a great time with family and friends. I don't remember the last time I baked for 3 days in a row. Then I fixed bbq deer meat for the guys at the tire shop, since they worked Friday. Baking results in pots being washed. Whew! This grandma needs a rest, but it is time to put up Christmas decorations, so we will see. Let me clue you in on today's word "washpot." It has a different meaning in the Hebrew, which is not the washing of pots.

For some it is a joyous time of the year, but for others, not so. Please remember my sister in law's family as they are experiencing the last days of her mother's life, Ruth. She has battled pancreatic cancer and now has pnemonia. We are going to take today off and travel to visit them during this hard time. (Also, praying for the fire victims in California.)

Well, looking at our chapter, the last 8 verses are also found in Ps. 60:6-12. David was conquoring Caanan with the Israelites, their Promised Land. David led the army in defeating the Philistines, the land east and west of the Jordan River, where the furtile soil lay. Reckon he had lots to be thankful for, right? But at the time of this psalm, it had not yet happened.

Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and Thy glory above all the earth.  (verse 5)

David praised his God, then asked a request, which is the right order in communion with the Almighty.

God's mercy and truth are above the clouds. (verse 4) Yet they reach down to His beloved children.
Will we reach up to the heavens in praise to our loving Savior?

LET IT GROW

That Thy beloved may be delivered: save with Thy right hand, and answer me. (verse 6)

We recall that David was a man after God's own heart. He calls himself as beloved [yediyd ( yed-eed')] which refers to loved; loves (friend).

David was a friend of God, His beloved. And so are we, beloved of God. So Daivd is asking God to deliver his nation from their enemies, not just himself. When He did, then what would be?

• Moab was their washpot (a thorn; fishook);
• Edom would be their servant (signified by a shoe cast out);
• Philistia would be triumphed over.

Those were Israel's enemies, who despised God's beloved. David was asking for victory, not just rescuing. Do we sometimes as for only strength to get though today's stressful situation? Or do we ask God to be victorious and glorifed asd we go though it? God doesn't abandon His beloved. That includes you and me. So if there is a washpot, thorn in our flesh sticking us, tell God about it.

LET IT GO

Exalt the Lord God in the Highest.
Know that I am His beloved.
Trust Him with my washpot.

A Fixed Heart

O. T. #1331  "A Fixed Heart"
Nov. 22, 2018
Psalm 108

O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
I will praise Thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto Thee among the nations.
For Thy mercy is great above the heavens: and Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
Be Thou exalted, O God, above all the earth.
 Psalm 108:1-5



LET IT GLOW

Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving ya'll.

How appropriate this psalm is for Thanksgiving Day. David repeated a portion of a previously written psalm, found in Psalm 57:7-11, when he fled from King Saul in a cave. In the midst of a storm, he was trusting in God and confident for His deliverance.
What do we learn of David?

• His heart was fixed on God. Fixed means set up, stand, established, firm, ready, set.
• With his glory, he was giving praise to God in song. Glory means honor. 
• His fingers flew over the strings of those instruments praising his Lord.
• Foreigners would hear about the True Living God.
• He declared that God's mercy and truth are higher than the heavens and clouds. Mercy refers to kindness.

As parents, we want to fix things, especially a broken heart, for our children whenever it is going bad for them. Right? But we can't always do so. We do know the One who can fix things whenever we can't-Jesus.
Will we stand firm in our faith in Jesus? Is our heart fixed upon Him? Will we praise Him today and give thanks for all He has done for us this year? You know, He can fix our broken heart when we ask.


LET IT GROW

The meaningful repetition of a song of praise to God is never out of place. (Falwell)

We fight our battles with praise to our God Most High. We keep our focus on the Almighty one. When it looks like we are surround by defeat, we are actually surrounded by God. For He never leaves us nor forsakes us.

So let us thank, our God, today. We can even sing His praises as we are preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

 

LET IT GO

Father, help me stand firm in faith, give thanks for Your blessings, and sing praises to the Savior of my soul
Please bless each of my friends here.
 

Amazing Ways and Works

O. T. #1330  "Amazing Ways and Works"
Nov. 21, 2018
Psalm 107-Part 2
Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and His wonderful works to the children of men!  Psalm 107:8

LET IT GLOW

What has God done in your life recently?
I have seen His loving arms hug those in sorrow at the grave of a loved one, provide for the needy children with boxes of goodies, give strength to the weak one expected to die, provide hope to the hopeless. That was just last week. Isn't the ways and works of Jesus so amazing!!

Our previous lesson had a repeated verse (4 times) which told of Israel crying to the LORD in their trouble and He delivered them out of their distresses. There is another a repeated verse, today's key verse, that is repeated four times. In their various life situations, God provided for Israel:

• hunger and thirst in the wilderness; God led them straight to safety to a city where they could live with water and food; (verses 4-7)
• chains of slavery in Egypt; God broke down the prison gates and set them free; (verses 10-14)
• sickness brought them near the door of death; God snatched them from death's door by healing them; (verses 17-20)
• in trade ships on the violent seas; He calmed the storm and stilled the waves; (verses 23-29)

Israel had reasons to praise the Lord, for He showed them love and performed wonderful things for them. Now, doesn't He do the same for us whenever we cry out for God's help? When our heart is hungry for a word from God and our soul is thirsty for the Spirit's direction, He comes and feeds us, the Bread of Heaven and refreshes us, Living Water-Christ Jesus.
Then whenever we are tired of the chains of bondage of sin, Jesus sets us free indeed after our confession. And when our body is sick from overindulgence, He cleanses us. Yet, as we life being tossed about by every wind of doctrine, Jesus bring Truth and stills the waves and wind.

LET IT GROW

Dear one, life can be so hard, discouraging, hurtful, but let us wait on Jesus. In the waiting, let us do as the psalmist said in verse 22:
And let them sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.

Take courage, hold on with hope to the hem of His robe of Righteousness. He is in the waiting. In the meantime, let us bring the sacrifice of thanksgiving to our Savior. Let us declare His mighty works with rejoicing. Stand in awe of His amazing ways. Nobody loves us like Jesus.

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for life and breath, salvation, food and drink, strength to continue on, stilled storms and calmed waves around me.
Oh my soul, rejoice in Jesus!

Take it to Heart

O. T. #1329  "Take it to Heart"
Nov. 20, 2018
Psalm 107 
Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD.  Psalm 107:43

LET IT GLOW


This chapter was written as a thanksgiving psalm after the deliverance from Babylonian captivity.
It is a celebration and could be for those who have experienced the goodness of God.
As we read through the chapter, we find there are four times the same verses appears-verses 6, 13, 19, and 28:

Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.

Before this happened, there were four situations of suffering which resulted in Israel crying out and God delivered them:

1. When they were in homeless exile suffering in the desert's depravations. God gave Israel comforts of home and community whenever He guided them out. (verses 4-9)
2. Suffering was brought on by their rebellion, and He restored Israel out of the prisons of their own making. (verses 10-16)
3. When fools disregarded God's ways in favor of their own, but God was faithful in provisions. (verses 17-22)
4. As people go about their regular business, leaving God out of their life, then He calms the storm. (verses 23-32) (Lydia Brownback)

As we go through those times, we will discover the lovingkindness of the LORD, which verse 43 speaks of. 

LET IT GROW

Life Application Study Bible describes 4 different types of people in distress:

1. wanderers,
2. prisoners,
3. distressed and sick,
4. storm-tossed.

No matter how extreme our calamity, God is able to break through to help us. Are we or any of our loved ones there? Just call upon Jesus, casting our cares upon Him, for He cares for us.
Will we take to heart, learn from Israel, that God's faithful love is available to us?

LET IT GO

Lord Jesus, whenever I wander, become imprisoned by my sins, are distressed, or storm-tossed, help me remember Your faithful love.