A word -
to those who play church,
to those who want it ‘their way’,
to those who believe it appropriate to mix the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God,
to those who do not fear the admonitions of the Lord,
to those who do not seek to follow the whole counsel of God and stand firm on His truth….
For those who do not seek true justice but justice as the world sees it,
for those who talk about kindness and compassion but do not daily practice it,
for those who talk about the oppression of the widow and the orphan and the stranger and the poor yet rely on others (such as the government) to take action,
for those who discuss the wrongness of devising evil in one’s heart against one another yet live by their own form and understanding of self-righteousness and do not bear one another’s burdens….
Now is the time to repent of our refusal to pay attention as well as the closing of our ears to hear the true word of God…
Now is the time to seek forgiveness for our hardened hearts that fight against the truth of God…
Now is the time to turn away from the wisdom of the world and all that is contrary to the things of God…
Let it be our heart’s desire to hear again from that still small voice…
May it be with our whole heart, soul and mind that we are anchored upon the truth of God’s word.
Stand firm and resolute in the fact that God loves us and desires that we be near to Him…
And that He answers us when we call upon Him.
For when we truly seek Him we shall find Him.
Now the town of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to seek the favor of the LORD, speaking to the priests who belong to the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, "Shall I weep in the fifth month and abstain, as I have done these many years?"
Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, "Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted?
'When you eat and drink, do you not eat for yourselves and do you not drink for yourselves? 'Are not these the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous along with its cities around it, and the Negev and the foothills were inhabited?'"
Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah saying, "Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ' Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.'
"But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.
"They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.
"And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts…
(Zech 7:2-14)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
People of the Lord
People of the Lord
Let us declare God’s wondrous works
Give thanks to the Almighty for He is near
Rejoice in His lovingkindness
Rejoice in His mercy
Rejoice in His grace
Let us confirm our faith in the One who judges with equity
For it is He who has firmly set the pillars of this world
He has His appointed time to deal with the insolent and prideful
May we not be boastful nor arrogant
For the joy of the Lord is our stronghold
And the humble shall walk in His paths
For all the strength of the wicked He will cut off
But the righteous will be lifted up
As for me, I will declare the marvels of Your wondrous love
I will sing praises to the God of my salvation
For You are my God
Let us declare God’s wondrous works
Give thanks to the Almighty for He is near
Rejoice in His lovingkindness
Rejoice in His mercy
Rejoice in His grace
Let us confirm our faith in the One who judges with equity
For it is He who has firmly set the pillars of this world
He has His appointed time to deal with the insolent and prideful
May we not be boastful nor arrogant
For the joy of the Lord is our stronghold
And the humble shall walk in His paths
For all the strength of the wicked He will cut off
But the righteous will be lifted up
As for me, I will declare the marvels of Your wondrous love
I will sing praises to the God of my salvation
For You are my God
Monday, May 25, 2009
true justice and kindness and compassion
Just as Israel was scattered with a ‘storm among them’ and they made the ‘pleasant land desolate’ because of their disobedience, so we to are following that same path today.
We are being scattered by the storms of selfishness and disobedience and our land is changing from a place of ‘pleasant’ to a ‘land desolate’…
There is lawlessness in the land. Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. And many people believe that truth is relative. Mammon is king of their lives and they believe it to be the answer to all life’s problems…while we no longer believe in the sanctity of life…
We have become as a country - one who mocks God.
It is time, people of the Living God, to stand firm. Let us dispense TRUE JUSTICE and practice KINDNESS and COMPASSION. And do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor and DO NOT devise evil in our hearts against one another.
This is not the government’s role (as some seem to believe) it is our job; we, the living body of Christ - it should (must) be our passion to serve the Living Lord as He has instructed and directed us…
Let us not turn a stubborn shoulder nor stop our ears from hearing. Might we pay attention to the things of the Lord and not allow our hearts to be as flint.
For I hope that we shall not find ourselves in a place where we have made the pleasant land desolate.
Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah saying, "Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ' Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.' "But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. "They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. "And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts; "but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land is desolated behind them so that no one went back and forth, for they made the pleasant land desolate."
(Zech 7:8-14)
We are being scattered by the storms of selfishness and disobedience and our land is changing from a place of ‘pleasant’ to a ‘land desolate’…
There is lawlessness in the land. Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. And many people believe that truth is relative. Mammon is king of their lives and they believe it to be the answer to all life’s problems…while we no longer believe in the sanctity of life…
We have become as a country - one who mocks God.
It is time, people of the Living God, to stand firm. Let us dispense TRUE JUSTICE and practice KINDNESS and COMPASSION. And do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor and DO NOT devise evil in our hearts against one another.
This is not the government’s role (as some seem to believe) it is our job; we, the living body of Christ - it should (must) be our passion to serve the Living Lord as He has instructed and directed us…
Let us not turn a stubborn shoulder nor stop our ears from hearing. Might we pay attention to the things of the Lord and not allow our hearts to be as flint.
For I hope that we shall not find ourselves in a place where we have made the pleasant land desolate.
Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah saying, "Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ' Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.' "But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. "They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. "And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts; "but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land is desolated behind them so that no one went back and forth, for they made the pleasant land desolate."
(Zech 7:8-14)
stand firm
When we stand firm in His truth
When we hold fast to His righteousness
When we confront the wiles of the enemy
When we restore the altar of the Lord, which is our worship
When we seek to be led by His Spirit
When we follow His leading
When we glory in His glory
Then the hand of the Lord will be upon us to accomplish His mighty works
Then the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins…
(1 Kings 18:46)
When we hold fast to His righteousness
When we confront the wiles of the enemy
When we restore the altar of the Lord, which is our worship
When we seek to be led by His Spirit
When we follow His leading
When we glory in His glory
Then the hand of the Lord will be upon us to accomplish His mighty works
Then the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins…
(1 Kings 18:46)
Friday, May 15, 2009
a purpose, a hope and a future
As we struggle through these difficult times where stress and the unknown can cause us to have doubt and fear, will our focus be on the following verses from Psalm 77:
Will the Lord reject forever?
And will He never be favorable again?
Has His lovingkindness ceased forever?
Has His promise come to an end forever?
Has God forgotten to be gracious,
Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion?
Or, will we stand firm in our faith, grounded in His truth, knowing that God is in control of ALL things and place our focus, our energy, our passion on the following verses from Psalm 77:
I shall remember the deeds of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known Your strength among the peoples.
You have by Your power redeemed Your people…
For the Lord God Almighty has told us that He has a purpose for us, He has provided us with a hope and a future…no matter what the world says, no matter what people might say, no matter what your emotions are telling you – our God is in control. We can rest assured on that truth – forever!
Will the Lord reject forever?
And will He never be favorable again?
Has His lovingkindness ceased forever?
Has His promise come to an end forever?
Has God forgotten to be gracious,
Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion?
Or, will we stand firm in our faith, grounded in His truth, knowing that God is in control of ALL things and place our focus, our energy, our passion on the following verses from Psalm 77:
I shall remember the deeds of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known Your strength among the peoples.
You have by Your power redeemed Your people…
For the Lord God Almighty has told us that He has a purpose for us, He has provided us with a hope and a future…no matter what the world says, no matter what people might say, no matter what your emotions are telling you – our God is in control. We can rest assured on that truth – forever!
our Shepherd
And He will arise and shepherd His flock
In the strength of the LORD,
In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
And they will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth.
And this One will be our peace.
(Micah 5:4-5)
Jesus is our Shepherd, and as His flock -
do we listen to His voice,
do we follow Him,
do we abide in His truth,
or do we chase after the hirelings who walk the paths of man’s wisdom and discount the truth of God’s Word ?
As scripture indicates His remnant will stay true to His calling and to His Word…
And they shall be graciously led by the Great Shepherd in spirit and truth….for the gate is narrow that leads to life…
Let us not be led astray from the truth that was once delivered to the saints…
For Jesus is our peace – do we believe it ?
In the strength of the LORD,
In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
And they will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth.
And this One will be our peace.
(Micah 5:4-5)
Jesus is our Shepherd, and as His flock -
do we listen to His voice,
do we follow Him,
do we abide in His truth,
or do we chase after the hirelings who walk the paths of man’s wisdom and discount the truth of God’s Word ?
As scripture indicates His remnant will stay true to His calling and to His Word…
And they shall be graciously led by the Great Shepherd in spirit and truth….for the gate is narrow that leads to life…
Let us not be led astray from the truth that was once delivered to the saints…
For Jesus is our peace – do we believe it ?
Saturday, May 9, 2009
evil in the sight of the Lord
And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
"Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away…
…because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and because you have made Israel sin. (1 Kings 21:20-22)
Here is a passage of scripture where Elijah the prophet confronts Ahab, the King of Israel, regarding Ahab’s involvement with the taking of innocent life.
Leaders are called to be accountable for their actions. When they stray from the Word of Truth they lead their people to do the same. In the case of Ahab, we see a leader who has ‘sold himself to do evil’. And this evil evokes a strong response from the Lord – ‘I will bring evil upon you and you will be utterly swept away’.
We have, in our day, leaders who have sold themselves to do evil. Their continued justification for the taking of innocent lives of unborn children in name of ‘choice’ is abhorrent – it is evil. Without God’s grace I fear that we will be utterly swept away…because of the provocation with which we have provoked God to anger
"Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away…
…because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and because you have made Israel sin. (1 Kings 21:20-22)
Here is a passage of scripture where Elijah the prophet confronts Ahab, the King of Israel, regarding Ahab’s involvement with the taking of innocent life.
Leaders are called to be accountable for their actions. When they stray from the Word of Truth they lead their people to do the same. In the case of Ahab, we see a leader who has ‘sold himself to do evil’. And this evil evokes a strong response from the Lord – ‘I will bring evil upon you and you will be utterly swept away’.
We have, in our day, leaders who have sold themselves to do evil. Their continued justification for the taking of innocent lives of unborn children in name of ‘choice’ is abhorrent – it is evil. Without God’s grace I fear that we will be utterly swept away…because of the provocation with which we have provoked God to anger
our hope and our strength
O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God (Psalm 68:35)
- Where does our strength come from
- Where is our hope
Is our God all powerful?
Does He not give strength to the faint hearted?
Is He not great in His lovingkindness?
And merciful in His compassion?
Is His truth not for all generations?
Let us forever praise His name
May we magnify Him with thanksgiving
And bless Him in the congregation
Our God who is our salvation
The God of deliverance and hope
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You
And let those who love Your salvation say continually –
May the Lord be magnified
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God (Psalm 68:35)
- Where does our strength come from
- Where is our hope
Is our God all powerful?
Does He not give strength to the faint hearted?
Is He not great in His lovingkindness?
And merciful in His compassion?
Is His truth not for all generations?
Let us forever praise His name
May we magnify Him with thanksgiving
And bless Him in the congregation
Our God who is our salvation
The God of deliverance and hope
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You
And let those who love Your salvation say continually –
May the Lord be magnified
Saturday, May 2, 2009
the Lord our God will save us
And the LORD our God will save us
As the flock of His people
For we are as the sparkling stones of a crown
And I shall strengthen you
And I shall save you
And I shall bring you back
Because I have had compassion on you
For I have redeemed you
And I shall strengthen you in the LORD
Zechariah
May we rejoice in the words written by the prophet Zechariah for the Lord has brought forth His word of truth and He has provided us with a hope and a future. He has not left us fatherless. He has adopted us into His family by the blood of the Lamb. And those that believe on the name above all names, Jesus Christ the Lord, shall spend eternity forever with Him.
Rejoice all you saints of God !
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. . . . .
As the flock of His people
For we are as the sparkling stones of a crown
And I shall strengthen you
And I shall save you
And I shall bring you back
Because I have had compassion on you
For I have redeemed you
And I shall strengthen you in the LORD
Zechariah
May we rejoice in the words written by the prophet Zechariah for the Lord has brought forth His word of truth and He has provided us with a hope and a future. He has not left us fatherless. He has adopted us into His family by the blood of the Lamb. And those that believe on the name above all names, Jesus Christ the Lord, shall spend eternity forever with Him.
Rejoice all you saints of God !
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. . . . .
word of truth
As we live through these historic times in American history let us take heart in knowing that there is nothing new under the sun, that our God knows the beginning from the end, that He is not caught unaware in these days of stress and tribulation.
Psalm 60 has a word of truth that we can stand firm on as we proceed through these times:
God, You have rejected us. You have broken us;
You have been angry; O, restore us.
You have made the land quake,
You have split it open;
Heal its breaches, for it totters.
You have made Your people experience hardship;
You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger.
[Here is a picture of the struggles that our country is going through as we have moved away from the sovereign truth of God’s Word in our daily lives as a nation. We have decided as a country that man’s wisdom is better than God’s and we are reaping the harvest of that decision. We are a country that is torn and broken with no remedy in sight – from man’s perspective and ability that is. The Hand of blessing is being removed as we have forsaken the Word of Truth and bought the lie that ‘money is the answer to everything’ (Ecclesiastes 10:19)]
You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth.
[Here is the exhortation to the body of Christ, those who fear the Lord God Almighty, that we display the banner of Truth that the Lord has given us. And what does this mean ? The Lord has revealed His Truth to His children and we are exhorted to stand firm in the power of His Spirit and boldly proclaim His banner to all those around us. And with this proclamation there must be the spirit of grace and truth.]
That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and answer us!
[And what is the expectation if we are obedient to His call to display His banner – may we, His children, be delivered by His mighty right hand]
O give us help against the adversary,
For deliverance by man is in vain.
Through God we shall do valiantly,
And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.
[The final portion of this admonition is that man’s efforts to deliver are in vain…it is the Lord God Almighty who delivers. It is only through Him that deliverance comes and our part is to diligently seek after Him and, by faith, follow His admonitions.]
Excerpts from Psalm 60
Psalm 60 has a word of truth that we can stand firm on as we proceed through these times:
God, You have rejected us. You have broken us;
You have been angry; O, restore us.
You have made the land quake,
You have split it open;
Heal its breaches, for it totters.
You have made Your people experience hardship;
You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger.
[Here is a picture of the struggles that our country is going through as we have moved away from the sovereign truth of God’s Word in our daily lives as a nation. We have decided as a country that man’s wisdom is better than God’s and we are reaping the harvest of that decision. We are a country that is torn and broken with no remedy in sight – from man’s perspective and ability that is. The Hand of blessing is being removed as we have forsaken the Word of Truth and bought the lie that ‘money is the answer to everything’ (Ecclesiastes 10:19)]
You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth.
[Here is the exhortation to the body of Christ, those who fear the Lord God Almighty, that we display the banner of Truth that the Lord has given us. And what does this mean ? The Lord has revealed His Truth to His children and we are exhorted to stand firm in the power of His Spirit and boldly proclaim His banner to all those around us. And with this proclamation there must be the spirit of grace and truth.]
That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and answer us!
[And what is the expectation if we are obedient to His call to display His banner – may we, His children, be delivered by His mighty right hand]
O give us help against the adversary,
For deliverance by man is in vain.
Through God we shall do valiantly,
And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.
[The final portion of this admonition is that man’s efforts to deliver are in vain…it is the Lord God Almighty who delivers. It is only through Him that deliverance comes and our part is to diligently seek after Him and, by faith, follow His admonitions.]
Excerpts from Psalm 60
May we join the revolution
Might we be the watchman on the wall signaling the way of hope…
May we join a revolution that changes our world…
What must we do ?
Here are some steps to guide us on this path:
- Take a step of faith - stand firm and be resolute in your belief in the One True God knowing that He is ever faithful
- Don’t be afraid to share your faith – and may it be seasoned with grace and truth
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself (and may it be in word and deed)
* Make sure you show your spouse how much you love them – everyday
* Make sure you show your children how much you love them - everyday
* In the course of daily life make sure you have a smile and a kind word for those around you – be an encourager and an exhorter
* Don’t be in such a hurry that you miss the opportunities to brighten someone’s (anyone’s) day
* Do something out of the ordinary that touches another person’s life
* Be truthful in all things – ready to rebuke with grace when necessary
* Take responsibility for your actions
* Be a giver without expecting something in return
* Serve rather than be served
* Be a blessing to all
* Love people like there is no tomorrow
May we live life one day at a time as dispensers of His grace and vessels of His hope and anchors of His truth. And may the revolution grow strong as one heart is changed at a time.
For we are called to be His witnesses to His truth – may our lives be the living sacrifice that abides in His presence and delights in His glory pleasing Him in all that we do.
Holy Spirit lead us this very day.
May we join a revolution that changes our world…
What must we do ?
Here are some steps to guide us on this path:
- Take a step of faith - stand firm and be resolute in your belief in the One True God knowing that He is ever faithful
- Don’t be afraid to share your faith – and may it be seasoned with grace and truth
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself (and may it be in word and deed)
* Make sure you show your spouse how much you love them – everyday
* Make sure you show your children how much you love them - everyday
* In the course of daily life make sure you have a smile and a kind word for those around you – be an encourager and an exhorter
* Don’t be in such a hurry that you miss the opportunities to brighten someone’s (anyone’s) day
* Do something out of the ordinary that touches another person’s life
* Be truthful in all things – ready to rebuke with grace when necessary
* Take responsibility for your actions
* Be a giver without expecting something in return
* Serve rather than be served
* Be a blessing to all
* Love people like there is no tomorrow
May we live life one day at a time as dispensers of His grace and vessels of His hope and anchors of His truth. And may the revolution grow strong as one heart is changed at a time.
For we are called to be His witnesses to His truth – may our lives be the living sacrifice that abides in His presence and delights in His glory pleasing Him in all that we do.
Holy Spirit lead us this very day.
God gave Solomon
God gave Solomon –
1) wisdom
2) very great discernment
3) breadth of mind
As we head through these times of struggle and anxiousness and economic fear what are we calling out to the Lord for ?
As we seek His face what shall we desire of Him ?
It is most assuredly in times such as these that we must seek after and long for as well as earnestly pray that God would grant us His wisdom (not the wisdom of the world), that we would have very great discernment (biblically based and not the wiles of man) and that our breadth of mind would reach to the heavens (not be restrained by political correctness).
Now is the time that we must no longer be beholden to the schemes of men.
It is now that we must no longer rest nor find comfort in the wisdom of man.
It is now that we must seek discernment from the Lord and not from the so called experts and those who live on sound bites.
The battle over good and evil is growing ever stronger in our country, in our world. And the war is waging in the heavenlies…the Lord has called us and He has empowered us to fight the good fight of faith.
Stand firm, army of the Living God, and pray that our Lord would give us wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind just as He gave Solomon. And that we would persevere in following His lead and His call to take action for His name sake.
Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind…
1 Kings 4:29
1) wisdom
2) very great discernment
3) breadth of mind
As we head through these times of struggle and anxiousness and economic fear what are we calling out to the Lord for ?
As we seek His face what shall we desire of Him ?
It is most assuredly in times such as these that we must seek after and long for as well as earnestly pray that God would grant us His wisdom (not the wisdom of the world), that we would have very great discernment (biblically based and not the wiles of man) and that our breadth of mind would reach to the heavens (not be restrained by political correctness).
Now is the time that we must no longer be beholden to the schemes of men.
It is now that we must no longer rest nor find comfort in the wisdom of man.
It is now that we must seek discernment from the Lord and not from the so called experts and those who live on sound bites.
The battle over good and evil is growing ever stronger in our country, in our world. And the war is waging in the heavenlies…the Lord has called us and He has empowered us to fight the good fight of faith.
Stand firm, army of the Living God, and pray that our Lord would give us wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind just as He gave Solomon. And that we would persevere in following His lead and His call to take action for His name sake.
Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind…
1 Kings 4:29
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