TODAY'S PROMISE

"...The hand of our God is upon all them for good

that seek him; but his power and his wrath is

against all them that forsake him."

(Ezra 8:22)  

MY DELIGHT

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We delight over different things.  Often many things.

If I suggested "chocolate" many would join me in 

voting for it.  But what is it that is the deep controlling

delight that drives us?  The main delight that controls

our life and longings?

The delight(s) of our life effect the productiveness, wellbeing 

and especially our relationship to God himself.

Jesus Christ tells of some that had the Word of God,

but:

"As for what was sown among thorns, this

is he who hears the word, but the cares of

the world and the delight in riches choke the

word, and it proves unfruitful."

(Matthew 13:22 RSV)  

This very truth is the driving focus of many Churches

today.  We delight in the things God can provide for us.

And people love to hear about it.

However, it's end result is disaster.

But consider a man who is a hero to this day.

King Dave.  A man whom God himself said

was a man after God's on heart.

Where was his delight?

"I delight to do thy will, O my God;

thy law is within my heart."

(Psalms 40:8 RSV)

With the help of God I want to shift my

delight from the things of this world to 

doing the will of God.

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"God brings men into deep waters not to drown them,

but to cleanse them."

-John H. Aughey

TRUE SUCCESS

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I would bet that you are caught in the same trap

that I often am.  We are not satisfied with the results

of our service for God.  He has done so much for me

and I want to do more for him.

Consider this.

One time Jesus Christ sent out seventy "preachers".

Things went great for them.  They came back a happy

bunch.  We read:

"The seventy returned with joy saying, 'Lord, even

the demons are subject to us in Your name.'"

(Luke 10:12 NASB)     

   Can you top that?

Of course you can not or have not.  If you had you 

would have let the world know about it.

But how did Jesus respond?

"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits

are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are

recorded in heaven."

(Luke 10:20 NASB)

Do you catch that?

Christ is more concerned about our relationship

with him than our service for him.

I need to spend more time loving him and

less "slaving" for him.

PERSPECTIVE

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This morning I again had to reflect on how facing death

can change a person's view point.

Up until we are faced with death, we only think of the

things we can acquire and our own comforts and pleasures.

But having faced death a few years ago I see that these things

are meaningless.

  What I face after death is far more important than the fame,

fortune or accumulations I might now acquire.

Is it any wonder that Solomon [The wisest man who ever lived.]

said:

"It is useless, useless, said the Philosopher.

Life is useless, all useless."

(Ecclesiastes 1;2 GNT)   

 And of course this is true of the "natural" or normal person.

But Solomon does come to the point when he concludes:

"After all this, there is only one thing to say:

Have reverence for God, and obey his commands,

because this is all that we were created for.  God

is going to judge everything we do, whether good

or bad, even things done in secret."

(Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 GNT)   

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting."

(Psalms 107:1 NASB)  

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,

And for His wonders to the sons of men!"

(Psalms 107:15 NASB)   

DECEIVED

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"Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you;"

(Isaiah 47:10 NASB)  

These people he was talking to felt smart, secure and 

even had power in their spells.

But, they are roasting in the Devil's hell today.

I have to ask myself.  Is my wisdom something I have

figured out by myself?  Or, is it based on the revealed

Word of God, the Holy Bible?