Giving Thanks For Hope

By Paul Hardy - The Bible Revival(cropped), Public Domain

Today’s verse is taken from a chapter where David has made preparations for the moving of the Ark of the Covenant. He prepared a tent to hold it, for an appropriate temple would have to wait for Solomon to build. Still, with all the problems David had been through, plus more anticipated, he was giving thanks to God from verse 8 forward. These caught my attention:

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. (1 Chronicles 16:10-11 KJV)

We haven’t done that, have we? Not as individuals, not as a community, not even in our churches, and most certainly not as a nation. We have not gloried in God’s holy name. Sometimes we’ve taken it in vain. We haven’t rejoiced as we sought the Lord.

Mostly, especially lately, we haven’t sought His strength.

We are starting to do so simply because a number of distractions have been removed. All of the sports now shown on television were completed some time ago. They are place fillers, since we don’t need athletes to entertain us. New movies are not being released – no one will go to the theaters to watch them. Several released in the last year with high expectations have lost money without having a virus.
Christians can’t even congregate to hold services, so we connect (with some problems) through the internet, streaming services. Some voice their displeasure at having a government that requires religion to stay out of schools is now keeping people from church buildings.

Just remember, Christ’s true church is made up of people in the congregation, not the building where the congregate. They are encouraged to meet:

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV)

Take a look at the definition of the Greek translated as “exhorting”:

Strong's #G3870
παρακαλέω
parakaleō
From G3844 and G2564; to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): - beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.

Basically, exhort means to give advice to – whether we are advising our fellow Christians, or they are advising us. We are in a position to both give and receive advice as we learn from the scriptures what God has for us to learn. The Bible is full of advice, examples, and promises for us to study. Studying together does give us comfort.

As for “the day approaching”, whenever Christ’s return might be, every day we live brings us one day closer.

This Sunday, as we did the Sunday before, we will join a live stream of our morning worship service – 11:00 am CDT from First Baptist Church Cottondale or from the church’s Facebook page. The previous services are there, too.

I have no idea what Pastor Pugh’s sermon will be. I do know that the references will come from the Bible. He will read verses and share with us a message applicable to today. He will exhort us – he will implore us to heed God’s word; he will bring us comfort from God’s word; he will lead us in prayer to help us through the coming weeks. He does this every week, at every service, and he loves doing it as much as we love hearing it.

It does give comfort and it does help us through each and every day, even when the world around us seems to be chaotic. Please accept the invitation to join us during the services.  If not, please take time later to watch – and keep your own Bible handy to read in context.

Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. (Psalms 119:116 KJV)

Under A Wave

I have a note on the side of this blog explaining where my graphics originate – but I don’t know the source for this wave. It is an awesome shot, isn’t it? I wish I knew the source in order to acknowledge the creator - the owner holds the copyright. However, I don’t. I can only apologize if I hear from the owner and will remove if requested.

Right now most of us feel as though there is a huge wave waiting to inundate us – COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, is hanging over our heads, and has taken down a large number of people. That wasn’t the problem for Israel in Isaiah. Their enemies were other kingdoms, and Isaiah passed on prophetic advice:

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. (Isaiah 26:20 KJV)

That is pretty much the same advice many governors are giving to their states. Our Governor Abbott declared an emergency March 20 to run through April 3, subject to continuation depending on the situational changes. The gist of the orders are:

Order No. 1 - In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
Order No. 2 - In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors; provided, however, that the use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options is allowed and highly encouraged throughout the limited duration of this executive order.
Order No. 3 - In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
Order No. 4 - In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, schools shall temporarily close.

Counties and cities may be more stringent – as Dallas’ Judge Clay Jenkins stated in a news conference Sunday, telling people to stay home and shelter in place. Isn’t that pretty much what Israel was told in the scripture?

I can tell you that hiding in our chambers has both good and bad results. The good is an opportunity to do all of the items I’ve been procrastinating about. The bad is I can no longer procrastinate!
I miss fellowship at church. Technology allows us to watch the services online, even join in the singing. Thankfully, no one really cares if we are on key or not, and Russell Robinson always is. If you would like to join in on one of our services, you can find them on the church website: First Baptist Church of Cottondale, or on the church Facebook page.

The church recently remodeled the sanctuary, which included some electronic upgrades. Streaming actually began the last of February, but it is such a blessing to have it available now. Services are held at CDT Sunday morning at 10:00 for Sunday School, 11:00 for worship service, 6:00 pm for evening service, and 7:00 pm for Wednesday service. Pastor also streams encouraging messages during the week.

The connection to the graphic is:  Will we be overwhelmed by the wave of the virus, the stress, the limitations, the job loss, or simply the unknown fears? I believe we will somewhere along the way, but not every moment of every day. We are invited to find peace:

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 KJV)

Philippians is a rather short book in the Bible, but has some awesomely strengthening verses. One that should give every Christian courage is:

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13 KJV)

Read more about Paul – starting in Acts, then his letters – to find out how much strength he needed. Then know that same strengthening is available to us from the same Christ Paul served. He is available every moment of every day.

Do You Believe?

This is making rounds on Facebook:

Until the Good Lord calls Me away from this world to come home, I want to make it clear that I believe in Jesus Christ as the True Lord and Savior. Despite the fact that I am human, and I fail sometimes. (a lot)! I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sacrificed on the cross, and died for our sins. He loves us all dearly (far more than we deserve) and forgives our sins if we are in repentance. HIs Word says "who so ever believeth in Me , should not perish but have ever lasting life.
This is the best challenge I have seen on Facebook, so if the Holy Spirit moves you and you’re not ashamed, just copy and make this your status update.
Can I get an Amen for being a believer in The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

I also believe that. You can, too, if you believe Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, and the rest of the Bible, were written that we might believe, just as John ended his gospel:

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31 KJV)

Paul wrote that same message in a number of letters, but it was Luke who put them down as Paul gave a personal witness to a ruler:

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. (Acts 26:22-29 KJV)

Take time to read both Chapter 25 and 26 to see where Paul was and under what circumstances he gave his witness to his belief in Jesus Christ. If you don’t mind, rather than copy the above challenge, would you leave a Comment here that is your testimony regarding belief – or a lack of belief – in Jesus Christ as the Bible describes Him:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:16-19 KJV)

That Day Will Come

You can read the inscription, but this tombstone is for Euclid Houston Lamb, born in Bledsoe county, Tennessee in 1855, and died in Jackson county, Oklahoma in 1913. This remembrance stands in the Olustee Cemetery, Olustee, Oklahoma, a long way from his family home in the Tennessee mountains. He was 58 years old when he died.

Right now our country is in panic mode, if you keep up with mainstream media. Covid-19 virus has made the world stand on its head, and for good reason - the death rate is somewhere around an estimated 2%, because we don't have accurate figures on how many people in the world had the disease and survived. Mortality percentages are inaccurate if you can't tell how many survived the disease. Taking the number of known cases divided into the number of deaths is not an accurate knowledge base.

What people have forgotten is that everyone born, dies. We have a tendency to ignore:

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27 KJV)

They absolutely ignore the second half of that verse, many believing there is no God therefore there is no judgment because there is no proof. Let me assure you that the first part of that verse stands absolutely proven - birth leads to death.

We can mitigate some circumstances that lead to death. Euclid Lamb contracted black lung disease. He changed his lifestyle, moving from the mountains of Tennessee to the dry plains of western Oklahoma to be close to his daughter and her family. She was there because her mother-in-law had "consumption", which in her descendants is known as allergies and opens us to colds and flu, so her family moved from Tennessee to Oklahoma. Her son and his wife followed them, to. A small stream of people looking to improve health conditions, and every one of them eventually died.

We will, too. It may be from Covid-19, or maybe not. My son-in-law died in a senseless accident where an inattentive driver turned left in front of him. Had she not done so, he would have died in another way anywhere from a moment to half a century later. In any event, at any time, that day will come.

How do you face that fact? Do you have a will that divides up your earthly property? Have you made a directive that explains what treatments you will and will not accept to keep you alive? Most importantly, have you made the decision to accept God's offer?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)

There is much, much more in the Bible, but these few verses sum up the action across time that provides for those who believe God:

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:5-8 KJV)

Jesus' disciples were not holy men who had prayed and waited patiently for God's answer to prayer. They were ordinary people doing ordinary jobs - liked by some, disliked by others. As He prepared to leave them, He knew they would question their faith, wonder what went wrong, and go back to the ordinary, even though He told them:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. (John 14:27-29 KJV)

Well, it came to pass. And they forgot what He said, having to be reminded:

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, (Luke 24:3-8 KJV)

That day - the one appointed for all men that they will die, came for Jesus. He showed us what comes next. It's up to us to decide whether the Bible is truth or lies. Pascal's wager comes to mind, but is too long to discuss here and now. If you are interested in how to go further when someone considers the wager and says, "No - God doesn't exist," check out this article on Pascal's Wager Rejected. Then consider how prepared we really are for when that day will come for us. If the Bible is true and God not only exists but loves His creation - I'll be eternally grateful.

There is Gladness Going to the Lord's House

Back in 2010 I used this graphic for a blog “House of the Lord.” I've used it four other times, too, since I started this blog in 2008. It has a familial attraction for my family - it was built in the 1890's by my Beloved Husband's great-great-grandfather, Jacob Blickensderfer, in Oakland, Missouri, and still stands in the same spot, next to the cemetery that holds many of that generation's family members.

I like using it when I need a church graphic - I took this photo on one of our many trips to the area. BH's parents and eldest brother are buried in nearby Lebanon, Missouri, though there are no close family members living there. We've pretty much moved on. That happens as lives change and grow.

It happens often to young people who leave home to go to college. There are new schedules, long study hours, considerable stress, and new friends who do not attend church. Some laugh at expressed memories of happy times in church activities.

One of the young men from our church who went off to university ran into this phenomenon. When he was home on vacations or summer, we would see him in church, but that slacked off at school.  He worked during his time home at a place where we ran into him often. I know his siblings, and I've watched them grow. It saddened me as each of them ceased to encourage each other to attend services or activities. They all used to believe and they were as glad as David when going to church:

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. (Psalms 122:1 KJV)

I know one of the reasons the family hesitates to attend, but I firmly believe the Lord would pave their way, making re-entry smooth and welcome. Some might say I bugged them about it, but I promise, though it was often, I didn't mention church every time I saw one of them. A couple of weeks ago, though, I did mention it again. Our young man graduated, was back in the area, and gainfully employed nearby. When I ran into his Mom, I mentioned how we missed them.

"Funny you would say that," she began, then told me about his being out with a college friend and ran into a group passing out Christian pamphlets. As he read the pamphlet, he realized it was from our church and thought, "Have I been gone so long they forgot what I look like?"

His Mom told me he saw it as a reminder from God that he should be back in church activities, so Mom and her children came to the house of the Lord and were glad. And I was happy, too. They are a pleasure to be around and I've missed seeing them on a regular basis.

Missing Christian fellowship can easily occur. After a trip to ER, I spent a week in the hospital. I missed a couple of Sundays there and recuperating, followed by a couple more not quite well while doctors convinced me what needed to be done. Then a couple more after the operation. I got in maybe two Sundays at church, then took a trip and missed another. So over a four month period, I was in church no more than four Sundays before healing enough to really enjoy leaving my home. 

I believe we are commanded by God that He be our first love:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

Knowing that, we can understand when Jesus said to the Church at Ephesus:

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:2-4 KJV)

When God is first in our lives, we do work for Him. We study His word to whether what is told us is true or not. Bible reading and studies can be accomplished alone, and we can praise God alone, but when we share Christian fellowship we can discuss so many of the questions we have plus share our studies with others. I see that fellowship described in Hebrews:

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV)

I am glad that when I assemble with others in the house of our Lord, there will be many encouraging me to love and do good works. May we encourage you, also, to Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Create In Me A Clean Heart

Psalm 51:10-13 provide the words for this hymn, just as read out of the King James Version of the Bible. However, I suggest you read the entire Psalm 51 for a larger perspective, and the whole story of King David for the full background of who he was and why it was written. A quick review lets us know it was after the lust created by watching Bathsheba across the rooftops, their affair, the death of her husband, the birth, and death, of their child. Against whom did David sin?

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalms 51:3-4 KJV)

Too often we don’t acknowledge that our sinfulness is against God’s nature, not  just the person(s) we’ve hurt. We may feel sufficient guilt to apologize when we’ve hurt someone’s feelings, and we may remember not to do that again. But what does it take to become right with God? That’s what David was seeking as he wrote this Psalm.

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalms 51:16-17 KJV)

David knew what a prophet would later write to us:

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:7-8 KJV)

For those of us who have a relationship with God, it does not matter what we offer Him – service to him, money in our bank, giving up material goods, breaking harmful relationships – unless we also are willing to give up ourselves to His promises for our lives.  Promises – not punishments. Promises to forgive us for what happened before we returned to walk humbly with Him. Promises to lift our burdens, just as His son said:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

That theme runs through the Bible, written by a number of men, hundreds of years apart, without change by the inspiration of God himself:

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15 KJV)

For those who wonder if there is a God, take time to ask Him yourself. There will come a time when He will not answer, please do not wait until then to seek Him:

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6 KJV)

On a side note - This  musical score is the one that helped me memorize this particular scripture. We sang it when I was in the youth choir at Immanuel Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Even now, as it runs through my mind, I hear the echo of the bass after we sang "Create in me a clean heart, O God." I use it now as part of my regular prayer sessions, coming before our Father with a human heart that has failed Him in a number of ways. I depend regularly upon His promise of forgiveness, so much greater than even that of earthly parents. I pray for my readers that they, too, understand that forgiveness and accept His grace.

There is Nothing Like Answered Prayer

By Yoav Dothan - Self-photographed, Public Domain

Jesus taught us how to pray through His own example of prayer in His daily life. You can’t read through a single gospel without seeing that He took time to be alone in prayer, and also stopped along His daily walk to speak to His father.

He also taught us the manner in which we should and should not pray:

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:5-8 KJV)

Following that scripture Jesus gave an example of prayer, Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) - After this manner therefore pray ye:

Acknowledge His relationship in our lives, by His own choice:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Acknowledge also that He is holy and worthy of worship:

Hallowed be thy name.

Acknowledge that He is the ruler of all:

Thy kingdom come.

Now comes our requests. The first is that we obey Him:

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Request what He is capable of giving us to survive each day:

Give us this day our daily bread.

Request forgiveness for our failure to obey Him:

And forgive us our debts,

Understand the conditions He asks of us as His children:

as we forgive our debtors.

Request His help in keeping us safe from one who would do harm:

And lead us not into temptation,

Request His help as we face evil in this world:

but deliver us from evil:

All of the above is done because we know His is the eternal kingdom that He has invited us to enjoy. He does so because all that is created belongs to Him. His worth of worship and obedience:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

So be it.

Amen.

A very simplistic look. There are much more in depth treatises online and in classic books. Best one to search for the meaning of this prayerful example (of course) is the one He inspired – the Bible.

Today the Bible and prayer along with a personal relationship with God was made so very real as I saw not only His hand in preparing for the health of a dear friend, by placing them in just the right place to get treatment, as well as having a prayer group in place to acknowledge our need for Him.

We do serve an awesome God. Our friend was literally at death’s door, and now has hope. They had moved away from family and friends the week they became aware of his illness, yet that was the perfect location for treating him. His illness placed him in ICU, and a large prayer group prayed not only for healing, but for comfort and strength for his loved ones as hope seemed lacking.

Can I tell you how wonderful it is when answered prayer is so positive?

Yes, I have been in situations where the answer was “No. Come home, my child.” It was necessary to depend on His omniscience, on His omnipotence, on His promise that there will be a glad reunion in a promised place:

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (2 Corinthians 5:6-9 KJV)