A CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE

You always know that the Lord is telling you something important and specific when all of your devotional and Bible study material come together! As you all know we are in a new place. Relearning our way around, renewing friendships, finding a new church home, and for me figuring out how I might fit in this Atlanta market have made this a challenging first month (and a few days).  I’ve been asking for particular guidance and finally I think I have some answers -which are not new principles by any stretch- or any new revelation-but simply the Lord saying what He has said for generations to anyone like me who has asked the same questions- “Follow my Precepts”. Ok,  then let’s look at what His Precepts might be.  The dictionary says that a precept is a command or a principle intended as a general rule of action or conduct. So Biblically,  God wants me to follow His commands for my conduct and my actions. How do I find out what those commands might be so that I can follow them? The only Book that God wrote is His Holy Bible and it was written to instruct us and to guide us as so many denominational statements about the Bible and their belief in the Bible were stated for the world to know what they believed. Now, let me stop right here as say I am not going to attack any denomination for what they have or have not done. This is NOT about any of THAT.

As I read the scriptures that have the word precept in them, they pull me in a whole different direction. Let me show you. I can’t write out as much scripture as I would like to but I hope you will bear with me as God is leading me as I write this and I will put in what He wants. The first scripture to mention the word precept in Psalm 19:8, but this is one of those times that if you only read the one verse, you will not get the whole meaning of the passage.

Psalm 19:7-14 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The .precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether  righteous. They are more precious than gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from a comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.  Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgressions. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer

Now can you see why it was important to have the verses around verse 8 written out too? It gives a whole different feeling and prospect to the passage. It becomes very important now. You take notice! The first thing I did was  to see if indeed I have joy in my heart, light in my eyes? I have to tell you that my eyes weren’t as bright as they have been-because again I am asking and seeking.  But my joy is there!  and do you know why? Because joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t depend on circumstances to be joyful-it just is. And when I let that joy go and think of all the wonderful blessings that  I have and the answers to questions that I do have, well, the joy just gets bigger!  Then think about the fear of the Lord. This simply means  to revere Him.  So often flippant language about God , the relationship or prayer, or a story will reveal a lack of reverence for His true Presence. I know I can admit it because I am forgiven those times I have been flippant. It is easy in our world today, very easy not to give Him the Utmost Reverence. Wait what does reverence really mean? Worship and adore, honor and respect; four little words that are probably the most important words in our language. I would add two more, forgiveness and acceptance.  A person can live a life pleasing to the Lord and to his fellow man if he practices those  six words. wow, six little words could change your world, could change my world.  Worship, Adore, Honor, Respect, Forgiveness and Acceptance.  Anybody up for a trial, that you would be willing to really try and live these six words just for a week? Keep track of anything different in peoples’ attitudes or your attitude in your quiet time,  and then next week, let me know?  And of course I will be doing it too. I can’t ask ya’ll to do something I wouldn’t do. So now it is on my calendar to tell ya’ll of my experiences as well.  I just bet we’re all in for something Good!

Psalm 111:1-10  Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him ; he remembers his covenant forever. he has shown his people the power of his works,giving them the lands of other nations. The work  of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast forever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.  He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever– holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

I don’t know about ya’ll but I think we are onto something good here! This is real life  stuff. Our Lord knew that we were concerned about paying the bills, our home, our clothing, our children, even education–because He addressed every issue in His Word.  We are living in perilous times, certainly what I believe as so many other Bible believing Christians do,  the last days. Ours is the first generation that could spread the gospel literally to every part of the world. Our Lord said when that was done, to look for Him, because He was coming when that was done. The Prophets wrote of signs in the heavens and signs in the earth. I would say that we certainly have had an up tick of those events–all the more reason to try our little experiment. I look forward to hearing from each one of you.  May the Lord God bless you for your efforts.

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• Psalm 34 – Taste and See That the Lord Is Good (graceofourlord.com)

A Privilege This Week Psalm 100

I had a great privilege a week ago today when I was asked by a colleague to pray specifically about a matter that was really serious and could have far-reaching complications. What was great though, was, first being asked, and secondly that the type of prayer was going to be first praise, then request-very specifically. And so we agreed and then as the week wore on watched and wondered and of course the Lord answered in a big way! ON FRIDAY!  Why is that? I always ask Him. Why does He like to do that? I am asked back, did you trust all week that I would answer? every minute of every day? and of course, I had to say, well there were a couple of stumbles out there Lord, but it all came together in the end. Yes, He said, it did!

And so as I sat in the same chair this morning recounting last week’s conversation and the answers that we had Friday and then extra bonuses all during today-it was wonderful to be so blessed!  Of course this is only a beginning lesson in trust. I learned that almost 2 years ago myself and I am still working on it! Because I don’t think we ever get there–we get better at it, but it doesn’t matter how spiritual you are, how much you read the Word; it is in the small, still dark times of the night that you wonder. I am thankful that those times are less and less…that I can see a growth of trust from where I was. But like He said, I have a ways to go.

Still, the Lord was so good to me this morning. I had a passage from yesterday’s Bible study I wanted to  study further, but He said that wasn’t for me this morning. I needed happy praise words and I turned the page and there they were.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.     Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

After yesterday’s reblog which so resounded in my heart and spirit  and is only God speaking directly vs what I have been saying the last few months —-I was surprised that the Lord would give me such happy praise  verses,  but I truly believe He was pleased and when He is, He shows it. So I will say thank you.

And I will ask for continued prayer for my ears which have not cleared up yet and now my eyes are inflamed, but that is my RA-and the dry eye syndrome I have. So $60 later for one tiny bottle of eye antibiotic drops, I have  had to yes say thank you Lord for this too. But please do pray that I can get into remission soon. This is the longest I have not been and it is not a nice, carefree, place to be. So I keep saying thank you(as in all things give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you), because everywhere I go, there are people to talk with while you’re waiting … we all do a lot of that. I seem to talk to a  lot of people checking out before or behind me. Just another opportunity I think.  Remember what is coming…

Psalm 111—-Holy and Awesome Is His Name

My time is so short tonight, but my heart is so full.

The past 2 days God has really been speaking to me, guiding, and confirming that guidance. I wish I had all the time in the world to relate to everyone all the details- except to say, I am going to take everyone at their word, that what I have written should be shared with hurting people everywhere. I don’t know whether He is going to do that sharing exclusively through books or speaking, but I have said “I will do whatever You want me to do.” I wasn’t  “there” until today. I still have no details, no understanding of how God intends for any of this to happen. But I know that He needed me to first be available to Him and His leading.

I may ask many times in the future what you think of this vs that? Because y’all are the first people who believed in me and encouraged me to write. I may try out chapter titles on you, I may even have you trying out book titles..  From talking with others I have found that this is a long drawn out process. So don’t expect me to come up with something overnight unless the Lord does it. His Ways are not my Ways, His Thoughts are not my Thoughts and His Time is not my Time.

I may not talk about it all the time, but it’s going on in the back room. I am writing these days instead of reading for pleasure. But I believe that God will honor what He is calling me to do and make it successful somehow. In the meantime, here is a little more praise from me to the Father. I think, by the way, that amazing and incredible should be reserved to be used ONLY when talking about Him and everything He does.

more of  Psalm 111… Praise the Lord.

I will extol the Lord with all my heart

in the council of the upright and in the assembly. 

Great are the works of the Lord;

they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and His Righteousness endures forever. (remember who the Righteousness is?)

He has caused His wonders to be remembered;

the Lord is gracious and compassionate.

He provides food for those who fear him;

He remembers his covenant forever.

He has shown His people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.

The works of his hands are faithful and just;

all his precepts are trustworthy.

They are steadfast forever and ever.

done in faithfulness and uprightness.

He provided redemption for his people;

he ordained his covenant forever– holy and awesome are his name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow his precepts have good understanding

To Him belongs eternal praise! Hallelujah!