Matt Redman - You Alone Can Rescue

Encouragement We must pay closer attention:

Today I bring you encouragement from Hebrews 1:3 - 2:1

3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my son! Today I have fathered you”? And in another place he says, “I will be his father and he will be my son.”  But when he again brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him!”  And he says of the angels, “He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire,” but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness.  So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing.” And,  “You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, and the heavens are the works of your hands.  They will perish, but you continue.  And they will all grow old like a garment,  and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.”  But to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?  Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Heb 1:3–2:1). Biblical Studies Press.

"Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."  These words caught my eye.  It is so easy to drift, to get caught up in the day to day world we live in.   The world is so open to offer it's cup full of fear and trembling "The sky is falling"  From my viewing point I am betting that the sun will rise tomorrow morning and set tomorrow evening and that God will provide us enough strength to make it through the day.

After searching the Psalms today, I came to the conclusion that it was time to go back to Hebrews.  I quote my words from a year and two days ago.  "There is something about the book of Hebrews that always draws me back. Each time I spend some time in this book I find myself stabilizing in my faith."  November for me seems to be battle month.   A time of challenge and a time of testing of my faith to see if there is some iron in my soul.  Even a time of questioning is God real.  Not that God is any different than yesterday, but more of the dinning of the world that you must place your trust on solid things that you can feel and touch.

That is where hope drifts away and yet we have the words of Paul from Romans 8:24-25

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.

These words explain that when we view things in a worldly manner then there is no hope but it is our encounter with the things not seen where our hope arises and we get to see the wonders this world has to offer if we can stop long enough to smell the roses.


Looking back at the text from Hebrews we get affirmation of how God placed value on Jesus and that Jesus is above all.  Thus if Jesus took our place we are covered.


One thing an old man once said to me once.  "If you never question God then you will never grow in your faith." 


I think what he was trying to say was that It is in our questioning that we discover new things the unchanging God we serve.


Do I have everything figured out?


"No", 


Will the sun rise tomorrow morning? 


"Yes"


Is the sky really falling like the world says?


"Only if we drift away and we lose all hope."


God is our hope and our salvation.


Musical Encouragement: Starfield - The Saving One.

MercyMe When You Spoke My Name

Still/Be Still My Soul

The Wonderful Cross - Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin

Savior, Please - Josh Wilson

I don't know all the answers...

Encouragement: He is Everywhere!

Today I bring you encouragement from Psalm 121

Psalm 121
A song of ascents.

1 I look up toward the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Creator of heaven and earth!
3 May he not allow your foot to slip!
May your protector not sleep!
4 Look! Israel’s protector
does not sleep or slumber!
5 The LORD is your protector;
the LORD is the shade at your right hand.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
or the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all harm;
he will protect your life.
8 The LORD will protect you in all you do,
now and forevermore.

 
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 121:title–8). Biblical Studies Press.

So often our walk here on earth is one of fear and panic.   We feel as though we are standing alone amongst the challenges of the day.

My day today started with a challenge and as I was preparing to head out to work through it.  In my haste I knocked my bible off the table and it opened to Psalm 121.  As I picked up the book my eyes fell to the last verse.  "The LORD will protect you in all you do now and forevermore."

This stopped me and lead me to spend a few minutes in His word.  Why is it so easy to forget that God is with us all the time?  That He is our protector.

We still have to face the challenge but what a difference it makes when we realize we are not walking alone. 

"The LORD is your protector;the LORD is the shade at your right hand. The sun will not harm you by day, or the moon by night."

God is everywhere!

Amen

Musical Encouragement  Third Day - You're Everywhere

Christ For The Nations Worship - The More I Seek You

It never ceases to amaze me how music finds me.  May this song be a blessing to you also.......

Was it a morning like this?

Here is a interesting presentation

Here is an interesting presentation.  It is an explanation that seems to suddenly clear confusion.

You do the Math

Encouragement: Do not forget all His kind deeds!

Today I bring you encouragement from Psalm 103


Psalm 103 By David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul!
   With all that is within me, praise his holy name!
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul!
   Do not forget all his kind deeds!
3 He is the one who forgives all your sins,
   who heals all your diseases,
4 who delivers your life from the Pit,
   who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your life with good things,
   so your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
 
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 103:1-5). Biblical Studies Press.
 
The more I learn about God the more I realize that He does know when to let us stand on our own and when to hold us in His everlasting arms.
 
"Praise the LORD, O my soul! With all that is within me, praise His holy name!
Praise the LORD, O my soul! Do not forget all His kind deeds!" 
 
 I find so often that I tend to lapse in my praise of the Lord with ALL that is within me.  I tend to fade back and try and proceed in my own strength and I need to be reminded again and again of His kind deeds.
 
Our Psalm does just that
"He is the one who forgives all your sins,

who heals all your diseases,
who delivers your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with His loyal love and compassion,
who satisfies your life with good things,
so your youth is renewed like an eagle’s."


Our God does all these things for us in accordance with His big picture plan for us.


 I am sure God is frustrated and or amused with me sometimes for not putting my full trust in Him and walking through the doors He as opened.  Sometimes I am guessing that eventually He has to rearrange things a bit so I have no choice but to step through the door and claim His Promises.


Sometimes I guess I am like the reluctant new sky diver and God is the sky diving  instructor.  He is trying to push me from the plane so that I may soar to new heights.  My fingers grip the door of the plane very tightly as I "look at the wind and the waves" of my situation.  I need to remember at those times all God's kind deeds and reach out to the promises of His word and test the open doors.


Amen...............


Musical Encouragement:  Joy in the Journey -- Michael Card

Mark Harris "One True God"

You Cover Me by Geoff Bullock

I will never be the same