Wednesday, December 20, 2017

God Made This Day

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24.  Each day that we live is a gift from God.  The Lord makes the day.  A day can be spent in a variety of ways.  We can complain about the events of one day.  All days do not go according to plans that have been made.  Some days may find us in a difficult circumstance.  Another day will go just fine.  Do we meet our days believing and expecting that everything is to go my way?  One truth that all learn is that our life has interruptions.  When the day goes fine, rejoice.  When the day does not go so fine, rejoice.  Learn to find good in the bad.  Rejoice that you have life to live.  Look for a blessing in every day for there is one.  Look at the sun, and see its glory.  Look at the clouds, and find an unusual shape.  Hear a bird sing.  Behold a giant tree.  Watch the moon ascend into the heavens.  Count the innumerable stars scattered like tiny lights on a background of black.  Smile at one who is sad.  Speak to one who is lonely.  Look at your surroundings.  See the happiness.  See the pain.  Rejoice in this day for you shall never have this day again.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Hear My Voice

"Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.  Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity."  Psalm 64:1-2.  A cry of help is made.  Can man relieve the affliction that is felt?  The cry is for the help of God.  May God be ready and willing to hear us when we cry?  His promise is that He will.  As His faithful, we have enemies.  Keep us, O God, from the fear of them.  They cannot harm the elect.  Thy power is too great for them.  We must flee from the wickedness and the workers of iniquity that seek to take us.  But, God will keep us.  God will not leave us to fight alone.  Our strength is small, but His is mighty.  The stronghold of evil will fall before His mighty feet.  His arm will destroy them.  We will hide in the refuge of the Holy One of Israel.  God will hear our voice, and will send His holy angels to our aid.  We will be kept from the evil that seeks our overthrow.  Let us cry unto the One who helps us.  His ear is open to our cry.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Master, Say On

"And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.  And he saith, Master, say on."  Luke 7:40.  Jesus had come to the house of Simon as a guest.  A woman washes the feet of Jesus with her tears, and dries his feet with her hair.  Simon condemned this loving act by calling this woman a sinner.  Jesus, therefore, taught Simon a lesson on faith and forgiveness.  When Jesus informed Simon that He had something to say, Simon responded with a willingness to listen.  Jesus, the Master, has something to say to all of us.  While He speaks to us in His word, we must be willing hearers.  Jesus teaches us about love, grace, forgiveness, and service.  Our relationship with Him depends upon our hearing and doing.  Our attitude must be a willingness to hear.  Never are we to dismiss the teachings of Jesus.  The willing heart responds to the voice of the Master.  The voice of Christ draws us into the presence of God.  As He speaks, we hear and our lives are made better.  As we allow the Master to say on, we will know the higher meaning of life now and forever.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Bless Us, O God

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.  Let the people praise thee O God; let all the people praise thee."  Psalm 67:1-3.  God is the source of all mercy.  His blessings flow unto us because He is merciful.  May His saving health come unto us.  May our ills be healed by His mercy.  But mercy bestowed deserves praise.  We must praise His name because of the blessings that we receive.  Heal our sin and guilt.  Blot out our iniquities.  Bless us with thy mercy so that we might endure and conquer.  Look upon us in our weakness, and bless us with thy strength.  May thy face see our sadness, and give us thy joy.  Behold our inner turmoil, and bless us with thy peace.  Let us praise thy great name for all thy mercy.  See us when we stumble, and lift us up.  Heal all the infirmities of our soul.  May all the people know thee as God, the merciful God.  May the earth see thy goodness, and know thy mercy.  May our heart rejoice and praise thee.  Praise Him, all the land for God is merciful and He blesses again and again.