Psalm 112

1 Praise the LORD!
How joyful are those who fear the LORD
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

I will be still, and I will behold in my dwelling place. Isaiah 18:4

As the world's wickedness heightens, why do I worry? Do I not believe that God is in control? He that created the universe has no problem guiding us through our difficulties, and all of these things work for the greater good . . . He is in control.

Psalm 83

1
A song; a psalm of Asaph.
2
God, do not be silent; God, be not still and unmoved!
3
See how your enemies rage; your foes proudly raise their heads.
4
They conspire against your people, plot against those you protect.
5
They say, "Come, let us wipe out their nation; let Israel's name be mentioned no more!"
6
They scheme with one mind, in league against you:
7
2 The tents of Ishmael and Edom, the people of Moab and Hagar,
8
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre.
9
Assyria, too, in league with them gives aid to the descendants of Lot. Selah
10
3 Deal with them as with Midian; as with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent Kishon,
11
Those destroyed at Endor, who became dung for the ground.
12
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
13
Who made a plan together, "Let us seize the pastures of God."
14
My God, turn them into withered grass, into chaff flying before the wind.
15
As a fire raging through a forest, a flame setting mountains ablaze,
16
Pursue them with your tempest; terrify them with your storm.
17
Cover their faces with shame, till they pay you homage, LORD.
18
Let them be dismayed and shamed forever; let them perish in disgrace.
19
Show them you alone are the LORD, the Most High over all the earth.



[Psalm 83] The community lament complains to God of the nations' attempts to wipe out the name of Israel (Psalm 83:1-8). The psalmist sees all Israel's enemies throughout its history united in a conspiracy (Psalm 83:2-8). May God destroy the current crop of enemies as the enemies of old were destroyed (Psalm 83:9-12), and may they be pursued until they acknowledge the name of Israel's God (Psalm 83:13-18).

[7-9] Apart from the Assyrians, all the nations listed here were neighbors of Israel. The people of . . . Hagar: a tribe of the desert regions east of Ammon and Moab (1 Chron 5:10, 19-22). Gebal is the Phoenician city of Byblos or perhaps a mountain region south of the Dead Sea. The descendants of Lot are Moab and Edom (Genesis 19:36-38 and Deut 2:9). These nations were never united against Israel in the same period; the psalm has lumped them all together.

This Psalm is applicable today as well. Pray for Israel.

God determines who walks into your life...it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.

You are invited to join me at the Harvest Crusade at Angel Stadium. Admission is FREE.

The musicians performing at the Harvest Crusade will be:

Friday, August 11, 2006 @ 7:00 pm: Crystal Lewis, Todd Agnew, Joy Williams
Saturday, August 12, 2006 @ 7:00 pm: David Crowder Band, Kutless, Hawk Nelson
Sunday, August 13, 2006 @ 6:00 pm: Newsboys, MercyMe

I plan to hit the parking lot for the HARVEST CRUSADE as early as 4:00 in the afternoon to make sure I get good seats. I already have a dozen people joining me - - why don't you come too? And bring an unsaved friend!

God Bless, and I hope to see you there.

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the mark of God's servants. Our hope is the object of our faith. It is an expectation that God will perform all he has promised to us in Christ. This gives the soul joy. Faith proves to the mind that things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye exist. It is an approval of all God has revealed, as holy, just, and good. Faith reveals itself in many examples of persons in former times, who obtained a good report, or an honourable character in the word of God. Faith was the principle of their holy obedience, remarkable services, and patient sufferings. The Bible gives the most true and exact account of the origin of all things, and we are to believe it, and not to wrest the Scripture account of the creation, because it does not suit with the differing fancies of men. All that we see was created by God, and it is our faith that tells us that this is so.

2 Corinthians 4:17

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

I have just returned from the doctor's office for blacking out in a parking lot. This followed a week of hospitalization of my wife of which I spent the entire time with her, receiving very little sleep, and a time in which she received 5 units of blood (two one day, and three more units three days later).

I don't know if this is considered courage and patience in the light of suffering, but this verse in 2 Corinthians sure came to mind during this time of suffering that my wife and I have just endured.

Achieving is the key word in this verse. These momentary troubles are achieving for us something very good, something that "far outweighs them all."

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the trials of our lives bring us to what the Lord has planned. Without these trials the road would be impassable because the events of our past would not have led us to that road, and we would not have the time-tested strengths to make our way down such a road. The Lord knows what He is doing, and it is our faith that will enable us to reach the destination He has prepared for us. The road, and the destination, may not be what we desire, but in His wisdom, that is the road and destination we must achieve.

Jesus promised to get us across the sea through all of the storms and tribulations. He never promised that it would be a smooth ride, only that he would get us there safely. Through the storms, however, we will be stronger, wiser, and more equipped to handle our future. We must only place it all in the Lord's hands.

And the eternal glory far outweighs them all - - our faith will lead us to Him.

Amen.

Trusting oneself is foolish, but those who walk in wisdom are safe. Proverbs 28:26 NLT

Moving through obstacles

Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:2-3 NLT

Jeremiah 29:12-13 NLT

In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me in earnest, you will find Me when you seek Me.

Prayer changes things.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Rom 8:28

This does not mean that something like cancer or an automobile accident is good in itself. This means that in the broad scheme of things God can take all sufferings, sorrows, infirmities, and everything else of a discouraging and calamitous nature which might befall God's child on earth and turn them into good for the child of God. Not good necessarily in the sense of earthly prosperity, success, bodily health, or any other purely mortal benefit, but to the eternal felicity of the soul. Whatever might happen to the Christian in this life, God is able to overrule each earthly circumstance in such a manner as to turn it into a contributitive factor in the life of the Christian. Jesus promised to get us to the other side of the sea, but He did not promise it to be a smooth journey, and it is through these tribulations that we become stronger children of God.

Everything will not turn out all right for every person in any case. There stands a significant distinction - "to them that love God...Work together for good." God is at work on the Christian's behalf. The reaction of the child of God, or his response, to the ills of mortal life must be one of patience, submission, humility, prayer, love, hope, and faith. Even adversity of the severest kind must be made to yield its precious fruit in the heart of the Christian. Adversity is the blessing that strengthens us.

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Psalms 62:8 NLT

Prayer Changes Things!

Psalm 14:1-6 New Living Translation

Psalm 14

1
Only fools say in their hearts,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
no one does good!
2
The LORD looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;
he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding,
one who seeks for God.

3
But no, all have turned away from God;
all have become corrupt.
No one does good,
not even one!

4
Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread;
they wouldn't think of praying to the LORD.

5
Terror will grip them,
for God is with those who obey him.

6
The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the LORD will protect his people.

The Whole Armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. Philippians 3:9 NLT