His love endures forever

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

His love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

His love endures forever....

His goodness endures forever...

His mercy endures forever...

His righteousness endures forever...
His dominion endures forever...

One of the golden threads that spin throughout God's Word -- He and all that He is endures forever!

It occurs dozens of times in Scripture, a continual reminder of who He is -

And linked inseparably with our giving thanks.

When we give Him thanks, we are affirming that He is good!

Say it loudly! Say it often - in every circumstance.

Giving thanks to God the Father in and for all things, Paul tells us in the New Testament (Ephesians 5:20).

And what does the Old Testament tell us?

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.

Psalm 100:4-5

One  Book - one story - one theme - His love endures forever.....for which we are forever thankful!

God's reign is eternal. His dominion will last forever.

 But Satan's rule is temporary. The script has been written. The play has begun. We are awaiting the final act....The kingdom of the Evil One will be destroyed forever....and for that we are also forever thankful!

Our Father Knows Best - Isaiah 48

This is what the LORD says -- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

     I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what
     is best for you, who directs you in the way you
     should go.

     If only you had paid attention to My commands,
     your peace would have been like a river, your
     righteousness like the waves of the sea.
    
                    -- Isaiah 48:17-18


If only....how I wish I had...we don't get "do overs"...so I can't go back and re-do...

But God in His amazing grace allows us to begin TODAY....

Alexander Whyte said that the successful Christian life is a "series of starting agains."

So today is the first day of the rest of your (and my) life!

Tears in Whose Bottle?

                                        Tears in Whose Bottle!

Psalm 56:1,2,8

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; fighting all day, he oppresses me. My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High....You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

Sad words from a sad time in the life of David. He was alone. He was hiding in the land of the enemy, Gath, (the home of Goliath, whom he had killed a few years before). He was desperate and he was afraid.

It was an ancient custom observed by mourners at a funeral. They would collect some of the tears they shed for departed loved ones and place them in small flasks, and leave in their tombs as memorials of their love.

God will never forget, nor is He indifferent to, the trials of  His much-loved people.

Are they not in Your book?


P.S. The future? No bottle needed! No reminder needed! No memorial needed!

     And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people; God himself will be with them and be their God.

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain,  for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)

Challenging Words from a Long Time Ago!

                                     

                                             Challenging Words from a Long Time Ago!

John Chrysostom, one of the early church fathers -- 1600 years ago -- observed:

"Do you see how everywhere Paul puts the health of the community into the hands of each individual?"

Yes! We are called to "serve one another in love," "be at peace with one another," "submit to one another," "live in harmony with one another, "forgive one another," "teach and admonish one another," "be patient, bearing with one another in love," "confess your sins to one another," and so many other admonitions.

We all have a part in  the nurturing and growing of those who are following Christ alongside of us!

And as we nurture each other the whole body of Christ becomes stronger.

So it is just as that early church leader  said, 'the health of the entire Christian community is in the hands of each individual.'

God's Shining Face

The LORD said to Moses, tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites: say to them:

'"The LORD bless you and keep you;

 the LORD make His face to shine upon you

and be gracious to you.

The LORD turn His face toward you

and give you peace.'"

Numbers 6:22-26

Ancient words. 

Familiar words.

This morning's prayer: LORD, let me read these words as if for the first time.

A shining face is the opposite of an angry, glaring face.

Someone might look at me with disgust or hatred.

Or indifference.

A shining face shows favor, friendliness, and eagerness to speak and share intimate fellowship.

A shining face is a welcoming face.

A shining face displays joy in closeness.

God's shining face shows His love and grace toward us, His creatures.

I might say to someone, 'God bless you!'

I mean 'God bless you in your activity. Make your day successful.'

But this Aaronic blessing is so much more.

God wants His people to have a close, joyous, gracious personal relationship with Himself.

It's His shining face He wants us turn to us.

Is that the greatest miracle of all?

We can stand up straight and tall in His Presence,

feeling the warmth of His Love-Light shining upon us, as we bask in His closeness.

I love these ancient words. I'm afraid I had forgotten their centrality to our faith.

Remember the old hymn, Lead On, O King Eternal?

Lead on, O King Eternal, we follow,

 not with fears;

For gladness breaks like morning,

where'er Your Face appears....

God's shining Face is a golden theme in scripture, appearing dozens of times, reminding us we can enter His Presence with boldness, because He has turned His shining Face on us.

Is this the greatest miracle of all?

Maybe we shall greet each other with these words every day.....

The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His Face to shine upon you

and be gracious to you.

The LORD turn His Face toward you

and give you peace.

My peace I give you, said the Lord Jesus.