#c psalmist

[quibbs126]

This is one hell of a screen, I love it

[psalmonesermons]

Unanswered Prayer Part 3/4

How to avoid your prayers being unanswered

In Parts 1 and 2 we discussed four possible reasons that some of our prayers might appear to go unanswered. The possible reasons were 1) being out of fellowship with the Lord 2) God has said no because your prayer was not his will 3) Lack of unity between persons and 4) A delay in the answer to your prayer.

We are now going to consider, based on our four possible reasons, how we can avoid getting into the position where our prayers might be unanswered.

1) Keep in fellowship with the Lord, this includes keeping short accounts with God in terms of sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Do not think about or dwell on anything that is inherently sinful, think about things are good, and pure and honest. We should keep his commandments, there are only 4 main ones in the New Testament a) Love the Lord your God with all…, b) love your neighbour as yourself, c) love one another as I have loved you. How did Jesus love us? … unto death. d) Also love your brother who can be seen.

King David, the sweet psalmist cried out to God in Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

2) Get to know the will of God better by studying your bible and by listening to good sermons and remember that when you pray, that it is a dialogue, and we should allow space and time for God to speak to you. Take good Christian counsel from your minister or other Christians that you trust. We must allow God to say no, for He knows better than us.

3) Unity: You husbands must treat your wives with honour, live together in a good and Godly atmosphere, treating her as joint heirs in the grace of life. This approach applies to all Christians as demonstrated by all the (n=46) ‘one another’ commandments such as in

1 Peter 1:22 (b) says ‘see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently’:

4) Delay in the answer, be persistent in prayer in case there is a battle in the heavens.

Ask the Lord if he has a bigger purpose in mind, sometimes God uses delays to strengthen our faith.

It took Elijah’s servant 7 visits to go up and watch for signs of the rain. Be patient, be obedient.

The late Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth, whilst single, several times prayed that God would allow her to marry a certain man, but God said ‘no’ because he had someone better for her!

Parting thought: Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve can deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Maybe if God does not seem to answer our prayer, we need to do what is right anyway!

Amen

Closing Prayer

Reference materials.

CCF tapes BBS098 Roger Price Prayers of Faith (see additional resources section on this website).

Pete Greig, The Prayer Course Session 4

[wisdomfish]

The true penitent regards sin not as mere misdirection

The true penitent regards sin not as mere misdirection, or the result of imperfect development, but as the guilty violation of a holy law. A right feeling in relation to sin. The sincere penitent loathes sin, and “grieves for having grieved his God.” Right conduct in relation to sin. He endeavors to forsake sin, and to follow after holiness. The Psalmist in his confession—

Recognizes the evil of sin. He regards it (1). As an unrighteous thing. “Mine iniquity.” Sin is a reversal of true moral relations and order. (2.) As a breach of moral law. “My transgressions.” By his sins he had violated the holy laws of the supreme and gracious Sovereign. (3.) As a defiling thing. He felt himself utterly polluted by his sins, and asks again and again for cleansing. Thus David recognizes the essential evil of sin, and its injurious influence upon human life and character. He does not attempt to palliate its wickedness; but exhibits unmistakably its blackness, and deformity, and blasting power.

Recognizes the sin as his own. “My transgressions … mine iniquity … my sin.” We are prone to try to shift the responsibility of our sins from ourselves to others. We blame the circumstances, in which we were placed, or the temptations, by which we were assailed, or the tendencies which we have inherited, or the training which we have received. But of this we find nothing in this penitential psalm. David feels that the sin and guilt of his crimes were his and his only. “I acknowledge my transgression,” &c. “I have sinned,” &c. His sins appeared so aggravated to him, that he could only express his feeling in this respect by saying that he was born in sin. As Robertson says, “He lays on himself the blame of a tainted nature, instead of that of a single fault: not a murder only, but of a murderous nature. ‘Conceived in sin.’ From his first moments up till then, he saw sin—sin—sin: nothing but sin.” Sin and guilt cannot be transferred from one to another. If I do evil, the guilt is my own. “Every man shall bear his own burden.” The Divinely-awakened conscience ever feels this—confesses this—says, “I acknowledge my transgressions.”

Regards sin as hostile to God. “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned.” &c. The Most High has no complicity with evil. Sin is ever to Him the “abominable thing which He hates.” He brings good out of evil, overrules evil for the accomplishment of His glorious purposes. Yet He is not the author of evil, but its sworn and uncompromising antagonist. His laws in both the material and spiritual realms are against it; His administration is against it; His great redemption is against it; His essential nature is utterly opposed to it. True penitence feels this, and says, “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned.” David had sinned grievously against human society; but it was the fact that his offences were wrongs against his God that chiefly impressed and distressed him. All sins against man are sins against God also. You cannot harm your fellow-man without wronging God. “Every blow struck against humanity is a blow struck against God.” A fact this pregnant with solemn suggestions. Thus the confession of this royal penitent expresses the judgments and emotions of the penitent heart to day.

~ Preacher’s Homiletical

[mint-moon25]

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10. The first two lines (cp. Psalm 62:9a, 11 a, b) are a rhythmical division of what is logically one sentence: put not vain trust in oppression and robbery.’ Do not rely, for you will only be deceived, upon wealth and material resources amassed by violence and wrong, instead of trusting in God (Psalm 62:8). It is a warning against the old temptation to follow might rather than right. ‘Oppression and robbery’ are often coupled. See Leviticus 6:2; Leviticus 6:4; Ezekiel 22:29; and cp. Isaiah 30:12.

if riches increase &c.] Lit. if riches grow, pay no regard. The Psalmist addresses those who were in danger of being tempted to covet the power which wealth brings, no matter what might be the means used for obtaining it. There are indications that social discontent was a factor in the momentary success of Absalom’s rebellion (Psalm 4:6).

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[trustfallwithgod]

The last ramblings

the majority of people do not identify with God as their Father. They relate to Him as something other than sons. 

yet, Jesus taught us to refer to God as "Our FATHER" and more accurately and intimately so, as: Abba. Servants suffer from performance-anxiety. Even friends may worry thinking they have to pound on doors in the middle of the night merely to borrow something (Lk 11:5). But sons need not worry, for our “heavenly Father knows we need all these things” (Mt 6:32). Our Father – not our master nor our friend – delights to give good gifts to those who ask Him (Mt 7:11). 

Sons have an expectation of intimacy that servants and friends do not enjoy. 

If you’re still having trouble wrapping your head around this, look to Jesus. Did Jesus describe God as His (a) Master, (b) Friend, or (c) Father? Under the obsolete law covenant, God was Master. Under the Abrahamic covenant, God is our Friend. But under the new covenant in Jesus’ blood, God relates to us as our Father!

When you have a revelation of your sonship, it will change the way you pray. You will pray for the smallest things, because if it matters to you it matters to Him. But you will also ask Him for big things, because God has promised you the nations. 

but what happens when experiences proves otherwise?

As Christians, most of us rightly trust God to prosper us and not harm us, and to provide and protect us. That’s what scripture says and that’s what preachers preach. So when something bad happens to us – usually someone doing something bad or even evil where we become the victim – we naturally ask why God didn’t protect us as He said He would. Pastorally, this is a tricky space to live in and one in which it is easy to lose trust or even blame God for our circumstances.

intellectually, in a fallen world, we know that "God didn't protect us" isn’t true. But emotionally we say to ourselves, “Yes, but God allowed it, so He is someone I can’t trust, because He allows me to get hurt.” 

how do you regain trust with God when you feel as if He’s complicit in your pain? Psalm 77 gives a hint that we aren't alone in this sentiment because at some point, David's mere thought of the Lord, made him groan. It's an understandable reaction since the darkness of present circumstances cause you to have cognitive dissonance about a God you know to be good but doesn't feel like He is being very good at the moment.

Father, all powerful and ever living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise.

ideally, when our hearts are broken we need to go to the person who created our hearts. When our souls are in distress, we need to go the person who gave us our souls. but...

Broken heart; tired body. all you are left with is the rawness of “God, You lied to me!” I know this because there are three/four churches in singapore where you will find tear stains on the pews. (for some reason my tears bleach the wood). Psalm 6:6 “I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.”

In Romans it says:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  (Romans 8:31 ESV)

And the Psalmist wrote:

Then my enemies will turn back     in the day when I call.     This I know, that God is for me (Psalm 56:9 ESV).

He wants the best for me, even if it feels uncomfortable at the time because it’s not what I wanted or what seemed easy or appealing.

He knows what’s truly good and what I truly need, and that’s what He’s going to be doing in my life, directing, guiding, pausing, saying “no,” and saying “yes.” but the reality is, you cannot brute force sentiment like  “no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly”  (Psalm 84:11 ESV). In fact, "taste and see, that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8) and "I will see goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13) are pretty bold exhortations of literal expectations of God's goodness. So we can infer that these writings inspired by the Holy Spirit, point to the Lord's own admittance that we aren't expected to blindly believe in His goodness without evidence.

But ultimately, when left alone in God's waiting room... and with nothing to prove otherwise... what are we meant to believe?

Anyone who has read the Scriptures knows that although Job had great faith in Jehovah God before his trials, he said that he had heard of Him by the hearing of the ear. Later, after seeing Jehovah God’s appearance, he said his eyes saw Him. This is the effect God’s work has achieved through allowing him to undergo trials, which is to say, through God’s consignment of him to Satan, and then through God’s salvation.

[deaconwords]

Finding God

In our reading from Job this morning we hear Job experiencing God’s absence. Hear his words, first in verse 3:

3

Oh, that I knew where I might find him,

that I might come even to his dwelling!

Then in verses 8 and 9:

8

“If I go forward, he is not there;

or backward, I cannot perceive him;

9

on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him;

I turn[c] to the right, but I cannot see him.

And in today’s psalm we hear in verse 1:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?

And again in verse 11:

Be not far from me for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

Both Job and the psalmist are lamenting God’s absence. Where O where is God?

Have you ever experienced this? God’s absence? A powerful sense of being all alone, abandoned, forsaken?

In today’s Gospel lesson, a rich young man comes to Jesus. He has followed all the commandments throughout his life but knows, somehow, that he lacks something. Like Job and the psalmist he senses that something is missing. God (or the Eternal) is absent from his life. What must he do to find God? Where must he look?

Thirty years ago, I was in a dark place. Dark places often bring to light God’s absence. Both my parents and my brother had recently died. I had uprooted myself from my home state of California. My wife was divorcing me and I was without stable employment. As a broken man I found myself on my knees one night praying for help. And after pouring out my failures and lost dreams I felt God’s presence. I experienced God as a powerful force of unconditional love. It was amazing.

Shortly after the experience, I began attending Christ Church Cathedral. And to my great joy the same sense of unconditional love I had experienced on my knees that late night I sensed in this House of God. At least, until one particular Sunday.

On that day I arrived expectant. God would be there, I thought. After all, I had returned to church, a place I had abandoned some years before to live a completely secular life. But on this day I felt God’s absence, not God’s presence. What gives? I questioned.

I sat in the pew and became angry. I had turned my life around because of God. Where was God? Like Job I hadn’t done anything wrong. I was holding up my end of the deal. Where was God? God’s not being present, I thought, was unjust. I sat and stewed. I wanted to give God a piece of my mind but couldn’t find God anywhere.

I listened to the readings and then the sermon. No God to be found. Then, Dean Wolf began the Liturgy of the Table. I stood and got into line to move forward to receive communion. I was graced with a softening heart. I began to realize how foolish I was acting. Who was I to be making demands of the God of the Universe? Who was I to say where God was to spend God’s mornings? How could I know if God wasn’t giving me just what I needed by being absent? Who was I to limit God in being God?

Indeed, by the time I arrived at the front of the line I had become completely humbled. I had let go of my demands and expectations. I had let go of my need to validate myself through argument. I had become empty. And right then, I held out my hands and received the host. Consuming it I felt the powerful presence of God. Suddenly, God was present. As I drank from the cup I became aware of Christ’s intimate presence.

Now, make no mistake, God had been present throughout my whole ordeal. I had simply been unable to find God due to my demanding God be other than who God is, the independent, all powerful sustainer of all things. When I returned to myself, a wholly dependent being of God's creation, clear vision and awareness was reestablished.

It would seem that there are three states in which we can find ourselves. We can feel God’s presence. We can feel God’s absence. And, we can go through life oblivious to either God’s presence or God’s absence.

Jesus tells the young man who desires eternal life to give up his possessions and knowing that he cannot free himself of them he walks away dejected. Jesus tells his disciples, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!”

The disciples ask, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus responds, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God.”

We cannot save ourselves. God alone can do that. We have only to get out of our own way and allow God to be God. Amen.

—Offered at St. George’s Episcopal Church on 10-13-2024

[focr]

The dew of his youth...

Press on to know the blessed mysteries of the gospel as the food of your soul; press on to know the Son of God, not only as a crucified man, not only as sweating blood in Gethsemane's garden, and agonizing on Calvary's tree; but press on to know him as the exalted God-man Mediator at the right hand of the Father, ever living to make intercession, able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him; and press on to enjoy him as your living Head, distilling into you as a living member of his mystical body, what the Psalmist calls, "the dew of his youth;" that is, the fruits of his resurrection, ascension and glorification, as manifested by the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. Press onward to know the power of the precious gospel you profess, to enjoy it more in your soul, and to manifest its reality more in your conduct, your conversation, and your life. ~ J. C. Philpot

[tomthomasblog]

Finding Strength in the Hills: A Guide to Psalm 121:1-2

Imagine you're on a long, challenging journey, facing countless obstacles and uncertainties. Where do you turn for help? For many Christians, the answer lies in a powerful and timeless passage from the Bible: Psalm 121:1-2. These verses remind us to look beyond our immediate troubles and focus on the ultimate source of strength and guidance—our Creator.

Lifting Our Eyes to the Hills

When the Psalmist says, "I will lift my eyes to the hills," he's not just talking about ordinary hills. He's referring to the mountains that symbolize the divine realm, where God's power and presence are palpable. Lifting our eyes is more than just a physical gesture; it's a metaphor for shifting our focus from the earthly troubles that often overwhelm us to the heavenly aid that can rescue us.

Acknowledging God's Omnipotence

The question "From whence cometh my help?" is quickly followed by a bold declaration: "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." Here lies the core of this passage's power. It reminds us that our help comes from the Creator who made the heavens and the earth. This is no ordinary helper; this is the all-powerful God with unlimited resources and power.

Building Confidence and Humility

Understanding that our help comes from such a mighty God builds incredible confidence in His ability to assist us in any situation. It's almost humorous to think that if God can create the entire universe, He can handle our everyday problems. This realization fosters humility, reminding us that our strength and wisdom are not enough to navigate life's challenges independently. Instead, we must depend on God, trusting His guidance and provision.

A Deeper Relationship with God

We foster a deeper relationship with Him by lifting our eyes to the hills and acknowledging God's omnipotence. This truth can transform how we navigate daily life. It encourages us to seek God's help in all our lives, whether facing minor annoyances or significant crises. When we trust in God's provision and guidance, we experience His presence more profoundly, feeling His hand at every step of our journey.

Practical Application

So, how can we apply this to our daily lives? Here are a few tips:

Shift Your Focus

When you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to "lift your eyes to the hills" and reflect on God's power and presence.

Depend on God

Recognize that your strength and wisdom are limited and that genuine help comes from God.

Trust in His Guidance

Have faith that God is always watching over you, guiding you through the ups and downs of life.

In a world filled with uncertainties and challenges, Psalm 121:1-2 serves as a powerful reminder of where our true strength lies. We build confidence, humility, and a deeper relationship with Him by lifting our eyes to the hills and acknowledging God's omnipotence. This truth can transform how we face life's challenges, helping us to trust more fully in God's guidance and provision.

=======================

The Scripture Collection A compilation of 20 uplifting music videos inspired by a different Bible scripture. First Edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv1XEZzrCvE Second Edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucV8yJIEsvc

=======================

Website: https://bwpub.net/

The lyrics to today's song are based on three different genres of Psalm 121:1-2.

70's rock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZi6zj13Bkk 80's Rock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Lp2Y18YCA Techno: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-EvqSM2_6I

[christophe76460]

LA PRÉSENCE DE DIEU DANS LA VIE

D'après un partage de M Haldemann

La présence de Dieu ne se limite pas (et ne s'imite pas) à un instant d'émotion extraordinaire, bien qu'elle bouleverse notre être intérieur et nous transforme dans nos pensées, nos sentiments et nos actions à l'image de Christ.

Être chrétien c'est être dans la présence de Dieu tous les jours de notre vie en attendant la bienheureuse espérance d'être avec Lui pour toujours. (Cf. 1 Thessaloniciens 4:17)

La présence de Dieu, ça se voit !

"En ce temps-là, Abimélec, accompagné de Picol, chef de son armée, parla ainsi à Abraham: Dieu est avec toi dans tout ce que tu fais." Genèse 21:22

La présence de Dieu marque une différence dans la vie des croyants, ceux qui ne connaissent pas Dieu reconnaissent cette différence.

La présence de Dieu nous fait faire des exploits !

"Nul ne tiendra devant toi, tant que tu vivras. Je serai avec toi, comme j'ai été avec Moïse; je ne te délaisserai point, je ne t'abandonnerai point." Josué 1:5

Quand l'esprit de Dieu est présent dans nos vies, nous pouvons être plus fort et plus courageux pour faire face à l'adversité.

"L'ange de l'Eternel lui apparut, et lui dit : L'Eternel est avec toi, vaillant héros!"Juges 6:12

Cette force dont il est question, c'est la présence de Dieu ! Lorsque Dieu est avec nous, nous pouvons faire des choses extraordinaires. Selon les mots du psalmiste : "Avec Dieu, nous ferons des exploits!" Psaume 60:14

Ce qui transforme, ce qui change, ce qui fait la différence, ce n'est pas notre expérience, notre formation, notre assurance mais la présence de Dieu. Tant et si bien que Dieu a choisi les choses folles du monde, pour confondre les sages; et les choses faibles du monde, pour confondre les fortes. Nos différences dans notre position, nos capacités ou notre histoire ne font pas grand chose, ce qui fait la différence c'est la présence de Dieu.

Quand Dieu est avec toi...

"Je te rendrai pour ce peuple comme une forte muraille d'airain; Ils te feront la guerre, mais ils ne te vaincront pas; Car je serai avec toi pour te sauver et te délivrer, dit l'Eternel." Jérémie 15:20

Peu importe si tous sont contre toi, ce qui compte, c'est que Dieu est avec toi.

N'aies pas peur si tu dois passer par les eaux, traverser les fleuves ou marcher dans le feu car Lui-même sera avec toi, l'Eternel ton Dieu, ton sauveur.

Aussi, veillons sur nos cœurs en étant toujours conscient de la valeur inestimable de sa présence dans nos vies, à l'instar de David qui priait dans une démarche de repentance après s'être éloigné de Dieu : "Ne me renvoie pas loin de ta présence, ne me reprends pas ton Esprit saint." Psaumes 51:13

Car la seule chose qui compte vraiment dans ma vie, c'est la présence de Dieu. Amen

Ton amour, ta puissance, ta présence dans ma vie : https://youtu.be/yGewbVshU-c?si=1b1Q7FbHkX_PQmgX

[yhwhrulz]

Today'S Daily Encounter Tuesday, August 27, 2024

We Are Never Alone

"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me."1

The Lord Jesus used to go away alone occasionally, leaving even His disciples behind. We could interpret this as his period of recharge, when he renewed himself after the intensity of his ministry. But the purpose of the Lord Jesus was not really to be alone, but to find a space to meet his Father. For Him (and for us), that is the true offering of solitude: a silence that allows us to hear God's voice.

We live in a world saturated with noise, so finding solitude is essential. However, we should not take it for granted, not if we pursue the kind of solitude that the Lord Jesus sought. The psalmist writes, "Where shall I flee from your presence?" (Psalm 139:7-8). The answer is nowhere. And this is good. Wherever you try to escape from God, high, low, and anywhere in between, God is there. And he is not only present, but also involved: "Even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me" (Psalm 139:10).

Many people want time to focus on themselves, in other words, "me time." But, as Christians, we should look for the kind of solitude that eliminates distractions and creates a space to encounter the Lord.

Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that solitude gives us the space to hear your loving voice. In a world saturated with noise, I ask you to help me intentionally seek time and create a space to find myself alone and renew myself in your presence. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Psalms 139:7-10 (NLT).

Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by ACTS International, a non-profit organization, and made possible through the donations of interested friends. Donations can be sent at: http://www.actscom.com

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Phone: 949-940-9050 http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2005-2023 ACTS International

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Tue July 23rd, 2024 ... Tuesday of The Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Reading 1 

-------------

MI 7:14-15, 18-20

Shepherd your people with your staff,

the flock of your inheritance,

That dwells apart in a woodland,

in the midst of Carmel.

Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,

as in the days of old;

As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,

show us wonderful signs.Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt

and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;

Who does not persist in anger forever,

but delights rather in clemency,

And will again have compassion on us,

treading underfoot our guilt?

You will cast into the depths of the sea

all our sins;

You will show faithfulness to Jacob,

and grace to Abraham,

As you have sworn to our fathers

from days of old.

Responsorial Psalm

---------------

PS 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. (8a) Lord, show us your mercy and love.

You have favored, O LORD, your land;

you have brought back the captives of Jacob.

You have forgiven the guilt of your people;

you have covered all their sins.

You have withdrawn all your wrath;

you have revoked your burning anger. 

R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.

Restore us, O God our savior,

and abandon your displeasure against us.

Will you be ever angry with us,

prolonging your anger to all generations?

R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.

Will you not instead give us life;

and shall not your people rejoice in you?

Show us, O LORD, your kindness,

and grant us your salvation. 

R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.

Alleluia 

--------

JN 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Whoever loves me will keep my word,

and my Father will love him

and we will come to him.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 

----------

MT 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,

his mother and his brothers appeared outside,

wishing to speak with him.

Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,

asking to speak with you.”

But he said in reply to the one who told him,

“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,

“Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father

is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

Saint Peter once said that he had written a letter to remind us of important things. The readings for today do this. No great theological insights are required; the readings simply tell us what kind of God we have.

First, the prophet Micah:

God is our Shepherd.

He shows wonderful signs.

Removes guilt.

Pardons sin.

Does not persist in anger.

Delights in clemency.

Has compassion.

Treads underfoot our guilt.

Casts our sins into the depths of the sea.

Shows faithfulness.

Shows grace.

The psalmist:

Favored us.

Brought back the captives.

Forgiven the guilt of his people.

Covered all our sins.

Withdrawn all of his wrath.

Revoked his burning anger.

Jesus:

Accepted us into his family: “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint Bridget of Sweden

(c. 1303 – July 23, 1373)

Saint Bridget of Sweden’s Story

From age 7 on, Bridget had visions of Christ crucified. Her visions formed the basis for her activity—always with the emphasis on charity rather than spiritual favors.

She lived her married life in the court of the Swedish king Magnus II. Mother of eight children—the second eldest was Saint Catherine of Sweden—Bridget lived the strict life of a penitent after her husband’s death.

Bridget constantly strove to exert her good influence over Magnus; while never fully reforming, he did give her land and buildings to found a monastery for men and women. This group eventually expanded into an Order known as the Bridgetines.

In 1350, a year of jubilee, Bridget braved a plague-stricken Europe to make a pilgrimage to Rome. Although she never returned to Sweden, her years in Rome were far from happy, being hounded by debts and by opposition to her work against Church abuses.

A final pilgrimage to the Holy Land, marred by shipwreck and the death of her son, Charles, eventually led to her death in 1373. In 1999, Bridget, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, were named co-patronesses of Europe.

Reflection

-----------

Bridget’s visions, rather than isolating her from the affairs of the world, involved her in many contemporary issues, whether they be royal policy or the years that the legitimate Bishop of Rome lived in Avignon, France. She saw no contradiction between mystical experience and secular activity, and her life is a testimony to the possibility of a holy life in the marketplace.

Saint Bridget of Sweden is a Patron Saint of:

Europe

***

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[theprayerfulword]

July 22

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Psalm 51:1 The psalmist wrote, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 56:3 The psalmist wrote, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Isaiah 44:22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

May you continue wholeheartedly as a servant in the ways of God, for He will keep His covenant of love with you, since there is no God like the God of Israel in heaven or on earth; with His mouth He has promised it and with His hand He will fulfill it. 2 Chronicles 6

May your prayers and supplications to the Lord be heard day and night and, for His Name's sake, answered with mercy and forgiveness. 2 Chronicles 6

When neighbors take offense and bring accusation against you, may the Lord hear you from heaven, repaying the guilty and establishing the innocent. 2 Chronicles 6

When the enemy attacks and gains the upper hand, may you make supplication with repentance before the Lord Who will hear from heaven, cleanse all sin, and re-establish you in His victory and authority. 2 Chronicles 6

When the Spirit is silent and there is no blessing, may you confess His Name, and turn back to the Lord in contrition, for He will hear and forgive, teaching you the right way to live and send the rain of the Spirit once again, for you are His inheritance. 2 Chronicles 6

When trials, troubles, and tribulations arrive, whatever disaster or disease may come, may you make your prayer and plea to God, spreading your hands toward Him and confessing your afflictions and pains, for He is righteous and just, full of mercy and grace, hearing with forgiveness, dealing with each person according to all he does, for He alone knows the hearts of men, and teaching you to fear God and walk in all His ways. 2 Chronicles 6

When you are in a battle against principalities and powers, fighting wickedness in high places, waging war against the powers of the air, may your prayer to God and in His Name be heard and answered from heaven, upholding His cause. 2 Chronicles 6

When you stumble, and all of us do, may you pray to the Father in repentance with confession, turning back to God with all your heart and soul, for then He will hear from His dwelling place and uphold your cause, forgiving your trespass. 2 Chronicles 6

May you be clothed with salvation and rejoice in God's goodness as the Lord arises and comes to His resting place with the ark of His might, for He will not reject His anointed one, remembering the great love He promised to His servant. 2 Chronicles 6

May your prayers be heard by God and open the doors of heaven for fire to come down, consuming the offerings and sacrifices you have laid out before Him as His glory fills the temple, and the Lord receives the worship. 2 Chronicles 7

May God's people, who are called by His Name, humble themselves and pray, seeking His face and turning from their wicked ways, so that God will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7

Do you seek to hear My voice, My child? Does your heart yearn to dwell in My sanctuary? Does your soul hunger to know My presence? I have said that he who has clean hands, and a pure heart, who has not set his mind on what is false nor sworn deceitfully, that is the one who may ascend into the hill of the Lord and stand in My holy place, receiving a blessing and vindication from Me. Does your heart condemn you, My dear one? Is hope ebbing from your soul as you look at only the transgressions of the last week, or merely the last day? I, the One who created your heart, have more authority than your heart, and I know the intentions of your spirit as you attempt to be obedient to what I have shown you. I see your struggles, and I know your strength is not up to the task. Only One among all who have walked the earth in flesh has hands clean to qualify and a heart pure to stand before Me, though all mankind, since they are created in My image, desires to know their Creator. Do you rejoice to behold My Son? Does your spirit leap when My Spirit reveals the redemption bought by the sacrifice of the Lamb? Does your heart bow in humility to acknowledge your need and receive the free gift of reconciliation? Look upon the Captain of your salvation, so filled with love for you that it demands action of Him, even His death on the cross; so filled with sorrow at your sin that bloody sweat falls to the ground from every pore. Consider what He experienced on the cross if you would be freed of the burden of your troubles. Gaze at the wounds of His body and, through them, let the wounds of your heart and mind, and then body, be healed. Realize the depth of the humiliation and shame that He endured and, once you understand it was because of the value He places on you, then rise with the dignity of a child of God, showing respect for your Lord's evaluation of your true worth, and walk in the assurance of His love and compassion for you, facing life today without fear.

May you know that as you allow the Spirit of Christ to dwell in you and Christ to reign over you, the power of sin to control you is broken. Romans 7

May you walk in the understanding that the influence of sin which dwells in your flesh is not ruling over you any more than dwelling in a city gives you rule over it, but by yielding to the saving and redeeming power of Christ you bring each thought and argument into subjection to the authority of Christ. Romans 7

May you continue to strive in the effectual power of the Spirit of God and the strengthening truth of the Word of God to resist, and to stand against the promptings of the flesh and influences of the carnal mind. Romans 7

May your earnest desire to obey the Lord draw you closer to Him while He purifies your heart and mind, allowing you to see more clearly the true repugnance of the evil and, for the love of the Savior, more willingly turn from it. Romans 7

May you realize that though you no longer serve your old master, the law of sin, which continually wars against the law of your mind, now cleansed and renewed by the Spirit of Christ, yet still you are unable, even at your best, to free yourself from it. Therefore regularly and frequently give humble and fervent thanks to God for Christ, your Deliverer, Who is your atonement and righteousness. For then, He will lift you into His freedom and give you His victory moment by moment while you depend on Him. Romans 7

May you always rejoice and be glad that through the Spirit of God, the law of love is written on your heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by you, yet it is, by God's grace, fulfilled in you that God may receive the glory. Romans 8

May you love the Lord with all your strength, for He is your rock, your fortress and your deliverer, in Whom you take refuge, your shield and the strength of your salvation, your stronghold. When you call to God, Who is worthy of all praise, He saves you from your enemies. Psalm 18

May you call to the Lord and cry to your God for help when you are in distress, for from His temple, He will hear your voice and your cry will come before Him. Since you know that He hears you, you also know that He will give you what you ask for. Psalm 18, 1 John 5

[lennart11412]

New King James Version Par ▾ 

David’s Last Words

1Now these are the last words of David.

Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:

2“The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. 3The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. 4And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.’

5“Although my house is not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase? 6But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands. 7But the man who touches them Must be [a]armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.”

David’s Mighty Men

8These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: [b]Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among [c]the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time. 9And after him was Eleazar the son of [d]Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. 11And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. 12But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

13Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it.

These things were done by the three mighty men.

18Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of [e]another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. 19Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.

20Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, [f]who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 21And he killed an Egyptian, [g]a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. 23He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

24Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, 31Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite (of the sons of Jashen), Jonathan, 33Shammah the [h]Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35[i]Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), 38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

[montanababe7]

Wrote this last year: Her heart was young, her mind however was very old. Ancient. For many years. Nearly four decades to be exact; she had acted as a standing overseer-a mother figure to her own heart.

She might be 36 in natural years; but one look into her eyes and you will know that she has lived more and experienced much in that time. She is young, but she is also very wise beyond her years.

She has prayed for countless youth. The young people she has prayed for-the Lives that Jesus spoke through her. She saw many young people transformed in the loving presence of King Lord Jesus. She has seen Jesus work the impossible in many. She has led many teams. She has been a spiritual mother to many; and she’s also a spiritual grandmother 👵🏼, too.

Yup, the woman-I speak of, is none other than, I.

Looking back, the incredible journey Jesus has taken me on has been exhilarating, exciting, thrilling, and at other times gripping the seat and white knuckling it through the amazing adventures and harrowing rollercoaster 🎢 rides.

I’ve stated this many, many times. That it is surely by Jesus wonderful and loving, saving grace alone..that I am alive.

Jesus is the reason I’m here.

He has seen me through all my laughter and all of my tears.

Every day, Jesus has something brand new.

Most

Don’t know this,

But, I prayed for my future husband-on my knees in prayer for that whole year in 2012, daily. Jesus had me journal and pray. Long before..I even knew my husband’s face, I asked Jesus to speak to me about my husband’s heart. Jesus would speak, I’d write✍🏼 and I’d cry 😭. And, I’d pray 🤲. Jesus spoke to me about Michael Wolf 🐺 heart 💜. He told me that he loved Jesus with all his heart. He told me that he was a psalmist. I knew deep down he’d be a worshiper who loved Jesus deeply. Jesus saw the love story for Michael and I, long in advance before I even knew that Jesus had a plan. Jesus knew.

I don’t even know why I’m fully awake writing ✍🏼 this right now. All I know, is this; I can’t sleep at the moment: and even writing ✍🏼 this. I feel led to pray 🙏🏼 in the spirit.

Jesus is at work.

Much will

Soon take place

There are two sides. At w a r with one another. Eternity will soon be in sight

Much is coming.

The darkness will

Never win.

All things Jesus is bringing restoration in sight.

Light is coming.

The light has already surely won 🏆

It’s time for the people of Jesus to pray as in such a way-that they’ve never even prayed before. Much is shifting. Much is shaking.

There is so much that is very soon on the way.

You’ve seen absolutely nothing yet.

For what’s coming.

Is very mighty

The glory of

Jesus is weighty.

It’s a heavy newer realms of glory

Don’t mock

What you don’t know.

Jesus has a plan. He has always had a plan.

Much is coming.

There’s the day.

And very soon-it’ll be night.

Aslan is coming back soon on the s c e n e.

All eyes shall very soon see the King of all kings and the Lord of lords.

Jesus is not yet done with the pretty kingdom of the lands of the shining sea 🌊 to sea. The USA 🇺🇸-you surely do see.

Pray now. And pray hard.

Thanks for reading. Don’t stop 🛑 praying 🙏🏼

Jessica

Jessica Wolf

[psalmonesermons]

Can the God of the Old Testament be described as loving? Part 2

The imprecatory Psalms

How can we match up these curses from the imprecatory Psalms with the God of Love described in the New Testament?

Here are some examples of approaches where apologists have tried to reconcile these two quite different pictures of God’s character. The imprecatory psalms cannot be attributed to a single psalmist but rather the list of such including David, Asaph, and other unidentified authors.

A solution to our conundrum in explaining these difficult psalms is the assertion that they are not invoking a desire for the doom of the wicked but rather are predicting such.

However this is not supported by such psalms that are really prayers such as in Psalm 55:9 Destroy O Lord and divide their tongues. There is a good case that the psalmists were actually praying in the texts of the imprecatory psalms.

So it seems likely that the imprecatory psalms had some measure of the doom of the wicked in view and therefore were not merely predictive of their future doom.

Christian dispensationalists who split history into seven distinct periods want to put the Psalms into the dispensation of the law not to the later dispensation of grace. This allows the Old Testament believers to call down divine judgement on their enemies as in the imprecatory psalms. However this would be unacceptable behaviour by New Testament believers living in the dispensation of grace. The main problem with this point of view is that seems to give scripture contradicting scripture. It is also of note that a number of the imprecatory psalms are referred to in the New Testament (e.g. in Acts 1:20 reference is made to Psalm 69:26 in reference to Judas Iscariot).

C. S. Lewis rightly asserted: ‘The ferocious parts of the Psalms serve as a reminder that there is in the world such a thing as wickedness and that . . . is hateful to God [1]. However the suggestion by Lewis that the imprecatory psalms are due to ‘human qualities’ because scripture merely carries the Word of God [2] appears to contradict the New Testament teaching on the doctrine of inspiration [3] and thus cannot give a full explanation of the imprecations.

It should also be noted that the psalmist King David is portrayed as a significantly merciful man who prayed for his enemies and spared Saul’s life when it was in his power to harm him. So it seems likely that David’s imprecatory psalms did not come from a vengeful and violent man.

Frederika Pronk [4] has proposed that most people make two basic wrong assumptions when trying to reconcile the imprecatory psalms with the God of the New Testament. The first assumption is that ‘the welfare of man is the chief end of man’ and the second assumption is that ‘God is only merciful and not also righteous and just to punish the guilty.’

The first assumption is a humanistic view and contrary to the sovereignty of God. As the Shorter Westminster catechism taught…’The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’

The second assumption fails to consider the integrity of God’s character.

Footnotes

[1] Reflections on the Psalms (1958) p. 33 by C S Lewis.

[2] Reflections on the Psalms (1958) pp.87 and 112 by C S Lewis.

[3] See 2 Timothy 3:16.

[4} The Outlook (1981) The imprecatory Psalms: Christian Library by Frederika Pronk.

In Part 3 we find a better answer to our conundrum in considering the character of God.