Thursday, November 30, 2006

1 Cor 11 Today !!! from CA :-)

If your e-mail is unreadable, please scroll to end and click on "Lena's Journalin" to be transferred to the webpage - ok?
<3 face="lucida grande" color="#ff6666">P.S. I haven't slept since 3:30 am your time yesterday (the 29th) and I'm WIDE awake! Whew. What a night of delayed travel and LOST bags, BUT I'm so happy and glad we are here !
It's cold!

1 Cor 11
1 And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's. 2 I am so glad, dear friends, that you always keep me in your thoughts and you are following the Christian teaching I passed on to you.
3 But there is one thing I want you to know: A man is responsible to Christ, a woman is responsible to her husband, and Christ is responsible to God.
4 A man dishonors Christ F54 if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 5 But a woman dishonors her husband F55 if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. 6 Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair. And since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, then she should wear a covering. F56 7 A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is God's glory, made in God's own image, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For the first man didn't come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9 And man was not made for woman's benefit, but woman was made for man. 10 So a woman should wear a covering on her head as a sign of authority because the angels are watching. 11 But in relationships among the Lord's people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. 12 For although the first woman came from man, all men have been born from women ever since, and everything comes from God.
13 What do you think about this? Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? 14 Isn't it obvious that it's disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 15 And isn't it obvious that long hair is a woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.
16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, all I can say is that we have no other custom than this, and all the churches of God feel the same way about it.
17 But now when I mention this next issue, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together.
18 First of all, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that those of you who are right will be recognized! 20 It's not the Lord's Supper you are concerned about when you come together.
21 For I am told that some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What? Is this really true? Don't you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace the church of God and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say about these things? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly do not!
23 For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it.
On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
"This is my body, which is given F57 for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it."
26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again. 27 So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.
28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, F58 you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 31 But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. 32 But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world. 33 So, dear brothers and sisters, F59 when you gather for the Lord's Supper, wait for each other. 34 If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won't bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together.I'll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.
FOOTNOTES:F54: Greek his head. F55: Greek her head. F56: Or then she should have long hair. F57: Some manuscripts read broken. F58: Greek the body; some manuscripts read the Lord's body. F59: Greek brothers.
The New Living Translation

Lena's Journalin'
Follow someone in the faith. Let the rebellious independant spirit and natural tendancy go. Govern yourself and make your soul, submit to an authority. Cause it to come under the discipleship of somone human. Make it yeild itself to the will of God, in following wholeheartedly after imperfect people.
Yes, I did say that. There is a tremendous amount of trust that must be exercised in this, not trust in the humans, but in trusting the humans, you are truely trusting God for the impossible things that you somehow cannot figure out how they will ever work out for His glory, but in trust and action of faith they will!
Some things are not working, because we've never submitted to anyone but our own selves, our own stubborn wills at that.
How accountable are you?
Did you know how accountable you are is in direct measurement with how much authority you can even take over the works of darkness and evil?
Accountabliity covers your head in the day of spiritual warfare and battle.
No accountability, no head covering, and it's no one's fault but your own.
Do you find you are under attack continuously? This is why. YOU must give account to someone regularly. Someone human and imperfect. You are the only one who can. Sumbission is an offering, it is given, can't be required or taken. If it is, then it is dictatorial control and not the sacrifice and offering of submission.
Yet one can submit themselves for the sake of authority and a covered head, to a dictatorial person! Wow, huh?
These are areas we skip over, but need to examine. It is clear here, there is an order of firsts. Before communing with the Lord, we commune sucessfully with others. In communing with others (communication) we commune with the request of the Lord. Our eating and drinking is blessed. If we stand stubbornly divided we are not giving glory to a unified God. We may as well spit in His face. Willing submission is a highly priced sacrifice, and is a precious offering to the Lord. It is the proving of love. It is saying that you trust Him no matter what, both naturally and spiritually speaking!
Submit, give account, communicate, unify, examine and eat and drink worthily.
Worthily is not according to our opinions of the whole deal, it gaged on obeying His commands and fulfilling the requirements He deeds righteous.

"Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is good"

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Ezra 3 & Daily Bread Reading List for next 5 days- see below the reading

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.


See Below for DB Reading List of next 5 days….

Ezra 3

1 In the seventh month, after the Israelites were settled in their home- towns, they met together in Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests joined Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and began to build the altar of the God of Israel where they could offer burnt offerings, just as it is written in the Teachings of Moses, the man of God. 3 Even though they were afraid of the people living around them, they built the altar where it had been before. And they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord morning and evening. 4 Then, to obey what was written, they celebrated the Feast of Shelters. They offered the right number of sacrifices for each day of the festival. 5 After the Feast of Shelters, they had regular sacrifices every day, as well as sacrifices for the New Moon and all the festivals commanded by the Lord. Also there were special offerings brought as gifts to the Lord. 6 On the first day of the seventh month they began to bring burnt offerings to the Lord, but the foundation of the Lord's Temple had not yet been laid. 7 Then they gave money to the bricklayers and carpenters. They also gave food, wine, and oil to the cities of Sidon and Tyre so they would float cedar logs from Lebanon to the seacoast town of Joppa. Cyrus king of Persia had given permission for this.
8 In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the Temple of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, their fellow priests and Levites, and all who had returned from captivity to Jerusalem began to work. They chose Levites twenty years old and older to be in charge of the building of the Temple of the Lord. 9 These men were in charge of the work of building the Temple of God: Jeshua and his sons and brothers; Kadmiel and his sons who were the descendants of Hodaviah; and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers. They were all Levites. 10 The builders finished laying the foundation of the Temple of the Lord. Then the priests, dressed in their robes, stood with their trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, stood with their cymbals. They all took their places and praised the Lord just as David king of Israel had said to do. 11 With praise and thanksgiving, they sang to the Lord: "He is good; his love for Israel continues forever." And then all the people shouted loudly, "Praise the Lord! The foundation of his Temple has been laid." 12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family leaders who had seen the first Temple cried when they saw the foundation of this Temple. Most of the other people were shouting with joy. 13 The people made so much noise it could be heard far away, and no one could tell the difference between the joyful shouting and the sad crying.
New Century Version

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
When the fix was had, when things were well at home - spiritually speaking (not perfect, but well into in the seeking, finding, being made whole state) THEN they who sought after Him met together, took who they were and who they we seeking after so diligently and joined their priorities together for God’s corporate Kingdom to come on earth.
They were of the mind, heart, and attitude to work on that. Self centeredness was dealt with and God centeredness was made to be the main focus. Outward things did not dictate their dedication to the work of the Lord. Yes, it was hard work. Yes it was not easy, nothing really worth having is. Even pure gold must be fired hot and tried to be made pure.
They were of the corporate mind to go after God’s work and set it back up, wherever it was broken down, to repair that, not just be involved only in self repair, but after the repair God’s dream and plan.
They offered the proper amount of sacrifices each day, not just once or twice a week…..Prayer, Daily Bread reading and studying, loving God and people work, and outreach; all on a day to day basis. They changed their whole lives for this. No, maybe they didn’t go to movies as much, or go be entertained or shop till they dropped as much if any; and maybe they didn’t go out on the boat as much as they used toor do as many personally fulfilling things. They are personally fulfilled, but that is secondary, for they are responding to a new set of priorities. There was a need to spend that time on preparation for the work of His heart. Maybe they were more interested in Kingdom work now, His building project, which more involves seeking to be a great example to people than of working for and seeking for more things. Sacrifices, yes, but gladly given with great longing to be more and more as He is.
The giving part, this is another expression of love. Its deep meaning- giving of life and time, for it takes a life’s time to obtain something to give away. Its symbolism is, I give the thing that is needed, but inside of my gift is a part of me. I give me. A part of me away for the work He deems He wants done. It is another form of response and of sacrifice.
Someone has to be in charge. Do you ever like to submit to whoever God has put “in charge” over you? Will you lay down your own opinions for the sacrifice of unity, following another man’s way of doing it? Or do you get stuck in the mud becoming immoveable merely based on a difference of opinion of the manner in which something should be accomplished? Have you allowed the work of God to cease for this type of hindrance?
Is our love becoming like God’s love on purpose? Is our love (for one person and for all persons) eternal and long-lived, does it endure, yield, continue without condition, give, and work hard for others? This is how the love of God behaves. We can change, we can learn the love of God, become the love of God, for Love is a decision, not a feeling. Feelings change and are temporary. The Love of God endures forever.


Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Daily Bread reading while Lena’s away -
Thursday 11-30-06 1 Cor 11
Friday 12-1-06 Judges 6
Saturday 12-2-06 Judges 7
Sunday 12-3-06 Proverbs 11
Monday 12-4-06 Romans 12
Tuesday 12-5-06 John 8

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

1 Chron 16 Make a Covenant Exchange

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.


1 Chron 16

1 So they brought the Ark of God into the special tent David had prepared for it, and they sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 When he had finished, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3 Then he gave a gift of food to every man and woman in Israel: a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, F109 and a cake of raisins. 4 David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the LORD by asking for his blessings and giving thanks and praise to the LORD, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. His assistants were Zechariah (the second), then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres. 6 The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, played the trumpets regularly before the Ark of God's covenant.
7 That day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the LORD: 8 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. 9 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his miracles. 10 Exult in his holy name; O worshipers of the LORD, rejoice! 11 Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching. 12 Think of the wonderful works he has done, the miracles, and the judgments he handed down, 13 O children of Israel, God's servant, O descendants of Jacob, God's chosen one. 14 He is the LORD our God. His rule is seen throughout the land. 15 He always stands by his covenant F110 – the commitment he made to a thousand generations. 16 This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac. 17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to the people of Israel as a never-ending treaty: 18 "I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession." 19 He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan. 20 They wandered back and forth between nations, from one kingdom to another. 21 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf: 22 "Do not touch these people I have chosen, and do not hurt my prophets." 23 Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. 24 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. 25 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be revered above all gods. 26 The gods of other nations are merely idols, but the LORD made the heavens! 27 Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty are in his dwelling. 28 O nations of the world, recognize the LORD, recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong. 29 Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship him. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. 30 Let all the earth tremble before him. The world is firmly established and cannot be shaken. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations that the LORD is king. 32 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst forth with joy! 33 Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the LORD! For he is coming to judge the earth. 34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 35 Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you." 36 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted "Amen!" and praised the LORD.
37 David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to minister regularly before the Ark of the LORD's covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day. 38 This group included Obed-edom (son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eight other Levites as gatekeepers. 39 Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the LORD on the hill of Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the LORD. 40 They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the LORD each morning and evening on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying everything written in the law of the LORD, which he had given to Israel. 41 David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the LORD, "for his faithful love endures forever." 42 They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany the songs of praise to God. And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers. 43 Then all the people returned to their homes, and David returned home to bless his family.
FOOTNOTES:F109: Or a portion of meat. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. F110: As in some Greek manuscripts (see also Ps 105:8); Hebrew reads Remember his covenant forever.
The New Living Translation

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
When he had finished David blessed the people…How many times do we bless the Lord first before we ask Him to bless people? Ya know, when we have prayer meetings, aren’t they centered on our own requests for other people, or our own needs? We may need to rethink our approach to God, or our prayers are really immature and aren’t going much of anywhere.
There is a Divine order and a Divine approach. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. To barge into His presence and tell Him what He can do for us or our friends, without hardly saying hello is pretty much rude. In an emergency, when one has already established a good loving, trusting and obedient relationship, one would act that way on occasion, but not regularly.
Enter His gates with a thankful heart, His courts with Praise, be thankful unto Him and bless His holy name. Nowhere in there does it say, ”and ask what you want or need”. In fact Jesus said, while you stand praying God already knows what you have need of, before you ever ask. Seek His kingdom first. Say something like. “Lord, what do You need for me to do with and for You today?”
We received the Lord in our time of need, realizing our great need for Him and His ability to meet all of our needs. That is how a relationship with God usually starts, but that is not how it is to progress.
We are growing up in Him and we are finding we were placed here on earth by God to serve a purpose. To serve Him, rather than expecting Him to serve us. He served us by sending His Son, now we respond to it by the giving of our own lives in service unto Him. That’s growth. If we’re still seeking to have our needs met all of the time we come to Him in prayer and we have not thought to ask Him what He wants or needs, then we have not yet begun to serve Him. It is time we do. He’s been waiting for our growth time, for He has a few things He needs to do, using us!
God gave us His most precious gift, because we are His precious treasure. He gave us that gift of life to lead us into Himself, into His heart, so we’d know why we are here and fulfill our purpose in him. He gave, we receive, we respond!
It takes an army of people united together to accomplish God’s will in the earth. We must find ourselves a part of the Body of Christ, functioning in unity, after the same purposes. This is a response we give God Our Father. Rebellion has no place here. None at all.
We, as humans, can really only hold onto so much, whether duty, or activity, or thought. Our capacity is only so big. So, if we are thinking on certain problems, we may be using our capacity for the meditation on the problems, that’s called worry. BUT if we begin to bless the Lord, and bless Him again and again, we are moving the meditation of the problems out and inviting the praise in, We find we are now full of praise for there is no room for the meditation on the problems when we have the answer filled full in us in praise.
It’s just like filling a jar w/ water = which may be the capacity to think on the problems. Now fill the same jar that is full of water with sand which =’s praise, just pour the sand in till it is full of sand (praise). One thing had to move out to make room for the next thing.
We obediently do what we did not feel like doing, but then we felt it happening to us, the problems leave and we’re full of God! Oh magnify the Lord! In other words, choose to dwell on God, not other things, make room for His thoughts and to serve Him more than you spend time on the problems. Make a choice on who gets to stay in your “house”. Does complaint or praise, worry or peace? Make a covenant exchange.
What do you speak about with friends, co workers, family? Negatives or positives? That is also an area where we can choose blessings or cursings. We can curse without using fowl language. Do the people around us hear us praise with our everyday words? Do we build those around us up, or tear them down? Building them up is praise unto God. What are we talking about? The goodness of God or the tragedy of sin and its effects on earth? What is being exalted by us daily in our everyday conversations?
Have you ever asked God for something to happen that would bring Him more glory?
Do you bless or curse your family members when you speak of them? We do this by our own life and by our words. When people look at you and say, she’s so and so’s wife, or so and so’s daughter, what do they think of the person you are related to or represent? Does your life bring honor to those you are related to? I did not say, do they deserve to be blessed, I said do you bless them, anyway?
Think a new thought of blessing today.
Bless the Lord Oh My soul.

Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Monday, November 27, 2006

Psalm 136 Oh Magnify the AllMighty Lord with me!

I'll be away this week : 30th - 5th, and I may not be able to post - you'll see me there if I do. I'll leave a reading list before I go. I'll have to work on getting a laptop sometime which will rememdy these times, but until that season of time, I'll see you online, when I return for sure! Much Love, Lena Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.


Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever. 4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. 5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever. 6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth on the water. His faithful love endures forever. 7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights – His faithful love endures forever. 8 the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever. 9 and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.

10 Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever. 11 He brought Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever. 12 He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever. 13 Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.
F102 His faithful love endures forever. 14 He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever. 15 but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the sea. His faithful love endures forever. 16 Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever. 17 Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings. His faithful love endures forever. 18 He killed powerful kings – His faithful love endures forever. 19 Sihon king of the Amorites, His faithful love endures forever. 20 and Og king of Bashan. His faithful love endures forever. 21 God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance – His faithful love endures forever. 22 a special possession to his servant Israel. His faithful love endures forever.
23 He remembered our utter weakness. His faithful love endures forever. 24 He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever. 25 He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
FOOTNOTES:
F102: Hebrew sea of reeds; also in 136:15.
The New Living Translation

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
The Psalmist understands praise, and the acknowledgement of another other than himself. He understands that to magnify the Lord is to minimize what the enemy tries to magnify. Things like grief and sorrow. He is a participant in declaring the greatness of God Most High.
Ya know, ever since sin’s origin, there’s been a magnification problem. Who will be magnified, who will be exalted? The Lord, or the lord? Who in fact is Lord, supreme to me? Is it I, or elements, or a lie, or do I make it God Most High? Who decides? This Psalmist knows.
Of every other voice that speaks, he chose to hear the voice of beauty, of creation and his Creator calling.
Praise is a choice, a choice to see beyond, a choice to ignore what may be temporarily now being offered me.
Thanksgiving is an attitude of gratitude that increases the value of everything! Think about that.
What has God done for you? Do you know it? Do you realize it?
Let’s start, or go back to beginnings. He made you, formed your very being, gave you breath and life, set you in a pleasant place, and gave you care, a family, health, etc.
Yes things come up to kill, steal or destroy any or all of that. That is their point, to take you out of the Love of God’s spirit. Can you magnify the Lord anyway, exalting His name forever? Can you? You can, it is just you must choose to or not to.
Let me give a suggestion - Praise, Give Thanks anyway. Think about His great love and power MORE than you think of other things. Do it on purpose. Don’t allow your mind to wander into exalting problems and magnifying the enemies of your souls and God’s very Spirit in you! You can discipline yourself, you can do it! Choose life today!


Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Psalm 118 Two lives & Two deaths

During this week, I'll be away for a week (Nov 30- Dec 5). I may not be able to post (I haven't gotten a lap top yet). I'll post the reading plan on the 29th - just in case I can't. If I am able, I'll be posting from CA, where I'll be with my mom helping my Grandma & Aunt....
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
2 Let the congregation of Israel repeat: "His faithful love endures forever."
3 Let Aaron's descendants, the priests, repeat: "His faithful love endures forever."
4 Let all who fear the LORD repeat: "His faithful love endures forever."
5 In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and rescued me. 6 The LORD is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 Yes, the LORD is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me. 8 It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people. 9 It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 10 Though hostile nations surrounded me, I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD. 11 Yes, they surrounded and attacked me, but I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD. 12 They swarmed around me like bees; they blazed against me like a roaring flame. But I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD. 13 You did your best to kill me, O my enemy, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. 15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! 16 The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!
17 I will not die, but I will live to tell what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he has not handed me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the LORD. 20 Those gates lead to the presence of the LORD, and the godly enter there. 21 I thank you for answering my prayer and saving me! 22 The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD's doing, and it is marvelous to see.
24 This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success. 26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. 27 The LORD is God, shining upon us. bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
The New Living Translation

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Today I feel prompted to speak of death and life.
Do you know there are 2 deaths and 2 births?
One is natural, and one is spiritual.
Man was born of a woman, that was a natural birth.
Man’s physical body dies, that is a natural death.
So where is the spiritual birth and spiritual death?
Man is a spirit, has a soul, lives in a body. His body is for his earth assignment. For him to have a time to decide to come alive unto God, eternally.
Sin separated the natural man’s spirit from God and that is called spiritual death. Natural man is dying spiritually. If that man is not born of the living spirit of Christ in God, and that man dies naturally, already spiritually dead, he also dies spiritually, eternally.
Each man now has opportunity to be made spiritually alive, meaning reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. If natural man receives the power of this sacrifice, he is born again; a second birth occurs. He is now made spiritually alive unto God. When this man dies naturally, he is alive spiritually unto God and does not die eternally. He lives eternally with God, reconciled to God forever.
When we read the Bible we need to think natural and spiritual.
A person could be hurt physically, be injured and physically die, but live. This spiritual life is the life that really “counts”, meaning - it goes on forever. The natural life we live here is the time we have to secure that eternal time later on with God and Christ. So that if we die naturally, we do not DIE spiritually speaking! It is also time for us to be reconcilers of others. We only have so much time here to do that. Our natural lives here are a time for us to get born again and then spend our lifetimes spreading this spiritually alive living and naturally perishing man message to those who are already spiritually dead and to reconcile men with their Father God. The God who created them and who loves them and sent His Son to bring them life.
Now, think about it. Would it be better to die naturally or spiritually?
One is temporary, one eternal. One lasts but a time, the other never ends.
So, how could Jesus endure such physical sufferings in our place? He had eternal vision. He was eternally alive and understood what it would mean for each of us to die eternally. He was desperate to make that happen for us, as much as He could do on His part. His heart of love had to make this happen for mankind, who are the objects of His Father’s love. His great love for His Father drove and compelled Him to bring life, even if it meant His own death!
When we get that, we will also become desperate. We’ll be desperate to live and love, to love and watch others live - eternally. Whatever it takes, even if it takes the laying down of a life- and it always does.
“Bind with cords the sacrifice to the altar”. I believe that means, “Lord, the sacrifices I am about to make, help me to not wiggle out from giving them all over to You, for the sake of others, that they’d choose to become alive to You”, spiritually speaking.
Even if I endure hardship to the end of losing my own natural life, or if I suffer, or if I take pains for someone else, or if I don’t ever get my own way on things, help me endure to the end, that they’d see their end, and turn to You and change.
Natural death is natural, temporary, and fleeting. Spiritual death is definite, eternal, lasts forever.
What can man do to me? Kill me, naturally? So what, if I’m born again. If I’m not, how sad that day is, because the opportunity for change is over, so rather than mourn, awaken, and turn your eyes towards those still alive and save some. “Oh God, help me to save some, before their time is out”.


Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Psalm 107 Praise Anyway!

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.


Psalm 107
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
2 Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.


3 For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south. 4 Some wandered in the desert, lost and homeless. 5 Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. 6 "LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. 7 He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. 8 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them. 9 For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
10 Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, miserable prisoners in chains. 11 They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High. 12 That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one helped them rise again. 13 "LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14 He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains. 15 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them. 16 For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron.
17 Some were fools in their rebellion; they suffered for their sins. 18 Their appetites were gone, and death was near. 19 "LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He spoke, and they were healed – snatched from the door of death. 21 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them. 22 Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.
23 Some went off in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. 24 They, too, observed the LORD's power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. 25 He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. 26 Their ships were tossed to the heavens and sank again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits' end. 28 "LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 29 He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. 30 What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! 31 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them. 32 Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.
33 He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry land. 34 He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands, because of the wickedness of those who live there. 35 But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into flowing springs. 36 He brings the hungry to settle there and build their cities. 37 They sow their fields, plant their vineyards, and harvest their bumper crops. 38 How he blesses them! They raise large families there, and their herds of cattle increase. 39 When they decrease in number and become impoverished through oppression, trouble, and sorrow, 40 the LORD pours contempt on their princes, causing them to wander in trackless wastelands. 41 But he rescues the poor from their distress and increases their families like vast flocks of sheep. 42 The godly will see these things and be glad, while the wicked are stricken silent. 43 Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD.
The New Living Translation

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
This is one of the ways to complete victory. Praise.
Remember the NT story Jesus told of the 10 Lepers? 1 of the 9 returned to give account of their healing, to tell the priest and to give thanks. The one who did was made whole, while the others were healed. Do you know the difference? You can be healed and not made whole. Healing stops the disease from continuing, wholeness repairs and restores what the disease took away from your life. BIG difference. It is the same with victory. You can have the enemy stop taunting you for a bit, but to recover what he stole, takes wholeness. That comes with a thankful heart, who is willing to give praise by telling others. Praise spreads the gospel.
Ya know how Jesus exhorted us to remember Him? He took that from His Father, who would say over and over again to the people’s of the OT, “Remember what the Lord has done for you!” It is hard to remember. We have to make it a point to bring good things up again.
I personally think imprisonment is God’s grace to stop people in their tracks and give them time to think before something really bad happens, especially if wrong choices are involved. God is so gracious to teach us and give us chances. It is so sad when we are stubborn and won’t listen or we get embittered about being in a place our choices led us to be in, and refuse to see the root system of where it has all grown from. All of that is called immaturity. Funny thing about maturity. A young person can be mature and an older person can be immature. The growth of maturity depends on is the person’s willingness to hear others experiences, listen to their wisdom gained and take the person’s advice on life’s lessons.
Ever heard someone say to you, “Oh, I wouldn’t do that”? Then you go ahead and do it anyway? That is a lack of faith, trust and maturity. There is also rebellion involved. The resistant person wants to have their own experiences in life, and they will. They will pay for their rebellion and in ways they don’t count on, then later on they’ll wonder why they are paying such high prices in life for things. They chose to.
Obedience and wisdom are blessed by God. The enemy takes a hold of disobedience as fuel for his fires.
God is so faithful. When faith comes, wisdom comes, repentance comes, He answers. He does not delay.
He is not willing that any perish - die an eternal death due to their choices in sin, but that all should be able to obtain eternal life through Jesus Christ their Lord.
Sacrifices sometimes will lead us to a place of faith. Sacrifice must be made. Blood must be shed, lives have to be laid down for the gospel sake. Our gospel is based on the giving of a continual life. That’s covenant.
The Lord is Almighty, and those who lay their lives down, will see His glorious acts on their own behalf.
The sacrifice of praise is praise offered in faith, not because of what we see, but because of who we know. It is seeing beyond by faith. God is a faith inspired God. Offer anything in faith in Him and see His great and mighty acts manifest.


Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Friday, November 24, 2006

Psalm 106 Tools for Worship

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.

Psalm 106
1 Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 2 Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him half enough? 3 Happy are those who deal justly with others and always do what is right. 4 Remember me, too, LORD, when you show favor to your people; come to me with your salvation. 5 Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones. Let me rejoice in the joy of your people; let me praise you with those who are your heritage.

6 Both we and our ancestors have sinned. We have done wrong! We have acted wickedly! 7 Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the LORD's miracles. They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea. F85 8 Even so, he saved them – to defend the honor of his name and to demonstrate his mighty power. 9 He commanded the Red Sea F86 to divide, and a dry path appeared. He led Israel across the sea bottom that was as dry as a desert. 10 So he rescued them from their enemies and redeemed them from their foes. 11 Then the water returned and covered their enemies; not one of them survived. 12 Then at last his people believed his promises. Then they finally sang his praise.
13 Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn't wait for his counsel! 14 In the wilderness, their desires ran wild, testing God's patience in that dry land. 15 So he gave them what they asked for, but he sent a plague along with it. 16 The people in the camp were jealous of Moses and envious of Aaron, the LORD's holy priest. 17 Because of this, the earth opened up; it swallowed Dathan and buried Abiram and the other rebels. 18 Fire fell upon their followers; a flame consumed the wicked. 19 The people made a calf at Mount Sinai F87 ; they bowed before an image made of gold. 20 They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating ox! 21 They forgot God, their savior, who had done such great things in Egypt – 22 such wonderful things in that land, such awesome deeds at the Red Sea. 23 So he declared he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stepped between the LORD and the people. He begged him to turn from his anger and not destroy them. 24 The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn't believe his promise to care for them. 25 Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the LORD. 26 Therefore, he swore that he would kill them in the wilderness, 27 that he would scatter their descendants among the nations, exiling them to distant lands. 28 Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead! 29 They angered the LORD with all these things, so a plague broke out among them. 30 But Phinehas had the courage to step in, and the plague was stopped. 31 So he has been regarded as a righteous man ever since that time. 32 At Meribah, too, they angered the LORD, causing Moses serious trouble. 33 They made Moses angry, F88 and he spoke foolishly.
34 Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land, as the LORD had told them to. 35 Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. 36 They worshiped their idols, and this led to their downfall. 37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons. 38 They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters. By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan, they polluted the land with murder. 39 They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the LORD's sight. 40 That is why the LORD's anger burned against his people, and he abhorred his own special possession. 41 He handed them over to pagan nations, and those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies crushed them and brought them under their cruel power. 43 Again and again he delivered them, but they continued to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin. 44 Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. 45 He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love. 46 He even caused their captors to treat them with kindness. 47 O LORD our God, save us! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you. 48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD!
FOOTNOTES:F85: Hebrew at the sea, the sea of reeds. F86: Hebrew sea of reeds; also in 106:22. F87: Hebrew at Horeb, another name for Sinai. F88: Hebrew They embittered his spirit.
The New Living Translation

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and come into His courts with Praise.
This is the basic approach in life, with God and it also works very well with people who are made in God’s image and likeness. It lays a good foundation for love and trust. It paves a roadway to travel on. It is a way of establishing value in relationships.
Second tool of success, to Thanks and praise, is repentance. It goes a Longgggg wayyyyy. Rather than throwing blame around, acknowledgement of shortcomings, possible misunderstandings, or miscommunication characterize a heart of humility. I may not have meant it, but if it offended you, it is worth it to God to be humble and responsible, extending our self life for others to make their value increase.
The acts of complaining, murmuring or criticizing are offensive to God. They contradict a humble heart of thanksgiving. When one is thankful, by faith, in what they possibly do not yet see, they are showing a level of trust in a God they do not see, for they are following after His character suggestions to please Him.
There’s always room for repentance and change for the betterment of others. That’s called growth. God loves to see His children grow!
Not believing God can anger Him, especially when He proves His love so outwardly over and over again. He is God and does not have any responsibility to serve us, acknowledge us, or bless us. Yet He does. He loves us. Being God, He expects a return, a response. The wrath of God is not becoming to those who do respond to His love.
1st command- Thou shalt love, the ONE who so loves you. Respond. Respond by loving back. Respond by acknowledgement of Him being the ONE, the ONE and only. Show that for you there is no other god, no other love, no other source, no other fellowship, that satisfies. When others take His place in our lives, it shows we do not believe Him enough to respond to Him. God desires and requires a response.
Yes and Amen, Lord.


Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Psalm 105 Happy Thanksgiving!

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.


Psalm 105
1 Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. 2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. 3 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. 4 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. 5 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, 6 you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7 He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. 8 He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations. 9 This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac. 10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant: 11 “I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.”
12 He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan. 13 They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. 14 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf: 15 “Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.”
16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply. 17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. 19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,[a] the Lord tested Joseph’s character. 20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. 21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions. 22 He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers.
23 Then Israel arrived in Egypt; Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham. 24 And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. 25 Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord’s servants.
26 But the Lord sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27 They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians, and wonders in the land of Ham. 28 The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go. 29 He turned their water into blood, poisoning all the fish. 30 Then frogs overran the land and even invaded the king’s bedrooms. 31 When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians, and gnats swarmed across Egypt. 32 He sent them hail instead of rain, and lightning flashed over the land. 33 He ruined their grapevines and fig trees and shattered all the trees. 34 He spoke, and hordes of locusts came— young locusts beyond number. 35 They ate up everything green in the land, destroying all the crops in their fields. 36 Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home, the pride and joy of each family.
37 The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled. 38 Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly. 39 The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness. 40 They asked for meat, and he sent them quail; he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven. 41 He split open a rock, and water gushed out to form a river through the dry wasteland. 42 For he remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham. 43 So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing. 44 He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted. 45 All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions.
Praise the Lord!
Footnotes:
a.
Psalm 105:19 Hebrew his word.

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Do you know the children of Jacob and of Abraham are different representative of races? Remember there are two races? As we read the word we need to catch these subtle hints within its descriptions.
He’s chosen both those who choose Him and those who have not yet responded to their invitation to choose Him. He created us, formed us, made plans for us, and chose us to be vital part of His Divine plan in the earth.
Is He the Lord? Ultimately yes, personally, it will be tested as so. Remember “Lord” means He rules, has the say so, is Master, and commander. If He can’t tell you what to do, He’s not Lord of your life, yet.
Do you know that He will not back off of His promises? True, yet His promises do have conditions. In order for me to see their fulfillment, there must be found in me a willingness to fulfill the stipulations He’s laid out for me to obtain those promises. It’s like a road map of sorts. If I follow it, I’ll find what I’m after, if I don’t, the promise is still waiting for me whenever I decide to go after it. If I don’t go after it, it was still given, just not obtained by me.
The enemy likes to wear us down where the promises of God are concerned. He knows we live in a fast food generation. We give up if we don’t see what we want immediately. God is not “fast food” oriented, He’s eternally minded.
We are eternal beings also, we just need to remember it, step outside of the vision of the temporary and see beyond into the eternal realm, where the true promises of God lay. Those things which are truly worth obtaining are eternal in nature. They can’t rust, burn up, or corrode, they are worth going after and holding onto no matter what. Those who see this way do not get wearied in pursuit, for they know what God wants us to have is worth waiting forever for, even if we don’t see it, or touch it now.
This is why it says He keeps His promises to a thousand generations. Abraham saw us before we ever were. He offered His son willingly because of what he saw. His promise was never really seen by his own eyes, but He did not give up on it, it was more for us than for him personally, who He saw a far off. Ever heard, “It’s not about me”? Abraham saw Jesus, the One we’d all need. He wouldn’t give the pursuit of that up for anything, prolonging our promise through disobedience on His portion or part would prolong its coming to us sooner. Once you see, obedience is your proper response.
Jacob represents the unsaved, in our sin nature. He confirmed an oath with even the unsaved, who are Destined by the heart of God to be saved! What awesome love!
God showed Abraham numbers, large numbers, yet Abraham acted out his obedience when the numbers were small.
“I will give you Canaan as your special possession”. Canaan means “lowland, place of merchandising, trafficking, humble place”. To hear one must listen, to see into the spirit realm. What is He saying to us? “Canaan as your possession”, would say “The earth, the earth for a possession”. God set man over earth to rule it. Satan took the rule of it out of man’s hands in the Garden of Eden and so God stepped in and gave man a promise to take it back, and to be able to rule over all that was stolen. The hard part is getting man to want that as badly as God does.
The Lord will always test a person’s character. What is truly important to us is what we’ll live and die for. If it’s not important, it will show up in the testing time. He that finds important what God deems as such, will rule in God’s natural and eternal kingdom. If the world comes against you, how do you feel? This is a big part of the test of loyalty.
Plagues can be likened to problems that come our way. We encounter these same types of things everyday. They are also opportunities to choose righteously. It’s an “O.J.T.” of sorts. Do you know the Egyptians did not have to lose their firstborn sons? If their leader had taken the opportunities presented him before that day, a day such as that would not have come. The more we refuse to heed God’s offers to turn problems into opportunities for obedience, the harder it gets, for our hearts get harder. The plagues were actually grace to say, “this could be so much worse, choose now, so it won’t be”.
They were alarm systems, just as our problems are. They are like being burned by a hot oven, you feel pain, and you pull back and don’t repeat the same action again. You learn and go on to a different place safely. You did feel pain, you did get hurt, but the pain caused you to make a better decision and change so you’d be saved from the imminent danger.
Moses & Aaron and any and every preacher in your life, are alarms, trumpets, hot ovens, to save you from what could be ahead. If the enemy can get you to not hear their messages or if he can cause you to disregard their words, he’ll steal, kill and destroy form you. If he can make them stumble and you be offended, he has a stronghold.
The blessings of God are also grace, to give us a way to gird up our strength and go forward in obedient action towards God’s desired goal. Blessing is found in obedience, and also leads to further obedience.
Just because one obeys God does not mean another test of faith won’t be hanging around. Just as God needs us to prove our love for Him and to ourselves, so the enemy of God wants to take our faith away once proven. We are engaged in warfare in the spirit. The goal is faith, on one side to build it, on the other to steal it.
Let’s awaken and become aware of our Lord’s proving and of the enemy’s tactics to steal, kill and destroy our faith.
Happy Thanksgiving


Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Psalm 92 Give Thanks Anyway

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.

Psalm 92
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. 2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, 3 accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.
4 You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. 5 O Lord, what great works you do! And how deep are your thoughts. 6 Only a simpleton would not know, and only a fool would not understand this: 7 Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.
8 But you, O Lord, will be exalted forever. 9 Your enemies, Lord, will surely perish; all evildoers will be scattered. 10 But you have made me as strong as a wild ox. You have anointed me with the finest oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents.
12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. 13 For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. 14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. 15 They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Ever been like somewhere, but not there? Ever listened to someone speak, but not heard what they were saying? Ever been drugged (legally or illegally) and there, but so far away? Ever daydreamed?
There is a place called “there” which is “here” in another realm.
This Psalmist is speaking of that very place. Yes we deal with problems, but God has placed the realm where the answers are, just a decision away.
Attitudes effect everything.
An attitude of gratitude increases the value of everything.
For years you may have driven by a certain piece of property and it meant not a thing to you. Then you look for property and “find” this one, now you are thankful, you obtain it, it is yours, now you have an attitude about it. It meant nothing to you one day, the next it meant everything. You had an attitude change.
The Psalm is not saying praise and thank God when everything is all hunky-dory. It says thank Him, Praise Him. Step into that other realm and praise! Even when things seem bad or are threatening you, praise and give thinks anyway. Think of it as changing the setting on a thermostat. Just do it, it’ll change. Succumb to its evil offers of dread and you stay there. Attitude is everything!
Can you hear the sound of victory? It is only a thought and heart thermostat change away!
Happy Thanksgiving!


Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Psalm 79 Who is Your enemy?

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.

Psalm 79
A psalm of Asaph. O God, pagan nations have conquered your land, your special possession. They have defiled your holy Temple and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. 2 They have left the bodies of your servants as food for the birds of heaven. The flesh of your godly ones has become food for the wild animals. 3 Blood has flowed like water all around Jerusalem; no one is left to bury the dead. 4 We are mocked by our neighbors, an object of scorn and derision to those around us. 5 O LORD, how long will you be angry with us? Forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to recognize you – on kingdoms that do not call upon your name. 7 For they have devoured your people Israel, F61 making the land a desolate wilderness. 8 Oh, do not hold us guilty for our former sins! Let your tenderhearted mercies quickly meet our needs, for we are brought low to the dust. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the honor of your name. Oh, save us and forgive our sins for the sake of your name. 10 Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, "Where is their God?" Show us your vengeance against the nations, for they have spilled the blood of your servants. 11 Listen to the moaning of the prisoners. Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die. 12 O Lord, take sevenfold vengeance on our neighbors for the scorn they have hurled at you. 13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation.
FOOTNOTES:F61: Hebrew Jacob.
The New Living Translation
a. devoured Jacob. See note on 44:4.

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
“Pagan” and “Heathen” nations mean, peoples who have not become citizens of God’s kingdom on earth. God only sees two nations, two peoples, two races, two kingdoms. Those who believe in Jesus who God the Creator Father sent as Savior of the lost world, and those who do not yet believe or refuse to believe in His Son.
We are engaged in war, because we are involved in one or the other of these kingdoms.
As humans, born into the sin nature of Adam, we nee d a redeemer. If we do not believe and receive the salvations of Jesus Christ and walk in truth and life we are already walking in lies and death. There’s no middle road, ever. If we do not decide for Christ we’ve decided against Him.
When David cries out to the Lord to destroy enemies, he is speaking of this other kingdom’s rule and power over people. He does not desire people to be destroyed, he desires evil to be annihilated in its influential power over people.
God the Loving Creator Father never meant for people to follow after anyone but Him, which is why He sent Jesus, making what was once impossible, possible. Before Jesus we did not really have the power or help to choose. It took a lot of consecrated work to be able to be made right with God because of the catastrophe of sin’s power over us. God had originally given Adam power in the earth to rule, even over evil forces, by deciding for righteousness, and then Adam gave that power over to satan and his princes (principalities).
The power lies in the will, the decision of the will and the execution of the will. The will of God, the will of man, and the will of sin. The war is about who we allow to rule in us, over us, who’s will we choose.
Remember what we allow is allowed, what we don’t, isn’t. We don’t want to because the enemy has lied to us, but we have to take responsibility!
Death and doom were not created for men. It was created for evil. Satan has been recruiting co-followers, ever since he found this out. The more people he lies to, the more people he feels he has stolen from God’s heart. Don’t be deceived and lied to as Adam and Eve were. Jesus has given us the power we need to decide righteously, through the empowerment of His Holy Spirit.
Jesus gave us two predominant things to be after He left earth.
He said you must be Born Again and wait to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did not give commands flippantly, just to do or say things to show He was supposed to be in charge. He told us what would help and benefit us and as we followed His lead, it would lead us into the Divine purposeful service to the Father.
He wanted us to be made spiritually alive and changed from death to life, and brought from darkness to light, from an old way of life into a new way of life and be filled full of God, everyday. The more full of God we stay, the more we overcome evil and come out from under its sway.
There is no other way. Many refuse the part about receiving the Holy Spirit, they say the day for speaking in tongues has passed away. These are missing the infilling and indwelling and empowerment of God Himself and then we wonder why our enemies triumph over us, we’ve only followed half of His departing commands. Be aware that the enemy has lied to us, caused us to be afraid of God and His spirit. That is a bunch of hogwash. Be aware of why the enemy would do this, speak this lie to Christians, telling them to only be born again, but don’t get filled up. He knows we are more of a threat to his lies if we are filled full of God!
When we do what Jesus says, we are blessed, when we do what we think is right in our own eyes or make up our own rules and follow our own way, we are not blessed, we struggle along in life.
David cried out for freedom from captivity, a captivity that is spiritual in nature and effects every natural thing we do. David understood that people form alliances with enemy powers and need to be released from the grip and stronghold of the bondage of sin.
I know it sounds like it, but people are NOT our enemies, no matter how bad they act. God loves people, no matter how intertwined in sin they become. He is looking for some people who will rise up and willingly insist on the freedom of captives, who will stick with them like glue in the spirit, not allowing the evil influences to keep a hold of them. Our warfare is spiritual in nature, we are here to overcome for Christ and God. We are here to demonstrate His Almighty power in human form; to veer our dependencies on Him, and live decisively for His kingdom to come.
The kingdom comes as revelation and then as each decides and follows through, That is when it is evidenced in each person and then it can come to the world.
This is how it comes to the world. When Jesus was here the followers did not understand Him or His mission. They completely expected Him to overturn physical and natural governments, kill of a few bad men and free then from what appeared to be enemy rule. He began to teach about loving enemies and not killing. They could not believe He died before he had a chance to be crowned King of kings! It was confounding to them and they felt hopeless.
Then they remembered Him saying, don’t look so far out there for the kingdom to come, it is being built IN you.
My kingdom must be formed inside of you before it can be manifested for the world to see. If I rule you, I rule. But I don’t rule by forceful entry into your life. I rule because you love Me and you willingly allow Me to rule.
This is the best rule, submission because of love, trust because of love, surrender. His kingdom is a kingdom of kings who have surrendered. They have willingly, given up their crowns of self leadership and said, “Lord, You have Your way in me!”
Wanna know what’s hard? It’s hard for a man to lay down a crown. Wanna know why? It is sin, a root sin, a sin that started the whole war, the very sin we struggle with, because it is THE enemy of our souls. It is the very sin we are here to overcome- Pride, which leads to rebellion!
These are the greatest enemies of our soul’s salvation.
If you knew what your enemy looked like, what would you do? Wouldn’t you look for him, be on watch, wait for him and then be ready to destroy him?
Today I have shown you your enemy- pride, rebellion. Enemy #1 to Your Father God who loves you and gave His life for you. What should that do to you, a warrior for the Lord, one who’s give his own crown to Christ? Be on watch, do not allow this sin to rule you, close the door to its former allegiances. Take its power and break its influence over you. If you see it coming, do not allow it in! Now you know, it is your enemy, despise its presence.


Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Monday, November 20, 2006

Psalm 35 We Wrestle NOT....

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.


Psalm 35
A psalm of David.

1 O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me. 2 Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid. 3 Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say, “I will give you victory!” 4 Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me. 5 Blow them away like chaff in the wind— a wind sent by the angel of the Lord. 6 Make their path dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 7 I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me. 8 So let sudden ruin come upon them! Let them be caught in the trap they set for me! Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.

9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me. 10 With every bone in my body I will praise him: “Lord, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”

11 Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. 12 They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair. 13 Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered. 14 I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother. 15 But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly. 16 They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.

17 How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions! 18 Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people. 19 Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat. Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow. 20 They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business. 21 They shout, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we saw him do it!”
22 O Lord, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Do not abandon me now, O Lord. 23 Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord. 24 Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles. 25 Don’t let them say, “Look, we got what we wanted! Now we will eat him alive!”
26 May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor. 27 But give great joy to those who came to my defense. Let them continually say, “Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!” 28 Then I will proclaim your justice, and I will praise you all day long.

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
2 Cor 10 says, 3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 [We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 6 And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.
This is a pivotal NT scripture. We are reading an OT Psalm today, which shows us a man crying out to God to help him, to rescues him. The Psalm tells God to destroy the man’s enemies, and it seems like men, are his enemies. It always seems that way here, if we look naturally.
BUT God is a spirit and we who worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

1 Cor 2 says, 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

So, we do not wage war with or as humans do, fighting, and arguing, being angered and irritated with people, not even reasoning things out to agreement’s sake, but we fight against principalities and powers of darkness, those who oppose Christ, we oppose. Yet we do not contend with them in the natural realm, but in the spirit realm we absolutely do. We shoo off vulturous creatures in the spirit, those who use people, deceiving them into opposing God! (Might want to read that again)
David cries out for rescue, and God brings an answer to His cry. David was a prophet in the Psalms, he was a representative who was in tune with the heart of man and the heart of God. He expressed the earth’s deep cry for it’s Savior and Lord. He was bold enough with God to express the depth of his and God’s heart for salvation. He expressed how deep the need for salvation is against a horrid enemy, the enemy of man’s soul, and of man’s eternal spirit.
God answered the cry. He sent His Son to die for all mankind. Man had lost his God- given power and authority in the garden of Eden, Adam (man) willingly handed it over to God’s enemy. Man needed help to get it back. God sent His Son, Jesus, to get it back and hand it back to any man who would take it, and use it to fight.
The cry of David was for the restoration of power and authority. Only God could rescue man this way, giving him this power back. Man was helpless without it.
Man is not helpless anymore. He may be ignorant or choose to be ignorant, but he’s not helpless, he’s responsible to go get his authority and power and use it right to fight against the enemies of our spirit and souls.
Those who do not know this cry as David cried, thinking men are against him, men are his problem, men are who he opposes.
It is time to awaken to the understanding that we have all we need, we have been given our authority and power back. Its execution is waiting the cry of our mouth. Not hoping or wishing we were able, or helped, but knowing Him who has helped and executing His power in the earth.
It is time to stop fighting people and become their “saviors”, to stand in the gap and shoo off their enemies in prayer. Not wishful prayer, forceful militant prayer. Prayers of faith, not hope, but insistent faith.
Matthew 11: 12 says, And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Hebrews 11: 6 says And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
That’s not wishful thinking, it’s not hoping God loves me enough to deliver me. It’s faith in the finished work of His beloved Son, who shed His own blood to die for me to have my authority, power and responsibility back. Will I take it back advancing forcibly, or will I hope God will do what He’s already done for me? It is my move. I must connect with the power source. Yes, it is only by God’s power and might that I can conquer, but if I do not connect, there is no power over anything. Waiting for God to move does not work. He moved already. It is now our move! If you wait for God, you’ll be waiting a very long time and will have missed the boat.
Step forward, take responsibility. You have inside of you the ability to rise up and make a proper response to God. Everyone who has ever prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord is responsible before God to live for righteousness and engage in the warfare for the souls of men. This is not a casual trial of sorts. This is a new life lived for Christ. If you’re not in church, in His word, in Bible Study and prayer, you are not His. He bought and paid for you, but you have not truly accepted the invitation to become a functional family member.
It is not based on what you say about yourself. Jesus is looking at your actions way more than your words. He’s looking for fruit and that only comes from being planted, rooted, watered, and growing. If you said a prayer and never got planted, rooted or grew up from there, it is time to now. The days of casual observing are over. Over.
You’ve gotta serve somebody.
We must realize we already are. We serve either, the god of the world , which is evidenced in the service to self, or we serve Christ in God, which is evidenced by our love for His people, His house and His lost and dying world.


Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Sunday, November 19, 2006

COl 4 Bond Servants of Christ

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.

Colossians 4
1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

An Encouragement for Prayer
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive[a] so that you will have the right response for everyone.
Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings
7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here.
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters[b] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.
17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul.
Remember my chains.
May God’s grace be with you.
Footnotes:
a.
Colossians 4:6 Greek and seasoned with salt.
b.
Colossians 4:15 Greek brothers.

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Every leader alive is responsible to God for their leadership, whether they acknowledge it, act like it, believe it or not. Those who acknowledge it well, do better at leading. There is an accountability. If we give account now, we won’t have as much to give an account for later on.
Our Pastor used to explain it this way, stating that life is like a mortgage. Everyday a payment is due from us to God. We give God our lives, for they belong to Him, He created us and He purchased us back from the enemy’s hands, by His death on the cross. We owe God, whether we want to pay, feel like paying or not. Judgment day is the payment due date. The payments that were due all called in. If we’ve given our lives to God while living here, everyday, we give our lives in spiritual and natural service for His kingdom, then on judgment day, there’s only one payment left, and therefore it’ll be like every other day. If we never acknowledged Him or His Son, Jesus, then there’s a hefty amount due us on that day. We may not have it, for the more we refused Him the more we incurred to the balance, and will find we won’t ever have enough to pay it. That’s where we’ll be condemned, for we could have had Him pay for us, forgiving us the full payment due, but we wanted to do it ourselves our own way.
We are all responsible before God to live here and now for Him. That’s what we owe today. We are “slaves”, because we choose to work our life’s indebtedness out with our Father, rather than try to work it out with a liar, thief and a robber.
Here are some ways we can spend our days as slaves of Christ in God- Pray, be thankful, live wisely- not wasting time, being a light to those who need to come out of darkness and have their debts paid before it is too late for them. Be gracious, loving, kind, inviting people into this life of willing slavery to God, with grateful hearts of praise. We need to pray that people will hear our message and receive payment for their sin, that they’d not be caught having to pay a huge lump-sum and not be able to, and in their inability to do so, they end up in a horrid eternal state.
Pray that believers will follow after the whole will of God and not be deceived by the trickster who hates them and their Father God. Pray for endurance to stay in ministry, and in His will.
Are you in chains?
If so, whos?
If not, Why not? It’d be better to be a bond servant of the Lord than mastered by sin. If not in the yoke with Christ, you are in a yoke with something. It is time to acknowledge the will of another, and put your head in His yoke.
Awaken oh church, the bride has become a responsible wife! It’s not about Me, me, me anymore. It is all about Him!

Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Phil 4 Bless God!

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.

Philippians 4
1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters,[a] stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
!
Words of Encouragement
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner,[b] to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Paul’s Thanks for Their Gifts
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ,[c] who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
Paul’s Final Greetings
21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Footnotes:
a.
Philippians 4:1 Greek brothers; also in 4:8.
b.
Philippians 4:3 Or loyal Syzygus.
c.
Philippians 4:13 Greek through the one.

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
“Stay true” means, persevere, stay steadfast, don’t move off of- your faith in the Lord. It further means to keep intact, as in being a guard over the shepherding of a flock. To weigh for value, and then guard the value of; to be secured, and make secure.
I am on a co-mission along with our Lord Jesus to redefine our salvation experiences with Him in this day. What matters most in life is the end of a thing, more so than the beginning of it. It matters more whether we end a race, than that we ever started. In fact the finish is the reality of the start. In Christianity and in our faith-walk, ending is what counts. So if we start, we must stay, we must endure in order to end. Those who stay all the way, win the prize. Those who start and stop do not get anything at all, barely even the satisfaction of saying I began.
Again think of your walk with God as a human relationship. If you met someone, found out their name, and even phone number, met them as a friend of a friend and you “knew” of them from others telling you about them, but you never called them and befriended them personally by spending any mount of time in their company, would you really be able to say you know them? You could say I met them or I know their name or I have some of the same friends, but you could not rightly say I KNOW them, correct?
This is the way with our Christianity. This is why when Jesus returns He’ll say to some, “I do not KNOW you”. You knew of Me, had heard of Me, maybe made Me a few promises, but we were not in relationship. God is interested in relationship. Man was made by God to reciprocate relationship. If he’s not, that is his choice. God has given all of the necessary offers. He says if we draw near, so does He.
He sent His Son to die and initiate the invitation for relationship. If a person acknowledges that work, but never shows up for dinner, never converses, never meets the family, and does not or will not begin to love who and how God loves, and also never asks what they can do to respond to what was done for them as a part of this awesome God-family, but rather resists even talking about fellowship with who God loves; and if that person does not know Jesus enough to want to invite others to do the same, how can they say they are His? They can’t. In life they disassociated themselves form the acceptance of the invitation, they did not RSVP to God. It would be a lie in God’s face to say, “I knew You”. We can’t say, “Lord, let me live where you live”, when I was never a part of His family here. I was uninterested or too busy or didn’t want to be pushed. I made my desire known to God, I told Him I wanted no part of Him by my day to day action and lack of response to His repeated invitations.
To have said a one time prayer acknowledging that Jesus died on a cross and that He forgave us of our sins is pretty limited. We may have heard of Him and been invited to get to know Him better by people who do know Him, and we may be good friends with people who do spend time with Him, but we have to know Him one on one, if we never personally spend any time getting to know Jesus and God our Father and the Holy Spirit as persons, then we cannot say we know God. This is why Paul is saying, go further, keep moving, continue growing, learning and keeping on this lifelong trek of faith! When the enemy comes to lie and steal your faith away stand firm and DO NOT allow Him to take what God gave you, it is now yours to guard and keep as a gatekeeper of a city gate. What’s inside is worth fighting for the rest of your days!
Disagreement is the opposing force and the enemy of agreement. The enemy of God is rebellion. Rebellion is independent of God and lives without ever being told what or how to do anything. Disagreement is an enemy. Agreement is where power begins. Thus is the reason it is SO hard to agree with anyone at anytime! Can you see that? There is a power of God that ignites in agreement. If we disagree there’s no power ignited in us. So PLEASE settle the disagreement. It is the enemy’s tool against the Christ in you to take you out of faith to take others around you out of faith and to cause an enemy to be empowered by rebellion and sin.
Rejoice. That’s a choice.
Fix your thoughts. That takes a decision, a discipline.
When this speaks of receiving strength from Christ for all things, it is speaking of all things in Christ. Such as Loving, and being kind, not giving up faith, enduring hardship, agreeing, etc. It is about having all we need to do His work with a successful witness about us. It’s not about making God our servant, where He gives us whatever we need to do whatever we’ve decided we need to do in life.
God Bless America, and America Bless God.
One is elementary, the other is growth exemplified. It is the season for maturity, time to bless God in thought and action. Let’s get a hold of His word and the promises therein to bless Him and serve Him and do His will in the earth

Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”