BLESSED

If asked how you have been blessed, what would you answer? Would you say you have been blessed with family? Health? A home? Friends? Money? A church?

For a Sunday School lesson, I looked up scriptures relating to blessed/bless/blessing. Know what I found? God considers some mighty strange things as blessings. You are blessed if:

• you do not walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
• you trust the Lord and tell false Gods to take a hike.
• you find wisdom and gain understanding.
• you are poor in spirit, mourn, are meek and are persecuted because of righteousness.
• you give instead of receive.
• you get through your trials.
• you wash your robes.
• you bless those who persecute you instead of curse them.

This is a very brief list and some of these make sense and some are just a bit hard. Does that mean receiving birthday gifts is a no-no? How about no trials instead of just getting through them? And the one about washing your robes is a bit confusing. And not cursing those that persecute you is really tough.

There were some really, REALLY good ones. You are blessed if:

• the Lord does not count your sins against you.
• you find your strength in God.
• read the Word.
• you take refuge in God.
• you proclaim Him.

These scriptures tell us we are blessed but they continue with you will receive.

AND NOW

Please take the time to look up scriptures on blessed/bless/blessing and see what you can find. How are you blessed? What is your reward?

SCRIPTURE:

As I was looking up scriptures I found one that referred to the Blessed Hope. And what is our Blessed Hope?

Titus 2:12-13 (Combination of the Message and King James)

God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the blessed hope,  the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

NOW THAT WILL BE A BLESSING! AND WHAT A REWARD!

REVIVE, RENEW AND RESTORE

Our church is planning an old fashioned tent revival. We have the tent ordered and it will go up next week. The chairs will be set up. The music is planned. The Evangelist is excited. We have advertised the Sunday morning service and four evening services. But I’m not sure I will go.

I mean - I teach Sunday School and go to church almost every Sunday. I joined a fall ladies Bible Study. I write this blog. I am secretary for our Church Council. Why do I need to go to the revival?

Yes the music will be exceptionally good and I understand the speaker is powerful, but gee -- how much church does one person need?

Do you know there are times when it is just an absolute chore to go to church?

Revive: Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Psalm 85:6

Do you know there are times when the only reason to go to church is because of a committee meeting?

Renew: he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

Do you know there are times when the day is over and no prayer has been said and no scripture has been read?

Restore: Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12

OH MY.

• If it is a chore to go to church, there is a need to be revived.
• If the only reason to go to church is a meeting, there is a need to be renewed.
• If a prayer has not been offered and no scripture has been read, there is a need to be restored.

I will be going to that revival.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you need revived? Renewed? Restored? Ask God for a good old revival in your life?

BE SILENT

There is no blog today.  I am extremely upset with what is going on in the world and the attacks on American soil.  I have expressed my frustrations on Facebook but do not know what to say as a devotional. I need to really be silent and listen to God. 

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.   Habakkuk 2:20

Lord, calm my anger and take my frustration.  Amen

IT WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER SO IT HAS TO BE TRUE - DOESN’T IT? (This is not a political piece so please read on.)

I have written before about having Restless Legs Syndrome and, since I am still hunting and pecking on the keyboard, I will not go into a long description. I will only say it is a disease that people cannot see and, unless you have RLS, people do not understand. RLS is pure hell! This last weekend, those that suffer have worn their fingers to the bones because of an article whose author said, “made up by drug companies”, “must have found a cure because there are no ads on TV anymore” and (Are you ready?) “I do not believe RLS even exists.” She then said maybe she should check “WebMD.”

SHE HAD NOT EVEN RESEARCHED HER TOPIC.

Do you think my blood pressure went up? Yup! I left comments. I emailed the editor. And I was not the only one.

An apology has been posted and most people accepted it. We also asked that she write another article. One actually based on facts.

Where am I going with this? If I did not have RLS, I would read this article, laugh and then believe what she said.

SCRIPTURES

Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness. Exodus 23:1

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15

IT WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER SO IT HAS TO BE TRUE - DOESN’T IT?

• It is preached from the pulpit. It has to be true, doesn’t it?
• I read it in a Christian book. It has to be true, doesn’t it?
• The Sunday School teacher told us. It has to be true, doesn’t it?

There are so many books. So many speakers. So many teachers. It is your responsibility to make sure what they are saying or teaching is true. As the scriptures point out, there are those that spread false reports. There are false prophets.

I knew the article on RLS was false, one lie after another, because I know RLS up close and personal.

We have to know our God and the true Word, up close and personal, so we will recognize lies and false prophets.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you have a close enough relationship with God that you can discern the Truth from lies?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Hello God, I have a request. Yes another one, but this one is very important for me to have a strong faith. Will You keep me close? I need to be up close and personal with You so I will know You and know Your True Word. I need to know so I will not believe lies or follow false prophets. Amen