Month: February 2017

You Prepare a Table

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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever Psalm 23:5-6

God loves to do is to bless us especially when our enemies are watching! He is not at all afraid of their power, their schemes or their desires. He has everything so under control.

The night that Jesus sat down for the last supper it seemed that just about everything was going wrong. Judas had already gone to the high priests to betray him. The Sanhedrin had already decided to have Jesus put to death. Even Jesus other eleven disciples were spending part of their time at the table arguing over which one of them was the most important. But in the presence of so many enemies the Bible tells us that on that same night when he was betrayed He took bread and blessed it, saying “This is my body which is given for you.” Jesus was not depressed, discouraged or dismayed. Jesus shared the bread, then the cup. Not one single detail of His plan was stopped by the enemies that were watching. His cup ran over so much that all around the world Christians are still drinking from it. The goodness and mercy that came as a result of His sacrifice still follow us. He went ahead of us to the Father’s house and prepared a place so that together we will forever live in the house of the Lordfxcd0002-2

Dark Valleys

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…He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me Psalm 23:3b-4

 

My aunt Dorothy served as the National Executive Secretary of the U.S. of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom from 1924-46. Being an advocate for peace in Washington DC during the war was quite unpopular, but from her time there she passed on to our family this saying: “It isn’t what you know in Washington that matters; it’s who you know!”

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So when things seem confusing and difficult in our walk of faith remember, it isn’t what we know about the path that will keep us going; it’s how well we know who is leading. God has promised, not because of who we are, what we have done or how much we know, but for His own name’s sake to lead us on the right path. There are times that right path will lead into dark valleys. There are moments when our enemies will peer from behind the rocks planning how to destroy us; but we must never run away. Our shepherd is with us. In those dark nights, we need to walk as close to Him as we can. If you cannot see the path ahead then press in until you are close enough to hear his footsteps. His rod and His staff hang at His side ready to protect us. He will be our shepherd not only in the green pastures but also in the shadow of death!

An Address in Heaven?

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Most who know the song “I Rather Have Jesus” associate it with George Beverly Shea. In fact though he did write the popular melody, the words were composed by Rhea Miller in 1922. George Beverly Shea’s mother copied the words and left them by the piano where she was certain her son would find them.

The words from verse two tell us –

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause

I’d rather be true to His dear cause

I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame

I’d rather be true to His holy name!

While everyone has heard of George Beverly Shea, almost no one remembers the woman who not only declared but lived out the line, “I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame!” Rhea Miller lived and died virtually unknown beyond her circlekimg2455 of friends and family.

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

Some few of us might, like George Beverly Shea, become internationally known, but most of us live in more like Rhea Miller while here on earth. Take this moment to close your eyes and ask yourself: Do you wish have a mansion on earth and yet be forgotten in heaven; or will you choose to live for him in a tiny house on an unknown street and have an address remembered in heaven?