Friday's Footnote

1 John 4:19

We love him, because he first loved us.

Good morning, and a Fabulous Friday to my family and friends!

I arrived at church last Sunday morning just a little earlier than usual, and thought I was alone in the sanctuary until I heard, from somewhere behind the platform, the beautiful sounds of a saxophone being played. The music was soothing and peaceful, creating a sweet start for a Sunday morning service. 

At one point, as I was listening to the melody, I thought, I know that song. It was a beautiful hymn from long ago and as the musician continued to play, I sang the song in my mind. Here's the words to that lovely hymn - 

Down from His Glory

(words by Edward E. Booth-Clibborn with arrangement by Eduardo di Capua)

Verse One

Down from His glory, 

Ever living story,

Our God and Savior came, 

And Jesus was His name.

Born in a manger,

To His own a stranger,

A man of sorrows, tears and agony.

Refrain

O how I love Him! How I adore Him!

My breath, my sunshine, my all in all.

The great Creator became my Savior,

And all God's fulness dwelleth in Him.

Verse Two

What condescension,

Bringing us redemption;

That in the dead of night,

Not one faint hope in sight,

God, gracious, tender,

Laid aside His splendor,

Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul.

Verse Three

Without reluctance,

Flesh and blood His substance,

He took the form of man,

Revealed the hidden plan.

O glorious myst'ry,

Sacrifice of Calv'ry

And now I know Thou art the great "I AM."

What beautiful lyrics to convey the oneness of the Godhead! I will forever be thankful for the revelation of knowing that the fulness of God dwells in Jesus Christ! Also, I will forever be thankful that God robed Himself in flesh and dwelt among men to become the sacrifice for our sins! 

Embrace the wonderful plan of salvation just a little more today! Have a Fabulous Friday and, Lord willing, I'll see you tomorrow for yet another spoonful!!

Thursday's ThoughtI

1 John 2:25

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Good morning, one and all!

I've been thinking a lot about promises lately, mainly, the promises of God. Throughout the Bible, God promised something to an individual or to a nation, and He always kept His promise! If you've ever had God promise you something, there remains the consolation that He still keeps His promises in 2015! The greatest promise to me is His promise of eternal life, if we are born again of the water and the spirit (John 3 and Acts 2). That one great promise keeps me going through this life.

My words will be few today because I want to share this beautiful song by the Martins with you:

This is the Promise

Verse One

I never said that I would give you silver or gold

Or that you would never feel the fire or shiver in the cold

But I did say, you'd never walk through this world alone

And I did say, don't make this world your home

Verse Two

 I never said that fear would never find you in the night

Or that loneliness was something you'd never have to fight

But I did say, I'd be right there by your side

And I did say, I'll always help you fight

Chorus

'Cause you know I made a promise that I intend to keep

My grace will be sufficient in every time of need

And My love will be the anchor that you can hold onto

This is the promise, this is the promise I made to you

Verse Three

I never said that friends would never turn their backs on you

Or that the world around you wouldn't see you as a fool

But I did say, like Me you'll surely be despised

And I did say, My ways confound the wise

Verse Four

I didn't say you'd never taste the bitter kiss of death

Or have to walk through chilly Jordan to enter into rest

But I did say, I'd be waiting right on the other side

And I did say, I'll dry every tear you cry

Chorus

'Cause you know I made a promise that I've prepared a place

And someday sooner than you think you'll see Me face to face

And you'll sing with the angels and a countless multitude

This is the promise, this is the promise I made to you

Tag

So, just keep on walkin', don't turn to the left or right

And in the midst of darkness, let this be your light

That hell can't separate us and you're gonna make it through

This is the promise, this is the promise I made to you

Stand on the promises of God today! Rest in Him and trust Him! You won't be disappointed!

Until tomorrow, Lord willing.................

Wednesday's Whisper

Jeremiah 32:27

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Good morning, friends and family!

We are alive to see another Wonderful Wednesday - Wow!!  I'm just wondering what this Wonderful Wednesday has in store? Only God knows but, because He's good all the time, great things can happen today.

I am a "fixer", and by that I mean that I try to fix the problems of people I care about, not always physically but mentally. I often realize that it's not my responsibility to fix things, it's just my nature. I told a friend recently that I often feel like God is tapping me on the shoulder and saying, "I appreciate your trying to help, but this is MY job." And, in reality, it IS God's job!

I blogged about Isaiah 6:1 just a few days ago; the verse that mentions Isaiah seeing the Lord sitting on a throne. Well, that verse just keeps going over in my mind, and it has confirmed for me that GOD IS ON THE THRONE. He is Sovereign. He can handle everything all by Himself. He doesn't even need my input!!

Our focus verse today is the Lord speaking to Jeremiah, and asking the question, "Is there anything too hard for me?" No! No! A thousand times - NO! There is nothing too hard for the Lord. What looks impossible to us, is trivial in God's way of thinking. He is bigger than any mountain that we can or cannot see. Larger than life is our God. He's Mighty and Powerful!

I can pray for my needs as well as those of my family and friends, but then I must trust everything to God. Take my burdens to the Lord and leave them in His capable hands. He is well able to handle all of our problems!

Here's a simple chorus to go along with today's spoonful:

Nothing's too big for my God

No, no, no, no

Nothing's too big for my God

I'm not gonna be discouraged

I'm not gonna be depressed

Nothing's too big for my God

While I'm in His rest

May God meet the needs we have today in His amazing manner! Trusting you all have a truly Wonderful Wednesday.

Until tomorrow, Lord willing.............

Tuesday's Tidbit

Acts 2:38-39

³⁸ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Good morning, one and all!

We have been experiencing great revival services in Highlands, TX! Four received the Holy Ghost this past Sunday night, and three more received it last night. Awesome! Wow! Wonderful! The presence of God has been so strong and powerful. As I watched a mother (and grandmother) pray with a child last night, I remembered Acts 2:39 where the Apostle Peter told the first church that the "promise" was not only to the individual but "to your children"; and even beyond that "to all that are afar off"..... whoever "the Lord our God shall call."  

The promise was told by Jesus in Luke 24:49 -

 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Jesus promised that the Comforter, or the Holy Ghost, would come to the believers. Jesus promised and it came to pass. And, the promise still continues even in 2015! What happened on the day of Pentecost many years ago continues to happen. I'm so glad to be a part of revival in this day. I love watching people receive the Holy Ghost for the first time, because I get a refilling watching them!

This chorus has been sung several times since we've been here at First Apostolic Church:

It's for me

It's for you

For your children

And their children, too

It does something that nothing else can do

In Acts the second chapter you can read it for yourself

You don't have to ask anybody else

About the Holy Ghost that Jesus is giving away!

My soul has been greatly encouraged over the past few weeks as I've watched the effect of the gospel on people. When it is preached, it must be believed and then obeyed. When the gospel is obeyed, lives are changed! God is good all the time. His promises are forever!!

Have a Terrific Tuesday and, Lord willing, we'll meet again tomorrow for another spoonful.....

Monday's Moment

Acts 4:31

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Marvelous Monday to each of you!

What a special Sunday we experienced! As I awoke this morning, the memories of last night's service were still very fresh in my mind. The presence of the Lord was at an all-time high. People were rejoicing, dancing and shouting. I am not sure I can even describe everything that happened. 

The most beautiful part was when I saw two ladies hug each other and then begin to dance as they spoke with other tongues. Their faces were all aglow as they experienced the power and presence of Almighty God!! Those standing around them received it, too, and began to worship. It was awesome!

Then, those same ladies hugged again, and another wave of the Holy Ghost swept over them! And, once again, it overflowed to those gathered around them. It had been a long time since I experienced such a move of God like that.

Since the presence of God was so strong last night, I must include the lyrics to a favorite song of mine, The Presence of the Lord is Here, by Byron Cage:

The presence of the Lord is here

The presence of the Lord is here

I feel it in the atmosphere

The presence of the Lord is here

The presence of the Lord is here

The spirit of the Lord is here

The spirit of the Lord is here

I feel it in the atmosphere

The spirit of the Lord is here

The spirit of the Lord is here

The power of the Lord is here

The power of the Lord is here

I feel it in the atmosphere

The power of the Lord is here

The power of the Lord is here

Everybody, blow the trumpet

And sound the alarm

Because the Lord is in the temple

Let everybody bow

Let all the people praise Him now

The Lord is here

I can feel the presence of the Lord

And I'm gonna get my blessing right now

I can feel the presence of the Lord 

And I'm gonna get my blessing right now

Can't you see Him working on the outside?

I can feel Him moving on the inside

So come and enter in and cast your cares on Him
He'll open up a window and pour you out a blessing

                                  

'Cause when the Lord steps in

He brings everything you need

Healing, power, and victory

Said it's all up to you, whatever you need Him to do

Just trust Him and believe, and by faith you will receive

At one point, one of the ladies raised her hands and proclaimed, "God is here!!" Oh, and He was, indeed! There is nothing like the presence and power of the Lord! Tonight will be another revival service, and I'm expecting another move of the Holy Ghost.

So, until tomorrow when, Lord willing, we meet again for another spoonful.... enjoy the presence of the Lord on this Marvelous Monday!

Sunday's Specialty

Isaiah 6:1

 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Good morning.... it's Special Sunday once again!

With reference to our focus verse today, have you ever wondered exactly what Isaiah saw that day so long ago? He saw the Lord! Yes! He saw the Lord, sitting on a throne, and He was high and lifted up with a train that filled the temple. That must have been an awesome sight as well as an awesome experience for Isaiah! 

Regarding "the train" of the Lord, I once heard a minister say that the train was the border of a warrior's robe where symbols of victories were attached. The minister went on to say that there are so many victories that the Lord has won for us, and when we view Him as Isaiah did, we can look back at those victories and rejoice. If God has won a victory for us in the past, He can do it again!

We can view the Lord as Isaiah did, in the Spirit, in the sanctuary today, and every time we get into the presence of the Lord. If we enter His presence with expectation and anticipation, He will meet us there. Like Moses, we can ask God to show us His "glory," and He will allow us that privilege. There's nothing like beholding the Lord as He really is - high and lifted up, filling the place with His train of victories and all His glory!

I love this song by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir:

High and lifted up in all the earth is who You are

High and lifted up in all the earth is who You are

High and lifted up in all the earth is who You are

Lord, we exalt Your name

Lord, we exalt Your name

Within a few hours, it will be time to congregate at church, and I pray that we all enter the gates with thanksgiving and the courts with praise. Worship the Lord in sincerity and truth, and He'll show up in all His glory - just for us!!! Then, we can say as Isaiah did, "I saw the Lord....."

Until tomorrow, Lord willing............... Have a Special Sunday!!!

Saturday's Snippet

John 6:9-12

⁹ There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

¹⁰ And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

¹¹ And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

¹² When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

Good morning, and may this be the sweetest Saturday for all of us!

What is a snippet? One definition I found was: a small piece, part, or thing. So, on this Sweet Saturday, we shall share a snippet or two with you. Just a snippet but, you do realize, that snippets can spread, right? Right!

Take for instance the lad who is mentioned in John's account of the feeding of the multitude. When that little lad left home that day with his small lunch of five barley loaves and two small fishes, he had no idea how significant his small snippet of food would be by day's end. Perhaps he thought only of himself when he was packing his lunch that day, never realizing how that snippet of a lunch was going to spread.

Anything we have today, whether it be a talent that we're using for the Lord; a desire to share the gospel, or a simple hug or handshake given in love.... these gestures may all seem like snippets but they can spread - just like the lad's lunch. If we will take what we have, those little seemingly insignificant snippets, and place them in the hands of Jesus, we can experience a miracle. Oh, it might not be the feeding of the five thousand but, if Jesus touches and blesses what we give Him, our snippets can spread to more souls than we can imagine.

I love this song, Ordinary People, by Babbie Mason. A snippet of a song, but I hope it spreads to your soul, and you share it with other souls....

Chorus

Just ordinary people,

God uses ordinary people

He chooses people just like me and you

Who are willing to do as He commands

God uses people who will give Him all

No matter how small your all may seem to you

Because little becomes much

When you place it in the Master's Hand

Verse One

O, just like that little lad who gave Jesus all he had

How the multitude was fed with a fish and loaves of bread

What you have may not seem much 

But when you yield it to the touch

Of the Master's loving hand

Then you will understand how your life could never be the same

It's Saturday, such a sweet day to share some snippets for the Lord, and watch Him touch it and bless it. Share a snippet and watch it spread!

Until tomorrow, when we meet again, Lord willing, for another spoonful......