Monday's Moment

2 Samuel 7:22

Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Good morning, and may it be a Marvelous Monday to all of us!

We had awesome church yesterday. Awesome with a capital A!! The verse above describes how I feel about God, and I want to share the lyrics to a song that I've just recently heard at our church (Heritage Life Center, Southaven, MS):

Only a God Like You

by Tommy Walker

Verse One

For the praises of man, I will never ever stand

For the kingdoms of this world, I will never give my heart away

Or shout my praise

My allegiance and devotion, my heart's desire and all emotion

Go to serve the Man who died upon that tree

Chorus

Only a God like You could be worthy of my praise

All my hope and praise

To only a King of all kings do I bow my knee and sing

Give my everything

To only my Maker, my Father, my Savior

Redeemer, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder

To only a God like You do I give my praise

Verse Two

Only the God who left His throne above

He came to live with us, came to be one of us

To only the One who stopped to heal that blind man

Took the time to save that one lost lamb

To only the King who wore that crown of thorns

So I could wear the crown of life

And to only the One who conquered sin and death

So we could be free, so we could stand here and sing

Bridge

Only a God like You, only a God like You, only a God like You

Only a God like You, only a God like You, only a God like You

Only a God like You, only a God like You, only a God like You

To only my Maker, my Father, my Savior

Redeemer, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder

To only a God like You do I give my praise

For every blessing we have received, and because of who He is - Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the express image of the invisible God - deserves all our allegiance, devotion, and praise. 

God bless you all with a very Marvelous Monday!! If He is willing, I'll be back with you tomorrow to share another spoonful!

Sunday's Specialty

Psalm 95:2

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Good morning, once again, on a Special Sunday!

The Lord has been good to me this week, and I trust you can say the same. It's almost that time again - church time - where we will put aside the normal duties of life, and enjoy God's presence with other Christians. Oh, the presence of the Lord - how sweet it is!

Church is what we make of it. If we enter into God's house and fail to lay aside our burdens in the prayer room before service time, it's likely we will exit God's house in much the same way as we came in. But, if we will get there early and seek after God for that particular service, there is no telling what God will do during our short time in church.

Through the years, I have heard stories of people simply passing by the church and feeling a nudge to stop and enter. Often, these were people who knew nothing about God, yet they were searching, yet perhaps not even knowing for whom they were searching. But, God knew, and He directed them into His house where they'd feel Him and give their lives over to Him. This is the kind of thing that can still happen in 2015, if we will enter the prayer room before church and truly seek God for the unexpected to happen.

I trust that today we will enter God's house and really BE there - not just in body but with all our minds and souls in tune with what He wants to accomplish.

Here's a simple chorus that just came to my mind as I started this blog post:

When I come into Your presence

I've got worship on my mind

When I come into Your presence

I can leave my cares behind

I find joy, I find peace, and rest for my soul

When I come into Your presence

You make me whole

I always try to give credit to the artist of each song I post, but I could not locate one for this chorus, and the words are from memory. But, when I enter God's house, I truly want worshipping Him to be utmost on my mind.

God bless you, my faithful readers, with a Special Sunday in His sweet presence. I trust to be back again tomorrow with another spoonful!

Saturday's Snippet

Luke 2:8-11

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Good morning, and a Sweet Saturday to you all!

Yesterday, I read and blogged about those who submitted themselves to the will of God as it related to the birth of Jesus Christ. Today, I read on through Luke 2, another chapter filled with events from that special time long ago. Once again, I am transported back through my imagination wondering, just what was it like that night?

I've always thought about the shepherds who were just doing their normal duties when, all of a sudden, an angel pays them a visit. The Bible says they were "sore afraid". Sounds like they might have been shaking in their shoes at such a sight. Then, the message delivered to them...."I bring you good tidings of great joy..... unto you is born this day....a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Their ordinary night became extraordinary, to say the least!

It has always amazed me that the Lord chose the message of His birth to be heralded early on to lowly shepherds. This morning it sort of registered that the One who was the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" would make sure that shepherds tending their sheep were included on the newborn baby's guest list. Some things touch me in a deep way, bringing tears to my eyes, and this is one of those.

Not only did ONE angel visit the shepherds with their flocks that night, but a "multitude of the heavenly host" (Luke 2:13) appeared...."praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14) What a choir! Surely the sky was illuminated with a brightness these shepherds had never seen before. Imagine the sound of that choir!!! Awesome. Awesome.

Christ the Savior WAS born for the purpose of living among men, feeling their pain, and ultimately giving His life as a sacrifice for all our sins. He is no longer in a manger for He lives forever on high, but He IS coming again soon with power and glory, to take away His chosen people! The choir on the night of baby Jesus' birth might have been astounding, but when the Lord returns for His bride, now THAT's going to be a time of immense joy!

I'd like to include the lyrics to an old Christmas song:

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

by Edmund Hamilton Sears (words - 1849)

and Richard Storrs Willis (music - 1859)

Verse One

It came upon a midnight clear

That glorious song of old

From angels bending near the earth

To touch their harps of gold:

"Peace on the earth, good will to men

From heaven's all gracious King!"

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing

Verse Two

Still through the cloven skies they come

With peaceful wings unfurled;

And still their heavenly music floats

O'er all the weary world:

Above its sad and lowly plains

They bend on hovering wing,

And ever o'er its Babel sounds

The blessed angels sing

Verse Three

O ye beneath life's crushing load,

Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way

With painful steps and slow;

Look now, for glad and golden hours

Come swiftly on the wing;

Oh rest beside the weary road

And hear the angels sing.

Verse Four

For lo! the days are hastening on,

By prophets seen of old,

When with the ever-circling years

Shall come the time foretold,

When the new heaven and earth shall own

The Prince of Peace, their King,

And the whole world send back the song

Which now the angels sing.

Within this song, I find three important messages: 1) rejoice that Jesus was born; 2) pause during your sojourn through life to hear the angels sing; and, 3) anticipate the return of our Lord and Savior, the Prince of Peace, Our King!!!

Have a sweetly blessed Saturday, and I sure hope you hear the angels sing!!

Until tomorrow, Lord willing, when we meet again to share another spoonful!

Friday's Footnote

Luke 1:38

 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Good morning to all of you on this Fabulous Friday morning!

I have been intrigued for many years by the Bible account of the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ, so today I decided to re-read Luke chapter one; a chapter that always stirs something deep within me. The stories of Zacharias and Elisabeth having a child (John) in their old age, and then Mary, a young lady, being chosen to bear the Savior of the world! I'm in awe once again of God and His indescribable plan.

The "characters" in Luke one, namely, those I mentioned above, were all willing vessels. After being visited by angels, Zacharias, even though he doubted, still allowed God to use him to bring about the birth of John. Then, Mary, so innocent and pure, says the words that I think about a lot, "... be it unto me according to thy word." Little did she understand how her life would be forever changed, yet she submitted.

B. J. Thomas recorded some Christmas songs about twelve years ago, and this particular one is on that CD. I love the words contained in it, and I want to share it for you today:

Be It Unto Me

by B. J. Thomas

Verse One

O Mary, sweet Mary, I must wake you from your sleep

Don't be frightened 'cause I've come

With a secret you must keep

There's a mission, so listen

God is calling you to serve

For this night you will carry

The Savior of the world

So, will you go? Or will you stay?

Then Heaven's angel heard Mary say

Chorus

Be it unto me according to Your word, O Lord

Oh, be it unto me according to Your word, O Lord

Lord, shine down Your light

Shatter the dark, 

Shine down Your love into my heart

Be it unto me according to Your word, O Lord

Verse Two

O, brothers and sisters, awaken from your sleep

Don't be frightened, for the Light from heaven must speak

There's a mission, so listen

God is calling us to serve

See the dying, hear them crying

Bring the Savior to their world

So, will you go? Or will you stay?

Don't you want Heaven to hear you say

(Chorus again)

Bridge

Hear the call that lifts you higher

God gives wings to your desires

Submission played an enormous part in bringing God into our world so long ago, yet submission continues to play that same part in our lives, as well. May our hearts be in tune with what God wants, and may He hear us say, as Mary did so long ago, "Be it unto me according to thy word." We may not feel that we play such an important role as she did, yet God is still calling people to serve Him. He waits for those who will answer that call, and carry out His plans now.

May we strive to be as faithful to our Heavenly Father as He has been to us! Have a Fabulous Friday, family and friends.... 

Until tomorrow when, Lord willing, we meet again, here's another Friday footnote:

"I think that it is a better thing than thanksgiving: thanks-living. 

How is this to be done? By a general cheerfulness of manner, 

by an obedience to the command of Him by whose mercy we live, 

by a perpetual, constant delighting of ourselves in the Lord, 

and by a submission of our desires to His will.

-- Charles Spurgeon

Thursday's Thought

Ephesians 6:9

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Good morning, family and friends!

It's a comfort to know that our Master in heaven has no "respect of persons".  The latter part of the above verse from Ephesians goes along with my spoonful of thought tonic on this particular Thursday. 

I went into the prayer room last night before service in dire need of just a space of peace and quiet. The day had been a great day but filled with a lot of things on mind, scurrying around trying to accomplish many tasks, and worrying about the unfinished ones. But, now that it was church time, I wanted to release the anxiety through prayer so that I could enjoy the service. At this particular church that we attend when we're not on the road, they play either soft instrumental music or, as in this case, a CD of an artist singing hymns, during prayer time.

As I felt the soothing presence of The Prince of Peace, I heard the familiar voice of the late Rev. Murrell Ewing, and the song was one that I love dearly, and I decided to post about it today:

It is No Secret

by Stuart Hamblen

Verse One

The chimes of time ring out the news

Another day is through

Someone slipped and fell

Was that someone you?

You may have longed for added strength

Your courage to renew

Do not be disheartened

For I have news for you

Chorus

It is no secret what God can do

What He's done for others

He'll do for you

With arms wide open, He'll pardon you

It is no secret what God can do

Verse Two

There is no night for in His light

You'll never walk alone

Always feel at home

Wherever you may roam

There is no power can conquer you

While God is on your side

Just take Him at His promise

Don't run away and hide

It is truly no secret what God can do, and what He has done for others, He will do for you (and me). The soothing tones of the music, the sweet melody and lyrics of this song simply released a lot of the anxious feelings last night. I thank God for the gift of music, lyrics, and prayer, as they all work together in such unity. 

God is on our side today. Trust Him, and believe that in His time all will be okay.

God bless you all on this Thursday. Think on Him and His goodness. If He's willing, I'll be back tomorrow with another spoonful!