Wednesday's Whisper

Psalm 57:2

I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

Good morning, family & friends!

It's Wonderful Wednesday once again, and to God be the glory for another day in which to be alive! God is so awesome - Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent! You cannot get any better than that!

Sunday night, Rev. O. C. Marler, well-known minister and author, was the guest speaker at our church. We had two wonderful services Sunday, and Bro. Marler's messages were timely and touching. Sunday night, he just exhorted us to think of something we needed from the Lord, and he emphasized that God could fix it for us. It's a personal thing - sometimes we don't need to see God working just for our neighbor, brother, sister, etc.; He cares about ME!! 

The Holy Ghost moved so powerfully throughout the congregation as, one by one, it seemed that people were letting that revelation get ahold of them. There are so many needs in our world today. Every day, I am touched by the fact that someone I know and love has been diagnosed with some dreadful illness or disease; others are facing what appears to be an insurmountable mountain in their lives. Yet, God is big enough to care about all of the needs of the entire world. If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders, He can carry us.

During that service, I believed God to fix something in MY life, and the verse above from Psalm 57 stood out to me this morning as I thought of today's blog. I will cry to God, my God, the One who performs all things for ME. Yes, there were others that needed something from the Lord that night but, I was obeying the preacher and believing God for MY need! 

God is able to fix things for us every day that we live, and today is no exception. He is at work when we cannot even sense what He's up to. His ways are higher; His thoughts are higher than ours, but He IS working even now.

Here's a song from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir that goes along with today's blog post:

God is Working

by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

God Is Working, He's still working

God is working even now

Though we often don't know just how

God is working, He's still working

God is working even now

Though we cannot see

And we cannot quite understand

Remember God is still in control

He has promised to see you through somehow

And He's working even now

Hallelujah, He's working even now

Hallelujah, He's working even now

Though we often don't know just how

God is working, He's still working

God is working even now

May we all take some quiet time with the Lord today, and I believe we'll each get an individual whisper from the Lord, saying, "I'm still working for YOU."

God bless you all. Hope we meet again tomorrow to share another spoonful!

Tuesday's Tidbit

Luke 2:4-7

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Good morning, everybody!

One part of the Christmas story that has always stood out to me is the mention of Joseph and Mary finding no room in the inn, thus making it necessary for Jesus to be born elsewhere. One commentary indicates that the place where Jesus was born was something like a cave, and He was laid in a feeding trough for animals!

The point that I often ponder is that there was no room for the baby Jesus to be born; no normal place. Yet, He did not come to make a royal show; He came humbly. I love this verse from II Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 8:9

 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

We can be rich today because He became poor for us!

As in the days when Jesus was born and no place could be found for His birth, so it is today - people seem to have no place for Jesus in their hearts. Imagine the Lord walking around, trying to find a place where He can feel at home, and He finds none. People can become so busy with life, or just so full of themselves, that they have no room for the King of kings to abide. How sad, yet it's oh, so true.

In closing, I'd like to include a song from the late Andrae's Crouch's Christmas CD:

Mary's Little Boy Child

as sung by Andrae Crouch:

Long time ago in Bethlehem

So the Holy Bible say

Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ,

Was born on Christmas Day

Hark now hear the angels sing

A new King born today

And man will live forevermore

Because of Christmas Day

While shepherds watch their flocks by night

They see a bright new shining star

Then hear a choir of angels sing

The music seemed to come from afar

Now Joseph and his wife, Mary,

Come to Bethlehem that night

Then find no place to bear her child

Not a single room was in sight

Hark now hear the angels sing

A new King born today

And man will live forevermore

Because of Christmas Day

Trumpets sound and angels sing

Listen what they say

That man will live forevermore

Because of Christmas Day

By and by, they find a little nook

In a stable so forlorn

And in a manger cold and dark

Mary's little boy was born

Christ was born for us. He came to give - to give His life a ransom for many. Many are celebrating the Christmas season, putting Jesus back in the manger, but by January 2nd, He'll be forgotten again. To know Him is to celebrate Him every day of the year, and I hope I never lose the wonder of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! My aim in life is that He will always be welcomed in my heart and life!

God bless you, one and all, and I hope we can meet again tomorrow for another spoonful!

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!