Snoopy trying to Sleep

 

Trusting the LORD...

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

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Real Safety

 Romans  8

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? 

Will tribulation, 

or distress, 

or persecution, 

or famine, 

or nakedness, 

or peril, 

or sword?

Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;


We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, 

nor life, 

nor angels, 

nor principalities, 

nor things present, 

nor things to come, 

nor powers,

nor height, 

nor depth, 

nor any other created thing, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God, 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

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The Real Remedy

 

Psalm 91

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High


Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,


My God, in whom I trust!”

 

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper


And from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His pinions,


And under His wings you may seek refuge;


His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,


Or of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,


Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side


And ten thousand at your right hand,


But it shall not approach you.

You will only look on with your eyes


And see the recompense of the wicked.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge,


Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

 

No evil will befall you,


Nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you,


To guard you in all your ways.

They will bear you up in their hands,


That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and cobra,


The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

“Because he has loved Me, 

therefore I will deliver him;


I will set him securely on high, 

because he has known My name.

“He will call upon Me, 

and I will answer him;


I will be with him in trouble;


I will rescue him and honor him.

“With a long life I will satisfy him


And let him see My salvation.”

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Flowing Flowers Cascading Down

 

Flowing flowers cascading down the hills....and so God's love for His children flows through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:6-11

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. 

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 

To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen."

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Brokenness: Give yourself to the LORD

 

Incognito

 

A Test:

Can you find cat #2?

(She is very sneaky and quiet)

Notice the Kryptonite Pillow protecting them from each other.

At that moment neither knew the other was there. 

See how Kryptonite works?

Patriotism in the MidWest, but Freedom in Christ Jesus!

We love America. It has been a safe haven for innumerable peoples for way over 200 years. 

We who love the LORD God of the Bible cherish our freedom in this country. We love the LORD and we love America.

These two things seem to go hand in hand, but that is not the real case.

To love the LORD God of the Bible, to trust in His Son, Jesus as our Savior, to look for comfort from the Holy Spirit is universal around the world in every country, free or oppressed. 

Our love, trust, and devotion to the LORD is primary to us no matter where we live.

It is God we trust - not people. Let us live vibrantly for the LORD where ever we are!

Colossians 3:12-17

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, 

holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, 

kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, 

whoever has a complaint against anyone;

just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love, 

which is the perfect bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, 

to which indeed you were called in one body;

and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, 

with all wisdom teaching and admonishing 

one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 

singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, 

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

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Rock Collections

 

Yes, a mother would love their child's rock collection!

O Lord Most High, with All My heart

O Lord Most High, with all my heart


your wondrous works I will proclaim;


I will be glad and give you thanks


and sing the praises of your name.


The Lord, the everlasting King,


is seated on his judgment throne;


the righteous Judge of all the world


will make His perfect justice known.


Jehovah will a refuge prove,


a refuge strong for all oppressed,


a safe retreat, where weary souls


in troubled times may surely rest.


All they, O Lord, that know your name


their confidence in you will place,


for you have ne’er forsaken them


who earnestly have sought your face.


Sing praises to the Lord Most High,


to him who does in Zion dwell;


declare his mighty deeds abroad,


his deeds among the nations tell.

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Glory in the LORD's array of Autumn

 

God's Perspective v. your perspective

 

After an evening meeting in a big city we all walked out to the parking lot. 

The night was dark with the only light coming from the building's doorway.

One of the people from this city looked up and said, " Look at the stars! Aren't they beautiful?"

We all then looked up. It was a lovely sight - although I only saw 3 heavenly bodies - after all, it was a big city and the light of the city would not allow us to see more. 

From that person's perspective they were blessed.

In contrast, we live in a small town in the middle of darkness. When we look up we see so many stars which we could never count. It is so beautiful we could stay out all night to watch them. Sometimes we have :o)  

From our perspective it is spectacular, but our town is in between two bigger towns so even their night's lights affect our view of the night sky.  If we were to go out in any direction far enough we would be able to see so many more heavenly bodies.

One more perspective is when we have camped in Provincial and National Parks where the sky was immense, the darkness so dark we could not see each other standing there and the myriad of stars covered the sky. Those skies were so full of stars that it made me think of the sky in Biblical times. Incredible!

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In this small commentary I am concerned with only these definitions of the word 

Perspective: 

#1 a view of things or facts in which they are in the right relations 

#2 the effect of the distance of events upon the mind 

#3 a mental view, outlook or prospect

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Perspective is important in all subjects but the most important subject I would like to speak about is the LORD God Almighty.

The Bible is our facts, although we can actually see and understand what God has accomplished for us and in us if we choose to look at it in His perspective:

Romans 1:16-20

"...For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse..."

Romans 2

"Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things...

...There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.

For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus...

...28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.

But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."

The study of the Bible has always been ongoing for those who seek the LORD righteously, for those who do not understand, but are trying to do so, and even for those with evil motives who may actually learn and understand God's Truth eventually. No one can ever be "finished" studying the LORD God Almighty.

The huge thing about studying God's Word is His Perspective.

**Not his or hers or yours or theirs, but the LORD God Almighty's perspective.

False teachers of God's Word can run the gamut from small errors or arrogance to blatant lies, the twisting of God's Word, to great deception and evil. 

Each of us must be aware, and we must be careful of the people we listen to, the people we follow - and the reason is because we may be following someone who has been twisting God's precious Word for their own benefit. 

What is God's perspective on how the leader of your group is explaining His Word?

What is God's perspective on who you mingle with/worship with?  

What is God's perspective on how you live, how you treat others? 

What is God's perspective on how you allow others to treat you/abuse you with their wrong perspective/their abuse against you by twisting God's Word?

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We are all like sheep, each of us sinners. Some of us are sinners saved by Grace. Anyone of us may be taught the wrong Biblical perspectives but everyone of us can turn around and think rightly, think in God's perspective.

Get in His Word, read and reread His Word. You may not be a theologian, but you do not have to be! God's Word was written that all may come to His truth by simply reading in His perspective.

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Isaiah 53

Who has believed our message?


And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,


And like a root out of parched ground;


He has no stately form or majesty


That we should look upon Him,


Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

He was despised and forsaken of men,


A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;


And like one from whom men hide their face


He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Surely our griefs He Himself bore,


And our sorrows He carried;


Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,


Smitten of God, and afflicted.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions,


He was crushed for our iniquities;


The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,


And by His scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray,


Each of us has turned to his own way;


But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all


To fall on Him.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,


Yet He did not open His mouth;


Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,


And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,


So He did not open His mouth.

By oppression and judgment He was taken away;


And as for His generation, who considered


That He was cut off out of the land of the living


For the transgression of my people, 

to whom the stroke was due?

His grave was assigned with wicked men,


Yet He was with a rich man in His death,


Because He had done no violence

Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

But the Lord was pleased


To crush Him, putting Him to grief;


If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,


He will see His offspring,


He will prolong His days,


And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

As a result of the anguish of His soul,


He will see it and be satisfied;


By His knowledge the Righteous One,


My Servant, will justify the many,


As He will bear their iniquities.

Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,


And He will divide the booty with the strong;


Because He poured out Himself to death,


And was numbered with the transgressors;


Yet He Himself bore the sin of many


And interceded for the transgressors."

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Using God's perspective who is this passage about?

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Snoopy and Old Movies

Black and White movies are my favorites. Seem more calm and sweet.

God of Grace, Amazing Wonder

 

God of grace amazing wonder

Irresistible and free

Oh the miracle of mercy

Jesus reaches down to me

God of grace I stand in wonder

As my God restores my soul

His own blood has paid my ransom

Awesome cost to make me whole

God of grace who loved and knew me

Long before the world began

Sent my savior down from heaven

Perfect God and perfect man

God of grace I trust in Jesus

I'm accepted as His own

Everyday new grace sustains me

As I lean on Him alone

God of grace I stand astounded

Cleansed forgiven and secure

All my fears are now confounded

And my hope is ever secure

God of grace now crowned in glory

Where one day I'll see Your face

And forever I'll adore You

In Your everlasting grace

-Hogg, Getty, Becker