Just sharing.

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When Worship Music Replaces Worship Of God


Has worshiping God been replaced by programs, music, and entertainment on stage? In some cases, yes!

In Spirit and Truth
Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that God is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 3:24), but what does that mean? If we worship God is spirit only and have no truth, our worship will be vain or useless to God. On the other hand, if we worship God only in truth and not in spirit, we can become legalists or modern-day Pharisees. Worshiping God must be done in spirit and in truth, or it is not acceptable to God. Worship that is simply going through the motions is no better than having a bunch of friends of Facebook.

It means nothing to God if we’re not worshiping God in the truest or most biblical sense. That means we ascribe to God His worth or being worthy to worship and being thankful to God for the great riches He’s provided through Christ. It also means we do not hold musicians, worship leaders, or singers as the center of our attention. Sometimes the show replaces worship, and people come for the entertainment rather than come to be fed by God. The only differences in some cases between worship services and a rock concert is that one is free while you pay for the other, but often, worshiping God is being overshadowed by music, programs, and entertainment.

Music over God
In one church I went to, they handed out ear plugs to everyone that came in…young, old…even to the children, so I thought to myself that “This is going to be loud!” And it was! Without the ear plugs, my ears would have been hurting, and some children even had their hands over their ears, acting as if it was painfully loud (and it was!). Obviously the music was too loud, but something else was happening too. It seemed like the congregation was worshiping the entertainers and not God. It reminded me of an old Lez Zeppelin concert I attended when I was still a youth. I could see little difference between that concert and worshiping in this church with a full band and a host of vocal artists, plus a dazzling light show. As I waited, I wondered when the message would be given, but it wasn’t a really sermon but rather, it was a sermonette. To me, it was about a 10 minute “motivational speech,” so it was only a sermonette for “Christianettes.” I could have just stayed at home and listened to worship music, and, it wouldn’t have hurt my ears. Today it appears that many churches have confused entertainment with true worship of God. Little if anything is said about repentance, confession of sin, growing in holiness, or being Jesus’ disciple and following Him. Rather it seems they are following the artists and their bands and the show has replaced worship.

The Focus
If worship music focuses on the artists or entertainers and not God, then it’s worshiping God in vain. In the psalms, David often wrote about grieving over his sin, and in deep humility and transparency, but there are also psalms to rejoice too. A talented musician himself, David’s psalms were written as worship music, but he was putting the focus solely on God and His attributes, not the musicians or singers. The psalmist wrote that we should “Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe” (Psalm150:4)! Isaiah the Prophet wrote, “The LORD will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the LORD” (Isaiah 38:20), so worshiping God in music and song is not wrong. It’s only wrong when the show becomes the focus and not God. Actually, worship is not about meeting our own needs but about finding ways to express our wonder at God’s holiness and bring Him glory.

We are in awe of God. We should never be in awe of worship musicians and singers because they wouldn’t have anything if it wasn’t given to them by God (1 Cor 4:7), so all glory must be ascribed to God and never to anyone else. It is “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness” (Psalm 115:1)! We don’t go to church to “get” but to give God our best worship, but it can easily become worship of the music and the artists. Anything that takes glory from God and ascribes it to humans, no matter what their abilities are, is robbing from God His due glory, so entertainment can become the show and not focusing on and worshiping Jesus Christ.

Conclusion
If you’re an artist, singer, musician, or whatever, use your talent or gifts for the glory of God and “let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name [but] Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Heb 13:15-16). If you have a skill or talent that can be used in worship services, that’s great, but try to avoid the temptation of being in worship services to becoming part of the show, thereby overshadowing the greatness, glory, and majesty of God.

He alone is worthy to be praised. There is no artist on earth that can compare to the glory of God, so let us draw near to God and humble ourselves in worshiping Him and focusing on Christ. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will testify of Him (John 15:26), so we should do the same. Let us stop focusing on putting on a “concert” and trying to fill the pews and focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mar 1:14-15), and try to fill heaven with the children of God.

 

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Be patient until the coming of the Lord We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5 NIV __________________ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4 KJV __________________ Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7,8 RSV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”

Psalm 61:2

Most of us know what it is to be overwhelmed in heart; emptied as when a man wipeth a dish and turneth it upside down; submerged and thrown on our beam ends like a vessel mastered by the storm. Discoveries of inward corruption will do this, if the Lord permits the great deep of our depravity to become troubled and cast up mire and dirt. Disappointments and heart-breaks will do this when billow after billow rolls over us, and we are like a broken shell hurled to and fro by the surf.

Blessed be God, at such seasons we are not without an all-sufficient solace, our God is the harbour of weather-beaten sails, the hospice of forlorn pilgrims. Higher than we are is he, his mercy higher than our sins, his love higher than our thoughts. It is pitiful to see men putting their trust in something lower than themselves; but our confidence is fixed upon an exceeding high and glorious Lord. A Rock he is since he changes not, and a high Rock, because the tempests which overwhelm us roll far beneath at his feet; he is not disturbed by them, but rules them at his will. If we get under the shelter of this lofty Rock we may defy the hurricane; all is calm under the lee of that towering cliff.

Alas! such is the confusion in which the troubled mind is often cast, that we need piloting to this divine shelter. Hence the prayer of the text. O Lord, our God, by thy Holy Spirit, teach us the way of faith, lead us into thy rest. The wind blows us out to sea, the helm answers not to our puny hand; thou, thou alone canst steer us over the bar between yon sunken rocks, safe into the fair haven. How dependent we are upon thee—we need thee to bring us to thee. To be wisely directed and steered into safety and peace is thy gift, and thine alone. This night be pleased to deal well with thy servants.

 

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Six The Hard Way
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I was on my usual run. The mercury hovered above 90 degrees.
It was hot.

Sweat poured into my face stinging my eyes as my feet pounded
the pavement in a steady rhythm. I saw a man standing in a
doorway and then heard a shout,

“That will either kill you or make you strong!”

It was a MountainWings Moment.

Both halves of the statement were true.

Such heat combined with the exertion could surely kill you.
It’s always an elevated risk exercising in extreme temperatures.

I waved and kept moving. Heat kills a few but inactivity kills
a thousand times more. His statement applied to more than just
running in the heat. It applies to all tough situations.

When tough things come, it will either strengthen you or break
you down. It will make you better or bitter. It will make you
an over comer or overwhelm you.

Tough things can kill.
They kill the spirit, hopes, dreams, visions and even desire.
Excessive pressure can make you explode
or make you learn new ways to constructively vent.

Spirit is very much like the physical; you can’t build muscle
without weight or put another way,
“Smooth seas never make good sailors.”

Heat, pressure, weight on your shoulders, and the constant
demands of life can make you strong. They build your faith.

After six miles, I finished my run, exhausted but feeling
better. I went inside, showered, and took a nap.

I ran hard for the six and then rested.

There are keys to improving your odds that the pressure makes
you stronger.

Run hard for the six then rest, is one of those keys.

 

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My people will be filled with my bounty They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD-- the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 31:12-14 NIV __________________ And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers. Isaiah 30:20 KJV __________________ Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. Isaiah 56:7 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe.”

Mark 9:23

A certain man had a demoniac son, who was afflicted with a dumb spirit. The father, having seen the futility of the endeavors of the disciples to heal his child, had little or no faith in Christ, and therefore, when he was bidden to bring his son to him, he said to Jesus, “If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” Now there was an “if” in the question, but the poor trembling father had put the “if” in the wrong place: Jesus Christ, therefore, without commanding him to retract the “if,” kindly puts it in its legitimate position.

“Nay, verily,” he seemed to say, “there should be no ‘if’ about my power, nor concerning my willingness, the ‘if’ lies somewhere else.” “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” The man's trust was strengthened, he offered a humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus spoke the word, and the devil was cast out, with an injunction never to return.

There is a lesson here which we need to learn. We, like this man, often see that there is an “if” somewhere, but we are perpetually blundering by putting it in the wrong place. “If” Jesus can help me—“if” he can give me grace to overcome temptation—“if” he can give me pardon—“if” he can make me successful? Nay, “if” you can believe, he both can and will. You have misplaced your “if.” If you can confidently trust, even as all things are possible to Christ, so shall all things be possible to you.

Faith standeth in God's power, and is robed in God's majesty; it weareth the royal apparel, and rideth on the King's horse, for it is the grace which the King delighteth to honour. Girding itself with the glorious might of the all-working Spirit, it becomes, in the omnipotence of God, mighty to do, to dare, and to suffer. All things, without limit, are possible to him that believeth. My soul, canst thou believe thy Lord to-night?

 

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A Lesson Learned From A Bug
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I pulled out of my driveway heading for my mom's and noticed a
katydid on my windshield. This is rare for the area I live in
since it is more city than farm or wooded area. For those of
you who do not know what a katydid is, it is similar to a
grasshopper. It is green but has a flat (up-down) body
whereas the grasshopper has a round body and is more brown
colored.

As I accelerated, I noticed the wind was making his body flutter,
but the legs were securely attached to the windshield. I was
sure he would lose his battle to the wind, but he kept hanging
on body fluttering in the wind. He did this for a couple of
miles. As I slowed down one time he tried to re-adjust his
footing. He released his grip on the windshield with just one
leg and it was all over, he was gone.

The wind is our trials.

The windshield is like the word of God.

When we hold on to our "windshield" securely, we are secure.

When things start to settle down we often loosen our grip on
God’s word. We start to rely on our strength and understanding
rather than staying in God’s word. That’s when the trials come
back and catch us unprepared and the trials drag us away.

If we hold firm to God's word, we will be ready for the trials
as they come.

 

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Power over temptation... It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes. Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city. Ecclesiastes 7:18,19 NIV __________________ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 KJV __________________ Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:17,18 RSV __________________ You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 NASB __________________ We proclaim Jesus, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29 NIV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Who of God is made unto us wisdom.”

1 Corinthians 1:30

Man's intellect seeks after rest, and by nature seeks it apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Men of education are apt, even when converted, to look upon the simplicities of the cross of Christ with an eye too little reverent and loving. They are snared in the old net in which the Grecians were taken, and have a hankering to mix philosophy with revelation. The temptation with a man of refined thought and high education is to depart from the simple truth of Christ crucified, and to invent, as the term is, a more intellectual doctrine.

This led the early Christian churches into Gnosticism, and bewitched them with all sorts of heresies. This is the root of Neology, and the other fine things which in days gone by were so fashionable in Germany, and are now so ensnaring to certain classes of divines. Whoever you are, good reader, and whatever your education may be, if you be the Lord's, be assured you will find no rest in philosophizing divinity. You may receive this dogma of one great thinker, or that dream of another profound reasoner, but what the chaff is to the wheat, that will these be to the pure word of God.

All that reason, when best guided, can find out is but the A B C of truth, and even that lacks certainty, while in Christ Jesus there is treasured up all the fulness of wisdom and knowledge. All attempts on the part of Christians to be content with systems such as Unitarian and Broad-church thinkers would approve of, must fail; true heirs of heaven must come back to the grandly simple reality which makes the ploughboy's eye flash with joy, and gladens the pious pauper's heart — “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” Jesus satisfies the most elevated intellect when he is believingly received, but apart from him the mind of the regenerate discovers no rest. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” “A good understanding have all they that do his commandments.”

 

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God: Father, Almighty, Creator (RJS)



I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Having set up the Apostles’ Creed – its importance, the importance of creed-like statements in Scripture, and the role of the rule of faith in the early church it is now time to dig into the creed itself. The initial phrase in the creed is a concise statement of the God in whom we believe. In the previous post, Creeds Before the Canon?, we looked at the way the rule of faith (from which the creed developed) played a role in the early church and served as a standard to separate orthodox and heretical writings and beliefs. We only understand the creed, however, in the context of Scripture. It is not enough to simply “believe in God.” The God we worship is the God revealed in Scripture. The creed summons us to ponder three key characteristics of the God we worship.

Father. God is not some abstract, distant deity, who set the world in motion and let it be. Nor is God an autocratic despot or an inscrutable force. God is a parent. Described as a father, although feminine analogies are also made at times. Michael Bird (What Christians ought to Believe) points us to three references in Isaiah where God is portrayed as a mother giving birth (42:14), nursing (49:14-17), and comforting her children (66:13). The important thing here is relationship. God is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows (Ps 68:5). He carried Israel in the wilderness “as a father carries his son” (Dt 1:31). As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him (Ps 103:13).

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Is 64:8).
The idea of God as father runs through the Old Testament with Israel as his children or son, although there is not a consort. The gods of the surrounding nations were male and female, they lusted and procreated. Asherah was the consort of the supreme Canaanite deity El, Sarpanit was the consort of Marduk. Ra had a number of consorts, some also his offspring. This is not true of the God of Israel. Michael Bird suggests that the language of father is used rather sparingly in the Old Testament, perhaps to dissociate God from the common understanding of the surrounding polytheistic culture. It is a mistake to view God as “male” or “female.”
Jesus used the language of Father often. It is here we find our belief in God as Father most completely described. God is referred to as Father in Matthew 40+ times and almost 100 times in John, less often in Luke, and a handful of times in Mark.

In the Sermon on the Mount we are told to “pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” …”This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,… For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Mt 6:6,9,14) Jesus prayed to his Father and we are adopted as sons and daughters “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mt 12:50) In John we read that Jesus reveals the Father to us, Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (Jn 14:8-9)
To name the God who is in heaven as Our Father defines a relationship with him and says important things about his nature.


We believe in God the Father …

Almighty. The God we worship is all powerful and capable of doing whatever he wills. In the Old Testament we read often of the LORD Almighty – a search of the NIV found 276 references. The creed connects this with God the Father spoken of by Jesus. The LORD Almighty of the Old Testament and God the Father Almighty are one and the same.
Almighty … possessing all might, all power. Michael Bird notes that “His power is not limited by anything beyond his own character and being. God always works to bring about what he intends to do” (p. 65) Nothing can thwart his purposes. The story of God’s plan is found in the pages of Scripture. J.I. Packer (Affirming the Apostles’ Creed) writes:

The truth of God’s almightiness in creation, providence, and grace is the basis of all our trust, peace, and joy in God and the safeguard of all our hope of answered prayer, present protection, and final salvation. It means that neither fate, nor the stars, nor blind chance, nor man’s folly, nor Satan’s malice controls this world; instead a morally perfect God runs it, and none can dethrone him or thwart his purposes of love. (p. 49)

We go one step further, though, and affirm God as almighty creator. We believe in God the Father almighty …

Creator of Heaven and Earth. We find God as creator in Genesis 1-2, setting the stage for all that follows, with continuing references throughout the Old and New Testaments. Michael Bird points to Nehemiah 9:6 as perhaps the best summary. “You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” The Psalms, Isaiah, and the book of Job provide us with additional insight into God as creator.

J.I. Packer notes that affirming God as Creator in the creed serves at least three purposes (paraphrased and summarized from pp. 55-57). First, it stops misunderstanding of God by reminding us that he is responsible for all we see and that we are created in his image, not he in ours. Second, it stops misunderstanding of the world by reminding us that the world is God’s not ours and that we are stewards not owners. It also reminds us that the world is good and that we should not despise material or bodily things. Third, it stops misunderstanding of ourselves. Packer emphasizes that this reminds us that we are not our own master. I would put the emphasis a little differently. We are reminded that God is our maker. We worship and obey him in response. As God’s creation we are of value and we have a mission and purpose in the world bigger than ourselves.

The opening lines of the creed bring us into the biblical story and connect us with creation, the Old Testament narrative, and with the Father revealed in Jesus.

 

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A day in your courts... is better than a thousand elsewhere Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior! Psalm 65:4,5a NIV __________________ Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. Psalm 89:15,16 KJV __________________ Blessed are those who dwell in thy house, ever singing thy praise! For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:4,10-11 RSV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Go again seven times.”

1 Kings 18:43

Success is certain when the Lord has promised it. Although you may have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer, it is not possible that the Lord should be deaf when his people are earnest in a matter which concerns his glory. The prophet on the top of Carmel continued to wrestle with God, and never for a moment gave way to a fear that he should be non-suited in Jehovah's courts. Six times the servant returned, but on each occasion no word was spoken but “Go again.” We must not dream of unbelief, but hold to our faith even to seventy times seven.

Faith sends expectant hope to look from Carmel's brow, and if nothing is beheld, she sends again and again. So far from being crushed by repeated disappointment, faith is animated to plead more fervently with her God. She is humbled, but not abashed: her groans are deeper, and her sighings more vehement, but she never relaxes her hold or stays her hand. It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait for as well as upon the Lord. Delayed answers often set the heart searching itself, and so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation: deadly blows are thus struck at our corruption, and the chambers of imagery are cleansed.

The great danger is lest men should faint, and miss the blessing. Reader, do not fall into that sin, but continue in prayer and watching. At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain, and even so with you, the token for good shall surely be given, and you shall rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy you have sought. Elijah was a man of like passions with us: his power with God did not lie in his own merits. If his believing prayer availed so much, why not yours? Plead the precious blood with unceasing importunity, and it shall be with you according to your desire.

 

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Practicing Pure Religion


Nursing homes residents live in one of the loneliest places on the planet, and many of them feel scuttled by family and society.
Scuttled by Society
We are a society in which people seem to be disposable, and it’s become acceptable. Abortion is one example, but, when someone reaches an age where they can no longer care for themselves, and family is not able to care for them either, they must either pay for in-home care (if they can afford it), or they have to go to a skilled nursing home. Either way, there is a whole new world awaiting them. And since their care costs so much in nursing homes, any wealth or property they have can quickly evaporate, leaving little or nothing for them or for their families after they’re gone. It’s one of the most heartbreaking things about our society.

When we get so old that we can no longer work, and eventually, no longer take care of ourselves, we are forced to make some hard decisions. Some of these decisions fall into the hands of their children, many of whom are given power of attorney. It can be a long, lonely road for seniors, or for those who are in an accident and have to recuperate in a nursing home. It’s not because of the staff because the homes I visited are staffed by supportive, caring people, and the cafeteria foods are just as good as home cooked meals.

A Lonely Place
I’ve been visiting nursing homes for about 10 years now, and I always notice when someone new comes in. When I see someone new, I make an effort to introduce myself, and since most of the new residents usually sit by themselves in the dining room, I try to single them out and sit down and talk with them, however, that’s only if they want company. I tell them my name and then tell them a little bit about the place they’re now staying. I can’t imagine how fearful it must be to go to a place where they don’t know anyone, so I try to make them feel welcome, so at least they know one person. To get sent to a place where you don’t know anyone, and where everything familiar to you has been taken away, must be a very difficult adjustment.

Pure Religion
James 1:27 tells us what religion is all about, and it’s focused on relationships, not rituals or traditions. James writes, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Keeping oneself unstained from the world takes yielding to the Holy Spirit and a lifetime of the sanctifying work of the Spirit, but visiting orphans and widows is as easy as finding the nearest nursing home. Since these people cannot come to church, we bring the church to them. I remember asking them the question, “How many of you are widows or widowers?” All but one hand went up. Then I asked, “How many are orphans,” and every hand was raised. The local nursing home or assisted-care living center is full of orphans and widows, and it’s the perfect opportunity to practice “pure religion.” Over time, we have grown to love them, and they have grown to love us, so it is a win-win for everyone.

So Much to Share

I talked with one centurion a few years ago who had fought in World War II and ended up fighting in two theatres (Europe and the Pacific), and the stories he told me about the hardships they faced were startling. Even at home he said they were rationing just about everything, but almost the entire country cooperated and made the war effort successful. He lost several of his best friends in the war, and he was the last living member of his marine unit. Today he is with the Lord, but I would have never found all of these fascinating things out if I had not sat down and talked with him. I found that since he had just turned 100, he had no family around. Even his grandchildren had died, so a visit meant something very special to him. He had so much to share but few to share it with, and I learned so much about history. Either way, his eyes light always light up when he saw me or one of our church members.

To many of them, it feels like they’re in prison. They just want to go home, but they aren’t free to come and go as they like, in most cases, so in a way, they are prisoners…prisoners of their old age. The last I read was about 60% of the residents never have anyone visit them, including family. I guess out of sight is out of mind. On a recent Mother’s Day visit, I noticed an elderly lady sitting there crying, so I asked her why she was crying, and she said her daughter lives 5 blocks away and she won’t even come see her on Mother’s Day. That was heartbreaking. It seems that the love of many has grown cold, just as Jesus’ prophesied (Matt 24:12), and that many are without natural affection today (2 Tim 3:3).

Conclusion
Nursing homes residents live in one of the loneliest places on the planet, and many of them feel scuttled by family and society. The staff at most nursing homes I’ve visited are excellent in the performance of their duties. They are typically underpaid, understaffed, and overworked, so if not for the compassionate care that the staff provides, residents would indeed feel like they’re sitting in prison. It takes a special person to serve these men and women. The staff is the closest thing that many of these residents have to family. They do the best they can with what they have, so my compliments to nursing home and assisted-living centers staff. The ones I’ve visited do an excellent job, going above and beyond. They live out what James 1:27 says, and visit the orphans and widows in their affliction.

 

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Fulfill the law of the Spirit of life "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1,2 NIV __________________ For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:2-4 KJV __________________ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 RSV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go.”

Song of Solomon 3:4

Does Christ receive us when we come to him, notwithstanding all our past sinfulness? Does he never chide us for having tried all other refuges first? And is there none on earth like him? Is he the best of all the good, the fairest of all the fair? Oh, then let us praise him! Daughters of Jerusalem, extol him with timbrel and harp! Down with your idols, up with the Lord Jesus. Now let the standards of pomp and pride be trampled under foot, but let the cross of Jesus, which the world frowns and scoffs at, be lifted on high.

O for a throne of ivory for our King Solomon! Let him be set on high for ever, and let my soul sit at his footstool, and kiss his feet, and wash them with my tears. Oh, how precious is Christ! How can it be that I have thought so little of him? How is it I can go abroad for joy or comfort when he is so full, so rich, so satisfying. Fellow believer, make a covenant with thine heart that thou wilt never depart from him, and ask thy Lord to ratify it. Bid him set thee as a signet upon his finger, and as a bracelet upon his arm. Ask him to bind thee about him, as the bride decketh herself with ornaments, and as the bridegroom putteth on his jewels.

I would live in Christ's heart; in the clefts of that rock my soul would eternally abide. The sparrow hath made a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God; and so too would I make my nest, my home, in thee, and never from thee may the soul of thy turtle dove go forth again, but may I nestle close to thee, O Jesus, my true and only rest.

“When my precious Lord I find,
All my ardent passions glow;
Him with cords of love I bind,
Hold and will not let him go.”

 

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Finding Richie
===============

My husband's brother had a birthday.

His brother Richie passed away 21 years ago, but this year he
weighed heavy on everyone's hearts. I went with my husband to
the cemetery which we hadn't been to in quite some time.
Once we arrived we couldn't find the headstone.

I called his mother to ask for some guidance in finding it but
then decided to walk up and down every isle until I could find
it for my husband who was visibly upset at forgetting. Those
headstones told so many stories while I walked among them, there
were mothers, fathers, husbands, wives and babies who had just
one day before God took them home.

When we finally found his headstone I felt no since of
accomplishment. It was marble with words. He wasn't there.

The good memories weren't there.

If we want to visit Richie, all we have to do is talk to his
parents or his brothers or his best friend. That's where we
should look, in people’s hearts.

We could move a thousand miles away and still visit Richie. The
part of our loved ones that we long for are much easier to find
than a headstone. I think we should visit those we loved often
with laughter, stories, and a shared love. I will tell my
children when they decide to visit me to just get together for
lunch or give each other a hug because that is where I will
always be.

Don't bother walking through the cemetery.

I won't be there.

 

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Strength for believers and Victory over sin We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:18-20 NIV __________________ Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 KJV __________________ He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:29-31 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“A living dog is better than a dead lion.” Ecclesiastes 9:4 Life is a precious thing, and in its humblest form it is superior to death. This truth is eminently certain in spiritual things. It is better to be the least in the kingdom of heaven than the greatest out of it. The lowest degree of grace is superior to the noblest development of unregenerate nature. Where the Holy Ghost implants divine life in the soul, there is a precious deposit which none of the refinements of education can equal. The thief on the cross excels Caesar on his throne; Lazarus among the dogs is better than Cicero among the senators; and the most unlettered Christian is in the sight of God superior to Plato. Life is the badge of nobility in the realm of spiritual things, and men without it are only coarser or finer specimens of the same lifeless material, needing to be quickened, for they are dead in trespasses and sins. A living, loving, gospel sermon, however unlearned in matter and uncouth in style, is better than the finest discourse devoid of unction and power. A living dog keeps better watch than a dead lion, and is of more service to his master; and so the poorest spiritual preacher is infinitely to be preferred to the exquisite orator who has no wisdom but that of words, no energy but that of sound. The like holds good of our prayers and other religious exercises; if we are quickened in them by the Holy Spirit, they are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, though we may think them to be worthless things; while our grand performances in which our hearts were absent, like dead lions, are mere carrion in the sight of the living God. O for living groans, living sighs, living despondencies, rather than lifeless songs and dead calms. Better anything than death. The snarlings of the dog of hell will at least keep us awake, but dead faith and dead profession, what greater curses can a man have? Quicken us, quicken us, O Lord! Tweet It - Facebook It Sponsor Regain the full use of your home with the Easy Climber Stair Lift Affordable solution allowing you to stay in your home longer Fast and easy installation with minimal construction Safe, dependable, made in the USA Learn more Morning by Morning Devotional for Tomorrow, October 1 Charles H. Spurgeon “Pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.” Song of Solomon 7:13 The spouse desires to give to Jesus all that she produces. Our heart has “all manner of pleasant fruits,” both “old and new,” and they are laid up for our Beloved. At this rich autumnal season of fruit, let us survey our stores. We have new fruits. We desire to feel new life, new joy, new gratitude; we wish to make new resolves and carry them out by new labours; our heart blossoms with new prayers, and our soul is pledging herself to new efforts. But we have some old fruits too. There is our first love: a choice fruit that! and Jesus delights in it. There is our first faith: that simple faith by which, having nothing, we became possessors of all things. There is our joy when first we knew the Lord: let us revive it. We have our old remembrances of the promises. How faithful has God been! In sickness, how softly did he make our bed! In deep waters, how placidly did he buoy us up! In the flaming furnace, how graciously did he deliver us. Old fruits, indeed! We have many of them, for his mercies have been more than the hairs of our head. Old sins we must regret, but then we have had repentances which he has given us, by which we have wept our way to the cross, and learned the merit of his blood. We have fruits, this morning, both new and old; but here is the point — they are all laid up for Jesus. Truly, those are the best and most acceptable services in which Jesus is the solitary aim of the soul, and his glory, without any admixture whatever, the end of all our efforts. Let our many fruits be laid up only for our Beloved; let us display them when he is with us, and not hold them up before the gaze of men. Jesus, we will turn the key in our garden door, and none shall enter to rob thee of one good fruit from the soil which thou hast watered with thy bloody sweat. Our all shall be thine, thine only, O Jesus, our Beloved!

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What The Bible Says About Anger


Everyone gets angry, even Jesus, but what happens when the anger is dysfunctional? Here are some great Bible verses to read when you’re angry.
Be Angry
I had never imagined that there was a command to be angry, but here it is, written by the Apostle Paul who wrote, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Eph 4:26-27). Anger is good when it’s justifiable. For example when you see a child abused, you get angry. There is no sin in this. When our neighbor makes us angry, we may have good reason, but we’re told not to dwell on it and “do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Why? It’s because you can “give no opportunity to the devil.”

Satan holds a grudge against God and God’s children, but his anger is misdirected. It was his own choice to rebel, so if he’s angry, he should be angry at his own idiocy. Jesus warned “that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matt 5:22). If we can remember that “evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land” (Psalm 37:9), it might give us more patience but “A fool gives full vent to his spirit” however “a wise man quietly holds it back” (Prov 29:11). That’s the wisdom I pray for.
Cain kills his brother, Abel.

Avoiding Wrath
Solomon wrote that “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov 15:1), so “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20). Solomon also counseled us to “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools” (Eccl 7:9). For believers, and non-believers, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense” (Prov 19:11). This is why Paul said we “must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Col 3:8). When it comes to anger, we know that “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention” (Prov 15:18).

Root Causes
Why is there such anger today in this world? Is it really worth it to display road rage just so you can get home a few minutes earlier? Why all this anger? James asked, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:1-2). Discontentment is a huge reason for anger. When we don’t get what we want, and get it when we want it, we can get angry.

When our expectations are not met, we don’t like that, but consider this: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Rom 5:10). God sent Jesus to die for us while we were still His enemies, but also while we were still ungodly, wicked sinners (Rom 5:6-10), so surely we can “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Eph 4:31). Anger may come from wanting something but not having it, no matter what it is, but our expectations may be too high for a fallen world. We know things are broken in this world, so we must expect that things won’t always go smoothly, so anger doesn’t help. In fact, it can make it even worse.

Slow to Anger
I remember one of my teachers in school. She was about the most patient person I’ve ever met (up to then), and she didn’t allow things to get to her. Her life was that of Proverbs 16:32, where it says, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city,” and she did have control over her emotions. We know that “A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated” (Prov 14:17), but one way to avoid becoming angry is not running with angry people.

For example, Solomon wrote that we are to “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare” (Prov 22:24-25). Anger is contagious. It is often a mob mentality when anger becomes destructive, but the very thing they’re protesting about is undermined by the destructive ways that they’re protesting. I’m sorry, but your message is lost if you’re protesting for change but using destructive methods to do it. Misdirected anger rarely helps, but actually, it can only make matters worse.

Conclusion
If you know someone who has an anger problem, maybe you should share these Bible verses with them. They can read these when they get angry and put things into a more godly perspective. I have a cousin who has a hair-trigger. Say the wrong thing, even unintentionally, and he explodes. He is not fun to be around, and the last time I rode with him, his road rage told me, “This will be my last trip with him.”

His temper’s gotten him in trouble more than once. He even made a law enforcement officer angry by his lack of respect, and it cost him a ticket when he was only going to get a warning. The officer was only doing his job, but after the ticket, he drove more angrily than before, and as I said, that was the last time I ever rode with him. I could sense that his anger (particularly his driving) was going to get him in trouble… again…and I wanted no part of it. I knew that I wanted “no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest learn his ways and entangle [myself] in a snare” (Prov 22:24-25).

 

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Victory over the devil So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:14,15 NIV __________________ But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6,7 KJV __________________ Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31,32 NASB __________________ I would have you wise as to what is good and guileless as to what is evil; then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:19,20 RSV __________________ We proclaim Jesus, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29 NIV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.