God's Tug - Hope Follows Praise

Hope Follows Praise

March 31, 2011

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  ~Ephesians 1:6 KJV~

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all –

-      Emily Dickinson, an untitled poem

¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer in need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.  

~Philippians 4: 12-13 KJV~

This morning my tug from God came quite early. I thought about what I wrote yesterday and before I even read today’s comments from others’ or read email, I knew I had to write this. Yesterday I wanted to send an e-card to someone on another site I frequent. The card I picked had the verse from Emily Dickinson on it. That poem came to mind this morning and I realized that if I praise the Lord when I nothing, it opens a door for hope. If I praise God in abundance, that doesn’t show genuine faith. I’m just praising the material things I have or have acquired. The Lord wants me “through thick and thin,” so the verse from Philippians came to mind, but I didn’t know where it was, so I had to search for it. YAY! I dove into the Bible for an answer. Right now I’m a mixture of excitement, serenity, just feeling so good I feel as if I’m going to explode. Understand? I certainly do at this moment. Now I can eat lunch and read my other email.

God's blessings upon you.

Michelle Rose

Good Things

by        Everett Christian,   McAlester,  OK    

 
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News (Gospel) so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.  - Ephesians 6:13-18(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.  - Romans 8:17(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
A real man follows through with commitments he has made to his wife.
- Dr. Robert Lewis -
 
 
 
A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
 
If we always do our best, then our best will always be better.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been a cloudy day with a high temperature of 45 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 39 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I went to the post office. I took a nap in early afternoon. Beau and Smokey were on the bed with me when I awoke from my nap. At about 3:30 p.m. I went to Country Mart and then to Walmart for my weekly supply of cat food and other items. It was too cool to sit out with the cats this evening although I did put food out for the outside animals. Thanks to those I heard from concerning my rest last night. I may rest again tomorrow night so if you don't get the Good Things tomorrow, don't be concerned. Yesterday as I was driving to the post office, about a block from the post office I saw a man walking with a dog going toward the post office. The dog was not on a leash but was staying right with the man. I went in the post office and picked up my mail. When I came out of the post office there was a man lying on the sidwalk with several people all around him. I saw the dog there also so I knew it was the man that I had seen walking with the dog. He had passed out and fallen on the side walk. Some ladies who were helping him had already called an ambulance. The ambulance came and the ER's checked the man over. He was able to talk by then. They told him that they would take him to the emergency room at the hospital. They told the man they couldn't take the dog but they would call Animal Control to take the dog. They put the man on a stretcher and rolled him several yards to the ambulance. The dog followed right along and went in the ambulance with his master. About that time Animal Control arrived and took the dog. One lady offered to take the dog home with her to return to the man later but they wouldn't let her do that. I was really touched by the way that dog stayed with his master until they took him away. I am sure he will get his dog back but I hope he doesn't have to pay boarding fees. The dog was black and white and might have been a Border Collie.
 
The cats are fine. Little Girl on the blanket and the others have been coming and going through the den.
 
At 9:55 p.m. skies are cloudy with a temperature of 43 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.

Nan's Calendar

by       Nan Forehand,  Statesville, NC   

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
Psalm 37:16-17

But now, Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in you.
Psalm 39:7

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity."

As you think of your troubles, also think of and remember the promises in the verses I share with you today.  "....... the LORD upholds the righteous" "I am your God......I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  The Lord knows everything that concerns you and His timing is always perfect.  Yes, your hope is in the Lord.  Never lose sight of hope and never let it go.  What you are going through is temporary and will pass.  You won't always feel the way you do now.  God says "do not be dismayed."  Sometimes we are held captive by our fears and worries.  God will bring you back from captivity.  Trust Him and let go of your fears and worries.  Let Him have them and then remember, once you give them to Him, resist the urge to take them back.  He will take care of you.

This message today won't be pertinent to all of you.  There are those of you who are at peace and for that I am thankful and rejoice with you.  However, my heart goes out to those struggling financially and are living currently with little or no income.  Pray with me for those in need.  God is sending this message through me today to those who are struggling right now. There are many people who need this assurance today.  You are in my prayers.  I love you.  God loves you more.
Your sister in Christ, Nan

God's Tug - 3/30/201 - Sadness in the Midst of Joy

Sadness in the Midst of Joy

March 30, 2011

“He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.” - Isaiah 53:3-4  New King James Version

 ¹⁰ and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing;
 everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them,
 and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10 (New International Version, ©2011)

I’ve got to admit, I’m feeling a mixture of sadness and joy today. The joy comes from the fact that I did one of my “nice” things today – 2 loads of laundry, new sheets and towels, a “comfort” food dinner (mixed salad with TJ’s dressing), then took a shower to feel clean when I get into bed. The sadness comes from the fact that I am now officially unemployed – I filed for unemployment today. Well, maybe the Lord has something better in mind for me as far as work is concerned. I get many of my Bible verses from a site called www.biblegateway.com. The first one is the verse of the day and tells from what I can figure out – how Jesus understood all our grief and sorrows, yet we rejected him. The second, I searched for in the topic index. It sounds like it’s about Jesus coming back to take all His followers to Heaven and how our sorry will be replaced by joy in the Lord’s presence. It’s incredible that both verses come from Isaiah. What I was actually searching for instead, was to see if there was a verse (well, other than “…Sarah laughed” because she was pregnant at an advanced age) that told about God’s humor. God must have a sense of humor, since for 6 months I’ve felt terrible and now that I feel better, I have no work. Please – no advice – ok? Again, this is something that I have to work out between the Lord and I in prayer, in these blogs, in reading the Bible. The Lord appears to be doing much work in my life right now. Sometimes, it’s such a pleasure, but other times it’s so confusing. Hey, God, help me out here, ok?

God's Blessings upon all of you.

Michelle Rose  

Daily Jewel

by        Pastor J.T. Carnell,  McAlester, OK   

“In the Absence of a Referee”  

“My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.” – Proverbs 7:19

“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” – Judges 21:25

            I have been involved in and played sports long enough to know that without “supervision,” a game can get out of hand—even violent. 

At the first Church I pastored we had a group of men (and sometimes ladies) that would play basketball three times a week, from about six to seven o’clock in the morning.  The games were “self-called,” simply meaning we did not have a referee and we called our own fouls.  The problem with that is obvious.  Unless the individual has integrity calling a foul on themselves was not always going to happen, especially in the heat of the moment. 

The scenario from the verse in Judges is much the same.  The only difference is that they were not playing a game—it was their lives.  At that point in Israel’s existence they were “ruled” by Judges, men (and women) appointed by God to lead them in times of need.  Mostly when they were being oppressed by their enemies.  Then, during times of peace, with no need of a judge to oversee them they became, “self-governing.”  If you read between the lines it does not take an expert to realize this kind of system will not and cannot work!  The reason…we simply cannot manage that kind of power!  In the absence of leadership (or supervision) the result is more often or not—chaos. 

Paul understood this which is why he wrote:

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.   For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.   For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good.  They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.   Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.” – Romans 13:1-5

The absence of God (and the principles that follow) is living life unsupervised.  It is attempting to be completely self-governing.  It is an attempt to experience the kind of freedom that we were never intended to have.  And as the verse from Proverbs shows it is the kind of lure that promises great reward!  That is impossible because we must all serve something!  My hope is that you always choose Christ!

The following are the lyrics of a song from the 1980’s from all people, Bob Dylan who had converted to Christianity.  Its theology is simple but direct!

"Gotta Serve Somebody"

You may be an ambassador to England or France; You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world; You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Might be a rock'n' roll adict prancing on the stage;

Might have money and drugs at your commands, women in a cage
You may be a business man or some high degree thief
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief.

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride; A city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir.

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk; Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

                Since we have a choice, choose Christ!  Always.  And by the way, there is no such thing as being self-governed because if you are serving yourself, you are in reality serving the prince of pride.