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Please, Lord, send someone else!

In the book of Exodus we read where the Lord told Moses that he was sending him to Pharaoh to tell him to let the Israelites go. Moses said, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? The Lord said I will certainly be with you. Then Moses asked God if I go to the Israelites and say to them “The God of your fathers has sent me to you, ‘ and they ask me, ‘what is his name?’ what should I tell them? God replied to Moses, “ I AM THAT I AM.” Moses answered, “What if they don’t believe me, and say “The Lord did not appear to you?” The Lord caused the staff that Moses had to turn into a snake. The Lord caused the hand of Moses to become like leprosy. After all that Moses told the Lord that he had never been a great speaker! The Lord told Moses to go! I will help you to speak and teach you what to say. Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” 

In the book of Isaiah in the sixth chapter Isaiah gets his call and mission. Isaiah saw the Lord, high, and lifted up, the Lord was seated on a lofty throne. Isaiah saw Seraphim, and one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth. Then Isaiah said: Woe is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies. After a seraphim touched his lips with a glowing coal and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for. Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who should I send? Who will go for us? Isaiah said: Here I am send me.  

In the first chapter of Jeremiah he gets his call. The word of the Lord came to me: I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.  I appointed you a prophet to the nations. But I protested, “Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.”

Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.  Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you. This is the Lord’s declaration. Then the Lord reached out his hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with my words.  See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.

Mose, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, called by the Lord for different missions, all told God why they could not do what he had told them to do. The Lord was very patient with these men, as he is with us. Maybe right now you are being called, right now, when your city and county are in need. Do you realize that God was the first planner? He left nothing to chance. Psalm 139: 16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began. 

He planned the end from the beginning! Do you realize, really understand, that right now, in this crisis you might be getting your call to carry out what you were born for? Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But if true it should do two things, make you grateful and drive you to your knees! Millions of people have wondered and are now wondering, Why am I here? What am I supposed to be doing? Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah were all just wandering and wondering thru life when they were called to fill a specific purpose for a specific time. 

You are being called. Now is your time. If you answer now it might lead to a ministry of some type. Now, you might not think you can help out. Can you make a phone call? Many people you know need direction and encouragement! Call someone and offer to help. Deliver food. Trim their yard. Walk their dog. Pray for them! Read to them! God has given us this opportunity to step out of our comfort zones and help. Say, yes Lord, send me! Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” That means God won’t change his mind about what he has called you to do. That calling is still there, whether you have obeyed that calling or not. 

Heavenly Father, I ask that you would reveal to people all over this area what you have always had planned for them and they would seek your face to hear it from you. Lord God, the whole earth is in such turmoil, fear and panic are driving people to do things beyond reason! With many others I pray for peace, not our own, but the peace only you can impart, the assurance that if they are yours all will be well. Longsuffering, perseverance and endurance are what I pray for people right now. Fear should not be among your people or in our homes! I ask that, at this, time you would restore to us the joy of your salvation and the assurance of eternal life with you! In Jesus’s Name, AMEN.

True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor and long life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world he sent his only begotten Son.

Replacing the Shadows #SolidJoys https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/replacing-the-shadows

Forgive

Colossians 2:6-7 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

   I hope that all of you had a good Thanksgiving holiday. There were, as always, those who didn’t have Thursday past off, thinking nurses, doctors, law enforcement officers, paramedics, EMT’s, firefighters, our military personnel, especially those serving overseas, dispatchers, those that serve as someone to help others that might call to a suicide hotline for help.

   This is an especially difficult time of the year for many people. Reflection into our past starts at this time, and usually, our adversary brings out only the difficult times. The devil would have us remember the arguments and disagreements we have had, especially with family members. Many of those still an open wound. Forgiveness can be a huge struggle! 

   Studies on forgiveness show that practicing forgiveness can improve our mental and physical health. When we feel we have been lied to, betrayed, and just been used by someone we want revenge. And revenge is a choice! We choose to take that road, it leads to greater problems with anger and thoughts of when and how we will “get even”. It is a vicious circle, and the devil is only too pleased to remind us as to how we have been abused!

   Please remember, forgiveness is also a choice! We find that, even as Christians, forgiveness is not easy, yet we are told in Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I (Jesus) say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 

   It is not in our DNA to forgive. It is not in our hearts to pray for people that spitefully use us and persecute us. But we MUST forgive others if we want to be forgiven by the Lord. Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. We have the choice of forgiving and being forgiven or continuing down the same road into bitterness and revenge. Choose life! Choose forgiveness! 

   The following verses found in Proverbs 25:21-22 have always been puzzling to me. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you. So far this has been the best interpretation I have found: ‘As metals are melted by placing fiery coals on the metal, so is the heart of an enemy softened by such kindness.’

   As this Christmas season is at hand seek the Lord and He will meet you at your point of need!

Contrast these two verses found in Proverbs 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. Spiritually speaking broken walls to our heart are open to evil thoughts and temptations. Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger  is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

   I pray this week that you will choose to forgive and in turn, maybe for the first time feel the release as God forgives you! 2 Corinthians 3:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves  are comforted by God.

Have a blessed Sunday and make it a great week!

Forgive

Colossians 2:6-7 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

I hope that all of you had a good Thanksgiving holiday. There were, as always, those who didn’t have Thursday past off, thinking nurses, doctors, law enforcement officers, paramedics, EMT’s, firefighters, our military personnel, especially those serving overseas, dispatchers, those that serve as someone to help others that might call to a suicide hotline for help.

This is an especially difficult time of the year for many people. Reflection into our past starts at this time, and usually, our adversary brings out only the difficult times. The devil would have us remember the arguments and disagreements we have had, especially with family members. Many of those still an open wound. Forgiveness can be a huge struggle!

Studies on forgiveness show that practicing forgiveness can improve our mental and physical health. When we feel we have been lied to, betrayed, and just been used by someone we want revenge. And revenge is a choice! We choose to take that road, it leads to greater problems with anger and thoughts of when and how we will “get even”. It is a vicious circle, and the devil is only too pleased to remind us as to how we have been abused!

Please remember, forgiveness is also a choice! We find that, even as Christians, forgiveness is not easy, yet we are told in Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I (Jesus) say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

It is not in our DNA to forgive. It is not in our hearts to pray for people that spitefully use us and persecute us. But we MUST forgive others if we want to be forgiven by the Lord. Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. We have the choice of forgiving and being forgiven or continuing down the same road into bitterness and revenge. Choose life! Choose forgiveness!

The following verses found in Proverbs 25:21-22 have always been puzzling to me. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you. So far this has been the best interpretation I have found: ‘As metals are melted by placing fiery coals on the metal, so is the heart of an enemy softened by such kindness.’

As this Christmas season is at hand seek the Lord and He will meet you at your point of need!

Contrast these two verses found in Proverbs 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. Spiritually speaking broken walls to our heart are open to evil thoughts and temptations. Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

I pray this week that you will choose to forgive and in turn, maybe for the first time feel the release as God forgives you! 2 Corinthians 3:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Have a blessed Sunday and make it a great week!

Matthew 5:21-26 You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” But I say to you 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.

Remembering 9/11

Psalm 27:11 Teach me how to live. O Lord, lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.

Tuesday 8:45 AM September 11, 2001 a clear fall morning in NYC. Prior to that time everyone was going about their daily jobs, office workers, police officers, paramedics, pilots, passengers and firefighters, seemingly just another day.

Then disaster struck as nineteen hijackers flew two planes into the twin towers, a third plane into the Pentagon and a fourth crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In a short time almost 3,000 people were killed. Psalm 35:15 But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly. 

These attacks targeted our civilian population, our financial markets and our military. 

Psalm 17:11 Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished.

At World Trade Center 343 firefighters and paramedics died. NYC police department lost 23 officers and the Port Authority lost 37 officers.

At the Pentagon 125 military and civilians died along with all 64 passengers on the plane.

Flight 93 crashed killing all 44 people on board. It is believed the hijackers were attacked by the passengers, probably keeping the plane from its intended target. People from 78 countries died in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. 

Almost 2,000 more first responders and other people have died since 2001 from cancer and other diseases caused by the smoke, dust and other contaminants. It is estimated that by 2021 that more people will have died from cancer than died directly in the attacks. The number of people that are still living with horrific burns and PTSD are difficult to determine. I read that a single persons death directly affects 40 other people. Countless kids without their mothers or fathers, brothers or sisters. Kids that were born  in that time frame are now 18 years old. 

The above are more than just numbers on a page, they represent real people who had families and plans for their lives. What kind of people were lost? Future doctors, firefighters, police officers, military minds, in other words people we needed, people their families needed.

As you head out to work or school in the morning remember how fragile life is. Take time to say I love you and linger a little longer in that embrace! Psalm 112:6 Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will long be remembered.

David and…………..Joseph

Acts 13:22 “After removing Saul, He made David their king. He testified concerning him; I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”

You and I, all who care to may read about the life, trials and triumphs of king David. Many of the trials he brought upon himself. Our lives are no different than David’s in many ways. Many of the trials in life we bring upon ourselves. Trials, struggles, disappointments and suffering were part of David’s life and ours as well. Do not take this wrong as there are good things to be taken from most  who bring a message to people, such as television/radio evangelists, however the Lord does not promise us a life of riches, nor does He promise that there will not be trials and suffering. What He does promise is that He will never leave us nor forsake us if we are His. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The accomplishments of David were many, I will list some of those here, not in any particular order.

2 Samuel 5:3-5 So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of 

Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all. He reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years. 2 Samuel 5:17-25  David conquers the Philistines We read in these scriptures that the Philistines arrived and were ready to battle David. He asks the Lord, “Should I go out and fight the Philistines? Will You deliver them to me?” The Lord told him to go ahead, He will deliver them to David. After David had defeated them he gave the Lord all the glory! Later the Philistines returned to the same valley and were ready to fight David again. 

The Philistines spread out across the valley of Rephaim ( giants,Rephaim) . David asked the Lord what to do. This could have been the Lord testing David, to see if he really was a man after God’s own heart. The Lord told David to not attack them straight on but to circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. David did as he was told. The result was God moved ahead of David to strike down the Philistines. 

David moved the ark to Jerusalem after he captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites, he called it the City of David.

David, beside these accomplishments, had sin in his life. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband Uriah killed in battle. The Lord told David, thru Nathan the prophet, that because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. The child died after seven days. Psalm 51:4 David tells the Lord: Against You, You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight, that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. 

We must understand that not only does God see the result of our sin, He knows the sin in our hearts that caused the sin. Even though He forgives we still must face the consequences of our sin. In Psalm 51:10 David asks the Lord to create in him a clean heart, O God, and renew a right (firmly established, enduring) spirit within him. We should also ask our God for a renewed spirit and a constant, firmly established spirit as well. It is up to us to read and study His word, the Bible. We are not to go back to the things we have been delivered from. Galatians 2:18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. We are not to be double-minded. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. 

I hope you have learned as much as I have about David and Joseph these several weeks! One last bit of information, the only one the Bible talks more about than David was Jesus!

Psalm 9:1-2 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!

Have a blessed Sunday and make it a great week!

Romans 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

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