“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

“No philosophy of history is true which does not take into account the sovereign hand of God controlling all permitted developments. God is still God. He has not abdicated. Neither has He changed. Nor has he slackened His control over the nations. He is yet just as truly God though millions of people are still self-blinded to His sovereign activity.

As the poet said, ‘When statesmen have had their last parley,/And despots have made their last threat;/When prophets are dumb with misgiving,/And forces of conflict are set;/When factions misleading and treacherous/Bring chaos where order prevailed;/When freedom long-cherished is vanquished,/And leaders long trusted have failed,/ When God and His Word are derided,/And men call it useless to pray; Remember that God is still sovereign,/And HE has the last word to say.’

For the unbeliever and the wicked, the sovereignty of God may well be terrifying; but to the yielded, trusting Christian it is ‘JOY UNSPEAKABLE!’ Commit everything to God even though your world seems shaken to its foundations. Lie still on His bosom, and listen to the heartbeat of that boundless love from which all demons either inside of
Hades can never pluck you.

God is still on the throne,
And He will take care of His own;
Though trials distress us,
And burdens oppress us,
He never will leave us alone;
God is still on the throne,
And He will take care of His own;
His promise is true,
He will see us right through;
God is still on the throne.

Good words this morning from the late Dr. J. Sidlow Baxter in the daily devotional HOW GREAT THOU ART, published by Multnomah.

“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power . . . When He has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” (1
Corinthians 15:24, 28)

“After Arturo Toscanini finished conducting a brilliant performance of Beethoven’s Symphony, the audience rose to its feet and applauded, shouting its delight. But Toscanini waved his arms violently for it all to stop. He turned to the orchestra and shouted hoarsely, ‘You are nothing!’ He pointed to himself and shouted, ‘I am nothing!’ Then he shouted, ‘Beethoven, is everything, everything, everything.’

Christian worship must say, ‘God is everything, everything, everything.’What we do on Sunday mornings (or whenever we gather), the order of events and the manner in which we enact the drama, must always point to God, must reinforce again and again that God has taken the initiative and called us together, that God’s grace is more important than our sin, that God’s will is more important than our desires, and that God’s glorification is more important that our edification.

All worship ought to be ordered toward God; service should be put together in a way that keeps our attention centered on God. As we look up to the One seated on the throne, we lose sight of everything else; the Holy God commands and consumes our attention. What we really need when we show up for worship is for our attention to be turned toward the glory of God . . . it is only then, before the Holy One that our deepest needs will be met, for only then will we enter into our full humanity as sons and daughters of God.”

Written by Donald McCullough in the daily devotional HOW GREAT THOU ART, published by Multnomah.

“There is nowhere in space, whether within or without creation, where God is not. The great God, the eternal, the almighty Spirit, is as limitless in His presence as in His existence and power.

In condescension to our limited understanding, He is said to dwell in heaven. But strictly speaking, the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. He fills every of His dominion. The universal God dwells in universal space. What is the space occupied by a grain of sand, compared to that which is occupied by the starry heavens? Is it as a cipher; it is nothing; it vanished in comparison.

And what is this grain of sand compared to the whole expanse of space? The whole creation itself, when seen in proportion with the universe, is infinitely less than a grain of sand. And yet this expanse of space, to which the whole creation bears no proportion at all, is infinitely less,
in comparison to the great God, than a grain of sand, yes, even a millionth part of it!

This seems to be the plain meaning of those solemn words which God speaks of Himself: ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ God acts everywhere and therefore IS everywhere. It is utterly impossible that any being, created or uncreated, should work where it is not. God acts in heaven, in earth, and under the earth — throughout the whole compass of His creation — by sustaining all things. Without Him, everything would in an instant sink into is primitive nothing.”

“Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:24)

This morning’s devotional was written by John Wesley and published in the devotional book, HOW GREAT THOU ART, published by Multnomah.
Good words to ponder today.

>From Max Lucado’s book, JUST LIKE JESUS, published by WORD.

Max writes, “Let me urge you to come to worship prepared to worship.
Pray before you come so you will be ready to pray when you arrive. Sleep before you come so you’ll stay alert when you arrive. Read the Word before you come so your heart will be soft when you worship. Come hungry. Come willing. Come expecting God to speak. Come asking.
The purpose of worship — to change the face of the worshipper. The connection between the face and worship is more than coincidental. Our face is the most public part of our bodies, covered less than any area.
It is also the most recognizable part of our bodies. We don’t fill a school annual with photo’s of people’s feet but rather with photos of faces. God desires to take our faces, this exposed memorable part of our bodies, and use them to reflect His goodness. Paul writes, “Our faces, then, are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the spirit.’ (2 Corinthians 3:18)
God loves to change the face of his children. By his fingers, wrinkles of worry are rubbed away. Shadows of shame and doubt become portraits of grace and trust. He relaxes clenched jaws and smoothes furrowed brows.
His touch can remove the bags of exhaustion from beneath the eyes and turn tears of despair into tears of peace!
Worship is the act of magnifying God. Enlarging our vision of him.
Stepping into the cockpit to see where he sits and observe how he works.
Of course, his size doesn’t change, but our perception of him does. As we draw nearer, he seems larger. Isn’t that what we need? A BIG view of God? Don’t we have BIG problems, BIG worries, BIG questions? Of course we do. Hence we need a big view of God.
God is in the business of changing the face of the world! This change is HIS job, not ours! Our goal is not to make faces radiant. Remember that Moses didn’t even know that his face was shining. Our goal is not to conjure up some fake, frozen expression. Our goal is simply to stand before God with a prepared and willing heart and then let God do his work.
And he does. He wipes away the tears. He mops away the perspiration. He softens our furrowed brows. He touches our cheeks. He changes our faces.
And the result? Not only does God change the face of those who worship, he will change those who watch us worship!
Good words to ponder as you prepare for the Lord’s Day.

” . . . speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19)

As you prepare your heart for the Lord’s Day, here are some thoughts on singing for you to ponder!

I. Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.

II. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise,

unlearn it as soon as you can.

III. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a single degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.

IV. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, then when you sung the songs of Satan.

V. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.

VI. Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing to slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is
high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.

VII. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.

From John Wesley’s Select Hymns, 1761

Max Lucado in his book, JUST LIKE JESUS, gives four ways to practice the presence of God each day. I ask you to prayerfully ponder them today.

1. Give God your waking thoughts. “Before you step out of bed, step into His presence.” C. S. Lewis says, “The moment you wake up each morning . . . all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job of each morning consists in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.” David said, “Every morning, I tell You what I need, and I wait for Your answer.” Psalm 5:3

2. Give God your waiting thoughts. Rather that rush into His presence and start yakking, why not try sitting in silence and being still! “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. Someone once asked Mother Teresa, “What do you say to God when you pray?” Mother Teresa answered, “I listen.” The answer puzzled the person who asked the question, and they asked “What does God say?” Mother Teresa smile, “He listens!”

3. Give God your whispering thoughts. “Through the centuries Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting One of the church historians would ask every three or four minutes, “Am I in your will, Lord?” “Am I pleasing you, Lord?” Max suggests several others — “Thank You, Father.” “Be sovereign in this hour, Lord.” “You are my resting place, Jesus.”

4. Give God your waning thoughts. “At the end of the day, let your mind settle on Him. Conclude the day as you began it: talking to God. Thank Him for the good parts. Question the bad parts. Seek His mercy. Seek His strength. And as you close your eyes, take assurance in the promise: ‘He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.’ (Psalm 121:4) If you fall asleep as you pray, don’t worry. What a better place to doze off than in the arms of the Lord.”

“For this cause a man should leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.” (Ephesians 5:31
NASB)
“One-Couples”
1. Think in terms of “we and us” not “me and you” or “my or me.”
2. Are free to be themselves and exercise all their gifts.
3. Have marriages that are love-based, not rule or control-based.
4. Don’t care which spouse earns the most. Love and respect thrive based on the essence of who the spouse is, not what the spouse earns.
5. Do everything possible to empower each other. One spouse never looks at the other and says, “Your role is to empower me.” Or “You’re supposed to pour yourself into ME while I pursue MY pursuits.
6. Aren’t threatened by each other’s gifts and talents, but freely applaud each other’s accomplishments.
7. Are best friends.
8. Argue infrequently, because they are of one mind.
9. Live by Jesus Christ’s Golden Rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). This includes EVERYTHING, just as Jesus said – even the marriage concepts you embrace.
10. Don’t believe one of them is spiritually superior to the other or has a deeper spiritual knowledge on all subjects at all times.
11. Have their needs met and enjoy a thriving relationship with God.
12. Make decisions by consensus, not by powerplays.
Romancing Your Wife … A Little Effort Can Spice Up Your Marriage by Debra White Smith and Daniel W. Smith published by Harvest House
Good words to ponder on this Wednesday, April 6, 2005

“I will remember that faith, like muscle, must be exercised in order to grow strong. In other words, there must be the occasion, or provocation, of faith. Most of the time my natural inclination is to escape this provocation. But I must put on the right kind of glasses and see provocation, not as a disaster, but as an opportunity for God to work.
(prov·o·ca·tion ( P ) Pronunciation Key (prv-kshn)n.
The act of provoking or inciting.
Something that provokes.)

Miracles occur when there is a tremendous voltage between need and supply. That is like the positive and negative particles that cause a thunderstorm. If I am to see God work dramatically, I must bring an acute need face to face with God’s supercharged supply. The need is always there as long as sin and man exist, but the missing element is the intensified power of supply. That is where God seeks a conductor, a man of faith, like Moses, Elijah, or the Lord Jesus. Wherever they went they were natural ‘lightning rods’ that drew the power from God.

I also must remember that faith decays from lack of stimulus. Quite often I have ‘little faith’ simply because I have had little opportunity to exercise it. Faith grows by being challenged. If my life is so so average, I do not need to pray for more faith, but for more problems, difficulties, and challenges. That means courage to dare, to launch out, to expose myself to the pains, hurts, and heartaches of this world.

A person without faith is admitting he has no concern for others, for we cannot long spiritually for others without becoming aware of deep, sore, bleeding wounds. By means of our faith those wounds can be healed, and God is waiting for believers! How I long to be like Abraham, who was ‘strong in faith, giving glory to God!’ (Romans 4:20) That is it — to be strong enough so that the result is always glory!”from DAILY WITH THE KING, published by MOODY PRESS

“By faith Moses . . . refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” (Hebrews 11:24-25)

Good words to ponder today.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
My oldest son Josh, and his wife, Jenny, called this weekend from West Virginia. They were working at a Camp Sandy Cove for Boys and Girls getting the facility ready for the summer season. Josh and Jenny’s boxer, Ruby, was along for the trip, along with her Dad’s Jack Russell, Skeeter. The family were busy doing their thing and the two dogs decided to wander off into the mountains of West Virginia. Night came and no dogs. Morning came, no dogs. They searched and searched but they were no where to be found.
Josh called mid-afternoon and left a message on the answering machine asking us to please pray that they would find the dogs. They were scheduled to leave first thing in the morning and were not sure what to do. After checking the message, Zach wanted to pray for the dogs that they would come home. We have been trying to instill into his little heart the importance of prayer, even for little things.
Zach reminded me that he prayed and the dogs were going to be found — the faith of a child! Two hours later, the Lord honored the faith of our son. Josh called to share that his mother-in-law had gone outside to look one more time. They heard Renee calling for Skeeter, and they all were choked up saying, “Why is she doing this to herself?” Little did they know that they were reliving a scene from the movie, HOMEWARD BOUND. Running towards here were Ruby and Skeeter!
God loves it when His kids come to Him with impossible situations. My friend, you have been given the privilege and authority to come boldly into the throne of grace. You can do so YOURSELF. You don’t need someone else to pray for you. Are you facing a difficult situation today in your life? Have you been to the throne of grace? Take some time, get on your knees . . . you will find grace to help you in the time of need!

The world’s attention is riveted right now to Rome and the events that have led up to the death of the Pope. Hundreds of thousands of people are making their pilgrimage to the Holy City to have the opportunity to view the body of their beloved spiritual leader lying in repose at the Vatican. The media has rehearsed the life of this amazing spiritual leader who has impacted the world in an amazing way.
Today, however, is the LORD’S DAY — a day in which we celebrate ONE who is above all! Last Sunday we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unlike the Pope whose body will in just a few days be placed in a grave, JESUS stepped out of the tomb conquering sin and death once and for all.
I am reminded that one day there will be another who will come to the Holy City. The One who was crucified, buried, and ascended into heaven reminded us that HE WAS COMING AGAIN IN POWER AND GLORY. Many this week will bow in reverence and honor of Pope Paul. But on that day, the focus of ALL the world will not be the Pope. It will not be on Mohammad. It will not be on Billy Graham. Every eye shall see HIM — and as Paul wrote, ” . . . at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)
He IS LORD! And that is what we celebrate on this Lord’s Day! Exalt Him with every fiber of your being today. Rejoice in Him!