Be Strong and Courageous

Sat Jan 5

am: 2, 110 pm: 29, 98

am: Joshua 1:1-9 pm: Isa 66:18-23

am: Heb 11:32-12:2 pm: Rom 15:7-13

John 15:1-6

John Wesley in his sermon "The Scripture Way of Salvation" (#43) Reminds us that wen we receive Christ, we receive him in all his offices:

• Prophet - differing from the earlier prophets of the Hebrews in being revealer in both word and deed, the Incarnate Word
• Priest - mediator who enters the holy of holies, intercedes for us, and becomes for us sin
• King - ruler, the King of the Jews from birth to crucifixion in earthly form, and according to the Revelation will come again as King of Kings and Lord of Lord

In the Creation, God's Voice calls order out of chaos. His power over the cosmos gives encouragement and hope for peace.

Each time I leave our room, I am reminded by the words on the door. Placed there on vinyl strips by my grandchildren who have the same words over their front door. "I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Under the words are two lions: the ones that lie in my den. Each lion carries one statement. The first is "write" - I am now doing that every day - one lion at bay. The other carries a number 135. A long ways from the 215-222 where my weight balances from month to month. Yesterday, we put the "Lose It" app on my phone. Oops, missed my calorie goal yesterday. Today I face the lion again.

Not only God speaking to Joshua and Daniel in the lion's den, but "so great a cloud of witnesses" set forth by Paul to remind us that others have fought the lions and won. "Let us run with perseverance the race set before us."

Encouragement. Hope. Hope that brings joy and peace in the present and expectation of the fully realized kingdom of God in the future.

Prayer is the gymnasium of the soul.

Lord, I write everyday, help me learn to eat only enough to sustain. Help me tame the lion of food for comfort. And please, could we talk about the gym with the heated pool we pay for every month another day?

Bessie Jones & The Georgia Sea Island Singers - Daniel in the Lion's Den

Uploaded on Apr 11, 2011

Recorded by Alan Lomax on May 5, 1960 on St. Simons Island, GA
as part of his Southern Journeys recordings of native folk music.
Backing singers include: Joe Armstrong, Jerome Davis, John Davis, Peter Davis, Henry Morrison, Willis Proctor, and Ben Ramsay.

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Tues Jan 1

Psalms: 103 148

Gen 17:1-12a, 15-16

Col 2:6-12

John 16:23b-30

When I was growing up, my mother brought food to the table in bowls and on platters. We then gathered around the table and remained standing behind our chairs while my father gave thanks for the food we were about to receive.

While raising our children, food still came to the table in bowls and on platter. Everyone carried something to the table, chattering away about their day. We sat and took turns saying grace or choosing the grace that would be offered by all.

During the Christmas holidays, our daughters served our plates in the kitchen. When all the plates were on the table, we were called to come and eat. I noticed that the younger children would begin to eat as soon as they sat down. 

 When everyone gathered around the table, the children set their utensils on their plates, chewed and swallowed what was in their mouths, and raised their hands if they wanted to help say grace.

Psalm 103:1 in action. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, let all that is within me bless thy holy name.”

As our family grows and changes, I am convinced over and over again: God does not change. “But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children.” Psalm 103:17.

John Wesley believed that God creates each human “capable of God.” We carry within us a capability to know, love and obey our creator. With that capability, we are inheritors of the “everlasting covenant of grace” between God and Abraham. 

This and all succeeding covenants are a means of grace for all readers everywhere.  The covenant is mutual: we must walk before him in obedience and he will be our blessing.  We, as descendants of this covenant, are invited into a vibrant rapport with God. We are free to and expected to relate intimately with God, and God for his part can always be counted on to be there.

For us, Jesus is the shepherd and the gate to the sheepfold.  When we live in a way consistent with the Lordship of Christ, we have direct access to God.  “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his Holy name.”

God's benefits still include forgiveness, health, redemption, love, mercy and goodness. For our part, we only need to be faithful to remember and do his commandments. Take the time to know him. Learn his commandments. Be willing to forgive others. Take the time required to accept God's forgiveness. Work at forgiving yourself.

When  it seems that health is gone - cling to the health that obedience brings. Obedience to take medicine on time. Obedience to nap when energy is depleted. Obedience to exercise to increase endurance. Obedience to allow others to do things their way and to accept graciously the gift of "let me do that for you." Obedience to follow the doctor's recommendation not to get out in the cold, and especially the cold and wet. Obedience to do what you can. Obedience to forgive yourself. 

Praise God for his redemption through Jesus Christ. Be thankful for his goodness and gift of the Holy Spirit. Lean on him. Find 10, 000, or even 10 reasons to Bless the Lord, O my soul. Write them down, so those who follow, generation after generation, can know them, too.

Published on May 17, 2012

Video copyright Youtube User ID bobf72450. 

Bless The Lord O My Soul sung by Matt Redman. "Bless the Lord O My Soul" is a phrase reiterated from Psalms 103 and 104.