Psalm 107 - Genuine Love Endures Forever

If you find yourself in a dark place, alone and without love, cry out to the LORD and He will deliver you from your distress.  And... when he does, tell your story that others might hear and believe. Tell your story that others might turn to the LORD for their deliverance, for their redemption.

By the blood of Christ, you have been redeemed.  Why is that so difficult to believe?  Maybe, because so many refuse to hear His promises?  Maybe because so many refuse to turn from the ways of the world and turn to the path the LORD sets before them? 

Quit wandering aimlessly in the desert wastelands!  Step out of the darkness into His marvelous light! Turn from your rebellious ways and bask in his unfailing love for you! Bask in that light of love! Share that love of God with others so that they, too, may live in His peace.

The world is not a happy place.  Actually, there a lot of people running around pretending to be happy. But, sadly inside where man cannot see, there is a loneliness, a lovelessness that dwells within the heart.

Humankind has have a very bad habit of seeking momentary pleasures. We seek superficial love that passes quickly and costs us much. It costs us our relationships with God and genuinely loving relationship with one another. There is only One to whom we can turn to know genuine love.  That One whose love is genuine and never-failing is the LORD, our God, who on the cross redeemed us and made us His own.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 44 - Save Us Again!

You saved us from our adversaries before, O God.  Save us again! 

The Isralites remember the stories of God strong arm saving from their enemies.  The Psalmists acknowledges that it was not they that won the victories, but that God had won them for them.  Those were tough times.  Apparently, they are struggling through some more tough times and call upon the LORD to save them

As we recount the stories of God saving His people, sometimes we neglect to remember that in order to be saved from their enemies, first they needed something to be saved from.  Life for the people in the stories we recall from antiquity was not easy.  They suffered and God saved them. They sinned and God saved them.  They were hungry and thirsty and God saved them.  They were attacked and God saved them.  He brought them to the promised land.  He was with them

There are times that we may feel like maybe God has rejected us and left us like sheep for the slaughter. He has not.  There are times when we think, maybe, God is still on Sabbath; that He's sleeping or maybe He's just forgotten us.  He has not. He is with us always. But, that does not mean that we will not, from time to time, suffer.  In fact, if you truly follow in the footsteps of Jesus, you can pretty much be guaranteed that life will not be free from suffering.  Following in the footsteps of Jesus means that we will go where he has been.  His journey took Jesus through much suffering.  It takes us to the cross. And, finally the footsteps lead us to the promised land - our Father's house - the Kingdom of God.

Remember what you have heard with your own ears...  Through His Son, Jesus the Christ, God has saved you.  He has rescued us from the enemy, in His never failing love.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 13 - Unfailing Love

Been up since 4 a.m. wrestling with my thoughts.  (vs 2 NIV) Not sure why.  I think maybe it has something to do with my age.  I have a lot of years to review and sometimes wonder what the future has in store.  Rather, I wonder what it is that God has in store for my future here on earth.

No matter where I am led, what I am led to do, I trust in His unfailing love.  (vs 5)

God's Peace - Pr. J